#this is so niche and it's so exactly up my alley

[elliegoose]

banjo cover of against me!'s fuckmylife666 my beloved

[almightyrayzilla]

I promise you, this is the only time I will ever willingly post AI generated imagery on any of my pages...but G-Fest is DEAD to me. I first attended in 2006, then again in 2009. I got my start doing artist alley tables at this show in 2010, then branched out to other shows. I even did the promo art for the 2019 show. I cannot tell you how much of my life was shaped from meeting the folks I have met because of this convention.

I'm not even mad. I'm sitting here along with my fellow artists, laughing our asses off. Not because it's funny, but because NONE of us are deeply surprised.

Let's go back a bit.

In 2018, the artist alley (AA) was moved to the lower floor of the hotel. Now I let this slide - the Crowne Plaza had just replaced the area that was used previously with the Caddyshack restaurant. Duh, we couldn't use that area anymore. There was some pushback, that maybe something else could be moved downstairs, but there was refusal to budge. Whatever, us artists actually did pretty good that year, despite a rather sequestered and tight space.

Then for 2019 - we were told a Toho rep was coming, and we were hit with a 30% limitation, which essentially meant that for every ten pieces of art we had, only three of them were allowed to be Toho related. Gamera, Ultraman, Kamen Rider - fair game. I mean, let's put aside that no one could enforce that (and no one tried) - the person in question wasn't even tied to Toho. And even if they were...they'd be more concerned about, say, bootleg DVDs and such.

Personally speaking, my sales were even better, so even with the limitation, people still did alright. Gee, it's almost as if AA is a big attraction at a convention, especially one as niche as this.

Then 2020, when our good friend COVID-19 came about. Someone decided it'd be a good idea to spread misinformation about the pandemic with G-Fest's Twitter page. Among those who spoke up were the artists who regularly attended through its artist alley. A Facebook page that was specifically set up for AA members to share info and whatnot was then told to no longer associate with G-Fest.

And for the record, G-Fest didn't happen that year because of a statewide mandate. No no, the con wasn't canceled it because they recognized the severity of things, it's because Illinois shut everything down.

Well, here comes prep for 2021 (which ultimately became the 2022 show, since it was pushed back again). That's when G-Fest hit us with the AA contract. It forbade artists from selling prints of Toho fan art (originals/commissions were okay, but not reproductions), unless we held a license to sell prints of that work. We could not sell Godzilla fan art prints at this Godzilla convention. We tried to speak with them, to see if there could be some compromise...which there wasn't. They kept saying that the reason for it was to stay on good terms with Toho, even citing a big C&D sweep Toho was doing (they were after bootleggers, not fan artists). Heck, even one of my good friends actually did get a C&D (prior to said sweep), and they have legal word that they were allowed to sell prints of Godzilla art. But apparently, that wasn't good enough for G-Fest. HMMMMM...

I was actually willing to abide by these tighter rules, even planning on trolling them with a few pieces of Jirahs and Gomess (though Jirahs without the frill might have been a bit too risky, lol). We were trying to talk with the head of the vendor room, who was not exactly being clear and timely with responses. Well, someone went to the head of the show to ask if they were being compliant with the rules - I guess they gave a different answer, because that's when the showrunners started bickering about not seeing eye-to-eye on some things, ultimately telling the artist it's best they not come.

That's when I backed out. A few of us had paid for our table/badge for the 2020 show, which was rolled over; with the option available, I asked for the refund. The head of the vendor room said the request was put in. Almost two weeks go by. I go to the showrunner, and within 20 minutes, I get the refund. Look, I know G-Fest isn't a big corporate show, and I try not to be a snob, but I expect SOME professionalism. that's why I've backed out and refuse to ever attend G-Fest ever again. But that's not where things stopped.

During the 2022 show, I was told an artist said screw it and put Godzilla prints out on their table to sell. I laughed and said, "Yeah, and how much of that was playing favorites?" I mean, G-Fest kicking this person out? That would be glorious. But someone like me? I'm pretty sure they'd have banned me on the spot. And I'm not even going to get into the vendor who was selling bootleg DVDs, so...yeah. And from what I hear, the 2023 show forbade ALL fan art prints, not just Toho IPs. I can't imagine how hard they're gritting their teeth trying not tell artists to get lost outright.

*deep breath* And that brings us to today's nonsense. After all that, they pull this. And of course they've turned off comments on the Facebook posts for these...pictures. I mean, after my turn in 2019, we had the idea of giving each AA artist a shot to do the promo art each year before all this crap reared its ugly head.

Like I said, I'm not even mad, I'm actually having a good laugh over all this. If I'm shocked by anything, it's how quickly this convention pulled its 180. The point of this post is to just be informative of what has been going on the past couple years, and why the artists who usually go haven't come back.

But most of all, if/when people ask if I'm going to G-Fest next year, here's the TL;DR version: NO.

[stardustlyssa]

Two Sides of the Sigil

MORE STARLOW HEHEHEHEH … still not the best BUT whatever. I love my sillies.

quick synopsis: It's been close to a month since Marlow met Steve after he saved her from a near-assault. He has walked her home from work nightly since then, and the two have started to share conversations on these walks. After Marlow is brought to tears by a bard's street performance, Steve discovers that the coven sigils may harm more than they supposedly help.

also a silly little doodle because i can't resist a lil bit of angst. kinda simple because i be busy asf.

note: i am bad at transitioning from sad moment to happy moments in writing still, pls forgive the goofs. this is all mostly for my silly brain to get serotonin more than anything

“You ready to head out, Marlie?” Steve’s voice echoed across the empty tavern as he called out to Marlow, who was finishing her closing tasks.

Once she put away the last of the freshly washed glasses, she turned to him and nodded replying, “Yes, I believe that’s everything.”

She grabbed her bag from under the counter before meeting Steve at the door, where the scout had chosen to stand and wait while she took care of cleaning the building.

“You know you’re welcome to sit, right?” She elbowed him softly. Steve chuckled, crossing his arms and shaking his head firmly.

“Nope! I gotta make sure no creeps come in and steal you from me.” He moved one arm to his hip and raised the other to point at Marlow. “This pretty lady is under Steve’s protection.”

Marlow giggled, moving to Steve’s side to take his arm. “If you insist. Anyways, we should be going.”

Steve nodded as he grabbed the door for his companion, staying close beside her while she locked the door. Tonight was particularly busy, with a clear full moon lighting up the town. The night market was in full swing just a few blocks over, driving in a sizable crowd of visitors and vendors. Once Marlow had finished locking up her tavern, Steve once again offered his arm for her to take. He enjoyed the way she held onto him as they walked, honored to be responsible for her safety.

“Oh my, the moon is so pretty tonight!” Marlow spoke up as the started to walk, gazing up at the bright night sky above them.

“It is, but it’s not as pretty as you!” Steve replied. Marlow blushed, looking away. She mouthed something along the lines of ‘…not that pretty’ under her breath, which Steve scoffed at. “Yes you are. You’re very pretty.”

The playful flirting started at some point a week or so before, neither could recall when exactly. But Marlow didn’t mind the comments, in fact they made her feel quite warm and fuzzy when they were delivered to her. Steve simply enjoyed teasing her, but he did believe everything he said. She was one of the prettiest girls he had met, hands down.

“W-well, you’re prettier.” Marlow retorted with little thought. Not a second after processing what she said, her face grew redder as she tried to walk it back. “I-I mean—“

Her fumbling was cut off by Steve’s boisterous laughter. He was not anticipating her argumentative response, one where she called him pretty at that. Marlow couldn’t tell if he was laughing at her or what she had said, apologizing sheepishly if it had made things weird. Steve shook his head, wiping an imaginary tear from his mask.

“Ah, Titan. You are a catch, Marlow.”

Steve gave her hand a reassuring squeeze. Marlow looked up at him, still embarrassed but offering a smile to let him know she was alright. The two continued walking, enjoying the good weather and taking glances at the different street vendors they passed.

Though they were not inside of the Night Market itself, a variety of nocturnal vendors who offered more palatable goods had settled themselves in the roads and alleys outside of the main square. Among these were local and individual creators selling a variety of goods, a way to make some extra pocket money with a niche audience. Some of these creators did not make physical goods, but offered entertainment in the form of street performances. This was the case as Steve and Marlow approached a bard on the corner of two intersections, who had started to play a song on their violin as the two approached. The tune was somber but heartfelt, an emotional melody which captivated those listening to it. Marlow had stopped in her tracks when the melody echoed out, and Steve assumed she wished to listen to the song. A crowd had gathered fast to listen to the impromptu concert, distracting Steve as he grew concerned of his and Marlow’s surroundings. By the time he had felt comfortable assuming that there were no visible threats to Marlow in the crowd, the song had concluded. Applause erupted. Steve looked down to Marlow to ask her if she wished to stay, but froze when he saw her face.

Big tears had welled up in Marlow’s eyes, rolling down her face uncontrollably. Her expression was one of heartbreak and a deep sadness that made Steve’s heart twist in guilt. What happened? Why was she crying? Steve was a calm person but it worried him greatly to see her so upset. Not wishing to make a scene in the crowd, he slipped his hand into hers with a gentle squeeze. Marlow jumped, having spaced out before Steve reached for her hand. He tugged her softly, his way of asking if she wanted to leave. She nodded weakly, feeling overwhelmed as the crowd around them swelled. Steve quickly pulled her out of the intersection and guided her down their path once more, searching for somewhere quiet. Finding an empty bench some distance away, tucked in an old alley, Steve quickly sat Marlow down, kneeling in front of her. He took both of her hands in his, looking up at her.

“Hey, Marlow... what happened?”

He spoke to her as quietly as he could, trying desperately to soothe her. Marlow bit her lip, trying to stop her tears to no avail. Steve reached up, pulling her glasses off and sitting them in her lap. He pulled a handkerchief out of his pocket and wiped her face, trying to help soothe her. His efforts were in vain as she continued to cry, small whimpers escaping her mouth as she tried to speak.

“It’s ok. We can just sit until you feel better,” he stood up and moved to sit beside Marlow, pulling her into a hug, his cape wrapped around her. “I got you.” He whispered, rubbing her hand with his thumb.

They sat there silently, save for the echoes of the town’s night life and Marlow’s crying. She had tucked herself into Steve’s side, her head buried in his chest as she tried to hide herself from whatever had upset her so terribly. Steve rested his head on hers and waited for her to calm down, occasionally reminding her that ‘Steve’s here’ or ‘Steve’s got you.’ It was the most he could do.

It felt like hours had passed, but it had likely only been ten minutes give or take. Marlow’s whimpers had subsided, and her tears finally slowed, but she remained glued to Steve’s side and his arms remained tight around her. He offered Marlow his handkerchief again, which she quietly took to wipe her eyes before putting her glasses back on. She sat for a moment, playing with the thumbs while she tried to find her words. Seeing she was calmed down now, Steve checked in again, still worried.

“You doing better now?” His voice was still quiet. She nodded, sighing shakily.

“Kind of. I’m still sad.”

“It’s ok,” he said, not wanting Marlow to feel like she had to pretend she was ok for him. “Did I do something…?” He asked more sheepishly, still knowing what had gone wrong exactly.

Marlowe shook her head. “No, no it wasn’t you. Hearing— no, watching that performance just made me sad.”

Steve let out a sigh of relief, glad he hadn’t upset Marlow. Still, he could not help but wonder why the performance moved her to such intense tears. “You wanna talk about it?”

Marlowe paused for a moment, thinking, but nodded. “I think it will help to get it off my chest.”

Steve let her take her time to find her words and sort her thoughts. Marlowe moved to sit beside him, leaning against him. Steve kept his arm around the small of her waist, not wishing to let go of her.

Marlowe leaned back and took a deep breath, before exhaling. “I used to be on the bard track, back when I attended Hexside. My sister convinced me to change to it from potions because I loved singing and I loved watching the bards performed when they came to town.”

Marlowe looked off into the distance, reminiscing on her time in school with her sister. A faint smile appeared on her face as she remembered the happiness she felt when Principal Bump approved her track change.

“I was doing really well, and because I was showing a lot of promise I was put into this special event with some other classmates… I think it was called Helping Enhance Coven Knowhow…? Something wordy like that. It used to be this straightforward sort of competition, but after Terra Snapdragon took over, it got really, really intense. The schools got a lot more desperate to bring ribbons home as well, so the competition was pretty rough. I really didn’t want to go, but my mom told me if I didn’t she would force me to change back to potions.”

Marlow sighed, gripping the hem of her shorts stressfully. Steve rubbed circles into her back, waiting for her to continue speaking.

“Terra said she intended to use the event as a way to find potential coven heads and recruits. I think I also heard some of the scouts saying it was all modeled off of their training. I don’t know how true it was, but what we had to do was really intense.”

Steve felt himself grow stiff when Marlow mentioned the similarity of the event to scout training, an ordeal he himself would never wish on his worst enemies. Many scouts that could not succeed were left severely injured or worse, and Steve himself was only 16 when his training began. Thinking of someone like Marlow, who was never on the path to handle such intense exercises, made him feel queasy. Though it pained him, Steve did not interrupt. He wanted Marlow to have the time to speak for herself.

“I really don’t remember everything that well. I sort of blocked it out of my memory after the fact because it was so scary. I just know by the end of it, everyone at Hexside was out except for me. Apparently the first year she hosted it, she got the idea to set up whoever was left in a witch’s duel. I was matched with two grudgby players from St. Epiderm’s and Glandus who were a lot stronger and meaner than me. I was so scared— all I wanted to do was run away but I was trapped. Terra put these… thorny shrubs around us and would close them in if we weren’t getting close enough. I panicked and did whatever I could to fight them off but they knew they had an advantage over me physically. I don’t really know what happened, they knocked me out and I had to stay in the infirmary for a while because they beat me up really bad. That part was awful, but what made it worse was how everyone ostracized me for failing them. My classmates thought I embarrassed the bard track by losing so badly, and everyone who I thought was my friend just up and left. My mom told me I had to switch back to potions, and I honestly thought people would leave me alone if I quit the bard track. It didn’t change much though. My sister just kept begging me to ignore them and my mom but I couldn’t. I felt like I failed all of them.”

She wiped her eyes and sniffled.

“I thought about joining the bard coven again after I graduated, but my mom got sick around that time. My sister made it clear she was joining the beastkeeping coven and wouldn’t help my mom after the years of trouble we had. I felt like I owed her for messing up though, and I didn’t think joining the potions coven would hurt me. But the sigil takes away any magic you ‘don’t need.’ Since potions doesn’t require magic, the sigil pulls any excess magic energy from its host. It felt like I had the life drained from me. I can’t even cast basic spells anymore…”

Marlow leaned into Steve, who stopped rubbing her back to give her shoulder a squeeze. “How did the sigil mess up your love for music? I mean— you couldn’t do bard magic anymore, but you can still sing, right?” He inquired, more out of curiosity than anything. Marlow looked at him, teary-eyed, and shook her head no.

“No, I can’t. I tried for days but I lost my voice. The instruments I liked to play required bard magic to carry their sound as well. Music fulfilled my life. It was my dream to perform and I had that taken from me.”

She wiped her eyes as they grew watery once more. Steve was quiet, stunned from what he was told. Sigils were supposed to be helpful, right? It was to prevent people from doing bad things, to get rid of wild magic. That was what the Titan wanted, at least according to Belos. But here, nestled up beside him, sat a sweet, well-intentioned girl who unknowingly sacrificed her own dreams and future to help her estranged mother. She had no clue that her choice meant giving away what she loved to do.

Steve took a breath, gathering his thoughts so he could focus on Marlow. The questions could wait until after she was feeling better.

“That… that really sucks. I’m so sorry, Marlie. I wish I was able to do something more to help you.” He wasn’t quite sure how to console her in this moment. Steve spoke quietly, feeling somewhat insecure in his own ability to be Marlow’s protector in this moment.

Marlow could sense the damper in his mood. She hugged him tightly, looking over to face him.

“Oh, Steve… you’ve already helped me so much. You’ve taken time out of your nights for the past month just to help me get home safe, and you didn’t hesitate to help me when I got upset tonight. I feel a lot better now that I was able to get all of it off of my chest.”

Admittedly Marlow wasn’t sure how to handle this sort of situation either, having only spoken so deeply about her trauma with her sister before now. Steve looked back at her and seemed to perk up when he saw her smile. His arms slipped around her waist as he pulled her in for an extra tight hug.

“Aww, Mars. You know I would never leave you hanging like that. You’re the best part of my night.” Steve attested, grinning to himself as Marlow smiled in reaction to his upbeat response.

“Thank you, Steve…” Marlow said as she melted into the hug, comforted by how safe she felt in his arms. Having finally allowed herself to relax, she began to remember how tired she was, a yawn escaping her lips as she grew drowsy.

“Getting sleepy?” He hummed, still holding her close. Marlow responded with a soft ‘mhm’ under her breath, which was all Steve needed to hear. “Alright, let’s get you home.”

Marlow squirmed as she tried to sit up, intending to stand and walk back home, but Steve quickly interjected.

“Girl, you’ve been through enough today. Let me carry you, please?” He asked, tilting his head slightly as if to plead to her. Marlow nodded, completely unopposed to the thought of being carried home at the moment.

Picking her up bridal style, Steve made quick work making the rest of the trip to Marlow’s home. She was almost completely out by now, having handed Steve her keys beforehand. After he unlocked the door and slipped the boots off of her feet and had her purse placed on a hook by the door, he took no time to find her room, tucking her into bed. He had done the same for his younger brother Matt plenty of times when he was younger, so this was no trouble.

After placing her glasses on the nightstand beside her, and double checking to make sure she was comfy, Steve knelt down beside Marlow, running his fingers through her hair.

“You all good, sleepyhead?” He whispered to Marlow. She mumbled something he couldn’t hear before drifting off. He smiled, standing back up.

“G’night, Marlie.”

—

//little bonus outtake. Steve feeling emotions and deciding to find a therapist LMAO

Steve’s thoughts continued to weigh heavy on him for the duration of his shift. He couldn’t help but feel partially responsible for what happened to Marlow, having been a devout follower of the Emperor. He always assumed that the Titan wanted covens so everyone could be safe and happy, but Marlow cried in his arms for nearly an hour because of the standards that the covens had set, and because a coven sigil would later take away so much of her magic. ‘I can’t even cast basic spells anymore.’ Her statement echoed in his mind. What if something fell on her when she was alone and she couldn’t cast a levitation spell that was strong enough to catch it? What if the power went out and she couldn’t cast a light spell? She runs a bar, for Titan’s sake, she needs that energy to lift bottles off of shelves and countless other tasks.

It made Steve feel a lot of emotions that were not normal for him. Anger, sadness, confusion. He lived a life of outspoken confidence in himself and what he did, loudly declaring his pride in serving such a great Emperor to Marlow, his brother, EVERYONE. But now he kind of felt like a huge jerk. That was never the kind of guy Steve wanted to be.

He sighed, questioning if he was overthinking or if there was some sort of reason for all of this, but everything in his mind continued to scramble.

Thunk.

Steve had run into a wall in his moment of distraction. Looking up, he found himself face to face with a flyer for a local therapist that was pasted to the surface.

‘Bonesborough Counseling Center. We’re here to listen!’

Well, he did need someone to listen, and he knew the coven appointed counselors in the palace would be of no help for him. Maybe they would be able to help him figure out how to process what he was dealing with! Taking one of the tabs off of the flyer, Steve tucked it into his pocket before heading back to the palace.

[lmelodie]

FUSION AU YEAHHHH! Kills and Mera addition! Here is Khaos or Chirin if you wanna be boring about it. Let me ramble about them under the cut! My sweet little trash baby!

The only reason that they have two names kind of is because their names are already very phonetically similar and Chirin was the less boring option, but then KHAOS came to mind (spelled exactly like that) and i fell in love. So their name is Khaos lol

Chimera's sluttiness and Killian's garbage vibes really give this character a FLAVOR. If the word Scuttle or Skitter was a person, Khaos would be them lol.

Mostly because they do scuttle about! They are on all fours a lot, climbing over stuff and pouncing on people because they still feel very quadrupedal even though they only have two legs. Gives them an extra layer of goblin energy that is very on brand.

I think the personality here is channeling MAJOR Eda Owlhouse vibes, moreso than Jackie over there (also very VERY vague inspo coming from Eris of Sinbad fame). Like, if you combine a grimy homeless man and the hottest woman ever you will get a trashy milf out of it. Thats what they are, a trashy milf lol.

A tomboy fatale if you will.

Okay so, I don't know why this fusion just gives such SHORT ENEGERY?? I think its because their so Crechur coded that they've gotta be a little smaller than others. Shorter than Jackie even!

I just knew FOR A FACT that I had to give them the most crazy MANE imaginable, kind of giving them mad hatter vibes almost. The rest of the fit is still up for debate (trying to balance out baggy and covered and max sluttiness is not easy), but they do have double snake scarf! Both snake friends!

Plus their little half skirt, caplet thingy has subtle leopard spots on it, instead of just grime and stains.

I think their whole powerset would be based around the idea of a really bad acid trip lol. Just to add another alice in wonderland motif, their powers are a lot of hallucinations, weird dream like states and a lot of other physical symptoms associated with drug use. Overall, NOT a good time, wouldn't not recommend. This is the literal image of a nightmare blunt rotation.

Their eyes can probably do the little swirly, hypnosis kinda thing.

AND THEY GOT BODY HORROR FOR DAYS. I think their niche is being a contortionist and all the fun shit that goes with that!

Like the fucking Alexandrite lookin, double mouth/jaw under the face type of shit! Thats canon because that shits metal as fuck.

And so I had this thought of this fusion and how they interact with other fusions and like, I think Jackie is a bit conflicted lol. They are trying SO HARD to figure out if their attracted to this alley cat looking bitch or not lol. Are they attracted to them? Are they terrified of them?? Is it BOTH??? Who knows! But it has been FUN to think about.

[the-duchess-of-domination]

Hi! Just wanted to drop in and say that I really love the imagines you post, they're right up my alley and I think the way you write is really good <3 I'm also a lurker in the community and tbh the stuff you have in your intro post almost exactly match up with my own preferences, which is rare (especially with the off-screen emeto, most people are all-in and any imagines they write I have to stop halfway because it gets graphic even if they're good).

Anyways, I hope you're doing well and having a really good day!

ANON!!!!!!!! thank you so much for the kind words! im so glad my content resonates with you, and i hope you are prospering!

but yeah definitely, i like what i can only describe as “queasy” content. i LOVE LOVE LOVE men getting sick to their stomachs but i don’t want to like, see the actual throw up 😭 it’s so niche and specific, but i just prefer the act to be alluded to, or having a character like, run off screen or something silly (i might make a post about how i like when men act like, what i can only describe as “cartoonish” if that makes sense). in my research i find a lot of emetophiles are also emetophobic and the fantasy revolves around them taking control in an uncontrollable and uncomfortable situation

but anyway, let me hop off my soap box LMAO.

[less-than-three-3]

Cereza and the Lost Demon is so beautiful

I’m going to be totally honest, I partially bought this game out of spite because people were being really annoying about how “it didn’t look worth the price” and “it isn’t bayonetta so it’s bad :/” (I was interested in it too but that definitely catalyzed it lol)

Were they right? Ok, I think it’s kind of a cop out answer, but I think “if this type of game looks up your alley” then it totally is worth it, and it really carves its niche out fairly well. No it’s not bayonetta but like.... obviously not lmao? Funnily enough, actually, amidst the revival of the dumb “give me back old zelda” with totk on the horizon, I think this game hits a lot of the notes of the more linear temple-centric zeldas... 

It’s also a very pretty game in many ways, honestly possibly one of the most aesthetically appealing games on the switch overall, though I do have my gripes with gameplay. Full thoughts below, with minor spoilers so be warned.

I’m just going to start with what I loved about it, because if I dig into the gameplay first it’ll come off worse than it is, because my only real complaints were gameplay-related. The music was absolutely gorgeous and always so fitting, and the adaptations of music from the mainline games to this new aesthetic were done excellently. It might honestly be my favorite bayonetta soundtrack, and I really like those soundtracks. From fully orchestrated, lush environments, to more jovial lighthearted moments, to serious heartwrenching developments, the soundtrack covers everything so well. 

The art, too, was great. In addition to the painted artstyle, they do the thing that I fucking love in animation where there’s like a still textured background, and as the characters move, they like, move past the background? I don’t know what to call it, and the internet doesn’t know what to call it, but if you’ve seen Chowder or Gankutskuou you know exactly what I’m talking about lol. The painted aesthetic also lends itself to like actually creative uses more than just looking pretty too, most notably a part at the very end that was so touching, when you play it you’ll know what I mean. If there’s any small nitpick it’s just that the storybook format of cutscenes leads to just a few “stiff” moments? But it’s like totally understandable. 

That said, I loved the cozy storybook narration and framing, and I honestly don’t really get when people say it’s tonally inconsistent with bayonetta (I’m going to avoid the worst case explanation of this). The mythological vibes, for lack of a better word, are still extremely present, so people must just dislike that it’s a story about Cereza as a young girl? Because like obviously she isn’t going to be a badass, sexy witch as like, a 12 year old, but it’s not like the game moves the needle in the complete opposite direction and becomes a super cutesy wholesome 100 vibe. The vibe is, like I said, cozy, mythical, maybe whimsical, and yeah it’s at a slightly slower pace than the mainline games, but it’s not so out of the question, especially for a game exploring the journey of a young Cereza.

Her journey is not the deepest thing in the world, really, and it is kind of in part due to the set up of the game, where you have to collect these four elemental cores to unlock powers and get to the heart of the forest. Kind of like zelda, in a way. There are a couple twists and turns, but I think the main element is the growth of Cereza and Cheshire, independently and together. There are some tropey elements for sure, but I’ll be damned if I didn’t still tear up after certain events occur.

And speaking of zelda, I really felt like the overall gameplay loop was very reminiscent of that kind of style, but with a twist. As you traverse through each region, there are obstacles that serve as “puzzles” to solve to continue your path forward, sometimes using some mechanic that you may get in the future (there are literally bomb flowers lol), and then you get the upgrade, and solve more puzzles or traverse new types of land with the powers you unlocked. And of course, there are Tir na nOgs which, like literally everyone says, are pretty much semi-required shrines from BotW. Many of them presented interesting puzzles, some of them were just like tests of strength?? (like botw!) And of course this is all on top of the unique control scheme of controlling both Cereza and Cheshire with each side of the controller which certainly takes a good bit to get used to. The parts where you have both characters separately doing different tasks were really fun.

But, honestly, I felt like there wasn’t enough of that. Like I said there was a lot of combat trials, and honestly, even though I really did enjoy the combat, I almost wished there was less of it? There is a lot of fluidity possible between the 5 different stances Cheshire can get, and light and heavy combos, as well as bind combos, but besides that the enemies were hardly really that threatening (outside the bosses, which were certainly very cool fights) so it just felt more like an annoyance beyond the honeymoon period after I unlock a new skill. And it felt like it took away time from doing puzzles, which I wouldn’t call sparse but I would call just a little deficient. Maybe it’s because it’s relatively short, or the difficulty was designed to a younger audience? And as a result, I really didn’t feel like I wanted to go back to find the other Tir na nOgs, because their main reward was getting spirit orbs fragments of health, which I didn’t really feel was super necessary. And that’s a shame, because maybe I did miss out on some really cool puzzles. There are also upgrade materials for special skills Cereza and Cheshire can get, but I felt like I more or less got the ones I got from the materials I could get more conveniently. Overall it just kind of felt, both from a combat and puzzle standpoint, that they could have and maybe should have really fleshed it out more and get those gears turning. 

I also just would like to mention that the opening of the game felt glacially slow. Not just like introductory stuff, but pretty much everything until your skill tree gets unlocked (and you get your first elemental core relatively soon thereafter). I think I get why, because they not only want to actually set the exposition and I felt that was paced fine, but also let people get used to the dual stick movement once you get to control Cheshire. But man the base combat without any additional upgrades is not that interesting, and the very early puzzles were, obviously, pretty simple to ease you into it. I absolutely think after that part, things start to really open up and feel much much better, but that opening segment has gotta be like, a couple hours or so. 

Besides those gripes, though, I do think it’s at least a very visually pretty game with great music and a cozy story and setting, and the gameplay, if you’re vaguely interested in a game like this, definitely works well. While the extra chapter of this game does tie into Bayonetta 3, a game that I actually still haven’t played and am not planning to play soon, oops, the actual main story is fully independent. So regardless of if you’ve played a bayo game or not, if you think you’d like it, or if you’re one of those people who just really really wants old dungeons back in zelda, then I’d recommend it. Not my favorite, but a solid spinoff that I think they could really expand upon.

[wayward-dreamer]

Reluctant Renegade - Chapter 1

Pairing: Dean x Female!Reader

Word count: 1,812

Summary: After the night that saw his transformation into a vampire, resulting in the death of his wife, Dean spends his lifetime seeking revenge on the one that turned him. Reluctantly living outside the law because of what he is, he finds his niche as a bounty hunter, hired by families looking for someone, anyone to avenge the deaths of their loved ones. He doesn’t play by the rules, finding justice for the victims by any means necessary.

But as dead bodies rack up and catch the attention of a young, naive but by-the-book detective, she won’t stop until she finds out who's responsible for them. Dean knows he has to convince her of his innocence, but can he do that while maintaining his secret? And when the alpha that sired him finds him first, can he keep Y/N safe?

Warnings: Angst, attack, blood, tears, more angst.

A/N: Inspired by the song Blood Like Lemonade by Morcheeba. Beta’d by my love @evergreencowboy. Big thanks to @writercole for being one of my cheerleaders on this since the idea came to me. I'm so glad everyone enjoyed the prologue and I hope you continue to, happy reading! :)

Series is complete on Patreon!

Reluctant Renegade Masterlist

Hunting high and low

To seek revenge

Brand new moral code

Got made reluctant renegade

Present Day – Seattle, Washington

Sirens blared in the distance as traffic crawled, the cars resembling ants from Dean’s vantage point. He brought the cigarette between his fingers to his lips, taking a long drag before he blew out a large puff of smoke. He eyed the city streets below him, trying to drown out the necessary noise as he searched for a few in particular. An unsteady, frantic heartbeat. Short, staggered breaths. Rapid, heavy footfalls. All the other sounds cleared away as he focused, his shoulders tense as he heard exactly what he was hoping for. Flicking the cigarette away, he stepped off the ledge of the building.

The wind whipped against his face and his long, black coat before his heavy, black boots landed firm on the ground. He pulled the coat back into place as he sped off down the alley, his vision brighter in the dark than the streetlights. He weaved through the alleyways, small whimpers of fear growing louder as he grew closer to the victim. He sprinted around a corner, his boots scraping against the gravel as he stopped suddenly, his eyes landing on the three large figures huddled over the girl. He slowly sauntered forward, his feet landing heavily in the puddles of water scattered across the ground, causing the three men to turn around.

“Who the fuck are you?” one of them asked as he turned around, his face covered by a bandana, his eyes exposed.

Dean met his gaze but said nothing, his eyeline shifting to the girl. “Go.”

He reached for the man in front of him, grasping the lapels of his jacket and turning him around. From his peripheral, he saw the girl run down the alley and disappear around the corner, just as his fangs extended. He sank them into the man’s throat, a guttural scream leaving him as his blood coated Dean’s mouth, the bitter taste matching the vileness of the man. The other two ran towards him, causing Dean to drop the guy to the floor and face them, the blood dripping down his chin as he smirked. The second one came for him, grunting as he landed a right hook against Dean’s face which did nothing. Dean grabbed his fist as it came up again, twisting it up and hearing the bones crack, a painful cry escaping the man. He pushed the man back, the force sending him into the other guy behind him, both of them landing on the ground, groaning.

The two men took a second attempt to attack Dean, standing up from the floor and charging towards him. Dean raised his fist and jabbed one of them in the nose, sending him back as he clutched it in pain. The second one held his broken wrist in his hand, breathing heavily as he eyed Dean. He moved forward and swung his other arm, but Dean was quick in his actions, pulling him towards him as he tugged the man’s jacket down, biting into his neck. He screamed and thrashed as Dean covered his mouth, slowly sinking down to the floor as he drank. Satisfied with the amount he had withdrawn, he dropped the man to the floor like a rag doll, turning to the last one that sat against the brick wall, whimpering as he looked up at him.

“Pl-Please don’t,” he begged, shaking his head frantically as Dean approached him.

Dean heard his pleas but did nothing. He reached down and pulled him up by his jacket, staring deep into his fearful eyes. He tilted his head, observing the man in front of him, knowing there was no way he was going to listen to anything he had to say. People like him didn’t deserve to be left alive, not after what they had done. He smiled softly, offering the man a false hope that maybe his life would be spared. Dean’s fangs slid down over his teeth, and just as he saw the man’s eyes widen in shock, he leaned in and sank into the skin of his neck. The blood slipped down his throat, the taste just as sour as the other two men. The guy choked, gasping for breath as Dean sucked. He grasped his neck tight as he continued, draining every drop he could.

He dropped the body on the floor next to the other two men. Reaching into his coat, he took out his handkerchief, his thumb grazing over the embroidered “D” in blue stitching on the corner and wiped his mouth. He placed the stained cloth back in his pocket, his eyes scanning over the bodies. Pushing his coat aside, he reached into the back of his trousers, taking out the handgun he carried with him, along with the suppressor. Placing it on the gun, he flicked the safety off, pointing it at the first man he had bitten. Aiming at his chest, he pulled the trigger twice, shifting his aim to the next body and shooting him twice. He repeated the action with the last man, stepping back as he looked down at them.

Without a second thought about them, he turned and stalked away, taking the suppressor off and placing it inside his coat just as he put the gun back in his trousers. It was redundant, the gun, especially if he had drained the bodies first, but so far in his very long life it had been difficult for authorities to track him if there was more than one method of killing. He had been hired to kill those men, just like he had been with others that had committed crimes, and as far as he was concerned, he would get rid of them in his own way.

Seeing the fear in their eyes, the same fear they ignored in the victims they harmed, those men deserved to be sucked dry. He took pleasure in that, and the rewards didn’t hurt, either, even if he didn’t do much with the money.

Dean soon found himself rapping his knuckles against a dark, wooden door. It opened, his eyes meeting an elder woman’s, in her 50s, as tears rolled down her cheeks. He sighed and offered her a kind smile, a slow nod to confirm the thoughts that were running through her mind at that exact moment.

“It’s done.”

“Thank you,” she gasped, wiping her face as she walked back into the house, only to reappear a second later with a thick envelope. “Thank you, Mr. Winchester.”

“Dean’s fine, Mrs. Hart,” he corrected her, glancing down at the envelope as she handed it to him. “And you don’t need to thank me. Whatever I can do to help others… I’ll do it.”

The woman leaned forward, wrapping her arms around Dean and pulling him into a hug. She sobbed softly as his hand tapped against her back lightly, trying his best to soothe her. He didn’t know how much comfort it brought her to know that he had killed the men responsible for her daughter’s death, but like he had said, after his life had changed in the most horrific way possible all those years ago, he would do whatever he could to help.

Especially if it meant he could prevent the same thing from happening to others.

Leaving empty souls

When he avenged

Evil spirits flowed

He drank the blood like lemonade

Y/N stepped out of the car, shutting the door behind her as she adjusted her dark brown blazer. Making her way past the few cops in uniform and lifted the yellow tape slightly, bending underneath it and walking to the bodies. She stopped and observed as the forensic team took their photos and samples, seeing the three bodies lying in a row. Watching as the examiner turned the head of one of the men, the photographer leaning in to take a better photo of his neck, she noticed the bite marks on him and the other two, blood staining their skin.

“They’re all in their 30s, identical bite marks on their necks, same bullet patterns,” the examiner reported as he stood up to face her. “I’ll have to get them back to the lab to see if the blood was drained before they got shot.”

“Who found them?” she asked, glancing back at one of the cops that was at the scene.

He gestured to the back entrance of a store. “Owner of this convenience store, came in to open this morning and found them here.”

Turning on her heel, she took in the scene.  The marks on their necks were identical to two bodies they had discovered last month, and one the month before that. She wasn’t sure what kind of sick freak they had on their hands here, but she knew that she had to find them as soon as possible. Looking up, she smiled smugly as she noticed the security camera above the back entrance. Maybe they would get answers sooner than she expected.

“Williams,” she called out to the officer, waving him over. “Ask the owner for the footage from last night until this morning. I want it all, we can narrow it down later.”

“Sure thing, Y/N,” Williams said, before stepping inside the store.

Y/N’s heels clicked against the ground as she stalked over to the coroner’s van. Flipping through the plastic bags of evidence, she found their IDs, picking up one in particular. The blonde-haired, blue-eyed body in the middle, Jake Edwards, looked entirely too familiar and she needed to know why. She took her phone and quickly found the number she needed, pressing it to her ear.

“Hey, where are you right now?” she asked the person on the other end. “No, I’m about to leave so head straight into the station. Can you look up the name Jake Edwards when you get there? I got a feeling about it that I can’t shake. Thanks.”

Hanging up, Y/N marched back to the car and got in, driving away from the scene as the team continued to pack evidence and load the bodies into the vans. Her fingers drummed against the steering wheel, her mind reeling as she thought about that name over and over. She had a feeling it was linked to a report that had come in a few weeks prior, that the other detectives did nothing about, which wasn’t an uncommon occurrence even if she wished it was. She had to be sure, because six bodies in such a short amount of time meant she was already several steps behind the suspect.

She was nothing if not determined and prepared to do what was right, and she wasn’t about to let this person continue their rampage through the whole city she had sworn to protect.

If you’re crossed out, I couldn’t tag you! Join my taglist! :)

Forevers: @evergreencowboy // @makeadealwithdean // @writercole // @flamencodiva​ // @that-one-gay-girl // @440mxs-wife // @lassie-bird // @defenderrosetyler​ // @lunarmoon8​ // @foxyjwls007​ // @weepingwillowphoenix​ // @sexyvixen7​ // @prettyboyswow​ // @babypink224221​ // @vicmc624​ // @redbarn1995​ // @stoneyggirl​ // @stoneyggirl2​ // @katelyn--renee​ //  

Supernatural: @creatively-analytical​ // @winchest09​ // @deanwanddamons​ // @jensengirl83​ // @watermelonlipstick​ // @thinkinghardhardlythinking​ // @deans-baby-momma​ // @idreamofdeanie​ // @krazykelly​ // @emoryhemsworth​ // @tatted-trina6​ // @whiskey-infused-dreams​ // @chaoticpersonasploural​ // @unfortunate-brat​ // @smellingofpoetry​ // @kyjey​ // @snowlovespie​ // @hobby27​ // @stixnstripesworld​ // @pixie88​ // @kazsrm67 // @wickedinspirations​ // @dean-winchester-lover99​ // @desimarie12​ //

Dean/Jensen: @whatareyousearchingfordean​ // @jerkbitchidjitassbutt​ // @perpetualabsurdity​ // @siospins2​ // @roonyxx​ // @pink-sparkly-witch​ // @supernatural-love14​ // @michellethetvaddict​ // @akshi8278​ // @deanswaywardgirl​ // @verytoadpapersoul​ // @waynes-multiverse​ // @teresa-67​ // @sexysirius​ // @dean-winchesters-gardian-angel​ // @candy-coated-misery0731​ // @love-jackles​ // @lessons-of-red​ // @globetrotter28​ //

[baekhvuns]

That's okay, Sydney is a beautiful place to be.

It's very different to Melbourne & Gold Coast though.

It's very easy to get lost in Sydney b/c there's all little alley ways & tiny side streets that Google Maps does not pick up so I would recommend Googling it before-hand.

If you're coming by yourself, Sydney is pretty safe but if you ever feel a bit anxious. The McDonald's in the CBD are always open 24 hours so you can just sit in there.

The 7/11's are also open 24 hours too.

Public transport usually stops after midnight so if you're planning on staying out later than that, Uber is your best option.

Everything in Sydney is really expensive so I would save up more than what you think b/c a bottle of water in the CBD is like $5.00.

I mean, you're Canadian so you're not going to have this problem but politeness is big in Sydney.

If you're on the bus, saying thank you to the bus driver, saying 'please' & 'thank you' whenever you go anywhere.

It's so simple but you will be treated with more respect if you do so.

It's considered rude in Sydney if you're on your phone while ordering something, I know it sounds really menial but you'd be surprised at how often it happens.

If you want a genuine Sydney experience, don't go to big franchises ie Starbucks but instead go to small business like lil cafe's in the side streets.

They are really expensive like a smashed avocado will cost you $20 but if you really want the 'Sydney' experience, it is worth it.

Carriageworks in Redfern every Saturday has the farmer's markets where small, ethical businesses sell food, accessories etc. it's really niche if that's your thing.

Forgive me if I'm intruding, how long will you be in Sydney for? That way I can give you the top main attractions you need to see.

thank u so so much again pls 😭😭😭😭😭 the bus things is exactly the same here! will keep those in mind THATS so vv nice of u to mention 😭😭 iDk atm how long perhaps a month and a half! bc aussie’s summer is during my winter 😭😭 but i will reach out to u absolutely when im there or am going!!! really seriously thank u so much for all of this 😭😭<33333

[webotix]

LOCAL SEO: BOOST YOUR ONLINE PRESENCE WITH DIGITAL MARKETING AGENCY IN DUBAI, UAE (2024)

0  

By webotix  Uncategorized  March 14, 2024

INTRODUCTION

Picture this: you’re a local business owner, proudly serving your community with your exceptional products or services without any SEO marketing. You’ve poured your heart and soul into your venture, but there’s just one problem: you don’t have any website and SEO services—your online presence is about as visible as a ninja in a dark alley. Fear not, my friend, for a local SEO agency in Dubai like us is here to save the day!

WHAT IS LOCAL SEO?

Best local SEO is the secret weapon used by SEO companies, as we do, that helps your business stand out in the vast digital universe. It’s like a spotlight shining directly on your store, guiding potential customers straight to your doorstep. By optimising your online presence for Google local search optimization, you’re telling search engines, “Hey, I’m here, and I’m ready to serve my community!”

WHY LOCAL SEO MATTERS?

Gone are the days when you wandered through the streets, hoping to stumble upon the best SEO firms. Today, consumers turn to their trusty search engines to find local gems as you search for the best SEO company near me. In fact, a whopping 46% of all Google searches are local! If you’re not showing up in those search results, you might as well be invisible without marketing and SEO.

CLAIMING YOUR GOOGLE MY BUSINESS LISTING

The first step to improve local SEO journey of yours is to claim your Google My Business (GMB) listing. This is like planting a flag on the digital map, proclaiming, “I am here, and I am awesome!” Your GMB listing includes crucial information like your business name, address, phone number, website, and hours of operation. It’s the virtual equivalent of a neon sign pointing directly to your store, which can be done only through local SEO optimization.

OPTIMISING YOUR GMB LISTING

Now that you’ve claimed your listing, it’s time to make it shine by using digital marketing SEO. Add some dazzling photos of your products, your team, and your location. Encourage your satisfied customers to leave glowing reviews, as these act like digital high-fives, boosting your credibility. And don’t forget to sprinkle in some relevant keywords, so search engines know exactly what you offer. This is what SEO and SEM services do to your business.

BUILDING LOCAL CITATIONS

Local citations are like online name tags for your business like what we have as an advertising agency. They include your business name, address, and phone number (NAP) on various online directories and websites. Consistency is key here—make sure your NAP is identical across all platforms, or you might confuse search engines (and we don’t want that!). The greater the number of local citations your business accumulates, the higher the level of trust it garners from search engines for lead generation. But doing this takes a bit of patience, and you should have time to do it. That is where we play a vital role as a digital marketing company.

CREATING LOCAL CONTENT

Imagine you’re a local bakery famous for your mouth watering cupcakes. Why not create a blog post about “The Best Cupcake Flavors in [Your City]”? Local content helps you connect with your community through creative content marketing and shows search engines that you’re an authority in your area with a great marketing strategy plan. Share your local expertise, participate in community events, and become the go-to source for all things related to your niche through this automated marketing.

ENCOURAGING CUSTOMER REVIEWS

Reviews are the digital equivalent of word-of-mouth marketing. When a happy customer sings your praises online, it’s like a standing ovation for your business in search engine marketing. Encourage your customers to leave reviews on your GMB listing, Yelp, and other relevant platforms that work as search engine optimizers. Respond to reviews, both positive and negative, to show that you value your customers’ feedback and are committed to providing excellent service. Conclusion

LOCAL SEO OPTIMIZATION

is the key to unlocking your business’s online potential. By claiming your GMB listing, optimizing your online presence, building local citations, creating local content, and encouraging customer reviews, you’ll be well on your way to dominating your local market. So, put on your SEO cape, for proper guidance from an ad agency contact us, and get ready to boost your online presence to superhero levels

[kumiiko]

THEY RELEASED THE SASAMIYA OST IFHFHDKSBDJSJDBG

[filthforfriends]

who: Ethan

what: fluff

when: day time

where: Tiny hole in the wall record store

why: The band is stuck in New York for a couple days because of flights being a bitch. So they go exploring and find a sign that takes them down an alley to the store. The lady at the counter is there and Ethan finds a Muse.

"It smells like old people."

"I think that's a good thing, means it's authentic."

"Guys, don't be rude," Ethan scolds. All four of them traipsing through Hell's Kitchen was a sight, but what better way to kill time. An epic storm in the middle of the Atlantic had delayed their flights. Victoria dragged Thomas over to the Joni Mitchell records. Damiano was flipping through the many glam rock live albums, some of which were actually made in the 80s. Ethan perused the isles, people watching just as much as record shopping.

Various characters moseyed around the store. An old man with a rat-sized dog that also resembled a rat and a couple of people in giant coats the reeked of mildew There was a group of high schoolers who were obviously trying on the hipster identity, chattering excitedly. Of course there was some vintage record fanatic with his glasses down to the tip of his nose, squinting and gaffing at rough edges.

Ethan wasn't planning on buying anything and lugging it to the other side of the world until he saw the Deep Purple records. He flipped through the discography at record speed, in search of their Made in Japan live album.

"Ian Paice rules," said a voice next to him.

"Yeah he's one of my idols." Ethan didn't look up when he spoke, too focused on his quest.

"So you're a drummer then?"

"I am actually," he responded, pleasantly surprised. Most people saw the hair and didn't figure anyone behind a kit would bother with it. When he looked up he was met with garish clash of color and pattern. A textured skirt over psychedelic, 70s trousers. Some sort of short sleeve chiffon blouse over a bright orange long sleeve with a Stevie Nicks' shawl on top. When Ethan's eyes finished the epic journey to this person's face, he found it surprisingly bare of makeup, adorned with only eyeliner and freckles.

"I'm Ona, and you should listen to this." Ironically, an album with the word Rainbow on the cover was thrust into his hands. "It doesn't have Paice, but it's part of that whole convoluted, family that started with Deep Purple." Ethan was struggling to keep his grin close-lipped. It was rare to meet people that nerded out over this particular niche of music. Most people only cared for the enigma of Ozzy Osbourne and raw power of Black Sabbath.

"Thank you," he exclaimed, trying to put enough emphasis on the words and failing. "Really! This is...this is really cool. Who is it? Or -sorry my English isn't very good"

"Its chill. My mom speaks basically no English, so I'm good with accents. It's Richie Blackmore's band. If you ever find an album that says Blackmore's Rainbow it's valuable. They didn't print those for long." Ona points out where the title would be different and their hand brushes Ethans. He's aware of exactly how close they're standing, can maybe even feel the heat from their body as they speak.

"I'm surprised he convinced anyone to be in a band with him. again."

"Right?" He adores the squawking laugh Ona lets out and the round apples of their cheeks as they smile. He can imagine making a drum groove in the style of their voice's cadence. The kick drum would be the beating heart and the high hat their giggle. Even the creak of their boots as the rock back on heel has a compelling rhythm.

"Can I record the way you talk?" Ona's eye brows raise in surprise.

"You're the one with the cute accent, babe."

"I -" Ethan feels himself blush, and looks back at the record. "You remind me of a song I want to write. I'm not sure how to say it." His hands gesticulate as he struggles, but no better words come. "Cazzo," he mutters. Ona reaches out a delicate hand to rest on Ethan's wrist, assuringly.

"Fuck the English language, thats the best compliment anyone has ever given me in this life."

the album:

the convoluted family tree:

send me a who/what/when/where/why blurb request!

[readingandsiamese]

Chase's turn for the kiss prompt! What can I say, this one spoke to me.

Shepherds of Haven belongs to Lena Nguyen, @shepherds-of-haven .

Warnings: kissing, nsfw references, Mageism, a real jerk OC, authority figure abusing it, some spoilers for ShoH, another skeezy alley

***

Chase would enthusiastically dip the MC in a grandiose gesture and make out with them in front of everybody–and if the Inquisitors were to clear their throat, he’d hold up a finger and prolong the kiss just to rub it in.

-Lena Nguyen

***

Alley Encounter

Kienne Rosen replaced the brick in the wall of the alley, hiding the tome she'd placed in the hidden niche. It was one of a few secret stashes that Chase had shown her, and she figured he wouldn't mind. Frankly, she was lucky she'd known of one in this part of Haven.

There was someone behind her--she whirled, hand on her gun.

"I come with peaceful intentions, Sunshine," Chase Trinaeste said, smirking.

Kienne let out a breath. "Chase, you shouldn't be here."

"I shouldn't be near my own cache?" Chase asked.

The red haired Mage glanced at the mouth of the alley. "There's a pair of Inquisitors tailing me-"

Chase's smile widened. "You started date night without me?!"

She shook her head, red ringlets bouncing. "Chase, this is my mess."

"But getting out of a mess caused by thievery is my thing. Did you steal from an Inquisitor's raid? If you did, we're going back to one of our rooms right now."

She bit her lip to stop a smile. "Try to be serious for a second. I'm not stealing, the owner gave it to me right before she got inspected. It's a spellbook."

Had there been a flash of worry in his green eyes? If so, he'd covered it quickly. "You really intervened in an Inquisitor matter?"

"Not exactly," the Mage replied. "I was already in the clinic when the Inquisitors showed for a random inspection. The owner gave me a spell book since it was the only thing she had that was questionable and it wouldn't burn in time."

"Putting yourself in danger and risking Spike's ire. A woman after my own heart. So you said they're following you?" Despite the flippant, playful tone in Chase's voice, Kienne picked up on the edge under the surface.

Kienne scowled. "I'm helping a licensed healer, but the book isn't about healing. Now I hope they'll leave her alone, but they heard me go out the back and a few followed. Stupid hinges."

"Count me in," Chase said.

The Inquisitors in question were coming, based on the stomping of boots.

"We need a reason we went into the alley!"

"Alleys are known for mugging and killing and pissing and desperate liaisons," Chase suggested helpfully. "Hopefully not in that order."

Key sighed. "I'm not going to mug or kill you or squat."

Chase grinned and pulled her to him. Make love it is, his expression said. He gave her an enthusiastic, bend-her-over-backwards, kiss.

The Inquisitors headed for them.

"Excuse me," one of them said.

The Prince of Thieves held up a finger, indicating they should wait. Despite herself, Kienne was smiling through the kiss. Slowly he let her up.

"You there. Bright eyes. What are you doing in this alley?" the more aggressive of the Inquisitors asked.

Kienne didn't react to what he called her, but she saw Chase's eyes glitter. The thief was looking over the man as if memorizing his features for a later date.

"I'm sure you can figure out what we were doing," the leader of the Thieves Guild finally said, putting his arm around Kienne.

Key made sure to blush; it wasn't difficult. "We're heading home now, sir."

"Did you flee a scene we were investigating a few minutes ago?" the man, square jawed and balding with bushy blonde muttonchops, asked.

"No, that wasn't us," she said. "There was a crime?"

"It's possible," the quieter of the Inquisitors said, not sounding convinced. She was thin and looked perpetually tired, possibly due to dealing with her partner. "We were doing a routine inspection and someone left, not responding to our hail. You wouldn't know anything about that?"

That one was more polite, more cautious.

"Not us," Chase said.

"You look flushed and are breathing a little hard like you might have been running," Muttonchops said, looking over Kienne.

"My kisses do that to her every time," Chase replied with a charming smile.

"My partner thought the person who left might have taken something illegal with them," the female Inquisitor continued. "A Mage weapon or a text."

"I can't even read," Chase said.

Always so flippant. But not entirely accurate; he could read now, a little, and improved every day.

"It wasn't us," Kienne added.

"I'm sure you wouldn't mind proving it," Muttonchops snapped. "I'll search the hedgewitch."

He moved towards Kienne who refused to react to the slur.

Chase stepped in his way. "Books are big. I'm sure you can spot them easily enough."

He spread out his arms and turned.

The Inquisitor looked like he wanted to slam Chase against the wall, but his partner said, "Now you."

Kienne took off her cloak, shook it, then spread her arms and turned slowly.

"Doesn't mean you weren't there. You lot stick together," the man spat. "We're searching the alley. If I find that book, you'll regret it."

"If you don't find anything? Who regrets it then?" Chase asked in a genuinely curious voice. Kienne elbowed him.

"You got a problem, boy? You shouldn't even be with that-"

"Careful how you finish that sentence," Chase said in a sing-song tone.

Muttonchops squared up to Chase. The Inquisitor outweighed the thief and was taller, but the thief looked unconcerned.

"Help me look, Reyse," the female Inquisitor said. "I don't want to be out all night."

Finally, Muttonchops pulled away. The Inquisitors searched the alley with Kienne and Chase leaning against a wall the whole time, but nothing was found.

"Let's go," the tired woman said.

"You're off the hook now," Muttonchops --Reyse--said. "But I never forget a face."

"Funny, neither do I," Chase replied. He said it so innocently, so blandly, that the man allowed his partner to pull him away.

Kienne let out a sigh of relief and put her arm around Chase. He slung an arm around her, too, but he was still looking in the direction the Inquisitors had left.

"Chase. Leave it. He's not important."

Chase turned to her. "You're right. Get your book--you're welcome for me showing you such a good hiding place--and we can finish what we started."

"What did we start?" she asked and then he was bending her backward, kissing her again.

A Week Later

Kienne had grabbed her breakfast tray, ready to head to a table.

She glanced up as she saw her squad rushing toward her. Well, Cybele Minte was hurrying towards her with Justyn Hattoc at her side. Daren Corby was close behind them, scowling, followed by a seemingly reluctant Ysa Ull.

"Did you hear?" Cybele Minte said in a rush. Apparently gossiping gave the elf the ability to move quickly.

"What?" They were off duty, so Kienne wouldn't chide her for gossipping.

"One of the Inquisitors was arrested! He got taken to the Chrysalis for questioning. All sorts of magical stuff was found in his rooms, like he'd been hoarding it!"

Chase walked in and waved at her from across the room. She held up a hand to indicate she'd join him in a minute.

"Please try to have some sense of decorum, Cybele," Daren said. "I doubt Captain Rosen is interested-"

"What was his name?" Kienne asked, thinking about how her green eyed thief hadn't stopped by much in the last week.

Cybele shrugged. "I dunno, good riddance I say."

"It was Alistair Reyse," Justyn said.

"Oh. Make sure you eat up, recruits, we're training later," Kienne replied before she headed for Chase and put her tray down at his table.

"Hello stranger," she said, sea-colored eyes locking onto green. "It's been awhile."

He smirked. "Have you been pining, Sunshine?"

"Did you hear about Inquisitor Reyse?" Kienne asked directly. "Arrested for harboring magical artifacts?"

"Sounds like poetic justice," Chase said.

"Uh huh," she said. "Did he have any artifacts?"

"He must have when they searched his place," Chase replied. "Or they wouldn't have arrested him."

"Chase?"

"Hmm?"

"Remind me to thank you again, later," the red head said.

"For what?"

"For everything."

"I'll never let anyone get away with threatening you, Key."

It was as close to an admission as she'd get.

"Where did you get magical artifacts?"

Chase just grinned, smug like a cat. "Who said I did? But to answer you, it's funny how easy it is to find forbidden things if you try really hard and are around a bunch of Mages. Don't worry. I'm sure that if someone did plant things, they would've had a Mage check them first. No need for the Inquisitors to get hold of anything dangerous."

"If not weapons or books, what would it be?"

"I have it on good authority that the Inquisitor had a floor full of quack cures for impotence, fake love potions, and premature baldness charms."

Kienne started to laugh.

[ragsweas]

Hobbit Fic Rec List!

MODERN AU!

Hello! I always wanted to share a gigantic list of awesome works in Hobbit fanfic, but realized they are too many. So let's start small. A few modern AU that everybody has to read!

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How to fall in love in 100 days by Kytanna

As their lives intertwine, Thorin, Bilbo, and their nephews learn the meaning of finding a family, love and the hard path towards healing. All, over the course of a hundred days.

A lovely piece with all the cuteness and fluff.

Softer Strokes by autisticalistair

Thorin is a well-known artist living a secluded life in the Swiss Alps. Bilbo is a former history professor living in a trauma rehabilitation centre after a devastating accident that took his parents lives. Through a mutual friend, Bilbo finds himself in Switzerland, and Thorin finds himself with company for the next few months, and neither of them are prepared for what that will bring.

I'll never say 'I love you' by JustReadingMaybeWriting

Bilbo is a veterinary student who one night saves the life a handsome but wounded man. Bilbo should have called an ambulance. If he had called an ambulance, he wouldn't be in this weird mess. He certainly wouldn't be falling in love with the man he saved, who can't seem to leave him alone.

This one's a bit dark, but I love it.

painted blind by nasri

The last time Bilbo stepped foot in Aberdeen it was with a broken heart and a bachelor’s degree. All things considered, this time isn’t so different.

Plan B by Drenagon

Plan B: an alternative strategy; a contingency plan, devised for an outcome other than the expected plan.

Or, sending an unqualified temp to act as Thorin Oakenshield's PA because no one qualified can put up with him.

(He'd say they can't meet his standards. Of course he would.)

Meet Bilbo Baggins. He just became Plan B.

One Modern!AU I always wanted to read and this is just it! It's amazing!! And the whole COmpany is there!!

A Land Far Away by Prollyaghost (Callmerin)

"If we were in a different time or place, this story may have begun with ‘once upon a time’, or even ‘In a hole in the ground, there lived…’ But as it so happens, we are in this time and place, in the outskirts of London, where there are no ‘once upon a times’ and the only holes in grounds lead to sewage tunnels. There does happen to be, however, a man who has dedicated a great deal of his life studying these ‘once upon a time’s. He is an English teacher, enjoys afternoon teas with homemade raisin scones, and he most certainly does not believe in fairy-tales.

His name is Bilbo Baggins, and that last bit about him is about to change."

Bilbo Baggins, an English teacher who has never been outside of England, suddenly finds himself thrust into an adventure when a strange man named Thorin Oakenshield requires his help to fulfil his father’s dying wish. Turns out studying the niche topic of the ancient, fictional society of dwarves was more useful than his parents could have imagined. Plunged into a forgotten land, Thorin and Bilbo must find the mythical Arkenstone, before the legends of the past come back to haunt modern society.

Okay, this one's a WIP, but damn the premise is super interesting and honestly can't wait for the next update!

Nothing Gold Can Stay by perkynurples

Bilbo Baggins led a rather peaceful life, thank you very much, until an old acquaintance decided to turn it upside down, and he found himself agreeing to take a job that’s… let’s say not exactly up his alley, and might eventually cost him a little more than his treasured cozy lifestyle. Who would have thought tutoring a slightly menacing monarch’s more than slightly overbearing nephew could prove to be such an adventure?

This is one of the fics that does not need an introduction. No matter how many times you read this, it isn't enough. And we all love Fili and Kili here.

What to do When Your Cat is an Asshole by lily_winterwood

“You have a cat?” asks the face on the screen. “Yes. His name’s Smaug, he’s orange, and he’s an asshole. Aren’t you, Smaug?” Surly Food Provider glowers at me, which, of course, I am immune to. “Aren’t you a little asshole?” I don’t see why he needs to call me that. My butthole is perfectly licked, and it smells wonderful.

The AU where Smaug is Thorin's asshole cat. Written for the Bagginshield Unexpected Anniversary.

This one's small, and hilarious and even better if you imagine Benedryl Cucumbersnatch narrating the whole thing

No Ordinary Love by badskippy

Bilbo and Ori have been best friends since they were ten years old and tragedy brought them together. Now, a new job, a sudden rainstorm, a chance meeting and budding romance with a burly, handsome stranger will not only alter their lives, but set in motion events that will change everyone around them, and reveal how lies, deceit and assumptions can leave deeper scars than the ones that can be seen.

WIP, unfinished, but damn was this an interesting tale. For anybody who loves angst, go give it a read!

Remember Me by thehistorygeek

Bilbo Baggins and Thorin Oakenshield are destined to suffer. In every life they live, in every age, in every era, they meet, and this meeting brings back all the memories of the lives that have come before. But every meeting serves also as a death sentence, for once they have met, one of them is doomed to die soon after, usually tragically and prematurely. They remember nothing of their past lives until they meet, and once they have there is nothing that can be done to stop their fate.

For anyone obsessed with Reincarnation and/or History, this is it.

A Remover of Obstacles by MistakenMagic

"Dis often chided her older brother for being a misanthropist. She did it so often it had become a term of endearment. It was true that Thorin struggled with people; he struggled to form and maintain relationships. Dr. Grey had diagnosed him with this and Thorin hadn’t the heart to tell him this wasn’t a symptom of his PTSD, it was a symptom of his personality. He exercised a sense of apathy with almost everyone he met… But Bilbo was different. Thorin actually found himself wanting to know more about him."

Another fic that DOES NOT need an introduction. I have read it thrice and every time the emotions are still the same. Trigger Warnings, but damn this is all worth it.

An Unexpected Meeting by what_am_i_even_doing_tho

This is the chronicling of the modern day shenanigans of Bilbo Baggins, who is an absolute gay disaster, and Thorin Oakenshield, who is unashamedly enamored. Aka, the modern Bagginshield AU that no one ever asked for but they're getting anyway.

green and gilded by nasri

The next time he visits his parents there are flowers left in the grass, pressed back against the gravestone. They are yellow and white daffodils, plain and wilting.

“Who’s been to see you?” He asks, taking a single photo of the flowers with their drooping stems and curled petals and the wet winter grass that surrounds them. His mother would call it kind, his father might say it's curious, and Bilbo takes another petal to tuck into his pocket.

You know those stories that you read once and then they never leave your head? And somehow your whole life begins to revolve around that one story? Yeah, this is it. Spoilers in tag and I would suggest you read before advancing cause many people do not like it, but even if you are not in that group, just give it a read. This story deserves all the reads.

Bran' New Suit by pibroch (littleblackdog)

Andrew's description had been sufficient to recognize him— a riot of honey brown curls, short in stature, a well-favoured face with expressive features— but it hadn't quite been enough to prepare Tom for the sharp, almost painful tug in his gut at the sight of the man. They had never met before, to the best of Tom's recollection, but there was something eerily and inexplicably familiar about him all the same.

One of the first Modern AU I read and dauym...you won't get it until the end but then...it's fun.

Under New Management by frostyjack

Fili's life is pretty good -- he's doing well at university, he gets on well with his uncle and guardian Thorin, and he's never likely to know what it's like to be poor or unwanted. Then Thorin takes in a foster child -- Kili Oakenshield, a long-lost relative whose past is a total mystery. Suddenly, Fili's life gets a whole lot more complicated. But maybe it gets better, too.

Lots of trigger warning for this one, but when the end comes, you'll know it's all been worth it.

One-Sided Conversations by northerntrash

"Thank you for listening," Thorin said, getting to his feet. "I hope to be able to return the favour, one day."

The man on the bed didn't respond, but since he'd been in a coma for longer than Thorin had known him, that wasn't entirely surprising.

(Not Quite) Prince Charming by manic_intent

The problem, Bilbo would later tell Gandalf in aggrieved irritation, was not so much the unannounced visitors, oh no, but the fact that due to the lateness of the hour and sheer merciless fate, it came to be that at the respectable age of forty, Bilbo was being introduced to a real, live king while wearing striped pyjamas and fluffy slippers.

The Making of a Story by northerntrash

When Bilbo finds a case of old family photographs, he becomes determined to find the original owners: what he does not expect is to become quite so involved in their lives, or that those photographs should prove quite so important.

Misunderstandings and other obstacles for love by ylc

This series dammit! It's amazing, and the dynamics you would ask from a Modern AU.

Candle Glow and Mistletoe by euseevius

Bilbo and Thorin have been married for six months now. The thing is, Thorin’s family doesn’t know this. And because pretending to be just friends for the three weeks you’re going to spend at the family cabin is so much easier than telling the truth, that is what they will do.

(Of course Bilbo has his own ideas of how believable it is for a grown man to bring a friend to spend Christmas with his family. That’s why they make a bet out of it.)

For days you need to just laugh at these two idiots.

The Lost Kingdom of Erebor by Twisted_Barbie

AU. The Lost Kingdom of Erebor is shrouded in myth, likened to the heavens and compared to Atlantis. Until an archaeological discovery unearths that which was lost and awakens the Mad King from his cursed eternal rest.

Not a happy ending, and mysterious and you need to give it a read. Just, do it. It will all be worth it.

Of Palaces and Ruins by livelongandgetiton

Slow burn. Bilbo Baggins is a half-baked archaeologist who has put his dreams of adventure on hold to teach secondary school. Thorin is the grandson of a politically powerful figure in the historically rich and deeply isolationist country of Erebor. When he flees conflict and corruption in Erebor to settle in London, he finds his hands full with two young boys. Gandalf meddles, and Bilbo signs on as a personal tutor for the boys in hopes of getting a foot in the door to archaeological work in Erebor. He soon discovers that Thorin is a tough nut to crack. As Bilbo takes care of the boys he and Thorin grow closer, and secrets about not just the brooding stranger, but the mysterious country and politics of Erebor begin to unravel. It turns out that Bilbo isn't leaving adventure behind, after all.

WIP, updating. JUST READ IT!!!

Write Me Down Easy by lucyraebrown

Bilbo Baggins, a simple man with a wish for something more than his life teaching high school English, is obsessed with a famous author by the pen-name Oakenshield. Although he knows the future is dim for his chances of finding out about the man behind his favorite book, it's reassuring to know someone has the same thoughts about the world.

WIP, updating. It's mostly fuff and happiness, so yesss...feed your inner Bagginshield!

Show Me My Silver Lining by BiSquared

Three years after the hostile takeover of his grandfather's record label by one DJ Smaug, lead singer Thorin Oakenshield is ready to give up on his dreams, even if his band isn't ready to give up on him. If Thorin can convince talent scout Bilbo Baggins to sign them, they might just have a fighting chance. Of course, this is the night when Thorin gets stage fright.

The music industry AU no one asked for.

Love-In-Idleness by perkynurples       

Taking Bilbo Baggins, a successful movie actor who is only just getting used to the perks and intricacies of becoming A Face People Want To See, and putting him together with Thorin Oakenshield, with his very traditional (read: slightly backwards) ideas about what constitutes Real Art and Real Talent, might very well be viewed as just some clothead’s idea of a joke. But there are jokes, and then there are carefully calculated risks the size of controversial reproductions of classic Shakespearean plays - for Bilbo, it is the chance of a lifetime to prove himself to all those who have ever deemed him too one-dimensional to even attempt stage, while Thorin has the opportunity to get out of the rut that’s been hindering his career for so long now, and shine in a role worthy of his talent once again. That is if the two learn how to share the same space for more than ten minutes without wanting to tear each other’s hair out. The course of true love never did run smooth, after all…

Did I read this in one go? Yes I did. Did I fall in love with Bagginshiled all over again? Yes I did.

.......*.......

And that's the list folks! I hope you guys have fun reading all of these nice fics! (And all the bagginshield angst/fuff)

[drysuitdivingdrone1950]

FAGGOT ALLEY PART 7

FAGGOT ALLEY (Part 7)  

It is difficult to keep track of night and day when your space ship is constantly exposed to the sun.  I tended to lose all sense of time.  Whenever I looked at my watch I had to also figure out if it was AM or PM.  Fortunately, the watch I had has an indicator for AM and PM.  I would be lost without it.  My watch indicated it was now 1 am on Faggot Alley.  Which would explain why all of us were feeling a lot of fatigue about now.

The commander indicated we need to rest up for a while.  He also instructed us to bunk up with our partners.  I looked over at Austin and thought it would be a good time to rekindle our friendship.  For some reason he had been rather quiet around me since we were in the space capsule.  

“Everything ok?”  I asked Austin when we were alone.  

“I guess so!”  He responded.

“Come on!” I snapped back, “Give it to me straight.  I thought you were becoming a close friend when we first got to know each other on Faggot Alley.  It really hurt me when you went missing.”

“Well to start with…”  Austin briefly paused, “I have no clue on how to be or act straight!”

I gave a big smile, “Same thing could be said about me!”

“You are blowing several of my stereotypes!” Austin continued, “I have never met a gay Arab before and every gay cop I met not only had a big dick but also was one!”

All I could do was burst out into laughter and hold out my arms for an embrace.  As we embraced a tear ran down my face.  

“And a little cry baby to top it all off!” Austin’s bear hug was taking my breath away.  

He loosened his embrace and we just looked eye to eye as if we were looking into each other’s soul.  

Austin continued, “It blows my mind that you would also want to become a piece of Masters.”

This was the first awareness I had that Austin and I shared those same feelings for Masters.  

He continued, “It would not surprise me at all if we all become a piece of him!”

“You think so?”  I responded with a puzzled look on my face, “That would not be very profitable for the commander who has other plans for us.”  

“You have a point there!”  Austin contemplated.  “I know all of the others have shared similar feelings for Masters.  But you! You have been the most open and obvious of all. Also, Masters seems to be responding favorably to you as well.”  

“Good thing for me.”  I replied.

“Have you given any thought as to what you would wear… You know…How would you go in and how would you want to present yourself for the next million years?”  

“Oh, I sure have given it a lot of thought!”  I indicated.

“My dive buddy once captured a picture of me. ‘SIZZLE’ was his description of it.”

I went on to share a description of the picture with me in my wet suit and scuba gear.  

“That sounds pretty dam hot!”  Austin indicated, “I am trying to picture it in my head now.”

I assumed the pose I had in the picture.  “Just put a wet suit and scuba gear on this with my mask hung backwards over my head.”

“YEP!”  Austin expressed his thoughts, “Definitely SIZZLE!”

“That Mona Lisa smirk of yours just kills me! Your puppy dog eyes put me over the top!”

He paused briefly, “It is not the typical image you come up with when you think of an alpha.  But the more you think about it, the more you look at it, the DEEPER you go, the harder it gets!”

“EXACTLY!”  I nodded. “That would be the way to go!”

“You probably would not turn everyone on, but you would definitely have a special niche!”

Austin gave me high five. “A niche that would certainly work for me!”

“Austin!”  I asked, “What would your Alpha be?”

“I have been a faggot so long it is difficult for me to imagine myself as an Alpha.  Masters already has enough leather alphas in him to last more than our lifetimes.  Also, I am not a suit and tie kinda guy so I have eliminated those options.  There are some wrestlers and football jocks that appeal to me but they all seem to blend together.  Like you I am looking for something that would stand out in a crowd.”  

He paused briefly, “That is probably what every guy on line is trying to do.  Trying to make a good impression so they can go around busting their nutz.”

“I sometimes wonder if Masters is strictly an Alpha top? I posed the question, “Perhaps he would consider and also enjoy getting fucked from time to time. Become the ultimate SWITCH.  I do know he liked the taste of Alpha cum when I shared it with him in a kiss.”  

“Get the hell out of here!!  You did WHAT??”  Austin thought for a moment, “We will have to check that out with him!”

[gunkreads]

I saw your post on where you described your favourite niche and it sounds right up my alley! Would you have any books to recommend that you have found since you posted it? I would really appreciate any suggestions - I just finished the long way to a small angry planet and I would love to find some similar books!!

Well... unfortunately Small Angry Planet is one of the few good examples I have of that niche. I think that, actual book recs aside, the best general advice I can give is to pick up books that look kinda shitty. Something published 20+ years ago with terrible cover art where the first page is like "the Skuverthians cross the Ghru-Nkle mountains in Phuzgerland every Huffer season to hunt Yngrang". It really helps to understand exactly what you want out of a book and, more importantly, why. Once you read some meh books, likely not finishing them, you'll have a clearer picture of what you like because you'll have read something that you dislike most of, but like one thing enough to read it.

The gist of this idea is that if you can learn to read a book for the one thing you like, you'll be able to find this found-family getting-by trope in a lot more places.

A good example that... might be up your alley? Probably not. Is an incredibly silly, pretty dumb, quite bad military sci-fi book called The Excalibur Alternative by David Weber. The premise goes: a medieval English fighting force is abducted by aliens and taken to strange planets to fight other primitive civilizations. That's it. The writing is chunky, the characters are one-note, and the plot is hamfisted and contrived, but I had a DAMN good time reading it because the premise was awesome! It's basically "what if humans are the toughest sons o' bitches out there". It's a wonderful exercise in defamiliarization to a sci-fi reader; it shows you all the standard alien tech and cultural differences through the eyes of a stereotypical English military commander. A lot of the time is spent with the guy and his wife and kid just trying to figure out how to make a life in slavery to these aliens. It's a really, really fun concept with questionable execution and very little elegance, but reading it taught me so much about what I want out of a book. I can put up with a ton of "bad" as long as I love the premise and the author is earnest.

And I'm dying right now trying to remember the name of this book I read the same summer about a disabled alien guy whose race accidentally wrecked their planet and made it uninhabitable, but he goes on an expedition to scout it because someone heard a radio signal, so he goes down to this planet and finds civilization rebuilding itself. It's KILLING me that I can't remember the title or the author, but it's an amazing "what is this actually about? oh, the human condition" book. I'm sorry to tease you like this but I'm hoping someone has read this obscure paperback and recognizes it.

Another example might be Slaughterhouse Five, oddly enough. More of a classic, so more people are likely to have read it, but it's VERY much about a guy trying to get by in a SUPER weird situation. It's a super fucked-up book with a lot of Vonnegut-standard weird shit that a lot of people find distasteful, but fundamentally the idea is there.

Similarly, Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy has this vibe. The first book is less so, but the second and third are TOTALLY just "how is Arthur gonna get through his day." Small, Angry Planet is basically a tamer version of Hitchhiker's Guide, honestly; much less absurdity in the universe but just as much heart.

The one of these you're most likely to have read is the Imperial Radch trilogy by Ann Leckie, starting with Ancillary Justice. It has a lot higher immediate stakes than Small, Angry Planet but has a similar "how do these people live here" tone.

I didn't finish it, but Mars by Ben Bova seemed like it would have some of this? It's very hard sci-fi and I only read about 150 pages of it, but it had a lot of interpersonal relationship questions e.g. "how do you handle a 2 year spaceflight with 10 other people."

Half-Life by Hal Clement I also didn't finish, but seemed similar in tone to Mars, though it was a bit softer sci-fi.

I'm currently watching The Expanse, which is based on the book series of the same name, and while it's not a great analogue to Small, Angry Planet, I can say the show has some similar crew relationship plotlines in the early seasons, especially s1. The story is a lot higher-stakes and gets a bit scary, but the core is there.

I guess I'd also compare the Last Herald-Mage series by Mercedes Lackey, starting with Magic's Pawn, in this category? It's also got a more defined driving plot than Small, Angry Planet, but most of the first book (which is all I've read) is just about the main character trying to keep his life from falling apart while struggling with depression. It's an emotional rollercoaster, but not much happens, so... make of that what you will.

I'm really scraping for examples at this point because I tend to forget books I read, but I hope at least one of these tickles your need.

[irene-sadler]

briefly escaped from r markdown hellword to write something with no numbers in it here u go hope u like a v niche rarepair           

its called THE LAST THING U REMEMBER:

           He saw her on a cold night. The moon hung overhead, lit up the alley in silver light against the black shadows where she was standing. She stepped out when he noticed her. She was wearing a leather buffcoat, a heavy sword, a cloak. He only had a light jacket against the cold; he would be shivering in the freezing air if he wasn’t holding himself so stiffly to prevent it. A dog barked somewhere; the sound echoed against the brick walls around them.

           “Where have you been?” he asked. He was curious, not angry. Black Rayla came and went as she pleased; always had, always would.

           “Going to and fro in the world,” she said, idly. “And walking up and down in it. You’re still here, I see.”

           Where else would he be? There was nowhere for him outside the city.

           “I had work to do,” he said. She nodded understanding.

           “Yeah, I get it. So did I.”

           He lit a lamp in the one-room apartment where he lived, but she stayed more or less out of the light. She hadn’t always, but she had started the habit recently. He was already used to it. He had three pieces of furniture - a table with benches, a chair, a bed. She chose the farthest location from the lantern. He chose the closest.

           “Drink?” he asked. She nodded. He poured vodka into two glasses, downed his own under her idle smile. She did the same, stretched her legs out and propped her head against the wall behind his pillow. He stayed in his threadbare armchair.

           “Where’d you get that thing, Vernon?” she asked, nodding at it. “It’s new. You don’t tend to go for changes.”

           It wasn’t new, really. It also wasn’t his.  

           “Borrowed it from Ves. Another?”

           She nodded again. He doled out another shot. Silence dragged on between them. Her eyes were half closed, like she was dozing off, still dressed, still armed. She wasn’t. He could see her watching him from under her eyelids.

           “So what brings you here? It’s been - a long time.”

           “I heard by the grapevine that you might be in some trouble,” she said. He shrugged.

           Six months had passed since he’d seen her. One month had passed since he’d stepped into a tavern one night. He’d realized which one it was too late. The sign over the door was a gravestone and a noose. He spotted it only on his way out again. He knew the smoky, candle-lit inside like the back of his hand. He knew the place, remembered the last time he’d been in it, was acutely aware of who was missing.

            He sat alone in a familiar corner, drank until he could barely see straight. He stumbled into a man on his way out the door, couldn’t bring himself to  just ignore a furious insult and a shove from the stranger, drew his sword outside, and four minutes later left a corpse in the dusty street. There were witnesses. Only one fingered him for the killing. Three nights later, a young man with a sword and a brand new set of plate challenged him just in the courtyard outside his home -

           “I killed two people,” he said, staring into another full shot glass. “A man and a boy. Related.”

           “What for?”

           “- well, it’s all over now,” he said, after a long moment where he couldn’t think of an answer. Someone walked by in the street outside his filthy windowpanes, whistling. Rayla tilted her head a little, listening. He downed his shot like it was going to drown out the memory of his most recent murder.

           “People should have their service records written on their faces,” he said, not sure what exactly he meant. “To make it so people know who to avoid.”

           “Maybe you’re right,” she said. “Not that it’d make my job easier. What happened afterward?”

           “Nothing. They both called me out. It wasn’t my fault.”

           “I see. You don’t need any help.”

           “We have the same trade,” he said. “We’re both good at it.”

           It was why they were both still alive, unlike the two amateurs he’d encountered. He stared into his empty glass.

           “You feel bad about it.”

           “Maybe,” he said. “How do you feel about what you do to other people?”

           She paused, reached a hand out toward him. He abandoned his glass and took it.

           “Depends on the person, I guess.”

           “I haven’t heard anything about you,” he told her, later. He was wrapped around her, naked; their bodies cooled rapidly in the too-dry winter air. “Not a damn thing.”

           “It’s better that way.”