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academicdisasterfic · 2 years

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2021 in Fanfiction

Okay, I had this idea to do the three defining fics of each month of 2021 for me, in a very self-indulgent and rambly way, and Lou said it wasn't a completely stupid idea so...here you go? This list will mostly be Wolfstar and Drarry with a few other pairs, but otherwise vary wildly in terms of date, rating, and themes. Please be sure to read all tags, etc.

This was a very turbulent year for me and I read so many fics and consumed so much art that helped me get through it - much of which didn't make it on here. I tried to narrow it down to the pieces that have really stuck with me or evoke very specific memories - the fics that I'll think of when I think of this year.

If you would like to do your own list, please do and tag me! However I will not tag anyone because this legit took me hours lol. We all have to preserve our energy around this time of year.

Without further ado:

January

I reentered fandom after years of not really engaging with it by reading All the Young Dudes by MsKingBean89 (Remus/Sirius, 526k, M) - and look, when I say it destroyed me, it destroyed me. It's now got the most amount of hits on Ao3 of any fic (nearly 5 million what) and deserves every single one. I don't think I could ever read it again, purely because of the inherent trauma of Remus and Sirius' canon stories, but I am so grateful to have read it and for how much MsKingBean89 has given the Wolfstar fandom.

So in an attempt to rebuild my serotonin, I turned to the wondrous Text Talk by @juuuuzou (Remus/Sirius, 141k, NR) and it was the most delightful reading experience. This fic has became one of my favourites to revisit and the dynamic between Remus and Sirius was so well done and gorgeous.

I also read Liebestraum by @quoththethestral (Remus/Sirius, 101k, E) and this was such a dreamy, heartbreaking, ultimately joyous fic. The sequel just dropped and I squealed when it hit my inbox. The pain and joy of seeing Wolfstar address their past and rebuild their relationship is breathtaking, and James and Lily are pure perfection.

February

I started off the month in magic realism heaven with Everything's Connected by mizdiz (Remus/Sirius, 44k, M). I think this was the fic that made me realise how creative it was possible to be with my own writing, and I was so inspired by the imagery and language of this fic. It has the classic hurt aspect of Wolfstar, but a whole lot of comfort too.

My next read was Alt Ed by nachodiablo (Remus/Sirius, 61k, M) and I very quickly bullied everyone in my life into reading it after. This story reimagines the Marauders if Remus were homeschooled and it's such a joyous ride - non-canon compliant, amazing Sirius and James friendship, boss Lily and Remus friendship, hilarious, witty, and so imaginative.

And then...I reread Running on Air by @tinyhistory (Harry/Draco, 74k, T) and boom, I'm back in my Drarry phase. This is such a popular fandom classic, but it's for an excellent reason - it's as close to a perfect story as I could possibly imagine. It made me want to be a better storyteller, because I fell for this story in a way I hadn't fallen for a story in a very long time. This fic genuinely changed my life in that way - I don't think I would have had the courage to start writing without it.

March

Hooo boy, Such Great Heights by aideomai (Harry/Draco, 93k, E) sucked me in and did not let me go. No matter what I'm reading, I look for elements of whimsy, and I think that's why I love aideomai so much. Obviously their other fics are excellent and I devoured them immediately - I especially loved In the Hand - but this fic was my entry point and therefore gained a very special place in my heart.

She Was Pretty by @skeptiquewrites (Parvati/Lavender, 4k, E) is one of those stories that punched me in the gut with feeling and depth. I am a massive Tee fan and I think the overwhelming feeling I get from her fics is home. This fic felt like home. It has the nuance and complexity that these girls deserve, a complete unravelling of JKR's misogynistic bullshit, and Tee's usual stunning prose. I read this perhaps five times in a row.

freely, as men strive for right is my favourite @bixgirl1 fic (Harry/Draco, 17k, E) which is saying a lot. I actually just reread it after typing that last sentence because I hadn't in a while - I am obsessed, it's fine. Ron's conversation with Harry in the kitchen - iykyk - is something I think about at least once a week? I think this fic, in short, is just everything I love about Drarry in relatively few words. I also adore examining relationships, watching them grow, rather than the story ending at the happy-ever-after. I love friends to lovers. I love this Draco. I love this fic with my entire being. I don't think I can drive home the point more???

April

The Ordeal of Being Known by @lou-isfake (Harry/Draco, 146k, M) came into my life exactly when I needed it. My anxiety at this point was so awful that I couldn't sleep more than a few hours a night, I wasn't eating, I wasn't functioning. I think that if you've read this fic - and at this point, if you haven't, what are you doing - you know how special it is, and I've certainly screamed at Lou enough about how much I adore it, but it truly has become my comfort read and something I revisit over and over when I need some joy.

I already yelled about A Brief History of Dragons by @eyra (Remus/Sirius, 21k, M) in this post but will I ever stop? Probably not. It's my favourite Wolfstar fic I've read this year, utter perfection, so creative and atmospheric and whimsical and heart-wrenching. It's the most beautiful depiction of neurodivergence and love I've ever encountered. I don't need to go on, you need to go and read it thx.

Oh gosh, Soup-pocalypse and the Great Curry Cataclysm by @norelationtoatticus (Harry/Draco, 104k, E) - much like TOOBK - came into my life when I most needed it and instantly became my safe little security blanket. I've probably read it six times (can you tell I'm autistic and latch onto familiarity???) and each time it's like a hot bubble bath for my soul. It's hilarious and endearing and charming and I just wanted to hug Draco and Harry the entire time. Plus, it's my favourite ever Harry raising Teddy fic.

May

This was the month GallaPlacidia entered my life and I read every single fic in a two-day hurt/comfort fever dream. However, my absolute favourite was The Bolthole, which Galla wrote with aideomai and @tepre (Harry/Draco, 54k, E). I started listening to it on the GallaPod while going for very long walks and something about it - the setting? the amazing believability of Harry's trauma and how it manifests? literally everything about this Draco? - got me. It made me cry in just the right way, and made me laugh just as much.

I then read If the Fates Allow by saras_girl (Harry/Draco, 80k, M) and - yeah, this is another fic that I just consider to be perfect??? Friends to lovers, mutual pining but Harry's an idiot, there's an adorable village, saras_girl signature cute and whimsy creatures, plus Harry has a dog!!!! I tell literally everyone to read this because it's just that good - and I couldn't tell you why this fluffy advent fic beat Turn or Foundations!verse for this spot (both fics were also favourites this year, and I read them all in a row) but perhaps it's just that it saw into my soul a little bit.

Okay babes, I need to find more people who have read Astra Inclinant by @tinyhistory (James Sirius Potter/Scorpius Malfoy, 336k, T), because at the moment I have only one (1!) person who understands the narrative MASTERPIECE that is this fic. I don't think I can even do it justice??? It's not epilogue compliant??? Harry and Draco are both single dads and James and Scorpius are only children???? Teddy is the actual love of my life??? Harry's growth as a father is the most emotional and beautiful thing in the world???? The slow burn isn't even painful because the journey is so sweet??? The wedding scene (iykyk) is the funniest fucking thing I've ever read????? I have highlighted quotes from it that I want read at my funeral. What can I say, I'm a prepared lad.

June

Look, Beneath a Big Blue Sky by @eyra (Remus/Sirius, 68k, E) is not the only reason I want to move to Yorkshire, but I'd be lying if I said I don't sometimes daydream about tiny lambs and rolling fields and Hope Lupin's crumpets. This story is so sweet and meandering and expansive, with Eyra's usual intricate and poetic writing, and this is now one of my Wolfstar staples. I'm going to cheat a little here and also throw in the Crowns and Coffee Cups series also by eyra (Remus/James, 9k, M) because this series got me into Wolfbucks and now I'm a bit obsessed.

Electric Light (Neville/Draco/Harry, 18k, E) is my favourite seefin fic and my favourite triad fic. I am a huge Neville fan (he's just a good boy) and I love his depiction here, as well as how he draws Harry and Draco together. Harry is utterly heartbreaking but so loving and loveable, and Draco is just trying his best (bless). The emotions in this fic feel so realistic and present and raw. This fic got me into exploring more triad fics and also looking at character studies in a new way.

Friends? Is That What We Are? by @l0vegl0wsinthedark (Draco/Harry, 33k, E) is the fic I go to now whenever I'm sad. It's just so funny and real and the most perfect friends-to-lovers scenario, and is full of the A+ banter and amazing chemistry I've come to associate with this author. June was a really difficult month for me and this fic made it so much brighter.

July

Well, Rooney. You've come out as trans and left your marriage. What are you going to do? You are going to read Just what the doctor ordered by @wolfstarting (Remus/Sirius, E, 96k) over and over again until you know every word of this damn perfect fic off by heart. I don't have enough good things to say about WrappedUp's writing and stories - I love all of them - but this fic pretty much carried me emotionally through the aftermath of my breakup and reminded me that 25 is actually really fucking young. Remus in this fic felt like he saw my soul. I'm obsessed.

This is also the month I met one of the best people in the world, because a friend sent me 1:40am by @softlystarstruck (Harry/Draco, 5k, T) and I then went through and read every single one of Bee's fics before sliding into their DMs and more or less begging them to be my friend. Something about 1:40am made me think that whoever wrote it had to have the most beautiful, lovely mind, and I was right.

I've been reading @lqtraintracks for years, but this was the month I read Heart Like Neon (Harry/Draco, 41k, E) and fell in love with LQT all over again. This fic just felt really comforting to me - Drarry's relationship was so well done and just gorgeous, the story was fascinating, and it has fantastic trans rep. After reading this, I went on a week long LQT binge and it was such a happy and horny and healing time for me.

August

Okay - sometimes, part of healing heartbreak is just consuming nonstop angst, and stitched and sewn by @wheezykat (Harry/Draco, 8k, E) is the perfect mix of heartbreaking and painful with an ending that warmed me to my toes. In a month where guilt and grief and overwhelm threatened to drown me, this fic was a hopeful reprieve, and I can't thank Kat enough for writing it.

In a similar vein, sometimes healing heartbreak is also just consuming things that feel like pure sunlight, and that's what Life goes not backward by @shealwaysreads (Harry/Draco, 9k, T) feels like to me. I read this sitting in my favourite spot, a quiet stretch of beach that tourists rarely find, and as I read the last line Evermore by Taylor Swift started playing and I burst into tears (I am nothing if not a gay cliche).

Rounding out this (frankly embarrassingly emotional) month was Modern Love by @tackytigerfic (Harry/Draco, 61k, E). I had seen this fic recced so many times and it did not disappoint. The development of Harry's relationship with Draco was perfect, slow and uncertain and wonderfully vulnerable all at once. It's such an original story, so perfectly executed and I devoured it. Also, I read the scene where the vicar and Draco kissed about five times and sometimes I hear Christ, Draco in my dreams and wake up in cold sweats of horniness.

September

I usually flat out refuse to read canon compliant Wolfstar because I try to not make my depression worse lol. Then my darling @scattered-moonlight said that annual honesty by @alwaysalreadyangry (Remus/Sirius, 18k, T) was their favourite fic and talked so much about it that I got sucked in...and I am so glad I did. Look. It's sad. It fucked me up in the best way possible. It's also one of the most beautiful things I have ever read. I couldn't recommend it more.

And then that trend continued because I came across the queer masterpiece that is Calamity's Child by @aibidil (Teddy/James Sirius, Remus/Sirius, 42k, E). Admittedly, it makes Wolfstar's story even sadder. I cried a lot. But it also healed and stitched me up so beautifully and filled me with a buzzing hope. Teddy's characterisation just spoke to me on a whole 'nother level - as a mid-twenty-something with a string of failed relationships, bad decisions, and still no idea what I want to be when I grow up, it just felt lovely to have someone be like "that's all okay! you'll get there!". This fic was an amazing tribute to queerness and queer history and I couldn't possibly love it more.

And then! AND THEN. @onbeinganangel and @babooshkart hit us with Quick as a Flash of Lightning, Unhurried as Eternity (Harry/Draco, 10k, E) and this whole masterpiece just...lit up my soul. Harry's internal dialogue was so heartbreaking but the promise of the future, the pure and utter joy of future Drarry, was just magnificent. When I finished this fic I was like "This is why I love Drarry." And Boo's incredible art - oh my god, I saved it onto my phone and stared at it for probably hours. Painful and joyous all at once.

October

Hello again my love @lou-isfake. This was the month I read Like the Son Holds the Moon and was instantly like, okay, favourite. But then I read Oh, Sinnerman (Harry/Draco, 40k, E) and it was like Lou tore open my chest and peered inside. I've never felt so raw after reading a fic. @babooshkart also produced art for this fic that I once again stared at for hours; Boo is so amazingly talented at capturing the essence of a story. I talked about this fic in this post as well but I think it was Harry's voice that really got me here - perfectly done.

This was also the month that Lou sent me a message saying "Roo, have you read The Taste of Țuică by @fluxweeed (Harry/Draco/Ron, 15k, E)?" after I spent twenty minutes waxing poetic about how much I love Ron Weasley. And then I read it. And reread it. And reread it. oh my fucking god. This fic. Let's put aside the scorching hot smut for a second and talk about the character study of Ron done here because it is flawless. FLAWLESS I TELL YOU. Godlike. Oh my fucking god. Also, as a Percy Weasley stan (which I will not apologise for) Show them the night that they dreamed about before has to be mentioned as well - kill me. ded.

And then, another comfort fic entered my life. Just Stay by @nv-md (Harry/Draco, 2.7k, M) is the mutual pining of my dreams. Not only is Ali an amazing beta, friend and all-round good egg, she is an incredible writer who captures love in such a special and tender way. This is the fic I read when I wake up at 3am after nightmares. It's my happy place.

November

Not to brag but I have very amazing friends who trust me with their words and I got the privilege to cheer read to be a bit of warmth (for you) by @softlystarstruck (Harry/Draco, 9.3k, M). Although I knew instantly it was going to be such a special story, rereading it once published still made me weep. Bee does hurt/comfort to perfection and this is no exception. The way Harry and Draco's relationship unfolds is so unique, so precious and tender and sweet, and it blows me away every single time.

You know how there are some fics where you just want to reach through the screen and personally thank the author for writing them? Yeah, Bridges by @cavendishbutterfly (Harry/Draco, 16k, E) is one of those fics for me. Set in Budapest - my favourite city ever, huge bonus points for that - this story not only has an impeccable Draco whom I love more than life, but is a wonderfully gentle and tender exploring sexuality narrative for Harry, and is just done with such care and joy.

Stupid Love by @the-sinking-ship (Harry/Draco, 17k, E) had me wheezing into my pillow at one in the morning. I read this after seeing the amazing artwork that @bluebutter-art did for this fic and it was so fantastic that I was like i have to read this fkn fic. It's so good. It's so funny. It's so quintessentially Drarry. You can just tell how much Sly loves this ship, and it's a fic I'll definitely be returning to over and over again.

December

I'm doing four recs here. Deal with it and read them all.

Starting off this month was a comic by the wondrous @bluebutter-art - so rest your weary heart with me. (Harry/Draco, M). I'm pretty sure this fic made my heart expand to about three times its regular size - my chest ached. Fuck. Blue's incredible style paired with the heartwrenching premise made for a blissful reading experience. I love it with every fibre of my being.

I read Special Recipe by @peachpety (Harry/Draco, 1.1k, T) after seeing @ihopeyoubothstaysafefromharm's gorgeous art for it here. I am a sucker for AUs, particularly college AUs, particularly with jock Harry. I've decided this fic is my love language. It's up to everyone else in my life to work out what that means.

Joy's art also led me to Mise en Place by @corvuscrowned (Harry/Draco, 5.4k, T) which - as someone who feeds everyone in my life rather than talking about my emotions - brought me endless joy. Draco was just perfectly sneaky, and Harry understandably oblivious. What a delight.

And finally, @m0srael's show me how to be your boy (Harry/Draco, 14k, E) is the hurt/comfort of my fucking dreams. Draco and Harry are so sweet and scared and gorgeous, Teddy is an angel, and I love unusual careers. This prompted an excellent cathartic cry and subsequent general contentedness after reading. Amazing.

...and that's the year! Please, if you read any of these fics, leave the authors kudos and comments and praise them for the brilliant work they do for this fandom. Thank you so much for carrying me through such a turbulent year, endlessly inspiring me, and letting me meet some of the most amazing people ever. I hope everyone has a wonderful 2022 xxx

#drarry #wolfstar #fic recs #2021 in fanfiction #drarry fic #drarry fic rec #wolfstar fic rec #academicdisaster #rooney recs

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sobdasha · 3 years

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been thinking about the really weird dynamics of the Honda family

and the ways they parallel with the Souma family.

Tohru's relationship with Grandpa Honda has always been really inscrutable to me. It seems like Kyouko liked him quite a lot, and the feeling was mutual, so their relationship ought to be close, right? But despite relying on Grandpa around the time of Katsuya's funeral, I get the impression that Kyouko and Grandpa aren't very close after that? He takes Tohru in after Kyouko's funeral, but doesn't provide a place for her to stay during the renovations, and they don't seem to keep in touch.

I figured this was for the convenience of the plot. If Tohru was close with her grandpa, then she wouldn't have no family, no one left, after her mom died. If Tohru had somewhere else to go, it wouldn't be so vital that she be allowed to keep living in the Souma house.

I've been thinking about Shiki, though, and about Akito and Shigure as parents within the Souma estate, and I'm wondering now if this wasn't actually a parallel playing out in brilliant Takaya fashion.

Starting with a recap, because a summary of info is always useful to me:

Kyouko grows up in a family that is very much about Keeping Up Appearances and Knowing Your Place. Her dad is verbally and emotionally abusive and isn't above slapping people either. Her mother isn't affectionate and doesn't protect her, probably because she's primarily concerned with protecting herself from the fallout when anything sets off her abusive husband. Kyouko has never had her emotional needs met and she's never been socialized to see others as real people with real feelings. Before even 7th grade she's become part of the gang scene in a cry for help and attention, and because these are the only people she can kind of understand. Her father has told her she's kicked out of the house at least once prior before he finally makes good on it and disinherits her at the end of 9th grade.

Katsuya and his younger sister grow up in a family that is also very much about Traditional Values and Keeping Up Appearances. Grandpa Honda is a teacher, and he puts a big emphasis on Proper Manners (and probably also other things like Good Grades, Fitting In, and Knowing Your Place). He's stern and pressures Katsuya to become a teacher as well. We don't know what Katsuya's mother was like, but I'm assuming she was also not particularly affectionate. It's only after her illness and passing, probably when Katsuya is somewhere around 20, that Grandpa Honda reevaluates his life and what's most important to him.

From a young age, Katsuya flew under the radar by heavily masking--ie, he made a cardboard cutout of what society expected him to be, so Polite, Quiet, Respectable, Studying To Become A Teacher, while underneath it all being filled with apathy, resentment, and loneliness. His moral compass is deeply skewed--see his teasing of people, his attitude of looking down on people, his bragging admittance to using his father's influence to get away with things, his creepy expressions that are identical to those of The Root Of All Evil (ie, Shigure). He has no real interpersonal relationships--family, friend, or romantic. He's a 23 year old TA who is fixated on and marries a 15 year old girl because she's the first person he ever recognized as human--he saw her in the middle of a violent meltdown and it was the first time he was ever really struck by the realization that someone else might feel the same feelings he does.

(Which, in addition to the dubious legality and widely-regarded ickiness, is just downright pathetic. I'm sorry, but it's true. Fruits Basket itself backs me up.)

The first parallel that jumps out at me is between the stories of Kyouko and Katsuya, and Ren and Akira:

Ren is an Outsider. We don't know what her family life was before joining the Souma clan, but based on everything about her I feel it's safe to assume it was also abusive. A large percentage of the Souma family is against the marriage, but Akira is adamant because Ren is the first person he's ever connected with. Similarly, the Honda family (save Grandpa) disapproves of Kyouko and she remains forever an outsider to them.

In Kyouko's case, Katsuya is able to ditch his family and start fresh with Kyouko. Ren, on the other hand, has to live within the toxic Souma family to be with Akira. Both husbands die, leaving a grieving widow and child behind. Kyouko treasures her daughter and finds a new reason to live in Tohru, away from the rest of the Honda family; Ren, already jealous of Akito for getting in the way of her relationship with her husband (and not dealing well with being pulled even further into the Souma family bullshit with all this curse stuff), and trapped within the toxic Souma family with no one on her side, chooses to perpetuate the cycle of abuse.

The thing I've been thinking about most is the parallels between Tohru and the Honda family and Shiki and the Souma family:

As I said before, Tohru's relationship with Grandpa Honda is very strange. It's not just me--Yuki and Kyou make comments to this effect also, I'm pretty sure. But I think I can finally make sense of it now, if I think of it in light of Shiki.

I think there are a couple chapters of FBA out there that I haven't read (the one with Akito, and were there other chapters beyond volume 3?), but Mutsuki implies--and I think we should take this at face value--that Akito and Shigure hope that Shiki will leave the Souma family. They are not kicking their child out. They want this as loving parents, who have done their best to raise their child in a good home in the midst of a very toxic environment. I like to think they will do a good job of explaining this to Shiki, explicitly and clearly. Akito could have walked away from the Souma family, but she chose to stay because she had a hand in perpetuating the toxicity and generational abuse in the Souma family and she is taking responsibility for trying to end the cycle. She has finally stepped up as the head of the family. She could have walked away, but she didn't.

Shiki had no hand in making the Souma family what it is. Shiki is not obligated in any way to put up with that bullshit. Shiki can and should walk away from that toxic environment, go somewhere new, and be happy. He and his parents and all his non-toxic relatives can visit and call each other and still maintain relationships, but in healthier places, as everyone learned to do at the end of Fruits Basket.

This, I believe, is what Grandpa is also doing for Tohru. He's just less explicit and messes it up at first.

I don't know exactly why we don't see more of Grandpa's relationship with Kyouko and Tohru after Katsuya's death. Is it because Tohru, as the narrator, is prioritizing Only Me And My Mom stories? Is it because Kyouko didn't want to be a burden (is that part of where Tohru absorbed it)? Is it because Kyouko couldn't maintain a good relationship with Grandpa with the Honda Family Toxicity in the background?

The Honda family toxicity shows up in full force again when Kyouko dies. Tohru is a riceball that doesn't belong in the Honda family fruits basket. No one, save Grandpa, will take her in.

And then he invites his daughter's family, which he knows is toxic and will abuse Tohru, in to live with the two of them.

I don't know who came up with the idea--if it's Grandpa, that's a bit cold, as he should be caring for Tohru. If it's his daughter ("Dad, you're getting older, you should be living with us so we can take care of you") that does make sense, both as a reasonable social expectation (which dad raised her to adhere to) and as a power move (the Outsider shouldn't be getting so cozy with dad, and dad's inheritance, without supervision). I'm leaning towards the daughter, as I don't think the family combining was intended to get Tohru to leave. I think the remodel, though, was something Grandpa Honda saw as a good opportunity to convince Tohru to leave the Hondas.

I think "I'm having the house remodeled and I'm staying with my daughter, but you weren't invited, I could pull my weight or maybe you could find your own accommodations with a friend?" was intended to give Tohru permission to not feel obligated to the Honda family. I think it was intended to let Tohru find someplace she would actually be happy, a found family living situation where she could flourish. I think Granpda sincerely thought Tohru would move in with Hanajima, instead of into a tent, and realize that she was so much happier and fulfilled there that she never came back to the toxic Honda family and had no regrets.

Grandpa's judgment was a little iffy there but he tried.

I'm realizing that, if everyone moved into Grandpa's house because it was bigger, and it's being remodeled specifically for that purpose...the fact that Tohru is sharing a room with her cousin is very significant. Grandpa was so confident, there is no place for Tohru in that house. Tohru was never supposed to come back after the remodel.

(I don't know that much about houses so it's possible that they just didn't have room; depending on whether that's the uncle or the son, you've got to have 4 or 5 separate bedrooms, which I guess could be a lot. But this is a manga, they aren't strictly constrained to realism, and Takaya makes every damn detail count.)

Tohru isn't supposed to come back after the remodel, but she does. She does, and the family is toxic to her, and Grandpa tells her more overtly that she is not obligated to live here out of familial loyalty. If there's somewhere else Tohru is happier, even if it's a really unconventional living situation, she should feel welcome to choose that instead.

Grandpa's a parallel to Akito here. He's been becoming aware, since his wife died, that his priorities were all wrong. That he raised his children wrong. That Katsuya appeared to have no real emotions and had never connected with anyone outside of Kyouko and their daughter. (Maybe he learned to make work friends?? But I doubt it.) That his daughter is judgmental and cares more about the appearance of being proper than about not being rude.

Don't think poorly of him, Grandpa says. Deep down, they're just evil people. But Grandpa recognizes that he had a hand in creating those evil people. And instead of being like Machi's mom, who goes "well maybe I fucked up" and then throws her out of the family, Grandpa takes responsibility for the family he made. He recognizes that he raised his kids in a way that caused them to be shallow and rude and to think of people as means to an end, and he also recognizes that it would be shitty to reject his kids for turning out exactly as he raised them. He has to live with them (and his choices), he says, but Tohru doesn't.

Looking at it like that, I respect Grandpa Honda more. He seemed a bit wishy-washy before--useful for some plot and character development points, but wishy-washy all the same. But it's a tough decision, and having to prioritize people is always shitty. Grandpa not rejecting his daughter means sacrificing a stable home for Tohru. Akito staying as the head of the Souma family so she can ensure the freedom of the former Zodiac means that her child will be subjected to the same generational abuse, no matter how loving and supportive of a home life she and Shigure provide.

But they're both trying to do a right thing in a crappy situation.

And Tohru, like so many of the former Zodiac, does find happiness and fulfillment in the new family she's able to make for herself. She learns to make her world bigger, and she learns that leaving doesn't have to be the same as cutting ties. And so I'm very optimistic that Shiki will find the same.

#sobdasha fic adjacent #fruits basket #fruits basket another

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the-sunlit-earth · 3 years

Note

Your Morrowind graphics look sooo beautiful! Do you have a list of the mods you used? I'd really appreciate it if you could share it!

Sure! I'd be happy to share my setup =)

My modlist is cobbled together from various modding guides, suggestions by friends who've played Morrowind, and my own personal preferences as I've played and come across things I felt like changing (like the pond scum lol!).

I tried to leave out most mods that had zero to do with Graphics/changes you can see in the world, and I also tried to keep my descriptions short, though if you were only asking for a simple load order then I apologize, oops!

The Engine

MGE XE (this is absolutely vital for those distant views/awesome light and water shaders and other features!)

Morrowind Code Patch (needed for bump/reflection maps to look right!)

Meshes/Textures/Overhauls

Morrowind Optimization Patch (improves performance/fixes some mesh errors!)

Patch for Purists (squashes so many bugs while avoiding unnecessary changes!)

Intelligent Textures (full AI upscaled/hand-edited texture pack of the game, excellent as a base if you plan to add on more targeted replacers later!)

Enhanced Water Shader for MGE XE--OR--Krokantor's Enhanced Water Shader Updated: (depends on which version of MGE XE you're using; if 0.13.0 you'll want the Updated version, and if earlier you need the older one. 3 shades of water to choose from; improved caustics, foam, ripples, underwater effects; and no more weird immersion-breaking moment when you would previously tilt the camera just beneath the surface and it would suddenly be perfectly clear. Absolutely gorgeous water!)

Animation Compilation-Hand to Hand Improved Without Almalexia Spellcasting (idk if this counts, but it does fix the Visual of that weird vanilla running animation!)

Better Bodies and Westly's Pluginless Replacer (a friend told me to get Robert's bodies, but BB is also very good and seems to be the most widely used + many mods need it, like Julan!)

Pluginless Khajiit Head pack (prettier kitties!)

Improved Argonians (better looking lizard-friends!)

Children of Morrowind (adds realism by having kids running around your towns!)

Julan, Ashlander Companion [v3.0 at bottom of this page] (ok not a graphics mod, but will add much immersion to your game, so I will shill for him anyway!)

Vibrant Morrowind 3.0/4.0 (this one I actually don't have installed yet, but I love the way Vivec looks in the screenshots!)

abot Water Life (adds aquatic creatures/things like algae and coral to make Morrowind's waters more alive!)

Vurt's Corals (found on Vurt's Groundcover page; adds gorgeous corals and new water plants!)

Vurt's Ashlands Overhaul (can choose between gnarly trees or vanilla-style!)

Vurt's Groundcover (gorgeous animated grass and vegetation that differs for each region!)

Vurt's Solstheim Tree Replacer II (more realistic trees and snowy pines!)

Vurt's Bitter Coast Trees II (5 additional unique trees!)

Vurt's Bitter Coast Trees II Remastered (mesh fixes/optimizations for the trees!)

Vurt's Leafy West Gash II (more trees, and optional rope bridge texture!)

Vurt's Ascadian Isles Tree Replacer II (v10a recommended for better-sized trees without clipping issues; TREES!!)

Articus Bush Replacer for Vurt AI Trees II (new model for bush tree + bark retexture!)

Vurt's Grazeland Trees II (really cool palms and Baobab trees!)

Vurt's Mournhold Trees II (beautiful animated cherry blossom trees!)

I Lava Good Mesh Replacer (better lava mesh, has no flickering with effects like steam!)

Remiros' Minor Retextures - Mist (much nicer spooky mist in Ancestral Tombs!)

Unto Dust (adds atmospheric floating dust motes, kinda like in Skyrim barrows!)

Graphic Herbalism MWSE (improved meshes and Oblivion-style harvesting!)

Glow in the Dahrk (windows transition to glowing versions at night!)

Ashfall (super awesome and very configurable Camping/Survival/Cooking/Needs mod!)

Watch the Skies (dynamic weathers/weather changes inside/randomized clouds etc!)

Seasonal Weather of Vvardenfell (weather changes throughout the year!)

Taddeus' Foods of Tamriel (adds Ashfall compatible foods and ovens for baking!)

More Wells (add-on for Ashfall/more immersive since access to water is pretty important!)

Diverse Blood (because not everything should bleed Red when you poke it with a spear!)

Lived Towns - Seyda Neen (adds more containers/clutter to make it feel more lived-in!)

Better Waterfalls (adds splash effects/water spray, better running water texture!)

Waterfalls Tweaks (resized water splash to blend better!)

Dunmer Lanterns Replacer (smoother/more-detailed-yet-optimized lanterns + paper lanterns!)

Telvanni Lighthouse Tel Vos (fits in perfectly with Azura's Coast region!)

Telvanni Lighthouse Tel Branora (very atmospheric, works well with surroundings!)

Palace of Vehk (Vivec's Palace feels lived-in instead of sad and empty!)

Ships of the Imperial Navy (immersive addition to Imperial waterfront areas!)

Striderports (gives caravaners some shelter and comfort while standing there all day!)

Illuminated Palace of Vivec (decorates palace steps + shrines with devotion candles and flowers left by followers!)

Scum Retexture - Alternative 2 (better looking pond scum in Bitter Coast region!)

Full Dwemer Retexture (I went with Only Armor/Robots/Weapons; nice high quality retex!)

Blighted Animals Retextured (I chose Darknut's 1024; blighted animals have their own sickly textures now!

Vivec Expansion 3.1 Tweaked Reworked (adds a hostel/many wooden walkways to Vivec on the water!)

Atmospheric Plazas (Vivec's plazas now have weather/sunlight! Be sure to use MCP's Rain fix to keep it from pouring as if there's no roof!)

Gemini's Realistic Snowflakes (more organic texture with more depth!)

Severa Magia DB fix (makes hideout actually appropriate to Dark Brotherhood!)

Starfire's NPC Additions (more populated towns and settlements!)

Hold It (adds items for NPCs to hold and carry, based on their class; very immersive!)

Suran-The Pearl of the Ascadian Isles (I went with White Suran Complete package; stunning retexture that also adds docks/waterfront!)

Atmospheric Delights (a more fitting mood inside the House of Earthly Delights!)

Guars Replacer-Aendemika of Vvardenfell (pluginless makeover for our scaly friends!)

Silt Strider by Nwahs and Mushrooms Team (great new model+textures for these cool bug-buses!)

Skar Face (giant crab manor in Ald-ruhn gets claws and legs!)

Armor/Clothing

Redoran Founders Armor (Redoran councilors stand out in this cool set!)

Morag Tong Polished (bug fixes/Armor Replacer/restored cut content for the faction!)

Rubber's Weapons Pack (several unique weapons/shields get distinct models!)

Yet Another Guard Diversity (generic copypasta guards now have variation!)

Better Silver Armor (adds missing pieces of silver armor to make full set!)

Royal Guard Better Armor (pluginless armor replacer for the Royal Guards!)

RR Mod Series Better Silt Strider Armor (cooler bug men in your Ashlander camps!)

Armored Robes NPC Compilation (some Ordinators/Mabrigash/others will wear distinct robes of their station!)

Full Dragonscale Armor Set v1.3a (adds the missing pieces to make the set complete!)

Mage Robes (robes for every magic school, many MG members will wear their respective ones!)

Quorn Resource Integration (lore-friendly armor/creatures added to leveled lists to be encountered in game!)

Better Clothes (non-segmented clothing replacer to fit Better Bodies!)

More Better Clothes (additional shirts that were missed in the first one!)

Better Clothes Complete (fixes many problems and 1st person clipping issues for BC!)

Better Clothes Retextured (high-res retextures for nearly all base game clothes!)

Hirez Better Clothes (3 shirts retextured in high quality!)

Better Morrowind Armor (BB compatible armor replacer!)

Dark Brotherhood Armor Replacer (changes DB armor to look more like concept art!)

Bonemold Armor Replacer (much nicer-looking Bonemold armor!)

Westly's Fine Clothiers of Tamriel (very high quality clothes that you will see many NPCs wearing too!)

Orcish Retexture v1.2 (beautifully done armor retexture!)

Daedric Lord Armor (much improved Daedric set, very fierce!)

Ebony Mail Replacer (awesome new model+tex that changes it to actual chainmail!)

I use Wrye Mash to install my mods, though I think a lot of people use MO2. Haaa, now that I've made this list I have the strong urge to just run around Morrowind taking even more screenshots =)

#morrowind #mods #my mod list #answered #my posts

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tendermiasma · 3 years

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i’m not even into overwatch anymore but i just wanted to say I ADORE your art style and hope to develop my own into a similar semi-realism leaning...have you made a post about your art journey? I’m assuming I just need to buckle down and do anatomy studies but any tips are very welcome!! Ty for your time <3

Oh man thank you! I’ve never made a comprehensive post about how I got to *gestures* whatever this point in my art this is, and I definitely sat here wondering what “art journey” means for me since I always feel like I’m stumbling around so I’ll answer as completely as I can. But a great way to develop a realism-minded eye is to draw from photos and life. Everyone in the world has said it over and over but it really gets it done, it’s not any more complicated than that. It’s how I started when I was little and it’s not something I planned, but the Legolas posters were right there so how could I not? Your own non-realism “stylistic” touch will bubble up whether you want it to or not and that’s a beautiful thing. It’s not something you need to look for because it happens on its own, whether it’s you seeing something another artist is doing that you like and assimilating it into your work, or it’s your own unique way that you absorb information from the world and use it to solve problems in the drawing in front of you. Some new artists also still have the idea that using references is cheating-- I’m not blaming them, sometimes this weird thing is circulated by more established people as well-- but this is a very small minority. Please use references. I’d be lost without them. The Castlevania team has a giant collection of references for faces of every character from every angle, props, etc. and I always have a second screen up with 10 different sheets of whoever I’m drawing. Feeding yourself info is essential to getting better. Look at how other artists handle something you’re having a problem with too. If they’re doing a similar pose or something, study their drawing and ask yourself what specifically, extremely technically about that drawing is convincing-- what marks are where, and what is the quality or direction of the strokes? Try it out on your own drawing. If you’re stuck, become aware of if you’re holding on too tightly to what you think something should look like. I have to remind myself this as well. Really try to let go of the idea you have in your head about how something works and simply try instead to draw what you see, even if it feels weird. The results are often pleasantly surprising.

I have a funny relationship with studies. You seem to be looking at them like a chore and I feel the same way. It’s impossible for me to sit down and just draw something over and over, disconnected from emotion or a larger narrative. I think a wonderful way to “study” is to incorporate those studies into a project that you wanted to do anyway. I’ve used my minicomics to get better at background painting or specific figure poses that I needed for the story but wasn’t sure how to do. I’m a very “oops I need it now better learn TODAY” kind of artist, if that suits you better than buckling down and doing anatomy studies for hours. Both are great ways to improve, but you have options for how to get there.

In terms of how much time I spend drawing.. well lol it’s a lot. I almost typed “but I don’t do it every day” but yes, my jobs have made sure that I do (I tend to separate personal drawing and job drawing). But the truth is, to get better, a lot of very focused drawing time is important; how much of it is up to you and your schedule. You can sit down for 6 hours and doodle or you can sit down for 3 with an extremely critical eye. It’s about the volume of time as well as focus and I don’t have a clear answer for it, but I can point to one specific year in my life where I made artistic progress like I’ve never seen from myself since. I drew a comic with regular updates during that time and, looking back, the art was not good. But the point was, I was drawing for 7 hours a day after work, at least 5 days a week, and actively looking to draw things that I hadn’t done before or knew that I wasn’t good at, and the result was that every single update was almost like it was drawn by a different person-- readers noticed and commented on the progress as well. It was very much an art bootcamp and I wouldn’t have the skills I do at this point if I hadn’t done it. It’s important that you’re loving what you do if you do it for yourself! That’s how you get through big projects and continue to be excited with where you are. Love is one of the most important motivators and discipline-keepers in art, in my experience. Draw what sets your brain on fire and attack it wholeheartedly even if it’s really weird or niche, not what you think you should be drawing, and you’ll improve a million times faster.

Art journey in terms of what I’ve done with my life (if this is what you meant from the beginning I’M SORRY I’m just trying everything you might have meant) uhhh I haven’t been to art school. I have no idea what my relationship with art would be like now if I’d had any formal training and I don’t really dwell on it. I could either be a testament to being able to get by without it or an example of someone who has no idea what she’s doing at all and lacks many basic foundational art skills. I have an architecture degree. I love architecture, I love the language of space we build for ourselves, and I’m truly, deeply glad for that eye-opening and often grueling experience, but I think my current field is a much better fit. Before animation I worked as a graphic designer mainly drawing storyboards for commercials and internal-industry stuff-- lots and lots of quick colored sketches (one of our main clients was a big glass company and my god I never thought I’d draw so much glass in my life). I was able to do that job due to the skills I developed through personal work. Maybe I’d be a hundred times more powerful if I went to art school! Maybe I’d be completely burned out and bitter and not drawing anymore at all! I just don’t know. I have friends who have had both experiences. Whether you choose art school or not it’s best to keep tabs on if the art you’re currently making brings you joy. Joy and struggle aren’t mutually exclusive. Oftentimes I’m drawing something I care deeply about but it’s VERY FUCKING HARD and I’m frustrated but it’s worth it.

I also do everything while being very scared of the thing. I have a lot of deep-seated anxiety that I’m constantly trying to root out and my brain compulsively twists things around into why I can’t do something, why people secretly know I’m below-par and are just too nice to tell me, how I’m “tricking” people into thinking I’m better than I am, etc. It’s so bad that my first thought when I was initially offered the art test for my current job was to say no; not because I didn’t want it so badly it hurt, but because I thought I’d be too much of a disappointment. After completing the test I spent an hour figuring out the most gracious way to apologize for not being enough. It’s common, but not something to accept and we’re all working on it. I just thought it was important to mention because art is also a mental journey and forces you to do all this navel-gazey shit in order to advance, and feeling like you are Not Enough is rife in the creative community. The work feels entangled with my value as a person because art is a massive part of my life. Something I’m learning is that I don’t have to be confident or sure of myself all the time. This ensures that the process is usually painful and frightening. Often there’s no way to make it less painful or frightening, and I just have to hold my breath and do it. An oddly comforting thing to me the past couple years is to remind myself that the scary thing I’m about to do won’t be the scariest thing I’ll ever do. I implies both that this isn’t the pinnacle of my progress and also that I will inevitably get over it. If you continue with art you’re going to run into things like this and I guess if it was me it would’ve been helpful to know I’m not alone in it.

I hope that maybe answered some of your questions, maybe? If you have some specific questions feel free and I’ll try my best. Hope you have a good day/night!

#anon #asks

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gunsatthaphan · 3 years

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Recently I have been rewatching Fighting Mr N•2 and I realised how far we got with BL. Honestly the acting of Sam and Yu is impeccable and the drama looks professional. I remember when I started BL, it was mainly Thai BL and China didn’t ban same sex depictions yet but it was just a few drama but the quality was so different. The actors were for most of the time undergraduates students who took the roles for recognition or just for a stepping stone for the « real acting career » aka straight roles. The acting was bad, there was almost no chemistry between the characters and the story were really all the same.

Even if we have a long way to go, what do you think can help BL to be taken seriously and be in the same category of regular drama ?

hi there anon!

you're right, at this point there are a good number of decent shows out there and generally I would say there is/has been a change in quality; especially compared to 5 years ago or so. Not just in terms of production quality but also the types of stories have shifted I think. But if you look at the bigger picture, those still dont outnumber the bad ones lol.

And I’m not gonna lie, I always find these asks super hard to answer. Criticizing these shows/the genre on a level that doesn’t make me sound like a hypocrite is difficult lol. Because I do love watching them it’s just..... there’s a lot of junk out there. And I don’t want people to misunderstand me. So I will try my best...

When you imply that these shows are not taken seriously then you’re right. As I said from my perception it has been going into a better direction but I think the problem is the distinction. Because while more “forward” shows like we best love or lovely writer/ciwyw/etc. exist and no matter how many more groundbreaking bls there are still to come,,,,, they're still bls lol. It still exists as a separate genre and I don't think that's gonna change anytime soon. Which is fine but sometimes I think the gap between bl and non-bl is too big. I don't know if I can word this right but I think a lot bls are setting themselves apart too much by creating too much of a delusional and unrealistic world. Everyone is gay, girls don't exist (and if they do they’re evil creatures with no personality), the word sexuality is nonexistent and everyone is in love with everyone etc.... Which, if it's done right, is not bad and can be fun to watch but sometimes it feels more like a feverdream than a realistic story that people can relate to. If that makes sense. And I think that’s a bit different with “classic” dramas. (no matter from what country)

So I think realism is one thing a lot of shows need to work on. And I don’t just mean the setup but also the acting, which is often way too stiff and just takes away all the fun lol. Another thing is the promotion. Idk about you but imo the marketing for these shows is getting out of hand. All the merch and music videos and fan events and tiktoks are extremely annoying and do nothing besides emphasize that all of it is for money and nothing else. Which is a problem. At least in my opinion. And I think that adds to the whole thing of bls being derided a bit.

And I know people keep pleading for the term "bl" to be removed and I agree - but I think that's unrealistic. Rather I think these shows should aim for more realism, less repetitive tropes and more original stories. Also a more moderate representation in the media.

But also as I said that's just my opinion. I know a lot of people love their classic sappy bls and back when I started to watch, so did I. It was a new world and I was fascinated dsjfkd. But after almost 4 years I'm starting to get tired lol. I've stopped settling for less than what I really love to watch and it feels good lol. And while you're right when you say we have a long way to go and while we probably will never quite get rid of the term "bl", I think there's a chance that shows like we best love, light on me or manner of death, etc. could become the norm 🤞🏻

xxx

#bl dramas #discussions #opinions #sorry this got long

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wellntruly · 3 years

Text

My Favorite Films of 2020

AT LAST, I’m calling it: I’m done with 2020 (movies)

Given the greater access to streaming rentals during These Times, my goal was to see if I could catch 50 entries in this year’s film slate, and I did it. A deeply pandemic-inflected benchmark from multiple angles, whether this will be my own New Normal I truly cannot say!

Thank god, I’d already written at least some sort of initial response to every single one of these, so each title links to my diary entry for the film on Letterboxd, which either ends there in just a capsule review, or further links to a longer write-up if I did one.

I’ve arranged the following list counting up from my #20 to my #1, then listed all the also-rans just in descending order, then lastly the docs in their own section because my brain really struggles to weigh fiction and non-fiction together on the same scale.

OKAY LET’S DROP MY TOPS:

20. Never Rarely Sometimes Always

Yes this feels almost like watching a mythic trial, but that’s its power

19. The Assistant

Should probably be higher; it’s personal!

18. The Personal History of David Copperfield

Should probably be lower; it’s personal!

17. Emma.

Very sneaky of this movie to make me into Knightley

16. The Old Guard

Sorry to come back and secretly edit this but. I still think about this. I still think about this. The legs!

15. Promising Young Woman

I think this movie hinges entirely on whether you think everything it’s doing is missing the point, or is the point. It’s an interesting piece of art in that regard, and I think some others too.

14. Bacurau

For all that I still feel the screen-time ratio is off here, the STYLE and STORY of this has stuck with me so hard all the way since LAST April. A friend once sent me a “Steal His Look” meme for Lunga and I still think about that all the time, too.

13. Wolfwalkers

The most gorgeous animation since Into the Spider-verse will get you far on my list

12. Shirley

THE BENNINGTON. JUMPED. OUT.

11. La Llorona

Latin American magical realism is practically a guaranteed get on me, so ultimately it’s little wonder this landed as high as it did.

And now we enter the final ten. Every one of these got here because something in my heart freaked out while I was watching it. It’s about to become less explainable!

10. Let Them All Talk

I had such a good time watching this sweet & mean literary boat flick that I felt like I was indulging in something illegal, or at the very least frowned upon. I also felt too drunk to care!

9. Mangrove, with a chaser of Lovers Rock

Kind of Steve McQueen to put the two best of this film cycle first and second. They make a lovely pair, a long & carefully structured story of Black struggle and a short & lyrical exploration of Black playfulness. Small Axe made this December special!

8. Martin Eden

The only way I can conceptualize it at this point is that it’s like this Italian Jack London film snuck up and robbed me blind, and now I’m just here cheerily rocking with my hands in my empty pockets going “I don’t know what to tell you!” Cannot wait to chaotically recommend this to casual acquaintances.

7. One Night In Miami

Nothing has made me miss the WARMTH of theatre like this movie.

6. The Nest

Please trust me and the seventeen other people who have seen The Nest when we all say without a lick of hesitation that it’s one of the best movies of the year.

5. Bad Education

F*CK this is good. Like The Nest, just another impeccable grift thriller. I love movies!!

4. The Vast of Night

One of those where I know exactly what my few problems with it are, however it does not functionally matter at all as I am in love with it. I’ve only watched two 2020 movies twice already, and this is one of them. The other is my #1.

3. Minari

Sometimes a year of hype cannot but leave you feeling a little let down by the time you can finally see it, or it’s Minari and leaves you a startled sobbing mess, in the best way.

2. Sound of Metal

This took me by storm. Or like the creaking, fragile quiet after the storm when you’re gathering up the pieces.

1. First Cow

I just Love! That! Cow!

* * *

There are still a lot of other films from last year I thought totally had their appeals, just didn’t manage to crack my Top 20, and also…some other ones, so let’s just keep going, for the drama:

21. Another Round

22. Nomadland

23. Judas and the Black Messiah

24. The Old Guard

25. On the Rocks

26. Palm Springs

27. The Father

28. Night of the Kings

29. The World To Come

30. Tesla

31. Bill & Ted Face the Music

32. I’m Thinking of Ending Things

33. Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom

34. Da 5 Bloods

35. Ammonite

36. Kajillionaire

37. Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga

38. The Midnight Sky

39. The Trial of the Chicago 7

40. Mank (pls blank)

* * *

And lastly, I also watched a bunch of documentaries this year, many of which were very different from the usual talking heads approach, and one of which was the Talking Heads. (It was actually just David Byrne but I couldn’t resist the Joke !)

Starting at the top this time:

1. Dick Johnson Is Dead

2. Collective

3. The Painter and the Thief

4. American Utopia

5. The Mole Agent

6. Time

7. MLK/FBI

8. Spaceship Earth

9. Mucho Mucho Amore

10. My Octopus Teacher

-- -- --

#I'm posting this on April Fools Day for plausible deniability #JK I stand entirely by all this #movies #Wellntruly's Watch Log

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ghinanotlinetti · 3 years

Text

I recently read Sam Bett & David Boyd’s translation of ‘Breasts and Eggs’ by Mieko Kawakami and it got me thinking

In 2021, I wanted to read more fiction books. I felt that I was consuming too many non-fiction / self-help books which wasn’t exciting to read anymore, I needed those sweet escapes that a story books could give me, and so I made a pile of mostly fiction books to read this year. I wanted to read Breasts and Eggs because I had read Ms Ice Sandwich and fell in love with Kawakami’s writing style, or rather the essence of her writing since I was reading an English translation, nonetheless I adored the way she wrote from the perspective of a little boy, the story was short but packed with emotions which fascinated me.

Spoiler warning!

B&E is a story structured in two parts told from the perspective of a Japanese woman, Natsuko, with a career in writing; in the first part, she’s in her early twenties picking up older sister, Makiko, and niece, Midoriko, from the train, her family are visiting her in Tokyo from Osaka, Makiko sets an appointment at a clinic there to get her breasts done, meanwhile Midoriko has recently stopped speaking, and the second part is set 9 years later after she has published her writing, is now an acclaimed writer and desires to have her own child without a partner. This story is about working-class womanhood, and is deeply intimate; I adore sibling dynamics, especially sisterhood, so I loved how Kawakami paints Natsuko and Makiko’s relationship, I was also moved by the depiction of motherhood from Makiko and Midoriko’s characters, which felt like an authentic portrait of a working single mother, and the portrayal of loneliness which Natsuko’s character experiences struck me the most, although it was intense, I relate on an emotional level.

I’ve always found Japanese literature intriguing; I’m not sure exactly what it is, but Japanese authors have a unique way of illustrating the theme of loneliness in their stories, from the build up to how they develop their characters, it hits me to my core because I too am lonely. The turns this novel takes felt natural, and I was surprised in a good way that I as a reader couldn’t feel comfortable in taking a side as to what Natsuko should and shouldn’t do (or want for herself) in her situation. I love novels that digs into grey areas, and womanhood has so many grey areas to explore. On the one hand, it really is crazy to think of artificially inseminating yourself with someone else’s sperm in order to have a child that you’ll then raise on your own (at least for the most parts), and on the other hand, why should non-partnered women who are capable of providing for a child and desire to experience motherhood be prohibited from having that experience? Could being self-partnered and artificial insemination become a norm in the future? Maybe. I myself currently see many women who are moving away from investing in men, living full lives on their own terms, which I think is a beautiful thing, though it comes with its own sacrifices and challenges. Natsuko explores almost all aspects of the coin’s two sides; there’s Yuriko who presents an anti-natalist argument against bringing a life into the world, Makiko is also not entirely on board and does call her out for perhaps being impulsive, then Natsuko meets Onda and is put off from choosing to inseminate herself with this creepy bloke’s sperm, but Aizawa tells her he’s willing to provide her his sperm in order for her to have a child, and everything happens naturally. Aizawa is a man she respects, even adores at one point, so she’s fine with him being the father of her child. The ending surprised me because I wasn’t expecting for it to be that full of a conclusion, which is honestly great though I was fully prepared for an open-ended, mystery, question-mark ending. In the end, Natsuko and Aizawa don’t have a relationship beyond being co-parents, so the romance had an end, but it wasn’t all that upsetting because Natsuko herself is okay with being unpartnered. A very intriguing novel for the themes it presents, and great contemporary, working-class take on those themes too!

I never would’ve thought that this conversation on companionship, being self-partnered and reproductive rights could be brought to the forefront and discussed openly, let alone be depicted in fiction, so I’m very happy to hold this book in my hands which deserves all the praise and love from readers all around the world. At first glance, this wouldn’t be a fiction story I’d think a lot of people would want to read, most people tend to gravitate towards portrayals of romance and even if audiences want to see an “independent woman” it’s through a limiting lens that doesn’t bring much nuances, so I think this book is ground-breaking for being bold and daring whilst telling a story that feels natural.

5-star novel for me for sure 💕 Loved the touch of magical realism too, I thought it was great and well done. I’m curious to know Midoriko’s story 9 years later, though I understand why she’s not part of the narrative since part 2 focuses Natsuko’s story who is the story’s narrator. I believe this book deserves a movie adaptation too, because it has those cinematic moments, and the characters are so well written I think they’ll translate well onto screen. More novels about grey areas in womanhood journey, please!

Last updated: August 15th 2021

#breasts and eggs #mieko kawakami #japanese literature #literature in translation #picador books #book review #womanhood #motherhood #working class #sam bett #david boyd

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multiverse-sya · 3 years

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Here I'll talk about my spiritual beliefs on how it's possible to be something that doesn't necessarily exist here as well as a hypothesis on how all of this is possible. Yes, I'm aware that this can be explained psychologically and I'm not discounting a psychological explanation, but that isn't what I'm discussing here. Under the cut, I'll be talking about hard core metaphysics in great detail and how I use it to explain how things work in a spiritual sense. So if you aren't into philosophy, ignore this.

Ever since figuring out I was a protoss, I kept trying to figure out how that was even possible from a spiritual perspective. Such as how it's possible to be something that was created for a video game, or anything deemed fictional. I quickly started questioning what the difference between fiction and non fiction was. And from a philosophical perspective, I realized that the line could get very blurry.

My own spiritual beliefs are based on a couple of different philosophies, including metaphysics, ontology, pantheism and idealism. The idealism I'm explaining here is different from the way it is used outside of philosophy. In philosophy it is defined as " a diverse group of metaphysical views which all assert that "reality" is in some way indistinguishable or inseparable from human perception and/or understanding, that it is in some sense mentally constructed, or that it is otherwise closely connected to ideas." I view this from a Platonic perspective, where the mind perceives only figments of the true nature of reality from a 'higher' realm. I will talk more about this a few paragraphs down.

I'll talk about another important aspect to my spirituality: creativity and energy. As I mentioned earlier, I consider myself a pantheist. I don't view god as a single sentient person. When I say god, I'm talking about the god that was responsible for creating everything in Abrahamic religions. I view 'god' as an energy that flows through all of reality. Everything and everyone is considered god. Nothing was ever actually created but was always in existence.

That way, I eliminate questions like who created god, on what existed before the 'beginning' (such as the big bang), and how could everything be created out of nothing. The answer I came up is that nothingness never existed. I believe the true nature of reality is pure entropy. In this pure entropy, everything exists and that there is never a beginning or an end to reality as a whole. Rather, time exists as an infinite cycle of circles. Reality feeds itself to continue to exist. Because of all of this, everything is permitted to exist, even the unimaginable here. This includes multiple universes. Much of my spirituality involves energy work and manifestation by pulling what I want into this reality. I also believe that souls, afterlives, and reincarnations exist based on the thought that nothing dies due to it being energy.

Another thought experiment that I think about is that you can't divide 0 by 0. The answer is undefined mathematically. In a similar way, you can't destroy anything to create true emptiness and true unreality.

Next I'll move on to talk about the multiverse. I've done my research and heard many times that the multiverse theory doesn't necessarily accept or prove the possibility of fiction existing. Because under one framework on the multiverse theory accepted by the scientists who believe it, is that the laws of physics can't change from universe to universe; it has to be consistent with this one.

My response to this is that other universes aren't necessarily bound to the same laws as this one (obviously I don't know for sure but I'm leaning towards the possibility that different universes are bound by different laws of physics. That is why I'm holding a position of skepticism). But by making this assumption that other universes have the same laws without a doubt, the burden of proof is heavy because it can't be empirically provided. At the same time, the multiverse that fictionkin do believe are talked about in philosophy and in thought experiments. In philosophy, it's under modal realism and possible worlds. Even though the multiverse theory that is accepted by scientists is different, the belief is still heard about in philosophy.

As I mentioned at the start, I'll talk about platonic idealism and how it shapes how I view the nature of reality: that it is unknowable and impossible to know it for sure.

The brain and all of your senses have limitations in what you can perceive. For example, one limitation is that you can't think of a color you've never seen before even though other colors exist outside the visible spectrum. No matter how much you could try to think of a different color you've never seen before, you can't imagine it. So there are innate limitations when you use your 5 senses. I think that is the same thing with anything else. That is why I feel that the true nature of reality is undefinable and that you can only get glimpses of it's nature.

I'll use Plato's cave allegory as an example to help explain this belief. If you don't know what the cave allegory is, now you'll learn:

Imagine a cave where people have been trapped all of their life. These prisoners are chained so that they can only look in front of them. Behind the prisoners is a fire, and between the fire and the prisoners is a group of people making shadow puppets basically.

The prisoners cannot see any of what is happening behind them, they are only able to see the shadows cast upon the cave wall in front of them. In the allegory, it's suggested "that the shadows are reality for the prisoners because they have never seen anything else; they do not realize that what they see are shadows of objects in front of a fire, much less that these objects are inspired by real things outside the cave which they do not see."

I think the way reality is perceived in the empirical, physical world are just shades of what is actually real, just like the shadow puppets. You are able to get to a 'closer' understanding of reality by using your imagination and other abstract concepts to help you out because those concepts aren't necessarily bound to the physical, concrete world. As to what I think can exist out there that isn't right in front of you physically could be entirely different realities and realms.

With creativity, whether it's drawing, writing or music, you can take those abstract concepts from other realities (including things that don't exist here) and bring it to the concrete world through manifestation. When it comes to fictionkin, there are two possibilities. 1: The writer managed to pull up an idea through their imagination and manifest it here, or 2: The multiverse is close to infinite and what they wrote was one possibility of many. In both of these cases, the universes exist by themselves.

I've had very strange experiences that I feel go beyond purely empirical and psychological reasons for it being possible. These experiences include memories before I knew about the source I'm from, strange coincidences throughout my life, which includes things I find too close to be coincidental. This is an entirely different topic however which is an essay all by itself. In my mind, I have the need to find a justification on how all of these things are possible. After many years of thinking on my beliefs from even before I knew about otherkinity, I came up with a coherent conclusion.

If you don't agree with my beliefs or find them stupid, then I don't know what to tell you other than accept that I believe these things and leave me alone. I've already gotten into arguments with people because they don't like my beliefs. I'm tired of that.

#otherkin #alterhuman #fictionkin #nonhuman #long philosophy post #if you read the entire post then congrats #my posts

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frithams · 3 years

Text

Tag 9 people to learn about their interests!

I was tagged by: @nr-studies

MUSIC

Fav genre? Probably alternative or indie I guess

Fave artist? The Vaccines

Fave song? It changes like every day but right now it’s Panic Attack by The Vaccines

Most listened song recently? No Children by The Mountain Goats

Song currently stuck in your head? It’s like always Tequila or Do the Hustle

5 fave lyrics?

It's a chapter that you're stuck on

And you'd rather read alone

I'm a not inspiring ending

But the best you've ever known

Well, I'm livin' in a foreign country but I'm bound to cross the line

Beauty walks a razor's edge, someday I'll make it mine

If I could only turn back the clock to when God and her were born

Come in, she said

I'll give ya shelter from the storm

BOOKS

Fav book genre? Oh prob non fiction/autobiography because I’m boring haha

Fave writer? Can I pick my bestie? (K 👀)

Fave book? Oh fuck like my url is actually from a book so points if you know what book it’s from haha

Fave book series? I loved the Terry Pratchett Wintersmith book series

Comfort book? The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy

Rainy day book? Probably a new book

Fave characters? Too many to list here

5 quotes from your fave books? These are the ones I have noted down recently, although there are so many others.

1. "Think of how much more time and energy we would have to focus on other things that matter if we weren’t so busy surviving."(Men Explain Things to Me, Rebecca Solnit)

2.”and billions of women must be out there on this seven-billion-person planet being told that they are not reliable witnesses to their own lives, that the truth is not their property, now or ever."(Men Explain Things to Me, Rebecca Solnit)

3. Most men and women lead lives, if not of quiet desperation, at least of desperate quietness..."(On Writing Well, William Zinsser)

TV AND MOVIES

Fave tv/movie genre? Sci-fi and fantasy

Fave movie? There are too many. How am I supposed to chose!

Comfort movie? Stardust, Pirates of the Caribbean, The Mummy and Paddington 1&2

Movie you watch every year? Back to the Future

Fave tv show? Doctor Who

Comfort tv show? Doctor Who or Whose Line is it Anyway

Most rewatched tv show? House or Hustle or Life on Mars

5 fave characters? Again, too many to list here

Tagging: @kolwyntjie, @booksnscience, @squisshystudy, @justanotherstudyblrinthecrowd, @peregrination-studies, @study--frog , @studium-stardust , @studyingpearl @rebelintherain (sorry if you've already been tagged and have already done it!) (also no pressure)

#tag game #frithams #studyblr #im so lame im sorry #txt

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inevitably-johnlocked · 4 years

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I know this is very broad but what are your favorite “love confessions” fics? No established relationship. I’ve read so many slow burn fics that are a million chapters but I really want to find some relatively shorter ones :) Specifically ones that are in a “normal” universe(no fantasy, sci-fi, historical, etc.). Can be post S4 or anywhere in the timeline!

Hi Nonny!

Ahhh, I have a tonne of Love Confession fics, and I’m gonna use this opportunity to make the Part 4 list <3 I tag and word count all my fic recs, so you can file through them and hopefully you’ll find stuff you enjoy! <3 Most of all of my Love Confession fics are non-Established Relationship fics, so you’re all good!!

Love you Nonny, and as usually, Lovelies, add your own fics if you have any! <3

LOVE CONFESSIONS PT. 4

See also:

Love Confessions / Slow Burn / Dev. Rel. (Fluff Version)

Platonics & Domestics Pt 2 / Hugs, Cuddles & Kisses Pt. 3 / Tooth-Rotting Fluff Pt. 5 / Love Confessions, Slow Burn & Dev. Rel. Pt. 2 / Established Relationship Pt. 3

Love Confessions Pt. 3

Promise of Sussex by LittleLongHairedOutlaw (T, 705 w., 1 Ch. || First Person POV Sherlock, Sherlock Whump, Angst, Pining, Ambiguous Ending) – John tries to keep Sherlock conscious after he's been shot on a case.

I Knew You Loved Me by inevitably_johnlocked (T, 743 w., 1 Ch. || Morning Cuddles, Fluff, Clingy Sherlock, Idiots in Love, Slice of Life, Morning After, Tooth-Rotting Fluff, Declarations of Love, Pet Name, Bed Sharing, Snuggles) – John and Sherlock share a lie-in the morning after their first time. So fluffy and gross your teeth will fall out. Part 4 of I-J's Tumblr Ficlet Collection

Loved. by inevitably_johnlocked (G, 1,231 w., 1 Ch. || First Sherlock POV, Slice of Life, Tooth-Rotting Fluff, Nose Kisses, Morning After, Love Confessions, Morning Cuddles, Emotional Sherlock, Sentiment, Bed Sharing) – Sherlock reflects on his relationship with John. Part 5 of I-J's Tumblr Ficlet Collection

Santa Knows by Itsallfine (T, 1,719 w., 1 Ch. || Christmas Party, Love Confessions, First Kiss, Fluff, Matchmaking, POV Sherlock, Pining Sherlock) – Sherlock and John both get exactly what they want from the Yard's secret Santa exchange. Pure holiday fluff.

Like Euphoria and Scotch by FinAmour (M, 1,856 w., 1 Ch. || Five and One, Alchohol / Drinking, POV Second Person Sherlock, Pining Sherlock, Sherlock’s Imagination, Armchair Sex, Fluff, Happy Ending) – 5 different ways it all could have gone + the one way it actually works itself out.

Stay by sussexbound (M, 2,067 w. 1 Ch. || Post TAB, Suicidal Ideation Mention, Implied / Referenced Drug Use, Kissing, Love Confessions, Frottage, Coming in Pants) – “Why? Why did you do it? Hmm…?” He takes a deep breath, waits, lets it out again. “Look at me.” There’s no denying him when he takes this tone. “Why did you kill him? Hmm…? For her? After…” A muscle twitches in the corner of John’s eye, and he clamps his jaw down tightly, swallows and sniffs a little before continuing. “For her? After everything she’s done?” “For you.” Before he can even stop himself. Just like that.

Love Hurts by Grac3 (T, 2,215 w., 1 Ch. || Magical Realism, Pining Sherlock, One-Sided Pining / URT, Sherlock / John Whump, Angst, Ambiguous Ending) – In a world where someone's physical injuries manifest themselves on the person who is in love with them, John didn't think that there would ever be anyone who was willing to risk falling in love with him - until he got shot on a case, and it didn't hurt. Unrequited Johnlock.

Hell or High water by bluefire301175 (E, 2,250 w., 1 Ch. || PWP, Frottage, Alley Sex, First Person POV John, Case-ish Fic, Mutual Pining, Bed Sharing) – John wants. Sherlock wants. Plain and simple.

The Healing Touch by inevitably_johnlocked (G, 2,307 w., 1 Ch. || Caretaking, Domestic Fluff, Stroppy Sherlock, John Loves Sherlock, Love Confessions, Sofa Cuddles, Insecure Sherlock) – Sherlock's broken his foot and he's becoming unbearably stroppy. Good thing John has the healer's touch... ;) Part 3 of I-J's Tumblr Ficlet Collection

Closeted by Sexxica (E, 2,762 w., 1 Ch. || Trapped in a Closet, Panicking Sherlock, Hand Jobs, Coming in Pants, Awkward Conversations, Love Confessions, First Kiss, Fluffy Ending) – An improvised hiding spot and a bit of accidental voyeurism leave John and Sherlock in an awkward position.

Better Late Than Never by sussexbound (NR (T), 3,021 w., 1 Ch. || Post-S4 / TFP Doesn’t Exist, Sherlock POV, Love Confessions, Drunk Sherlock / Sober John, John Takes Care of Sherlock, First Kiss, Jealous Sherlock, Emotional Turmoil) – He suddenly wants John Watson out of his bedroom, out of his flat, out of his life, because he has been lying to himself these last few months, he realises. He doesn’t want John here, not with the way things are. He doesn’t want 221b Baker Street to be nothing more than rest stop John returns to on his journeys between women. He doesn’t want to play co-parent if Rosie is going to be snatched away from him and placed in the arms of whatever nameless woman du jour John lands on next. He doesn’t want to keep being so careful, so generous, so, so…

The General Idea by agirlsname (T, 3,022 w., 1 Ch. || Retirement, Promise of Forever / Proposal, POV John, First Kiss, Tooth-Rotting Fluff, Soft Sherlock, Idiots in Love, Crying / Emotional Sherlock, Love Confessions) – After twenty years of friendship, John is used to Sherlock acting weirdly. But the news Sherlock finally brings himself to deliver change the carefully built dynamics between them, and John realises it's time to act.

Wish I Was In Heaven Sitting Down by standbygo (M, 3,282 w., 1 Ch. || Post-S4, Five Plus One, Missing Scenes, Parenthood, First Kiss, Friends to Lovers, Cuddling & Snuggling, Hurt/Comfort, Declarations of Love, Fluff, Food, John Whump) – Five times when Sherlock and John ate together, and one time they didn't. A history of the boys, in food.

Coldness/Heat by agirlsname (E, 3,790 w., 1 Ch. || Cuddling & Snuggling, Body Heat, New Year’s Eve, PWP, Bed Sharing, Frottage) – The inn is booked up on New Year's Eve. The train home is cancelled because of the snow. The only option is to sleep in the non-heated guest room of a client, and John and Sherlock are freezing.You know where this is going. Part 1 of New Year's Kiss

Obsession, Appassionato by shinychimera, Yeomanrand (E, 4,249 w., 1 Ch. || Possessive Sherlock, First Time, Jealous Sherlock, Music / Sherlock’s Violin, Present Tense, Frottage) – John is late, and he hasn’t called, and Sherlock works himself into a state. Part 1 of Love and Ysaye

Overture by Kate_Lear (M, 4,435 w., 1 Ch. || First Kiss / Time, Friends to Lovers, Angry John, Introspection, Dev. Rel., Embarrassed / Insecure Sherlock, Morning After, Bed Sharing, Cuddles / Limpet Sherlock) – A short snippet on how John and Sherlock might have got together.

Given In Evidence by verityburns (M, 5,034 w., 19 Ch. || PODFIC AVAILABLE || Post-TRF, Angst, Drama, Case Fic, Romance, BAMF!John, Submissive Sherlock, First Kiss, Humour) – Coming back from the dead can be a complicated business. With a new case on the horizon, rebuilding a life is one thing... rebuilding a friendship quite another. For Sherlock and John, things may never be just the same...

Pillow Talk by scullyseviltwin (M, 5,183 w., 1 Ch. || Post-S3, Angsty Fluff, PIllow Talk, Bed Sharing, Worried John, First Time Morning After, Soft Sherlock, Sexuality Discussion, Love Confessions, Kisses and Cuddles) – John has been looking at Sherlock for ages, it feels like.

Welcome Home, John by slashscribe (G, 5,504 w., 1 Ch. || Post-S3, Angst, Emotional Hurt/Comfort, Awkwardness, Stabbed Sherlock, Protective Sherlock, Panic Attack (Sherlock), Self Esteem Issues, Love Confessions, First Kiss) – When John moves back to 221B, he thinks he’s the broken one, but after a while, it becomes clear that he might not be correct.

Captain John Watson, Genetics, and Other Crazy Things by cyerus (M, 5,581 w., 1 Ch. || Torchwood Crossover || Humour / Crack, Jealous Sherlock, Sexual Magnet John, Captain John, UST / RST, Three Continents Watson) – The explanation for John "Three Continents" Watson? Jack Harkness is his father. Sherlock doesn't know whether he's going to die from jealousy or sexual frustration first.

My First, My Only, and My Forever by vintagelilacs (E, 6,220 w., 1 Ch. || Post-ASiB, Virgin Sherlock, Pining Sherlock, Sherlock’s Bum, John’s Scar, Sherlock POV, Body Worship, Fingering, Bottomlock, Promise of Forever / Proposals, Misunderstanding, First Kiss/Time, Loss of Virginity, Virginity Kink, Seduction) – Sherlock narrowed his eyes. He was missing a vital piece of data, he was sure. John had been looking at him oddly ever since they left Buckingham Palace, and the ensuing incident with Irene Adler had only exacerbated his erratic behaviour. What was it? Why would he care that Sherlock was a virgin? There was nothing reminiscent of mockery or pity in his gaze. And then it hit him. John Watson was aroused.

Bridges by sussexbound (M, 6,602 w., 1 Ch || Post-TLD / S4 Fix It, Love Confessions, Mending Relationships, Moving Back In, Pining Sherlock, POV Sherlock, Past Abuse, Shaving) – The silence between them is deafening, interrupted only by the hum of the traffic outside, and the soft click-clunk of the plastic cups Rosie is playing with on the floor beside them. It is the first time they have been alone together, since Sherlock’s birthday. It’s only been two days, but it feels huge, important, like there is a precarious bridge stretched out before them both that they need to at least attempt to traverse.

An Interpretation of Viewing Habits by akitsuko (E, 6,653 w., 1 Ch. || Porn Watching, Masturbation, Anal, Friends to Lovers, First Kiss / Time, Declarations of Love, Jealous Sherlock, Fantasizing, John in Denial / Internalized Homophobia, Bottomlock, Pining Idiots, Sherlock Has No Boundaries, Cockblocking Sherlock) – John watches porn. It's a perfectly normal thing to do.If every video he watches happens to feature actors with remarkable physical similarities to his flatmate, well, that's no one's business but his own. Or: John is in denial, until his infatuation with Sherlock is impossible to deny anymore.

where the good things grow by anchors (M, 7,066 w., 1 Ch. || Alternate First Meeting, Magical Realism, Gardens, Tea, Friends to Lovers) – "I have a magic garden." As come-ons go, John's heard worse.

Stranded by BeautifulFiction (T, 5,798 w., 1 Ch. || First Kiss, Communication / Relationship Discussion, Pining Sherlock, Sherlock POV, BAMF John, Doctor John, Case Fic, Drinking, Huddling For Warmth, Friends to More) – When stranded on a derelict barge at high tide, John and Sherlock reconsider their friendship.

Sometimes When We Touch by kedgeree (M, 7,755 w., 6 Ch. || Post-TRF, First Kiss/Time, Inappropriate Giggling, Romance, Friends to Lovers, Virgin Sherlock, John Whump, Touching) – John might be touching Sherlock a little more often than is strictly necessary. Sherlock probably hasn't even noticed. Right...?

Just Like That by sussexbound (E, 8,442 w., 1 Ch. || First Time/Kiss, Frottage, Virgin Sherlock, French Kissing, Anal, Emotional Lovemaking, Enthusiastic Consent, Tenderness, Crying John, Bathing/Washing, Insecure John, Toplock) – John doesn’t want to talk anymore. He wants. Oh dear god, how he wants. For the first time in what feels like years he WANTS.

My Life for His by QuinnAnderson (E, 8,816 w., 1 Ch. || Guardian/Protector, Greek Mythology || Growing Up, Sex, Religious Themes, Suicide, Minor Character Death) – It began when Sherlock was eight, and he attempted to climb all the way up to the highest branch in the old willow tree in his back garden. He'd thought he was still small enough that it could support him, but the second he'd grabbed hold of it to pull himself up, the branch snapped, and down he went, plummeting a solid twenty metres.The odd thing was, he never actually hit the ground.

The Very Unlikely Existence of a Flightless Bird in a Tuxedo by cwb (E, 8,829 w., 1 Ch. || Poetry, Penguins / Animals / Zoos, First Kiss / Time, Blow / Hand Jobs, Sleepy Cuddles, Endearments, Friendship / Love, Adorable / Sleepy Sherlock, Case Fic, Sherlock Can’t Say Penguin) – A case at the zoo reveals something John finds cute about Sherlock. A conversation ensues, and so does happy endings.

Unwasted by patternofdefiance (E, 8,966 w., 1 Ch. || Post-S3 / S3 Fix-It, Developing Relationship, Friends to Lovers, Angelo’s, Fluff, First Time, Anal, Cum Play, Flashbacks to ASiB, Mutual Pining, Love Confessions, Bottomlock, Cuddles, Multiple Orgasms, BJ’s, Bed Sharing) – John finds it three months after he's moved back. He's on the hunt for something to make for dinner, is scrounging through the cupboards, when he happens upon the graveyard of pasta boxes Sherlock still seems to create when left to his own devices. Behind seven boxes of pasta, all almost completely empty, is a dark-glassed bottle, with a paler coat of dust.It's unopened. John's face falls slack when he sees it, instantly recognises it, and for a long moment he just stands and looks at it.

Inked in Memory by 221b_hound (E, 9,716 w., 2 Ch. || Post-HLV, Tattoos, First Kiss / Time, Anal, Cuddling, Scars, Captain John, Kissing, Switchlock) – John has been back at Baker Street for a year, following the debacle that ended in Mary's death. Things are good. Back almost to what they used to be. Sherlock might wish they were something else, now, but he only has himself to blame, he thinks. It's too late, now, for the things he first denied before he'd ruined any chances he might have had. Sherlock also thinks that people who get tattoos are idiots. But perhaps he's about to learn a thing or two, not least of which might be it's not as late as he thinks it is. Part 1 of Lock and Key

The Haunting of 221B Baker Street by earlgreytea68 (M, 10,388 w., 2 Ch. || Post TRF, Halloween / Ghosts, Pining Sherlock, Ghost Sherlock, Stroppy Sherlock, Sherlock POV, First Kiss/Time, Angry Sex, Ghost Sex, Love Confessions, Open / Ambiguous Ending) – In which Sherlock Holmes is a ghost.

The Burning of the Leaves by blueink3 (M, 15,915 w., 3 Ch. || Post S4, Angst, Reichenbach, Parentlock, Past Jolto, Idiot John, Sherlock’s a Mess, Puppies, Fluff, Possessive / Jealous Sherlock, Pining Sherlock, Sherlock POV, Matchmaker Sholto, Melancholic Feelings, Emotional Sherlock, Domesticity, Love Confessions in the Rain, Kissing in the Rain, Pet Names, Panic Attack) – After the events of series 4, Major Sholto invites John and Sherlock to lunch one day. It nearly proves to be too much for their tenuous relationship as the past haunts the present, putting the future that Sherlock so desperately wants at risk.

A Silver Sixpence by _doodle (NC-17, 16,400 w., 2 Ch. || LJ Fic || For a Case / Case Fic, Fake Relationship, Humour, Romance, Marriage Proposal, Awkward Idiots, Cuddling, Touching, Kissing, Love Confessions, Bed Sharing, Friends to Lovers, Fake Until It’s Not, Schmoop and Fluff, Bottomlock) – “John, we need to get married. It’s for a case, not any romantic notions on my part pertaining to our partnership,” Sherlock said, with brutal honesty, and without even looking up.

The Palmyra Atoll by elwinglyre (E, 16,609 w., 3 Ch. || TSo3 Divergence / Episode Fix-It, Stockholm Syndrome, Kidnapped John Watson, John Whump, Evil Mary, Angst, Cuddling & Snuggling, Toplock, Limited 3rd John POV) – As John's preparing for the wedding, Sherlock is preparing to have his heart broken, and Mary is prepared to do the unthinkable. Intervention required. Enter Sherlock. Set before Sign of Three with a far different outcome. John is drugged, kidnapped, and left on an island, but not just any old island.

Wonderful, Etcetera. by VictoryCandescence (T, 16,955 w., 3 Ch. || Wonderful Life AU || Alternate Timelines, Brotherhood, Homophobia, Suicidal Ideations, Mentions of Drug Use, Friendship, Different TRF, Sherlock’s Past, Victor Trevor is Past Boyfriend, Depression, Hallucination?, Love Confessions, Christmas, First Kiss) – Sherlock thinks everyone would be better off if he had never existed, including and especially himself. When he finds himself in a world in which his wish has been granted, he begins to think perhaps even he could be wrong – but it takes an unlikely chaperone to make him not only observe, but understand.

Let's Make a Bed Out in the Rain by theimprobable1 (M, 17,664 w., 11 Ch. || Pining Sherlock, Angst & Fluff, First Kiss, Unrequited, Jealous Sherlock, Protective Sherlock) – John is devastated after his long-term girlfriend leaves him. Sherlock helps him through it.

Between Friends by SilentAuror (E, 18,036 w., 1 Ch. || Post S3, Alternating POV, Friends to Lovers, John in Denial, Abduction, Awkward Situations / Miscommunications, Porn With Feels, Blowjobs, Pining, Unrequited, Angst With Happy Ending) – Sherlock gets abducted. As John discovers him tied up naked in an empty storage facility and comes to rescue him, Sherlock's body has an unfortunate reaction which triggers a series of events. John is convinced that everything will be fine as long as they never discuss it. Sherlock isn't as sure...

I Think I've Come A Long Long Way To Sit Before You Here Today by ArwenKenobi (T, 18,251 w., 3 Ch. || Grief/Mourning, Passage of Time, Major Character Death, Alternating POV, Sherlock Whump, Pining Sherlock, Hospitalization, Coma, Revenge Murders, Hallucinations, Love Confessions, Brutal Accident, Mystrade, Ghost John) – One year after John is killed Sherlock starts to wonder whether John has actually gone anywhere.

Through the Clouds by Mazarin221b (E, 20,004 w., 6 Ch. || Retirement, Sussex, Bees, Romance, First Time) – Sherlock takes a remarkably early retirement at 47, and convinces John that a change of pace would do them both good. They buy an old cottage on the South Downs, and exchange their nonstop life in Baker Street for quiet contemplation, bee studies, and book writing. They might go completely insane, but sometimes it takes stepping outside of the life you're living to find the life you want. Part 1 of Through The Clouds

You're On the Air by prettysailorsoldier (M, 20,616 w., 1 Ch. || Unilock, Matchmaking, Radio, Christmas, Christmas Fluff, First Kiss, Friends to Lovers, Sherlock POV, Pining Sherlock, Flirting, Bisexual John) – The Consulting Detective and The Woman dominate the airwaves of their university radio station, doling out advice on everything from meeting the parents to sexual positions. When their ratings start to dip before the holidays, however, manager Mike thinks it's time for some fresh blood, and who better to fill in the gaps than rugby captain--and notorious flirt--John Watson? Part 1 of 25 Days of Johnlock

Out of the Woods by SilentAuror (E, 20,471 w., 1 Ch. || Post S4, Romance, Slow Burn, Flirting, Drunk Sex, Practical Jokes, POV Sherlock, Bottomlock, Possessive John, Pining Sherlock, Frustrated Wanking, Frottage, Hand Jobs, Blow Jobs, First Kiss/Time, Virgin Sherlock, Love Confessions, Soft Sherlock, Dancing, Bum Appreciation, Hanging out with the Yard) – Sherlock is fairly certain that John has taken to flirting with him of late, but can't be entirely certain of it. At least, not until a case takes them into a forest, along with Lestrade's team and something happens that will change everything about their lives...

whiskies neat by Ellipsical (E, 20,660 w., 15 Ch. || Alternate First Meeting, POV Second Person Sherlock, Slow Burn, One Night Stand, Rimming, Blow Jobs, Anal, Soldier John, Crying, Emotional Lovemaking, Switchlock) – Home and hearth and whiskies neat, or, alternatively, Sherlock Holmes falls in love.

5 Times John Got the Girl (and lost her) and 1 Time John Got the Guy (and kept him) by LiviKate (M, 21,695 w., 6 Ch. || 5 and Ones, Kissing, Oblivious / Awkward Sherlock, BAMF / Sexy / Stud John, Embarassed John, John’s Scar, Hurt/Comfort, Jealous Sherlock) – John has always had good luck with the ladies. He's charming, friendly and funny, not to mention great in bed. However, his usual skill with the opposite sex is constantly being thwarted by Sherlock and his outbursts. How will John ever get a leg over when Sherlock is always cockblocking him?

A Home for Us by sussexbound (M, 30,581 w., 12 Ch. || Scars, Bedsharing, Grief, Doctor John, Hurt/Comfort, Post-TRF, Implied/Referenced Torture, Sherlock POV, Pining Sherlock, Suicidal Ideation, Heavy Emotions, Clingy Sherlock, Hallucinations, Disassociation, Emotional Turmoil) – He has been on the road for two years, and he is exhausted. He’s almost accepted that he will never see London (John) again—almost. But then there are nights like tonight, where he is weak, and all he can think of is the warmth of the flat they once shared, the crackle of the fire in the hearth, the teasing smile playing at the corner of John’s lips, the boxes of half-eaten Chinese takeaway balanced precariously in their laps. He aches at the memory of it, at the realisation that it is something he may never experience again.

The Winter Garden by Callie4180 (T, 31,213 w., 13 Ch. || Post-S4, Retirement, Christmas, Slow Burn, Grown-Up Rosie, Parenthood, Rosie’s Cat, Angst with Happy Ending, Holidays, Beekeeping, Magical Realism, Sherlock POV, Sherlock’s Violin, Future Fic, Sussex, Honey, Magical Healing Honey, Love Confessions, Sherlock’s Scar, First Kiss, Touching) – As Sherlock nears the end of his career, he's given the gift of a cottage in Sussex. The honey from the beehives out back is amazing.Almost...magical.

The Whore of Babylon Was a Perfectly Nice Girl by out_there (E, 32,897 w., 1 Ch. || Past Drug Use, Blowjobs, Toplock, Mentions of Switching, Rough Sex, Background Cases, Sherlock’s Past, Sherlock’s Sexual History, Experienced Sherlock, Past One Night Stands, Fingering, Cuddling, Possessive Sherlock, Paris Holiday, Bed Sharing, Naked Lie-Ins, Bathing Together, Confessions, Worried Sherlock, Laying in Bed All Day, Meddling Mycroft, Naked Lazy Day) – Sherlock walks into a room and takes all the space right out of it. He does the same inside John's head.

Chaperones by MissDavis (T, 34,114 w., 7 Ch. || 11 Years Post-S4, Fake Relationship, Parentlock, Disney World, Bed / Room Sharing, Friends to Lovers, Fluff, First Kiss, Obsessive Sherlock, Insecure John) – Right. Of course. Everyone assumed they were a couple and no one would question it. John put his elbows up on the table so he could rest his head in his hands. "You want to pretend to be a couple so we can chaperone a trip to Disney World with Rosie's class and you won't have to share a room with a stranger?" "Exactly." Sherlock beamed at him. "Don't worry about the cost. The Birmingham case last month paid more than enough to cover expenses for all three of us."

carrying up his morning tea by darcylindbergh (E, 34,504 w., 5 Ch. || Post S3, Minor Character Death, Grief/Mourning, Wakes/Funerals, Estranged John, Pining Sherlock, Depression/Insecurity, Slow Burn, Emotional Hurt/Comfort, Chronic Pain/Injury, Reconciliation, Awkwardness, Loneliness, Scars, Angst With Happy Ending) – His fingers tremble as he dials and he can’t force them steady. Familiar number, even though he hasn’t used it in two years. He isn’t even sure he should be calling it now, but she’d asked. She’d made him promise.

Nothing to Make a Song About by emmagrant01 (E, 36,833 w., 10 Ch. || Post-TRF, First Time, Reunion, Jealous John, Pining Sherlock, Romance, Angst with Happy Ending) – When Sherlock returned from his faked death, John could not forgive him for the deception and broke off their friendship. Ten years later, John returns to London in search of yet another new beginning. Sherlock, not surprisingly, is waiting.

The Unfinished Letters by SilentAuror (E, 37,391 w., 1 Ch. || Post S3 / S3 / HLV Fix it, Angst with Happy Ending, Romance, Infidelity, Depression, Case Fic, POV Third Person Sherlock, Love Confessions, Pining Sherlock, Letters) – A fire at Baker Street leads John to read something he was never intended to see: a notebook of half-written, unfinished letters Sherlock wrote during his time away...

Turn Left at the Park by Glenmore (NR (E), 37,409 w., 28 Ch. || Alternate First Meeting / ASiP Divergence, Case Fic, Depression, Suicidal Ideation, Loneliness, No Mary, Possessive Sherlock, Fluff & Angst, Nightmares/PTSD, Sherlock Saves John, Sherlock Whump-ish, Doctor John) – So what would have happened if John hadn't walked through the park and met Stamford?What if, instead, he walked around the park and just went home?

Only To Be With You by SinceWhenDoYouCallMe_John (M, 40,768 w., 4 Ch. || Black Mirror / Future AU || Character Death, Future Technology, Sickness/Cancer/Illness, Heavy Angst with Happy Ending, First Person POV John, Pining John, Heart-Wrenching Angst) – I tell myself that next time I’ll come near this same place again. Wait around for the mysterious stranger in his coat to dash past me, hot on the heels of a new criminal in black. I think this all the way back to my Exit, planning where I’ll wait and what I’ll say when I see him. Scheming on how to get his name. It’s only once I reach the Exit Point door that I realize two hours and forty-five minutes have passed, and I realize that this won’t be the last time I Visit. It won’t be the last time at all.

In the Still of the Night by SilentAuror (E, 42,234 w., 1 Ch. || S4 Fix It / Post-S4, Sherlock POV, Angst, Drama, Romance, Virgin Sherlock, Awkwardness, Misunderstandings / Miscommunications, Case Fic, Travelling, Pining) – As locals on the Northeastern coast begin to report UFO sightings, life at Baker Street becomes significantly awkward as John brings up his desire for more than friendship and Sherlock refuses him. They embark on the investigation from the confines of the tiny cottage Mycroft has rented for them, attempting to navigate both the clues of the case as well as their own inability to communicate...

Guidelines by WithLoweredVoices (M, 43,018 w., 15 Ch. || Winglock || Angels, Fantasy, Angst, BAMF! John, War, Jealous Sherlock, Possessive Sherlock, Jealous John, Falling in Various Ways, Needy Sherlock, Wings) – The Good Soldier, one of the oldest and strongest of the fallen, is offered a bargain: to live as John Watson and to Guide a fledgling archangel so that he will stay on the path of good. Of course, Sherlock Holmes has different ideas about his destiny. Fantasy AU. Warnings for violence, occasional gore, and a whole load of hurt and angst.

Sentenced by SarahKnight (T, 44,777 w., 30 Ch. || Dev. Rel., Alternate S4 Canon, Drama, Angst, Pining, Feelings are Hard) – Virtual series 4 opener. Sherlock's in prison being targeted by a murderer, John's married to a pregnant assassin and Moriarty's back.

The Real Great Perfumers by shelleysprometheus (E, 45,355 w., 68 Ch. || Case Fic, Alternating POV, Gay Sherlock / Bi John, Canon Compliant with Divergence at TRF, Friends to Lovers, Oral / Anal, Pining, First Kiss / Time, Dev. Rel., Drugging, Body Worship, Bathing, Love Confessions, Travelling, Bottomlock, Cranky Sherlock, BJ’s, Alternating POV, Jealous John) – The case, this case. This extraordinary, fascinating, scintillating case. A house. Designed entirely by its eccentric owner, built by no less than five hundred expert tradesmen in the heart of Marrakesh. A house that had, seemingly not only driven its owner out, but also to his quite unpleasant death. And a perfumer, a chemist no less, the very thought of the secrets that house could reveal, would reveal was irresistible. Sherlock had to have this case ... and it seems, he also had to have John! Part 1 of the Forethought and Fire series

Inscrutable to the Last by DiscordantWords (M, 48,842 w., 6 Ch. || Post-TRF, Alternate S3, John’s Blog/S3 is a Story By John, Divorce, Marital Difficulties, John is a Mess, Emotional Reunion, Implied/Referenced Suicide, Grief / Mourning, Pining John, First Kiss, Adorably Clueless Sherlock, Nostalgia, Love Confessions, Eventual Happy Ending) – He wasn't Sherlock, he couldn't work miracles. All he'd ever been able to do was write about them.

Anchor Point by trickybonmot (E, 49,856 w., 80 Ch. || Truman Show AU || Psychological Drama, Suspense, Slow Burn, Dark Characters / Fic, Alternating First/Third Person, Protective John, Anxious/Worried Sherlock, Tender Moments, Love Confessions, Hand/Blow Jobs, Cuddling, Jealous John, First Kiss/Time) – The world tunes in nightly for Sherlock, the ultimate in reality TV: Sherlock Holmes, a real person with a legendary name, unknowingly lives out his life in a staged setting contrived by his brother. Things get complicated when a retired army doctor joins the show to play the part of Sherlock's closest friend. This fic borrows its concept from the 1998 film, the Truman Show. However, you don't need to have any knowledge of the movie to enjoy this story.

The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse by SilentAuror (E, 50,635 w., 1 Ch. || Post-S4/S4 Divergence, Case Fic, For a Case / Reverse Fake-Relationship, Conferences, Marriage Equality, Travelling / New York, Pride, Homophobia, Bottomlock, Marriage Proposal, John POV, Sexuality, Love Confessions, Emotional Love Making, Public Hand Jobs, Blow Jobs, Passionate Kissing, Needy/Clingy Sherlock, Virgin Sherlock, Touching / Hand Holding, Bed Sharing, Little Spoon Sherlock, Intense Orgasms) – John and Sherlock go to New York to attend a conference run by the National Defence of Traditional Marriage Coalition in order to investigate the potential bombing of the annual Manhattan Pride parade. As the conference unfolds, John finds himself repulsed by the toxic ideology being presented, which becomes relevent to his own unacknowledged issues and his friendship with Sherlock...

Points by lifeonmars (E, 53,791 w., 42 Ch. || PODFIC AVAILABLE || HLV Rewrite / Canon Divergence, Married Life, Pregnancy / Baby Watson, Drinking to Cope, Boxing / Fisticuffs, Clueless John, Angst, Minor Medical Drama, Tattoos, Christmas, First Kiss/Time, Eventual Happy Ending, Love Confessions, Doctor John, Sexuality Crisis, Slow Burn, Case Fic, Drugging, Blow/Hand Job, Emotional Love Making, Parenthood, Passage of Time) – What if His Last Vow never happened? This fic picks up a few months after John and Mary's wedding, in an alternate universe where Magnussen doesn't exist, but Mary is still pregnant. Life continues -- just in a different direction. And slowly, Sherlock and John find their way to each other.

A Hundred Crimson Sols by elldotsee (E, 55,536 w., 16 Ch. || Astronauts AU || Mars Exploration / Space Travel, Slow Burn, Shy Sherlock, Scientist Sherlock / Biomed Engineer John, Alternating POV, Mutual Pining, UST, Angst with Happy Ending, Domestic Fluff, Hurt/Comfort, Injuries, Suicidal Ideation, Zero-G Sex) – Will Holmes is a chemical researcher recognized widely for his contributions to the new Mars exploration program. Thanks to his ground-breaking developments, the IMMC (International Mars Mission Corporation) is one step closer to Martian colonization. Will and his team of scientists are headed out on the first of three manned missions before the first group of settlers arrive. Three days before launch, one of the crew has to be replaced. Will panics because...new people. The replacement is of course one John Watson, biomedical engineer and space hottie who was pretty sure he had retired from actual space exploration and was now content to work in the nice, quiet research lab. Can the crew survive this TOTALLY ROUTINE trip? Will they be able to endure each other for the looooooong trip in close quarters? Gonna be a wild ride... prepare for blast off. Part 1 of the SpaceBois go to Space series

One Little Change by jadztone (E, 58,312 w., 12 Ch. || ASiB Divergence, Fake Relationship, Bed Sharing, Mutual Pining, Friends to Lovers, First Kiss / Time, Anal Sex, Blow Jobs, Bi John / Gay Demisexual Sherlock, Switchlock, Alternating POV, Jealousy, Misunderstandings, Case Fic, Angst with Happy Ending, Emotional Love Making, Butt Plugs, Cuddles) – Our story begins right after John and Sherlock's first meeting with Irene Adler in September. It splits off into an AU that imagines them taking a case where they act as bait to hook a killer targeting closeted gays in secret relationships. In the weeks leading up to Christmas, many things happen that have our boys wondering if maybe they have a chance with each other. Then Irene fakes her death on Christmas Eve, and things get a lot more complicated - especially since they still have a killer to catch.

The Bells of King's College by SilentAuror (E, 64,019 w., 5 Ch. || Post-S4, Missed Opportunities, Angst with Happy Ending, Fake Relationship, Case Fic, John POV, Jealous John, John in Denial, Travelling / Holidays, Virgin Sherlock, Wedding Proposals) – It's only been two weeks since Eurus Holmes disrupted their lives when Mycroft sends John and Sherlock to Cambridge to pose as an engaged couple at a wedding show in the hopes of solving six unsolved deaths...

Hell Sent, Heaven Bound by ConsultingHound (M, 64,381 w, 16 Ch. || Angels / Demons AU || Fallen Angel Sherlock / Angel Cop John, Alternate First Meeting, Slow Burn, Case Fic, John & Lestrade are Friends Before Sherlock, BAMF John, Mind Palace John, Friends to Lovers, John in Denial, Sherlock Picks Out John’s Clothing, Clubbing / Dancing, Mildly Jealous John, Awkwardness, Kidnapping, Sherlock’s Mind Palace, Sacrifice, Worried / Anxious Sherlock, Angst with Happy Ending, Immortal to Mortal) – Ex-War healer and current angelic guard John Watson is not having the best day. He overslept, he’s underpaid, and now there’s someone tagging the Council’s building walls. However things may be about to get interesting: there’s an unusual stranger hanging around (the definition of tall, dark, and handsome), a literal underground cult is brewing, and rumblings are coming from hell. Can he keep his neighbourhood safe, how and why is he being connected to all this, and who the hell is Sherlock Holmes?

White Knight by DiscordantWords (M, 69,840 w., 13 Ch. || S4 Compliant/Post S4, Marriage For a Case, Jealous John, Pining John, Janine / Sherlock Fake Relationship, Serial Killers, Case Fic, Undercover as a Couple, Weddings, John is a Mess, Misunderstandings, Wedding Planning, Jealousy, Drunkenness, Non-Verbal Confessions Become Verbal, Love Confessions, Angst with Happy Ending) – Green. The word green was used to convey a great many things. Illness. Envy. Inexperience. Standing there amidst Janine's chattering bridesmaids, watching Sherlock furrow his brow and study fabric swatches, watching him smile and simper and flirt, John thought it a remarkably apt colour choice. Because he felt quite sick to his stomach, he feared the source of said sickness might very well be jealousy, and he had absolutely no idea at all what to do about it. Or: Sherlock needs to fake a relationship for a case. He doesn't ask John.

Being John Watson-ish by elwinglyre (E, 69,902 w., 17 Ch. || Bodysnatcher AU || Author John, Cranky Sherlock, Angst, Sexual Tension, First Kiss / Time, Falling in Love, BAMF John, Past Soldier John, Feelings, Inside Someone’s Brain, Shy Sherlock, Sherlock Loves John, POV Sherlock, Switchlock, Slow Burn, Internal Dialogue, Mental Turmoil) – When consulting detective Sherlock Holmes steps on one toe too many at a crime scene, he's consigned to a desk job in an archaic office on the seventh-and-a-half floor of the New Scotland Yard. It’s in this bleak office that Sherlock discovers a portal into the mind of renowned author John Watson. Grander than his mind palace, this new wonderland affords Sherlock new vistas of experimentation. To learn more about the mystery behind the portal, Sherlock seeks out and befriends Watson. But then it all goes wrong when others find the secret portal door—including the man whose brain he visits.

Repairing the Broken Things by BakerTumblings (M, 75,252 w., 15 Ch. || S4 Compliant, Angst, Hurt/Comfort, Medical Trauma, Hospitals, Big Brother Mycroft, Misunderstandings, Realizations, John Whump, Pneumonia, Medical Procedures, Bed Sharing, First Time, Healing, Happy Ending) – "I'm calling today to notify you that there's been an accident."

The Summer Boy by khorazir (T, 94,706 w., 6 Ch. || Post S3/Post TAB/Alternate S4, Friends to Lovers, Flashbacks, Sussex, Bullying, 1980′s Kid Sherlock, Emotional Hurt/Comfort, Inexperienced Sherlock, Grief/Mourning, Pining Sherlock, Background Case Fic) – About half a year after the fateful events at Appledore, Sherlock and John embark on a private case in Sussex. For Sherlock, it’s a journey into his past, bringing up memories both happy and sad that he has locked away for almost thirty years. For John, it means coming to terms with the present – and a potential future with Sherlock. Part 1 of the The Summer Boy series

The Wedding Garments by cwb (E, 105,390 w., 36 Ch. || Alternate Future AU || , Alternate First Meeting, Dating / Arranged Marriages, Romance, First Kiss/Time, Heavy Petting, Cuddles, POV Sherlock, Virgin Sherlock, Idiots in Love, Slow Burn / Falling in Love / Dev. Rel., Nervous/Anxious Sherlock, Jealous/Cranky, Hiking, Vacation Homes / Honeymoon, Sherlock’s Family, Horny John/Sherlock, Patient John, Massages, Hand Jobs, Assassination Plots, Hand Jobs / Oral Sex) – This is the story of a young consulting detective who wants nothing to do with marriage and an army doctor who wants to find true love. It's 2020 post-Brexit England and the British government is encouraging arranged marriages. Candidates meet through state-run agencies and date in hopes of finding love (and tax benefits). Sherlock doesn't need or want a spouse, at least not until John Watson shows up. Hesitant to give in to his more carnal urges because of the way they derail his mind, how will Sherlock progress toward the more intimate aspects of a relationship? The answer lies in a very special wedding gift.

A Study in Winning by Jupiter_Ash (E, 106,658 w., 11 Ch. || Tennis AU || John POV, Dirty Talk, Mutual Pining, Misunderstandings, Happy Ending, Sherlock Speaks French, Switchlock, Wimbledon) – John and Sherlock are professional tennis players and it’s Wimbledon. One is a broken almost was at the end of his career, the other an arrogant rising star tipped for greatness. It should have been a straightforward tournament. It really should have been. How were they to know that a chance encounter would change everything? Part 1 of Tennis

Two Two One Bravo Baker by abundantlyqueer (E, 114,574 w., 27 Ch. || Military AU || Afghanistan, War Story, Thriller) – Captain John Watson of 40 Commando, the Royal Marines, is assigned to protect and assist Sherlock Holmes as he investigates what appears to be a simple war atrocity in Afghanistan. An intense attraction ignites between the two men as they uncover a conspiracy that threatens everything they’ve ever known, but Sherlock is as much hunted as hunter, and everyone close to him is in deadly danger. Can he solve the case in time to save himself and John? Part 1 of Two Two One Bravo Baker Universe

The Bang and the Clatter by earlgreytea68 (M, 137,049 w., 37 Ch. || PODFIC AVAILABLE || Baseball AU || Slow Burn / Dev. Rel., Possessive/Obsessive Sherlock, Jealous Sherlock, Mutual Pining, Body Appreciation, Depression, Closeted Sexuality, Family, Sherlock’s Mind Palace, Ogling Each Other, Anxious Sherlock, Panic Attack, Drunkenness, Talk of Forever, Big Feelings™) – Sherlock Holmes is a pitcher and John Watson is a catcher. No, no, no, it's a baseball AU. Part 1 of Baseball

How to Build a Heart out of Ashes by Teumessian (E, 144,931 w., 31 Ch. || Changling AU || Slow Burn, Drug Use, Mentions of Child Abuse / Bullying, Mentions of Student/Teacher Relations, Uni-Age) – In an AU where a small number of the population become Changelings at a young age, at 17 John Watson believes he's destined for Normal life but then the Change takes him and he is sent to the Baker Institute. There he meets Sherlock Holmes.

Mise en Place by azriona (M, 161,004 w., 28 Ch. || Restaurant (Kitchen Nightmares) AU || Sherlock is Gordon Ramsay / Celebrity Sherlock, Restauranteur John, Harry Plays Prominent Role, Alternating POV, Mutual Pining, Cranky Sherlock, Bed Sharing, Slow Burn) – John Watson had no intentions of taking over the family business, but when he returns from Afghanistan, battered and bruised, and discovers that his sister Harry has run their restaurant into the ground, he doesn't have much choice. There's only one thing that can save the Empire from closing for good – the celebrity star of the BBC series Restaurant Reconstructed, Chef Sherlock Holmes. Part 1 of Mise en Place

Proving A Point by elldotsee & J_Baillier (E, 186,270 w., 28 Ch. || Me Before You Fusion || Medical Realism, Insecure John, Depression, Romance, Angst, POV John, Sherlock Whump, Serious Illness, Doctor John, Injury Recovery, Assisted Suicide, Sherlock’s Violin, Awkward Sexual Situations, Alcoholism, Drugs, Idiots in Love, Slow Burn, Body Image, Friends to Lovers, Hurt / Comfort, Pain, Big Brother Mycroft, Intimacy, Anxiety, PTSD, Family Issues, Psychological Trauma, John Whump, Case Fics, Loneliness, Pain) – Invalided home from Afghanistan, running out of funds and convinced that his surgical career is over, John Watson accepts a mysterious job offer to provide care and companionship for a disabled person. Little does he know how much hangs in the balance of his performance as he settles into his new life at Musgrave Court.

#steph replies #johnlock fic recs #my fic recs #love confessions #Anonymous #long post

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pluwumbob · 4 years

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「the sims 4」animal crossing challenge, redux

original animal crossing challenge by simifymecaptain (deactivated, but archived here!)

because i’m way too excited for animal crossing on the switch, i decided to try out the animal crossing challenge! but, the original rules are older & the original simblr deactivated.. i hope they don’t mind that i’m taking this challenge & adapting it to new expansions, & new information from animal crossing: new horizons leaks! ♥

the animal crossing challenge is a mix between rags to riches, & a collection challenge! i hope you like the rules i’ve come up with, as this is my first challenge i’ve officially made! if you have any suggestions or questions, please send me an ask!

basic outline:

even though animal crossing is a sandbox/open end game, the basic “goals” of animal crossing are to finish your fish, bug, & diving encyclopedia, complete the museum, pay off your house, please the happy home academy, upgrade the town, enjoy holidays, catalogue items, & make friends! therefore, to translate this to the sims we can come up with these..

complete your museum

upgrade your "town”

enjoy the holiday events (seasons)

make friends

pay off your debt

what’s this like?

you will play only as one single sim!

you will have to earn all your money from selling items from your own town!

there are many, many holidays to celebrate!

prepare to make many friends, & get villagers to move into your town!

build your town by adding public works projects & other fun items to your town

extreme goals available!

full rules, recommended cc/mods, & more under the break! this is a HUGE challenge.. so prepare to read !! ♥ good luck, & have fun !!

starter building rules:

first off, you need to build your “town!” you can build your own, use the premade one from the original challenge (on the gallery by SimifyMeCaptain), or maybe i’ll upload my lot when i’m done?? :)

must use the largest lot (64x64 if you have the expansions with them, 50x50 if you do not)

you may use unlimited money to build your lot, but once the building requirements are done, you must set your household funds to §0.

indoor items must stay inside (example, don’t cheat out of your small room by putting kitchen items, beds, toilets, & other necessary items outside)

all other buildings & public works projects not listed below must be built & purchased with earned household funds.

housing rules:

build at least 3 small houses, one for you, & at least two for other villagers.

each roommate must have their own separate house (no room sharing or “apartment” style houses)

all houses must be the same size, square, one single room, single story, 6x6 grid space.

must keep your own sim’s room empty. all items placed in their room must be bought with household funds, not with the unlimited building funds.

fill the other houses with furniture, but you must lock your own playable sim out of the house so they can not use the items.

extreme rule: objects can only be placed locked on grids, with only 90 degree rotations, like animal crossing!

museum building rules:

your museum needs 5 rooms, one room for each of the following: fish, bugs (frogs if you don’t have outdoor retreat), fossils, & art, with a lobby/entrance in the center. no collectables go in the lobby.

you may decorate these rooms how you want, as long as they do not add any skill building objects.

you may add rooms on the second story for other collectables, if you decide to do the extreme/extra goals of finishing other collections. this must also have 4 rooms, with a lobby. this must be built with your earned household funds.

additional building rules:

don’t forget to build your town tree !! you’ll want to put a small tree, & replace as you get through your challenge with bigger ones, or plant one yourself in a planter

no skill building items can be purchased with unlimited building funds, except gardening planters. the rest must be purchased by earned funds. (yes, you need to purchase your easel!)

if something can be considered a “public works project,” you may not use unlimited funds to add it to your lot. these must be built with your own earned money.

optional: build a building as your “re-tail” where you can put extra skill building objects. these items must be bought from your earned household funds.

optional: you may build a “town hall.” this building can include a only 2 useable (non-furniture items): a computer & locker/dresser. computers are really needed in the sims 4 to do necessary things, & shouldn’t be used for fun or skill building! your sim will need to purchase their own computer to use it for that.

optional: you may build a small “camping” style bathroom with a shower, sink, & toilet for use without having to put them in your villager’s small houses. you sim may use this restroom.

you may build your town on any neighborhood.

once you’ve built the place, it’s time to make your own villager! ♥ use the freerealestate cheat to move them in, then set their money to §0 by using the cheat “money 0″ both of these cheats require “testingcheats true” on, first!

sim & gameplay rules:

your playable sim:

can be any age, gender

can choose any traits, but can not change them later. modded traits are permitted.

can choose any aspiration, & can change your aspiration once completing it. modded traits are permitted.

villagers/roommates sims rules:

one of the challenge goals is to fill your other houses. you must do this while keeping the other sims a non-playable character. discover university now includes roommates! you can either put an ad for roommates, or make friends & ask them to be your roommates. roommate mods: littlemssam’s roommates or kawaiistacie roommates no matter which way you choose to add roommates, they must be an non-playable character.

you may edit your villagers’ looks in CAS, but you may not change their traits, aspirations, or age.

if your roommates give you rent money, you may use it to pay for bills.

additional gameplay rules:

your sim may NOT have a full or part time job! all funds must be made by selling fish, insects, paintings, fossils, other collections, etc. just make sure you keep one of each in the museum!

your sim may be employed as a freelancer, or do odd jobs (island living)

anything that your sim can sell is a viable way of money! don’t forget about woodworking, flower arranging,

benches placed outside ONLY may be slept on during the start. your sim can not sleep on comfy couches in the museum or town hall!

pets are allowed! dogs & cats must be adopted through the phone/computer & paid for. you may then edit them in CAS to your liking, but do not change their age/traits.

aging does not need to be on.

you can leave your town/lot to use other lots, of course! you’ll need to, to get collections & such :P

your villagers (roommates) may help you with chores, as long as you’re not asking them to. you can also purchase a patchy the scarecrow :)

you may NOT hire a maid/butler, etc.

mods are allowed, as long as they are not used to make money, or make collection finding easier. do not use mods that change the households’ bill percentage.

you may NOT use cheats, other than when you are first building your lot, move objects, setting your money to §0, or if you want to change the appearance of your sim/pets.

holiday calendar set up: (seasons)

add these holidays to your calendar! you’ll need to have 28 (or 21) day long seasons. ♥ make sure you get gold!

festivale: any day in spring. traditions: art & music spirit, grand meal, party spirit.

valentines day: any day in spring. keep love day & its traditions!

bunny day: any day in spring. traditions: flower bunny, egg hunt.

april fool’s day: any day in spring. traditions: mischief spirit.

parent’s day: any day in spring. (combined mother’s & father’s day ♥) traditions: give flowers.

weeding day: last day of spring. traditions: gardening.

bonfire night: first day of summer. traditions: fireworks, bar-b-que, party spirit

labor day: last monday of fall. traditions: go on vacation or travel.

halloween: last day of fall. traditions: spooky spirit, trick or treat, wear costumes.

harvest festival: any day in winter keep harvest fest & its traditions!

toy day: any day in winter keep winterfest & its traditions!

countdown: last day of winter keep new year’s eve & its traditions!

you may keep lottery as it was in the original AC!

you may also celebrate any surprise holiday, but do not have to gold it!

if you want to have sims off of work is up to you, as it will only affect your friends/roommates.

completion goals:

complete your museum with every base game fish (22), insects (21, outdoor retreat. frogs if you do not have that expansion, 25), fossils (15), & one of each painting painting goal includes one of each of the following: playful, flirty, confident, sad, angry, focused, classic, pop art, realism, abstract, surrealism, impressionism, & landscape painting. extreme goal: complete the paintings with each being a masterpiece.

complete the second floor of your museum by purchasing an observatory.

fill your town by having sims move into the other houses, & stay without moving out for a whole sim year

have at least 10 good friends, including being best friends with one of your resident villagers

build 10 “public works projects” such as a campground, fire pit, jungle gym, fountains, etc on your town’s lot

complete all the holidays with gold rewards! (seasons only)

pay off your debt by having all bills paid after completing all the other challenges

extreme goals:

if you enjoyed this challenge, try to finish these extreme goals!

complete every collection! you’ll need to get every alien (10), crystal (20), elements (15), fish (22), fossils (15), frogs (25), gardening (32), geodes (6, get to work), insects (21, outdoor retreat), metals (20), microscope prints (12), mysims trophies (20), postcards (14), space prints (15), & space rocks (4). you may combine rooms in the museum if they make sense (ex. metals, crystals together)

complete the fishing collection with expansions! full fish list found here.

collect all the flowers & “hybrids”, & reach level 10 of gardening. reach level 10 of flower arranging (seasons)

complete the “friend of the world” aspiration

purchase & build a retail lot to serve as your own “nookling junction” where you can sell extra items for money! this goal is complete once you’ve build a “T&T emporium” & have made 50 sales! (get to work)

purchase & build a restaraunt to serve as your “cafe” public works project. this goal is complete once you’ve got a 5 star restaraunt! (dine out)

cc recommendations:

sims 4 furry mod - to make animal villagers! by no means required, but they’re pretty cute to make for your roommates! ♥ littlemssam or kawaiistacie’s roommate mods systemdata studio - animal crossing series - walls, apple series, citrus series, & more just like in game! lana cc’s animal crossing tag - for misc animal crossing cc!

please share your towns!

please please please, if you’re doing this challenge, use the tag #TS4-AC-redux or @ me, @pluwumbob !! i’d LOVE to see what your towns! also if you have any questions or suggestions, please send them my way! i’m so excited to know what you guys think !!

#ts4 ac redux #ts4 #sims 4 #the sims #the sims 4 #sims challenges #animal crossing #challenge #ts4 challenge #ts4 challenges #the sims challenge #ac

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