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boozles · 4 months

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Boozle's Top Ten Movies 2023

So, this was another list in my 2023 review that was super difficult to put together. According to my Letterboxd 2023 list, I watched 178 new movies this year. (Looking at all the dramas and movies I've watched, I honestly do not know where I found the time to consume so much content?! Working from home has its plus side, I guess?)

So, it's been a bit difficult to narrow my list of favourites down, but this is what I ended up with...

(i) Barabarian (2022, Dir. Zch Cregger) This film was NOTHING like what I thought it was going to be. Split into three tales that merge together to tell the story of one house and it's history, this movie managed to surprise me and be unpredictable at each turn.

(ii) The Outlaws (2017, Dir. Kang Yun-sung) This is the first movie in The Roundup series (the fourth movie is due out in 2024) and I have to say this is my favourite Korean action franchise. Ma Dong Seok is perfect, and the action sequences are mind blowing. It has the perfect balance of crime, action and comedy, and is a definite recommendation if you're looking for a good Asian crime movie.

(iii) Evil Dead Rise (2023, Dir. Lee Cronin) I absolutely love the Evil Dead franchise, and I had initially been a little wary at this sequel due to the fact they were taking the deadite insanity into an apartment block instead of the usual little cottage in the woods. I am so glad I was wrong, because this movie was probably the best horror to come out of 2023. The cast were amazing (Morgan Davies was a stand out) and it managed to feel like an Evil Dead film but with a fresh perspective.

(iv) Dark Harvest (2023, Dir. David Slade) Okay, I couldn't find a gif from the movie so y'all will have to make do with this still image. Now, I fully expected Dark Harvest to be a lame b-movie with terrible effects and a lame storyline, but I thoroughly enjoyed it! It managed to keep me captivated, and it was extremely aesthetically pleasing. I'd love a sequel with Emily returning to town.

(v) Five Nights at Freddy's (2023, Dir. Emma Tammi) Gosh, I was so happy when I enjoyed this! I am a huge FNAF fan (though for a while I kept it on the downlow due to Cawthon's support of Trump/the Republican party) and I adore the lore, as wild and complicated as it is. The movie really managed to keep me captivated, and kept me guessing, whilst still staying true to the original canon. I cannot wait for the second installment.

(vi) Guns Akimbo (2019, Dir. Jason Lei Howden) This was a wild and fantastic film. I love watching Daniel Radcliffe get further and further away from the HP movies and prove that he's a great actor. Also, I just love Samara Weaving.

(vii) The Meg 2: The Trench (2023, Ben Wheatley) Yeah, I'm surprised to see this on my list, too. This movie was just so much fun. That's all. The effects were great, the acting was pretty good, and I just like watching sharks take out humans. IF YOU DON'T WANT EATEN BY A SEA CREATURE, STAY OUT OF THE SEA.

(viii) Ichi the Killer (2001, Dir. Takashi Miike) I don't know why it took me over 20 years to finally watch this classic, but I ended up thoroughly enjoying it! The acting was insane, the story was batshit crazy, and the effects were fantastic. I'd expect nothing less from Takashi Miike, tbh.

(ix) Salo, or 120 Days of Sodom (1975, Dir. Pier Paolo Pasolini) Okay, hear me out - was this one of my favourite movies of the year? No, it really wasn't. However, it's the movie that has probably left the biggest scar on my mental psyche of the year, therefore I had to include it. I've been fascinated by Marquis De Sade ever since I saw Quills years ago, but I never watched this movie because I knew it would do something to my brain. If you've seen the movie (or even read the book), I'm sure you understand what I mean when I saw one chapter in particular REALLY fucked me up to the point I couldn't eat chocolate for quite some time afterwards, and I struggle to not throw up when cleaning my cat's litter box these days. It takes a lot for a movie to scar me in a way that makes it pop into my mind every now and then, and this movie did that. However, I'd like to add that the point of the film isn't just to shock, but I am terrible at witing coherent analysis. If you haven't seen this movie, I would suggest doing a little research before watching, just to make sure you can handle it; it is full of triggers that I don't even want to mention because I'll probably get blacklisted. But yes. Whilst it may not be a favourite of the year, it sure left a huge impact on me.

(x) Everything Everywhere All At Once (2022, Dir. Daniel Scheinert, Daniel Kwan) I think everyone loves this movie, but I was surprised at how much I loved it! The whole message of the movie is just so brutal and honest, and whilst I know that it's probably people of Asian heritage that can relate to it the most, I feel like we all can find something in the relationships that we can relate to. The cast were fantastic and I'm so glad to see Ke Huy Quan on screen again! Heartwarming, sad, and absolutely hilarious.

Honorary Mentions: (i) Midnight (2021, Dir. Kwon Oh-seung) (ii) Gonjiam: Haunted Asylum (2018, Dir. Jung Bum-shik) (iii) Glass Onion (2022, Dir. Rian Johnson) (iv) The Night House (2020, Dir. David Bruckner) (v) I Saw the Devil (2010, Dir. Kim Jee-woon)

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jstor · 6 months

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🎃 Halloween is just around the corner and we've got some thrilling reads for you from JSTOR Daily - where academia meets current events.

First up, ever wondered why Victorian mansions are synonymous with haunted houses? 👻 Dive into the eerie world of architectural horror and uncover how these grand structures came to embody our deepest fears in "How Victorian Mansions Became the Default Haunted House."

Next, let's stir the cauldron and delve into the mystical realm of witchcraft. 🥀 In "Herbs & Verbs: How to Do Witchcraft for Real", explore the authentic practices of witchcraft, from spell casting to potion brewing.

And lastly, join us in a poetic journey through shared imagination and the belief in the supernatural. 🕯️ "A Belief in Ghosts: Poetry and the Shared Imagination" is a captivating read that combines spectral musings with literary critique.

JSTOR Daily is your go-to source for smart, historical takes on what’s happening today, and they're offering free access to related articles this Halloween season. Check out their full Halloween roundup here.

Happy reading, and remember, things are not always as they seem... 🌙

#jstor #jstor daily #halloween #haunted houses #victorian #witchcraft #ghosts #supernatural #academia #research #spooky

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cha-melodius · 4 months

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2023 Writing Roundup

Thanks to @welcometololaland, @rmd-writes, @kiwiana-writes, and @orchidscript for tagging me for this one. I'm also going to say thanks to everyone who tagged me in the ao3 wrapped or other round up type things; I've been putting off doing my annual writing year-in-review because I always post it on the 30th or 31st. This one is new to me and I figured why not, I'll do it now. I published 31 fics this year (so far!), so safe to say I'm putting this partly under a cut to save your dashes.

JANUARY

How’s About Cookin’ Something Up With Me? (TMFU, T, 4k) Teachers AU, Napoleon helps Illya bake cookies for a holiday party.

Love is a Deserter (TMFU, T, 3k) Post breakup getting back together fic.

True Hollywood Romance (Lokius, M, 8k) Actors AU, fake dating, Mobius and Loki have a PR relationship that turns real.

It's Been a Bad Day Lately (Lokius, T, 17k) Time loop, Loki has to try to figure out how to defeat a deadly Kang variant and save the man he loves all at once.

FEBRUARY

All for a Taste of the Honey (RWRB, E, 6k) FBI Agents AU, Henry goes undercover as a stripper and Alex has a lot of feelings about that.

MARCH

All Comes Crashing (TMFU, E, 5.6k) Illya has one night left to live and is forced to admit the feelings he's been holding back.

Nova, Baby (RWRB, E, 67k) CIA/MI6 AU, forced to work together by their respective agencies, Alex and Henry take on high-stakes missions and fall in love.

APRIL

Kiss Me Like You Mean It (Firstprince, Napollya, Lokius, T) Various T-rated ficlets featuring kisses.

MAY

All the Old Showstoppers (RWRB, E, 20k) Canon-divergent AU where Alex and Henry compete in the Great Celebrity Bake Off.

The Sky is Open (RWRB, E, 5k) 1970s Pan-Am pilots AU (with a twist!).

Just a Shot Away from You (TMFU, T, 4k) Five times Napoleon and Illya were ordered to kill each other, and one where everyone decides they’ve had enough.

JUNE

Tiny Little Movies (RWRB, various ratings) A drabble collection based on drabble prompts from the Brownstone discord server.

JULY

Always Where I Need To Be (RWRB, T, 5k) Alex's new roommate has a puppy with a penchant for stealing his glasses.

AUGUST

Please Don't Let Me Be So Understood (RWRB, E, 20k) Couples Therapy AU, Alex and Henry are workplace enemies and accidentally end up in couples therapy.

Black Moon (TMFU, E, 6k) For All Mankind AU, Napoleon and Illya are astronauts living on moon bases.

That's My Trouble (RWRB, M, 6k) Detective/ME AU, aka 'Rizzoli and Isles AU', Alex shows up bleeding on Henry's doorstop.

Theory and Practice (RWRB, T, 4k) My 100th fic! Grad students AU, former hookups turned enemies to friends to lovers.

Getting Clinical (RWRB, T, 2k) Non-famous AU, Alex and Henry meet at a sexual health clinic.

Cold Light (Lokius, M, 4k) Human AU, Loki and Mobius meet in Norway and their relationship grows under the northern lights.

Step Into My Office, Baby (RWRB, E, 2k) Office AU, friends to lovers, three scenes in a corner office.

The Harrowed and the Haunted (TMFU, T, 3k) Paranormal investigators AU, Napoleon and Illya visit a haunted house.

SEPTEMBER

Will You Brie Mine? (RWRB, T, 6k) Non-famous AU, Henry sells cheese at Harrods Food Halls and Alex is his best customer.

Lessons in Foreign Diplomacy (RWRB, E, 5k) Post-American Revolution AU, Alex and Henry are ambassadors to the court of Versailles from their respective countries.

Something To Be Proud Of (RWRB, M, 3k) Non-famous AU, Alex volunteers at Edinburgh Pride and Henry makes an embarrassing email typo.

Enemies of the Ocean (Lokius, T, 3k) Human AU, Loki and Mobius are stranded at sea on a life raft together.

OCTOBER

Falling Down the Stairs of Your Smile (RWRB, M, 4k) Canon divergence AU, Alex stays another night after the hospital trip and their relationship gets a jump start.

In the Dog Days (RWRB, T, 6k) Modern magic AU, Alex is jealous and suspicious of Henry's shapeshifter boyfriend, David.

NOVEMBER

Taste the Way You Bleed (RWRB, T, 4k) WWDITS AU, the Super Six are all vampires living in the same house, and Alex and Henry still hate each other (until they don't).

DECEMBER

This Hell of a Season (RWRB, E, 21k) currently posting Nova-verse missing scenes and sequels, 3 times Alex & Henry spent Christmas on missions and 1 when they didn't.

[Redacted] (TMFU) My fill for the annual TMFU winter holiday gift exchange.

WHEW. Ok, tagging! @cricketnationrise, @heytheredeann, @mirilyawrites, @loki-is-my-kink-awakening, @dewdropreader, @celaestis1, @myheartalivewrites, @14carrotghoul, @clottedcreamfudge, @indomitable-love, @dumbpeachjuice, @indestructibleheart, @lizzie-bennetdarcy, @inexplicablymine, @sherryvalli, @iboatedhere, @tintagel-or-cockleshells, @leaves-of-laurelin, @three-drink-amy, and anyone else who wants to play.

#rwrb #tmfu #napollya #firstprince #lokius #rwrb fic #firstprince fic #tmfu fic #napollya fic #lokius fic #year in review #fic year in review

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ladytabletop · 5 months

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Game Roundup 2023: Part 3

Trying to squeeze in a couple more posts on this, but no promises! This one is going to have a laundry list at the bottom that I'm not going to give more detail on bc I lack time.

Bug Dish: Amuse Bouche by Ryan Khan

I cannot WAIT for the full version of this! Play as tiny bug chefs by collecting ingredients, making dishes, and serving customers!

HUNT by GilaRPGs

This one is one I picked up at GenCon. Play as an order of doomed knights hunting a beast. Uses the LUMEN 2.0 diceless system and grid-based combat, and it's a self-enclosed single session.

Our Haunt by Rae Nedjadi

Another delightful Belonging Outside Belonging game by @temporalhiccup! This one has the potential for a lot of poignancy or a lot of hijinks. Play as ghosts haunting a house.

Eyes on the Prize by Ira Prince

This may be my favorite game of the year, hands down. Play as a fake married couple trying to carry out a scheme! Try not to fall in love!

APOCALYPSE FRAME by @binarystargames

This mecha game is the right amount of crunch for me to play long-term (which i to say, less crunchy than Lancere and Beam Saber). It makes use of LUMEN to create a super tight, fast-paced game of mech combat.

Other stuff I've read that I'm not going to elaborate on at this time:

House Spirit

To keep ghosts alive

Our Farm Becomes the Battlefield

Apocalypse, Wow

Keepers of the Cards

Definitely Wizards

Neon Sundown

Death Sentence

Phanta

The Queen Returns

house

Tavern at the End of the World

MirrorMoon

Forecaster: The Body You Share

i want your bite

Our Love Can't Save The World

Love by the Quarter Mile

Dragonhearts

your body, an altar

Subway Runners

Part 1 | Part 2

#the lady rambles #2023 roundup

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cleolinda · 6 months

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A Halloween roundup

(DID YOU KNOW: I set up my Livejournal account 20 years ago today?)

Obviously I have the #halloween everyday tag with plenty of festive reblogs. But here's also a list of my own posts from today and earlier this month:

Music discussion!

"Dead Man's Party"

"Back to the Wall"

"Howl"

An ancient short story I'm kind of nervous about throwing into the wilds of Tumblr! It's named after a tarot card!

"Strength (Bell Donner Gives Her Word)"

Long posts are looooong!

True story: I Grew Up in a Haunted House and I Didn't Notice

Part two: My Sister Noticed

The Scariest Movie I Ever Saw in a Theater: The Ring

Creepypasta discussions: "Ted the Caver"

and "The Dionaea House"

I finally finished watching The Fall of the House of Usher and might say a bit about that later this week, now that I can actually look at the tag. Doesn't matter if it's not Halloween anymore by the time I finish (it might be a moment, because I want to get a flu shot and then sleep it off). As I have warned you all before, "spooky season" is kind of a year-round thing with me, especially as we head into the glorious month of Novampber.

#halloween #halloween everyday #odds and ends #me for some reason #first look on patreon #my writing

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burins · 4 months

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it's time for my big books of the year roundup! gonna do a separate post for graphic novels/comics bc there were simply soooo many of those this year. bolded are my particular favorites

JANUARY

The Ultimate Guide to Sex and Disability: For All of Us Who Live with Disabilities, Chronic Pain, and Illness by Cory Silverberg, Fran Odette, Miriam Kaufman (reread)

The World We Make by NK Jemisin

Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel (audio)

The Future Is Disabled: Prophecies, Love Notes and Mourning Songs by Leah Lakshmi Piepzna-Samarasinha

A Restless Truth by Freya Marske

Too Loud a Solitude by Bohumil Hrabal

FEBRUARY

The Librarian's Guide to Homelessness: An Empathy-Driven Approach to Solving Problems, Preventing Conflict, and Serving Everyone by Ryan Dowd

Libraries and Homelessness: An Action Guide by Julie Ann Winkelstein

Underland: A Deep Time Journey by Robert Macfarlane (audio)

MARCH

Hell Bent by Leigh Bardugo (audio)

The Stars Undying by Emery Robin (audio)

APRIL

Babel: An Arcane History by RF Kuang (audio)

Get Inside: Responsible Jail and Prison Library Service by Nicholas Higgins

MAY

The Lathe of Heaven by Ursula K LeGuin (audio)

The Dispossessed by Ursula K LeGuin (audio)

How Far the Light Reaches: A Life in Ten Sea Creatures by Sabrina Imbler

Taste Makers: Seven Immigrant Women Who Revolutionized Food in America by Mayukh Sen (audio)

The Betrayals by Bridget Collins (audio)

Paper Bead Jewelry: Step-by-Step Instructions for 40+ Designs by Keiko Sakamoto

JUNE

The Mimicking of Known Successes by Malka Older

Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin (audio)

Translation State by Ann Leckie

Some Desperate Glory by Emily Tesh

Happy Place by Emily Henry

An Island Princess Starts a Scandal by Adriana Herrera

JULY

Year of the Tiger: An Activist's Life by Alice Wong (audio)

SEPTEMBER

The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson

The Sundial by Shirley Jackson (audio)

He Who Drowned the World by Shelley Parker-Chan (audio)

We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson

NOVEMBER

Our Wives Under the Sea by Julia Armfield (audio)

Palestinian Walks: Forays into a Vanishing Landscape by Raja Shehadeh (audio)

Where the Line Is Drawn: A Tale of Crossings, Friendships, and Fifty Years of Occupation in Israel-Palestine by Raja Shehadeh (audio)

DECEMBER

The Old Ways: A Journey on Foot by Robert Macfarlane (audio)

Kissinger's Shadow: The Long Reach of America's Most Controversial Statesman by Greg Grandin (audio)

Golda Slept Here by Suad Amiry

The Trial of Henry Kissinger by Christopher Hitchens

A Power Unbound by Freya Marske

below the cut, some writeups for my faves:

Wolf Hall - it's not news but Hilary Mantel is among the best to ever do characterization in just a few sentences

The Future Is Disabled - emerging from the rage & fear of being disabled during COVID lakshmi piepzna-samarasinha never lets us forget the joys of disabled community

Libraries and Homelessness - this is partly a spite pick bc i HATED ryan dowd’s book so much. this is an empathetic and practical guide to providing services to unhoused patrons that encourages community partnership, is full of examples, and isn’t miserably condescending!

Underland - i liked this so much i wrote a cave scene in timkon road trip fic. The texture of the prose is delicious!

The Stars Undying - i don’t actually know the story of antony and cleopatra very well but this was a very tasty space opera with messy messy characters

The Lathe of Heaven - still thinking about this 7 months later! Every year I read a LeGuin and it knocks me on my ass for the rest of the year. The opening scene is one of the best things I’ve ever read. (I liked The Dispossessed very very much but I loved Lathe.)

Mimicking of Known Successes - delightful noir-flavored scifi, great worldbuilding and equally great exes.

Some Desperate Glory - do you ever leave a cult against your will, and also you’re the worst girl in the world! This one is for all the clementine kesh fans. Breakneck.

The Haunting of Hill House - this was a great year for me to read books written 50+ years ago. I tweeted about it when i read it but ooghhghhgh this book is devastating. What if you got everything you ever wanted and finally felt at home and everyone called it evil.

Where the Line is Drawn - this was my second book by Shehadeh and it never shies away from the thorniness and hurt inherent in human relationships formed amidst occupation. Really, really excellent.

Kissinger’s Shadow - concisely unravels the ways Kissinger’s legacy shapes every part of US foreign policy you’ve ever heard of. Also really gets at the paranoid ouroboros of Kissinger’s personal philosophy.

Golda Slept Here - the legacy of several Palestinian houses, told through an eclectic mix of personal narratives, photographs, and occasional poetry. Funny and angry and heartbreaking.

#i didn't include the books i dnfed on here but there were a few #library haint #book roundup #personal

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citrusses · 5 months

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February: 2023 Wrapped 🎁🍊

A month-by-month roundup of some of my favorite fics published this year.

All the Time in the World by @gracerene (E, 6K)

It's been two weeks since Draco—his Draco—came back into his life, and Harry wants.

I love the first fic in this series, but I think I may actually love this sequel even more. The POV of the one who has waited, the elegant way this deals with time travel... absolutely fantastic. A must-read.

All the Ways by @sleepstxtic (T, 3K)

All the ways it could have happened.

This one made my heart hurt in all the best ways. So beautifully written and deeply feeling.

find a new place to be from by @oflights (E, 48K)

Something is wrong with Malfoy Manor, and it’s driven Draco into the Muggle world. Thankfully, Harry is now on the case. A story about houses that haunt you and homes built for two.

This was a balm to the soul — incredible world-building and lovely, perfectly constructed relationship dynamics. In the best way possible this had rom-com vibes to me. Draco’s reluctant immersion in the Muggle world is a true delight. A dream of a fic.

Kinkuary by @wolfpants (M/E, 42K total)

“We get like this. Sometimes,” Ron admits.

This is cheating because this is 28 perfect fics, not one, but all 28 are must-reads. I don't make the rules! (I do). Come for the top tier Drarry (smut and romance all at once) but stay for the Viktor/Ron, Draco/Bill (what a delicious pairing I didn't know I needed), hints of Wolfstar+ Sirius/Draco (incredible, altered my brain chemistry), Harry/Teddy... the list goes on.

wild with all regret by @thehoneybeet (E, 3500)

“To be clear,” Hermione said, and Ron loved her, “you want me—you want us to humiliate you?” The tip of Draco’s tongue breached the crack of his mouth, wetted it. “Yes,” he said, voice hoarse.

Drarry is very much in the background of this one and I’m living for it! I loved absolutely everything about the Ron/Hermione/Draco dynamic here. I love Drarry fics where they can't get everything they need from each other and still find a way to make sure the other finds that fulfillment. And Ron and Hermione are just SO GOOD.

#citrus recs #2023 recs #drarry fic recs

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tanthamoretober · 6 months

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Here's our roundup of the fics posted in the Tanthamoretober collection for week 2 (or 2ish)

Don’t forget to leave a comment if you liked a fic!

Day 8: Harvest

Festival Ideas by Anarik Rating: Teen and up Summary: “Where have you been?” Kit retorts, crossing her arms. “Come on. It’ll be fun. And you’re the only person I know with the necessary balls to do it.”

“You don’t really know me, though.”

“True. But I’ve heard and seen things.”

Now that takes Jade by surprise. (also appears under the prompts ‘witchcraft’ and ‘voyeurism’)

Take My Hand and Take Me Anywhere by Silver85 Rating: General audiences Summary: Kit hates the Harvest Festival but a pretty woman asked her to go. Who was she to say no? Part 8 of Loving Me Loving You, (AWOOOO)

petrichor- the smell exuded by plants during dry periods by Geek_and_Nina Rating: Teen and up Summary: pumpkin picking! (also appears under the tags 'voyeurism’ (mildly!) and ‘witchcraft’) Part 8 of Show Don't Tell

Day 9: Rainy Day

My Own Kind of Light, Chapter 5: Rainy Day, by slvershdws Rating: Teen and up Summary: Sixteen-year-old Kit Tanthalos meets visiting nineteen-year-old Jade Claymore at an Autumn Festival and it’s the start of a friendship that grows over the years into something neither expected, nor can they agree on what it is.

Until they do.

You Make This A Home. Stay With Me. by Silver85 Rating: Teen and up Summary: Kit hasn't been honest with Jade about what the bite means. Part 9 of Loving Me Loving You, (AWOOOO)

love of mine by Geek_and_Nina Rating: Teen and up Summary: i have decided to give them all of the quiet and soft moments that I would want on my fall break

Lili is the wyrm and she is the WORM

you have full permission to hate this version

Part 9 of Show Don't Tell

Day 10: Scarecrow

perfect by Geek_and_Nina Rating: Explicit Summary: jade and kit are gathering leaves to stuff their scarecrows with and kit sees a mugging! (also appears under the prompts ‘mirror sex’ and ‘help isn’t coming’) Part 10 of Show Don't Tell

Day 11: Haunted

cold steel, warm wax by Geek_and_Nina Rating: Explicit Summary: Jade has another one of those nightmares and as always, kit is there

(also appears under the prompts ‘knifeplay’ and ‘cursed’ Part 11 of Show Don't Tell

Day 12: Horror movie marathon

inside by Geek_and_Nina Rating: Explicit Summary: kit is feeling particularly needy and wants jade to spend the day with her in bed 'watching movies' (also appears under the prompts ‘orgasm denial’ and ‘locked in’) Part 12 of Show Don't Tell

Day 13: Jumping in a leaf pile

Dreams Pale to Reality by Silver85 Rating: Teen and up Summary: Kit finds her family jumping in the leaves and it's a perfect fall day. Part 4 of Alpha Kit

rolling in the leaves by Geek_and_Nina Rating: Explicit Summary: so i did this as a kid with trash bags, where we filled them with fallen leaves and set them up to look like a huge spider and spray painted a face on it. i think the idea would come across kit's tiktok or interest and she would feel the deep need to do this at airk's house and just... not tell him (also appears under the prompts ‘abduction’ and ‘impact play’) Part 13 of Show Don't Tell

Day 14: Warm Drinks

lace and silk and mesh by Geek_and_Nina Rating: Explicit Summary: kit winds down from a day out with elora and airk and texts her girlfriend whom she misses A LOT (also appears under the prompt ‘dirty talk’ and ‘prank gone wrong’) Part 14 of Show Don't Tell

Bright Smiles Warm Drinks by Silver85 Rating: General audiences Summary: Jade and Kit have their first date. Part 11 of Loving Me Loving You, (AWOOOO)

My Own Kind of Light, chapter 6, Warm drinks, by slvershdws Rating: Teen and up Summary: Sixteen-year-old Kit Tanthalos meets visiting nineteen-year-old Jade Claymore at an Autumn Festival and it’s the start of a friendship that grows over the years into something neither expected, nor can they agree on what it is.

Until they do.

Day 25: Black cat

these walls come tumbling down by OnlySheStandsThere Rating: Teen and up Summary: Veterinarian Jade Claymore hits a panther with her truck one night, only for the panther to turn out to be a very attractive girl who needs medical attention, a place to stay, and maybe something more.

Finally, here's the link to Autumn, Week One

Want to join in? See this post for the complete list of autumnal prompts for the rest of October.

#tanthamore #willow #willow 2022 #kit tanthalos #jade claymore #tanthamoretober #fanfic roundup

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kirby-the-gorb · 4 months

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reply roundup!

had to put these on hold for a while for personal reasons </3 they're likely to still be infrequent, but in honor of kirb2k!

(my notes would only load back to mid september so I missed a couple weeks sorry :c but be warned that this is a long one! it's 3 entire months' worth!)

also, reminder that kirb2k ends tomorrow!!! preorders, commissions, and auctions will all close at noon pst on sunday december 17th! everything is linked in the pinned post or filed under the tag kirb2k!

first is one more birthday kirb from my friend @sleepy-sheep-wizard:

Realized halfway thru that I don’t know what Kirby looks like off the top of my head, so I got funky with it. Happy birthday, thank you for being a good friend

thank you again friend <3 getting funky with it is truly in the spirit of just drawing a little guy for fun, I love his little hat in particular.

on [mirror] @shapeshifterwithafez said: uuuh is Scherben bringen Glück/ Shards bring luck a universal saying? sounfs clinky as a direct translation. anyways in germany we say that shards of stuff you broke brings luck so I hope the luck finds you or smth sorry for rambling ^^

I'd never heard this saying before, but I think it's very sweet! thank you for sharing it with me :)

on [pipefight] @hauntedppgpaints said: goalies with a skate blade and their stick in hand

big hockey vibes for real yeah lol

on [pink] @gaydiation-poisoning said: ...I wanna eat that pink

honestly same, it's sooo pleasing

on [rain] @hive-heart said: Everything alright, daily kirby guy?

not really but sitting by the window in the rain is a good thing lol thanks for asking <3

(also the person who tagged that same post myhouse.wad made me laugh)

on [photo] @ceylonsilvergirl [added] a picture of their cat and said: get adored idiot!! see the hate in her eyes? I’ll make her love me yet!!

me @ my partner's cat

@violet-dragongirl said: oh! I have been meaning to ask! Have you played Kirby and The Forgotten Lands? I assume you did but just wanted to say that I did about a week ago and I loved it and thought of your art! ^.^ And if you haven't, yes, Carby is super adorable and amazing :3

I have! I got it very shortly after it came out, I had a really good time with it. I've been slowly replaying it recently with my partner, they were kind of fond of kirby just by proxy but since we started playing they adore bandee now and say he never gets enough screen time XD I'm glad you also had fun!

on [mice] @ceylonsilvergirl said: girls like swarms of things, right?

idk bro my wife wasn't so big on it when I got a gig housing 30 mice, but maybe she's weird. I liked them. (sadly one of the best paying jobs I've ever had up until the owner lost it and abandoned them with me, yes I still took care of them for the rest of their little lives) (and yes I also got my wife's okay before I took them on in the first place)

on [covid] @mordantivore said: reading posts from when the era of covid safety was declared anathema and ended is haunting. we were so desperate to find ppl willing to help us stay alive. there are fewer of us now bc “allies” are worthless & more of us have died

yeah. fuck. I'm lucky that the people in closest proximity to me are at least moderately careful, but me and my wife and partner are usually the only ones wearing masks anywhere we go except sometimes the employees and I know they don't always wear them when they're out without me.

on [swim] @northeasternwind said: Jdjdjfkg imagining Kirby being way more bouyant than your average human so them gotta exhale REAL HARD or attach nega-floaties (sinkies?) like weights to dive

lol yeah they probably gotta try So Hard to actually get under the water. (I think diving weights/ballast is a thing that humans use too? I've never gone diving, having my face underwater stresses me out -n- )

on [float] @nickiemoot said: he has to go now. his planet needs him. *slide whistle*

I can only hear this as that one similar part from one of the asdfmovies, it delights me

@vampiricarus said: if you see this just know i love your art so much

aww thank you! <3

anonymous said: just wanted to say I love Kirby and I love your art! I’m always excited to see it on my dash. thank you for bringing a little joy to my life :) I need it once in a while like I’m sure a lot of others do too! Keep up the good work :))

thank you! drawing a little guy brings me a little joy too, I'm glad it can do the same for others <3

on [drain] @ceylonsilvergirl said: I’m sorry you’re having a rough time. Existing is hard work sometimes. A lot of the time

fuck dude it sure is <3 especially when my body keeps trying to shut down lol

on [mud] @why-are-all-the-fun-urls-taken said: Hey man are u doing ok

I am not, thanks for asking <3

on [tummyache] @hobgirl said: :o kirby the gorb why would you do that!!!!! why!!!!!

I didn't want it to go to waste!!! everyone is dumb sometimes!!!

on [wizard] @eau-the-agony said: not enough appreciation in the wizarding world for garlic salt spell. its all kung pow penis tgis and ketamine ape that. not enough of the small joys which carry us through the horrors like a dinky garbage raft

you are so right. the small joys are the most powerful of all.

on [wizard] @beepbeepdespair said: somehow didnt know garlic salt was a thing until this moment. now i really want some. i think i just found a kg of it online for 12 quid??

I am so pleased that you now have the knowledge of Garlic Salt Spell, I hope you got to try it out for yourself :D

on [zelda] @chaos-squared said: Good job!! I’ve had it for longer yet still haven’t completed it ;w;

nothing wrong with that! I only finished it as quickly and thoroughly as I did because I was basically bedridden for all of october, as long as you enjoy the time you do spend with a game it doesn't really matter how much time you spend or how far you get.

on [brave] @gudetamalover said: me tomorrow afternoon when I get all four wisdom teeth out

I'd already had several other oral surgeries on account of Weird Teeth before I got my wisdom teeth out but it still knocked me on my ass for a couple days, I hope your recovery went as smooth as possible! (altho that was also like. 15 years ago. and general anesthesia has gotten a lot better since then.)

on [shiny] @angst-and-fajitas said: Like to slap his bald head reblog to slap his bald head

bald! bald! bald! bald!

on [powerwash] @chronicdilf said: decemberb 16 im goign to walk across the damn stage get my damn diploma folder im going to go home and POWERWASHER SIMULATOR JUST LIKE KIRBY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

yeah!!! you're gonna do it!!! you might be doing it right now even!!!

on [cooked] @hobgirl said: oh mood kirby..... struggling with the very last paper i need to write before i can graduate and its got me feeling this way fr

ough, I hope you made it through your paper! lots of people graduating tho that's so cool, congrats to both of you!

on [bears] @jupiterlandings said: I get so happy every time I see Cake and the name Cake being tagged :)

it's such a good name for a bear, I'm grateful you thought of it!! especially given the best I could do for the other one was "kirbear" lol

@violet-dragongirl said: omg seeing that Fav Grobs Post you recently put up makes me so happy! over a thousand (and then some!) GORBS?! :D I'm not only impressed but so proud ya made it this far and I'm so glad you got possibly more to go of Kirby!! :D!! Really great job 🥰🥰

thank you! I'm gonna hit 2000 days of drawing kirby tomorrow, that's so wild!

on [popular] @timeturner-jay said: Op your Kirby art brings so much utter joy you have no idea <3

yay I'm glad <3 I love to draw a little guy, it's good I'm not the only one having fun lol

I got a lot of "good blaze op" on the [macarena], and you're all correct, thank you for recognizing my great decision making B) (I'd been meaning to add the music and blaze it from basically the moment I drew it, I've just been really sick so it took a while.)

(also even if I don't always gather them in the roundup there are names I recognize showing up repeatedly in the tags, some of whom have been here for years, and I'm always glad to see you're still around!)

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wormwoodandhoney · 9 months

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If you’ve got the time, I was wondering if you’d be able to share any final-girl-esque book recommendations! I just finished My Heart is A Chainsaw and You’re Not Supposed to Die Tonight, and they’ve got me on a bit of a kick. Love your blog and your book roundups! ♥️

my dude, i always have time for final girls! unfortunately, you named two of my faves, but let's goooo! this is an interesting conundrum for me because i love final girls SO MUCH that my bar is super high and only a few of them reach it haha. to those of you who haven't read the above mentioned, those are two of the best! my favorites tend to be ones with a unique or interesting take on the trope, but i'll try to recommend a variety. general slasher-related trigger warnings for all, but i'll try to add specific ones that i remember:

if you liked my heart is a chainsaw, check out the only good indians. it may not sound like there is a final girl, but one appears and i love her. even if you didn't like chainsaw, try this one. i think it's more accessible, though still that sgj weirdness. this one is about four indigenous men who are haunted by a strange deer woman. tw for animal death and body horror.

this is not my personal favorite, but clown in a cornfield is super popular. there is a clown and there are teens and there is a cornfield. murrrrrder occurs.

there are another couple of popular ones that i didn't totally love: the final girl support group by grady hendrix and final girls by riley sager. both feature now-adult final girls who are friends with other now-adult final girls, and murders occur.

no exit by taylor adams is not exactly a slasher, but the protagonist gives me some of the same vibes. note: the synopsis makes this sound like a mystery, but it's not. it's really more of a what would you do thriller! a young woman is stranded with a group of strangers during a snowstorm at a rest stop. she discovers a kidnapped child in one of their cars.

also not a slasher, but the honeys features a genderfluid protagonist and bee-based body horror. weird horror at a summer camp. tw for bees and body horror, probably trypophobia i think.

the night shift is about some similar murders in a small town fifteen years apart- a group of teen girls are murdered with only one survivor.

the shining girls is a cool take on the trope. a serial killer with the ability to travel through time kills particular girls to further his immortality, and one of them survives and tries to take him down. this is also a show now i think but i haven't watched it!

UPCOMING FINAL GIRLS

i'm so excited for there's no way i'd die first is a slasher coming out in september! it looks like a pretty classic clown slasher with a horror loving protagonist.

gorgeous gruesome faces may or may not be a final girl based on the description- could be ghosts or a slasher. maybe both?? but "queer kpop horror" sold me immediately.

burn the negative features one of my favorite tropes in fiction, which is like... fictional pop culture? the protagonist is a former child actress who starred in an infamous horror film in which many of the crew/cast died. when a remake begins, she has to stop more deaths.

i can't tell if the lake house is a final girl story or not... i'll investigate.

#book recs #final girls #horror

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kayleerowena · 2 years

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🎃🏚️ happy halloween from me & some of my favorite spooky haunted houses! 🏚️🎃

tip jar 👻 patreon 👻 newsletter image descriptions in alt text!

#halloween #haunted house #haunted houses #haunting #illustration #horror art #horror illustration #architecture #architectural hauntings #ghosts #horror #haunted house roundup #i've been very busy with deadlines but don't worry i am super excited for halloween as per usual!!!

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littlemisskittentoes · 4 months

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2023 Writing Roundup

okay chickie wings! first and foremost, a massive thank you to @hgejfmw-hgejhsf @rockyroadkylers and @songliili for tagging me in this game. also pretending that @read-and-write- and @anincompletelist tagged me in this one because they were kind enough to tag me in the Year In Review that i never got around to doing

without further ado...

2023 (kittentoes's version)

January through August

nada. kittentoes was a mere lurker.

September

boxing with no gloves- G, 2.2k

Henry is pushing his arms through the woolen sleeves of a peacoat. He faces Alex and there’s no softness left in his features. He’s genuinely angry this time. None of the endeared exhaustion of his antics Alex is so used to seeing from him. None of the fondness that always plays hide and seek in his eyes when he looks at Alex. Henry looks blank and placid. His press face, edged with a hint of venom. And Alex has seen versions of this face. He’s seen a calmer facade of it, one that had boarded a plane back to England by the time Alex woke up. There’s something cold settling in Alex’s stomach. A kind of panic crawling up his throat. There’s ice dancing at his fingertips, but his hands are sweating, and oh God, Henry’s leaving again. --- Or, Alex and Henry get into a fight. Henry tries to leave, Alex needs him to stay. So he does.

i'd be smart to walk away (but you're quicksand)- M, 3.6k

Henry remembers too, telling himself not to get too close. He remembers knowing intrinsically, unequivocally, that loving Alex would set him on fire. Now, here he is. Burning. Henry is alight and smoldering. And as naturally as Henry knew how combustible Alex would be then, he knows now that he is going to be left as nothing but ash and soot when Alex finally decides to walk away. Still, Henry can’t convince himself to pull the lever on the alarm to set off the sprinklers. He lets himself savor the flames. – or, five times that Henry convinced himself he couldn’t have Alex Claremont-Diaz, and one time he lets Alex convince him he can.

October

i'll love you when the ocean's dry- M, ficlet

“Getting into trouble without me, sweetheart?” “Alex, Alex, you’re going to be so bloody proud of me. Are you listening?” And Alex can hear the flush of Henry’s cheeks, the spark dancing in his eyes. “Pez, hush, Alex has to hear this. Alex, you’re listening, right?” And that wasn’t unusual either. More and more Henry had let Pez convince him to allow himself to loosen up a bit. More and more Henry had started slackening his hold on the carefully crafted veneer he had been trained for years to perfect. Every time, it takes Alex’s breath away. Alex loves every facet of Henry, each mask and every mood. But there’s something about seeing Henry settle into a kind of peace with himself that has Alex feeling like he’s falling in love all over again. He leans even further into the cushioned recliner and lets the drunken lilt of Henry’s voice ease something in his muscles. “I’m listening, baby. Go ahead.” — or, Henry is drunk, and Alex loves him completely.

we should just kiss (like real people do)- T, 2k, Junora

June hasn’t felt like she’s had a home in a long time. There was the house and Texas growing up, of course. But the inevitability of arguments turned silence left the walls feeling more haunted by memories, rather than preserving them. There was the Lake House. But the knowledge it would only ever be a short-lived reprieve made a kind of melancholy brush against the dock with each pass of the waves. There were the dorms of UT Austin, and Evan taking up most of the twin-sized mattress. But thinking too hard about that always made the resentment rear-up, bitter at the back of her throat before she was able to quell it back down. But the picture of Nora sprawled across her carpet, her halo of screens casting pale light along her cheekbones, dancing above her cupid’s bow. Nora’s curls falling into her face with the dip of her head towards the screen, fingertips rushing across the keyboard not daring to stray away long enough to push the strand back. It’s all so achingly familiar that for all June’s skill as a writer, her entire repertoire of connotations and words, she can’t for the life of her think of anything else. -- Or, Henry and June's PR stunt, from June and Nora's perspective.

when you say my name (i like the way it sounds)- G, 3.6k

When he looks back, he gives himself a moment to take it in. He basks in the sound of familiar laughter echoing around their kitchen in the simmering warmth and comfortability that comes with being sucked into Pez’s antics and lulled back by Bea’s steadiness. He revels in the swirl of Nora’s genius and calm of June’s kindness. It’s not quite the same as LA all those years ago. It doesn’t take him by surprise or feel novel anymore. But it's still that feeling of rightness, a crystal clear understanding that this, these people, will always be a kind of home to him. -- or, The Super Six take on a Halloween party. Henry, for once, let’s himself let loose. Drunk, uninhabited, and free to love Alex in public, Henry is happy. Alex stays sober to look after him, and he is so in love he could die.

November

you paint dreamscapes on the wall- E, 5k

“Fuck, H. What are you? A damn vampire?” And Henry loved this too. The way the fire in Alex never quite went out, just smoldered down to embers. He didn’t think he’d ever quite get used to Alex’s wit, his sheer audacity to taunt and pick at him. But Henry was sure he never wanted to, anyway. He loved that that audacity snuck through the cracks of following orders, and waiting in positions. In between the begging, and Alex only ever finishing with permission dripping from Henry’s lips, it was still there. And Christ, if it wasn’t the single-most precious thing Henry had been gifted the honor of experiencing. -- or, Alex is in his own head too much of the time. But Henry can always bring him back.

you call the shots babe (i just wanna be yours)- E, 9.9k

“I wish David were here.” The sigh from his lips rustles one of Alex’s curls loosened away from under the cap. Alex’s eyebrows scrunch together and there’s a new mask edging his features. One Henry can’t quite place in his filmy headspace. “Oh. I thought… Pez said you didn’t have a boyfriend?” The bark of laughter pulled from Henry’s throat is loud and unfettered. The kind of laugh he usually keeps hidden away or stifled behind the guard of a hand against his mouth. “No, no. I mean yes, Pez’s right. But David isn’t–” Another giggle breaks into the words. “David’s a beagle, Alex.” ___ or, Henry gets high, and Alex is everything he's ever wanted.

i know heaven's a thing (i go there when you touch me)- E, 17.2k

He’s never been much of a jealous man. He’s always been far more lured in by the tease of potential than seduced by the idea of possession. Henry isn’t owned by Alex. He chooses to give himself over. And now, watching Henry offer himself not just for Alex, but for Pez as well— Pez, this bright light of energy and unending kindness that has never done anything but protect Henry—well, Alex isn’t sure anything has ever quite knocked the breath out of him the same way the sight of it does. --- or, when Henry acts like a brat, Alex enlists Pez's help to remind him that he doesn't need to in order to get what he wants.

December

many times, many ways- M, 4.8k

The thing is, Alex knows he can’t replace the bittersweet wave of memories that swarm Henry’s head at the sight of snow flurries and smell of peppermint in the air. He doesn’t want to. He wants Henry to keep those close, even if it is through the sepia tone of melancholy. But Alex can’t help but wonder if maybe he can find a way to balance poignancy with something a bit easier. Something a little bit lighter. Something Henry can revisit to understand where he belongs, how he fits into the “happy” of it all any time he needs. He looks over to Henry, finally asleep against his chest. He takes in the gentle slope of Henry’s nose, the fluttered fan of eyelashes against moon-bathed cheeks. He fixates on the subtle canyon, the soft part of Henry’s lips, the phantom wind of a silent snore, and Alex knows: the very least he can do is try. — or, holidays have always come as a reminder to Henry of what he’s lost. But Alex always manages to remind him of everything he’s gained too.

all we know (is touch and go)- G, ficlet

“I had it under control, Alex. You can’t just swoop in anytime you think something might go wrong. You’re not bloody invincible. It’s high time you stopped acting like you are.” “Now where would be the fun in that, sweetheart? Can’t very well get you to play nurse for me if I stick by the sidelines, now can I?” Alex pulls out his best smirk, the one that usually convinces Henry to stop talking to kiss it off of him instead. The glare Henry shoots him makes it clear he’s not getting off that easy tonight. --- or, Alex gets hurt being the hero and Henry just wants him whole.

Coming Soon

PWP Onesot- featuring: somnophilia, Daddy Dom!Alex, so much dirty talk-- coming to an ao3 near you within the next few days

"don't you call him baby"- kensington divergence multichap, featuring: kittentoes's first oc, a lot of angst, alex with a boyfriend that is not henry-- coming to an ao3 near you within the next few months (the current, sole focus wip)

Aftercare Oneshot- featuring: safeword use, healthy communication, domestic!firstprince-- coming to an ao3 near you the next time i need a break from kensington

(Hopefully) Coming Later in 2024

"it always leads to you (in my hometown)"- the 'tis the damn season/childhood best friends to lovers au, featuring: dual timelines, baker!henry, an orion tattoo, and drunk love confessions

smokey smoke verse series- oneshots continuing the relationship established in "you call the shots babe (i just wanna be yours)

more kitten!henry

IM SO SORRY IF YOU'VE ALREADY DONE THIS, MY LIFE IS CHAOS

tagging some friends! @happiness-of-the-pursuit@matherines@inexplicablymine @wordsofhoneydew @firenati0n @read-and-write- @affectionatelyrs @saintlynomenclature @adreamareads @absoluteaudacitywrites @raysletters @daisymae-12 @ssmtskw @hypnostheory

#kittentoes writes #tag game #writing round up #2023 writing roundup #rwrb fic #rwrb #ao3

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chronotsr · 23 days

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Pre-G1 Modules, part 4...A - The Judge's Guild Roundup

Part 4a? This is one of those projects that keeps ballooning in scope forever.

Again, keeping with the theme of "trying to not get too historical", Judge's Guild was a group formed by Bob Bledsaw and Bill Owen to release DM aids, in part because then-TSR didn't think it was a viable market. Note that this is Bob Bledsaw Sr., the guy responsible for the nazi incident at Judge's Guild a few years ago was Bob Bledsaw Jr. Anyway, JG was responsible for a lot of materials ranging from setting materials, adventure modules. A lot of luminaries ultimately come from JG, including recently passed legend Jennell Jacquays, so they're a very worthwhile topic to review. I will not talk everything they put out between 1976 and G1 because I'm already planning on touching on (edit: 3 of 6) items today, so we will focus only on their for-sale, non-serial modules.

City-State of the Invincible Overlord (1977)

This is stretching the definition of module -- it's more of a setting book. CSIO is a setting supplement for, yeah, a city state of an invincible overlord. I hope you like maaaaaaaaaaaaaps! Essentially, an overlord stays above and aloof to the factional struggles of the people beneath him, roman emperor-style, and details out a bunch of characters and places within a city. It's, actually pretty good, I think a modern revision of CSIO would probably be pretty fun to play in, especially if you omitted a lot of 1970s gunk (like the frequency of slavery). It has this nice quality where it's much more brief per-location than modern city sourcebooks, but has many many varieties of the same concept. You might want a tavern, and there are so many to choose from. Here's a random assortment of buildings you can find in this book:

A park of sexy statues with a pleasure cult hiding in the rush

A 'fear shop' where the owner will go to ridiculous lengths to scare you

A GILF brothel

The tavern that Fafhrd and the Grey Mouser always go to

A siege engineer you can bribe for promotions

The map is almost, too comprehensive. I'm not sure what % of buildings are described but it's gotta be close to 20%, which is REALLY HIGH by ttrpg city standards. I'd guess that Green Ronin's Freeport is maybe 1% described. The book also has the traditional regulars of a city book (laws, sewer maps, factions) as well as the admittedly novel idea of a full advertising system to acquire hirelings. It, probably didn't merit a full page, but the idea of caring this much about where precisely those hirelings is coming from is kinda novel.

Regardless, this is an adventure module review blog, not a city review blog, so we have done our due diligence and may now proceed.

Tegel Manor (1977)

Oh boy, it's a megadungeon. Here we go. So despite that ominous cover, it's only 30 pages, so it could be worse. The essential schtick of the adventure is that there's a destitute (by noble standards) paladin who owns the deed to an extremely haunted mansion and is desperately trying to pawn the problem off on someone else. You can bully him into helping, but he's a complete coward.

The house is magically fireproofed because adventurers are just like that. A good sign, I think? Surely this won't be a tedious monster closet festival? We have a pretty standard rundown of a town and,

That's one of the most unfortunate names I've ever seen. If I was a dwarf named Cretin Nodcock, I feel like I would also not give a damn about my appearance. Or maybe work on a name change. This adventure really lavishes in its old timey words, we have a paladin described as "poltroonerous" (cowardly), a passing mention of "white wassail" (a mulled white wine), et c. Relatively little is given about the surrounding town and countryside, just enough to get us into the manor asap.

The first floor is a greatest hits of a haunted house. Animated knives, disappearing ghosts, screaming, the walls ooze GREEN SLIME, et c. Here's the stuff (across this entire dungeon) that isn't rote:

A creaky floor that gets so loud that it stuns elves' sensitive hearing while a wall crusher goes off

An animated yellow mold that looks like a sleeping woman

An animated painting of a battle that shoots arrows outward randomly

An animated painting that paints the party, and if it succeeds the party is petrified

Rust monster on flying bed action

A room of opaque gas-filled tubes that contain a variety of people, monsters, objects in animation. I bet the elf lord would have some nice things for their rescuer.

The level of haunting really goes down and it just becomes an assemblage of roughly halloween monsters in increasingly ridiculous patterns. If I was running this, I'd probably shrink the manor down into a greatest hits version of these rooms, because this is a SPRAWLING manor and it's room after room of "there is a wolf, there is a wight, there is a moldering desk". When you think of Gygax going "why would anyone want to buy a module?", this is sticking in my mind. It's not "Dwarven Glory" bland but it IS a never-ending gauntlet of monsters punctuated by silly rooms.

A rare luxury after all the room-by-room shit. Just some good ol' fashioned silliness.

Inexplicably under the house is a further dungeon-dungeon, which is mostly rat tunnels. Happily some of these maps feature little blank lines to mark your revisions from the official map, which is a nice little conceit.

I am always, always, always happy to have a new riddle to throw at my party, although I'm not so good at riddling myself.

Curiously, lich is spelled with an e at the end here, I have no idea how normal this was at the time.

Like most GMs, I have a crippling addiction to random tables for miscellaneous crap. This is a really hard to parse table but I believe how it works is:

Roll a d12 to determine what the statue does from the first list of results

Follow that result vertically down to the array of concepts

Roll a d8 and pick from that vertical list of results So for example, I rolled d12=5; d8=8. I go to 5 in the first list (Advises), follow it down vertically to the third column of results (the one that starts with Location), and index down to 8 (Directions). My magic statue advises directions to the party. What a nice guy! This table bothers me so bad that I rejiggered it real quickly in excel, because with the benefit of widescreen monitors it's pretty easy to fix:

Tegal Manor wraps with some extra resurrection rules, in case you needed more realism in your magical revivification. I think I prefer it just working, thanks.

Modron (1977)

There's honestly a stunning lack of underwater content in RPGs, I think. Underwater is such a magical location, both experientially and in mythology. One of these days I will set an adventure in one of those sets from the old 1986 Journey to the West TV show, the underwater sea dragon palace ones? They're so fucking cool. Everything is better with underwater dragon palaces.

Right. Modron. Focus.

Modron is another one of those "straddling the line between module and setting book" situations, only much smaller than CSIO. The art all looks like Prince Valliant, which by that sentence alone either means you're going to love or hate it (I hate it). Our titular Modron is a goddess, but also a temple, but also a port town. We will deal with these in order.

Goddess Modron is a river goddess who was worshipped by the town and the temple. She is implied to be, kind of like wonder woman in a weird way? She has to exist underwater, or she dies in 6 rounds (so 6 minutes), which is pretty fucking lame but I too know the struggle of dry skin. She's a fertility goddess (who isn't) and she does d20 years of damage when she lovetaps you. Tragically, she is no longer worshipped in favor of Mitra. COWARDS! LOVE YOUR RIVER/SEA GODDESSES.

Modron's Temple is very, very briefly explained. Essentially, only the oldest people in town know how to find it, via the cellar of the tavern. It's completely underwater, and a lot of mermen hang out there. The head priestess can drain your water! Google says that one love tap would exhaust you, two would probably kill you, and three would definitely kill you. It's implied in this section that a JttW-style Triton Coral Kingdom is, in fact, hanging out off the shoreline somewhere.

Town Modron is your standard raided port town. There was once two gods worshiped here, then it got messed up by raiders and ECONOMICS and some light civil war. It's okay, ya boi Invincible Overlord is sending you a bailout, making him a better autocrat than most living politicians. Apparently they have a pet seamonster who serves the overlord directly? Awesome! We need more pet kaiju in the world.

The actual area-by-area is pretty blasé. The local rulers are varyingly competent (the king is competent but a huge sex pest), there's a guy who takes you on guided tours to, anywhere in the multiverse? Somehow the blacksmith has figured out how to rustproof armor, which will really piss off your rust monsters. The book makes a point to say that the jailor is a particular bastard, so Judge's Guild says ACAB? Unlikely but a very funny concept.

Tragically, we end our adventure without a map of the palace, the temple, the other temple, or anything. I don't believe this is the first supplement to contain Mitra as JG's most famous god (well, Mitra is a real-life god anyhow), but this is certainly the first adventure-ish module to feature him. Dark Tower is quite a ways away!

A poison coral table is, one of those things you would only ever see in early DND. That is so unbelievably specific. The book ends with many such cases, there's a pearl randomizer that doesn't include any fun magic effects or anything, merely linking to Supplement II. Boo!

So originally when writing this, I had intended that part 4 be a whole unit, but then I realized that I was going to have to include these semi-adventures in the roundup. So to my great shame, we will continue this later.

#0e #chronotsr #dnd #dungeons and dragons #tsr #ttrpg

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simplegenius042 · 4 months

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WIP Roundup

Rules: Post the names of all (or some of) the files in your wip folder, regardless of how non-descriptive or ridiculous. Let people send you an ask with the title that most intrigues them and then post a little snippet of it or tell them something about it! Tag as many people as you have WIPS.

Tagged by @direwombat (than you so much for the tag) to share what I have cooking up in my folder. I'll only share some as there are way too many to fit in one post (...unless... no, begone devil thoughts!). I have four folders, one each for The UnTitledverse, Far Cry The Silver Chronicles, Life, Despair & Monsters, and some extra stuff that don't belong in the three universes above (includes Wings And Horns and A Radioactive Calamity of Love, Bombs & Gore).

Anyway, below the cut is the WIP names (and their respective series they belong to) as well as the people I'm tagging. Just like direwombat (though a little differently), I will be listing them by active, snippets, or shelved. Enjoy!

[P.S I'm about to ruin my exact number of 4,000 posts LOL! Damn who knew I'd get that high]

ACTIVE WIPS (e.g. WIPs that are either published or that I am actively working on)

The UnTitledverse

The Perfect Storm saga -> Jurassic World Before The Storm

Far Cry The Silver Chronicles

The Years In Hope County (FC5)

Silva's Hope (FC5)

Life, Despair & Monsters

One By One, The Towers Crack folder -> Sonya's Push - Jennifer's Story (Love Death + Robots)

SNIPPETS (e.g. WIPs I've only shown through snippets and have been bouncing back and forth between and/or can only publish once another WIP is finished)

The UnTitledverse

The Perfect Storm saga -> A Blast In The Past (original work influenced/inspired by Bendy and the Ink Machine)

Far Cry The Silver Chronicles

A Truce, As Null And Void As Yourself (FC5)

La Última En Pie (Kind of Original Work with references to FC5 and adapted/AU characters from The Masquerade, The Bone Season, Mermaids of Eriana Kwai, The Priory Of The Orange Tree, The Locked Tomb and Rapunzel's Tangled Adventures)

No Snake, Only A Boa In The Garden (FC5)

The True Sinners (FC5)

You're Almost Like Family (FC5)

Life, Despair & Monsters

On Strong Foundations, The Tower Stands folder -> Miraculous Miracles: Tales of Hatter and his Two Buds (Miraculous)

Original Works and Other Series

A Radioactive Calamity of Love, Bombs & Gore series -> It's A Matter of Perspective, Really... (FO3)

SHELVED (e.g. WIPs that I've currently put on the shelf as of now until I have the time and motivation to write or WIPs that haunt my dreams)

The UnTitledverse

The Perfect Storm saga -> The Dark Awakening (Original Work inspired/influenced by Bendy and the Ink Machine)

The Omniscience Rule saga -> All Who Remain (The Last Of Us)

The UnTitled Ventures saga -> UnTitled Venture: Village Of Shadows (Resident Evil Village)

Mario: Mother's Boy (Original Work)

Far Cry The Silver Chronicles

Old Dusk (FCND)

Call To Arms (COD: MW)

Ain't It A Joy? (We Happy Few)

No One's Safe At Home (Welcome To The Game)

Far Cry The Judge's Duty AU -> What Are The Chances? (FC5/FCND-ish)

Lady, Running Down To The Riptide (Taken Away To The Dark Side) (FC5 AU influenced by Bioshock Infinite)

Life, Despair & Monsters

Enemies Crawl, Along The Tower's Walls folder -> Word Of Woe - Wednesday Addams' Story (Wednesday)

On Strong Foundations, The Towers Stand folder -> The Thorned Crown Of Iron Thrones - Corvus Targaryen's Story (House Of The Dragon)

Original Works and Other Series

Wings And Horns (Original Work)

A Radioactive Calamity of Love, Bombs & Gore series -> The Waters Of Life Flow (FO3).

A Radioactive Calamity of Love, Bombs & Gore series -> The House Always Wins (FONV).

A Radioactive Calamity of Love, Bombs & Gore series -> A Symbol For A Better World (Our World) (FO4).

A Radioactive Calamity of Love, Bombs & Gore series -> Vault Number 76 (FO76).

Tagging @socially-awkward-skeleton @shallow-gravy @adelaidedrubman @strangefable @strafethesesinners @wrathfulrook @g0dspeeed @josephseedismyfather @josephslittledeputy @bitchofedensgate @inafieldofdaisies @softtidesworld @minilev @snake-in-the-garden @afarcryfrommymain @nightbloodbix @derelictheretic @deputyash @deputy-morgan-malone @dephellseed @fourlittleseedlings @cassietrn @chazz-anova @voidika @onehornedbeast @carlosoliveiraa @corvosattano @skoll-sun-eater @neverthesameneveranother and @ladyoriza + anyone else who wants to share their wip list!)

#wip roundup #the untitledverse #fic: jurassic world before the storm #wip: a blast in the past #wip: the dark awakening #wip: all who remain #wip: untitled venture village of shadows #wip: mario mother's boy #far cry the silver chronicles #fic: the years in hope county #wip: silva's hope #wip: a truce as null and void as yourself #wip: la última en pie #wip: no snake only a boa in the garden #wip: the true sinners #wip: you're almost like family #wip: what are the chances?#wip: lady running down to the riptide (taken away to the dark side)#wip: old dusk #wip: call to arms #wip: ain't it a joy?#wip: no one's safe at home #life despair & monsters #wip: sonya's push #wip: miraculous miracles tales of hatter and his two buds #wip: word of woe #wip: the thorned crown of iron thrones #series: a radioactive calamity of love bombs & gore #original works #wip: wings and horns

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guardian-angle22 · 4 months

Text

I read books! Sometimes, I remember to talk about books!

Here’s a roundup of some of my favorite things I read in 2023. I'll put half of this under a cut to save the timeline.

Middle Grade:

When Life Gives You Mangos by Kereen Getten - This is a sweet story about friendship, grief, and family set in a close knit community in Jamaica following a young girl who can't remember anything that happened the previous summer. I don't read middle grade often so I wasn't expecting to be on the edge of my seat during this book, but I sure was!

Garlic & the Vampire by Bree Paulson - An anthropomorphic village of vegetables - what more could you ask for? When the village learns a vampire moved into a nearby castle, they decide Garlic has to be the one to face him. A cute, wholesome graphic novel - and the sequel Garlic & the Witch was also lovely!

Nonfiction:

A Mind Spread Out on the Ground by Alicia Elliott - This is a collection of essays by an Indegenous author covering a wide range of topics including race, gentrification, parenthood, and mental illness. I annotated the shit out of this book... which is always a sign of a well loved read in my house.

Bad Blood by John Carreyrou - A fascinating account by the journalist from the Wall Street Journal who broke open the case against Theranos and Elizabeth Holmes. The entire story is absolutely bananas and made for a wild read.

Excellent on Audio:

How to Be Perfect by Michael Shur - If you watched and enjoyed The Good Place, this audiobook should be required listening. Pretty much everyone from the cast pops in at random times to narrate something. It was also just a great, thought-provoking book. I actually read this for a work book club and it prompted me to finally finish The Good Place. Most successful book club pick ever.

Finding Me by Viola Davis - She won a Grammy for the narration of this book (and earning her rightful place as an EGOT) and it was well deserved. I'm not usually one for celebrity memoirs, but Viola's life was incredibly interesting and her narration was amazing.

Thriller/Horror:

The Hacienda by Isabel Cañas - This is a Mexican, historical, gothic horror novel set after the Mexican War of Independence. It features a secluded, potentially haunted hacienda and a priest who might actually be a witch. Atmospheric vibes are peak here. Highly recommend listening to the spotify playlist the author made while you read!

No One is Watching by Alyssa Cole - The official blurb says "the gentrification of a Brooklyn neighborhood takes on a sinister new meaning" and that about sums it up. It also compares it to Get Out and that's a pretty good comp, in my opinion.

Poetry:

Artemis Made Me Do It by Trista Mateer - I'm not gonna lie, this poetry collection and the one in the series before it (Aphrodite Made Me Do It) were absolutely cover buys. The cover art is stunning! but luckily the inside is good too.

If My Body Could Speak by Blythe Baird - This collection deals a lot with the feminine experience, how we relate to our bodies and its traumas. Definitely check the trigger warnings for this collection first before picking it up.

Romance:

Take a Hint, Dani Brown by Talia Hibbert - I'm not one to read a ton of romance books but I did enjoy a couple this year. This one was definitely the most explicit but also wholesome and something has to be said for being able to do both. Fun tropes include: fake dating & grumpy/sunshine.

Glitterland by Alexis Hall - While this is still a romance book at its core, it also deals heavily with depression. Fun tip with this book: definitely get the re-released edition with this cover because it has author annotation notes! It was very fun to read those at the end of every chapter.

Short & Quick Reads:

The Appendix by Liam Konemann - This is a very small little pocket book, part of the 404's Inklings collection. In it, Liam is reacting to transphobia he encounters through various media, but also discussing how he navigates being a gay trans man in today's culture.

Silver in the Wood by Emily Tesh - I think I would best describe this as a queer forest fairytale. I'm a sucker for any story that can transport me to a mythical forest and while this one clocks in at a little under 115 pages, it packed a good plant magic punch.

Misc Books I Couldn't Find a Category For:

Captive Prince by C.S. Pacat - I never thought I would read this series, but I stumbled into the first one and then devoured the entire series in the span of 2 days. While I know the core of what people love about this is the love story... the political intrigue happening absolutely gripped me!

Oona Out of Order by Margarita Montimore - Another trope/plot device I love is time travel... or whatever weird timey wimey mess you would consider this: Oona faints after she's about to turn nineteen and awakens 32 years in the future in her 51 year old body. She learns that after each year completes, she'll leap to another age at random. It's as messy and complicated as it sounds but never a dull moment.

#books #reading #guardian reads (sometimes)#favorite reads of 2023 #... i'm gonna take a moment in the tags to bitch about the covers of the captive prince series... why? why do they not have better covers?#even the one I chose here which I'd argue is the better cover... just does not do this series justice #you hate to see it #why am i awake at 2:30 am posting this? don't ask me ask my insomnia ok #book recs

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