Weekend + books (read before the weekend)
May. 31st, 2025 03:45 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
schneefinkOne of my favorite things about not having plans and not having to study is that I can do things spontaneously, like meet up with friends to go shopping and have food and then go for a walk to see some sheep and goats that I had no idea were there so my biologist friend could delightedly poke at the dung to find beetles.
One of my favorite things about staying at my friends' house for a few days is that I don't have "I should do chores/clean/tidy" run in the back of my head at all times. I still found things to procrastinate on - an exchange letter, leaving fic comments etc - but overall it was very relaxed. I'm getting better at Beat Saber.
Books I read recently:
The Burning Kingdoms trilogy by Tasha Suri: The Jasmine Throne, the Oleander Sword, the Lotus Empire. This series has been on my to-read list for a while and I finally got around to reading it. I enjoyed it a lot! I enjoyed the Indian-inspired setting and the complicated politics of it with many different groups, and I liked the development of the main characters both separately and together. ( Spoilers )
Emily Wilde's Map of the Otherlands by Heather Fawcett: I enjoyed this much less than the first book in the series, sadly. At one point I complained to LB, who's actually worked at a university, that I thought the portrayal of academia was unrealistic, and he said that it's not that unrealistic provided the character in question is a bit of an asshole. ( Spoilers )
The Firm by John Grisham: The first non-SFF book I read since April 2022, according to Goodreads, wow okay. And the first non-SFF novel since February 2022. I decided to read it because the lecturer of one of my business law classes mentioned it, and I didn't give up early even though the writing is clunky. In the first half I really liked the slowly growing sense of creeping dread from the dangers the reader sees but the main character doesn't. ( Spoilers: that was the best part ) I don't regret that I read it but only because now I know.
Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins: I started with this one instead of "The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes" because I got this one first from the library, but in hindsight I wonder if that was a mistake. It worked on its own but I strongly suspect I missed many connections. Conversely, it's been many years since I read the original trilogy but there were almost too many connections and similarities for my taste, it seemed a bit repetitive. To be fair there's only so many ways the Hunger Games can differ. ( Spoilers )
One of my favorite things about staying at my friends' house for a few days is that I don't have "I should do chores/clean/tidy" run in the back of my head at all times. I still found things to procrastinate on - an exchange letter, leaving fic comments etc - but overall it was very relaxed. I'm getting better at Beat Saber.
Books I read recently:
The Burning Kingdoms trilogy by Tasha Suri: The Jasmine Throne, the Oleander Sword, the Lotus Empire. This series has been on my to-read list for a while and I finally got around to reading it. I enjoyed it a lot! I enjoyed the Indian-inspired setting and the complicated politics of it with many different groups, and I liked the development of the main characters both separately and together. ( Spoilers )
Emily Wilde's Map of the Otherlands by Heather Fawcett: I enjoyed this much less than the first book in the series, sadly. At one point I complained to LB, who's actually worked at a university, that I thought the portrayal of academia was unrealistic, and he said that it's not that unrealistic provided the character in question is a bit of an asshole. ( Spoilers )
The Firm by John Grisham: The first non-SFF book I read since April 2022, according to Goodreads, wow okay. And the first non-SFF novel since February 2022. I decided to read it because the lecturer of one of my business law classes mentioned it, and I didn't give up early even though the writing is clunky. In the first half I really liked the slowly growing sense of creeping dread from the dangers the reader sees but the main character doesn't. ( Spoilers: that was the best part ) I don't regret that I read it but only because now I know.
Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins: I started with this one instead of "The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes" because I got this one first from the library, but in hindsight I wonder if that was a mistake. It worked on its own but I strongly suspect I missed many connections. Conversely, it's been many years since I read the original trilogy but there were almost too many connections and similarities for my taste, it seemed a bit repetitive. To be fair there's only so many ways the Hunger Games can differ. ( Spoilers )
May Round Up (11,883 words, 13 works)
May. 31st, 2025 03:18 pmsenmutSingle fics, by fandom, by posting date (related fandoms may be organized by chronology)
( Single fics )
New Original Works posted at![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
sylph_and_asp this month
( Original Works )
( Single fics )
New Original Works posted at
sylph_and_asp this month( Original Works )
Stats: May 2025 Edition
May. 31st, 2025 07:21 pmscifirenegadeFilms Watched
Books (being read for leisure)
Arts
Words Written
- Pride and Prejudice (1940)
- Emma. (2020)
- Hamlet (1921)
- Within Our Gates (1920)
Books (being read for leisure)
- Gay Berlin by Robert Beachy (as always smh)
Arts
- 1 unfinished full piece (Above Suspicion)
- 1 scrapped drawing
- Lots of dumb doodles
Words Written
- That One Oberaertz Thing: 501 words (total 4803 words)
- Barbara's Great Wine Search: 0 words, ugh
- Miscellaneous short fics: two fics (total 778 words)
- Total: 1279 words
FAKE Triple Drabble: A Welcome Rest
May. 31st, 2025 06:10 pmbadly_knittedTitle: A Welcome Rest
Fandom: FAKE
Author:
badly_knittedCharacters: Dee, Ryo.
Rating: PG
Setting: After the manga.
Summary: Some days, police work is exhausting.
Written Using: The tw100 prompt ‘Rest’.
Disclaimer: I don’t own FAKE, or the characters. They belong to the wonderful Sanami Matoh.
A/N: Triple drabble.
Doctor Who Drabble: Not For Fame
May. 31st, 2025 05:57 pmbadly_knittedTitle: Not For Fame
Author:
badly_knittedCharacters: The Doctor.
Rating: G
Written For: Challenge 927: ‘Spotlight’ at
dw100.Spoilers: Nada.
Summary: The Doctor has no interest is being lauded for what he does.
Disclaimer: I don’t own Doctor Who, or the characters.
( Not For Fame... )
Double Drabble: Keeping It Secret
May. 31st, 2025 05:47 pmbadly_knittedTitle: Keeping It Secret
Author:
badly_knittedCharacters: Gwen, Ianto.
Rating: PG
Written For: Challenge 867: Right at
torchwood100.Spoilers: Nada.
Summary: Ianto explains why the Rift has to be kept secret.
Disclaimer: I don’t own Torchwood, or the characters.
A/N: Double drabble.
Tags:
Write Every Day - May 2025 - Day 31
May. 31st, 2025 06:37 pmfalknerAnd now for the real last post of the month, how did you do?
Our host for June will becornerofmadness, so see you there starting tomorrow.
This post will be updated as long as people comment, so feel free to come back and check in late for May.
Welcome post.
( Days 1-7 )
( Days 8-14 )
( Days 15-21 )
( Days 22-28 )
Day 29:china_shop, larryhammer, badly_knitted, sylvanwitch, goddess47, trobadora, cornerofmadness, brithistorian, yasaman, kissed, sanguinity, nafs, ysilme, shadaras, chanter1944
Day 30:china_shop, sylvanwitch, badly_knitted, goddess47, larryhammer, sanguinity, nafs, brithistorian, cornerofmadness, ysilme, shadaras, kissed, trobadora, yasaman, chanter1944
Day 31:goddess47, shadaras, badly_knitted, china_shop, trobadora, sanguinity, kissed, nafs, cornerofmadness, ysilme, sylvanwitch, yasaman, chanter1944
Our host for June will be
cornerofmadness, so see you there starting tomorrow.This post will be updated as long as people comment, so feel free to come back and check in late for May.
Welcome post.
( Days 1-7 )
( Days 8-14 )
( Days 15-21 )
( Days 22-28 )
Day 29:
china_shop, larryhammer, badly_knitted, sylvanwitch, goddess47, trobadora, cornerofmadness, brithistorian, yasaman, kissed, sanguinity, nafs, ysilme, shadaras, chanter1944Day 30:
china_shop, sylvanwitch, badly_knitted, goddess47, larryhammer, sanguinity, nafs, brithistorian, cornerofmadness, ysilme, shadaras, kissed, trobadora, yasaman, chanter1944Day 31:
goddess47, shadaras, badly_knitted, china_shop, trobadora, sanguinity, kissed, nafs, cornerofmadness, ysilme, sylvanwitch, yasaman, chanter1944Fannish 50 S3 Post 24: Kep1er keeps getting better and better!
May. 31st, 2025 12:13 pmglitteryvYes, I did a post abt Kep1er two years ago.
Anyways, one thing I've noticed since "Shooting Star" is that the group has not only gained more confidence BUT that their songs continue to evolve in better music!
Trigger warning: A ton of visual f/x including lighting/flashing lights, image distortion, etc.
What an energetic song! I loved it from the second I heard it. The thing that made me go HUH is that this a Japanese single. 🤞🏾 that they bring this sound/energy to their next Korean tunes.
The dance practice
Anyways, one thing I've noticed since "Shooting Star" is that the group has not only gained more confidence BUT that their songs continue to evolve in better music!
Trigger warning: A ton of visual f/x including lighting/flashing lights, image distortion, etc.
What an energetic song! I loved it from the second I heard it. The thing that made me go HUH is that this a Japanese single. 🤞🏾 that they bring this sound/energy to their next Korean tunes.
The dance practice
Sonata in F You: Chapter 9
May. 31st, 2025 12:15 pmautobotscoutriellaSonata in F You
Chapter 9: cut the lights, close the blinds, and say goodnight
AO3
Summary: Two weeks after his brother's second trial, Klavier Gavin is arrested for murder.
Fandom: Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney
Characters: Klavier Gavin/Apollo Justice, Klavier Gavin/Daryan Crescend, Ema Skye, Miles Edgeworth
Rating: Teen
Warnings: Canon-typical violence, murder mystery, language
Notes: Title is from VOILA's "No Lullaby", also off the Daryan playlist.
Special thanks tocrabkick for the midnight emergency beta (and the bookstore coffee shop for the extra caffeine) after I decided to rewrite a whole scene in this chapter at 5pm on Friday. I think it turned out pretty good.
( chapter 9: cut the lights, close the blinds, and say goodnight )
Chapter 9: cut the lights, close the blinds, and say goodnight
AO3
Summary: Two weeks after his brother's second trial, Klavier Gavin is arrested for murder.
Fandom: Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney
Characters: Klavier Gavin/Apollo Justice, Klavier Gavin/Daryan Crescend, Ema Skye, Miles Edgeworth
Rating: Teen
Warnings: Canon-typical violence, murder mystery, language
Notes: Title is from VOILA's "No Lullaby", also off the Daryan playlist.
Special thanks to
crabkick for the midnight emergency beta (and the bookstore coffee shop for the extra caffeine) after I decided to rewrite a whole scene in this chapter at 5pm on Friday. I think it turned out pretty good.( chapter 9: cut the lights, close the blinds, and say goodnight )
[ANSWERS] Questionnaire: 72 Multifandom questions to ask a fangirl | Part 3
May. 31st, 2025 10:29 am
Asian dramas.
May. 31st, 2025 04:22 amrogueslayer452Just a brief overview of my thoughts with these Asian dramas that I've been keeping up with.
( 4 Minutes )
( Fangs of Fortune )
( The Next Prince )
( Pit Babe )
I've also been quite curious about My Golden Blood, a Thai BL vampire drama, just based on what I've seen that's come across my Tumblr dash I'm intrigued and, of course, vampirism is quite sexy.
( 4 Minutes )
( Fangs of Fortune )
( The Next Prince )
( Pit Babe )
I've also been quite curious about My Golden Blood, a Thai BL vampire drama, just based on what I've seen that's come across my Tumblr dash I'm intrigued and, of course, vampirism is quite sexy.
The Day in Spikedluv (Friday, May 30)
May. 31st, 2025 07:13 amspikedluvI had the final follow-up visit with my surgeon this morning. There is a sore spot on my foot (not where the incision was) that she thinks might be from scar tissue, and there’s a bit of swelling (that I hope will be taken care of when I get walking again), but other than that I’ve been given a clean bill of health!
I hit Price Chopper and Agway while I was downtown and got in a short walk around the park. (And another short walk at home with the puppers.)
I did two loads of laundry, changed kitty litter, and did the usual amount of hand-washing dishes. I grilled country style pork ribs for Pip’s supper, cut up veg for a pasta salad I’ll put together tomorrow, and had a tossed salad for my own supper.
I watched the current eps of Leverage: Redemption and Murderbot, started the next Clare Fergusson book, and talked with my mom.
I didn’t mention this previously because I felt stupid about it, but the day I ate fruit, I ate too much pineapple and instead of just a tingling sensation, it actually burned my mouth, so bad that it created sores on my tongue. So sore. Still bothering me. I’ve never had that happen before.
Temps started out at 54.5(F) and reached 76.2. But it was overcast and breezy, so it didn’t feel like a nice 76. The weekend is supposed to be in the 50s again, with rain at least on Saturday.
I hit Price Chopper and Agway while I was downtown and got in a short walk around the park. (And another short walk at home with the puppers.)
I did two loads of laundry, changed kitty litter, and did the usual amount of hand-washing dishes. I grilled country style pork ribs for Pip’s supper, cut up veg for a pasta salad I’ll put together tomorrow, and had a tossed salad for my own supper.
I watched the current eps of Leverage: Redemption and Murderbot, started the next Clare Fergusson book, and talked with my mom.
I didn’t mention this previously because I felt stupid about it, but the day I ate fruit, I ate too much pineapple and instead of just a tingling sensation, it actually burned my mouth, so bad that it created sores on my tongue. So sore. Still bothering me. I’ve never had that happen before.
Temps started out at 54.5(F) and reached 76.2. But it was overcast and breezy, so it didn’t feel like a nice 76. The weekend is supposed to be in the 50s again, with rain at least on Saturday.
Music, Pride, and Slash - these are a few of my favorite things...
May. 31st, 2025 05:01 ammxcatmoonI've discovered a new-to-me albums and that is making me happy (which is much needed!). I splurged and got them both as a b'day present to myself. I finally get the day off, too -- because it's on a Sunday when the business is closed. Maybe I can use this momentum to continue feeling better.
1. Melissa Etheridge, "One Way Out," 2021. I've been a huge fan of hers since her debut album back in 1988, but I wasn't really impressed with the ones that came out after the first five. I've been disappointed with each new one, but I never gave up the hope that one day she would create another one I'd love. Now, finally, I took a listen to "One Way Out" and IMHO it's the best one she's done in decades. It's not perfect, but something about the songs reminds me of the style of her debut and Brave & Crazy (which I adore). That makes me very happy!
HAPPY PRIDE MONTH!
It's been so long since I've done anything more than work and stay home that I was thinking it might be nice to celebrate a bit this year. The last Pride Parade I went to was in NYC, which of course set the bar very high. And now I live in Red hell. In any case, Atlanta Pride is in October and it's pretty iffy whether I'll feel up to dealing with a trip to the city. There's a celebration next weekend in a smaller city not too horribly far away and I've love to feel up to venturing out, but I'm not making any promises to myself.
Hmm... it might be fun to do a Dreamwidth-type fest for myself, by writing LGBTQ+ themed fic and making various other types of posts during the month. Yes, I think I'm going to do that.
( Spoiler for the new season of Leverage: Redemption under the cut: )
Guess that's it for now; I'm already way past my bedtime.
1. Melissa Etheridge, "One Way Out," 2021. I've been a huge fan of hers since her debut album back in 1988, but I wasn't really impressed with the ones that came out after the first five. I've been disappointed with each new one, but I never gave up the hope that one day she would create another one I'd love. Now, finally, I took a listen to "One Way Out" and IMHO it's the best one she's done in decades. It's not perfect, but something about the songs reminds me of the style of her debut and Brave & Crazy (which I adore). That makes me very happy!
HAPPY PRIDE MONTH!
It's been so long since I've done anything more than work and stay home that I was thinking it might be nice to celebrate a bit this year. The last Pride Parade I went to was in NYC, which of course set the bar very high. And now I live in Red hell. In any case, Atlanta Pride is in October and it's pretty iffy whether I'll feel up to dealing with a trip to the city. There's a celebration next weekend in a smaller city not too horribly far away and I've love to feel up to venturing out, but I'm not making any promises to myself.
Hmm... it might be fun to do a Dreamwidth-type fest for myself, by writing LGBTQ+ themed fic and making various other types of posts during the month. Yes, I think I'm going to do that.
( Spoiler for the new season of Leverage: Redemption under the cut: )
Guess that's it for now; I'm already way past my bedtime.
Linkspam: Metas on SFFsetting Queernormativity and D/s
May. 31st, 2025 08:34 amdefinitely_not_an_albD/s
( Very much NSFW )
“Queernorm”
@/specialagentartemis on “Queernorm Fantasy Settings” as a concept here on tumblr
I found this a very interesting read, because it mirrors and articulates my frustrations with the trend (genre?).
I also took the opportunity to finally crosspost my mini-meta from last year about Beau & Molly and the way CR’s Wildermount Campaign Setting and their characters as presented in the show conflict with the show texts’ ideas of a world “without queerphobia” here on dreamwidth.
*little note that the "" in this post aren't meant to make fun of the concept btw, I found it very enjoyably handled e.g. in several romance novels with secondary world settings, but I do have some quibbles with the construction.
Does anyone else have any good examples of "queernorm" being handled well/interestingly or further thoughts and metas? The notes of that post of course have a lot of Le Guin and Ancillary Justice mentions, of course, and I always must bring up Bloodchild, but I feel like there must be more out there. For all that I was not actually impressed with The Stars Are Legion's handling of gender, the pure reproductive aspect was interesting.
REC: Untitled Chibi Jim by StarBramble (Our Flag Means Death, Jim Jimenez)
May. 30th, 2025 10:01 pmdelphiFandom 50 #18
Untitled Chibi Jim by StarBramble
Fandom: Our Flag Means Death
Character: Jim Jimenez
Medium: Art
Length: 1 piece
Rating: SFW
My Bookmark Tags: action/adventure, happy ending, portrait, clothing, blades
Description:
This is just super cute. I love Jim's adorkable moments on the show, and I always love a good juxtaposition of cuteness and deadliness. Jim's ready to star in their own stabby Little Golden Book here, complete with a loving representation of my favourite ensemble of theirs: the undercut, the mustard-colour shirt hanging artfully open at the collar, the suspenders, the earring. I just want to take them home with me.
Untitled Chibi Jim by StarBramble
Fandom: Our Flag Means Death
Character: Jim Jimenez
Medium: Art
Length: 1 piece
Rating: SFW
My Bookmark Tags: action/adventure, happy ending, portrait, clothing, blades
Description:
A chibi-style drawing of a smiling Jim Jimenez in a fencing pose with their dagger, dressed in their season 2 outfit.
This is just super cute. I love Jim's adorkable moments on the show, and I always love a good juxtaposition of cuteness and deadliness. Jim's ready to star in their own stabby Little Golden Book here, complete with a loving representation of my favourite ensemble of theirs: the undercut, the mustard-colour shirt hanging artfully open at the collar, the suspenders, the earring. I just want to take them home with me.