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the-whispers-of-death · 1 month

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I've seen when people write Reader and Ghost as Life and Death, Ghost is always Death while Reader is Life. Which is fine, no hate to them, but imagine with me: Life!Ghost and Death!Reader.

I know it sounds a little out there, but Ghost's entire job as a soldier is to help ensure people in his country are safe. He's fighting for Life.

Also like, who says Life can't kill? If we look into mythology, gods of death don't take people's souls, they just guide the souls to their respective afterlives. If anything, Life is the one guiding the circumstances that kill mortals while Death is the one who guides their souls to their resting places. Life is the one killing them.

And I know someone can say "Oh, but Ghost is gloomy and Life is supposed to sunshiney." Who says? I think both Reader and Ghost can be gloomy people together, in two different ways. Reader just appears out of the shadows, gently taking the dead soul via however they transport souls to afterlives while Ghost is his snarky self.

Imagine, an enemy soldier seeing Ghost corner them in a battlefield and is like "Have you come to take me, Death?"

And Ghost just responds, "I'm Life, actually. They're Death."

And as the enemy soldier turns to face Reader who walks out of the shadows that had encased them, Ghost stabs the enemy soldier. And when they're dead, Reader silently takes them to their designated afterlife.

I don't know if any of this actually made sense to anyone except for me. But if you see the vision, I'm glad.

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mermaidsirennikita · 1 month

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ARC REVIEW: My Season of Scandal by Julie Anne Long

4/5. Releases 4/23/2024.

Vibes: age gap, rake/virgin, plucky heroine, and "I'm not good enough for you"

Heat Index: 5.5/10.

Inexperienced but determined Catherine Keating is in town to find a husband--and she's staying in the same boarding house as the famous rake and politician, Lord Dominic Kirke. Catherine and Dominic strike up an immediate camaraderie, and he knows everything she needs to know about high society. The catch: the more time Dominic spends helping Catherine as she looks for a partner, the more they want each other. But Dominic knows his scandalous reputation and secrets mean he's not right man for her. Right?

I love Julie Anne Long's Palace of Rogues series, which basically mashes a bunch of great characters together in this kinda kooky boarding house (a boarding house that has an incredible knack for helping residents find love). You always get the newbies, and the recurring cast of characters--including the heroes and heroines of the first two books. This was a sweet, fun addition that really doesn't have a lot of plot, but showcases solid character development and a lovely "jaded man meets sunshiney girl who makes him feel young again but is also Too Pure For His Wretched Hands" dynamic.

I do think that other installments are a bit more plot-heavy, and the degree to which this was really kind of just two people really liking each other slowed the story down at points. However, if you're looking for a low-conflict, cute romance, this will absolutely do the trick.

Quick Takes:

--Julie Anne Long loves an age gap, and while this was definitely on the softer side for her--Catherine is twenty-two and Dominic is pushing thirty-six, which is really not much to blink at compared to those found in What I Did for a Duke and After Dark with the Duke--but it felt like a bigger part of the story, somehow? Maybe more of THE CONFLICT versus a framing piece?

Because what Dominic struggles with most--and this is a hero-forward story, I'd say; Catherine is lovely and well-done, but Dominic is easily the one with the most conflict--is really being too corrupted and weary and Bad for Catherine. (Is he Bad, though? I would say that he's a deeply good man, if one with a past, and Catherine also knows this from the beginning.) It's pretty classic, and it's rooted in him having a lot more life experience than she does. I love that he kind of acted as her mentor--he wasn't actively trying to help her make a match (it's not one of those) but he does assist her with the general rituals and ways of high society.

--You know, for all that it was light on plot, there are some things here that you don't often see in historicals. Dominic is a politician, and that's a big part of his character and what he does. This is definitely one of the more politically aware historicals I've read.

And... I don't know that I can reveal the OTHER thing this novel does that you don't often see in historicals. But let's just say... rakes don't often have to face consequences for being rakes. Dominic's problem doesn't exactly link to his active rakehood, but it is the kind of reality that, again, historicals frequently seem to avoid. (Which isn't a bad thing, by the way--but these touches of realism matter.)

--Like I said, the conflict is, overall, Dominic resisting Catherine. After a certain point, he knows he wants her. He knows she wants him. They get along. There are obstacles, but none of those obstacles are so extreme that they can't just get hitched ASAP.

This is what I would call a slow burn, and I can struggle with those, but I actually liked it here. So I imagine it will be a crowd pleaser on that level.

--It's always great to see the collection of side characters in this series. But I've gotta say... I'm especially interested in how Long is slowly unfolding a secondary love story between Dot, the ditzy and hilarious and territorial maid, and Christopher Pike, the footman she believes is moving in on her turf. Dot also learned about what the word "phallus" means in this installment. Long live Dot!

The Sex:

There are a few solid scenes--most of which do not involve penetrative sex, but rather some fingering, grinding, handies. You do get p in v, but it does take quite a while to get there. It's good, but it kind of felt like they waited until the last minute.

I'll also be honest: while Long has always been on the fluffier side with her sex scenes, they are explicit and hot. However, looking back on a book like What I Did for a Duke and more recently After Dark with the Duke, I see a bit more heat... and I kind of miss that. Don't hold back!

While it is quite a slow burn and a bit light on plot, My Season of Scandal is a fun and frothy rake/virgin romance. It leaves a sweet taste in your mouth, and it's ideal for when you need something lighthearted and low stakes.

Thanks to Netgalley and Avon for providing me with a copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

#romance novel blogging #romance novels #book reviews #arc reviews #netgalley #books

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thoughtslikeaminefield · 4 years

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Because You’re Worth It

Summary: @awesomesusiebstuff said: Ok here's my idea. Sam Winchester ends up with his hair cut shorter than it has ever been. How that happens, why it happens, who does it could be totally up to you. Reader insert, other characters, angst, fluff, NSFW, any or all- doesn't really matter. Doable?

Characters: Dean Winchester, Sam Winchester x Rowena Macleod

Warnings: crack-ish, fluff, Dean being insensitive about Sam’s glorious mane, Rowena saving the day

Words: 790

Author’s notes: Indeed, it is doable, Ms. Susie B.

This was a request for a donation to the Faith Freedom Fund Thank you @awesomesusiebstuff xox

“Sam, I swear to God-” Dean says, flicking the clippers on.

“Screw Chuck!” Sam replied, pacing, hands frantically hovering around his head to find purchase of his previously silken locks. “Ya know, it’s not even about the length, it’s-”

“The luster, I know,” Dean says. “Sit down and let’s get this over with.”

Dean waves the humming clippers in the air and yanks a chair around in front of him, facing Sam.

Sam idles from foot to foot across the room. “We haven’t even researched this! I mean, maybe Rowena can do something.”

“Sammy, it ain’t magic or supernatural,” Dean says. “You got too close to the burner on the stove – it happens. And it’ll grow back.”

“Yeah, but-”

“No buts,” Dean replies, shaking his head.

For several moments, the brothers stare at each other across the expanse of the infirmary, clippers buzzing in the silence. Before either can say another word or make a move, Rowena, indeed, walks in.

She stops at the top of the short staircase, gaze bouncing to and fro between Sam and Dean. “Well…” she starts before descending into the room. “Did you lose a bet, my dear?”

Rowena observes the state of Sam’s skull, circling him, arms crossed, and brow furrowed, finger tapping chin. “Hmm. Dragon fight?”

The tension holding Sam’s shoulders to his earlobes leaks like air from a popped balloon and he crumples over her. “I’m an idiot,” he says, burrowing his face in the crook of her neck as she wraps her arms around his sides, comforting. “I should just let Dean cook, but I wanted to make you something, and… ugh.”

Rowena tsks and shoots Dean a wilting look. Dean flinches and gives her a similarly expressive look that says don’t look at me! I didn’t do anything!

Rowena silently rolls her eyes before helping Sam back upright only to the point where she’s able to peck the very top of his nose with a soothing kiss. She cups his jaw and nods toward the bed against the wall.

“Sit down and relax, darling,” she says, leading him to the bed. “Dean…” she says, turning to face the older Winchester. “Put the clippers away and fetch my bag. It’s in the cellar.”

As she moves to the medicine cabinet, Dean cuts the power on the tool in his hand with a full-body eye roll. “Rowena, we don’t have a cellar.”

His eye roll has turned him to face her task at the cabinet, and he waits for her most certainly snarky reply. “Do you mean… the store-room?”

Rowena sighs as she turns. “I don’t care what you call it, Dean, just find my bag while I try to put your brother back together again.” She stops and arches a brow to Dean’s look of utter confusion. “Leave,” she whispers.

Dean’s eyebrows jump and he straightens up tall. “Oh.” Then he turns on his heel and disappears, closing the door behind him.

“Samuel,” Rowena says as she turns back to her lover. He looks up slowly, hair patchy and singed, frown marring his sweet, sunshiney face. “Everything’s going to be okay.”

Sam’s pitiful expression shifts to slightly hopeful as the love of his life moves to straddle him, settling her tiny frame in his lap and her delicate palms on her broad shoulders.

“What did you get from the cabinet?” he asks. “Is Dean bringing ingredients for a spell?”

Rowena shushes him with a finger to his lips and whispers, “no, no, my dear. This is all me.”

When she leans in to kiss him, Sam feels his skin heat, prickle, and throb. He closes his eyes and soaks in the essence of her, breathes in her scent of pine, orange, and lavender. He lets her kiss him breathless until all there is is her holding him, touching him, healing him.

His scalp is tingling when she finally relaxes back into his lap. He suddenly feels the need to run his hand through his hair and – it’s all there! It’s been restored.

Sam laughs and pulls her in for a tight, all-consuming embrace.

“I told you everything would be just fine,” she murmurs, as Sam rolls her to her back on the bed and himself on top, slotting between her thighs.

He smiles down at her, his soft waves falling into his eyes and Rowena futilely pushing them aside just to feel them against her fingertips. “What would I do without you?” he asks.

Rowena shrugs coyly, playfully with an exaggerated sigh. “Oh, I don’t know – go bald?”

Sam laughs out loud before attacking her with more kisses and more touching, eventually stripping away layers of chiffon and silk to set about thanking her for bringing his hair back, for healing him – for just being.

If you like what you’ve read, please let me know and/or buy me a coffee!

#awsomesusiebstuff #faith freedom fund #spn crackfic #sam x rowena

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flightfoot · 4 years

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When I first saw mar//ib/at I was like "hey cool, a chance that more people will get into comics", but it's just... nothing like that, badly characterized Damian, people refusing to read a single comic with him, or a single comic in general, and every other DC and Marvel character slowly being dragged in. I love crossovers but this doesn't feel like a crossover.

Honestly yeah, pretty much. Crossovers can be a great gateway into other characters and franchises that the reader doesn’t necessarily know, but... Mari//bat isn’t like that. Everything and everyone is so twisted and contorted - I’d argue the ML characters even worse than the DC ones. (Also yeah, I’ve noticed that other comic book universes and characters have slowly been drawn into this vortex).

I think part of the reason it doesn’t feel like a crossover is... well the characters being massively OOC a lot of the time, but in specific ways. Mainly by having them kinda warped around Marinette. Like, warped in ways that wouldn’t happen by just sticking the canon ML characters and the canon Batman characters together.

Batman canon and characterization is at least somewhat loose to begin with - “depending on the writer” is very much a thing in comics, as I’m sure you’re aware, plus there’s so much history and so many different comics and circumstances the characters have appeared in that there’s not really *one* characterization for them, and canon is somewhat fluid. It’s a grab bag rather than one singular thing.

But just because it’s a grab bag does NOT mean that every interpretation or presentation of characters is equally valid. You’ve got grab bags of traits and reactions for characters, they are NOT blank slates. And if they’re acting in ways that haven’t really been supported by any mainstream canon for that character... then well, it comes off as just using them as a skin for your OC, rather than using the actual character.

A lot of the reason it doesn’t feel like an actual crossover also rests on the ML side too though, I think. Because if it’s not just like, plucking Marinette out of ML and shoving her into some version of the Batman universe, then the ML universe that’s commonly represented in the fics is some type of Saltiverse based on Chameleon, often with the class warped into being these horrific monsters and Adrien into this sexual predator out to make Ladybug “his”, making him actually violent and willing to assault and even kill sometimes. Which uh. Is very much NOT him. He didn’t even lay a finger on HAWKMOTH in Chat Blanc as soon as he found out he was his father, despite everything. And since the characters and the whole plotline with Lila twisting everyone around her little finger to the point where Marinette has no friends or allies left and is being physically and emotionally abused by everyone around her doesn’t happen in canon, the background circumstances of a lot of these Mari//bat fics isn’t actually grounded in ML canon, which weakens the fic’s connection to THAT side of the crossover.

It doesn’t help that Marinette isn’t all that in-character a lot of the time either, though that mostly seems to be a consequence of warping all the other characters around her so badly, destroying her character dynamics with them, leaving her kinda disconnected from... well, everything. She’s not USUALLY warped to the same extent as the other characters - if the author wants to inflict some sort of horrific revenge on the people in Marinette’s life they don’t like, they can just send one of the characters from the Batman side after them - Damian usually since he’s often the one being shipped with her, and because as OOC as he can be, one of the things that IS often kept in these fics is this willingness to make Damian willing to lash out, physically even, against people he doesn’t like or sees as threats, and to be downright vindictive. That seems to be appealing to the salters.

But Marinette... honestly I doubt she’d get along with Damian very well. She goes for kindness and gentleness, and while Damian DOES possess those qualities to some extent, you really have to dig for them, and he’s most likely to exhibit them towards animals, like with Titus, Alfred, Bat-cow, and Goliath, or people who grew up in similar circumstances as him that he relates to, like Maya and Emiko and most of the Teen Titans as a whole (when looking at the fear over becoming like evil relatives at least), neither of which applies to Marinette. He’ll also do it with more sunshiney, positive, just plain kind people, like Jon Kent and Dick Grayson, but it usually takes more time and patience in those circumstances, and even then he tends to be more tsundere about it. Marinette tends to butt heads with people who’ve done things she judges as being wrong a lot more, and a lot more quickly than I think would be conducive to them getting along. She DOES tend to then calm down and try a calm and forgiving approach later, but I cant see a first meeting going well, especially with how controlling Damian can be, how much he insists on being the one in-charge and leading, unless he’s grown to really respect the person he’s paired with. Him and Marinette would probably get into some sort of leadership contest with them both being used to being listened to and followed, and giving conflicting commands. They COULD get along over time I think, but it’d be rough going.

And with how everything seems to be warped so Marinette’s instantly loved and taken in by the Batfam or is just dumped into their family through other means, it just... it all feels warped around her when it’s combined with her canon family and friends hating her.

Overall, I don’t think it feels like an actual crossover because the characters, relationship dynamics, and plots of both sides of the crossover tend to be warped so they’re barely recognizable to actual canon.

I’m wondering if this is part of the reason for its popularity as well, especially since a lot of the stories for it I’m seeing pop up on AO3 seem like they were written by less experienced writers; its familiar enough that the writers don’t have to worldbuild, but with the general culture of disconnecting the characters and circumstances from their canon that seems to be a thing in these circumstances, they’re telling the stories they want, which often seem to be self-insert changeling or revenge fantasies, and using the crossover as a skin for it. So the whole Mari//bat thing may be acting as some sort of scaffolding for these stories. It also has the advantage of guaranteeing a decent-sized reader base that they wouldn’t get if this story was fully about OCs.

#ask #antimaribat #I have a lot of thoughts on this

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the-origin-story · 6 years

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Origin Story Character Text Posts +Cyra, Jean and Kira and The Squad

Kira: Someone: *tries to guilt trip me* Me: the jokes on you!! i feel guilty 97% of the time for Everything I Do!, if i didn't have have depression no one could fucking stop me. i only have depression because otherwise im too powerful., please don't flirt with people i secretly like it's rude and disrespectful, i have three moods: fuck off, fuck you, fuck me., im cute and small and ready to brawl, "talk about" hahah, no no, i prefer to internalize all my problems so they eat away at me from inside until im unable to function in any way, no offense @life but can a have a breather...a break...some slack..., yea boys are cute but they disgust me and constantly disappoint me, she's beauty, she's grace, she'll punch you in the face, 5'2 but my attitude 6'2, "If I don't have calves of steel or abs of iron by the end of this trip, I'm going to feel so cheated.", "No offense, but I just can't process the fact that someone might actually care about me.", night time would be so beautiful and fun if all men had a curfew. me?? using sarcasm as a defense mechanism???????? what?????, When a girl says she has experimented with girls, that does not necessarily mean she's bi. She may just be an evil scientist., the bible said adam AND eve so i slept with them both, list of people i'm going to fight: everyone. put your fists up i'm coming for you, stale cinnamon roll, been in this world too long, too cynical

Jean: i don't have a nervous system. i am a nervous system., pick your battles. pick...fewer battles than that. put some battles back. that's too many., Wakey wakey eggs and social anxiety, enough about sex positions has anyone discovered a reading position which doesn't get uncomfortable after 5 minutes, i'm actually pretty cool just me like 5 tries to get it right, i love freckles theyre skin stars, never underestimate my ability to find shit out, "I don't feel that sore right now, but ask me again tomorrow and I'm sure I'll have a more colorful answer for you.", my life is constantly an inner monologue of "why do i do this to myself", 90% of my day is me being nervous., every friend group has the mom friend, if you don't who it is you're it.

Cypress: biology more like BYEology because I'm out, Highest form of art: girls, i don't want to look "pretty" i want to look otherworldly and vaguely threatening, things that make every video game better: give me nice outfits to wear, let me be gay, give me a pet, yoU THINK YOU'RE REAL CUTE, DON'T YOU???? REAL FUCKING CUTE RIGHT???? i think so to, "Your aim's a little off - now look at that. You just smushed the ant. Now it can't crawl anymore.", appreciation post for broccoli, thanks for being so tasty you tiny trees, there are people out there that are the embodiment of the sun like the things they say and do light up the world and make you feel warm they are human sunshine, I slept for 8 hours straight and then 2 hours gay, fuck dating girls who are "naturally pretty". date girls who are supernaturally pretty. date a hot ass ghost. date a fucking alien., Current mood: wanting to have a hooded cloak and to be in misty forest., You Want To See Some Goddamn Optimism?, "guys prefer-" that's nice i don't care, how to look cute but like you could kill someone

Liam: ive been annoyed ever since i was born, members of my squad: me, I may seem like an asshole but deep down im a good person and even deeper down im a bigger asshole, I came out to attack people and I'm honestly having such a good time right now, me, introducing myself: it is i, your local asshole, my kink is when everyone shuts the fuck up, *at a job interview* Oh yes, my criminal record? The only illegal thing I've done in absolutely KILLIN it on the dancefloor. Haha, just kidding! I have killed a man., The worst part about kissing a perfect ten is the cold feeling your lips get from touching the mirror., i don't want a friend w/ benefits i just want the benefits keep your friendship away from me, Ur what we call in the scientific community a "lil bitch", have u ever met the human version of a headache, *barges out of coffin at funeral yelling sike*, i'm permanently emotionally damaged, but its chill, I'm chill, no addressing our problems we downward spiral like men, I'm wasting my youth and beauty being a mysterious eccentric loner and I wouldn't have it any other way, im alive out of spite

Beckett: world's okayest friend, Do you ever look at someone and you're like how, "What are you twelve" Yeah on a scale of one to ten bye, having 3 friends is a lot of work, "Yeah I'm going chug four servings of this entire energy drink so I can crash later and actually get some sleep.", when you see a person smile and it's like...holy shit...what is this magic...please do that again, Stop taking advantage of people with good hearts & who are emotionally vulnerable, "you're so sweet!" thank you i have abandonment issues, IF YOU'RE THE KIND OF GUY WHO KISSES A GIRL ON THE TOP OF THE HEAD WHEN HUG THEM THEN YOU ARE DOING IT RIGHT MY FRIEND, beautiful cinnamon roll too good for this world, too pure, why is everyone so mean. How aren't you tired

Cyra: When a grumbly grump who hates everyone and sees the world as dark and cold and unforgiving loves a sunshiney optimist. When a sunshiney optimist who sees the best in everyone thinks the grumbly grump is the best thing out of the whole beautiful world., do you like sleeping because so do i we should do it together sometime, love yourself so we can have something in common, how many eye contact until date, beING SUPER IN LOVE WITH YOUR FRIENDS BUT IN A FRIEND WAY but also a little bit in a gay way but also in a friEND WAY, anyone have that friend that you REALLY wanna fuck but you're never gonna say anything about it, listen i didn't come here to ship it lightly ok i came here for it to consume my soul, you could take me on a date anywhere and i'd be happy. like it could be the movie theater, or watching a movie at your house. fuck you could take me outside and we could look at clouds and climb trees i do not care as long as we hold hands or something at some point., my mom thought otp meant "oh, the pain." what's the difference., My way of flirting is looking at the person I'm attracted to and hoping they're braver than I am., i;m feeling...what's the word...........gay, I AM GOING TO PUNCH YOU IN THE MOUTH WITH MY OWN MOUTH Softly Because I like you

Jean and Kira: i would follow you to the ends of the earth with only mild complaining, does anybody else have that friend that your pretty sure is your soulmate but in a friend way, friend(jean): fuck off stop punching me me(kira): it's called platonic bdsm, when ur best friend says something weird and ur just like...I love you but what have I gotten myself into with this friendship, do you ever look at your best friend and just "who the hell blessed me with this dork, i am the luckiest loser in the galaxy."

The Squad: "what are the chances of EVERYONE in a friend group being queer" do you realize that we all tend to flock together like penguins huddling for warmth in a cold heteronormative, world right

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