#i just found out you can read comics on libby!

[arirter]

God the Jedi are just so good I'm completely normal about them

#i regularly cry about the jedi yes #the feelings this gave me...... they took care of their elderly! as honored parts of their community!!! #star wars #kantam sy #the high republic #star wars the high republic adventures #i just found out you can read comics on libby! #also the ranting may come off as deranged pls excuse it im sick! #the jedi

[arwainian]

My Reading This Week:

This is that stuff I have started, finished, or continued reading this wee! (So far not including articles for school, but maybe future editions of this style will) I'm trying to find something to do to catalogue the books I read for if twitter goes down sometime soon, but also to give myself a space to catalogue progress through things that take a while to read, or don't have a real point of being "done."

If I do this again, then the formatting will be subject to change as I do this more and come to conclusions about what works best about this for me! I also might move this to a non-tumblr blog, but right now tumblr suits me fine.

Started & Finished:

Delicious In Dungeon/Dungeon Meshi, volumes 10-11 by Ryoko Kui and translated by Taylor Engel

This manga delights me so so much. I love the art style and the tonal dissonance and all the characters and just... *chef's kiss* mwah. While reading these the other day I kept leaning over to my friend to show him panels I really liked. I'm actually considering tracking down where to read the chapters translated by fans before the official english volume translations come out bc i don't want to WAIT longer than I absolutely have to. But I also have enough to read already

A Restless Truth by Freya Marske

What's up, it's my brand, queer historical romance with fantasy elements! AND this has murder mystery elements too. This could not be more my shit. I don't tend to preorder books because I am... bad at buying books that I want to read? But I did actually preorder an ebook copy of this as a little gift for myself after I read A Marvellous Light, and I found this so delightful that I could not stop my hands moving. This books wins the coveted "made me jump up and down" prize, and the prize of immediately being recommended to a lesbian friend. Also @ Freya Marske's agent, I would have read the ghost threesome, how dare you keep it from me.

Started & Ongoing:

Boy Oh Boy by Zachary Doss

A very dear friend recommended this book to me after [redacted] last year and I finally got around to picking up a copy through Libby and starting to read it. It is very weird. But I think I'm enjoying it? And yeah, I can see why Tort recommended this to me in the wake of All That.

Ongoing Reads:

Blood Sisters: Vampire Stories by Women edited by Paula Guran

See it is big anthology books like this which are the first reason for the 'just plain ongoing' section. Tort also gave/recommended this one to me, if I am remembering correctly, because I am of course a vampire lover, of both the monstrous and scary-sexy variety. (Gosh this is a Tortoise heavy post) Anyway, I've tried reading a bunch of these in one sitting and can't really do it, so what I'll try is to read one short story from this collection per novella or novel that I read, so that I can make continued progress through it. So far I have read the first five stories in it:

A Princess of Spain by Carrie Vaughn Shipwrecks Above by Caitlín R. Kiernan The Fall of the House of Blackwater by Freda Warrington In Memory of... by Nancy Kilpatrick Where the Vampires Live by Storm Constantine

Aurora by Red (of Overly Sarcastic Productions)

comics with no end in current sight are the second reason for an ongoing section! This is fun, tropey fantasy fluff. This one updates three times a week and I do try to keep up, so to avoid being repetitive I probably won't mention it again unless i feel like there's something i Must say about it. but I feel good about finally having a place to say "hey! I'm reading this right now!"

There we go! Attempt number one of a non-twitter reading log, with all of the (non-school related) reading I did this week (and a bit before with that anthology). Also. this may or may not be the most formally formatted posts I have made to tumblr since I made those name-meaning posts for a bunch of homestuck characters, so please appreciate the effort I made

#bookblr #arwainian princessoid decrees #cal reading log

[beardog]

2023 highlights: books

to combat the miasma that is seasonal affective disorder and at-times-overwhelming depression, i'm trying to remember all the good stuff this year and write it down so i can appreciate it all. i decided to start with books.

this is mostly for personal journaling/record keeping purposes, but maybe someone'll find this entertaining. this is all really embarrassing, but i'm making this public because i'm just an embarrassing person i guess

when i first started training at the library, one of my coworkers asked what kind of books i liked to read. embarrassed, i told her "i mainly just read graphic novels..."

and i'll never forget what she said to me in response: "graphic novels are novels."

when i worked at that location again as a sub 3 years later (beginning of this year), she nor anyone else i had met remembered that i trained there (i was basically there for only a hot minute and my hair was longer i think is the thing). but that memory will always stick with me. whatever preconceived notions i had about the library started to change when i started working at one. that's why when i'm working the booth at pride i make it a point to shout out, "you don't have to be literate to use the library!" ("i'm illiterate and i work at one!!" i joke afterwards) there's no judgment here. even if you don't read books or comics, there are still movies and games and music and so much more

even so, i still feel a bit embarrassed that i'm a library worker who doesn't read (it's compounded w the general insecurity i have being the least educated person in my workplace, as well as how slowly my brain works - but this is all just a "me" issue lol). reading is a huge struggle for me. i don't have difficulty with the act of reading words on a page, but it is so so hard for me to finish books. even when it's something i'm interested in!! i haven't figured out exactly what type of writing captures and maintains my interest, so to me, it feels very random the things i wind up reading. that being said, i feel like i've completed more books than i have in the past like... 5, 10 years? so i'm proud of that. hopefully, i can read more next year

not in any particular order, here are some books that i read or listened to. no full reviews or summaries; just some notes

small joys by elvin james mensah: i think i read this one in like, may? june? it had an unassuming cover but it caught my eye and then the story just really resonated with me. the books i'm listing aren't necessarily recommendations, but this one i adore. i related to the main character so much, loved this depiction of found family and friendships and relationships that can't be categorized. it was just so full of life and love and pain. it's this dude's first work, and hopefully i'll dig whatever he puts out next, because his writing was so good here.

how i killed pluto and why it had it coming by mike brown: i listened to this one on libby like a month or so ago. fucking loved it. i've never been one of those people who believes pluto should still be classified as a planet, but i've never delved into the how's and why's of it until now. it's also an incredibly personal account of mike brown's life during this time period as well, and it's written with a lot of love and consideration.

i'm in love with the villainess, vols 1 - 3 (still reading 4) by inori: i must have started this near the beginning of the year. probably. or maybe spring?? anyways. light novels are meant to be easy to read, but still, the fact that i got through 3 of these (and halfway through the fourth) is something i think i can be proud of. i love the manga, i love the anime, but the source material is so good.

fruits basket another, vols 1-4 by natsuki takaya: was in a real fruits basket mood this summer because of the new anime adaptation. this lil sequel series was cute and definitely written for the fans. with all the drama and trauma from the og series, it's nice to see how good and wholesome the next generation is. they made a point to not really show the parents at all which is good because i can't fucking stand shigure (what's nice is that his son doesn't seem to like him either lol). fruits basket, my forever problematic fave that it is, has some elements i will never accept and he's one of 'em lmao

that's as much as i can remember. there were certainly manga series i've been keeping up with on dynasty. but anything else idk! still proud that i read this much

#don't mind me #2023 personal highlights

[zoobus]

Online Socializing and Distraction Masterpost

You're bored, you're lonely, you’re an extrovert and social distancing sounds like hell on earth, you're not sure you can handle what feels like endless isolation - I get it and I want to help. This list is broken into two sections: Free for your own use and Free if your library offers it. I am not posting anything that requires money to use (excluding the cost of streaming services for those programs), so you will not see any of the endless extended free trials companies have been throwing out - If you're interested in such a list, go here, here, and here. And Comixology. Free to Use: -twoseven.xyz - RIP Rabbit 😢 Now that that’s out of the way, I know some of you gave up on a replacement - Kast sucked, half the replacements were broken, no one filled the gap. However, after several months of tv watching with friends, I can say twoseven is the most expansive and functional tv sharing site I’ve found. Everyone can pause, play, rewind, etc without it getting out of sync (unless your interenet is really bad) All your friends will need to install the app, it gets funky when using Netflix and Hulu, and I’ve occassionally had issues using it with Firefox, but otherwise it works. -Netflix Party - If Netflix is your main, this is your app. Unlike Twoseven, you can set up audio chat, if that’s something you want. HOWEVER, unlike twoseven, you all need a Netflix account. No free riders here :( *At the time of this post, it’s currently having issues with the latest version, with plans to drop a fixed release by Tuesday. -Disboard and Discord.me - You’re probably already aware of Discord, have an account, maybe a couple servers you’re active in. It can be difficult finding a quality server with both good members and subject you’re interested in - these two are better at finding such servers than Discord’s Discovery feature or hoping one of your mutuals reads your desperate telepathic pleas to give an invite. -Discord - Again, you all likely know of Discord as a socializing platform. It’s been gradually improving its video chat and video share features, letting you and your friends talk while you show off your game/movie/hentai/whatever. It’s at the bottom of the list because I found it to be the spottiest of all the media group share software. -Roll20 - Maybe you’ve always been curious about tabletop games, maybe all your interested friends are in different timezones. VERY useful if you have zero interest in keeping track of numbers or doing the math yourself. Recommend playing using with Discord’s voice chat.

-Facetime, Houseparty, Hangouts, Duo, WhatsApp - None of these are linked since there’s various platforms you can download them on, but basically if you want to video chat - especially with multiple people - these are the most popular. I do not like video chatting so I cannot/will not vouch for any. Make on-nomi a thing and have a drinking party. -Exercise Playlist - Gyms are closed and going outside is currently being discouraged. Don’t give up!

Free to Use IF Your Library Holds a Subscription Your library probably offers a lot of online services outside of ebooks. Their list can likely be found on their website or by searching “[your local/county library] eCollection”or “[your local/county library] online resources.” These are a few yours might subscribe to, but if they don’t you can always make a request:

-Libby and Overdrive - Libby is the app for OverDrive. Read ebooks and listen to audiobooks from your library’s OverDrive collection on mobile using Libby. -RBDigital - Primarily provides a wide variety of magazines in a few languages, but offers some ebooks and audiobooks as well. -PressReader - All the newspapers you can read. If you’re constantly frustrated by paywalls, check whether this is available to you. -Kanopy - On-demand streaming video platform for public libraries and universities that offers films and documentaries, plus a kids’ section. Hey, guess which site has Moonlight, Midsommar, and m’big brain stuff showing, that’s right, Kanopy

-Hoopla - Another public library database - movies, music, audiobooks, ebooks, comics, and TV shows. Its selection is smaller than Libby/Overdrive, but there’s no holds and no waiting, just read that book. -Lynda - Yeah yeah, learn a skill. More importantly, play around and find an interest. Maybe you’ll like Unity, maybe you’re curious if any marketing tips could apply to your ao3 fic. -Freegal - Unlimited music streaming, download 5 DRM-free songs per week. -Mango Languages - Online learning program for over 70 languages and growing. Do it if you’re tired of being threatened by the duolingo bird. -Bookflix - Scholastic made their book fair online. For the kids. -Consumer Reports - An American nonprofit organization dedicated to unbiased product testing, investigative journalism, consumer-oriented research, public education, and consumer advocacy. Useful for making big purchases, though not as high profile as it used to be.

And that’s all I’ve got! Hope at least one person finds it useful.

#social distancing #discord #free stuff #reference #long post

[firstdove15]

April Reading Spaz

Still going strong. And more than halfway through my annual reading goal.

1) A Girl Like Her by Talia Hibbert (Four Stars)

I actually started this book March 31st but I finished it on April 1st. I wanted to check out some of Hibbert’s earlier works before the Brown Sisters trilogy but I had to buy the ones I was most interested in because they weren’t available at the library or Libby. I’m not mad. I had fun with it. I was scared I wouldn’t enjoy it as much because it’s an earlier work but the snark/banter was still top notch, the familial relationships felt real and more guys who are in tune with their feelings and making actual effort to, you know, be a good partner. Bless. Just bless. There was a twist that I wasn’t expecting but it was well done and, again, that familial relationship be on point.

There was one part that felt like it resolved too quickly, but the turn itself was a pleasant surprise. Either way, I’m glad I got to read it and I’ll definitely continue with the series. Literally the only one I’m missing is the in-between novella but given what I know about the antagonist from the first book, he can choke and I can be okay knowing his soon-to-be ex-wife bounces...

2) I’ll Be the One by Lyla Lee (Five Stars)

I read this book for the “Read a Book that You Predict Will Be a Five Star” challenge from Jesse’ TBR card game. And I highly enjoyed it. The fat representation, the complex relationship between the main character and her mother, some things that are left unsaid but made narrative sense, the adorable romance, the girl friendships that were just as important as the love story and family drama. I breezed through this book as well. I bought it back in...November? And I wanted to read it then but a reading slump kicked my butt and I just never got to it until this month. I’m glad I finally got to it and I’m keeping it.

3) Once Upon An Eid by S.K. Ali and others (Four Stars)

I read this one for the “Read a Book about a Muslim family” challenge from Jesse’ TBR card game and, heh, I really need to look at my TBR for more Muslim books because the fact that I had to study my bookshelf to find something for this prompt was eye opening.

I found it charming and cozy. It had some great lessons and warm moments between family and it was nice to read about someone else’s culture. I wasn’t expecting it to be middle grade (not a complaint; just an observation). They also included illustrations that were just full of life. I definitely recommend it.

4) The Sun is Also a Star by Nicola Yoon (Four Stars)

I read this one for the “Read a Book That Has Been Adapted into a Movie” challenge from Jesse’ TBR game. It was between this and Sense and Sensibility. I wasn’t confident that I would breeze through the latter so the former won out.

I prefer slow burn but I could buy the instalove in this one for the fact that there was a lot of dialogue in terms of getting to know what makes each other tick and what their core values are. I also breezed through this book and I had mixed feelings about the epilogue but overall I enjoyed it.

5) The Way of the Househusband by Kousuke Oono and Anindhita Raghia (Four Stars)

I don’t have much to say here. It cracked me up and I plan on continuing the manga and watching the anime on Netflix. I want to see what made him change. Also the author’s snark in the afterword cracked me up cuz I feel like any artist with a pet has been there. XD

6) The Poppy War by R.F. Kuang (Five Stars)

For the second time I got the “Read a Book Your Favorite Antagonist Would Read” card and it was thanks to brainstorming with Mom that I predicted this book would be up either Azula’s (ATLA) alley or Drosselmeyer’s (Princess Tutu).

Drosselmeyer would’ve ate this book up. Holy. Crap.

It’s a fantasy heavily inspired by the Sino-Japanese wars and I knew very little about it (or if our school did touch on it, I forgot most of it.) so the only thing I anticipated was that Rin and her classmates would probably lose that war and I dreaded it because I came to care about her, Kitay, Jiang, and Nezha (Ironically, I couldn’t STAND him at first, but his character development made sense.). The pacing was great and I loved Rin’s dynamic with her best friend and her mentor.

As much as I loved the book and found everything compelling, I’m taking my time with the sequels because the aftermath of a massacre jacked me up. And finding out it was heavily based on what really happened made me so distraught. Like. Yeah. It was bad. I mean, I already know why and how such cruelty can exist in the world (and the book itself explores why cruelty even exists) but...yeah.

TLDR: Highly Recommend but Emphasis on Read with Care.

7) Act Your Age, Eve Brown (Five Stars)

Originally I was going to read Arsenic and Adobo by Mia. P. Manansala next but the library sent me a notice for this book and I desperately needed something funny after The Poppy War. And Talia. DELIVERED. As always. <3333 Both A Girl Like Her and Act Your Age, Eve Brown had (own voice) autistic representation and it was just nice to read. The banter was hilarious, the brief friendship before the smash/romance was cute, and the communication for the most part was top notch.

8) Nubia: Real One by L.L. McKinney and Robyn Smith (Four Stars)

I finished this book at work today. The art style was really cute (Nubia has an adorable tooth gap) and I loved the friendship and family dynamics in this story. I didn’t expect them to heavily touch on racism and police brutality/violence even though I should’ve known so it was a fun and heartbreaking read at the same time (i.e. Nubia’s encounter with the police officer after she had been falsely accused of being the one who robbed the convenience store broke my heart.). And in a rare case for me with superhero comics, I found the crush story genuinely adorable. I look forward to reading more.

Books I’m planning on reading for Asian Readathon in May

1) If I Tell You the Truth by Jasmin Kaur

2) Know My Name by Chanel Miller

3) Want by Cindy Pon

4) Descendant of the Crane by Joan He

5) Arsenic and Adobo by Mia P. Manansala

#faye reads #personal #i think this the longest i've been on a reading roll even with trying to juggle drawing and writing and visual novels with work XP #to be fair a good chunk of my reading IS at work during my lunch breaks #i just happened to breeze through the first two books on my days off

[tessatechaitea]

Justice Society of America #3

In this issue: old guys versus monkey monsters! I don't know how this issue didn't win a Harvey.

This comic book might have won a Harvey. What am I? Wikipedia? An adult capable of doing research? No, I'm a lazy, cynical, piece of shit who purports to be a comic book critic but who really just uses the medium as a confessional. And most of my confessions are lies to make me sound cooler than I really am! Which is still pretty cool, actually. This issue begins with an old guy stowing away on an Ultragen train car while suffering from sever cramps or possibly even a heart attack.

Is this a super hero comic book or an Alfred Hitchcock movie?

Now that I'm an older man (not old! Just older!), I don't fetishize old men like I did when I was five. But I'm guessing, at 21, I still had a bit of that zest for old man content. What else could drive me to purchase ten issues of this comic book about old men whose glory days are long past but they keep trying to relive them as their wives sit at home rolling their eyes? The stranger stumbles into Doctor Mid-Nite's offices. I guess he's named that because his medical practice stays open all night? The man has something wrong with his stomach. Judging by the strange colored splotches all over his clothing, I'd say he ate too much chili. Or he's bleeding out from a gut shot. Both are probably pretty painful but I can only speak for one. You'd be surprised which one. No you wouldn't. I was just trying to sound cool again. The mystery man from the end of the last issue was Johnny Quick and, judging by how much I'm now yawning and how my head keeps nodding forward, I'd like to apologize for claiming that revealing his identity would have been more exciting and sold more of the third issue. Len was right to conceal his identity. While the Justice Society were keeping Ragnarok from happening, Johnny Quick got a gig endorsing nutritional supplements on late night television infomercials. He was laughed at by scientists when he tried to figure out why his nonsense formula made him so fast. They were all, "You know that's idiotic, right? We can do actual science tests to find out why you're fast. It's probably the Meta(l)gene, you know?" But Johnny didn't want to hear their scientific mumbo-jumbo (which might make him an ignorant jerk in our world but he lives in the comic book world where science can't explain everything and I sometimes why it even bothers to try to explain anything. I mean, X-ray vision? The power of flight? Helmets that grant magic powers by possessing the wearer with an ancient Great Old One of Order? Batman visiting heaven and Constantine visiting Hell? It's like an Anti-Vaxxer's dream reality come true). Instead, Johnny decided to visit a bunch of religious kooks who deal in utter nonsense every day. Unlike the scientists who needed proof and evidence of how his power worked, they were happy to say things like, "Oh, yeah! Your formula is a magic mantra that focuses your chi!" and "It's a message from God to grant you magic speed powers for being such a morally upstanding human being!" and "What exactly do you want to hear and how much will you pay me to hear it?" So after realizing that his super power came from believing in himself, Johnny Quick decided to tell everybody else to believe in themselves too! Did he invent The Secret? Because, as a narcissist, I understand why The Secret is so compelling! Doesn't everybody want to believe that they themselves are the reason all the best things happen to them and also want to believe that everybody who is poor or sick or devastated by random tragedy did it to themselves like big dumb suckers who just weren't strong enough to believe in themselves?! Obviously the only reason I didn't fall out of a tree and die when I was twelve years old was because I believed so strongly in myself and not because I was just another lucky asshole who somehow survived childhood. That's enough about Johnny Quick for the entire ten issues of this comic book that I own. I'm never fucking mentioning that jerk again. I don't care if he becomes super important to the plot! I'm erasing him from history right now! Although I'll probably still discuss Jesse Quick when she turns back up because she's hot. Oh what the hell. One last parting shot at Johnny!

Maybe if you spent less time trying to find the secret to your nonsense formula and more time trying to find Libby's clitoris, you'd still be together! By the look on Ted's face, I bet he could have helped!

Doctor Mid-Nite arrives to let everybody know that their favorite jazz musician died in his arms last night because he was too blind to save him. Probably. But what he discovered was that the man, Reggie, had signed up to become a test subject for Ultragen! He was locked away with a bunch of half-man, half-animal creatures as Ultragen searched for a drug that could make people youthful again. Apparently what the writer is saying is that corporations are the new Nazis. Maybe that's why I bought ten issues of this comic book! Because I was all, "Yeah! This analogy is so apt! Fucking corporations think they can get away with whatever they want! Where's my current girlfriend so I can mansplain this shit to her?!" I don't want to get too cynical here but what else am I supposed to do when a comic book asks me to just buy into this whole Doctor Mid-nite thing. So he goes blind when a grenade goes off in his face. But he discovers he can still see in the dark because, you know, fuck you and comic books and all that shit. We've already established that science doesn't live here. But I don't have a problem with that! Okay, great! So he can see in the dark but not in the light. His reaction to this is, "I should use this new power to fight crime! I just have to wait until a bank robbery happens in the middle of the night with a new moon perpetrated by a bunch of robbers who forgot their flashlights and whiz bang! I'll have the advantage!" I know, I know! He invents dark glasses so he can see while pretending to be blind. I guess that helps him catch muggers who prey on blind people. And then he created smoke bombs which are conceivably his best idea, creating pockets of dark where he would have the advantage against the criminals. But it's not like his eye-sight based super powers gave him the ability to fight well or gave him invulnerability in case of a lucky shot in the dark or allowed him to protect other people at the scene of the crime from stray bullets fired wildly out of the area of effect of his smoke bomb! Doctor Mid-Nite's whole deal is so implausible that it breaks even my capacity for disbelief while reading super hero comic books. It simply makes me think, "This guy sounds like a bad idea from a desperate writer looking for another big super hero hit." Which is what it was! Which is why it breaks the entire comic book! I'd be okay if it simply made me think, "This guy's an idiot with a dumb idea! It's going to get him killed! Ha ha! That'll probably be funny!" While Doctor Mid-Nite is conferring with the Justice Society about what to do with Ultragen, Ultragen is raiding the his free clinic. Luckily Johnny Thunder just happened to be stopping by, probably to get a check-up on his genie. He gets shot and his genie appears to help when a young girl comes up and is all, "Oh hey! I recognize that genie! It's a Badnesian Hex Bolt!" And the genie is all, "Yes, I am! Do you want me to inhabit you for awhile so I can get rid of this old guy (who isn't that old for some reason? Probably a reason that has to do with me living inside of him?)" I just feel like, with Jesse Quick appearing earlier, this series is headed toward creating a younger JSA so the older members can simply fall into the role of mentors. The Atom, Wildcat, and Doctor Mid-nite head off to investigate Ultragen's experimental laboratory and they make a discovery that causes me to literally kill myself because I was too stupid to call it.

This is Grunion Guy's assistant Pickle Boy. I think I'm supposed to make a naughty joke caption here? Like, um, "What is that guy's pee-pee doing inside that kangaroo?!"

Justice Society of America #3 Rating: Does anybody know how to get blood out of shag carpeting? Also, if a person's will is found written on used tissues (hopefully for his nose), is it legally binding because I don't want to inherit this blog and all of its debt.

#Justice Society of America #DC Comics #DC #Len Strazewski #Mike Parobeck #Mike Machlan

[roseymoseyberry]

Juxtapositional Affection (gift fic)

Happy new year, y’all! Starting it off with a @secretsolenoid​ for Libby! Honestly all their prompts were *chef kiss* but I couldn’t help being drawn to their Rodimus/Thunderclash one asking for “Roddy finally getting some love and appreciation because LL 25 made me sad”

Because listen. I’ve wanted to write these boys for a while. And LL 25 also made me sad and I’m always ready to write fix-it fic for it at the drop of a hat.

So to you, Libby, you wonderful brilliant mind you. I hope you like it!!

Franchise: TFIDW/MTMTE/LL

Ship: Rodimus/Thunderclash

Rating/Warnings: PG-13 for some references to interface (but it doesn’t happen in the fic), swearing, and some drinking of robot alcohol. Other warnings/relevant tags include Lost Light 25 spoilers and hurt/comfort (heavy on the comfort)

Link to read it over on AO3!

Summary:

“I don’t think that’s possible.”

“What? That I could manage to under and oversell myself? Because I assure you it’s very possible.”

“I don’t think it’s possible to oversell yourself, Rodimus. You’re incredible.”

“May I join you?”

Rodimus’s helm shot up from where it had dipped while lost in his thoughts, vision blurry for a second before his optics found focus. He already knew who he was looking at even before they had though. To say that Thunderclash’s color choices were distinctive was, by Rodimus’s estimate, an understatement.

Suited his name at least.

Rodimus snorted, amused by his own thought.

“Would be rude of me to say no at this point, wouldn’t it?” Rodimus said dismissively as he turned back to his untouched drink on the bar.

Thunderclash didn’t jump at the opening. He didn’t move much at all in fact, still just standing there.

“I don’t want to intrude.”

“Can’t be worse company than drinking alone.”

“Nevertheless, it wasn’t my intension to--”

Rodimus pinched the bridge of his nose and ex-vented tiredly before cutting Thunderclash off, saying, “Just sit down. Or don’t. I really don’t care.”

A lie, judging by the small kernel of elation that bloomed in his chest when Thunderclash pulled the stool next to him out to sit on, but Thunderclash didn’t need to know that. Frankly, nobody needed to know how lonely Rodimus had become that he was happy to be with Thunderclash of all mechs.

Rodimus tipped his helm back and emptied his drink in one go to chase the thought away. It burned, but he didn’t mind so much by the time he was finished and slammed the cube down with a clatter.

Thunderclash was watching him with bright optics and a small little frown pulling at his full lips.

Instead of voicing concern though, he wisely asked a more general, “How have you been, Rodimus?”

Rodimus shrugged, fiddling with his now empty cube with one servo while he braced his cheek on the other.

“Oh, you know. Taking a break from divine quests to do some soul searching, and when that becomes too mind-numbingly depressing I take breaks by helping with Megatron’s trial, which is just a barrel of fun. So, you know. Fine. You?”

Rodimus had expected the frown to deepen; to receive an earful of overly sympathetic prattle; to have pity roll over him like the worst kind of flood.

But, instead, Thunderclash huffed with understanding.

“Just about the same, though without the trial. Instead I’ve used my soul-searching breaks to plan a way out of it altogether since I’m not sure I can take much more.”

Rodimus blinked before lifting his helm off his servo, asking, “A plan? You find another map in another Matrix or something?”

It was a joke, but Rodimus knew he sounded more hopeful than he had intended.

But Thunderclash shook his helm.

“No, nothing so divine as that. Just a ship and contacts who would be able to connect me with jobs that need doing.”

Rodimus put the cube down and turned on his stool to face Thunderclash. His knees brushed against the other mech’s thigh, but Rodimus paid it little mind as he said, “Wait, wait, wait. You’re planning on become some sort of spacefaring errand boy?”

Thunderclash actually looked a bit abashed as he confirmed, “I wouldn’t put it that way, but I suppose so. At least until something more substantial comes along.” It was only when Thunderclash lifted his cube to his lips, no doubt looking for a chance to better gather his thoughts, that Rodimus happened to notice it.

Thunderclash’s cube was already rather small – a cocktail of some sort – but in Thunderclash’s large hand it was nearly comical.

Apparently comical enough that Rodimus caught himself snickering tipsily. When Thunderclash looked back at him, frowning, Rodimus realized how it must have come across, and stammered, “No, that’s not – it’s not the errand boy thing. It’s your servos and how small the cube looks in ‘em. It just struck me as funny, and ho boy, the timing of noticing that could not have been worse, huh?”

Thunderclash blinked at him again before, softly and warmly, chuckling as he lifted his servo.

“I suppose I do look rather silly, don’t I?”

“Very. Also, that cube looks way too small in your servo,” Rodimus quipped, and when that just got another startled chuckle, he added, “Also, I’m overcharged so you really can’t hold anything I’m saying against me anyway.”

“I’ll have to keep that in mind,” Thunderclash replied, lifting the drink to sip from again.

Maybe it was the engex settling in, but Rodimus’s frame eased a little bit, his spark warming with the surprisingly pleasant company.

Yeah, it had to be the engex.

It definitely wasn’t the very idea that maybe he and Thunderclash had something in common.

“So. Spacefaring errand boy. You think that gig is gonna be enough to keep your mind off the horror that is soul searching?” Rodimus asked.

Thunderclash didn’t reply right away. He tilted his helm a bit as he put his cube down, the lines of his face straightening as he gave it serious thought.

And alright. Yes. He was handsome.

“I don’t know for certain that it will be,” Thunderclash admitted as he peered down at his drink, “but, for as painful as it can be, the soul searching did reveal some things.”

“Yeah? What did that particular torture session manage to pull out?”

Thunderclash’s lips curled just enough to be considered a smile, though to call it a happy expression was a stretch. “I realized that yes, certainly, I would prefer to have a more important goal than simply running errands. I feel more at ease when I know my task is meaningful and true. But more than that, I think…” Thunderclash trailed off for a moment, optics glancing at Rodimus briefly before returning to his cube, the smile slipping away. “I think that’s all that those things gave me. If I’m following Primus, or the Autobot cause, or moral obligation, there is reassurance that I’m doing good. There’s no room for my own doubts.”

Rodimus swore his spark was choking him.

“Yeah?”

“Yes. I suspect that the grandiosity of the goals has never been truly why I enjoyed my quests. Rather, the journey and the ones I shared it with – that, above anything else, is truly what I loved.”

There was silence then – well, as silent as a half-filled bar could be considering the din of conversation and laughter that drifted around them. But none of it could truly penetrate the tension that hung between them.

And then Thunderclash huffed an ex-vent, apologetic as he said, “I hadn’t meant to get so serious.”

“No, no, that’s--” Rodimus closed his mouth, swallowed, and then reached up to rub the back of his neck as he said, “I get it. I—yeah. I get it. I really get it.”

Thunderclash finally looked up, their optics meeting, and—

And he smiled.

“I had hoped you might understand.”

And Rodimus laughed, short and genuine, shaking his helm as he spun in his seat back towards the bar.

“What?”

Rodimus looked back at Thunderclash sidelong as he lifted his servo, waving down the bartender. If his night was going to involve spiraling down a drain of commiseration with Thunderclash about getting planet bound while simultaneously trying to ignore how Thunderclash was actually relatable and consequently suddenly so much more attractive, then he was going to need another drink. “What ‘what’?”

“What do you find so funny about that?”

“I told you. I’m overcharged. Can’t be held accountable for what I say or any inappropriate laughing.”

“I can still ask why though, can’t I?”

Rodimus shrugged as his attention was halved between Thunderclash and the bartender down the line. “Another of the same,” he asked, and the bartender nodded in understanding. But then their optics drifted to Rodimus’s drinking partner, going wide and bright, and the bartender scrambled for the drink wall.

“You can, I guess,” Rodimus finally said as he turned back to Thunderclash. “Maybe I find the idea that a big fancy hero like you would want to relate with somebody like me to be funny.”

The space between Thunderclash’s optics furrowed as he frowned.

“What?”

Rodimus gestured with a thumb towards the bartender over his shoulder. “Take stuff like that. I’ve been here all night, no biggie, but right now? I can promise you that bartender is coming back with a free drink and it’s for you because one look and they’re swooning.”

Rodimus wasn’t sure exactly what he had thought Thunderclash’s response to that would be. But flustered hadn’t been it.

“No. No. That’s not true--”

Rodimus’s cube hit the bar along with a little cube just like the one Thunderclash already held in his servo, served with a wide, spellbound smile.

Rodimus smirked in victory as Thunderclash looked between him and the bartender, thanking them before forcing shanix into their servo for the drink. He looked, of all things, slightly miserable. When finally the bartender was gone, Thunderclash frowned.

“Fine. I’ll admit there is a…” Thunderclash paused as he seemed to consider his words before finally saying, “An unwarranted hero worship that follows me around. But I think you sell yourself far too short, Rodimus.”

“Only when I’m not overselling myself,” Rodimus replied before sipping at his drink.

“I don’t think that’s possible.”

“What? That I could manage to under and oversell myself? Because I assure you it’s very possible.”

“I don’t think it’s possible to oversell yourself, Rodimus. You’re incredible.”

Rodimus nearly choked on his own oral lubricant. Thunderclash had sounded so genuine, and now looking at him, Thunderclash looked at him so genuinely.

Rodimus blinked, aware that his face was showcasing his surprise for the whole room to see.

“You’re serious.”

“Very.”

“I swear I’m not fishing for compliments, I just really need you to explain yourself. Immediately.”

Where Thunderclash had looked so torn about being doted upon, now he lit up like a new born star, optics bright and back straightening.

“Rodimus, you’re a Prime. You are literally so pure of spark that the Matrix accepted you wholly to make you a Prime. That alone should be proof enough that you’re an incredible mech.”

“That’s—that’s so not how it works. And besides, you’ve had the Matrix too.”

“As a carrier and a carrier alone,” Thunderclash was quick to argue, servo lifting to his chest. “It was certainly an honor to be entrusted with protecting such a holy relic, but I was a vessel for the Matrix and nothing more. I never communed with Primus like you have.”

Rodimus shifted on his stool, spark warming where it squirmed in his chest, and he wasn’t sure if it was from remembering how wonderful it had been communing with the Matrix, or if it was the sheer reverence with which Thunderclash looked at him.

“You could have if you’d wanted.”

“Oh, I doubt that very much,” Thunderclash said with a casual shake of his helm, sounding almost amused, as if Rodimus had made a joke.

Rodimus’s jaw dropped as he stared at Thunderclash’s face, realizing aloud, “Holy frag. This whole humble shtick of yours is actually real.”

“I’m just being honest.”

“What you are is neurotic and honestly? It’s kind of a relief,” Rodimus said, laughing in disbelief and shaking his head. Before Thunderclash could disagree though, Rodimus plowed ahead, saying, “But alright, fine, I’ll give you your Prime worship moment. That’s an easy pull though, so you’re gonna have to dig deeper than that if you want to convince me.”

“You say that like it’s a challenge,” Thunderclash replied, smiling warmly, sweetly, adoringly. He lifted one of his big servos, lifting a finger with each point as he started, “You’re endlessly brave, charismatic enough that your mere presence crushes personality ticks, strong enough to make hard decisions others would wilt under, determined and driven as hell--”

“Ok, ok, that’s enough--”

“—You’re a talented orator with so much earnestness to your speeches that you move mechs to do the impossible, you’re absolutely stunning to behold, your ability to withstand such high temperatures makes me very suspicious you must be an outlier of some sort--”

“Enough!” Rodimus insisted, shoving at Thunderclash’s shoulder even as he laughed, less from humor and more from the bubbling heat suffusing his frame from his spark outward, flattered and appreciated and flustered in turn. He was pretty sure if he let Thunderclash get any further, he would burst into flames right there in the middle of the bar. “You’re so embarrassing. And—did you just say that I’m hot?”

Thunderclash blinked, mouth closing and opening again, before he started, “I just pointed out that you’re able to withstand hot temperatures--”

“Before that.”

“You’re a talented orator--”

“Nuh uh, you’re not getting out of this one,” Rodimus insisted, grinning as he leaned sideways and elbowed Thunderclash. “Come on, let me savor it. It’s not every day The Thunderclash says you’re easy on the optics.”

Thunderclash’s gaze strayed from Rodimus’s face to where his servos fiddled with the small cube in their grasp.

“Very easy on the optics,” he finally confirmed as he glanced back at Rodimus again briefly. And Rodimus swore there was a small smile curling at the corner of Thunderclash’s lips.

It was a very cute smile.

Rodimus felt something flutter within him and the heat of his frame started to creep up his cheeks.

“Why, Captain Thunderclash, did you come over here with the intension of taking me home with you?” Rodimus asked, voice full of teasing demureness.

Thunderclash’s optics went wide, flaring as his servos clenched tight, completely encasing the cube within them as every inch of his frame screamed backtracking.

“No, that was not my intention.”

“Really? Because you look pretty nervous there, buddy,” Rodimus pushed, leaning closer so his shoulder pressed to Thunderclash’s arm, his knee grazing Thunderclash’s thigh. His optics were fully focused on his drinking partner now, intent on finding the actual answer to his question.

Thunderclash swallowed heavily before saying, “My personal affections, be they as they may, were not the reason I came here tonight.”

Rodimus stilled, his processor stalling on what was, essentially, an admittance wrapped up in a mystery.

And really, what did it say about him that Rodimus chose to follow the mystery instead of trying to come to terms with what Thunderclash’s ‘affections’ might entail?

“Then why did you?”

That actually made Thunderclash look even more nervous. After a moment of returning Rodimus’s gaze, he lifted the half-drunk cube in his servos and downed it in one large swallow. The cube was placed down much more gently than Rodimus’s had been, and then the second waiting cube was lifted and downed in two gulps.

Rodimus realized his optics must have gone wide and his jaw dropped from surprise.

Thunderclash’s optics were blazing with either engex or determination as he turned to face Rodimus fully.

“I want to ask you to join my ship.”

Rodimus blinked and his mouth moved soundlessly until he managed a weak, “What?”

“As my co-captain,” Thunderclash continued, his expression torn between hope and fear. “Whatever issues I may have had with who shared that position with you previously aside, it seems like a system I would like to try myself, and I would be honored if you joined me.”

“That’s…” Rodimus began before just as quickly he trailed off, not sure where to even begin. His processor whirled madly to understand while his spark throbbed in his chest hard enough it nearly hurt.

It seemed impossible.

It had to be impossible.

“That’s nice,” Rodimus started, forcing casual amusement into his tone as he tore his optics from Thunderclash’s to look at his drink, “But if you had wanted to frag, you really didn’t have to come up with this whole charade. The compliments were plenty enough to convince me.”

Thunderclash didn’t respond right away and Rodimus didn’t dare look at him. Every second that passed further cemented for Rodimus that that’s all this had been, an elaborate come on, nothing more--

“I do have feelings for you, Rodimus. To try to say otherwise would be a lie and that’s the last thing I intend to--”

Rodimus released his drink so he could drop his face into his servos, ex-venting exasperatedly as he interrupted, “Please don’t say it like that. You can just say you want to frag. Interface. Whatever.”

“But that’s not true,” Thunderclash insisted. “There is more to it than mere physical attraction.”

“Great. You wanna frag with feelings. And you know what?” Rodimus straightened up again, pinning Thunderclash with a pointed look, “Fine. Drop all this slag about ships and errands and being fragging co-captains. Just admit you’re picking me up and I’m all yours for the night. Deal?”

It didn’t work though.

If anything, Thunderclash’s frown deepened, his optics sad and frustrated and determined.

“I’m not fragging you tonight, Rodimus.”

Rodimus hated how the stern tone mixed with hearing Thunderclash curse actually had the very unintended effect of warming Rodimus’s systems. He really wouldn’t have minded at that point if they did frag. Found some dark corner and just felt something.

“You could. I’m saying yes.”

“That’s not what I’m asking.”

“Yeah, but what you say you’re asking is insane. And I know I called you neurotic earlier, but this is too much, even for you.”

Thunderclash’s mouth was a tight line, his gaze intense and calculating.

When he pushed his stool back and offered his servo, Rodimus assumed he had won, until Thunderclash said, “Come with me to the ship. See it for yourself.”

Rodimus looked down at the offered servo, so large that he realized his would probably look just as silly in it as the cube had.

It would look out of place.

But the large servo was warm and welcoming under Rodimus’s palm.

Thunderclash had insisted they walk instead of drive, citing their inebriation, and no amount of arguing would get him to shift into his alt mode. So finally Rodimus had settled for walking next to him.

It was late, but an early late – any mechs who didn’t have plans to be out for the night would be at home already, and any mech who did plan to be out wouldn’t be leaving to go home for hours yet. Besides the occasional group moving from one bar to another, Rodimus and Thunderclash were alone as they made their way across the neighborhoods.

And once Rodimus stopped questioning Thunderclash’s intentions, conversation became pleasant again. They talked about their shared acquaintances and friends, about travelling in space and the various shenanigans they had each gotten up to in those good old days, about how different Cybertron was, how difficult it was to find a place in it all.

Rodimus had almost been surprised when an actual ship appeared in front of them.

“It doesn’t have a name yet,” Thunderclash said as he palmed a panel beside the entrance. “I tend to overthink things like that and get wordy, so I hope you’ll do the honors.”

Rodimus snorted, still a bit tipsy as he looked up at the ship.

“So we’re really still acting like I’m going to be in there any longer than it takes to frag my processor out?”

Thunderclash sighed but didn’t bother to comment as he stepped back to gesture Rodimus go inside.

It was no Lost Light – or Vis Vitalis for that matter – but the ship was in, well, shipshape. New as far as Rodimus could see. If it wasn’t, it had been repaired and cleaned so thoroughly that it might as well have been. Approximately half the size of the Lost Light but it didn’t feel at all claustrophobic.

It was nice.

It looked like opportunity.

“Tell me you didn’t pay money for this old junker,” Rodimus teased despite himself. Even if Thunderclash couldn’t see through his sarcasm by now, the way that Rodimus looked around with wide optics as he let his digit tips trail along the wall no doubt would have.

Thunderclash was beaming from cheek to cheek when Rodimus happened to look back at him.

“It’s nice to be back on a ship again, isn’t it?”

“The only way it could be better is if you’d had the artificial gravity activated,” Rodimus admitted as he made his own way down the hallway, directionless but still quite sure he could find the bridge with quick, long strides. Every fiber of his being insisted he had to find the bridge immediately. “I don’t care how many smartaft scientists try to tell me it’s impossible to feel a difference. You so can.”

“It feels less… restrictive.”

Rodimus whipped around in the middle of the hallway, unperturbed when Thunderclash nearly walked into him, too busy grinning as he pointed up at Thunderclash.

“Yes! That’s it exactly! Primus, it’s like you’re in my fragging head,” Rodimus said before laughing and spinning on his heels again. “While you’re in there, mind telling me where the damn bridge is? I have to see that bridge.”

“You’re heading the right way. Just turn left at the fork,” Thunderclash explained as his heavy pedesteps thudded behind Rodimus again. He sounded nearly as excited as Rodimus did.

And then, finally, there it was.

Clean, spotless even, with consoles aplenty and cushioned chairs at each. Three large dark panes of glass dominated the entirety of the front half of the room, darkened by the shutters drawn across them while the ship was docked. But out in space—

Rodimus hadn’t realized he was moving until he was stood at the main console, digits light against the edges, resting where they would have were this his Lost Light. But his optics were wholly enchanted by the shuttered windows.

Because out in space those very windows would be filled with hundreds upon thousands upon millions of stars and planets and nebulae and galaxies, all glittering with their brilliant light, setting the the vast vacuum of space ablaze with their siren call.

And his spark felt full to bursting with the desperate longing to answer them.

“Do you like it?”

Rodimus managed to tear his gaze away to glance over his shoulder. Thunderclash stood to the side and just behind him, servos tucked behind the small of his back, watching him with optics bright with anticipation.

And Rodimus’s could feel his intake constrict with emotion.

“It’s beautiful.”

Thunderclash’s face lit up bright enough it could have been a glittering star all its own.

“It could be yours. Ours.”

And Rodimus swore his spark was going supernova.

“Holy frag. You’re actually serious.”

Thunderclash stepped up to his side and reached out his palm to the console. Immediately the computer whirred to life and the screen blinked on, welcoming Captain Thunderclash before starting to run diagnostics and spit out reports on the ship’s current status.

Not once did Thunderclash look away from Rodimus.

“I’ve already altered the program to accept a second captain. I’ll register you in the computer right now if that’s what you wish.”

Rodimus looked down at the console and Thunderclash’s large servo still pressed against it. His would look so small in comparison, but the console would accept him nonetheless. The ship would accept him.

His digits twitched where they just skimmed the edges.

“Why?” Rodimus finally asked, doubt and fear sparking into nameless frustration as he turned back to Thunderclash. “This ship is yours. Mechs will trip over themselves to join Thunderclash’s crew. In no time at all you could be off this planet and out there--” Rodimus gestured out towards the windows, out at the view they would have when the ship was where it belonged, “—and it would be all yours. The ship and the crew and the journey, all yours. Why would you want to share that with a disaster like me? Why would you want to tell anyone you share a ship with Rodimus Prime?”

But Thunderclash didn’t crumple this time. Yes, there was sorrow that marred the curve of his lips, but his optics were stern and his servo fisted against the screen.

“Because you’re incredible, Rodimus,” Thunderclash insisted, as if there was no room for argument.

And Rodimus didn’t know what else to do but lash out, snapping, “Oh, shut up,” because he couldn’t have this, didn’t deserve this. “You don’t know anything about me.”

When Rodimus tried to move his servos away from the console, to storm out, to leave this beautiful ship in Thunderclash’s big sure servos, one of those very servos darted from its place on the console to grasp his wrist.

“I know that life has been cruel to you,” Thunderclash blurted out. There was a simmering anger behind his words, but it wasn’t at Rodimus, not with the sad slant as of his features. It wouldn’t have taken much to slip from his grasp. “I can’t even begin to understand what it’s like to be you, Rodimus. But I can look at the facts, follow the sequence of events in your life, and see that you’ve been dealt a harsh life with impossible choices. No one would blame a mech for being crushed under the weight of any one of the burdens given to you, and yet  you’ve endured them all and you’re still here, and you’re still full of a youthfulness and drive that the rest of us have long lost, and that’s incredible. You’re incredible.”

Rodimus realized he should do something. Talk, or move, or something. But he was frozen to the spot, processor and spark stalling.

Thunderclash’s servo was so warm where it carefully cradled his wrist, and it was the only anchor Rodimus could find to keep him in the moment.

“How – how do you know?” When Thunderclash just made a soft inquiring noise, Rodimus managed to clarify, “My life. How would you know it was—was--?”

“I’ve admired you for quite a while, Rodimus,” Thunderclash interrupted, his servo squeezing in what might have been comfort. If Rodimus didn’t know better, he’d say that Thunderclash almost looked a little embarrassed. “I’ve—well. I guess you could say I’ve been a—an admirer since I first heard about you during the war.”

Rodimus stared at him.

And then, from somewhere deep down, Rodimus burst into laughter.

“Wait, you’re a fan? Are you fragging kidding me?” Rodimus asked, shaking his helm in disbelief.

And Thunderclash did continue to look more bashful -- and that alone was insane, that Thunderclash was bashful about him – but still he confirmed, “That would be a way to put it, I suppose.”

“You’re crazy. This is crazy. You’re Thunderclash. People keep signed and framed photos of you! The Big War Hero Thunderclash cannot, in any conceivable universe or timeline, be a fan of me. And I’m kind of an expert since I’ve been to a few so you can take my word on that.”

Thunderclash didn’t look the least bit convinced. In fact, he simply shrugged.

“I doubt that very much since it was only timing and circumstance that gave me my fame,” Thunderclash said, as if it were nothing. As if he wasn’t dismissing all the fanfare and hero worship that surrounded him as nothing but luck. “I had a long time to work through the mistakes of youth before the war was even on the horizon, and then my failures in war were accommodated because they were surrounded by similar one and thus lost in most mechs’ memories. I never had the sort of impossible decisions handed to me that you had, and so early in your life too.”

Emotion was back in Rodimus’s intake with a vengeance, threatening to choke him.

“You’re crazy.”

And Thunderclash simply smiled.

“I have little doubt that in different circumstance you could have easily surpassed my fame by megamiles. And in my opinion, you should have. You deserve it, not me.”

Thunderclash’s servo had relaxed enough around Rodimus’s wrist that the heel of his palm covered the back of Rodimus’s and his smallest digit brushed the heel of Rodimus’s palm. It was nothing for Rodimus to close his digits around that digit like a lifeline.

“I’ve done awful things.”

“We all have, Rodimus.”

“No, not just – not just fighting and killing. I mean—Nyon—”

Thunderclash’s grip tightened, squeezing comfortingly.

“An impossible decision with no right answer. Anyone who tries to guess what they might have done is full of slag.”

Rodimus was pretty sure his choked laugh sounded a little too much like a sob as he said, “Wow, first frag, now slag? Who knew Mister Big Hero had such a filthy mouth.”

Thunderclash’s chest was warm where Rodimus’s forehelm thudded against it and it didn’t move away which was a good sign. The way Thunderclash’s servo slowly and hesitantly moved from Rodimus’s wrist to his elbow was even better.

“So. You really don’t lie, huh?”

“I don’t make it a habit, no.”

“So you really want me to co-captain this ship with you.”

“I do.”

“And it’s not just because you’re disgustingly in love with me.”

Thunderclash’s spark throbbed hard enough for Rodimus to feel echoing through his chest and it brought a wobbly smile to his face.

“Gross. I can’t believe you’re in love with me. That’s so embarrassing.”

“I didn’t say that was true!”

“You give good hugs, Thunderclash?”

There was a beat, silence save for the softest whisper of a buzz from the ship computer.

Then Rodimus was pulled in close to Thunderclash by powerful arms and those huge servos wrapped around his back and his shoulder. Rodimus was tucked in to the angles and planes of Thunderclash’s frame, held tightly and warmly, and that hold only tightened when Rodimus slipped his own arms around Thunderclash to grasp at his back.

Thunderclash didn’t say a word about the slight tremors that raced through Rodimus as, slowly but surely, the emotions that had a vice grip around his spark melted away.

And even then, Rodimus lingered, basking in the gladly given affection.

“So?” Thunderclash murmured, gentle even as his voice hinted at teasing. “Your verdict?”

Rodimus shifted the barest amount possible to allow him to look up at Thunderclash. The larger mech’s back was bent so he was curved the slightest big over Rodimus.

“Not bad. I’m sure you’ll get it with some more practice.”

Thunderclash’s chest rumbled when he chuckled and Rodimus decided he really liked that.

“Now, I’m not a vain mech, but I know this is one area where I am actually rather talented, so I think you may be lying,” Thunderclash said.

Rodimus snorted in turn, but he relented, “Fine, fine, you win.”

And the resulting gorgeous slant of Thunderclash’s mouth when it was Rodimus he was smiling at was breathtaking.

It made him want to kiss Thunderclash stupid.

So Rodimus pushed up onto the tips of his pedes and did just that.

Thunderclash’s ventilations came to a sputtering stop. When Rodimus pulled back, Thunderclash’s optics were still wide open and overbright, his mouth slightly agape.

“I accept,” Rodimus said, and Thunderclash blinked stupidly at him.

“Accept?”

“The ship. Co-captaining. Keep up, won’t you?” Rodimus teased as he stepped back and out of the cradle of Thunderclash’s arms. “As far as that crush of yours goes, you still got some work ahead of you, buddy. I’m not an easy prize to win.”

Thunderclash still looked shell-shocked as he managed, “No, I… I suppose not.”

Since the console was still logged in on Thunderclash’s account, it was easy for Rodimus to tap at the screen to bring up the crew list. As promised, there was a second, empty slot for Captain, so Rodimus typed in his own name and pressed his servo to the screen.

And just like that, the ship accepted him and hummed nearly inaudibly as it began to build his account.

“So,” Thunderclash started, and Rodimus turned back to him to find that at least some of the mech’s senses had come back to him. In fact, there was the slightest of curls to his dumb beautiful mouth as he continued, “No fragging tonight?”

Rodimus laughed hard enough that his vents wheezed.

“Primus, Thunderclash, give it a break and stop hounding me for my spike for a second, would you?!” Rodimus said with what had to be the dumbest grin on his face as he grabbed Thunderclash by the servo and tugged him back towards the door leaving the bridge. “That said though, I do need to see those captain quarters of yours. If I’m moving in, I have to know ahead of time if I’m commandeering them or if we’re gonna have to remodel a couple other rooms to make my captain suite.”

“Oh?” Thunderclash asked, easily falling into step behind Rodimus.

And maybe Rodimus’s servo was small in Thunderclash’s, but it still fit just perfectly.

#secret solenoid #fanfiction #maccadam #i'm seriously so happy i got to write these boys finally #i really hope you like it libby!!!

[mysterioustransmissions]

My favorite comics of 2017

Keeping with my new tradition of posting this list super late, here, on the last day of 2018, is my best comics of 2017 list. I can offer excuses -- my wife and I remodeled our house and welcomed our first child into the world this year, and I’m also unfailingly lazy -- but 2017 was also a killer year for comics, making this a bit larger of an undertaking than usual. Both Koyama Press and co-publishers Retrofit Comics and Big Planet Comics had absolutely stacked lineups. You’ll see them listed as publisher for many entries below.

I always struggle with how to order this list. I got serious about organizing my comics collection in 2018, and am running into the same problem. There, I’m thinking of dividing it into two -- a single-author section organized by author name (which ends up being mostly minicomics and graphic novels), and a multiple-author section organized by title (which ends up being mostly traditional-sized comics). Here, I’m essentially doing that same thing, but mixing them together; some entries are by title, and some author name.

Comics I especially enjoyed are marked with an *.

Allison, Matthew; Cankor: Calamity of Challenge #2 and #3 (self-published).

Berserker 1, edited by edited by Tom Oldham and Jamie Sutcliffe (Breakdown Press). There was a lot of anticipation and very specific expectations placed on this book ahead of its release, but no one seemed to walk away from the finished product satisfied. But it’s got a killer cover, great production design, and strips by some of the best cartoonists going. I hope Breakdown does another one.

* Booth, Tara; How to be Alive (Retrofit Comics & Big Planet Comics). One of the funniest books I’ve ever read. Booth’s drawings are a riot to look at, that the gags are also great is pure gravy. About as big as crossover hits get in my house. (I.e., my wife also loved it.)

Cardini, William; Tales From the Hyperverse (Retrofit Comics and Big Planet Comics). Cardini’s sci-fi world is made bigger and more engaging by the rapid-fire pace of this short story collection. His wild experimentation with color is always an inspiration.

Corben, Richard; Shadows on the Grave #1 - #8 (Dark Horse Comics). Not my favorite of Corben’s late-period Dark Horse horror books, but there’s plenty to enjoy. I was stunned by the sheer efficiency of the storytelling -- there are entire stories told with a single image and a few word balloons. A lot of these books sport great covers, issue #1 here, seen at the link for this entry, is one of the best.

Darrow, Geoff; The Shaolin Cowboy: Who’ll Stop the Reign? #1 - #4 with Dave Stewart (Dark Horse Comics). I was so bowled over by the experience of buying Shemp Buffet monthly that I initially scoffed at Cowboy’s return to more traditional narrative, but it turned out to be no less wild and no loss at all.

Davis, Eleanor; Libby’s Dad (Retrofit Comics & Big Planet Comics) and You & a Bike & a Road (Koyama Press). You & a Bike & a Road does something that’s often attempted and rarely successful -- it beats the audience down so it can then lift them up higher. Its success is due in no small part from its origin as a real-life journal. The visceral and emotional pain Davis feels on her journey is sincerely felt, and the lack of cynicism the storytelling choices are made with allow the reader to feel it whole cloth. And listen; it certainly doesn’t hurt that Davis is an amazing narrative storyteller besides -- Libby’s Dad is no less affecting.

DeForge, Michael; mini kuš! #43 'Meat Locker' (kuš!). I sleep on DeForge. I take him for granted. I feel like I’m not the only one? I see some excitement when his books come out, but no discussion. Blame it on the high volume and opaque nature of his work, the dearth of comics reviewers, and me, obviously. Also obviously, whenever something of his does find its way to my hands, I’m never sorry.

Estrada, Inés; Alienation #3 - #6 (self-published). The bundled version of this series, seen at the link for this entry, has the coolest book packaging I’ve ever seen in my life.

Expansion by Matt Sheean and Malachi Ward (AdHouse Books). I didn’t like this nearly as much as this same team’s previous Ancestor (due no doubt to its earlier and improvised creation), but damn, what a cover.

* Forsman, Chuck; Slasher #1 - #4 (Floating World Comics). I’d say the majority of my interest in Forsman’s work is in seeing how he presents his it and steers his career -- he’s among the best there is at that. Slasher is his first work I strongly connected with. It digs deep and gets wilder and wilder.

Ferrick, Margot; Yours (2dcloud). I’m a simpleton, so I was surprised at how deeply I was able to be moved by something this abstract. As always, grabbing 2dcloud’s whole line on Kickstarter expands my horizons and makes me a better reader.

Foster-Dimino, Sophia; Sex Fantasy (Koyama Press). I’ve actually only read the minis of this. This collection has the one I’m missing, plus some new material, but I love Sex Fantasy. It’s like a perpetual motion machine for thought -- you can just think about it forever.

Fricas, Katie; Art Fan (self-published). One of those things you dream of happening at a show -- picked this up at MICE not knowing anything about it, and was delighted by the artwork and knocked out by the “reviews of trippy art events”; particularly the first, about Duke Riley’s Fly by Night.

* Friebert, Noel; WEIRD6 (self-published), SPINE: I’ll Still Watch (Bred Press), Old Ground (Koyama Press). Sometimes when I have a fever, I can’t break loose of a single, circular thought -- I have the same thought over and over, only to realize once the fever’s broken that it was barely coherent. Friebert’s newer, decompressed work is like that. You turn page after page, and nothing happens. It’s the same characters still doing and saying the same things, again and again. You turn the pages faster and faster, almost in a panic, hoping to break the cycle and resolve the unease before you. But it’s no use.

* gg; I’m Not Here (Koyama Press), Valley (kuš!). I’m Not Here is one of a few books I recommended to people who were enjoying season 3 of Twin Peaks at the time. It doesn’t convey information so much as emotion, and rewards as much thought as you want to put into it.

* Hankiewicz, John; Education (Fantagraphics Books). I loved this so much I only read a few pages a night to make it last. Michael DeForge once called Noel Freibert an “astronaut” -- that applies to Hankiewicz also. No one’s ever done anything like this before, and if we didn’t have Hankiewicz I don’t think anyone ever would. Bringing poetry and modern dance (!!) into the language of comics, this was another book I recommended to watchers of season 3 of Twin Peaks -- you don’t understand the story by connecting facts, you understand it by connecting emotions.

* Hanselmann, Simon; Portrait, XMP-165 (self-published). XMP-165 was the first big payoff of the longform nature of Megg and Mogg, and it destroyed me. Also released this year was Doujinshi, Cold Cube Press’ gorgeous re-release of a Japanese Megg and Mogg fan comic.

Harkam, Sammy; Crickets #6 (The Commonwealth Comics Company). People talk about how good this book is, and I agree, but I’m not sure I could tell you why.

Haven, Eric; Vague Tales (Fantagraphics Books).

Hernandez, Gilbert and Jaime ; Love & Rockets Vol. IV #2, #3 (Fantagraphics). I made the terrible error after Love Bunglers to trade wait Locas, and for whatever reason they haven’t released one since. So I was way behind when this started coming out, but I bought and read it anyway. I initially found the story to be light, but I eventually realized I had a free ComiXology trial and caught up. It’s as great as ever.

Ito, Junji; Dissolving Classroom (Vertical, Inc.), Shiver: Junji Ito Selected Stories, and Tomie: Complete Deluxe Edition (Viz Media). Tomie may have come out in 2016 actually? I describe it to people as being about a beautiful woman who stands around until some total lech of a man inevitably murders her, then she comes back and annihilates him in the most unpleasant manner possible. Repeat ad infinitum. I don’t think the text 100% supports my reading, but that’s what it means to me.

Landry, Tyler; Shit and Piss (Retrofit Comics). The ephemeral, disjointed nature the single issue format served this story better, but it’s still extremely rad.

Loup, Celine; The Man Who Came Down the Attic Stairs (self-published).

Marcus, Ben; Crisis Zone 3rd Edition (Bred Press).

Mignolaverse and John Arcudi; Dead Inside #3 by Arcudi, Toni Fejzula, and Andre May, Lobster Johnson: The Pirate’s Ghost #1 - #3 by Arcudi and Tonci Zonjic, Hellboy: Into the Silent Sea by Gary Gianni, Mike Mignola, and Dave Stewart (Dark Horse Comics). Ignoring a few years in college when I was a lapsed comics reader, I’ve bought every Mignolaverse comic since I was about 13. That loyalty has slowly eroded over the last half decade about. I’m not alone in thinking the Arcudi-Davis run is one of the greatest of all time, and that the books started to go downhill after Guy Davis left. Beyond the departure of Davis, there are a few reasons for that, in my view.

First was the decision soon after to expand the line’s offerings. Doubling the line’s output and bringing in (inevitably) inferior creative teams was a no-win proposition for readers. Who wants more of something not as good?

Second, I think that Arcudi, a great writer, has shifted his focus from tightly-plotted five issue arcs to series-spanning character arcs. While I’m guessing this reads great in big chunks, it doesn’t spread out month to month, some months out of the year. I’m looking forward to a big re-read of everything after B.P.R.D. wraps in a few months, to see if this theory holds. Lobster Johnson: The Pirate’s Ghost came close to standing on its own, but was still rife with moments that I can only assume were big character payoffs because I didn’t remember enough to know. (Especially cool covers by Zonjic on these issues.) However, the non-Mignolaverse title Dead Inside offered the type of visceral, plot-based payoff his B.P.R.D. run with Davis hooked me with. I hadn’t been this thrilled by an Arcudi book since Killing Ground.

But third, and worst of all, has been the addition of writer Chris Roberson, whose books read like updates to the Mignolaverse Wiki. (The Visitor: How and Why He Stayed was okay, but pretty much solely due to Paul Grist’s fun art and layouts.)

I’m staying aboard the main B.P.R.D. book as it races to the finish line, and will continue to buy anything Arcudi writes, which seems to be mostly these Lobster Johnson comics. (Although even that’s looking increasingly, and sadly, unlikely to continue: https://twitter.com/ArcudiJohn/status/1075086925436874753) And I’ll certainly buy any more of these very sporadically-released Hellboy OGNs, like Into the Silent Sea, they decide to release -- the only real non-Mignola drawn Hellboy books anymore.

* Milburn, Lane; CORRIDORS (self-published). Sits comfortably next to Inflated Head Zone by Zach Hazard Vaupen, one of my favorite comics. They both forsake straightforward narrative in favor of theme-driven emotional impressionism, and do it with horror. This is catnip to me, and something I aspire to (although I’m far too boring to achieve it).

* Mirror Mirror II, edited by Sean T. Collins and Julia Gfrörer (2dcloud).

Now: The New Comics Anthology #1, edited by Eric Reynolds (Fantagraphics Books).

* Providence #12 by Jacen Burrows, Juan Rodriguez, and Alan Moore (Avatar Press). It came out months after, but it’s a safe bet Moore wrote this before Trump got elected, right? A more accurate depiction of the shell-shock of being thrust into a post-facts world I haven’t seen.

Roberts, Keiler; Sunburning (Koyama Press). Another big crossover hit in my house.

* Shiga, Jason; Demon Volumes 2, 3, and 4 (First Second). Demon became a book I wouldn’t stop showing to anyone who would listen. Like Gina Wynbrandt’s Someone Please Have Sex With Me, its hook transcends the normal comics reading audience -- you can show it to anyone and they get it right away. Specifically I would show people this amazing video https://youtu.be/NRxCTeM5pyU, which would clue them into what Shiga does enough to get them to read Demon. Demon has a story, but it’s more about rules -- establishing them and playfully subverting them with a level of inventiveness that regularly leaves you in awe.

* Terrell, Jake; Extended Play (2dcloud). This delightful book took me completely by surprise, an experience made possible by 2dcloud’s subscription model.

Tomasso, Rich; She Wolf: Black Baptism #1 - #4, Spy Seal: The Corten-Steel Phoenix #1 - #4 (Image Comics). The end of this second series of She Wolf approached the same hostile disregard for what came before as the end of Tomasso’s previous series, Dark Corridor. But where Dark Corridor acted on that impulse by simply burning it all down, She Wolf has enough respect at least to replace what came before by pivoting into a completely different comic. The freedom this affords the plot to dart in unpredictable directions is exhilarating. And it’s fun and beautifully laid out and designed, as always with Tomasso.

Tran, Thu; Dust Pam (Peow). Gorgeous!

Vaupen, Zach Hazard; Combed Clap of Thunder (Retrofit Comics and Big Planet Comics).

* Willumsen, Connor; Anti-Gone (Koyama Press). The part where the protagonists drive their boat past a window with a dog in it rewired my comics-making brain forever. This was another comic I only read a few pages of a night to make it last longer, and also recommended to friends of mine who were enjoying season three of Twin Peaks -- the plot is obfuscated in a similar way.

Yanow, Sophie; What is a Glacier? (Retrofit Comics and Big Planet Comics).

Yokoyama, Yuichi; Iceland (Retrofit Comics). Another comic I recommended to Twin Peaks season three fans. Similar to the residents of the Red Room, the characters seem truly of another world, their motivations and actions incomprehensible to us.

#best of the year

[harasnicole]

Hey, book nerds!

So, I went to the library this past weekend because I needed to return five books (I was able to read all but two) and brought home five more. This wasn’t my intention, checking out five more books. I went there with one book on my mind, but again, that stupid YA section just has so many books that jumped out at me, and after having grabbed the one I that wanted, I grabbed its sequel and then spent a good twenty minutes browsing everything else.

So, I guess I’ll just get right to what I checked out. In my defense, I’m pretty sure I actually picked books that I can fly through pretty freaking quickly this time around.

Anyway, here’s the loot that you’re all probably waiting for:

1. The Five Stages of Andrew Brawley by Shaun David Hutchinson — Since my library system doesn’t seem to have We Are the Ants, I found what I hope is the next best thing. I flipped through the book quickly and saw that there are some comic book panels strewn in, so I’m looking forward to see how those tie into the story, if at all. I have no idea what this book’s about aside from what the synopsis says which is that Andrew was apparently supposed to die along with his parents and sister, but survived somehow, and now he’s living in a forgotten supply closet at a hospital. It’s a pretty short book from the looks of it, so I hope I can get to it within three weeks.

2. P.S. I Still Love You / Always & Forever, Lara Jean by Jenny Han — I was only going to pick up the second book, but when I saw that the third book in the trilogy was also there, I decided to hell with it and picked it up, that way I can just finish it now. I’ve already started reading P.S. I Love you, but I’m also splitting my focus with another book in this haul, so we’ll see which one wins my attention in the end.

3. The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater — I can’t escape this series in the book community, no matter how hard I try. I won’t lie, the cover reminds me vaguely of Six of Crows because of the bird, but do not worry, I’m not comparing the two. Just making an observation, and I’m already aware that the stories, from what I’ve heard, aren’t similar. I only picked up this first one just to see how much I like it, if it lives up to the hype, and if so, then I’ll grab the second and so on.

4. The Handsome Girl and Her Beautiful Boy by B.T. Gottfred — And finally, we have this one, which I was currently reading via the Libby app on my phone but was unable to finish it before it had to be returned to the digital catalogue. I wasn’t expecting to find a physical copy at my library, but I did, so I grabbed it with the intent to just start all over from the beginning. The chapters are ridiculously short, a lot of them not even half a page, so it doesn’t bother me. This is also the other book that I’m splitting my focus between, but I’m trying to keep it only on this one because it should be the one that I read the fastest, given the short chapters, but I can only be with the characters a small amount of time (Vee, especially), so it’s definitely a struggle.

So that’s it for this third installment of my Library Haul! Have you read any of these books? If so, what did you think? (No Spoilers, obviously.)

Until next time,

Sarah

#library haul #library books #library #the five stages of andrew brawley #p.s. i still love you #always and forever lara jean #the handsome girl and her beautiful boy #the raven boys #shaun david hutchinson #jenny han #b.t. gottfred #maggie stiefvater #book tumblr

[loveinthebones]

An Unnecessary Look Into My Youtube Habits

(Also known as: You Have Questions and I Got Curious And Spent Hours on My YouTube History)

I have an ask about what the first Phanfic I read was. 

I also have another ask from someone curious about how long I have been in the Phandom but I don’t want to publish 2 Asks so I am going to combine them!

I know for certain that I was not watching Dan or Phil from 2009-2012 for sure. I wasn’t in the group that got sucked into the YouTube void early... and when I graduated in 2011, I probably wouldn’t have been able to name a nonviral video. It wasn’t something talked about in my household.

In 2012, I was 20 so that means 2013 is when I got my apartment (I remember that because I married my lifemate in October of that year.) at 21 and that’s most likely when I really started exploring the platform.

I am about to give you way more information than you probably want and I’m sorry but now I want to see how my viewing habits have changed so I am going to good ol’ google and digging into my watch history. I’ll take it in 2 year blocks for my sanity.

The earliest I can go back is June 2014 so this is either when I finally switched to Google Chrome or is due to a number change (because I know my google account is older than that.). The original parameters I had were December 2012-January 2015.

June 2014-January 2015: Mostly music. I see Peter Hollens, Bea Miller, Sam Tsui, and Boyce Avenue. Teens React is mentioned and the Ice Bucket challenge? Was it around that time? I apparently fell in love with Yanis Marshall here.

January 2015-January 2016: I definitely started gaining interest here. I found the AH crew and Rooster Teeth. Slamacow. I tentatively began searching things like subbed episodes of Sailor V. This is also when I became fond of FNAF and picked up Mark. (Let’s appreciate the fact I thought his handle was MarkPHILier). So. Many. Playthroughs. And by extension- GAME THEORY! <3 I listened to Spring Awakening a lot. Mark and AH were definitely my favorites and I watched Felix, Wade, and Megwin TV a smidge . TheJWittz. Jack. Game Grumps. Cry! Oh, I haven’t watched Cry in ages. PvP.

November 9 is the first mention of Dan so. (This is based only off of searches...I don’t know why its not letting me look at actual videos.)

November 13 is the first mention of Phil.

I shifted from Mark and AH to Shane and Superwoman as my most watched at this time. Tyler Oakley was discovered and I binged Epic Meal Time. I’m definitely seeing Phil pop up quite a bit. We end 2015 with Jack, Mark, and Shane being the YouTubers I am engrossed in but I can see myself getting more fond of Phil (again- just based off searches.)

January 2016-January 2017: (First Half) 

We kick off the year with me being obsessed with Undertale and a surprising amount of Cry. I also got heavily into TrickyWii and Tamashii. REACT. BFvsGF. Game Grumps. But I’m not kidding about Undertale- comic dubs, songs, secrets, hacks, you name it- It’s in my history (I managed to get ACTUAL videos around Feb 2016). It also appears I listened to music quite a bit (since I worked overnight and would listen while I did sidework) so let’s throw in PTX, Ken Ashcorp, and Lindsey Sterling. I also got into cherography? Wha? Wildabeest Adams and some others. I’m seeing some Phil but not too much Dan and the gaming channel pops up every once in a while. In June, I discovered Troye, IHasCupquake, and Matthais. 

(Second Half) 

Thomas Sanders started doing YouTube videos? In July? I didn’t remember that. The Undertale craze continued and the YouTubers that I’ve seen cycle through. Libby (thedailysign) and Andy (AndySigns) start coming up so this is when i decided to teach myself ASL. Threadbanger! <3 Kyle Hanagami. WHOA. There we go...Phan-splosion in September with Daniel’s videos being favored. I eased up because I went on a Superwoman binge and started watching Nerdy Nummies. SimplyNailogical makes an appearance. Joey Graceffa, Paint, Anna Akanna, and Trisha Paytas seem to hold my attention for a day at most (though they are sprinkled through the main stuff I watched) and Ethan (Crankgameplays) comes in at end of November. Dodie. Akidearest. This is leaving out some YouTubers that are associated with Vocaloid Translyric Covers and one off videos, compilations. 

TL;DR: I am actually very sleepy or I would go into 2017 (I may on a separate post later, if it still suits my fancy.) but a brief summary of my time in the Phandom:

Discovered: I’m going to place it in late October/early November of 2015 because I think that if I searched them, I had seen their content before. 

Casually watched: November 2015-September 2016. I really seemed to start to become a fan at the start of October because they became a regular part of my YouTuber “rotation”. lmao

First Fanfic read: I actually know this! Snapchat by RickyBlitzz (LINK) in March or April of this year. On AO3, it appears to be Love ON AIR by ScientificName (LINK) on April 26. I didn’t know about Wattpad so I was consuming fics there since it was a new platform for me

(I haven’t checked out the Phan content on FF.Net at all.)

First Fanfic written: This is Our Sountrack (Link) Published: July 2017

It took me a year to get hooked and a long while for me to wrestle with the hangups I had about reading Phanfic (well, RPF in general) but once I started reading, I lasted three months before I needed to write and my longest fic to date is probably going to be a Phan piece to be honest.

All in all, I love them both and have fallen down the rabbit hole but I’m a recent Phan! XD

#Long post #Kat answers the lovelies #personal #Phan #Youtubers #The Unneeded History Lesson of Kat's YouTube Habits #Kat speaks #Ambrose speaks

[craftrva-blog]

CRAFT RVA National Book Lovers Day!!!

I love books. I love the smell of them, the feel of them, and I love libraries. When I was a kid, I couldn't wait until it was my turn to do library duty because I loved books so much. When I was in New York, I read a lot more. Being on a subway for 45 minutes was 45 minutes of pure reading joy, but I find it harder, or rather, I have more excuses for not indulging in the written word these days. Unless you count Anne Marie Pace's "Vampirina Ballerina" or Andrea Beaty books (which are wonderful, by the way), I haven't really been doing much physical reading, unless you count real estate contracts and disclosures, reading. 

Today I would like to celebrate National Book Lovers Day by mentioning RVA's wonderful literary culture. Thanks to bookstores like Chop Suey, Fountain Bookstore, BBGB for providing unique titles, local authors, readings, history lessons, children's literature, and just great places to hang out with literary content. I want to give a special shout out to local authors, Ward Howarth (River City Blues), congrats on being Richmond Magazine's "Best Local Author with a New Book" and congrats to Miss Valley Haggard for "The Halfway House for Writers" I cannot wait to delve into this. These are two people I've grown up with here in Richmond and it's inspiring to see them accomplish what I have wanted to do all my life. Maybe I'll get off my ass and actually do it now. I have to mention Slash Coleman, "The Bohemian Love Diaries". The way that Slash tells a story always touches my soul. I relate to him as a writer and he is one of my favorite storytellers because there's something very empathetic about how he writes that I just love.

Take today, carve out a little moment of time, and sit with your favorite book or you can enjoy these fun facts I have about my book experiences:

SOMEONE has my Neil Gaiman "Good Omens" book. Never let people "borrow" books, best to just give them because you won't be seeing them again! I obtained this favorite while working at Cinema n' Drafthouse from a bartender. It is one of my favorite books.

When asked, "what places do you find sexy", my immediate answer is Libraries, old, beautiful libraries.

I have three dedicated books when reading: 1 - The Bathtub Book - (currently and coincidentally, "American Gods", by Neil Gaiman. 2 - The Bedside Table Book (currently Valley Haggard's "The Halfway House for Writers") and 3 - the Travel/Beach/Pool Book (currently, nada since I haven't been anywhere or done anything this Summer!)

When I was in 5th or 6th grade I brought home books on the occult and exorcisms. My mom immediately threw them outside and told me to never bring such evil in the house again. So I read about it at the library.

I love to be read to by men and I found through the years that men loved to be read to.

I have many genres I favor. I love a good fantasy novel. I have an affinity for young adult books, I have no shame in indulging in a good emotionally charged, tragic coming of age romance that may or may not involve mystical creatures.  I have to say my favorite is memoirs. There's nothing richer than reading about how someone else lived.

I've been completely ignored for books before. If i had written a novel on my body, he probably would have realized my story was more interesting.

I've had a few people sign books for me. Funny thing, the only one that made me gush was an art book. Thank you, Mark Ryden. I'm coming after you, Mr. Gaiman!

My favorite autobio is Miles Davis. If you haven't read this, you'll love it.

My favorite book as a kid was "A Wrinkle in Time". My favorite book as an adolescent was anything by Anne Rice. The book that got me into enjoying English class was Nathaniel West, "Miss Lonelyhearts" and to this day is one of my faves. The book that I resembles my life the most is "The Joy Luck Club".

The majority of my reading growing up was through comic books. 

My favorite place to read in Richmond is Libby Hill in Church Hill.

I have never read "To Kill a Mockingbird". Yeah, I know...

I won a bookmark contest in 4th grade. I got a McDonald's watch and a letter from Ronald Reagan. I should have started questioning then...artist? writer? Hmmm...

What are your book stories? Hit me up on Facebook and let's chat!

Tag #craftrvareads on your instagram, I want to see you with your books:)

#national book lovers day #read #literacy #rvareads

[flashinglights-rp]

Thank you for your audition, LIBBY. We are thrilled to welcome you into the group as the Third Pearce who you have chosen to name ELEANOR NEVE, with the faceclaim of Katie McGrath, and we truly cannot wait to meet them. Please send in your account in the next 24 hours, and read over the new members checklist before sending in your link.

ABOUT YOU ➝

NAME/PRONOUNS: Libby (she/her) AGE (18+): 20 TIMEZONE: Just so we know when you’ll be around. ACTIVITY LEVEL: 8/10, I am taking a few classes at my university this summer, but they’re one day a week so I’ll be online most of the time. TRIGGERS: Removed. ANYTHING ELSE?: Removed.

CHARACTER BASICS ➝

CHARACTER NAME: Eleanor Neve Pearce FACE CLAIM: Katie McGrath GENDER/PRONOUNS: Female, She/Her AGE/BIRTHDAY: 26, January 22 BIRTH ORDER: Youngest, twin SEXUAL ORIENTATION: Heterosexual ROMANTIC ORIENTATION: Heteroromantic JOB TITLE: Television Actress, would like to explore feature length films.

BIOGRAPHY ➝

Eleanor Neve grew up always looking forward to the next adventure. Her family was constantly on the move, and running a camping supply store was definitely an asset. As a young child, she always found a way to make friends with whatever animals she came across, and she distinctly remembers being quite upset after her parents made her stay away from a bear in Yellowstone. That was the same trip she insisted on hiking in her Snow White costume from the previous Halloween. She loved playing make-believe, and never really grew out of it.

She was an incredibly intelligent child. Her parents would read to her every night, until one day when she was almost four they found her in the store pointing to the bug spray and exclaiming, “Bugs, bugs!” From that point on, she wanted to read everything she could get her hands on. Her mother loves to tell the story of a trip to the local library when she was seven. Already at a college reading level, she went straight to the biography section and picked out a book titled The Secrets of Marie Antoinette. Deciding her young child did not need to know whatever secrets that woman had, she was made to pick out a different book. And what did she choose? A seven inch thick biography of Napoleon. She read the whole thing in a month.

School was always a breeze for her, and her parents probably would have pushed her to go ahead and skip a few grades if it weren’t for her love of her theatre troupe. The first week of sixth grade she auditioned for the fall play, and got her first part. She only had one line, but she loved going to the rehearsals and seeing how everything came together. From that point on she was hooked. While her parents weren’t necessarily thrilled that theatre was her chosen hobby, they knew they were never going to convince her to change her mind. And so she continued with her acting “career” all through middle school and high school, helping her school earn awards at district and state levels for their shows.

She knew she loved acting, but she also knew that it probably wasn’t a practical career choice. So when she started applying for colleges her junior year, she always said she was going to major in English, but had to make sure the school had an excellent theatre program so she could at least minor in a field she loved. After earning a 34 on the ACT, she realized she could write her ticket almost anywhere and decided on UCLA. Besides the fact that they had a fantastic theater program, they also had film, and her brother already lived in the city. It didn’t get much better than that.

She worked her ass off all four years, and ended up graduating with an English major and triple minors in Theater, Film, and Spanish. She figured if all else failed, she might as well be able to teach as much as possible. Thankfully, all else didn’t fail. She auditioned for her first role, a victim in a crime show, and from there it’s been relatively smooth sailing. Most recently she’s been working in D.C. Comics TV, and though she loves it, she’s really hoping to get into movies. She needs a change.

AESTHETIC ➝

Growing up in the most hipster part of the country definitely influenced Nora’s aesthetic. She is one of those girls who can seamlessly transition from a t-shirt and boyfriend jeans to a vintage gown and no one would bat an eye. She loves anything and everything comfortable, and you can find her at premiers in TOMS just as often as in heels.

#accepted #flrpeleanor