๐ ๐โ The Guncle (Steven Rowley, author & narrator)
๐ I could be wrong, I could be ready (harryromper) - Drarry, 57K - more excellent magical theory/magical house lore
๐ Roll On (Roll On #1) (jaxington) - Stucky, 89K - magnificent, in-depth pre-war stucky that flashes back & forth in time + a truly incredible OC in Rachel Rosenbaum.
๐ Girl in the War (Roll On #2) (jaxington) - 42K - sequel to above, focusing on what Rachel and Rebecca Barnes did during the war + how they coped when Steve returned. RR definitely becomes one of my fave OCs ever created.
๐๐ย +239K of shorter fic so shout out to these I really lovedย ๐๐
you'll be the death of me (skylights) - Bond movies: 00Q, 34K - "the one where Death owns a coffeeshop on the corner and Bond has been cultivating the surprisingly useful habit of Not Dying. A love story, of sorts"
(After)life (AidaRonan) - Stranger Things: Steddie, 4.8K - Eddie might be a ghost but he can still take care of Steve; my fave scene is Steve watching himself in the mirror while getting railed by invisible ghost Eddie = chef's kiss
Critical Hit (AidaRonan) - Stranger Things: Steddie, 7.1K, reread - I just love this fucking fic and I had forgotten just how hilarious Eddie's inner monologue was
i could have chained your heart to a star (PanoramicSubDrop, powerfulowl (StuckyFlangst)) - MCU: silver fox Stucky, 16K - SO. GOOD. sometimes it's about the right time as much as the right person - loved loved loved this!
[podfic] Controlled Release (steebadore, author; cricketsong1985, narrator) - MCU: shrinkyclinks, 21K, relisten - fabulous podfic of a fabulous fic; a go to comfort listen (esp when my insomnia is bad bad bad)
๐บ STUFF I WATCHEDย ๐บ
Harley Quinn - s3, e9
What We Do In The Shadows - s4, e10 - ngl impressed with how the writers are managing to keep this concept fresh
๐ง PODCASTS ๐ง
The Atlas Obscura Podcast - Anne Spencerโs Garden
Desert Island Discs - John Legend, musician
Switched on Pop - Into It: Song of Summer 2022
Vibe Check - Definitely Worry Darling
The Atlas Obscura Podcast - The Coney Island Mermaid Parade
The Atlas Obscura Podcast - The Corn Palace
The Atlas Obscura Podcast - Parrots of Green-Wood Cemetery
The Atlas Obscura Podcast - The Loneliest Post Office
Richmond Til We Die: A Ted Lasso Podcast - Ted Lasso S2E9: Reason Is Powerless in the Expression of Love
โHe stopped a few feet before her. โI did ask for a proper introduction,โ he said, his voice quiet enough not to be overheard by his waiting audience, โbut oddlyโnobody was willing to perform it.โ
โThat,โ Jessica said, โis because I am a very, very wicked woman.โ She took a step closer and held out her gloved hand to him, steeling herself for his touch. โMrs. Jessica Farleigh, official town disgrace. At your service.
the entire plot hinges on a detail he lets the reader (and every other character) assume is true. I don't want to spoil it because it's a really fun reveal but he is lying from the first second he appears on the page and you can't trust him to tell the full truth about ANYTHING related to himself and his goals. he mostly does it to keep his advantage and not have other characters be suspicious of him but it's just so fun when you realise he's been lying the whole time
Lemony Snicket Propaganda:
(I would like to preface this by saying that Lemony Snicket is the author's pen name, not a real person, and he exists as a character in-universe as well as being the one in-universe who writes the books!) I'd say he's unreliable because he spent time collecting information about the Baudelaire kids and then... wrote books about it. He has no idea what any of their dialogue actually was, what they were thinking, or even the whole plot, he's just doing research into the incidents and then filling in the gaps to make it a story. What ACTUALLY happened to the Baudelaires? Nobody really knows for sure
While the Baudelaire siblings are in potentially life threatening danger, he will randomly start talking about his own life and just leave the siblings hanging. For example, once Count Olaf was threatening to kill Violet, and then Lemony randomly began talking about how he met the love of his life at a costume party. This man CANNOT stay on topic. Usually when a new character is introduced, Lemony tells us right at the start that theyโre either going to die or that the Baudelaire siblings will never see them again. Foreshadowing is not subtle in these books. CONSTANTLY emphasizes how miserable he feels while writing these books. At one point he admits that he had to put his pencil down and go cry for a while because of how sad it made him. Once he filled an entire page with nothing but the word โeverโ to emphasize how dangerous it is to put forks in electrical outlets. He also repeated a paragraph about deja vu later on in the book to give the reader deja vu.
Iโve been making my way through the Brothers Sinister series by Courtney Milan, and it is so so good!
Read The Duchess War a while ago, and then decided to read the A Kiss for Midwinter novella that takes place between books 1 and 2, which was delightful. I then proceeded to read The Heiress Effect in pretty much one sitting, because it was that enjoyable and compelling (heartfelt, entertaining, great social commentary, and some scenes that made me almost cry, ngl).ย
I think Iโll read other things before continuing the series, but I am so excited for The Countess Conspiracy.
When it comes to historical romance, Courtney Milan just delivers pretty much all of my favourite tropes and dynamics. I always love the main couple and their dynamic, I love the themes of acknowledging and working through trauma, I love how she uses history and the time period (books 1.5 and 2 of The Brothers Sinister especially have a lot of medical themes), and I just love the social commentary and the issues she tackles in her books.
My first Courtney Milan book, Unclaimed from the Turner series, was just a masterpiece in terms of social commentary, humour, two great main characters, a great dynamic, all the angst and subterfuge and longing one could want - and every other book of hers I read just keeps being amazing.
There was a Wednesday-esque Netflix series centered around Timmy Turner from the Fairly OddParents going to high school. He smoked weed and was in the glee club. The characters from Glee were also there, because they are in every glee club simultaneously.
matt: โalex, on a scale of one to ten how does it feel to be in HD? if one was bad -โ
alex: โ- tenโs rad, right?โ
matt: โtenโs radโ
alex: โwellโฆ iโm glad that itโs on a golf cart that iโm in HDโ
๐ถ ๐ถit's the moooost wonderful time of the year๐ถ ๐ถ
๐ย STUFF I READย ๐
๐ฅฐ๐โ Hallowe'en Party (Hercule Poirot #41) (Agatha Christie, author; Hugh Fraser, narrator) - I just really love Ariadne Oliver. Absolutely bonkers nonsense plot. So full of 'the youth today is terrible' stuff but for some reason I just find it amusing in this
๐ฅฐ๐โ A Little Light Mischief (The Turners #3.5) (Cat Sebastian, author; Morag Sims, narrator) - adore this novella about Molly (former thief, now lady's maid) & Alice (wrongfully disowned) who team up to be gay and do crime (as reparative justice)
๐ฅฐ Stately Homes of Wiltshire (waspabi) - Drarry, 57K, more magical house stuff, on the more lighthearted side (but not without its share of angst)
๐ฅฐ๐โ The Body In The Library (Miss Marple #2) (Agatha Christie, author; Stephanie Cole, narrator) - Stephanie Cole is the perfect narrator for Miss Marple
๐ This, You Protect (Infinite Coffee & Protection Detail #1) (owlet) - 64K, recovering WS Stucky, one of the preeminent classics in the Stucky fandom featuring Cat Eleanor, The Olds, grilled cheeses and sheep pj pants - reread because it's been over 2 years
๐ Team-Building Exercises (Infinite Coffee & Protection Detail #2) (owlet) - 22K, vignettes and short one-shots of the first year of recovery after contact; delightful on its own but made to wrap around the longer sequel
๐๐ย +223K of shorter fic so shout out to these I really lovedย ๐๐
all i need from you (is all your love) (wearing_tearing) - Stranger Things: Steddie, 34K - just a sweet canon-divergent AU with two loveable dumbasses falling for each other
Behind the Lens and Eye of the Beholder (rhysiana) - TW: Sterek, 2K & 8K - AU where Derek is a landscape photographer - the first is their meet cute, the 2nd is their camping and photography date; a truly delightful AU
Here Lies Steve Rogers, Death By Bucky Barnes (fingerprintbruises) - MCU: Stucky, 11K - oblivious friends/roommates to lovers via accidental dick pics
Keep It for Me (stereobone) - Stranger Things: Steddie, 9K - no one's seen Eddie for 7 years since he was whisked off to witness protection but he resurfaces again for Lucas & Max's wedding
๐บ STUFF I WATCHEDย ๐บ
nothing to report, watched zero things
๐ง PODCASTS ๐ง
Hit Parade - Without The Beatles
Hit Parade - The Bridge: Nostalgic for Number Ones
The Atlas Obscura Podcast - Enchanted Hart Haus
Switched on Pop - The Vergecast: The future of music pt I
The Atlas Obscura Podcast - Broken Angel
Hit Parade - We Are Stardust, We Are Gold-Certified
99% Invisible #509 - Tale of the Jackalope
Vibe Check - The Gag of the Century
The Atlas Obscura Podcast - Oyotunji African Village
Shedunnit Book Club - Bonus: Ask Me Anything Part Three
Twenty Thousand Hertz+ - MicroHertz #7: Trailers Through the Decades
Into It - Queer Guys for Straight Eyes (Plus: What is Guy Branum Into?)
The Atlas Obscura Podcast - Bloodroot Feminist Restaurant
heyyy besties so i watched mota ep2 and it was very fruity. what was that. i know it's supposed to be about serious war. but [minor spoilers] the phone scene where curt calls buck and egan (am i supposed to first name basis them? gale and john?? idk bro) gave me Thoughts, alright.
hear me out. tall stern serious keeps-his-boys-in-check bf (gale) x tall loud rowdy riles-up-his-boys bf (john) x short affectionate golden retriever looks-at-his-boys-like-they-are-the-sun bf (curt).
ALSO: this is an x reader but I used my name Dollette Watson ie. Doll/D.W for short (my mom was born in the 60โs can u tell?) just because I think the constant y/n is annoying if u want me to change it lmk and I willโฅ๏ธ
When you first moved in, you actually hadnโt seen him at all for almost 3 weeks.
Between settling in, moving your stuff together, job hunting, and being somewhat social, it wasn't until things slowed down a bit that you finally did see him and damn, did you see him.
You had just walked through your buildings door. Tired from work and the tight ass โuniformโ, which was nothing more than a button up top with a tiny pinstripe skirt. Huffing in irritation you ready yourself for the trek up the stairs in goddamn heels, when you notice feet and the man attached to them blocking your way.
Raising an eyebrow, you wait a beat for him to move until you realize that he was wearing headphones.
You walk closer until the tips of your shoes are nearly kissing and watch the exact moment he snaps back to planet earth. Startling as he looks up at you.
You were suddenly grateful he had headphones on when you gasped because nothing could have prepared you for someone so attractive.
He was undeniably the finest man you have ever seen in your life, period.
Pretty cut brown hair, thoughtful baby blues behind smart framed glasses that brought attention to his high ruddy cheekbones, and god his nose. You have to blink away the graphic image of how good said nose would feel grinding against your clit before the present dull throb in your core turns into full blown pulsating.
Your efforts donโt matter because itโs game over for you once you drop your eyes to his lips. They were just soโฆfull. Deep pink n plush, that line down the middle of his bottom lip was doing something to you.
You donโt even care if he notices you checking him out. In fact, you want him to. Because you were going to have him one way or another and have a real fun time with it too.
So, you watch his eyes flit to the hem of your shamelessly short skirt before trailing them down your legs, all the way to your heels. Enjoying the heat that his gaze alone lights in you.
Unfortunately, you are tired so playtime will have to wait.
Clearing your throat, you give him a cheeky smile, โGoing up? Or are you waiting down here forever?โ Tone teasing as you walk up the first two stairs to stand beside him. He watches your every move almost devotedly.
โNo, Iโm going up. I mean- I live here so thatโsโฆyeah. I was just lost in thought.โ His voice is deeper than you thought itโd be as he stumbles a bit through his answer and the raspiness in it makes you want to whine.
But wait.
โYou live here too? Because I moved in a few weeks ago actually.โ You tell him and he nods.
โYeah? weird Iโve never seen you around the building though.โ you laugh as you definitely would have remembered seeing him.
โThatโs probably because youโre obviously a busy guy. Lost in thought in the middle of the stairs. Does this thought have a name?โ Smiling, you prod him juuust a little, to gauge if heโs single. He smiles with you and itโs cute. Lightly shaking his head before he suddenly stands.
Fuck you upside down in a full Nelson heโs tall.
โBusy is the last thing I am. The name was Mimi. Iโm just the friend that never made it to boyfriend, but Iโll get out of your wayโฆ?โ He pauses as he waits for your name.
โDW. Dollette Watson. But for what itโs worth,โ you hesitate before deciding to just go for it,
โIโm positive youโre the type to talk someone through it so itโs her loss entirely. Try not to sulk too much...?โ You know youโre being bold. Innuendo all in your voice but heโs so hot you truly canโt help it. Thanks to his height and close proximity, you have to look up to make eye contact which is hard because of the way youโre trying not to stare at his full lips. And he smelled so good.
โThomas, Webb. But thank you.โ His voice is lower as he looks down at you with hooded eyes and the urge to devour his mouth hits you hard. But, you just walk up the steps until you can look down at him and turn to face him.
โWell, itโs been a pleasure meeting you butโฆif you ever want to get busy, come to 5b. Iโm sure we could find something interesting to doโ. You arenโt teasing this time. You mean business. Leaning in to whisper so close to his face that you can smell his chapstick. His eyes widen before they drop and you actually do whine as he bites his lip and comes closer.
โYeah?โ
โYeah. Until next time though. Bye Thomas.โ You canโt resist and lean forward to nip his bottom lip. His light throaty groan sends warmth all over your body as it tapers into a soft โfuckโ.
โBye Dollโ, Thomas mutters after you pull away, briefly noticing how his ears and neck have reddened, before you start walking up to your place.
Oh, heโs going to be fun. You think, feeling his eyes on you while you walk up until youโre out of sight.
Smirking, you hope he saw your pantiesโฆand how soaked they were.
โI think Iโm gonna get number two,โ [Y/N] told her order to the cashier before moving her head to her boyfriend. โWhat do you want, honey?โ She asked, giving in a soft smile, which he returned by placing his hand on her thigh.
Alex leaned closer to the window to see the menu, his eyebrows furrowed as studied the options through his glasses. He gently rubbed small circles on her skin. โNumber four sounds pretty good.โ He said, inching closer to plant a chaste kiss on her cheek.
โAlright, and my husband wants the number four.โ She said, smiling as she felt his lips prepping soft kisses on her skin. She bit back a giggle, watching Alexโs burning gaze on her at the corner of her eyes.
A swarm of butterflies erupted into his stomach, the word husband repeating inside his head like a mantra. His eyebrows were raised and he took off his glasses, a grin forming into his handsome features as his eyes sparked.
She turned her head to him, an innocent expression etched into her features as she watched his lips curl into a big smile.
โIs that all? Do you want drinks?โ The cashier interrupted their staring contest. Alexโs lips curved into a smirk and he leaned his head closer to the window as both of his hands caressed her thighs lovingly.
โThe husband wants a coke, please,โ he beamed, eyes glistening before lovingly looking at his girlfriend. โAnd my beautiful wife wants the strawberry milkshake!โ He finished his order with a stupid grin on his face, and [Y/N] wanted to gush at his love sick attitude.
The cashier laughed, their eyes filled with amusement as they watched the pair acting all giddy and flustered. They tapped in their order into the system before turning to them with a grin. โAlrighty! Number two and four for the married couple. Thank you for your order!โ
Alex couldnโt hide his excitement and burst into a hearty laugh, feeling happiness course through his veins by just a small word. His heart soared against his chest, his love for her increasing with every second.
He thanked the kind cashier and grabbed the receipt and gently tapped her thigh to drive off, which she obliged with a soft giggle. She bid her goodbyes with the cashier, smiling at the compliment they received.
โWhat a lovely couple!โ
The moment [Y/N] hit the breaks and parked into a parking lot, Alex didnโt hesitate to pull her into a passionate kiss, his hand drifting to hold the side of her neck as he pulled her closer.
She gasped into his mouth, her stomach fluttering as she quickly melted into the kiss, feeling his rough calloused hands caressing cheek as they deepened the kiss.
[Y/N] pulled away with a giggle, her eyes crinkling from smiling. โWhatโs gotten into you, Al.โ She simpered, smiling wide as she watched his grinning face.
Alex mirrored her look, eyes studying every features of hers. He gave her a fond look, doe-eyes slightly wide before voicing his thoughts. โHusband, huh?โ He nudged her with his elbows making her chuckle.
Pink dust danced across her cheeks, mouth open but closed it as she was too flustered to speak. Her shoulders vibrated from soft chuckles and she looked at him, watching him having the same flushed expression at the mention of the word.
โIt just slipped, I guess? And by the look on your face it seems that you liked hearing that.โ She answered with a cheeky smile, earning another breathy laugh from the latter.
โYou keep saying that, darling, and it will come true one day.โ Alex told her with a wink, leaning to lock his lips into hers once again. โMy beautiful wife.โ He murmured against his lips, a smile curving upwards on his handsome features.