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xkcd_feed Dec. 5th, 2025 05:00 am)
xkcd_feed Dec. 5th, 2025 05:00 am)
Have I done the picture right this time? We shall see! (No, it's all small. Well, click on it and it gets bigger.)
You know... I'm gonna watch it. I'm gonna give it a try. But omg, that ad looks like 'Star Trek 90210.' I have such an OMGWTF reaction to it.
The trailer appeals to me more.
You know... I'm gonna watch it. I'm gonna give it a try. But omg, that ad looks like 'Star Trek 90210.' I have such an OMGWTF reaction to it.
The trailer appeals to me more.
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Hey all, it's December and that means it's time to share your suggestions for next year's themes!
You can comment on this post with up to 10 suggestions. Comments will be screened, but I'll unscreen mine so you can get a feel for how it goes.
Suggested themes should be new to the comm and broad enough to sustain a month of recommendations, and I'm going to be more particular than I have in the past, as I'd like to focus on general themes that make it easier for everyone to participate. To give you an idea of what this means, I'm aiming for themes that have at least 5,000 completed works on AO3. I've also preloaded the list with some common genres that, surprisingly enough, we haven't done yet, like fantasy.
I'll drop by your comments and let you know which of your suggestions meet these guidelines. As part of this process I may offer slight alterations or rework themes to make them more inclusive.
If you can, check out our spreadsheet of past themes before commenting to make sure your suggestions aren't already on there.
If you need some inspiration:
- Last year's suggestion post
- List of Fic Kinks, Tropes, and Clichés at Fanlore
- Cliché Bingo's Big List of Clichés (Wayback Link)
- Hurt/Comfort Bingo Prompts
- Kink Bingo's Kink Wiki (NSFW)
- Trope List & Definitions at Trope Bingo
- TV Tropes
I'll add the suggestions to this post once they've been confirmed, but I still, somehow, don't have all the past themes memorized, so if I make a mistake or if I accept a suggestion that is hurtful or badly worded, let me know.
Theme suggestions will be voted on later this month and the most popular will advance to the monthly theme polls in 2026.
( Confirmed Theme Suggestions )
If you have any questions or need help, come find me!
⌈ Secret Post #6909 ⌋
Warning: Some secrets are NOT worksafe and may contain SPOILERS.
01.
( More! )
Notes:
Secrets Left to Post: 00 pages, 00 secrets from Secret Submission Post #986.
Secrets Not Posted: [ 0 - broken links ], [ 0 - not!secrets ], [ 0 - not!fandom ], [ 0 - too big ], [ 0 - repeat ].
Current Secret Submissions Post: here.
Suggestions, comments, and concerns should go here.
Yesterday evening I came home from work to find that someone had spent the day reading my circa 20 year old 230k word series for a very niche fandom, and had left detailed comments on every story in the series. After a tedious and sometimes frustrating day at work, that was just awesome ❤️ Today I am replying to their comments, and getting distracted by going back and reading parts of the stories myself - also awesome!
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Chen Qing Ling; The Magnetic Fields (band); Let’s Pretend We’re Bunny Rabbits (fanvid) by soupytwist
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fancake Dec. 5th, 2025 03:42 pm)
full_metal_ox posting in fancake Dec. 5th, 2025 03:42 pm)Fandom: Chen Qing Ling;
Pairings/Characters: M/M; Lan Wangji/Wei Wuxian; the Cloud Recesses bunnies
Rating: General Audiences
Length: 2:26
Content Notes: No Archive Warnings Apply, anvilicious rabbit symbolism, canon-typical blood, canon-typical phallic symbolism, corporal punishment, fluff (figurative and literal), innuendo, societal homophobia (in-story and real-world), sparring with subtext, Xiao Zhan’s A+ rabbit handling, (not you, Wang Yibo, you’re fine.)
Creator Tags: vid, Bunnies, Pining, i'm sorry lan wangji, no really a lot of pining
Creator Links: (AO3)![[archiveofourown.org profile]](https://p2.dreamwidth.org/b164c54b26e4/-/archiveofourown.org/favicon.ico)
soupytwist, (Dreamwidth) soupytwist, (Tumblr) ![[tumblr.com profile]](https://www.tumblr.com/favicon.ico)
soupytwist (locked); (YouTube) ![[youtube.com profile]](https://youtube.com/favicon.ico)
twistedsoup
Theme: Amnesty, Angst With A Happy Ending, Animals, Humor, Non-Fic Recs: Fanvid, Canon LGBTQ+ Characters, Pining
Summary: If you look inside the heart of the mighty Hanguang-jun, you might find... bunnies.
Author’s Notes:( Continue. )
Reccer's Notes: A rec in celebration of the 4 December 2025 Full Supermoon. Stephin Merritt’s wryly anguished anthem of gay pining gains not only an unironic tenderness but the hope of a happy resolution when juxtaposed with CQL’s literal rabbits (and their pervasive symbolism as tokens, symbols, and allegory of Wangxian’s relationship, as well as allusions to a Rabbit God who’d bless a gay union.)
Nor does soupytwist’s pitch-perfect syncing of visuals to lyrics hurt one bit.
Fanwork Links:
AO3 (locked): [FANVID] Let's Pretend We're Bunny Rabbits; Part 2 of Gusu Love Songs.
Vimeo: Let’s Pretend We’re Bunny Rabbits
YouTube:Let’s Pretend We’re Bunny Rabbits
Pairings/Characters: M/M; Lan Wangji/Wei Wuxian; the Cloud Recesses bunnies
Rating: General Audiences
Length: 2:26
Content Notes: No Archive Warnings Apply, anvilicious rabbit symbolism, canon-typical blood, canon-typical phallic symbolism, corporal punishment, fluff (figurative and literal), innuendo, societal homophobia (in-story and real-world), sparring with subtext, Xiao Zhan’s A+ rabbit handling, (not you, Wang Yibo, you’re fine.)
Creator Tags: vid, Bunnies, Pining, i'm sorry lan wangji, no really a lot of pining
Creator Links: (AO3)
soupytwist, (Tumblr) Theme: Amnesty, Angst With A Happy Ending, Animals, Humor, Non-Fic Recs: Fanvid, Canon LGBTQ+ Characters, Pining
Summary: If you look inside the heart of the mighty Hanguang-jun, you might find... bunnies.
Author’s Notes:( Continue. )
Reccer's Notes: A rec in celebration of the 4 December 2025 Full Supermoon. Stephin Merritt’s wryly anguished anthem of gay pining gains not only an unironic tenderness but the hope of a happy resolution when juxtaposed with CQL’s literal rabbits (and their pervasive symbolism as tokens, symbols, and allegory of Wangxian’s relationship, as well as allusions to a Rabbit God who’d bless a gay union.)
Nor does soupytwist’s pitch-perfect syncing of visuals to lyrics hurt one bit.
Fanwork Links:
AO3 (locked): [FANVID] Let's Pretend We're Bunny Rabbits; Part 2 of Gusu Love Songs.
Vimeo: Let’s Pretend We’re Bunny Rabbits
YouTube:Let’s Pretend We’re Bunny Rabbits
I was feeding the cats their wet food this morning, and paused for a second, and remembered to split it into three. I've recently lost two older cats, one unexpectedly, the other after a lingering illness. I've gone from having four for many years, to briefly five, and then back to four and now to three.
Loss makes me think of Data's quote: "As I experience certain sensory input patterns, my mental pathways become accustomed to them. The input is eventually anticipated and even 'missed' when absent."
I remember watching that episode and thinking it was an interesting way to justify an android having emotions, but I have reflected back on it often over the years when dealing with grief, and how much routines can increase loss.
My mom was the worst, because I was very close to her and we often did things together. She was gone and I missed her but also so many... we both watched these shows and discussed them the next day, who do I talk about them with? Do I go clothes shopping by myself or can I find a friend who will be as encouraging as she was?
Maybe that sounds heartlessly practical or self-absorbed? This person is gone and how does it impact my life? But I've lost people like my paternal grandparents where I was very sad but also, they lived three hours away, our getting together was semi-regular but also sporadic. It wasn't tied to any particular activity except Thanksgiving, and then we continued going down to see other relatives in that city. For me, it's a different type of grief when it's not tied to routines. It's just this general sadness rather than coming up to event and knowing you have to do it alone. Or find a replacement.
I guess my situation is sorta the reverse of Data's, he found routines built emotions, while I'm dealing with absence requiring new routines to be built. But still, I find that quote to be poignantly relevant. Data was a wise man.
My nephew has already found a new kitty for me, but he still has a month to be weaned. So we'll see. Maybe I'll go back to fourths on the wet food in January.
Loss makes me think of Data's quote: "As I experience certain sensory input patterns, my mental pathways become accustomed to them. The input is eventually anticipated and even 'missed' when absent."
I remember watching that episode and thinking it was an interesting way to justify an android having emotions, but I have reflected back on it often over the years when dealing with grief, and how much routines can increase loss.
My mom was the worst, because I was very close to her and we often did things together. She was gone and I missed her but also so many... we both watched these shows and discussed them the next day, who do I talk about them with? Do I go clothes shopping by myself or can I find a friend who will be as encouraging as she was?
Maybe that sounds heartlessly practical or self-absorbed? This person is gone and how does it impact my life? But I've lost people like my paternal grandparents where I was very sad but also, they lived three hours away, our getting together was semi-regular but also sporadic. It wasn't tied to any particular activity except Thanksgiving, and then we continued going down to see other relatives in that city. For me, it's a different type of grief when it's not tied to routines. It's just this general sadness rather than coming up to event and knowing you have to do it alone. Or find a replacement.
I guess my situation is sorta the reverse of Data's, he found routines built emotions, while I'm dealing with absence requiring new routines to be built. But still, I find that quote to be poignantly relevant. Data was a wise man.
My nephew has already found a new kitty for me, but he still has a month to be weaned. So we'll see. Maybe I'll go back to fourths on the wet food in January.
Tags:
Star Trek: TOS
Cheek to Cheek byseptemberbells
Chapel/Uhura, 100 words. Very sweet. <333
The Haunting of Hill House
Oleander Square bygalaxyofroses
Theo/Eleanor, 2k. Theo returns haunted from Hill House, maybe literally. I love this unconventional form of haunting. This has just great atmosphere, with lovely prose and such elegant imagery.
Original Work
Little Rat byChocoChipBiscuit
Noblewoman/The Woman Her Husband Is Having an Affair With, 5k. A noblewoman goes to a her London townhouse, only to discover her estranged husband's newest bed-mate. I enjoyed the hell out of this. I love their dynamic, their mutual respect for each others' worldliness and practicality combined with their attraction for each other. Also: the smut is scorching hot. Just delightful all around.
True Detective: Night Country
All Summer in a Day byLuna
Danvers/Navarro, 3k. Or: six months later, a reunion. This is the hot, gorgeous, atmospheric, character-driven, immediately post-canon shipfic at that random lake cabin that we all deserved! The writing here is so lovely, and the dynamic between them is complicated and full of sparks. I especially love the Danvers voice here. Wonderful stuff.
Cheek to Cheek by
Chapel/Uhura, 100 words. Very sweet. <333
The Haunting of Hill House
Oleander Square by
Theo/Eleanor, 2k. Theo returns haunted from Hill House, maybe literally. I love this unconventional form of haunting. This has just great atmosphere, with lovely prose and such elegant imagery.
Original Work
Little Rat by
Noblewoman/The Woman Her Husband Is Having an Affair With, 5k. A noblewoman goes to a her London townhouse, only to discover her estranged husband's newest bed-mate. I enjoyed the hell out of this. I love their dynamic, their mutual respect for each others' worldliness and practicality combined with their attraction for each other. Also: the smut is scorching hot. Just delightful all around.
True Detective: Night Country
All Summer in a Day by
Danvers/Navarro, 3k. Or: six months later, a reunion. This is the hot, gorgeous, atmospheric, character-driven, immediately post-canon shipfic at that random lake cabin that we all deserved! The writing here is so lovely, and the dynamic between them is complicated and full of sparks. I especially love the Danvers voice here. Wonderful stuff.
As with previous posts about the current campaign of Critical Role, this will be a combination of quotes, random thoughts, and some speculation. And it's obviously full of spoilers (albeit vague ones in places).
( Spoilers under the cut. )
( Spoilers under the cut. )
Tags:
Writing Otto was a real treat. Once I noticed how often I was making him toss out a literary allusion to show off how clever he is, his whole personality just locked into place. -- Al Ewing
( Read more... )
For no good reason (yes I'm procrastinating on something), trying to decide tonight which is the most WTF of the music videos I have had to watch and rewatch and rewatch this year. Is it the WTFFFFF of the "clink clink" visual in Yum Yum? Or is it Shwekey deciding to stop the song right in its tracks to do a commercial for Baron Herzog? They are both so WTF.
-YUM YUM | Rabbi Greenspan | Featuring Afiko.Man & Mendy Worch | TYH Music
-SHWEKEY - Baruch Hashem It’s Shabbos
If you don't understand Yum Yum, don't worry, neither do I.
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⌈ Secret Post #6908 ⌋
Warning: Some secrets are NOT worksafe and may contain SPOILERS.
01.
( More! )
Notes:
Secrets Left to Post: 01 pages, 05 secrets from Secret Submission Post #986.
Secrets Not Posted: [ 0 - broken links ], [ 0 - not!secrets ], [ 0 - not!fandom ], [ 0 - too big ], [ 0 - repeat ].
Current Secret Submissions Post: here.
Suggestions, comments, and concerns should go here.
I get puzzled by people hating things in advance.
Especially reboots or sequels or sequels they insist are reboots.
I get it if there's some egregious detail known like 'but this time everyone is straight and white except the bad guys' or suchlike, but not when they're doing this from a standing start.
An existing story is being taken as inspiration for new story. Will they use the parts we thought were the good stuff? Don't know, do care, so it's potentially stressful. Will they use the bad stuff the makers didnt seem to evaluate properly the first time? Well that was always a problem, so the only way is up. ... actually no I can think of so many downs but you do at least have room for improvement. And, is The Thing that everyone was there for the first time, still a Thing we could stand to see in stories? Well generally yeah or we'd be bored of the basic idea by now.
Even if we get some horrible shambling husk of a came back wrong, it's not like it rewrites the original.
... blu ray and streaming upscaled releases do enough of that already...
It's especially puzzling when these are fanfic people. Someone with a budget is doing their fic grand scale. Hope they tag it well and move on, you know?
And one can always hope for good things, because we are as ever in a cultural moment that could really stand to get some actual feminism in it. Amongst so many other things.
Of course at my current rates of pop cultural consumption I might catch up to any new broadcast sometime around the point it is old enough to vote, but that is a separate problem.
Especially reboots or sequels or sequels they insist are reboots.
I get it if there's some egregious detail known like 'but this time everyone is straight and white except the bad guys' or suchlike, but not when they're doing this from a standing start.
An existing story is being taken as inspiration for new story. Will they use the parts we thought were the good stuff? Don't know, do care, so it's potentially stressful. Will they use the bad stuff the makers didnt seem to evaluate properly the first time? Well that was always a problem, so the only way is up. ... actually no I can think of so many downs but you do at least have room for improvement. And, is The Thing that everyone was there for the first time, still a Thing we could stand to see in stories? Well generally yeah or we'd be bored of the basic idea by now.
Even if we get some horrible shambling husk of a came back wrong, it's not like it rewrites the original.
... blu ray and streaming upscaled releases do enough of that already...
It's especially puzzling when these are fanfic people. Someone with a budget is doing their fic grand scale. Hope they tag it well and move on, you know?
And one can always hope for good things, because we are as ever in a cultural moment that could really stand to get some actual feminism in it. Amongst so many other things.
Of course at my current rates of pop cultural consumption I might catch up to any new broadcast sometime around the point it is old enough to vote, but that is a separate problem.
Listened to Torchwood audio Child Free.
I don't think I liked it. The plot rolled along by Suzie just knowing things and guessing right first time? I feel like they needed a bit more handwavium in it. Honestly I'd have been fine with it if they did more bleepy monitor readings noises before she drew her conclusions, which they did plenty of at key moments so I guess I mean it didn't draw me in to believing she'd figured it out. Other than that the bits with the baby didn't seem to say anything new and didn't seem funny to me. I think this story just missed me.
Mostly it made me feel it has been A Very Long Time since Torchwood, and then I was feeling a bunch of stuff about time passing and not much happening in it, and honestly, the problem may well not lie with the audio.
So then I started a Hard play through of Wrath of the Righteous, but I feel like I've screwed up my build already so that's... stressful. I'm playing arcanist again and I picked Holy Water jet but it'll be a couple of levels before I need Holy Water so, you know, oops. I just figured I'd be chucking cantrips around for ages. But I keep missing. By Hard level the odds of hitting are not on your side. I haven't made it to Neathholm yet but I have used up all the Cure Light Wounds potions and spells. So I am quitting and pindering if I'll go after the wand. Hard fight, but good reward. ... probably I'll try and have to reload a bunch.
Previously I have been listening mostly to 6th Doctor audios. I am very close now to having listened to the whole Monthly Range, only a few years late. Memories of a Tyrant, Emissary of the Daleks, Plight of the Pimpernel. Got a theme going there, they meet someone who may or may not have done terrible things, for what they felt were important reasons, and have to sort out what they feel about that and how to respond. There's also chances for the Doctor to play dress up and be not quite himself. Actors having fun being layered characters. There's good stuff in them. And I liked the bit in Pimpernel about the power and danger in escapist stories. Plus the compare contrast on literary hero and science fiction versions. People trying to rewrite their own stories.
If I'd written this closer to the listening I'd have more to say about details in each but I went on to the next, and so here's an overview on interesting commonalities and a note to self to review things and not just open a notepad page that says Review at the top and the title.
I am hoping to get more sleep tonight, which numerically speaking should not be hard, and then I shall have another go at reading listening watching playing being interested.
I don't think I liked it. The plot rolled along by Suzie just knowing things and guessing right first time? I feel like they needed a bit more handwavium in it. Honestly I'd have been fine with it if they did more bleepy monitor readings noises before she drew her conclusions, which they did plenty of at key moments so I guess I mean it didn't draw me in to believing she'd figured it out. Other than that the bits with the baby didn't seem to say anything new and didn't seem funny to me. I think this story just missed me.
Mostly it made me feel it has been A Very Long Time since Torchwood, and then I was feeling a bunch of stuff about time passing and not much happening in it, and honestly, the problem may well not lie with the audio.
So then I started a Hard play through of Wrath of the Righteous, but I feel like I've screwed up my build already so that's... stressful. I'm playing arcanist again and I picked Holy Water jet but it'll be a couple of levels before I need Holy Water so, you know, oops. I just figured I'd be chucking cantrips around for ages. But I keep missing. By Hard level the odds of hitting are not on your side. I haven't made it to Neathholm yet but I have used up all the Cure Light Wounds potions and spells. So I am quitting and pindering if I'll go after the wand. Hard fight, but good reward. ... probably I'll try and have to reload a bunch.
Previously I have been listening mostly to 6th Doctor audios. I am very close now to having listened to the whole Monthly Range, only a few years late. Memories of a Tyrant, Emissary of the Daleks, Plight of the Pimpernel. Got a theme going there, they meet someone who may or may not have done terrible things, for what they felt were important reasons, and have to sort out what they feel about that and how to respond. There's also chances for the Doctor to play dress up and be not quite himself. Actors having fun being layered characters. There's good stuff in them. And I liked the bit in Pimpernel about the power and danger in escapist stories. Plus the compare contrast on literary hero and science fiction versions. People trying to rewrite their own stories.
If I'd written this closer to the listening I'd have more to say about details in each but I went on to the next, and so here's an overview on interesting commonalities and a note to self to review things and not just open a notepad page that says Review at the top and the title.
I am hoping to get more sleep tonight, which numerically speaking should not be hard, and then I shall have another go at reading listening watching playing being interested.
Tags:
And why, oh why, do they not accept musicals? Talking recently to a woman who saw "Wicked" and she was totally fine with that as a musical. Munchkins and wizards and such breaking into a song, sure. But she'd also seen "West Side Story" and ew ew ew, that was so weird, normal people opening their mouths and singing and dancing. Too much to suspend her disbelief, way too much.
I have heard this same complaint many times during my life and I don't understand it. I love musicals, they are a joy to me, I will see pretty much any that I can.
One good guy with a handgun, 12 terrorists with assault rifles, sure, totally believable that the good guy will win. And outrun bullets numerous times along the way while making quippy remarks.
That a Norse god would come to Earth and fight alongside a billionaire in a suit, a revived super soldier, and a rage monster, sure, no problem. Admittedly, I know two people, my dad and a former boss, who roll their eyes at superhero movies, but they've been the only ones. (And my dad even made an exception to watch the Wonder Woman movies, he can apparently suspend his disbelief for Gal Gadot in boots.)
Even sitcoms, that every week a family or a group of friends or co-workers can have some sort of dispute, and thrash through it and make up in a feel-good moment, are you kidding me? Every group I know has some sort of unresolved dispute or bitterness that lingers, even if often suppressed for the sake of civility.
And for the most part, I'm completely happy that people can suspend their disbelief and allow somewhat absurd happenings to be neatly ended, all loose plot parts tied up, in a satisfying conclusion. I like media with good endings. I love the good guys winning, I love superhero movies, I love people working through problems and getting along.
But I love musicals too! *hugs them tightly to protect from bizarre disbelievers* Why is this genre such a sticking point for people?
I have heard this same complaint many times during my life and I don't understand it. I love musicals, they are a joy to me, I will see pretty much any that I can.
One good guy with a handgun, 12 terrorists with assault rifles, sure, totally believable that the good guy will win. And outrun bullets numerous times along the way while making quippy remarks.
That a Norse god would come to Earth and fight alongside a billionaire in a suit, a revived super soldier, and a rage monster, sure, no problem. Admittedly, I know two people, my dad and a former boss, who roll their eyes at superhero movies, but they've been the only ones. (And my dad even made an exception to watch the Wonder Woman movies, he can apparently suspend his disbelief for Gal Gadot in boots.)
Even sitcoms, that every week a family or a group of friends or co-workers can have some sort of dispute, and thrash through it and make up in a feel-good moment, are you kidding me? Every group I know has some sort of unresolved dispute or bitterness that lingers, even if often suppressed for the sake of civility.
And for the most part, I'm completely happy that people can suspend their disbelief and allow somewhat absurd happenings to be neatly ended, all loose plot parts tied up, in a satisfying conclusion. I like media with good endings. I love the good guys winning, I love superhero movies, I love people working through problems and getting along.
But I love musicals too! *hugs them tightly to protect from bizarre disbelievers* Why is this genre such a sticking point for people?
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