senmut: Nyssa and Tegan from Doctor Who together in one icon (Doctor Who: Tegan and Nyssa)
Asp ([personal profile] senmut) wrote2025-05-14 09:03 pm
Entry tags:

Daily Check In

*\o/* Word Count Step Count Headache?
Daily 382 8,697 no
Monthly 7,519 140,478 4 days
tozka: Dawn (from Buffy) reading a book with a starry background (buffy dawn with stars)
mx. tozka ([personal profile] tozka) wrote2025-05-14 05:27 pm

reading wednesday

2025 Reading Log | 33/200 yearly goal (+6 from last week)

So this week's reading was mostly blazing through the first five books in Meredith Spies' Medium at Large series, a paranormal m/m romance with a medium and a skeptic! I think there's one more book left to read and I WILL be reading it, but honestly I'm not super enthusiastic about this series. It has good bones-- an interesting plot hook where the protags meet on the set of a reality ghost TV show, the ghosts are real!, and the characters are cute-- but the romance part was subpar.

I never felt like the two MCs actually, like...got to know each other? Or if they even understood or liked each other? Even in book 4, they themselves were like "do I even know this guy really" which is just a weird thing in a romance series. Romances normally focus heavily on the "getting to know you" part of a relationship, you know? And the thing is that they're not even really having miscommunication issues or something, they're just so focused on the ghosts that it doesn't leave much time for developing romance.

I've read lots of other romance series where the couple spends time developing their relationship over the course of several books, including navigating relationship stuff like not believing in psychic powers or whatever, so that wasn't the issue. It's more that I wasn't convinced they were even really interested in each other, even after four books! Even when they say "I love you," I was like...are you sure?? That seems more like a writing issue to me, idk.

I do want to know what happens with the large subplot so I'll read book 6, but I'm kinda bummed I didn't like these books more.

I also read KL Noone's Magician, a queer fantasy romance with a prince and a magician, and it was sweet and adorable like all the other Noone books that I've read (so far anyway). The magician is a half-human somewhat feral former egomaniac who had done a LOT of interesting things prior to the book, and has mostly made enemies everywhere and is now depressed and living as a hermit. The prince is looking for help with some bandits attacking his small kingdom. They meet, they're intrigued by each other, they travel and fall in love-- on screen and very obviously, and for reasons beyond their looks. I enjoyed it a lot!
astrogirl: (Isaac)
astrogirl ([personal profile] astrogirl) wrote2025-05-14 12:34 pm
Entry tags:

Why Are A Ficathon Goes Into A Bar Assignments Always Hilarious?

[community profile] intoabar assignments are out! I did, in the end, decide that now was finally the time for the poor character I've kept meaning to do for the last several iterations of this and kept bumping for someone newer and shinier: Isaac from The Orville. (Um, metaphorically shinier, that is. Literally, he is very shiny.) If I hadn't picked him, I would have done one of a couple of possible characters from Gravity Falls, that being my current obsession. Instead, I used that as one of my possible second fandoms, which I realized was taking a bit of a risk, because GF, while it has fantastic main characters, also has a lot of minor ones who are basically one-note joke characters, and the thought of having to write some of those didn't appeal much. Aaaannnnd, of course, I ended up with one of those minor joke characters, because the Into a Bar RNG has a heck of a sense of humor. The good news, though, is that it's one I feel like I can actually do something with. Possibly because he's more of a two-note than a one-note character. So, hopefully, this should be good silly fun, even if only for me.
senmut: Nile looking up, braids streaming down behind her, from the plane scene (TOG: Nile)
Asp ([personal profile] senmut) wrote2025-05-13 08:52 pm
Entry tags:

Daily Check In

*\o/* Word Count Step Count Headache?
Daily 743 9,704 no
Monthly 7,137 130,438 4 days
senmut: Drizzt and Guen in front of a faded image of Malice (Forgotten Realms: Drizzt and Guen and Ma)
Asp ([personal profile] senmut) wrote2025-05-13 06:18 pm

A Bad Break: Chapter 4

A Bad Break (1800 words) by Sharpest_Asp
Chapters: 4/?
Fandom: Forgotten Realms, The Legend of Drizzt Series - R. A. Salvatore
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Characters: Drizzt Do'Urden, Original Halfling Character(s), Original Half-Elf Character(s), Storm Silverhand
Additional Tags: Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Injury - Major
Summary:

Roddy McGristle shows up



Chapter Four

Drizzt had considered turning his steps back to Everlund, to keep Brathana company for the winter, but kept putting it off, as the papa dragon kept making certain he knew the babies were thriving now, that the entire winged population of Silverymoon was working to make certain of it. He'd heard the locals call a group made up of faerie dragons a 'rainbow' and thought that apt, given they had so many different hues as they aged. The tressym, if they deigned to congregate were called a 'cloud', while the pseudodragons were merely called a 'flight'.

Between learning more of each species, and the tales of Montolio, as well as various members of the Church of Mielikki sharing knowledge with him, he just didn't want to go, not yet. The road to Everlund was patrolled, so if he chose to go in winter, it wouldn't invite calamity on his head, and he thought Brathana would understand his need to know more. More, the citizens here were fast turning from him just being a curiosity to someone else that lived in their walls. The elves, by and large, avoided him, but the other races were letting his willingness to aid and the fact he was held in kind regard by Mielikki's people settle their nerves fully.

All in all, this was about to be the most comfortable and companionable winter he'd had in his life, he was certain.





Roddy McGristle was a man on a mission of — in his eyes — vindicated wrath. There'd been tales of that damned murdering drow in this region. Since he wasn't in Everlund any longer, it made sense to check Silverymoon. He'd move on to Nesme if this didn't pan out, preferring that kind of rugged town to these clean-living mixed species with all their strange ideas on proper behavior.

His dog growled at the winged cat sitting up on a retaining wall as they walked the bricked avenue, and McGristle gave a jerk of the leash to hush him. He didn't just start asking about the damned drow — that had got him some queer looks in Everlund — but was nosing around, trying to overhear someone talking about him or to find a tavern closer to what he expected out of life.

He didn't pay much mind to the small dragon-types flitting around, or notice that one stopped to keep that tressym company. He only cared about animals that brought him money, like his dogs, or strange-colored ones that usually netted treasure for their hides. He wasn't stupid enough to mess with any creature that might well have a wizard living in its mind.

It was that single-minded focus on his prey, the murdering drow, that kept the clouds, rainbows, and flights watching him, passing messages between themselves, with the pseudodragons handling communication for the tressym to the faerie dragons.





Methri listened to Beau's report of a new activity among the various flying creatures. There was a man who was fixated on one of the people favored by them all, and a watch was being kept.

"This doesn't sound like a peaceful start to the winter season," Methri told his familiar.

It's not, but we are watching. The one they all like will be safe.

"And the man?"

We will remember the rules.

Methri started to ask for more details, but then the Spellguard were calling for him, so they could finish refreshing the wards in their Tower, and Beau left him to go see how the watching was going.





Despite doing their best to keep an eye on the noxious man, the dog tipped the man off to their nice ranger's path. One of the older tressym, wise by decades of partnering a wizard, flew on ahead to try and get to the ranger. Beau was known to her, and she sang out the hunting cry, so that whichever pseudodragon could pas on the warning. Her warning set off the faerie dragons, more than any other population, given how the kind ranger had saved young ones of their kind.

McGristle, before he got fully in sight of his prey, was beset by the warnings of the rainbow, called out in Common and Sylvan alike, to turn away. The dog set to barking…

…and the kind ranger himself came back from his morning path to see why.

"Murderin' drow!" rang out in the early morning against the growling barks of the dog that was being confounded by the faerie dragons.

"McGristle," came in a very tired voice, as if their ranger was beyond exhausted by the loathsome man and dog. "I murdered no one. And tried to apologize for your other dog."

"Ain't about that anymore," McGristle said in a guttural voice that radiated hostility. He reached for the skinning knife on his belt —

— and that was all it took for the faerie dragons to shift most of their focus to the man, throwing confusion and illusions at him, disorienting the man. Several tressym had arrived in the meantime, taking over the dog duty, while a bold pseudodragon flew close to the kind ranger.

Do nothing. The Watch comes, that one told the ranger, getting a startled nod of agreement.





Lady Alustriel Silverhand read the report, then looked over to her seventh son who was trying to eat with assistance from his familiar.

"Methri. Beau. Do either of you know about a disturbance between a ranger of Mielikki and a man named McGristle?"

Methri looked at Beau, who did the most impressive lizard-style shrug. Finally Methri looked over at his mother, sighing. "There is a, as Beau put it, 'a kind person' that the various winged ones had taken a liking to, and someone obsessed with him.

"I didn't follow up when Beau first mentioned this, because I was actually working with the Spellguard that day. He says it was taken care of this morning, and that they did remember the rules."

Alustriel had to chuckle at that. "Confusion reigned, apparently, for the man and his dog. The dog has been confiscated and given over to the temple of Silvanus to see if it can be rehabilitated from a very abused life. The man is being held for attempting violence in one of the public areas. The ranger is staying at the Cloister, and will not be leaving until the dispute airing.

"The Ladyservant is asking that I preside over that day's grievances, due to the unusual nature of the ranger involved."

"This part I had not heard?" Methri invited.

"Then you have been working too hard, and should visit with your cousin here, as I am certain Kolarven has all of the gossip." Alustriel smiled. "It is the drow that Storm cautioned me to listen for, and I think I need to invite Dove to finally give me the full story behind her involvement in this ranger's life."

"Fill me in when you get it? I knew Calimac was telling tales about a drow ranger, but didn't know he was in our city." Methri looked at Beau intently. "You could have mentioned."

Alustriel had the impression of Beau's disdain, and Methri sighed even louder.

"What did he say?" she asked.

"That what a being looks like has no bearing here. Kindness is more important."

That, Alustriel thought, was quite the right way to look at it.





Drizzt was sitting with Leaf Grevaine, prepared to tell his version of the events near Maldobar, absolutely keeping his emotions calm by force of will alone.

The rainbow of faerie dragons present included the papa and two immature ones he'd rescued, which had him focusing on them frequently to keep his mouth closed against the villainous tale McGristle spun.

"I tell you all, he's a murderer," McGristle accused one more time, and that was when an elf in the spectators decided enough was enough.

"He was never a murderer, but you? You are — though 'were' might be appropriate now," the elf said as he stood and let his face be seen. "Begging your pardon, Lady and gentle beings, but my name is Kellindil, and this man is a liar."

Alustriel's lips thinned. "In interest of fairness, as you are a witness to events that have been aired, continue."

The crowd that had come to enjoy the spectacle of grievances being settled murmured as an elf spoke in defense of a drow. Others, though, noticed how chalky pale the man raising doubt on the ranger's nature had gone.

"My name is Kellindil, and I was the scout in Ranger Dove Falconhand's party during these events. I stayed to watch over the drow… and in time, had taken McGristle prisoner for inciting orcs to attack the grove of a blind ranger by name of Montolio DeBrouchee."

"Some creature possessed of magical speed freed the bounty hunter," Kellindil said. "And while it distracted me, McGristle tackled me, then strangled me to death. Fortunately," and he paused to actually look at the ranger, "Dove chose to come ask me about your first winter, and discovered my body's remains.

"She took pity on me, because I am on the younger side for a wood elf." He inclined his head to Drizzt who was stunned speechless, but very relieved.

"You've only his word!" McGristle finally managed to get out.

"No one invokes one of my family without being certain of the truth of the matter," Alustriel told the noisome man. "As my temperament toward lying about them is rather well-known.

"Silver Watch, take your orders from Leaf Grevaine, as I know DeBrouchee was one of Mielikki's," she said, "in regards to Roddy McGristle. Drizzt Do'Urden, do you feel a need to speak, given you were the one being maligned."

"I am relieved to know that Kellindil lives, and merely wish to never see the bounty hunter again."

Alustriel smiled at him for that, then nodded, waiting for Grevaine to move to the Silver Watch — who had quite handily boxed McGristle in and clapped irons on him after a small tussle — so that the next set of grievances could be heard.

Drizzt shifted out of the front spot with Grevaine gone, going to where the elf was moving to the back of the crowd in this open venue.

"I am glad you have a new chance to live," he said, once he'd managed to catch Kellindil's attention. "Thank you."

Kellindil tipped his chin up. "I was wrong then, about too much. But you are a good man, Drizzt Do'Urden, and I hope you fare well." He left it at that, continuing on his own way out, leaving Drizzt without words, even as the papa faerie dragon and the young fledglings came to roost on him.

Maybe… maybe he was finding his own place finally.
astrogirl: (writing)
astrogirl ([personal profile] astrogirl) wrote2025-05-13 12:38 pm
Entry tags:

Nearing The Home Stretch Here!

Last night I posted chapter 12 of "Congratulations on Your Apotheosis", aka the climax, which I have been very nervous people might be upset by in the wrong way rather than in the right way, but so far I think everyone seems to be the right kind of upset. I mean, they're definitely not going, "oh, ugh, meh" and wandering off, or at least if anyone is, they're politely not telling me so. I think I'll take it as a win!
senmut: Picture of a raccoon and skunk sharing cat kibble (General: Raccoon and Skunk)
Asp ([personal profile] senmut) wrote2025-05-12 09:04 pm
Entry tags:

Daily Check In

*\o/* Word Count Step Count Headache?
Daily 567 9,551 no
Monthly 6,394 120,427 4 days
senmut: A black woman with short-cropped hair, glasses, and tie looking smug at the viewer (Sandman: Lucienne)
Asp ([personal profile] senmut) wrote2025-05-11 07:41 pm
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Daily Check In

*\o/* Word Count Step Count Headache?
Daily 359 8,317 yes
Monthly 5,827 110,289 4 days
senmut: modern style black canary on right in front of modern style deathstroke (Default)
Asp ([personal profile] senmut) wrote2025-05-09 11:30 pm
Entry tags:

Daily Check In (Belated Friday)

*\o/* Word Count Step Count Headache?
Daily 838 10,243 yes
Monthly 4,922 91,581 2 days
tozka: dogsbody by diana wynne jones (dwj dogsbody)
mx. tozka ([personal profile] tozka) wrote2025-05-11 01:09 pm

queer scifi books, digital footprint, D&D stamps

A small links post today-- this week I got distracted by a) books (I've read so many since Wednesday!) and b) organizing my (digital) zine collection AND my TTRPG files in Calibre (which I'll write about later in a separate post), so I haven't done as much link-gathering as I usually do. :D



[personal profile] cimorene made some amazing Hilma af Klint icons! Post one and post two.

[tumblr.com profile] remnantglow created this database of older LGBTQ+ science fiction books. It includes details about what's actually in the books, plus links to available ebooks! (h/t [personal profile] cyare)

The Cyber-Cleanse: Take Back Your Digital Footprint, a user-friendly guide to making your online lif more privacy-focused. It's VERY detailed and goes into things also like getting a VPN and backing up your files to a non-cloud service.

Seattle Worldcon science fiction convention vets panelists with ChatGPT -- yikes. First statement here from Seattle Worldcon chair, then follow-up apology here. Then they posted a follow-up post/apology on Tuesday and a few people resigned.

This video (about 6 minutes long) from suavitelprincess (TikTok) explains how LLMs like ChatGPT don't actually read anything even if it pretends it is.

I bought some stamps for my mom's letterwriting campaign (aka yelling at congress and other lawmakers) and discovered that USPS has a Dungeons & Dragons set!


Need more stuff to read? I've compiled all previous linkspam posts here on my website or of course you can explore the linkspam tag below.
senmut: A line art scarab, colored in blue and green (General: Scarab)
Asp ([personal profile] senmut) wrote2025-05-10 09:42 pm
Entry tags:

Daily Check In (Belated Saturday)

*\o/* Word Count Step Count Headache?
Daily 546 10,391 yes
Monthly 5,468 101,972 3 days
astrogirl: (Smiling 15)
astrogirl ([personal profile] astrogirl) wrote2025-05-10 06:28 pm
senmut: A seated woman with a thread in her hand, knitting needles, and a spider web vaguely visible (Incarnations: Fate)
Asp ([personal profile] senmut) wrote2025-05-10 03:39 pm
Entry tags:

afk

Drive by post: if you're on revolt chat, I'm SharpestAsp#9043 if you want to be friends.
senmut: Caption says Starsgazing above Starscream in the snow, looking up (Transformers: Starscream)
Asp ([personal profile] senmut) wrote2025-05-09 08:18 pm
Entry tags:

Various Links 4/28 - 5/9

One: I skipped a week on accident. Two: These are early because life is busy this weekend.

Born with Teeth gif set, Ncuti Gatwa & Edward Bluemel, likely NSFW for situational content
Mike Otule, photoshoot, NSFW for naked butt and naked body barely cut off above genitalia

Diane Duane's Ko-Fi - linking in case folks want to help with the expenses to follow in the wake of Peter Morwood's death

Peruvian textiles - 1,000 year old cat cross-stitch.
Wizard's Inventory Stitch Along

te reo maori linguistics post, regarding new words for autism and disability

A Shocking Development - Star Wars, first movie, HILARIOUS fic
the happiest you'll ever be, gorgeous sexy times Siuan/Moiraine fic
Bad Poetry post with a lovely ender

4 cellists, 1 cello, Ravel's Bolero video
Metal gravity balanced toys video
Cat going wild in a round thing video
Animated adventurer tries to escape his cartoon video

The Willow Woman photo

Cavalry Horse graveyard found in Stuttgart - article
senmut: Right side of Aayla Secura's face in frame (Star Wars: Aayla Half)
Asp ([personal profile] senmut) wrote2025-05-09 07:54 pm
Entry tags:

Podfic!

After the Fighting [Podfic] (48 words) by blackglass
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Star Wars - All Media Types, Star Wars: The Clone Wars (2008) - All Media Types, Star Wars Prequel Trilogy
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: CC-5052 | Bly/Kit Fisto/Aayla Secura
Characters: Kit Fisto, CC-5052 | Bly, Aayla Secura
Additional Tags: Drabble, Tumblr Prompt, Originally Posted on Tumblr, Inspired by Art, Slice of Life, Podfic, Podfic Length: 0-10 Minutes, Audio Format: MP3, Audio Format: Streaming
Summary:

A podfic of After the Fighting by Merfilly.

"A quiet moment."

senmut: orange and blue lynx (General: AhsokaKitty)
Asp ([personal profile] senmut) wrote2025-05-09 07:45 pm
Entry tags:

Fandom50: #11

1985, the year before my life exploded, and the one I literally see as the last year of my childhood. Yeah okay that was a bit depressing, but it is true.

oof I opened 27 tabs off the list I used. Let's try and narrow it down to 10? And that was with me ruling out sequels, franchises, etc that I've spoken of before.

Ladyhawke - not seen in theater, oddly enough, but in school for a movie day. It was so popular with us that it got requested three more times before the end of that year. LIKEWISE: Legend - also seen in school, also requested multiple times. I actually hate that I love it so much because I find Ridley Scott a boring man with pretentious ideas, and maintain this is the only Tom Cruise role I actually am not wishing it was some other actor of his generation.

The Goonies - My introduction to Joey Pants, chosen because the kid who played Short Round was in it, and good enough that we went back twice to the theater to see it again.

Return to Oz - Not seen in theater, but watched at home, alone, on a small screen and OH MY FUCKING GOD this was the first "kid movie" that literally gave me nightmares. Also seen on TV was The Bride, which I strongly recommend for Clancy Brown and David Rappaport above all other considerations of the merits or flaws of the film.

Real Genius - uncertain if seen in theater, definitely seen on VHS at a sleep-over and absolutely LOVED the concepts. BROOTS from The Pretender! I kept calling him Lazlo the first watch of that show.

Godzilla 1985 - still the only Godzilla I know I have seen beginning to end. I remember nothing of it, though, beyond big damn lizard.

White Nights - Seen with my mom, and to this day, if I need a pick-me up, I pull up the dance video. Saw it as an adult in recent years and it still strikes me with pathos. Started my love affair with both dancers, I think.

Clue - had never played the game, knew of the play, etc. DID wind up in an argument over the ending with someone. Was so thankful the VHS included all endings. Great publicity stunt, but trippy for people with memory issues.

Enemy Mine - Out of all the movies I eliminated from the list, and the ones I kept, I have to say this is shockingly my favorite of this year. It made me really THINK about dehumanization as a kid. As an adult, it reinforced thinking about the concepts of gender and culture. I know people see it as clunky, poorly done, heavy handed, etc... but any movie that invests me in the characters AND makes me think is the best.
senmut: Optimus's face in back of He-Man, Lion-O, and Snake Eyes (Fandom: Cartoons)
Asp ([personal profile] senmut) wrote2025-05-09 06:43 pm

WhatIf AU: Robots

DD-Two (150 words) by Sharpest_Asp
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Dexter's Laboratory
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Characters: Dexter [Dexter's Laboratory]
Additional Tags: Implied/Referenced Character Death, Drabble and a Half, Future Fic
Summary:

Dexter creates something to fill a hole in his life.



DD-Two
"I used to think she was annoying."

The red-haired scientist was talking to a room full of experiments in progress.

"Then we grew up, and I knew it. Always destroying my careful experiments and wrecking my laboratory."

He sighed heavily after pronouncing that last word with five syllables, a thing that had gotten him mocked in university.

"Then the accident happened."

He took a polishing cloth and carefully buffed out the smudges on the exterior casing of his latest creation.

"Strangely, I missed her."

He put the cloth down, and pressed a switch, causing the blue optics to light up vividly, before the robot gesticulated wildly and began inspecting itself without regard to anything its — her! — arms and legs came into contact with. The scientist sat back, adjusting his dark-rimmed glasses in satisfaction.

"Now I can have DD-Two to remind me, and shut her off as she gets too terrible!"
astrogirl: (Write)
astrogirl ([personal profile] astrogirl) wrote2025-05-09 11:02 am
Entry tags:

I Simultaneously Can't Wait To Have This Finished and Will Miss It When It's Done

Yes, new chapter of "Congratulations on Your Apotheosis" is up! Only three more chapters to go, for reals this time. I have written the ending now, too, but I'm afraid to go back and read over it, because some part of my brain is deeply convinced it's terrible and will need to be rewritten completely. So, yeah, wish me luck with that.

And, man, it's funny how stories can end up being about different things than you thought they would be. Thematically, I mean, not necessarily in terms of plot. This one turned out to be very much about loneliness, for both characters, and I wasn't expecting that at all, but here I am, running with it.