This is a sci-fi romance? Space opera, I think, technically. I know, it sounds weird as a combo, but it totally works. One of my all-time favourite m/m romance books. It's not a big surprise, when you learn it started out as original fanfiction on the Ao3. I'd actually read it back then and liked it. When it was published I bought it just because I was happy to be able to support one fanfic writer, thinking I wouldn't get much out of the book since I'd already read it...Boy, was I wrong. The worldbuilding had been increased a lot, adding a lot of politics. well, intergalactic, alien politics, but still messy human politics at its core. And I adore politics when it is a) fictional b) integral to the plot c) well-written. ANyway, at its core it's a tropetastic love story, (arranged marriage!There was only one sleeping bag! Grump/sunshine pairing). I adore these two characters. Blurb from GoodReads
While the Iskat Empire has long dominated the system through treaties and political alliances, several planets, including Thea, have begun to chafe under Iskat's rule. When tragedy befalls Imperial Prince Taam, his Thean widower, Jainan, is rushed into an arranged marriage with Taam's cousin, the disreputable Kiem, in a bid to keep the rising hostilities between the two worlds under control.
But when it comes to light that Prince Taam's death may not have been an accident, and that Jainan himself may be a suspect, the unlikely pair must overcome their misgivings and learn to trust one another as they navigate the perils of the Iskat court, try to solve a murder, and prevent an interplanetary war... all while dealing with their growing feelings for each other.
Is the new Prince Kiem Here To Stay?. 1.6K. Exclusive interview by Hani Sereson Jainan/Kiem. Outsider's POV. This is written as a newspaper article (by a canon journalist). Soooo IC and a lot of fun. It's a perfect epilogue, imho.
And Indeed There Will Be Time. 5.4K words. Jaina/Kiem, explicit. a little of what happened in those three days after they were rescued from the mountains. The sex scenes in the books are fade-to-black, so this awesome fic author took it upon themselves to give us some hot smut that can slot perfectly into canon. :D
The Pitt
Let Me by baeksoolatte. 6k words. Mateo Diaz/Cassie McKay, explicit.
“I heard from Dana,” Cassie says after a beat, voice light but with an edge like she’s tossing a grenade wrapped in ribbon. “Apparently Victoria Javadi has a crush on you.”
Mateo groans. “Jesus.”
“She says you don’t date coworkers.”
“I don’t,” he says, glancing at her. “But if I were going to… date one…”
Cassie looks at him sidelong, smile tugging at the corner of her mouth. “I know.” She doesn’t say no. She never says no. “Mateo, it’s not a good idea.”
This my faveourite rarepair in the fandom. There are 9, NINE stories in the tag at the Ao3. I weep. This pairing has so much potential! Age gap. Hot, jaded older woman, super hot younger man. They are friends in canon. This fic explores the potential between them so beautifully. Gah. I want more!!Came home today! Ended up meeting A when she got home; some fucking asshole rang me at 6:30am - and turned out to be a wrong number so it wasn't even a useful call! - so I uh. Didn't sleep that well and slept in fairly late. So yeah, they got in just a couple of minutes after I finished breakfast, whoops!
Her husband dropped me home, though, so that was very nice of him! I wasn't really looking forward to taking the train, though of course I would've. But got to avoid changing trains in town where there are Many People, yaaaaay~
Haven't really done a huge amount other than that. Went out and did some chook maintenance stuff after tea with Mama, since it was so hot yesterday and they needed their water topped up anyway. Played some Terraria, too. That's pmuch it.
No computer stuff today, didn't have the brain for it. Maybe tomorrow! (Have some moving-stuff-around plans with Mama so I may turn into a pancake instead.)
But now, I'm go nap in my bed yessss. Best couch! Magic couch! No other couches compare! Also my dragonite is a GREAT pillow, better than A's squirtle I borrowed last night! (Not that squirtle is bad! Would happily use it again! Just, dragonite more comfy, yesss.)
Personal rating 8/10
This was interesting! I enjoy the Alien franchise and its various entries as a whole—though I admit I've so far been limited to the live action movies/series and haven't explored the print entries—and this was no exception.
Alien: Earth is set between Alien: Covenant and Alien though I don't think you need any knowledge of the other franchise entries to understand what's going on here. It does raise interesting questions about the spread of Xenomorphs throughout the universe post-Covenant.
( Spoilers for the franchise as a whole and for the series itself. )
Random stuff:
- I love Eyeleen, the alien eyeball octopus thing! She's amazing, she's iconic, and I predict she will take over the world if we get a S02.
- They really like superimposing shots in this series. It was used a bit too much for my liking; it went from "Oh, cool," to "Was this really necessary?" pretty quick.
- In the first episode, there's a scene where the text on the computer screen is apparently bright enough to be projecte legibly on Morrow's face. I can buy that, but it drove up the wall that they didn't mirror the text.
- Kirsh slandering sleeved blankets, how dare he. (I love him, but how dare he.)
- Alien: Earth decided to contribute to the franchise by adding to the worldbuilding and Alien Romulus contributed by adding content that followed closely in the footsteps of the original movie. I think both approaches are valid; what's more important is whether the cast and crew are able to pull off whatever they have planned.
Rec-cember Day 14
Bound
Devil Never Saw the Likes of Us by
It started right on their doorstep. Violet got out of bed Saturday morning and tugged a silk bathrobe up over her shoulders.
It was new. Almost everything she had with her had been bought since they’d left the city, but this was so new she’d had to snap the tags off it before she pulled it on. It had this swirly peacock pattern on it, like streaks of paint, and paint felt sort of like their lucky charm.
She wasn’t much of a cook, but she could add water to a mix like anybody else, and she decided to make blueberry muffins. She liked the little pastel-and-foil cups you put them in to bake: everything had its own little splotch of color. The old apartment had been nothing but black and white and steel, lifeless and cold. This place—their place—was different.
She was just sliding the tray in the oven when she heard the knock.
✰Winning Hand by roseblushvision
She had been keenly aware of how Tristan and Max barely touched each other that night, and when they did, they tried to play it off as accidental. There had been a curiosity there, but not one that either of them had felt free enough to satisfy. At that moment, Avery didn't think twice about it–she would never make them do anything they didn’t want to do–but the past few weeks have made her wonder if the only thing keeping them from crossing that line was their own unnecessary inhibitions.
Well, it’s not really wondering, actually. She’s quite convinced.
The job talk-turned flirting, and the way Avery leads the guys to a place where they can try something new with each other is so plausible, plus the make-out is hot. The Max/Tristan of it all!
✰Gonna Want to Get Involved by asexual-fandom-queen (writeordietrying)
They’ve been in this thing with Avery, for better or worse, for a few weeks, and while the matter of what that makes Max and Tristan to each other hasn’t come up, it’s been the unspoken elephant in the room.
Max and Tristan finally connect their side of the triangle. Avery has a front row seat to watch.
Tristan's confidence is so sexy in this, plus I love how the gentle intimacy and familiarity they've built with each other is showcased.
And two gorgeous fanvids ~ ( under the cut )
My dopamine levels are crashing again, and I'm trying to keep the momentum going on my writing. Like I know the process is going through a fuckton of drafts and re-writes, but it sucks having to go through so many drafts and re-writes? It sucks that this is what The Process entails? I mean regardless, the fact that I have written more in the past month than I have over the last decade is pretty important, I think. But I don't want to stop there.
I have voiced my opinion on Christmas and the Holidays on this blog several times by this point. It's a Neurodivergent person's nightmare (or at least THIS Neurodivergent person's nightmare) and the only things I like about the Holidays as an adult are making baked goods and actually hanging out with family and then getting to go to my friends' New Years Eve Party where we play In The Air Tonight to the Ball Drop every year (except for 2020.)
Current Mood.
( 20 Sigtags under the cut! )
2. Xtratuf rainboots. Fell apart within a few months catastrophically - cracks from ordinary walking that ran completely through the material which made them not waterproof. Threw them away. So sad because they were very easy to get on, very comfortable, and a fun rubber-ducky yellow.
3. Rubber boots from Hunter. Pretty OK condition but about 20% they're fine, 80% they make my feet hurt so much I cannot walk. Can't really break them in because rubber doesn't, and it's been more than a year of wearing them on and off. Almost got frostbite in them once despite wearing heavy socks and those toe warmer pads. The outside is flawless though and they are a gorgeous red colour, and being rubber they are waterproof.
4. Bean boots (unlined) in the classic rubber lower, leather upper. I just bought these. So far breaking in nicely. Kind of tough to get them on but it's improving/I'm getting better at it. The tongue is fully sewn to the upper (for waterproofing), so it can't swing fully out, and it doubles over where it's sewn, but I'm not actually getting any pain when walking around in them. I think I trust them enough to go on a few hours' hiking now.
And now since it's winter I really want another pair of lined/fleece boots. I've managed to get by, good lord, the past decade or more without snow boots, because I feel like it just doesn't snow much since I moved east. I almost never have to step over snow drifts or break trails, and I just wear sneakers. But I spend a lot of time outside and every year or so I do have an occasional outdoor day that IS very cold on the feet, and I have to flee when I feel frostbite setting in...
I can particularly see this as a good purchase on the Switch. It'd be perfect for picking up & playing on the go. Fun & engaging, but not something where I'd feel frustrated at being interrupted because my bus arrived or I got called in for my appointment or whatever.
Next up: Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart.
EDIT: Bailed on Ratchet & Clank a few minutes in. This game is just not for me.
I've observed hockey RPF fandom from an immeasurable distance, and I still got a kick out of this post:
https://marina.dreamwidth.org/1576715.html
marina was in hockey fandom, spent her childhood in Ukraine, knows much about filing serial numbers, and has definite opinions about vodka.
I'm reading reading reading.
Hi!
Rec-cember Day 13
Star Trek (2009 movie)
Lunch and Other Obscenities by
When Starfleet Academy's Housing and Accommodation Officer—whose name, according to the sign next to her door, was Diane Maza—arrived at her office the next morning, Nyota was already there, waiting.
"My roommate's a sex-crazed exhibitionist with a food phobia," Nyota told her. "You have got to reassign me."
Maza didn't react. She regarded Nyota for a moment with a coolly appraising gaze that seemed designed to silently communicate that she hadn't just seen everything, she'd seen everything plus some other shit as well, and therefore any attempt to shock a reaction out of her was doomed at the outset.
So now the "deli & meat" envelope has "dairy & non-dairy" added to it, which amuses me every time I get it out because "dairy & non-dairy" encompasses everything in the universe.
I am at A's place!
Turns out doing an overnight is actually an EXCELLENT test run of new computer setups, because I've ALREADY figured out quite a few things I need to change/prep for:
( Lots of nerdery goes here. )
IN ANY CASE. In non-new-computer-related news, I did do some other stuff today! I got Mama to drop me off at the place I got my parents snack-presents from last year, and got my father some more of the freeze dried strawberries he absolutely adored. (And some licorice for Mama, too.) I also got some snacks for me, of course!
Still nothing for Sibling, though. :/ I had to walk past somewhere that sold game stuff on the way back, so I poked my nose in there, but nothing stood out. I thought if nothing else I could get some MtG boosters, but they were all out of the newest set! Boo! And since I don't keep up with MtG stuff I have no idea what sets are still legal for pro-level play soooo I didn't want to go back to one of the other sets. The rotation stuff is. Confusing. :/
I also saw the Stardew Valley board game, but it was Extremely Expensive so I didn't look at it in detail. Just. Nope. I am not a board game player, really, and that's the only reason you'd spend lots on a game like that I think. Not just a cool merch thing hahahaha. (Also I have some extremely cool fanart that was much less expensive AND super pretty, so, you know, I'm fine with my priorities.)
A's cats are super cute as usual, too! Kitty is of course Made Of Grump, but that's her usual state so it's fine. I have eaten all of the salami here AND there were fresh peas so I ate all of those, too... >>;; Also had a random pie for tea, and it was beef and CHEESE! :O Amazing! And so delicious!
I did, however, forget my toothbrush & related stuff, so WHOOPS. I'mma just hope that one night of scrubbing with my finger (and flossing if there's some in the cupboards) will be okay, heh. If I was here longer of course I'd just go buy one, but something to keep in mind! (Also less annoying than forgetting my hairbrush. Or underwear. I know this from experience! |D)
So, I've already told you, as far as I'm concerned, KJ Charles is the queen of queer historical romance. My second-favourite book series of hers is the Doomsday Books Series, and in particular the first instalment, * The Secret Lives of Country Gentlmen*. Set in Georgian England, in the remote area known for smuggling called Romney Marsh, it focuses on the improbable love affair between a baronet and the head of a famous local smuggling family. Except my description doesn't do it justice at all. The synopsis on GoodReads is not bad. This has a tremendous sense of place, two flawed main characters who experience actual emotional growth, real high-stakes and problems, and lots of plot. Also, as someone who loves the English language with all her heart, I found the use of the local Kent dialect so interesting (no worries, if I got it all as a non-native speaker, anyone will). The sequel, A Nobleman's Guide to Seducing A Scoundrel, set in the same place, 15 years later and is about a minor character of the first book who gets to have his own romance with an earl and solves a mystery that was left unresolved in the first book. It's a lovely book too, I just love the two MCs for the previous book more.
Hearts Alive! by SpaceJackalope. 2.3K. Gen. Set two years after the first book. Fifteen-year-old Luke Doomsday asks Joss for advice about feelings and guys, because he's fallen hopelessly, embarrassingly in love for the first time...with Gareth. This is adorable and so in character. Poor Luke. Being fifteen sucks. There's also a podfic available!
Hearts Alive by innie. I haven't accidentally copied the same link twice, it's a different story, this is just a very popular Kentish exclamation in the books. :D 1.3K. Joss/Gareth, explicit. Joss gets his hands on Gareth The language and the character voices are perfect, it totally reads as a vignette from canon.
Jonathan's Regards by L_Monster. 8K words. Luke/Lord Corvin, explicit. This could totally be a short story bridging a gap in the canon we know of (i.e. when Luke was worked as a secreterary for Lord Corvin). Terrifically in character and hot.
The Pitt
IIRC, last time I recced a Mel/Frank story where Frank had issues and didn't treat Mel well. More in that vein, is this story be a better boyfriend than you by KH_Rogers. Mel/Shen. 31 K words. That’s what they’ll say, in the end: Dr. John Shen swooped Mel up, out of Langdon’s grasp. Good for him. Good for her, finally fucking higher on the food chain. Or, John asks Mel out on a date mid-Langdon turmoil. Mel/Shen wasn't even on my radar, before this fic, but I gave the story a chance because the author is that good...and man, I'm glad I did. KH_Rogers hasa fully fleshed-out version of Shen and he is adorable. Not to mention he doesn't come with all the baggage Langdon has. So, in this story Langdon is a bit of a bastard, if this interpretation sounds like something you can't bear, steer clear, please. However, you should keep an open mind and just read this.

