Playing with words

Challenge #10 In your own space, rec a fanwork (fic, art, vid, playlist, anything!) you did not create.

😅 Well, I recced 24 fanart from various fandoms in Snowflake #9 here, and I made some AU Gendrya recs for Snowflake #3 already! Here's a shout out for fancake too, which is a recs community here on DW you might want to check out! This month's theme is Essential Starter Recs, so in that spirit, these are my can't miss canon AU fics for Game of Thrones! GoT type action-y clashes and twists, amazing dialogue and characterization and attention to detail. Warning for canon-typical violence.

the fury by nymja (Game of Thrones, Arya Stark/Gendry Waters, E, Major Character Death, 138333 words) - This is my favourite fic ever according to my AO3 history, so I have to start with it! Yes, I have added more than 250 of those hits myself, thank you. This is not yet complete but a new chapter just got added a week or so ago and there are only 8 more chapters to go!

If you prefer Braime, every GoT fic by astolat is similarly Epic for the same reasons. (Between 1765 and 30000~ words)


But if you are like me and you usually prefer shorter fics, here are some highlights from my recs tag and/or AO3 Bookmarks from last year, sorted by length, all from various fandoms.

Life Lessons by ambiguously (Loki TV 2021, Loki&Frigga, Loki/Sylvie, T, No Archive Warnings, 100 words) Longing and Angst and Love being the reason for both. Ouch. So good.

echoes never ceased by afterism (The Falcon and The Winter Soldier, Bucky Barnes&Sam Wilson, G, No Archive Warnings, 401 words) - SOOO funny! Their dialogue/banter is SPOT ON.

Starring Matt Damon by saiditallbefore (Marvel Cinematic Universe, Loki & Matt Damon, G, No Archive Warnings, 480 words) - Such Cracky fun. How DID Matt Damon end up starring in that little production on Asgard?

I'd Do Anything For Love (But I Won't Do That) by boasamishipper (Ted Lasso, Keeley Jones/Roy Kent&Phoebe, T, No Archive Warnings, 727 words) - Hilarious Halloween fic. The unexpected twist will make you LOL because it is sooo in character.

A Thousand Shades and One by Rodo (Enola Holmes, Enola Holmes/Viscount Tewkesbury, G, No Archive Warnings, 1590 words) - Language of flowers, a 5+1 format and epistolary all in one. This fic is as sneakily sweet as it is cleverly done, just like the canon. 

Goes Up in Smoke by fourteenlines (The Queen's Gambit, Beth Harmon/Benny Watts, M, No Archive Warnings, 2119 words) - Perfectly pitched angst from the part the series sorta skipped over.

sweetheart, they're suspecting things by sbsq (The Queen's Gambit, Beth Harmon/Benny Watts, E, No Archive warnings, 2489 words) - from FWB to something a little more defined, one tryst at a time. This is smutty as hell and so well written!


Okay, and now the meatier ones!

A Tie We Cannot Break by MissMorwen (MCU/Marvel 616, Bucky Barnes/Natasha Romanov, Steve Rogers/Sam Wilson, E, No Archive Warnings, 11147 words) - Soulmarks AU with lots of pining! Sadly this one hasn't been updated in ages, but I live in hope because it is as gorgeously written as the author's other BuckyNat works.

The Year in Biscuits by greyathena (Ted Lasso, Ted Lasso/Rebecca Welton, T, No Archive Warnings, 14082 words) - So in character, and with that gorgeous slow-burn sense of fate leading them to each other with loving inevitability and understanding. This gets not just the characterization/dialogue spot on but also captures the exact tone of the TL series. 

pawn and knight (watch your words) by ShadowSpellchecker (The Queen's Gambit, Beth Harmon/Benny Watts, G, No Archive Warnings, 43547 words) - This isn't done yet and hasn't been updated for months (*sobs*) but it was my favourite fic last year. Soulmarks AU with lots of attention to Real World detail and Beth and Benny warily circling each other in the chess world and colliding more and more often as Beth grows older. 


Challenge #11

In your own space, Interact with someone.

Well, this isn't my first snowflake, so I've done this loads already (on both my DW and other's) so I consider it done! 🙌😁It's honestly one of the best things about Snowflake - it's like a giant potluck party all month! 🥰

Challenge #6

In your own space, Create something.

Took me awhile to find the time to sit down and make something for this challenge, but yesterday I made some Squid Game icons! 🙌 Feel free to gank 'em! Also feel free to make requests for your faves - obviously mine is slightly overrepresented. hehehe


Challenge #7

In your own space, tell us about 3 fandom resources, spaces, or communities you use or enjoy. (One or two is fine, especially if you're in a smaller fandom!)

The B^2 Checkmates Discord server is where I go when I need a beta or to factcheck something from the sixties! I also rely on members in a couple of other fandom servers for dialect checking Kentucky/American-isms! The Ted Lasso one in particular is really friendly, plus they have a great music bot and emojis.

Also have to mention CreatorHub, which is a Discord server for GIFmakers on tumblr. They have loads of GIFmaking resources/tutorials and experienced members to ask for help if you have issues with your GIFfing! They do check to make sure you are a GIFmaker on tumblr before they let you in, so if you are interested, submit on tumblr here.


Challenge #8

In your own space, celebrate a personal win from the past year: it can be a list of fanworks you're especially proud of, a gift of your time to the community, a quality or skill you cultivated in yourself, something you generally feel went well.

Last year was really amazing for me in terms of transformative works of my fics? I already wrote about that in the Acknowledgments section of my Fandom 2021 in Review post here. 

I also helped start that B^2 server up above, although technically it was on Dec. 16, 2020! 😅 But it didn't really grow until 2021 - we were basically just setting up and bouncing off each other at first and happy to be in a place where we could have an actual conversation instead of re-blogging each others' posts on tumblr.  

Also: this fic. I didn't think I had the fortitude to write it, but I did anyway. 🙌

Challenge #4

In your own space, make a list of things that you wish existed in fandom or elsewhere, and/or that you'd like someone to create or do for you.

Well, I already have my holiday_wishes list here (generally for comments, transformative works, photoshop resources) and my fandomtrees list here, and my new chocolateboxcomm letter which I posted yesterday has my newest fanfic/fanart wishes spelled out so please have a browse! 😅 Fandoms include Arcane, Ted Lasso, Squid Game, MCU, Murderbot Diaries, Spirited Away and This is How You Lose the Time War. If you can fill any of my AU prompts from yesterday, I would also be super grateful! 🙌🥰One sort of odd wish that isn't for fic or art: if you could link any good Squid Game meta or communities, I would appreciate it! 

In less specific fandom wishes: I do wish some of the things that are making it harder to enjoy fandom would just settle down already. Like Tumblr needs to hurry up and fix itself and its tag issues.😭Also some fandom Drama hopefully gets sorted out soon.😖

Challenge #1

In your own space, update your fandom information!

Done! I pruned my interests a bit and added the ones acquired this year. The Master List should also be complete now (and thank you for the nudge about that; I do get lazy about updating it! 😅)

I think my Master List sticky post pretty much explains what fandoms I am into, and if it doesn't, my 2021 in review one one post down on my journal should! 😊If you like Ted Lasso or The Queen's Gambit, please comment so I can friend you! Those are the two fandoms I'm most active in now, though I am a constant MCU/Disney/Ghibli consumer as well.


Challenge #2

In your own space, set some goals for the coming year. They can be fannish or not, public or private.

1. Read more. I missed my goodreads goal this year and I hope to actually hit it next year! 

2. Finish the second half of Playing the Rush. It's at 5000 words and promises to be 5000 more and it's been stuck there for a month.😅I haven't abandoned a fic for years, so I don't think I'm in any danger of that, I just get Distracted and need to get my butt in gear.

3. Try to recover my borked harddrive. 

4. Reinstall my old library for iTunes. Yes, I know they want me to just give in and sign up for Apple Music instead of going to the trouble. I bought all those CDs though, and dammit, I have a right to just import music I bought already.

5. Actually watch some of the things on my to-watch list! Especially Reply 1997, Someday or One Day, everything on my Netflix list. 

6. Keep B2 fandom active. I know we're tiny but I don't want us to die. 🖤🤍

Challenge #12

In your own space, resurrect an old meme. Have fun with it!

So since this is supposed to be old, I went back and looked through my old LJ entries. And since somebody on tumblr TQG chat didn't know what shipping was (what), I'm bringing back this ship meme!


♛: my “FOREVER” pairing

Arya/Gendry (GoT, ASoIaF)
Cloud/Tifa (FFVII)
Okay this list is going to be long- really anything I've written fic for, lbr

♔: my “sometimes” pairing (if i’m in the mood)

Brienne/Jaime
Sansa/Tyrion
Christopher/Barabas

旦: my “friends-with-benefits” pairing

Valkyrie/Thor
Batcat 

I usually use that kanji in the context of 旦那 (husband) actually, but I'm guessing they didn't have a better/SFW symbol? LOL

☆: my “adele” pairing (“WE COULD HAVE HAD IT AAAAAALL”)

Root/Shaw
Bran/Jojen
Sansa/Margaery
Bucky/Natasha
Jackson/April 
Jon/Dany
Mike/Ginny
Thor&Loki

This list could also be spitefully long, lbr. 

☁: my “angst” pairing

Dani/Grace
Gideon/Harrow
Red/Blue
Beth/Benny
Jon/Dany
Anakin/Padme
Anakin&Obi-Wan
WandaVision
Derek/Julie

Also pretty much every pairing I've written fic for. XD
 

✖: my “hate sex” pairing

Sansa/Yara
Root/Shaw
 

۞: my “working on it” pairing

Colin/Penelope (Bridgerton)
Sansa/Podrick
Mike/Ginny
 

ℨ: my favorite threesome

Arya&Gendry&Hot Pie
Bran/Jojen&Meera
 

☄: my “crack” pairing

Sansa/Yara
Reeve/Rufus
Ruffnut/Eret

Challenge #5

In your own space, promote a canon/talk about a part of canon that you love.

( The Queen's Gambit )



Challenge #6

In your own space, rec at least three fanworks that you didn’t create.

I'm running with The Queen's Gambit theme for this challenge!


( TQG Fic, Fanart, Gifsets/edits )

Challenge #4

In your own space, create some goals.

Late to the party, but here goes!

Writing: Finish An Exchange of Kings, write a NYR fic, write my chocolateboxcomm fic and treats if possible! I'm already 3000 words into Exchange, so I'm pretty confident I can keep these- haven't abandoned a fic in years, and with my headaches in the rearview again, focusing on a plot is possible again.
Edits: try to post a set a week on my tumblr. Keep improving the quality of my edits. Remember to watermark stuff so people aren't as tempted to steal and repost my GIFs- it's just the most annoying thing to see your own work come up in somebody else's post uncredited. :(
Reading: 100 books- already 4 books in thanks to Bridgerton. :)
Fandom: keep in touch on the discords I'm in, get a bingo at trope_bingo , keep up with DW reading list and comment instead of lurking like some underwater creature. Also fanfic comment Writing Month- try to comment on every fic I read this month, even if it's just a short response.
Personal: get a new job. My old job called and wants me to stay available. My hubby wants me to get a new FT position since he took a paycut starting in Dec. I'm going to look into ALT positions even though they mostly pay peanuts and expect loads of hours just because it'll be steady work.

Challenge #1: In your own space, introduce yourself!

Hi! I'm NRGburst (Energy) and I've been kicking around online fandom spaces since 2006. I'm mostly on tumblr, AO3 and Discord these days. She/her, Chinese-Canadian living in Japan. I write fic and meta and make GIFs, but I mostly use my DW to put up book review posts, icon posts and archive fic and fic recs. Right now my main fandom is The Queen's Gambit, but I'm also active in Game of Thrones/ASoIaF and Folk of the Air fannish spaces. This year I will probably also be squeeing about Bridgerton, Lucifer S5B and the new Murderbot book coming out in spring. Love friending people with similar fannish interests, so do say hi if any of the above sounds interesting! 

Challenge #14

In your own space, share your love for a trope, cliché, kink, motif, or theme. (Or a few!) What makes it particularly appealing for you? What do you like in fanworks featuring that trope?

I always love this particular challenge!

I still remember bumping into this in Trope Bingo a few years ago and going huh, new word, what does that mean? And now it is one of my favorite things, although I wouldn't call it a trope? It's more like a narrative device: a story told through diary entries or letters, and so associated tropes are often long distance relationships and/or body swap.

( Burn before reading )

Challenge #9 In your own space, promote at least one canon that you adore (old, new, forever fandom).

THIS MOVIE. Even thinking of this film makes me feel so many things?! I thought it would be a cute bodyswap film with hilarious hijinks and a side of romance, and it is-- but only for about the first third of the film. Then it starts adding more layers: the importance of connections and what counts as a tie that binds, relationships changing, and a mystery, underscored with the sense of baffling loss and disquiet when you suddenly lose one POV. It all comes together when they figure out the Plot Twist, and you end up going between excited over their gutsy caper, joyful and triumphant to utterly bereft again and then like, twisting in agonies of hope. Put the story together with the amazing RADWIMPS headed soundtrack and beautiful animation (with such attention to detail!) and a symbolic connecting thread that you realize has been in front of you the whole time and it just crystallizes that it was a work of art masquerading as lighthearted fare. I swear all of Japan went absolutely mad over this film (it was all I heard about all summer) when it was released and deservedly so.

You think you know the story: traditional country girl (Mitsuha), modern city boy (Taki), and an inexplicable magical connection that means they end up regularly swapping bodies in their sleep. The plot of the movie will surely be to find out why the swapping is happening, but basically the important thing is not to screw up life too much for the unexpected partner. There's the expected underlying theme of learned empathy despite their differences- illustrated beautifully in how they use her notebook: her notes are organized, neat and thorough while he sketches and scrawls instead ("Who the hell are you? What even is this place!?") with no regards to the lines or class material. Mitsuha cultivates a friendship with his crush/coworker Ms. Okudera in Taki's body and happily indulges in cafes in the Big City against Taki's wishes, while his quick temper and ignorance of things like using a sports bra similarly cause Mitsuha endless consternation whenever she returns to her body. The bickering they do through their phone diary entries is sooo funny. (Remember you're wearing a skirt! Guys are talking! This is basic human behaviour!) (Stop wasting my money already!) (It's your body I'm feeding! Besides, I'm working your shifts too!) XDDDD And of course, they end up learning good traits from each other despite never actually meeting- their communication is all done through texts and diary entries. (Epistolary is one of my favorite shippy tropes.)

Aaaand then the film changes direction, but I won't spoil it. It's such a good twist though! You will be like, DUH HOW DID I NOT SEE THAT and yet OMGGGGG NOOOO.

It's not a totally perfect film- Taki frequently gropes Mitsuha's boobs while in her body and it's played for laughs instead of as a violation. And honestly, I could have done without that last (first?) barrier between them because it seemed like contrived last minute conflict. But it's such a work of art and it will make you feel all the things, so I can't recommend it enough. 

Anyway, here are some of the fanworks I've made for this tiny fandom, and I would love, love, love to see more! (One of the links above is one of my GIFsets, the other is somebody else's)

Translations of their notes/texts in the movie Part 1, Part 2
Foodporn (Mitsuha's cafe addiction captured on Taki's phone)
Acting OOC in each other's bodies (GIFset)
Red string of fate (GIFset with meta, full of spoilers)

Deep Tie Knot (post canon fic, Taki/Mitsuha, 1251 words)
Bound (GoT crossover fic, Arya/Gendry, 34,488 words)

Recs!
Background info/meta/edit on the inspiration for the film, another poem/translation here
The ultimate meteor/comet GIFset (spoilers for the film)
Beautiful fanart of that last scene (spoilers, obviously)
That heartbreaking moment before twilight (GIFset)