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2507 / Fic - The Pitt

Both Normal to Want and Possible to Achieve
The Pitt | Robby/Collins | ~7000 words | Thanks to

trinityofone for audiencing/betaing.

(Also on AO3)

( 'I hear that you're concerned about the risks associated with geriatric pregnancies—' Robby said, 'You think that's what I'm really hung up on here?' Or, Robby gets knocked up. )

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Fandom Update

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Update, and today I learned...

It's double Sunday here in NZ - Monday's a public holiday, King's Birthday. Agh, that sounds so wrong - it's been Queen's Birthday all my life and I can't get used to the change. Elizabeth I is a hero of mine and even though Elizabeth II was nothing like her, at least she had the name. Anyway, another day to do Sunday things before I have to put out the garbage and tidy my flat so Fionna, who helps me beat it into shape once a week, can see the floor to do vacuuming and get at the kitchen sink without it being full of dishes.

Recently I learned how to warn for Major Character Death. AO3 have been doing a series of explanatory posts, and this time it was on ratings and warnings. I thought I knew what MCD meant although it's a trope I hardly ever write or otherwise depict, but I hadn't thought through what "major" means. I'd assumed it meant a protagonist or leading character from canon and fandom - one of the regulars, like Rodney, John, Teyla or Ronon from SGA, Fraser and the Rays from due South. But no, it means the prominence of the character in my transformative work. So if I write a fic focussing on Chuck the Gate Room technician and I kill him off at the end (he is rather in the front line, that close to the Stargate) then I need to warn for MCD because although he didn't even get a last name in canon, in my fic he was the protagonist. If I get you invested in a character, no matter how insignificant they are in canon, I need to warn you (or use CNTW) if I end up killing them. Makes sense; I just never thought it through before. Same goes for any original characters I invent.

Over at Drawesome we've finished the Mermay challenge and the theme for June is Pride! I hope people still mobilise to support each other in the US, while the corporates abandon their empty, performative support (fuck you, google, home depot, and the rest).

drawing of a group of smiling, diverse people holding up the pride flag, and smaller asexual and bisexual pennants. Two women are kissing. Text at right says: Pride! Drawesome Challenge #71.

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personal

The Day in Spikedluv (Saturday, May 31)

I hit the Pharmacy and the Bakery while I was downtown, then Stewart’s (for gas and milk) on the way home. I also stopped by the library to pick up more books (and spent some time later requesting more online). I did not get in a walk around the park, but I did take the dogs for a short walk when I got home. I hate having to carry an umbrella on my walks.

I did a load of laundry, a load in the dishwasher, the usual amount of hand-washing dishes, and scooped kitty litter. I also boiled the pasta to finish off the pasta salad, made cabbage salad for tomorrow, and baked chicken for the dogs’ meals. I grilled hamburgers for supper, to go with the pasta salad.

I watched some HGTV programs, finished the current Clare Fergusson mystery, visited with mom, and placed an online order for Pip.

Temps started out at 54.5(F) and reached 57.4. It rained most of the day and the wind picked up in the afternoon. Thankfully there was a lull in the rain so I could grill.

ETA: After we ate last night, Pip's buddy showed up with more BBQ chicken quarters! Pip was like, I didn't order them, I didn't ask him to get them!!! I've put the fear of BBQ chicken quarters into him, lol!

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Fannish 50

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The Bone Museum

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REC: Untitled Modern Spy AU by Irene (Our Flag Means Death, Izzy Hands/Roach)

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Current Mood: cheerful

Baseball!

Last night, long after I posted here. I gt a text from

mashfanficchick that zer friend Larry had posted on Facebook that he had a free ticket to today's Mets game, and as well a free ticket to a private pre-gamme party at the K Korner, and he was looking for someone to go with him. I was a little hesitant but decided to take him up on the offer.

The party was at 2:10, and the game at 4:10, so I had plenty of time for my Al-anon meeting first, but not the diner after. So I set my alarm for 9:00. And then I overslept.

I was late for the meeting, but not badly, I made it in during the opening, before reading the 12 steps. So that was OK.

After the meeting I went to the bus and took the 28 to Flushing. It was awfully crowded and I had to stand the whole way. But the 7 train to Citi Field was fine. I asked several security people the way to the K Korner, and found it just before Larry got there. We had to wait til they let us in to the party but that was only a short while.

There was food and music and beer, nothing else, but I had two hot dogs, a pretzel, some cookies and some popcorn, with a can of Coke cause I HATE beer. They gave out todays giveaway, which is a Hello Kitty Mets bobblehead. It's silly but cute.

A bit before the game started we went to our seats, which were pretty nice. Good view of the field,

The game was lovely. We won 8 to 2, against the Rockies. There was enough suspense to keep it interesting, and some good excitement, and several home runs.

Afterward we went back to Flushing together, and then took the 44 bus in opposite directions. I came home and Teamed the FWiB for almost an hour and a half. Then I got off and ordered a new purse because the zipper on mine has finally given way.

Then I got a small but necessary load of laundry together to take down tomorrow.

Tomorrow is Queens Pride, and I think I'll go after I drop off the laundry. More about that tomorrow.

Going to text and maybe call

mashfanficchick after I do this.

Gratitude List:

1. The FWiB.

2. My meetings and the people at them.

3. Larry and his baseball tickets.

4. Mets won!

5. The predicted rain didn't happen.

6. Clean laundry coming.

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i read things

Tian Guan Ci Fu [Heaven Official's Blessing], V. 1 by Mo Xiang Tong Xiu, translators Suika & Pengie

Funnily enough, the thing that gets me to actually read a MXTX novel is to assess getting it as a birthday present for someone who would give me no info on their current reading tastes and said they were willing to get anything, so based on some of their previous tastes, I considered a MXTX book and figured TGCF would be the most likely book of interest. So out from the library I got the first volume out to read it and assess it.

And it's funny and it's good, so I keep reading to see if the volume ends on a cliffhanger or not, and then I get to the Banyue arc. And I had been told the Banyue arc was racist but I was so not prepared for how racist it is. Right off the bat, it's "hello, nice to meet you, I'm a racist caricature" and then it *keeps getting worse*. So I plan to get the other volumes out from the library and read them myself, because this is enjoyable, but I'm unsure of the birthday present situation. I may go with something else.

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What's Making Me Happy Today: Old Skies

I spent the last two days playing Old Skies, the newest point-and-click adventure game from indie studio Wadjet Eye Games, and I ended up loving it!

Watch on YouTube

You play as the employee of a time travel company in the 2060s who accompanies clients—wealthy people, or academics with grants—to the past for nostalgic or educational experiences. She is also often hired to change the past, within the company's algorithmically defined parameters for what can be changed while preserving the "important" parts of the present timeline. As a result of her job, the protagonist is one of the few people anchored in the timeline who is aware of the constantly flickering reality around her, in a world that's always rippling with the aftereffects of these commissions.

It's a way of living that the protagonist begins to have more questions about as some of the cases she's handling start to overlap with each other and with her personal life.

The game has a lot of elements that I tend to like in this studio's games, including many well-developed NPCs to meet, puzzles that are interestingly varied but not fiendishly challenging, a point of view to the story, and some clever mechanics. Wadjet Eye has always leaned toward having diverse casts of characters, but this is definitely the queerest game from them that I've played so far, which was a happy surprise.

My usual complaints about Wadjet Eye games persist on just two fronts: 1) the voice acting is generally great, but there's always one or two odd choices in the mix that sound jarring, and 2) they obviously care a lot about music when it comes to licensed or commissioned songs, but the background soundtrack often just loops around in ways that don't match what's going on in a scene. But those are obviously very minor issues, and this was overwhelmingly a well-made and thought-provoking game that I had a great time playing and couldn't put down once I'd started it.

Current Mood: sad
Current Music: Slime stream

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… man

So today has been a day of two halves.

As predicted mum’s friend wanted to get something, but thankfully it was early so I could zoom to down and come back (while also getting some stuff from Iceland, headache meds and an Agatha Christie book from a charity shop).

That meant I was back home in time for lunch and then could squirrel myself away for the twitch con No Dice panel. I expected it to be just a look back on the show which was fr the first half and then… well I’ll get to that. Was was funny was Krow was serving in its outfit, Bek and Aimsey looked nice, Owen had a slutty crop top and then there was Tubbo all in green which was ridiculous.

They played clips from the show which was fun to see all the mentions of various things (like Gwen dying constantly) but then Owen reminded us of how inconclusive the ending was… so they were going to do an actual ending! It was so cool getting everyone to play their characters in a renewed timeline and it was so funny (especially Tubbo playing both of his characters talking to each other). And then when everyone got togetlher some started to remember the events of the story (and ahhh there was a Zee/Martin moment which made me squee) and then there was an actual ending with fancy art that I hope they post. It was so incredible and awesome.

When I came down we took Naryu for a little walk and then I made notes for a fic idea (it’s one that needs a bit of planning) and then did a lil to the fic I’m working on….

But then there was the Doctor Who season finale, which I knew would be a distraction. And it was, but now in the aftermath it feels my creative energy has gone. Which, judging by that and the subject of the post? You can probably get the vibe of my thoughts on the ep.

But if you wanna know them in detail it’s behind the cut and, as it’s a season finale, it’s spoilery.

( Read more... )

Current Mood: sleepy
Current Music: Mets beating the Rox on tv

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goes right back to that breaking ball

Recs update!

unfitforsociety has been updated for May 2025 with 13 story recs and 2 vid recs in 3 fandoms:

✭ 12 Batfamily
✭ 1 Star Wars
✭ 1 Avengers vid and 1 Star Wars vid

***

I bought some string cheese a couple weeks ago on sale and today I breaded and fried it into mozzarella sticks. So good to eat! So messy to clean up after!

I slept poorly again last night - I had to shut the window while it was raining, and I don't know if it's the barometric pressure that's been giving me these headaches, but I don't like it. At least this cool rainy weather meant I made it all the way through May without turning on the AC. It looks like I will probably start needed it next week though. Last year, I signed up for the thing where they charge you the same amount each month to smooth out the ups and downs, which I've grown to prefer to the $110 swings in my electric bill come summer.

In other news, I learned that there really is a cocoa shortage and I'm not imagining it. So I'm glad I stocked up from King Arthur. Unfortunately, the bag had a small tear in it, so everything in the box it shipped with was covered in a fine dusting of cocoa powder. 🤨 But I washed it all and transferred the cocoa into a ziplock so it's all nice and tidy now.

***

Current Mood: determined

Happy pride month!

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Weekend + books (read before the weekend)

One of my favorite things about not having plans and not having to study is that I can do things spontaneously, like meet up with friends to go shopping and have food and then go for a walk to see some sheep and goats that I had no idea were there so my biologist friend could delightedly poke at the dung to find beetles.
One of my favorite things about staying at my friends' house for a few days is that I don't have "I should do chores/clean/tidy" run in the back of my head at all times. I still found things to procrastinate on - an exchange letter, leaving fic comments etc - but overall it was very relaxed. I'm getting better at Beat Saber.

Books I read recently:
The Burning Kingdoms trilogy by Tasha Suri: The Jasmine Throne, the Oleander Sword, the Lotus Empire. This series has been on my to-read list for a while and I finally got around to reading it. I enjoyed it a lot! I enjoyed the Indian-inspired setting and the complicated politics of it with many different groups, and I liked the development of the main characters both separately and together. ( Spoilers )

Emily Wilde's Map of the Otherlands by Heather Fawcett: I enjoyed this much less than the first book in the series, sadly. At one point I complained to LB, who's actually worked at a university, that I thought the portrayal of academia was unrealistic, and he said that it's not that unrealistic provided the character in question is a bit of an asshole. ( Spoilers )

The Firm by John Grisham: The first non-SFF book I read since April 2022, according to Goodreads, wow okay. And the first non-SFF novel since February 2022. I decided to read it because the lecturer of one of my business law classes mentioned it, and I didn't give up early even though the writing is clunky. In the first half I really liked the slowly growing sense of creeping dread from the dangers the reader sees but the main character doesn't. ( Spoilers: that was the best part ) I don't regret that I read it but only because now I know.

Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins: I started with this one instead of "The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes" because I got this one first from the library, but in hindsight I wonder if that was a mistake. It worked on its own but I strongly suspect I missed many connections. Conversely, it's been many years since I read the original trilogy but there were almost too many connections and similarities for my taste, it seemed a bit repetitive. To be fair there's only so many ways the Hunger Games can differ. ( Spoilers )

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Fortune Wheel Week 3 - Riddick and The Old Guard Fics

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Ripping through every poem like a vampire should, and it takes one to know 'em like I knew you would

It's Saturday! And a day when I don't have to work, so I slept in until nearly 7:30. It was lovely. My back feels a bit better today, which is nice. I'm still going to take my anti infammatories for a couple of more days, though.

Yesterday was bugfuck busy. We had a bunch of late cancellations, so I was getting a TON of emails to schedule urgent patients in those spots. It was a lot. But that's okay, we got a lot of urgent patients the slots they needed. After work, I had our annual training material to work through. Honestly, I did most of it while I was working, and just fucked around for the majority of the hour afterwards that I was supposed to be training. I get paid OT for the extra hour, so I'm happy.

Today is kind of a question mark. We have a game at 12:30, and my sister has a birthday party, so that part is done. The question will be what we do afterwards. I got a grocery order to make hot pot, so that may be what we do for dinner. This may depend on whether the hot pot itself gets here on time. Otherwise, we may do the hot pot in a fondue pot, which will sadly only allow for one broth. (the hot pot has a divider that lets you do two. My grocery order, which has the hot pot meats is due in between 9:30 and 12:30, so hopefully it gets here before game.

I got so much shit. Dipping sauces and rice cakes and gyoza as well as the meats. I ordered from Weee!, which is an Asian grocery delivery service. I swear, they have everything. If the delivery goes smoothly, and the stuff is good, I can see making them a regular part of our shopping.

Tomorrow my sister has another birthday party, and I have a game at 1pm, so I'll have to see what we're going to have for dinner.

And now, I must get myself together, as I am going to get a pedicure. My toenails desperately need attention, but with my back, I definitely can't do it right now, so off to let a pro handle it.

Everyone have an excellent Saturday!

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The Day in Spikedluv (Friday, May 30)

I had the final follow-up visit with my surgeon this morning. There is a sore spot on my foot (not where the incision was) that she thinks might be from scar tissue, and there’s a bit of swelling (that I hope will be taken care of when I get walking again), but other than that I’ve been given a clean bill of health!

I hit Price Chopper and Agway while I was downtown and got in a short walk around the park. (And another short walk at home with the puppers.)

I did two loads of laundry, changed kitty litter, and did the usual amount of hand-washing dishes. I grilled country style pork ribs for Pip’s supper, cut up veg for a pasta salad I’ll put together tomorrow, and had a tossed salad for my own supper.

I watched the current eps of Leverage: Redemption and Murderbot, started the next Clare Fergusson book, and talked with my mom.

I didn’t mention this previously because I felt stupid about it, but the day I ate fruit, I ate too much pineapple and instead of just a tingling sensation, it actually burned my mouth, so bad that it created sores on my tongue. So sore. Still bothering me. I’ve never had that happen before.

Temps started out at 54.5(F) and reached 76.2. But it was overcast and breezy, so it didn’t feel like a nice 76. The weekend is supposed to be in the 50s again, with rain at least on Saturday.

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Linkspam: Metas on SFFsetting Queernormativity and D/s

D/s

( Very much NSFW )

“Queernorm”

@/specialagentartemis on “Queernorm Fantasy Settings” as a concept here on tumblr

I found this a very interesting read, because it mirrors and articulates my frustrations with the trend (genre?).

I also took the opportunity to finally crosspost my mini-meta from last year about Beau & Molly and the way CR’s Wildermount Campaign Setting and their characters as presented in the show conflict with the show texts’ ideas of a world “without queerphobia” here on dreamwidth.

*little note that the "" in this post aren't meant to make fun of the concept btw, I found it very enjoyably handled e.g. in several romance novels with secondary world settings, but I do have some quibbles with the construction.

Does anyone else have any good examples of "queernorm" being handled well/interestingly or further thoughts and metas? The notes of that post of course have a lot of Le Guin and Ancillary Justice mentions, of course, and I always must bring up Bloodchild, but I feel like there must be more out there. For all that I was not actually impressed with The Stars Are Legion's handling of gender, the pure reproductive aspect was interesting.

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REC: Untitled Chibi Jim by StarBramble (Our Flag Means Death, Jim Jimenez)

Fandom 50 #18

Untitled Chibi Jim by StarBramble
Fandom: Our Flag Means Death
Character: Jim Jimenez
Medium: Art
Length: 1 piece
Rating: SFW
My Bookmark Tags: action/adventure, happy ending, portrait, clothing, blades

Description:

A chibi-style drawing of a smiling Jim Jimenez in a fencing pose with their dagger, dressed in their season 2 outfit.

This is just super cute. I love Jim's adorkable moments on the show, and I always love a good juxtaposition of cuteness and deadliness. Jim's ready to star in their own stabby Little Golden Book here, complete with a loving representation of my favourite ensemble of theirs: the undercut, the mustard-colour shirt hanging artfully open at the collar, the suspenders, the earring. I just want to take them home with me.

Current Mood: okay

Al-anon evening

Got up this morning at 10:00 and had therapy on the phone at 11:00. That was good. My therapist is thinking of retiring. Which would leave me with a new therapist I assume. Not sure I like that idea.

My pension money came as scheduled so I paid my rent and the first payment to the credit card company for Oldest Brother's service.

I ate breakfast and had coffee, then puttered around for awhile before having a shower and dressing. My copy of Written on the Dark arrived and I put it in my suitcase. However, annoyingly, something that I knew was supposed to arrive, a card from Miri S (I have the mail preview thing that the post office provides set up, so I know it should have arrived) didn't. It looks like she forgot my apartment number. I Facebooked her to thank her anyway and let her know in case it got sent back to her.

I hung a picture, the wizard cat that the Kid gave me, with the Command hooks I got, and I also hung the ornament from the Mother's Day card the Kid got me. I have a couple more pictures to hang but these hooks won't be strong enough for them.

I did a tiny amount of cleaning in the living room, just enough to be able to say I did, as I'm going back to the pledge I made to do some cleaning every day.

Aside from that I mostly puttered around until 5:00 when I went into the Bronx for my Al-anon meeting. I left early because I walked to the bank before I went to my usual dinner at the pizzeria. I missed a bus and thought I would have to wait a long time for the next one, but it came very quickly and was almost empty. Go figure.

The meeting was good, and afterward I got a ride to the bus stop with K. It had started raining a little, but wasn't when I got home so that's good.

Came home and Teamed the FWiB. We talked for almost an hour, which was nice.

Then I fed the pets and started here.

Gratitude List:

1. The FWiB.

2. Got those things hung.

3. My meetings and the people there.

4. Paid the rent.

5. Didn't get caught in heavy rain.

6. Pizza.