(no subject)

Jul. 12th, 2025 11:29 am
skygiants: the aunts from Pushing Daisies reading and sipping wine on a couch (wine and books)
[personal profile] skygiants
lest you think that having returned The Pushcart War to its rightful owner I went away with my bookshelves lighter! I did NOT, as she pushed 84, Charing Cross Road into my hands at the airport as I was leaving again with strict instructions to read it ASAP.

This is another one that's been on my list for years -- specifically, since I read Between Silk and Cyanide, as cryptography wunderkind Leo Marks chronicling the desperate heroism and impossible failures of the SOE is of course the son of the owner of Marks & Co., the bookstore featuring in 84, Charing Cross Road, because the whole of England contains approximately fifteen people tops.

84, Charing Cross Road collects the correspondence between jobbing writer Helene Hanff -- who started ordering various idiosyncratic books at Marks & Co. in 1949 -- and the various bookstore employees, primarily but not exclusively chief buyer Frank Doel. Not only does Hanff has strong and funny opinions about the books she wants to read and the editions she's being sent, she also spends much of the late forties and early fifties expressing her appreciation by sending parcels of rationed items to the store employees. A friendship develops, and the store employees enthusiastically invite Hanff to visit them in England, but there always seems to be something that comes up to prevent it. Hanff gets and loses jobs, and some of the staff move on. Rationing ends, and Hanff doesn't send so many parcels, but keeps buying books. Twenty years go by like this.

Since 84, Charing Cross Road was a bestseller in 1970 and subsequently multiply adapted to stage and screen, and Between Silk and Cyanide did not receive publication permission until 1998, I think most people familiar with these two books have read them in the reverse order that I did. I think it did make sort of a difference to feel the shadow of Between Silk and Cyanide hanging over this charming correspondence -- not for the worse, as an experience, just certain elements emphasized. Something about the strength and fragility of a letter or a telegram as a thread to connect people, and how much of a story it does and doesn't tell.

As a sidenote, in looking up specific publication dates I have also learned by way of Wikipedia that there is apparently a Chinese romcom about two people who both independently read 84, Charing Cross Road, decide that the book has ruined their lives for reasons that are obscure to me in the Wikipedia summary, write angry letters to the address 84 Charing Cross Road, and then get matchmade by the man who lives there now. Extremely funny and I kind of do want to watch it.

Speak Up Saturday

Jul. 12th, 2025 04:13 pm
feurioo: (music: guesch etienne mv)
[personal profile] feurioo posting in [community profile] tv_talk
Assortment of black and white speech bubbles

Welcome to the weekly roundup post! What are you watching this week? What are you excited about?

heck yeah, let's get groceries

Jul. 12th, 2025 08:01 am
marcicat: (cat with heart)
[personal profile] marcicat
(Went through several options for 'heck yeah' for today's post... groceries was the final winner!)

Very important to get groceries today, because I'm out of delicious fruit cups and also protein shakes, and in these difficult days (aka summer) those have pretty much been my go-to 'this sounds like something I an eat' options. WHY ARE SEASONS SO CHALLENGING.

(I do understand that my body is doing its best, and I appreciate that! It's just that sometimes my best means thinking 'I'm hungry' and then blank-staring into space for a long while as I try to determine what will solve that problem.)

My latest Guardian fanworks

Jul. 12th, 2025 12:48 pm
facethestrange: (guardian: xiao wei lollipop)
[personal profile] facethestrange posting in [community profile] sid_guardian
2 Weilan drawings, 2 Weilan fics, 1 Zhubai fic. :)

I'm Fine, Xiao Wei by facethestrange
Fandom: 镇魂 | Guardian (TV 2018)
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Shen Wei/Zhao Yunlan
Characters: Shen Wei (Guardian), Zhao Yunlan
Additional Tags: Ye Olde Haixing Era, Catching Hurt Character as They Collapse, Character doesn't realize how badly they're hurt until they collapse, Character who is clearly not fine insists they are fine, Hurt/Comfort, Fanart, Drawing
Summary: Zhao Yunlan gets injured in battle and tries to walk it off until he can't anymore. (He still doesn't think there is a problem, though.)

Renewed Interest by facethestrange
Fandom: 镇魂 | Guardian - priest, 镇魂 | Guardian (TV 2018)
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Shen Wei/Zhao Yunlan
Characters: Shen Wei (Guardian), Zhao Yunlan
Additional Tags: Accidental arousal while cuddling for comfort, Implied Sexual Content, Awkward Boners, Cuddling & Snuggling, Spooning, Blushing, Fanart, Drawing
Summary: Zhao Yunlan may be exhausted, but he's not this exhausted.

Diplomatic Emergency (1091 words) by facethestrange
Fandom: 镇魂 | Guardian (TV 2018)
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Shen Wei/Zhao Yunlan
Characters: Shen Wei (Guardian), Zhao Yunlan, Guo Changcheng
Additional Tags: Fuck Or Die, Extremely Consensual Fuck or Die, Established Shen Wei/Zhao Yunlan, Implied Sexual Content, Fade to Black, POV Alternating, POV Outsider, Humor, Hand-Wavy Dixing Powers (Guardian), hand-wavy post-canon, a lot of hand-waving in general, Guardian Bingo
Summary: "I'm fine, you don't need to worry," Zhao Yunlan replies. "It feels a bit like my skull is exploding, but I'm fine. Oh, and everything is a very curious shade of orange, but I'm sure I can sleep it off."

"Orange? What did you drink last night?"

Tomorrow (376 words) by facethestrange
Fandom: 镇魂 | Guardian (TV 2018)
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Shen Wei/Zhao Yunlan
Characters: Shen Wei (Guardian), Zhao Yunlan
Additional Tags: Ye Olde Haixing Era, Alcohol, Attempted Seduction, Hand Kisses, Drunk Shen Wei (Guardian), Tenderness
Summary: Oh, Xiao Wei, I don't think you should drink this.

That's not something anyone can say to the Black-Cloaked Envoy in the company of his subordinates. So Zhao Yunlan doesn't.

Lie to Me (292 words) by facethestrange
Fandom: 镇魂 | Guardian (TV 2018) RPF, Chinese Actor RPF
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Bai Yu/Zhu Yilong
Characters: Bai Yu (Actor), Zhu Yilong
Additional Tags: Not A Happy Ending, but they love each other a lot, not a happy ending for Weilan either, is this character bleed? it's not NOT character bleed
Summary: "They really wanted it to be true."

Bai Yu knows exactly what Long-ge is talking about — Shen Wei and Zhao Yunlan. And, more importantly, not Shen Wei and Zhao Yunlan.
china_shop: Chu Shuzhi and Guo Changcheng looking at each other, with the text "Nope. Still not scared." (Guardian - ChuGuo still not scared)
[personal profile] china_shop posting in [community profile] sid_guardian
Guardian novel readalong.


Hi, and welcome to this week's installment of the Guardian novel readalong!

Here are last week's chapters, and you can find all previous discussions in the schedule posts (part 1, part 2, part 3, part 4), or via the !readalong tag.

This week's chapters:

Chapter 19: At the Great Seal, Lin Jing discusses their predicament with Shen Wei and meditates effectively. At the police station in the mountains, Daqing and Chu Shuzhi meet up with Guo Changcheng. Daqing shifts into human form and tells Changcheng that the souls of the dead are still at the resort; Changcheng and Chu Shuzhi decide to go to find them.
Chapter 20: Zhao Yunlan goes to the court of the Ten Yanluo Kings with Zhu Hong and sasses the Kings. A reaper reports that the Great Seal has broken, and an earthquake shakes the court. Zhao Yunlan demands to see the Reincarnation Cycle. The Qin'guang King shows him the Soul-Guarding Lamp. At the Seal, Shen Wei comes out to Lin Jing as the Emissary, and Lin Jing pulls out the icicle. Shen Wei heals and reveals that he's been manipulating Ghost Face. Meanwhile, Chu Shuzhi and Guo Changcheng search the resort for souls. (Guo Changcheng records a dead courier's last message.) They're joined by a rogue cultivator who tries to make conversation but has a disturbing shadow. A huge youchu bursts out of the ground.

The corresponding chapters in the Chinese version on JJWXC and the fan translation are chapters [tbc].

Excerpts:

1) Lin Jing and Shen Wei strategise )

2) Chu Shuzhi explains that the Ghost Face problem is above their paygrade )

3) Daqing finds his human body hideous and explains some gui lore )

4) Zhao Yunlan is unimpressed with the Ten Kings' Hell Expo and has no more fucks to give )

5) Shen Wei is blasé about his chest icicle )

6) Chu Shuzhi is softening towards Guo Changcheng, despite himself )

Questions:

How many points does Lin Jing get for a) attempting to communicate with a youchu, b) keeping calm and meditating on, and c) not falling out of the tree when Shen Wei revealed his Emissary identity? Where did the youchu learn human speech? How wounded would Shen Wei have to be to admit that he wasn't fine? Does the SID really only employ people who can hyperfocus, or is hyperfocus a side-effect of the Soul-Guarding Order? What do you think of the descriptions of the different hells? How adorable are Chu Shuzhi and Guo Changcheng? How well are you following what's going on with the Seal and Shen Wei's machinations? And do you have any thoughts about how moments in these chapters affected or were remixed in the drama adaptation?

(As usual, these are all just conversation starters - feel free to answer all, some, or none, and to say as much or as little as you like! You don't have to be keeping up with the readalong!)

Our schedule for this round -- please sign up to host a post if you can!

Daily Check In.

Jul. 11th, 2025 07:06 pm
adafrog: (Default)
[personal profile] adafrog posting in [community profile] fandom_checkin
This is your check-in post for today. The poll will be open from midnight Universal or Zulu Time (8pm Eastern Time) on Friday to midnight on Saturday (8pm Eastern Time).


Poll #33349 Daily poll
Open to: Access List, detailed results viewable to: Access List, participants: 22

How are you doing?

I am okay
13 (59.1%)

I am not okay, but don't need help right now
8 (36.4%)

I could use some help.
1 (4.5%)

How many other humans are you living with?

I am living single
9 (40.9%)

One other person
9 (40.9%)

More than one other person
4 (18.2%)




Please, talk about how things are going for you in the comments, ask for advice or help if you need it, or just discuss whatever you feel like.

Sidetracks - July 11, 2025

Jul. 11th, 2025 06:51 pm
helloladies: Gray icon with a horseshoe open side facing down with pink text underneath that says Sidetracks (sidetracks)
[personal profile] helloladies posting in [community profile] ladybusiness
Sidetracks is a collaborative project featuring various essays, videos, reviews, or other Internet content that we want to share with each other. All past and current links for the Sidetracks project can be found in our Sidetracks tag. You can also support Sidetracks and our other work on Patreon.
Read more... )

2025 sweater #1: Thorn & Embers

Jul. 11th, 2025 01:02 pm
teaotter: (Default)
[personal profile] teaotter
I promised y'all a post about making my first sweater this year. Here it is!

tldr: Finished in all its glory:

a hand-knitted sweater with a complex pattern: something kind of like a black houndstooth on a background of shifting burnt umber / purple-ish brown / golden brown, with black knitted cuffs and crew neck collar.

(Though I have to say, the colors in this sweater do *not* photograph properly with my phone. It's a lot more brick than yellow, and there's a gradient from the bottom to the top. The digital editor in my camera is determined to edit this like there's no tomorrow.)

more process nattering and photos under the cut )

Music rec

Jul. 11th, 2025 02:46 pm
clevermanka: default (Default)
[personal profile] clevermanka
I just found out about this band and I'm sharing the joy everywhere I can

fic rec Friday

Jul. 11th, 2025 07:35 am
marcicat: (stripey cat)
[personal profile] marcicat
reasoning made lucid and cool, by The_Onion

“I brought you here to act as Iris’ security consultant,” it said, like Iris wasn’t three floors down from us doing kegstands. “If you manage to unpack something while we’re here, that’s all you.”

(no subject)

Jul. 11th, 2025 07:46 am
extrapenguin: Northern lights in blue and purple above black horizon. (Default)
[personal profile] extrapenguin
July is half gone already, and just yesterday I got a flyer from the town hall about "summer events in [my locale]".

Me: But summer is almost over???

(But for real, people taking their summer vacations in August feels so wrong, like wishing someone Merry Christmas in February. Summer is over! Schools are starting! Except here they aren't. Also the sun has kept setting, so emotionally I've had a May that's three months long.)

Also I'm about to disappear into [community profile] battleshipex for two-three weeks. Good luck everyone, have fun, sign-ups are over but you can still drop a prompt or twenty if you want.

(no subject)

Jul. 10th, 2025 11:33 pm
skygiants: the aunts from Pushing Daisies reading and sipping wine on a couch (wine and books)
[personal profile] skygiants
I mentioned that I did in fact read a couple of good books in my late-June travels to counterbalance the bad ones. One of them was The Pushcart War, which I conveniently discovered in my backpack right as I was heading out to stay with the friend who'd loaned it to me a year ago.

I somehow have spent most of my life under the impression that I had already read The Pushcart War, until the plot was actually described to me, at which point it became clear that I'd either read some other Pushcart or some other War but these actual valiant war heroes were actually brand new to me.

The book is science fiction, of a sort, originally published in 1964 and set in 1976 -- Wikipedia tells me that every reprint has moved the date forward to make sure it stays in the future, which I think is very charming -- and purporting to be a work of history for young readers explaining the conflict between Large Truck Corporations and Pugnacious Pushcart Peddlers over the course of one New York City summer. It's a punchy, defiant little book about corporate interest, collective action, and civil disobedience; there's one chapter in particular in which the leaders of the truck companies meet to discuss their master plan of getting everything but trucks off the streets of New York entirely where the metaphor is Quite Dark and Usefully Unsubtle. Also contains charming illustrations! A good read at any time and I'm glad to have finally experienced it.

Post-canon flashfic: Winging It (gen)

Jul. 11th, 2025 02:19 pm
china_shop: Zhu Hong smiling to herself. (Guardian - Zhu Hong smile)
[personal profile] china_shop posting in [community profile] sid_guardian
I wrote this for the Science challenge on [community profile] fan_flashworks:

Title: Winging It (600 words) [General Audiences]
Fandom: 镇魂 | Guardian (TV 2018)
Characters: Ya Qing, Lin Jing, Zhao Yunlan, Zhu Hong, Original Yashou character, Da Qing
Additional Tags: Post-Canon, Alternate Universe - Everyone Lives/Nobody Dies, Yashou Renewal, Education, A New Era for the SID, Kidfic, Drabble Sequence, Community: fan_flashworks
Summary:

The Crows need a science tutor.

Daily check-in

Jul. 10th, 2025 07:48 pm
mecurtin: Icon of a globe with a check-mark (fandom_checkin)
[personal profile] mecurtin posting in [community profile] fandom_checkin
This is your check-in post for today. The poll will be open from midnight Universal or Zulu Time (8pm Eastern Time) on Thursday, July 10, to midnight on Friday, July 11 (8pm Eastern Time).

Poll #33348 Daily check-in poll
This poll is closed.
Open to: Access List, detailed results viewable to: Access List, participants: 25

How are you doing?

I am OK
17 (70.8%)

I am not OK, but don't need help right now
7 (29.2%)

I could use some help
0 (0.0%)

How many other humans live with you?

I am living single
9 (37.5%)

One other person
11 (45.8%)

More than one other person
4 (16.7%)



Please, talk about how things are going for you in the comments, ask for advice or help if you need it, or just discuss whatever you feel like.

Admin: Poll: Challenge tags

Jul. 10th, 2025 04:33 pm
teaotter: (fan-flashworks)
[personal profile] teaotter posting in [community profile] fan_flashworks
Background: Dreamwidth has a 1500-tag limit, and [community profile] fan_flashworks is constantly bumping up against it. So we have an ongoing tag management project to try to gain ourselves some elbow room. You might have seen our periodic posts about merging old single-use fandom tags. Unfortunately, we are coming to the end of the easily-merged fandom tags, and so need to find another way to reduce our tag use.

Today's topic: We mods have been talking about the challenge tags (c: amnesty, c: science, etc.) These tags label an entry as responding to a particular prompt (or being part of an amnesty round).

We're not sure if anyone's actually using these! So we wanted to check in with you all before deciding between A) removing them entirely, or B) leaving only the ones from the last 12 months (and only tagging amnesty posts with the amnesty tag). Option A) would make our mod lives easier, but if they are serving a purpose for some of you, we definitely want to take that into account when making our decision. :-)

If we remove the challenge tags, we will change the standard subject-line format for all rounds to "[challenge]: [fandom]: [medium]: [title]", ie, the same as the current format for amnesty rounds. Community members are welcome to go back and add the challenge to the subject lines of previous entries, too (though we know that for some of you, that would be a Herculean task!).

Please take a moment to vote in this poll.

Poll #33347 Challenge tags
Open to: Registered Users, detailed results viewable to: Just the Poll Creator, participants: 22

How do you use the challenge tags here?

I don't use them.
14 (63.6%)

I use them to find new-to-me fanworks for a specific prompt.
2 (9.1%)

I use them to filter out fanworks that don’t interest me.
0 (0.0%)

I use them to find specific fanworks on the community that are already familiar to me.
1 (4.5%)

I use them (in addition to my maker tag) to find my own fanworks.
5 (22.7%)

I use them some other way. (Please elaborate in the comments.)
3 (13.6%)

So that's what those tags are! I never knew!
1 (4.5%)

Challenge 485: Face

Jul. 10th, 2025 04:21 pm
teaotter: a woman looks over her shoulder (Resident)
[personal profile] teaotter posting in [community profile] fan_flashworks
Our new challenge is:

FACE



As always, you can interpret the prompt literally or figuratively, in whatever way works for you.

Each work created for this challenge should be posted as a new entry to the comm. Posting starts now and continues up until the challenge ends at 4pm Pacific Time on Sunday, July 20th. No sign-up required.

Mods will tag your work with fandom and challenge. When you've posted entries to three consecutive challenges, you will earn a name tag, and we'll go back and tag all your previous entries with your name.

All kinds of fanworks in all fandoms are welcome. Please have a look at our guidelines before you play. If you have any questions or concerns, don't hesitate to contact a mod. And if you have any suggestions for future challenges, you can leave them in the comments of this post.

Also, keep an eye out for the next [community profile] ffw_social post, which will go up in the next couple of days. If you haven't joined the [community profile] ffw_social comm, it's never too late to come and check it out. (Posts are locked, which means you have to join to see them.)
teaotter: A chinese woman in a historic palace maid outfit looks to the side, against a navy background (Wei Yingluo plots)
[personal profile] teaotter posting in [community profile] fan_flashworks
Title: by the fancy tie 'round your wicked throat
Fandom: City of Streamers (mods: you can use the Cdrama tag)
Pairing: Feng Shizhen/Rong Jiashang
Warnings: no spoilers past the first episode, spies and the way their relationships get complicated, manipulative romance between two adults (ages 26/20) but the older one has been hired as a tutor to help the younger get into a better university
Length: ~500 words

Summary: Flirting is part of the plan. Feelings are not.

Read more... )

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