"the day's too pretty gotta get some sun" (mark mcguinn)
Apr. 8th, 2026 05:42 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
starandreaThe dahlias are 6 inches tall on a 14-inch shelf, with a 23-inch replacement shelf available below them. They are five weeks old with five weeks to go until the frost-free date. At this rate I think we might make it. v
( picture )
The cannas, on the other hand, are apparently growing roots instead of greenery. Very sensible! They are two weeks old and still only an inch of growth showing above the soil. This is, dare I say, very sustainable. I do not have enough soil or space to pot all of them, but I might pot a few more to give them a head start on May. v
( picture )
More seedlings have appeared! Here they are on their way upstairs to the sun. v
( picture )
And here I am, sunning them and my dog at the same time. v
( picture )
In conclusion, some mini-daffodils. v
( picture )
( picture )
The cannas, on the other hand, are apparently growing roots instead of greenery. Very sensible! They are two weeks old and still only an inch of growth showing above the soil. This is, dare I say, very sustainable. I do not have enough soil or space to pot all of them, but I might pot a few more to give them a head start on May. v
( picture )
More seedlings have appeared! Here they are on their way upstairs to the sun. v
( picture )
And here I am, sunning them and my dog at the same time. v
( picture )
In conclusion, some mini-daffodils. v
( picture )
Spring Drabble 08/30: The Professionals, Thaw
Apr. 8th, 2026 09:26 pmkat_lair***
Title: Thaw
Author:kat_lair
Fandom: The Professionals
Pairing: Bodie/Doyle
Tags: Drabble, Spring
Rating: G
Word count: 100
Summary: Everything is dripping
Author notes: Spring defiance from under the crushing forces of capitalism = a drabble a day in April. This one forkitarella_imagines who wanted some Bodie/Doyle.
Thaw on AO3
( Thaw )
***
Title: Thaw
Author:
kat_lair Fandom: The Professionals
Pairing: Bodie/Doyle
Tags: Drabble, Spring
Rating: G
Word count: 100
Summary: Everything is dripping
Author notes: Spring defiance from under the crushing forces of capitalism = a drabble a day in April. This one for
kitarella_imagines who wanted some Bodie/Doyle.Thaw on AO3
( Thaw )
***
Naruto: What Brings Us Together
Apr. 8th, 2026 09:37 pmsasheneskywalker posting in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
fancakeFandom: Naruto
Pairings/Characters: Senju Tobirama/Uchiha Madara
Rating: Mature
Length: 6,014 words
Creator Links:![[archiveofourown.org profile]](https://p2.dreamwidth.org/b164c54b26e4/-/archiveofourown.org/favicon.ico)
Askerian
Theme: forced marriage, arranged marriage, asexual & demisexual characters
Summary: "Oh," Izuna said -- delicately, while studiously reading his folder, "I'm afraid we need someone with a ... strong personality for Naohime."
"Why's that?" Hashirama replied, just as painfully polite.
The daimyo's mediator kept watching them and scratching little pointy words in his notebook.
"Because if your man doesn't prove that he's dangerous and has the personality to use it on her if she pushes him, it's going to turn abusive," Madara drawled.
Hashirama stared at him for a blank second. The daimyo's envoy stopped writing; even his stone-faced Aburame bodyguard arched her eyebrows over her darkened spectacles.
Tobirama stretched out across the table without another word to take back one of the folders Izuna had spread around him.
--
The daimyo is over the whole Uchiha/Senju war. They're going to become one people if they know what's good for them.
Madara hates it enough without having to marry a woman too.
Reccer's Notes: Fun oneshot! Hot, with a really interesting relationship dynamic, and I also love how it touches on gray asexuality <3
Fanwork Links: What Brings Us Together
Pairings/Characters: Senju Tobirama/Uchiha Madara
Rating: Mature
Length: 6,014 words
Creator Links:
Theme: forced marriage, arranged marriage, asexual & demisexual characters
Summary: "Oh," Izuna said -- delicately, while studiously reading his folder, "I'm afraid we need someone with a ... strong personality for Naohime."
"Why's that?" Hashirama replied, just as painfully polite.
The daimyo's mediator kept watching them and scratching little pointy words in his notebook.
"Because if your man doesn't prove that he's dangerous and has the personality to use it on her if she pushes him, it's going to turn abusive," Madara drawled.
Hashirama stared at him for a blank second. The daimyo's envoy stopped writing; even his stone-faced Aburame bodyguard arched her eyebrows over her darkened spectacles.
Tobirama stretched out across the table without another word to take back one of the folders Izuna had spread around him.
--
The daimyo is over the whole Uchiha/Senju war. They're going to become one people if they know what's good for them.
Madara hates it enough without having to marry a woman too.
Reccer's Notes: Fun oneshot! Hot, with a really interesting relationship dynamic, and I also love how it touches on gray asexuality <3
Fanwork Links: What Brings Us Together
![[syndicated profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/feed.png){kind=small}
Bridgerton: A Red Thread of Convenience by ronandhermy
Apr. 7th, 2026 09:37 pmbeatrice_otter posting in fancakeFandom: Bridgerton
Pairings/Characters: Anthony/Kate
Rating: teen
Length: 46k
Creator Links:ronandhermy
Theme: Arranged marriage, AU, fork in the road, marriage of convenience, happy endings, marriage
Summary: At the age of eighteen Kate Sharma, after sending a desperate letter to her father's homeland, receives aid in the form of a letter from Lady Danbury who has arranged a match for the young woman. With only a letter, a promise and hope, Kate takes her mother and sister and sails to England where she is to marry Lord Anthony Bridgerton.
Reccer's Notes: I really enjoyed this take on how Kate and Anthony might have met when they were younger, and all the changes it would have brought.
Fanwork Links: A Red Thread of Convenience
Pairings/Characters: Anthony/Kate
Rating: teen
Length: 46k
Creator Links:
Theme: Arranged marriage, AU, fork in the road, marriage of convenience, happy endings, marriage
Summary: At the age of eighteen Kate Sharma, after sending a desperate letter to her father's homeland, receives aid in the form of a letter from Lady Danbury who has arranged a match for the young woman. With only a letter, a promise and hope, Kate takes her mother and sister and sails to England where she is to marry Lord Anthony Bridgerton.
Reccer's Notes: I really enjoyed this take on how Kate and Anthony might have met when they were younger, and all the changes it would have brought.
Fanwork Links: A Red Thread of Convenience
"strictly out of curiosity, what would happen if you got with me" (old dominion)
Apr. 8th, 2026 12:24 amstarandreaI know some people (especially in the west) have lots of legitimate concerns about LLM as AI, and many of them will not be as amused as I am by the ways in which Google's AI results present themselves in response to partial searches.
Nonetheless, I smiled at the return when I attempted to verify Old Dominion as the performer of the song "Snapback." I typed the opening lyrics "strictly out of curiosity" into google and accepted the suggestion "strictly out of curiosity what would happen"
Google's AI overview replied, "Based on the lyrics to 'Snapback' by Old Dominion, if you got with them, they would likely kiss you, skip rocks, and start something new together that night. They would focus on you in a snapback, T-shirt, and Ray-Bans, taking midnight selfies and making memories."
My point is, I'm not sure today's weather was strictly necessary.
( picture )
Nonetheless, I smiled at the return when I attempted to verify Old Dominion as the performer of the song "Snapback." I typed the opening lyrics "strictly out of curiosity" into google and accepted the suggestion "strictly out of curiosity what would happen"
Google's AI overview replied, "Based on the lyrics to 'Snapback' by Old Dominion, if you got with them, they would likely kiss you, skip rocks, and start something new together that night. They would focus on you in a snapback, T-shirt, and Ray-Bans, taking midnight selfies and making memories."
My point is, I'm not sure today's weather was strictly necessary.
( picture )
520 Day Reverse Exchange 2026 assignments are out!
Apr. 8th, 2026 01:27 amtrobadora posting in sid_guardianIf you signed up for this year's 520 Day Reverse Exchange, you should now have received your assignment email. (If not, check your spam folder!)
What to do next:
All entries will go live on Wednesday 20th May (520 Day). Please keep your assignment a secret until then!
General info, schedule and minimum requirements
We hope you enjoy creating for your assignment, and we can't wait to see what you come up with! *\o/*
What to do next:
- Reply to your assignment email now, so we know you've received it. Please don't change the subject line.
- If you have any concerns about your assignment, let us know ASAP by replying to the email. (Again, please don't change the subject line!)
- Create a fanwork for your assignment. Make sure it fits your recipient's requested canon(s), media, pairing(s) or character(s), and rating(s), and doesn't include anything they've said they don't want. Remember that specific scenarios and prompts are optional. Have fun!
- Post your completed fanwork to the AO3 collection by 11:59PM UTC Wednesday 13th May! (What time is that for me?).
- On the AO3 collection page, click "Post to Collection" at the top of the page.
- Enter your recipient's AO3 name under "Gift this work to".
- Please keep any creator's notes or other commentary positive.
- Keep your assignment secret! If you need to host fanart or podfic on a different site, make sure it's not visible/searchable on that site before reveals on 20th May.
- To make edits to your work after posting, you can access it via your AO3 Statistics page.
- If something comes up that means you can't complete your assignment by the deadline, please contact us ASAP so we can discuss an extension or, if necessary, find a pinch-hitter.
All entries will go live on Wednesday 20th May (520 Day). Please keep your assignment a secret until then!
General info, schedule and minimum requirements
We hope you enjoy creating for your assignment, and we can't wait to see what you come up with! *\o/*
30 nights of revelry at koi tower
Apr. 7th, 2026 05:47 pmstarandreaOh, right. That was what happened when I wrote Lan Xichen/Nie Mingjue; it's coming back to me.
That is just 2000 words of soap opera, right there.
“I’m sorry,” Lan Huan says, and it’s more bitingly sarcastic than he’s been in years. “What did you want me to think? I slept with you and you decided to die. What exactly am I supposed to take from that?”
(Also it's chapter 28/30 in a story that's 14th in a million-word series, so I'm not claiming it makes sense out of context. But I really enjoyed rereading it.)
That is just 2000 words of soap opera, right there.
“I’m sorry,” Lan Huan says, and it’s more bitingly sarcastic than he’s been in years. “What did you want me to think? I slept with you and you decided to die. What exactly am I supposed to take from that?”
(Also it's chapter 28/30 in a story that's 14th in a million-word series, so I'm not claiming it makes sense out of context. But I really enjoyed rereading it.)
Spring Drabble 07/30: MCR, Yellow
Apr. 7th, 2026 06:42 pmkat_lair***
Title: Yellow
Author:kat_lair
Fandom: My Chemical Romance/Bandom
Pairing: Gerard/Mikey
Tags: Drabble, Sibling Incest, painting
Rating: T
Word count: 100
Summary: There’s yellow paint on Gerard’s wrist.
Author notes: Spring defiance from under the crushing forces of capitalism = a drabble a day in April. This one forpushkin666's prompt 'MCR - Gerard/Mikey – yellow'.
Yellow on AO3
( Yellow )
***
Title: Yellow
Author:
kat_lair Fandom: My Chemical Romance/Bandom
Pairing: Gerard/Mikey
Tags: Drabble, Sibling Incest, painting
Rating: T
Word count: 100
Summary: There’s yellow paint on Gerard’s wrist.
Author notes: Spring defiance from under the crushing forces of capitalism = a drabble a day in April. This one for
pushkin666's prompt 'MCR - Gerard/Mikey – yellow'.Yellow on AO3
( Yellow )
***
The latest book
Apr. 6th, 2026 03:59 pmsholioI finished edits on Luke over the weekend (Westerly Cove 4). Feel free to grab a copy 'til it goes live on Amazon on April 17!
Get it on Bookfunnel:
https://dl.bookfunnel.com/30s06n16u7
(Blurb is still a work in progress.)
Get it on Bookfunnel:
https://dl.bookfunnel.com/30s06n16u7
(Blurb is still a work in progress.)
"another day will make it clear, why your stars should guide us here" (mark knopfler)
Apr. 6th, 2026 05:46 pmstarandreaI'm taking the dog to the park, then I'm coming back to watch episode 4. Or write. Or both.
(I should watch episodes that have Nie Mingjue in them to further the writing agenda. He's such an easygoing guy in my mind; I have no idea why. Maybe because the only time I think of him it's from Lan Xichen's perspective and I imagine them being childhood sweethearts.)
Actually I'm watering the dahlias first. But all of you are the best, just FYI.
...
Okay, I'm not gonna lie, I didn't watch episode 4.
♥ ( Episodes 10 & 23 )
(I should watch episodes that have Nie Mingjue in them to further the writing agenda. He's such an easygoing guy in my mind; I have no idea why. Maybe because the only time I think of him it's from Lan Xichen's perspective and I imagine them being childhood sweethearts.)
Actually I'm watering the dahlias first. But all of you are the best, just FYI.
...
Okay, I'm not gonna lie, I didn't watch episode 4.
♥ ( Episodes 10 & 23 )
umadoshiEaster Monday. I slept pretty badly (repeatedly waking, and not taking ibuprofen when I first woke with a headache; I've absorbed the notion of "if possible, don't take ibuprofen if you're going to be lying down right afterward" and this tends to result in this exact situation of "wake up in the night with headache, tell self you'll go back to sleep and it'll go away [which never works], wake again later with no reduction in headache, take ibuprofen when about to lie back down anyway").
I had slightly larger, albeit still small, ambitions for today prior to the bad sleep, but we ventured out briefly on an unsuccessful quest for scones (we verified the shop was open and I even called ahead to try to make sure they had scones, but I got voicemail and no one returned my call, so we gambled and lost). Ah well.
( all the rest is various food talk [with a bit about eating + blood glucose aggravation] )
I had slightly larger, albeit still small, ambitions for today prior to the bad sleep, but we ventured out briefly on an unsuccessful quest for scones (we verified the shop was open and I even called ahead to try to make sure they had scones, but I got voicemail and no one returned my call, so we gambled and lost). Ah well.
( all the rest is various food talk [with a bit about eating + blood glucose aggravation] )
Spring Drabble 06/30: SKZ, Sunshine
Apr. 6th, 2026 02:11 pmkat_lair***
Title: Sunshine
Author:kat_lair
Fandom: Stray Kids
Pairing: Chan/Changbin
Tags: Drabble, Tenderness, Pining
Rating: G
Word count: 100
Summary: When Changbin gets back from the gym, Chan is asleep on the sofa.
Author notes: Spring defiance from under the crushing forces of capitalism = a drabble a day in April. This one forpushkin666's prompt 'SKZ - Chan/Changbin - sunshine'.
Sunshine on AO3
( Sunshine )
***
Title: Sunshine
Author:
kat_lair Fandom: Stray Kids
Pairing: Chan/Changbin
Tags: Drabble, Tenderness, Pining
Rating: G
Word count: 100
Summary: When Changbin gets back from the gym, Chan is asleep on the sofa.
Author notes: Spring defiance from under the crushing forces of capitalism = a drabble a day in April. This one for
pushkin666's prompt 'SKZ - Chan/Changbin - sunshine'.Sunshine on AO3
( Sunshine )
***
"nature's first green is gold, her hardest hue to hold" (robert frost)
Apr. 5th, 2026 06:54 pmstarandreaMe, deciding whether to bring back the phrase "yin sword" in a new story* with limited understanding of how references to "yin metal" were made in The Untamed: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
*(It's the last sentence of Walk the Night Roads. Basically my version of a twitter fic, where you tell what happens in the story instead of telling the story itself. Of course I don't know what happens in the story, so that makes it more entertaining. To me.)
Me, idly trying to retrace my research into mercury as the yin-est of metals and something that wealthy people actually used in Ancient China to absorb and stabilize "resentful energy" in tombs: ...
Me, instead discovering that the phrase "yin metal" is a thing in English because the "gold" in TCM's five elements probably meant "refined metal" in Ancient China: huh
(The five great sects are the five elements, right, and I absolutely cannot** remember that Jin Sect is earth and Nie sect is metal, because in Chinese "gold" is pronounced "jin." METAL, Star. Metal blades. Maybe that will help.)
**...What! I did not know "can not" is preferentially spelled "cannot" until TODAY. Editors have been correcting me for years; "it's cannot, Star" and I'm like "it's not, but okay" and every time I forget they fix it for me, which is very kind. But I genuinely thought they just liked "cannot" more than "can not" and now I find out that everyone does? Is this the result of reading too many Star Trek novels as a child where Spock's style of contraction-less speech is so emphasized? Why is "cannot" correct and "donot" isn't?
...Clearly I need to continue watching this show. Because of the yin iron, not the contractions. And apparently not because of my own story, where I do what I want.
♥ ( Episode 3 )
*(It's the last sentence of Walk the Night Roads. Basically my version of a twitter fic, where you tell what happens in the story instead of telling the story itself. Of course I don't know what happens in the story, so that makes it more entertaining. To me.)
Me, idly trying to retrace my research into mercury as the yin-est of metals and something that wealthy people actually used in Ancient China to absorb and stabilize "resentful energy" in tombs: ...
Me, instead discovering that the phrase "yin metal" is a thing in English because the "gold" in TCM's five elements probably meant "refined metal" in Ancient China: huh
(The five great sects are the five elements, right, and I absolutely cannot** remember that Jin Sect is earth and Nie sect is metal, because in Chinese "gold" is pronounced "jin." METAL, Star. Metal blades. Maybe that will help.)
**...What! I did not know "can not" is preferentially spelled "cannot" until TODAY. Editors have been correcting me for years; "it's cannot, Star" and I'm like "it's not, but okay" and every time I forget they fix it for me, which is very kind. But I genuinely thought they just liked "cannot" more than "can not" and now I find out that everyone does? Is this the result of reading too many Star Trek novels as a child where Spock's style of contraction-less speech is so emphasized? Why is "cannot" correct and "donot" isn't?
...Clearly I need to continue watching this show. Because of the yin iron, not the contractions. And apparently not because of my own story, where I do what I want.
♥ ( Episode 3 )
Slo-Mo Rewatch: schedule update
Apr. 5th, 2026 08:39 pmtrobadora posting in sid_guardianYou may have noticed that we've taken a break from the rewatch for a bit longer than originally planned, but we're ready to get back in the saddle!
The Slo-Mo Rewatch will continue next week with the second half of episode 13. Upcoming:
(I'm so looking forward to revisiting this episode! :D)
Here is our updated schedule - please consider hosting a post if you can:
Weekend of 10 April - episode 13 from 21:43
Weekend of 17 April - episode 14 up to 21:05
Weekend of 24 April - episode 14 from 21:05
Weekend of 1 May - episode 15 up to 23:56
Weekend of 8 May - episode 15 from 23:56
The Slo-Mo Rewatch will continue next week with the second half of episode 13. Upcoming:
- Ying Chun and Ya Qing!
- "I thought we were friends."
- ENVOY REVEAL :D
(I'm so looking forward to revisiting this episode! :D)
Here is our updated schedule - please consider hosting a post if you can:
Weekend of 10 April - episode 13 from 21:43
Weekend of 17 April - episode 14 up to 21:05
Weekend of 24 April - episode 14 from 21:05
Weekend of 1 May - episode 15 up to 23:56
Weekend of 8 May - episode 15 from 23:56