Fandom Snowflake Challenge #9
Jan. 23rd, 2026 11:40 amGonna try to catch up on these! I’ve been hyperfixating on Port Royale 4 and neglecting everything writing and adjacent. The ninth
snowflake_challenge prompt is to talk about favorite tropes.
I think the trope I’m most closely associated with is Crack Treated Seriously. I adore taking a seemingly insane premise and taking it to its fullest potential. I’m pretty damn good at it, if I say so myself. I also love Soulmates and Idiots in Love.
Instant vid rec.
Jan. 23rd, 2026 03:21 pmThe Black Phone is a film that's vaguely been on my list of things to see for a few years now, but I never got around to it. This vid slaps though! Highly recommend watching with the lights dimmed and headphones on. Such good build and atmosphere.
House by
evewithanapple.
Also, while I'm not in Heated Rivalry fandom, I am a fan of excellent vidders. And I know for a fact these vidders are most excellent. *firm nod*
Gimme Sympathy by
tafadhali.
We're so close to something better left unknown
Blow by
bingeling.
You taste like cigarettes.
Go get your boys!
(and I won't do today's Snowflake Challenge, but you're all awesome and enrich my life in a myriad of ways ❤️)
House by
Also, while I'm not in Heated Rivalry fandom, I am a fan of excellent vidders. And I know for a fact these vidders are most excellent. *firm nod*
Gimme Sympathy by
We're so close to something better left unknown
Blow by
You taste like cigarettes.
Go get your boys!
(and I won't do today's Snowflake Challenge, but you're all awesome and enrich my life in a myriad of ways ❤️)
A Reckoning of Swords 21-23
Jan. 23rd, 2026 08:42 amA bit of archiving, a lot of something. I realized that despite it being two and a half years since I started the new site, I hadn't moved any of my FFVII fic. Not a bit. I have now moved my two Crisis Core fics and will work on the rest sooner than later. But then again, I also had no Kingdom Hearts until I was nudged. (I think some of it is the sheer size of those categories? And knowing this is still a multi-year effort. Even if I manage five fics (or chapters thereof) a day for an entire year, that's only 1825 items, which is nothing compared to the ~2500-not-counting-chaptered-stuff on AO3 + all the original fic I couldn't post there because AO3 sucks and everything I've written since mid-2023. So, like, catching up is task for the bastard child of Hercules and Sisyphus.)
I'm pretty sure I've mentioned some of the everything about my 2003 NaNo novel, too. How I went to archive it, realized I'd always meant to finish editing and expanding it a bit, but actually re-write it - meant to do it last year and, uh, last year happened. Anyway, dead set on doing it this year! Except the main copy was on the website that's gone. Oh, well, surely it's on my journal! Nope! Okay, to the Wayback Machine! Nope! I dug out the old php files and dumped it into some private entries for my future use.
Main things to do with it:
- less padding smut
- remove friend's cameo character
- words we don't use anymore
- remove some of the real-world canons and substitute some fictional ones*
- tighten up the expies a bit
- yeah idek it just needs a lot and that's okay
*the main reason for this aside from unlimited plot potential with the fictional fandoms is the story is set in 2003 and had plenty of commentary on things like Guilty Gear which made sense in 2003 but are a little jarring in the Year of Our Dude 202X.
I don't know if it'll end up being 50k words still, or shorter or longer. My original thoughts on the story were that it was too short for NaNo, and it possibly was hence a lot of weird padding and things just being... weird.
I also have one KH fic and one FFVII fic that I didn't archive on AO3 for Reasons and I'll have to eventually make decisions with those, too...
I'm pretty sure I've mentioned some of the everything about my 2003 NaNo novel, too. How I went to archive it, realized I'd always meant to finish editing and expanding it a bit, but actually re-write it - meant to do it last year and, uh, last year happened. Anyway, dead set on doing it this year! Except the main copy was on the website that's gone. Oh, well, surely it's on my journal! Nope! Okay, to the Wayback Machine! Nope! I dug out the old php files and dumped it into some private entries for my future use.
Main things to do with it:
- less padding smut
- remove friend's cameo character
- words we don't use anymore
- remove some of the real-world canons and substitute some fictional ones*
- tighten up the expies a bit
- yeah idek it just needs a lot and that's okay
*the main reason for this aside from unlimited plot potential with the fictional fandoms is the story is set in 2003 and had plenty of commentary on things like Guilty Gear which made sense in 2003 but are a little jarring in the Year of Our Dude 202X.
I don't know if it'll end up being 50k words still, or shorter or longer. My original thoughts on the story were that it was too short for NaNo, and it possibly was hence a lot of weird padding and things just being... weird.
I also have one KH fic and one FFVII fic that I didn't archive on AO3 for Reasons and I'll have to eventually make decisions with those, too...
Fannish webpage templates
Jan. 23rd, 2026 08:24 amI made a template for media/fic recs (depending on what you're looking for) that allows users to select if filters are inclusive or exclusive, and filters automatically for results. It uses Javascript, so if you want to do advanced customizations you might need a little bit of familiarity there. But you don't have to if your needs are pretty similar to the default settings, and I explain (pretty thoroughly, I like to think) how to use the code in the documentation: https://fan.kingdra.net/recs/
Installation is done directly through the live previews, and also available on Github: https://github.com/aroceu/recs-template
Image preview:

This code is usable on Neocities, Nekoweb, and anything similar!
A while back, I also wrote up CSS to make fics downloaded from AO3 as HTML files look prettier. If anyone is importing their fics from AO3 to Neocities/Nekoweb/wherever as HTML files and want to make them look nicer than the default styling, you might be interested: https://fan.kingdra.net/ao3css/
Please feel free to let me know if you have any questions, run into any bugs, whatever! ♥
Installation is done directly through the live previews, and also available on Github: https://github.com/aroceu/recs-template
Image preview:

This code is usable on Neocities, Nekoweb, and anything similar!
A while back, I also wrote up CSS to make fics downloaded from AO3 as HTML files look prettier. If anyone is importing their fics from AO3 to Neocities/Nekoweb/wherever as HTML files and want to make them look nicer than the default styling, you might be interested: https://fan.kingdra.net/ao3css/
Please feel free to let me know if you have any questions, run into any bugs, whatever! ♥
Perfervid Antagonism
Jan. 23rd, 2026 10:54 pmI am having a sense of saudade at there never being the possibility of someone writing bad fic where Jack invites Daniel over to watch this new hockey show everyone is excited about, and then they find out exactly why…
…rated explicit, natch.
Also, don’t invent naughty hockey games over messenger involving sack tapping a puck on the ice.
…rated explicit, natch.
Also, don’t invent naughty hockey games over messenger involving sack tapping a puck on the ice.
The Day in Spikedluv (Thursday, Jan 22)
Jan. 23rd, 2026 07:26 amI hit Walmart while I was downtown, but only because they were running out of dog treats at the garage. (Pip’s father has taken on the task of providing treats for the dogs at the garage ever since we had our first dog, Shiloh, and Pip started taking him up as a puppy. But his dad was sick with bronchitis and missed a whole week and didn’t bring in anything this week when he came back, hence the need for me to pick something up.)
I did a load of laundry, hand-washed dishes, emptied the dishwasher and ran another load, went for several walks with Pip and the dogs, cut up chicken for the dogs' meals, and scooped kitty litter. We had spaghetti for supper. I also mixed up a meatloaf for tomorrow’s supper.
I got some more writing done! ~800 words today. I’m currently at ~8,000 on this fic and will easily make the 10,000 requirement for SFBB. I watched Best Medicine and some House Hunters International.
Temps started out at 34.3(F), which was a huge surprise! (The TWC app said it was going to be 18 for the overnight low and 33 for the high, which we’ve already exceeded.) It dropped a bit to 33.1 before I left. and reached 38.7.
The forecast for the snow storm has changed, but not for the better. Now they’re calling for 5-8" during the day Sunday, 5-8" overnight, and 1-3" on Monday. Really DNW! *cries*
I’ve heard that this storm is supposed to be massive and hit the south pretty hard, as well. I hope everyone in the path of this thing stays safe and warm.
Mom Update:
Mom was doing okay; tired, as usual. The slightest effort tuckers her out, which is really sad to see. We ate our lunch together. A friend of hers showed up while I was there and even stayed after I left. (She had to move her car so I could get out of the driveway, and sometimes she would take that as an excuse to leave, but she didn’t today.)
Sister S called while I was there and told mom she was bringing down supper for her. Meatloaf, which mom loves. She was looking forward to it, but afraid she wouldn’t be able to eat it.
I did a load of laundry, hand-washed dishes, emptied the dishwasher and ran another load, went for several walks with Pip and the dogs, cut up chicken for the dogs' meals, and scooped kitty litter. We had spaghetti for supper. I also mixed up a meatloaf for tomorrow’s supper.
I got some more writing done! ~800 words today. I’m currently at ~8,000 on this fic and will easily make the 10,000 requirement for SFBB. I watched Best Medicine and some House Hunters International.
Temps started out at 34.3(F), which was a huge surprise! (The TWC app said it was going to be 18 for the overnight low and 33 for the high, which we’ve already exceeded.) It dropped a bit to 33.1 before I left. and reached 38.7.
The forecast for the snow storm has changed, but not for the better. Now they’re calling for 5-8" during the day Sunday, 5-8" overnight, and 1-3" on Monday. Really DNW! *cries*
I’ve heard that this storm is supposed to be massive and hit the south pretty hard, as well. I hope everyone in the path of this thing stays safe and warm.
Mom Update:
Mom was doing okay; tired, as usual. The slightest effort tuckers her out, which is really sad to see. We ate our lunch together. A friend of hers showed up while I was there and even stayed after I left. (She had to move her car so I could get out of the driveway, and sometimes she would take that as an excuse to leave, but she didn’t today.)
Sister S called while I was there and told mom she was bringing down supper for her. Meatloaf, which mom loves. She was looking forward to it, but afraid she wouldn’t be able to eat it.
Fandom Snowflake 2026 Challenge #12
Jan. 23rd, 2026 04:30 amChallenge #12:
Make an appreciation post to those who enhance your fandom life. Appreciate them in bullet points, prose, poetry, a moodboard, a song... whatever moves you!
Stop me if I'm doing this wrong... but hey. lets just make this like a reverse call out post.
Dear
queenslayerbee
To you I dedicate this song: {X}
I'm so glad we're friends and that you don't think my incessant discord messages are annoying XD
You've become my accidental writing accountability buddy. And also someone who inadvertently reminds me to keep using this journal. The few strides I've made in writing this year have been things I look forward to telling you about. You're so very kind with your encouragement and empathy. And I'm always amazed at your writing and your passion for your chosen fandoms. You have put me onto so many writing opportunities. Like, I can't believe I never knew the joys of commentfic and bitesized exchanges. You keep me engaged, is what I am trying to say. And you have such brilliant (and correct!) opinions all of the time and one of my great joys is that sometimes we get to be huuuuge haters together.
* * *
Dear
shiegra
To you I dedicate this song: {X}
We can so easily pick up where we left off. Just, always and without fail. And that's a rarity for me, because, well, you know how I get when I leave things too long. You are maybe The Big reason why I never sink into that hole of loneliness. You're the light of my life and I'm proud of you always. You enhance my everyday life, not just my time spent with fandom. Love you babes.
Dear
scorpiod
To you I dedicate this song: {X}
This is maybe out of the blue because we haven't spoken in years. But I recently remembered Batman with a Personality Transplant and i lost my ever loving shit. I'm not kidding, I fell out of my chair remembering how dense I was when that happened XD Its the sort of joke that sneaks up on me, and also the sort that you can't really explain without ruining the humor. Its a you-had-to-be-there thing. And though the ancient days of tumblr and google chat are long behind us, all those specific ridiculous memories are wonderful and I think of them often and fondly.
Hope you're well, always. (And Heather, too.)
Dear Readers
To you I dedicate this song {X}
Had to double back for this one. My return to writing has been bitter sweet because its hard to reconcile all the time I wasn't creative or productive. But the number of people who have sent messages and left comments telling me that they are glad to see and hear from me again has been unexpected. And just. Amazing. I live to share my work and all my dreamed up nonsense. Knowing that there is such positive and enthusiastic reception makes the difference. So thank you. You make all of this feel all the more worthwhile.
Make an appreciation post to those who enhance your fandom life. Appreciate them in bullet points, prose, poetry, a moodboard, a song... whatever moves you!
Stop me if I'm doing this wrong... but hey. lets just make this like a reverse call out post.
* * *
Dear
To you I dedicate this song: {X}
I'm so glad we're friends and that you don't think my incessant discord messages are annoying XD
You've become my accidental writing accountability buddy. And also someone who inadvertently reminds me to keep using this journal. The few strides I've made in writing this year have been things I look forward to telling you about. You're so very kind with your encouragement and empathy. And I'm always amazed at your writing and your passion for your chosen fandoms. You have put me onto so many writing opportunities. Like, I can't believe I never knew the joys of commentfic and bitesized exchanges. You keep me engaged, is what I am trying to say. And you have such brilliant (and correct!) opinions all of the time and one of my great joys is that sometimes we get to be huuuuge haters together.
* * *
Dear
To you I dedicate this song: {X}
We can so easily pick up where we left off. Just, always and without fail. And that's a rarity for me, because, well, you know how I get when I leave things too long. You are maybe The Big reason why I never sink into that hole of loneliness. You're the light of my life and I'm proud of you always. You enhance my everyday life, not just my time spent with fandom. Love you babes.
* * *
Dear
To you I dedicate this song: {X}
This is maybe out of the blue because we haven't spoken in years. But I recently remembered Batman with a Personality Transplant and i lost my ever loving shit. I'm not kidding, I fell out of my chair remembering how dense I was when that happened XD Its the sort of joke that sneaks up on me, and also the sort that you can't really explain without ruining the humor. Its a you-had-to-be-there thing. And though the ancient days of tumblr and google chat are long behind us, all those specific ridiculous memories are wonderful and I think of them often and fondly.
Hope you're well, always. (And Heather, too.)
* * *
Dear Readers
To you I dedicate this song {X}
Had to double back for this one. My return to writing has been bitter sweet because its hard to reconcile all the time I wasn't creative or productive. But the number of people who have sent messages and left comments telling me that they are glad to see and hear from me again has been unexpected. And just. Amazing. I live to share my work and all my dreamed up nonsense. Knowing that there is such positive and enthusiastic reception makes the difference. So thank you. You make all of this feel all the more worthwhile.
Snowflake Challenge 12: Appreciation
Jan. 23rd, 2026 04:02 amSnowflake Challenge 12: Appreciation
Today's challenge is all about delivering appreciation where it's due. Who makes your fandom life better?
Make an appreciation post to those who enhance your fandom life. Appreciate them in bullet points, prose, poetry, a moodboard, a song... whatever moves you!

( Read more... )
Today's challenge is all about delivering appreciation where it's due. Who makes your fandom life better?
Make an appreciation post to those who enhance your fandom life. Appreciate them in bullet points, prose, poetry, a moodboard, a song... whatever moves you!

( Read more... )
oddities in reading
Jan. 23rd, 2026 08:58 pmUsually when someone goes reading through my work, they go through multiple fics in a single fandom, kudosing all the way. (It's a nice feeling.)
I've just had someone who's kudosed a single story each of SG1, Firefly, Merlin, JLU, Harry Potter, and Atlantis, and two stories of The Bourne Identity.
Now I'm wondering how the others just didn't hit their buttons...
Also, the stories in each were "oddball" - not the major or popular pairing in most cases, and often not one of my more popular stories.
For instance, the Merlin fic they kudos'd was Merlin & Gwen, modern AU, which is not even close to common for the fandom!
I've just had someone who's kudosed a single story each of SG1, Firefly, Merlin, JLU, Harry Potter, and Atlantis, and two stories of The Bourne Identity.
Now I'm wondering how the others just didn't hit their buttons...
Also, the stories in each were "oddball" - not the major or popular pairing in most cases, and often not one of my more popular stories.
For instance, the Merlin fic they kudos'd was Merlin & Gwen, modern AU, which is not even close to common for the fandom!
Fandom Snowflake 2026 Challenge #9
Jan. 23rd, 2026 02:00 amChallenge #9
Talk about your favorite tropes in media or transformative works.
My tastes in tropes are so varied depending on the fandom. And making lists is pretty much impossible. I'll be here until August if i try.
But tier rankings? Apparently more doable for me.
( Read more... )
The S-Tier Highest of High Godsend Tropes:
Talk about your favorite tropes in media or transformative works.
My tastes in tropes are so varied depending on the fandom. And making lists is pretty much impossible. I'll be here until August if i try.
But tier rankings? Apparently more doable for me.
( Read more... )
The S-Tier Highest of High Godsend Tropes:
- AMNESIA FIC... i've said it before, i'll say it again. its the perfect trope. the crème de la crème of tropes, nothing else compares. the drama and danger, the loss of identity and agency, the tabula rasa effect. is the memory loss accidental or inflicted? is their mind control or manipulation involved? is the character happier this way? is the character redeemable this way? how do relationships change or suffer?
- SOULMATE AU... soulmates, soulmarks, soulbonds. with whatever known or unknown quantity is deciding Fate, i'm always thrilled with every possible human reaction to being slapped in the face with "wait... this guy? really universe?"
- CANON DIVERGENCE... canon is always just a starting point to a bigger, grander adventure. any story that splinters off into new territory, new narrative, new destinies is just my absolute favorite thing. it is just THE TRANSFORMATIVE WORKS trope if you think about it. it boils down to, why yes kind copyright holder, i see what you did there, but don't mind me if i just take it as a suggestion...
Follow Friday 1-23-26
Jan. 23rd, 2026 03:38 amGot any Follow Friday-related posts to share this week? Comment here with the link(s).
Here's the plan: every Friday, let's recommend some people and/or communities to follow on Dreamwidth. That's it. No complicated rules, no "pass this on to 7.328 friends or your cat will die".
Interview With The Vampire community
Jan. 23rd, 2026 10:14 am