(no subject)
Wednesday, February 18th, 2026 10:32 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
conulySo, you got my opinion on Heated Rivalry, but I gotta say, I will never not read fanfics structured like ongoing internet sagas.
Also, gotta love the one dude, BostonSportsBro69, who posts in both /r/relationship_advice and /r/hockey going around in /r/hockey saying "Uh, no, it's just normal sportsbro rival stuff, you're all reading way too much into this"when because he absolutely knows better. (I don't think he's supposed to be one of Ilya's teammates, just a fan.)
***************
( Links )
Also, gotta love the one dude, BostonSportsBro69, who posts in both /r/relationship_advice and /r/hockey going around in /r/hockey saying "Uh, no, it's just normal sportsbro rival stuff, you're all reading way too much into this"
( Links )
Hard Hat Mack (1983)
Sunday, February 22nd, 2026 09:54 ampauraqueThis early PC platformer is of no small historical interest, as it was the first game released by everybody's favorite totally uncontroversial and non-resented game publishing company, Electronic Arts. Like most of their titles then and now, it wasn't developed in-house; Michael Abbott and Matthew Alexander get the design and programming credit for this one.
But you don't need to me to tell you the illustrious history of EA (or, as it was briefly called at its inception, "Amazin' Software"—and I can't tell you how disappointed I am that we don't live in the timeline where they kept that name). I guess you also don't technically need me to tell you about this ridiculous game and my memories of playing it while being unable to identify most of the characters and objects it contains, but I'm going to go ahead anyway.
In Hard Hat Mack you play as a construction worker. I did understand that much. In the first level you have to collect pieces of a beam and use them to fill in the gaps, and then grab a wandering jackhammer to hammer them into place. ( This is where my understanding of the game began to break down; I thought the jackhammer was a tornado. )
Hard Hat Mack is... well, it sure is a game. You can find it on abandonware sites, but I couldn't really get it to run well on any version or emulator I tried. The DOS version (which I had as a kid) runs too fast in DOSBox by default, but when I reduced the clock speed I found that it lagged badly when multiple objects were moving, which made the second level pretty much unplayable. We probably shouldn't hold our breaths for EA to offer a re-release, and maybe that's for the best.
But you don't need to me to tell you the illustrious history of EA (or, as it was briefly called at its inception, "Amazin' Software"—and I can't tell you how disappointed I am that we don't live in the timeline where they kept that name). I guess you also don't technically need me to tell you about this ridiculous game and my memories of playing it while being unable to identify most of the characters and objects it contains, but I'm going to go ahead anyway.
In Hard Hat Mack you play as a construction worker. I did understand that much. In the first level you have to collect pieces of a beam and use them to fill in the gaps, and then grab a wandering jackhammer to hammer them into place. ( This is where my understanding of the game began to break down; I thought the jackhammer was a tornado. )
Hard Hat Mack is... well, it sure is a game. You can find it on abandonware sites, but I couldn't really get it to run well on any version or emulator I tried. The DOS version (which I had as a kid) runs too fast in DOSBox by default, but when I reduced the clock speed I found that it lagged badly when multiple objects were moving, which made the second level pretty much unplayable. We probably shouldn't hold our breaths for EA to offer a re-release, and maybe that's for the best.
Three is Not a Crowd PDPHs Due February 24
Sunday, February 22nd, 2026 10:17 ammaevedarcy posting in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
pinchhitsEvent: Three is Not a Crowd
Event link:threeisnotacrowd
Pinch hit link: PHs post at our comm
Due date: February 24 2026 23:59 (GMT-3)
We have the following PHs looking for a loving home.
PH 9 - Superman (Movie 2025), The Librarians (TV 2014), Leverage (US TV 2008), Star Trek: The Original Series, The Mandalorian (TV), Star Trek: Voyager, Constantine (TV), Marvel Cinematic Universe, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Crossover Fandom
PH 10 - Marvel Cinematic Universe, KPop Demon Hunters (2025), Boku no Hero Academia | My Hero Academia (Anime & Manga), Heated Rivalry (TV), 9-1-1 (TV), Arcane: League of Legends (Cartoon 2021), DCU (Comics), Marvel (Comics), Teen Wolf
PH 11 - Hazbin Hotel (Cartoon), Bugsnax (Video Game)
PH 12 - The Mummy (Movies 1999-2008), Original Work
Event link:
threeisnotacrowd Pinch hit link: PHs post at our comm
Due date: February 24 2026 23:59 (GMT-3)
We have the following PHs looking for a loving home.
PH 9 - Superman (Movie 2025), The Librarians (TV 2014), Leverage (US TV 2008), Star Trek: The Original Series, The Mandalorian (TV), Star Trek: Voyager, Constantine (TV), Marvel Cinematic Universe, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Crossover Fandom
PH 10 - Marvel Cinematic Universe, KPop Demon Hunters (2025), Boku no Hero Academia | My Hero Academia (Anime & Manga), Heated Rivalry (TV), 9-1-1 (TV), Arcane: League of Legends (Cartoon 2021), DCU (Comics), Marvel (Comics), Teen Wolf
PH 11 - Hazbin Hotel (Cartoon), Bugsnax (Video Game)
PH 12 - The Mummy (Movies 1999-2008), Original Work
Three is Not a Crowd: Final Pinch Hit post
Sunday, February 22nd, 2026 09:49 ammaevedarcy posting in threeisnotacrowdThe deadline has officially passed and these are our final PHs. Though lack to fill them will not hold reveals back, it would be nice for them to get a gift as well.
The deadline for these PHs is Feb 24 2026 @ 23:59 (GMT-3)
Did you get mod-defaulted but you think you can still complete your assignment before Feb 24 @ 23:59 (GMT-3)? Email the mod at maevedarcy at proton.me and you can get your assignment back!
Check our delicious PHs here:
( CLAIMED! - PH 9 - Superman (Movie 2025), The Librarians (TV 2014), Leverage (US TV 2008), Star Trek: The Original Series, The Mandalorian (TV), Star Trek: Voyager, Constantine (TV), Marvel Cinematic Universe, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Crossover Fandom )
( PH 11 - Hazbin Hotel (Cartoon), Bugsnax (Video Game) )
( PH 12 - The Mummy (Movies 1999-2008), Original Work )
To claim any of these PHs, please comment the number of PH you're claiming and your AO3 username on this post. Comments are screened.
If you have any questions about your assignment, don't forget you can contact the mod at maevedarcy at proton.me
If you didn't have time to sign up but would like to treat someone, check Three is Not a Crowd on the AutoAO3 App.
AO3 collection
The deadline for these PHs is Feb 24 2026 @ 23:59 (GMT-3)
Did you get mod-defaulted but you think you can still complete your assignment before Feb 24 @ 23:59 (GMT-3)? Email the mod at maevedarcy at proton.me and you can get your assignment back!
Check our delicious PHs here:
( CLAIMED! - PH 9 - Superman (Movie 2025), The Librarians (TV 2014), Leverage (US TV 2008), Star Trek: The Original Series, The Mandalorian (TV), Star Trek: Voyager, Constantine (TV), Marvel Cinematic Universe, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Crossover Fandom )
( PH 11 - Hazbin Hotel (Cartoon), Bugsnax (Video Game) )
( PH 12 - The Mummy (Movies 1999-2008), Original Work )
To claim any of these PHs, please comment the number of PH you're claiming and your AO3 username on this post. Comments are screened.
If you have any questions about your assignment, don't forget you can contact the mod at maevedarcy at proton.me
If you didn't have time to sign up but would like to treat someone, check Three is Not a Crowd on the AutoAO3 App.
AO3 collection
Projects and Bunnies
Saturday, February 21st, 2026 10:05 pmsenmut~ 10trueloves - 5/10 written
~ Fulcrum and Rex time travel to before Anakin runs to Mace. - NEEDS CANON REVIEW
~ Sequel to Retrieval - 93 WORDS
~ An Atin universe that is more like The Second Clone War or Mine, All of Them - 2 chapters written, each about 1k words
~ Rachel and Joe meet with BOTH finally aware in Closing Up Shop
~ Drizzt's fallout/Vierna's reactions in the Divining Destiny universe
nothing
10trueloves - 5/10 written Random Plot Bunnies in Progress
~ Fulcrum and Rex time travel to before Anakin runs to Mace. - NEEDS CANON REVIEW
~ Sequel to Retrieval - 93 WORDS
~ An Atin universe that is more like The Second Clone War or Mine, All of Them - 2 chapters written, each about 1k words
Potential Bunnies Pending Further Bouncing
~ Rachel and Joe meet with BOTH finally aware in Closing Up Shop
~ Drizzt's fallout/Vierna's reactions in the Divining Destiny universe
Finished
nothing
Three is Not a Crowd: The Deadline has passed
Sunday, February 22nd, 2026 12:38 ammaevedarcy posting in threeisnotacrowdThe deadline has officially passed.
Some 48-hours extensions were granted and, unofficially, any gifts that come in in the next 8 hours will be approved once I'm awake again. Please be on the lookout for our last PH post in a few hours.
Reveals are on Wednesday Feb 25 at 23:59 GMT-3 (Countdown here). You can take this time as an opportunity to proofread your work or treat someone by checking Three is Not a Crowd on the AutoAO3 App.
If you have any questions about your assignment, don't forget you can contact the mod at maevedarcy at proton.me
AO3 collection
Some 48-hours extensions were granted and, unofficially, any gifts that come in in the next 8 hours will be approved once I'm awake again. Please be on the lookout for our last PH post in a few hours.
Reveals are on Wednesday Feb 25 at 23:59 GMT-3 (Countdown here). You can take this time as an opportunity to proofread your work or treat someone by checking Three is Not a Crowd on the AutoAO3 App.
If you have any questions about your assignment, don't forget you can contact the mod at maevedarcy at proton.me
AO3 collection
Miscellaneous pet pics:
Saturday, February 21st, 2026 06:53 pmmistressofmusesIt's been a little bit. Have some pics of some creatures.
Bella yearns for apples.
(From back when I was trying to slowly work up to more solid food, ha.)
Bella watches the Westminster Dog Show.
(The American Kennel Club does not recognize the American Pit Bull Terrier as a breed, which is why Bella does her FastCAT and other titles under the "All American Dog" category. American Staffordshire Terrier is the closest to her breed.)
Majestic.
Cozy.
Berry Mad has turned her entire pond into her personal mud puddle.
Guava Splash!
Watching you.
Ripley the garter snake!
Ripley says :P
And Jaspurr! No one will out-comfy him.
In unrelated news, I did not dodge the cough. :( I hoped I was in the clear, because Alex was coughing by day three or four. After a week, I figured I was safe... but day nine? I think? brought the cough, which has only gotten worse today.
But in surgery recovery, the scabs and all their accompanying glue are finally gone! Incision sites are still quite tender, but seem to be healing up really well. I've had occasional twinges in my lower right abdomen (where my appendix was), but very slight and pretty infrequent, so nothing I'm too worried about.
Right now I really just wish the cold and accompanying cough would go away! I thought I was on the mend on Thursday, when I woke up still sick, but feeling much better than previous days... but alas, it was a false alarm, and I was back to crappy yesterday and today, but with extra cough! It's been kicking my ass, and I've been struggling to do much of anything the last several days. I'll try to get caught back up here as soon as I can.
Bella yearns for apples.
(From back when I was trying to slowly work up to more solid food, ha.)
Pictures of Bella, Berry Mad, Guava Splash, Ripley, and Jaspurr:
Bella watches the Westminster Dog Show.
(The American Kennel Club does not recognize the American Pit Bull Terrier as a breed, which is why Bella does her FastCAT and other titles under the "All American Dog" category. American Staffordshire Terrier is the closest to her breed.)
Majestic.
Cozy.
Berry Mad has turned her entire pond into her personal mud puddle.
Guava Splash!
Watching you.
Ripley the garter snake!
Ripley says :P
And Jaspurr! No one will out-comfy him.
In unrelated news, I did not dodge the cough. :( I hoped I was in the clear, because Alex was coughing by day three or four. After a week, I figured I was safe... but day nine? I think? brought the cough, which has only gotten worse today.
But in surgery recovery, the scabs and all their accompanying glue are finally gone! Incision sites are still quite tender, but seem to be healing up really well. I've had occasional twinges in my lower right abdomen (where my appendix was), but very slight and pretty infrequent, so nothing I'm too worried about.
Right now I really just wish the cold and accompanying cough would go away! I thought I was on the mend on Thursday, when I woke up still sick, but feeling much better than previous days... but alas, it was a false alarm, and I was back to crappy yesterday and today, but with extra cough! It's been kicking my ass, and I've been struggling to do much of anything the last several days. I'll try to get caught back up here as soon as I can.
Recruitment post!
Saturday, February 21st, 2026 04:58 pm![[staff profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user_staff.png){kind=small}
denise posting in ![[site community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/comm_staff.png){kind=small}
dw_advocacyNow recruiting: DW users who would be interested in the possibility of helping us out in one of these legal challenges, now or future!
If you would be open to the idea of potentially filing something with a court talking about the ways that the restrictions that Dreamwidth would have to impose to comply with a specific state's law (commonly, obligations like age verification via document scan or biometric verification, treating users as though they're underage until/unless they age-verify, etc) would have a chilling effect on your online activity and speech, and especially if you're a parent who would also be willing to explain to a court all the ways in which a specific state's law would interfere with or burden your parenting decisions: we're looking to assemble a list of people we can contact in the future if necessary.
If this sounds like you, please leave a comment with what state you currently live in. (Also, commenting is not a commitment, just you saying that you would be okay with us reaching out to you and seeing whether you were available/able to help.) I'm currently most interested in hearing from people from South Carolina, but the ubiquity of these laws being proposed means any state could be the next. All comments are screened so nobody but us can see them.
(Obligatory risk considerations: you would have to file under your wallet/government name, and there's a chance of having to associate your wallet name with your DW username to at least the court and to the state, if not publicly. If this could be a problem for you, don't risk it! But if you're willing and able, us being able to show the court a sworn statement from one of our users about the effects the mandated changes would have on you could be very helpful.)
EDIT: Also I forgot to explicitly specify, this is for US folks! We do not unfortunately have the ability to get involved with anything outside the US.
[The evening darkens over] by Robert Bridges
Friday, February 20th, 2026 03:50 pmconulyThe evening darkens over
After a day so bright
The windcapt waves discover
That wild will be the night.
There’s sound of distant thunder.
The latest sea-birds hover
Along the cliff’s sheer height;
As in the memory wander
Last flutterings of delight,
White wings lost on the white.
There’s not a ship in sight;
And as the sun goes under
Thick clouds conspire to cover
The moon that should rise yonder.
Thou art alone, fond lover.
***************
Link
After a day so bright
The windcapt waves discover
That wild will be the night.
There’s sound of distant thunder.
The latest sea-birds hover
Along the cliff’s sheer height;
As in the memory wander
Last flutterings of delight,
White wings lost on the white.
There’s not a ship in sight;
And as the sun goes under
Thick clouds conspire to cover
The moon that should rise yonder.
Thou art alone, fond lover.
Link
Addendum to Erotica 4 Barbarians
Saturday, February 21st, 2026 12:05 pmpetraThis post is about Erotica 4 Barbarians, a challenge to write smut in words of one syllable.
I neglected to include all the Marvel characters I could write, in part because I did not think it through, so -- Wade, I already mentioned, but also Steve, Nat, Bruce, Thor, Clint. (I just heardminoanmiss cheer and punch the air.)
Anybody who wants a flashback to 2012 Avengers fandom, The Avengers Kink List Team Bonding Sessions: the files is a collaborative project that happened in my comments back in the day, in which we played with all kinds of Avengers pairings.
If anyone wants more in that vein, I will see what I can do to scrape off the rest of the MCU and chill in that headspace. In words of one syllable.
\o/
I neglected to include all the Marvel characters I could write, in part because I did not think it through, so -- Wade, I already mentioned, but also Steve, Nat, Bruce, Thor, Clint. (I just heard
minoanmiss cheer and punch the air.) Anybody who wants a flashback to 2012 Avengers fandom, The Avengers Kink List Team Bonding Sessions: the files is a collaborative project that happened in my comments back in the day, in which we played with all kinds of Avengers pairings.
If anyone wants more in that vein, I will see what I can do to scrape off the rest of the MCU and chill in that headspace. In words of one syllable.
\o/
So, the silly phone game I play has "teams"
Tuesday, February 17th, 2026 08:48 pmconulyAnd lemme tell you, my team picking was solely on the basis of "Are people in this team active" and "Do they have an open slot for me", because active team members send you more lives and you're more likely to win prizes in the team competitions, but most teams are 100% people who joined and never play.
But you can talk to each other, great, except that there's this one person who is very active and posts every single day about how they've changed the game so she can't win, she sucks, she is always stuck, she doesn't like it anymore, she's gonna quit - this all prompts a flood of "Oh, don't go, please stay" responses, and I can't help but wonder if that's the sole reason she posts like this.
One day I'm going to tell her that if she really feels that way she ought to quit, or at least shut up about it, because her posts bring my enjoyment of the game way down. Don't know what sort of response I'll get from everybody else who isn't her, but I can't be the only one who's itching to say it.
********************************
( Read more... )
But you can talk to each other, great, except that there's this one person who is very active and posts every single day about how they've changed the game so she can't win, she sucks, she is always stuck, she doesn't like it anymore, she's gonna quit - this all prompts a flood of "Oh, don't go, please stay" responses, and I can't help but wonder if that's the sole reason she posts like this.
One day I'm going to tell her that if she really feels that way she ought to quit, or at least shut up about it, because her posts bring my enjoyment of the game way down. Don't know what sort of response I'll get from everybody else who isn't her, but I can't be the only one who's itching to say it.
( Read more... )
Supernatural vid: Life is a Highway (the 20th anniversary vidding project)
Friday, February 20th, 2026 11:45 pmsholioCannot BELIEVE I still have an SPN icon!
Anyway ... I first started making fanvids for fun in 2002, but I began posting them on LJ in 2006, and since 2026 is therefore my 20th anniversary of posting the first one (#what) and I've been wanting to get more of them on AO3, I decided to make that a project for this year!
So here's my 2006 one and only Supernatural vid, Life is a Highway.
This isn't the first one I put online, but of the 2006 vids I think it's probably one of my favorites and a good one to start with. Contains clips up to late season one because that's all I'd watched at that point and most of what was available. Here's the original LJ-imported-to-DW post. Please enjoy this dive intoan alternate reality a moment in time when season one of Supernatural was literally All There Was.
IIRC, I was making these earliest vids on a really old copy of Adobe Premiere that I had absconded with from my college computer lab in the 1990s.
Also posted on AO3.
If you want a 12 Mb download in 2006 quality, you can download it here!
Also, an interesting bit of context on the 20th anniversary vidding project - I discovered recently that I uploaded a bunch (most? all?) of my older vids to Vimeo in 2016 on the private setting, so apparently I was planning a *10th* anniversary vidding project, but got derailed somehow. What is time.
Anyway ... I first started making fanvids for fun in 2002, but I began posting them on LJ in 2006, and since 2026 is therefore my 20th anniversary of posting the first one (#what) and I've been wanting to get more of them on AO3, I decided to make that a project for this year!
So here's my 2006 one and only Supernatural vid, Life is a Highway.
This isn't the first one I put online, but of the 2006 vids I think it's probably one of my favorites and a good one to start with. Contains clips up to late season one because that's all I'd watched at that point and most of what was available. Here's the original LJ-imported-to-DW post. Please enjoy this dive into
Some notes if you'd rather read them afterwards
Obviously at this point all I have is the exported file rather than the original vidding files (as this was at least 5 computers ago) so 2006 quality is what you're getting, including some slight wonkiness with jerky video and slightly odd cropping (I was screencapturing the video, which explains both the slight borders that occasionally appear - I got a lot better at cropping later - and a few instances of jerkiness as my 2006 computer struggled to render the video). The credits also include my original 2000s-era LJ name, which some of you may remember.IIRC, I was making these earliest vids on a really old copy of Adobe Premiere that I had absconded with from my college computer lab in the 1990s.
Also posted on AO3.
If you want a 12 Mb download in 2006 quality, you can download it here!
Also, an interesting bit of context on the 20th anniversary vidding project - I discovered recently that I uploaded a bunch (most? all?) of my older vids to Vimeo in 2016 on the private setting, so apparently I was planning a *10th* anniversary vidding project, but got derailed somehow. What is time.
Theatre for free
Saturday, February 21st, 2026 08:17 amwatervolevia vivdunstan
“The Importance of Being Earnest” with Ncuti Gatwa is going up free on YouTube for a limited period in March."
Love the play, love the actor. Definitely going to try and catch this.
Love the play, love the actor. Definitely going to try and catch this.
RFE is live and this is MINE
Saturday, February 21st, 2026 12:32 amsenmutA Piece of Advice (1597 words) by Anonymous
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Star Trek: The Next Generation
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Guinan/Ro Laren
Characters: Ro Laren, Guinan (Star Trek)
Additional Tags: Getting Together, Ten Forward (Star Trek), Jealousy, mentions of guinan flirting with an original female character
Summary:
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Star Trek: The Next Generation
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Guinan/Ro Laren
Characters: Ro Laren, Guinan (Star Trek)
Additional Tags: Getting Together, Ten Forward (Star Trek), Jealousy, mentions of guinan flirting with an original female character
Summary:
Guinan is usually the one offering Ro advice, but when Ro decides to give Guinan some advice for a change, things don’t exactly go as planned.
Silliness, Spiders Georg, and good news
Friday, February 20th, 2026 08:18 pmpetraI was backreading one of my tumblr tags looking for a joke, and I refound https://www.spidersge.org/ which is, I promise, not a rickroll.
This DW post has the Spiders Georg reference I was looking for. Since that posting, my friend's partner has gone into remission! Yay!
This DW post has the Spiders Georg reference I was looking for. Since that posting, my friend's partner has gone into remission! Yay!
Sign-ups 2026
Saturday, February 21st, 2026 01:00 amgalerian_ash posting in bethefirstHi, and welcome to the eleventh round of Be The First!
This is a low-pressure challenge to write a fic, of any length, for a fandom that previously had none. That's it! If you want to take part, just reply to this post :)
Quick rundown: You have two months to write. The deadline is at 23:59 GMT on the 20th of April, and the archive will go live at 00:01 GMT on the 22nd of April. You can submit up to four stories, as long as they are for different canons.
If you'd like more information beyond those basic points, then you can find the FAQ right here. The AO3 collection for this year is here, and I'll be putting up a fandom promo post in roughly a week.
A big thank you to everyone who is reading this, whether you're a returning participant or someone checking out the challenge for the first time. As always, I'm really looking forward to seeing what you all write this year! ♥
This is a low-pressure challenge to write a fic, of any length, for a fandom that previously had none. That's it! If you want to take part, just reply to this post :)
Quick rundown: You have two months to write. The deadline is at 23:59 GMT on the 20th of April, and the archive will go live at 00:01 GMT on the 22nd of April. You can submit up to four stories, as long as they are for different canons.
If you'd like more information beyond those basic points, then you can find the FAQ right here. The AO3 collection for this year is here, and I'll be putting up a fandom promo post in roughly a week.
A big thank you to everyone who is reading this, whether you're a returning participant or someone checking out the challenge for the first time. As always, I'm really looking forward to seeing what you all write this year! ♥
FFFX Post-Deadline PHs Due March 8
Saturday, February 21st, 2026 11:19 ammodzilla posting in pinchhitsEvent: Five Figure Fanwork Exchange - multifandom gift exchange for 5k+ fanfic and 20+ panel comic-style fanart
Event link:fffx / https://fffx.dreamwidth.org
Pinch hit link: https://fffx.dreamwidth.org/tag/pinch+hits
Due date: 11:59pm EDT, Sunday 8 March
Five Figure Fanwork Exchange is seeking pinch hitters who can create a story of at least 5,000 words or a comic of at least 20 panels. We've already delayed once and we'd be very grateful if pinch hitters could help us avoid delaying again!
Pinch hits are available to pick up in the following fandoms with the following minimum requirements:
ART
( Fandoms available to fulfil with art - 40-panel comic or 20-panel comic needed )
( Fandoms available to fulfil with art - 20-panel comic only needed )
FIC
( Fandoms available to fulfil with fic - 10k fic needed )
( Fandoms available to fulfil with fic - 10k fic or 5k fic needed )
( Fandoms available to fulfil with fic - 5k fic only needed )
Event link:
fffx / https://fffx.dreamwidth.org Pinch hit link: https://fffx.dreamwidth.org/tag/pinch+hits
Due date: 11:59pm EDT, Sunday 8 March
Five Figure Fanwork Exchange is seeking pinch hitters who can create a story of at least 5,000 words or a comic of at least 20 panels. We've already delayed once and we'd be very grateful if pinch hitters could help us avoid delaying again!
Pinch hits are available to pick up in the following fandoms with the following minimum requirements:
ART
( Fandoms available to fulfil with art - 40-panel comic or 20-panel comic needed )
( Fandoms available to fulfil with art - 20-panel comic only needed )
FIC
( Fandoms available to fulfil with fic - 10k fic needed )
( Fandoms available to fulfil with fic - 10k fic or 5k fic needed )
( Fandoms available to fulfil with fic - 5k fic only needed )
Jazz by Toni Morrison (1992)
Friday, February 20th, 2026 05:08 pmpauraqueOpening in the days of the Harlem Renaissance, the first page of this novel states the culmination of its story: A door-to-door cosmetics salesman shot his eighteen-year-old mistress, and then the salesman's wife crashed the funeral to try to stab the girl's corpse. Why? The reader wants to know, and so do many of the characters. The book offers answers only indirectly, taking a sprawling path into the characters' pasts, where their families came from, and the intergenerational trauma of the slavery era that's still in living memory at this time.
The prose style of this book really worked for me and did a lot of the heavy lifting of drawing me into the story. It's lyrical and artistic without ever sacrificing readability. If there's a bit you don't understand, you will understand it in time, but first we have to go back to the beginning of another character's story and circle back around to connect to the main plot—and it does always connect. I think this is the meaning of the title; the book is not about jazz music, but it has the shape of jazz in the way it can state a melody, wander off and explore for a while until you've almost forgotten what song it is, and then return very satisfyingly before passing it off to another player in the ensemble.
I found this book in a free box and then it sat on my shelf for years (shout-out tolebateleur, my read-books-we-already-own accountability buddy!). It has a lot of underlining, highlighting, and marginal notes from whoever had it before, pointing out themes of dehumanization, rehumanization, and the necessity of deep context for understanding. They underlined "Something else you have to figure in before you figure it out" and also wrote it in pen on the title page. On multiple pages they wrote "Jazzonia" in the margin, by which I assume they meant the Langston Hughes poem.
The prose style of this book really worked for me and did a lot of the heavy lifting of drawing me into the story. It's lyrical and artistic without ever sacrificing readability. If there's a bit you don't understand, you will understand it in time, but first we have to go back to the beginning of another character's story and circle back around to connect to the main plot—and it does always connect. I think this is the meaning of the title; the book is not about jazz music, but it has the shape of jazz in the way it can state a melody, wander off and explore for a while until you've almost forgotten what song it is, and then return very satisfyingly before passing it off to another player in the ensemble.
I found this book in a free box and then it sat on my shelf for years (shout-out to
lebateleur, my read-books-we-already-own accountability buddy!). It has a lot of underlining, highlighting, and marginal notes from whoever had it before, pointing out themes of dehumanization, rehumanization, and the necessity of deep context for understanding. They underlined "Something else you have to figure in before you figure it out" and also wrote it in pen on the title page. On multiple pages they wrote "Jazzonia" in the margin, by which I assume they meant the Langston Hughes poem.Jazzonia (1926)
Oh, silver tree!
Oh, shining rivers of the soul!
In a Harlem cabaret
Six long-headed jazzers play.
A dancing girl whose eyes are bold
Lifts high a dress of silken gold.
Oh, singing tree!
Oh, shining rivers of the soul!
Were Eve’s eyes
In the first garden
Just a bit too bold?
Was Cleopatra gorgeous
In a gown of gold?
Oh, shining tree!
Oh, silver rivers of the soul!
In a whirling cabaret
Six long-headed jazzers play.
