somewhere i have never travelled

Stole this meme from dancing_serpent, even though I'm not sure I have belonged to quite enough fandoms to fill it out. :)

The one who seduced you and screwed you over and broke your heart in a million pieces and laughed about it.

Hockey RPF. Screw you forever, Patrick Kane.

The old flame you don't see very often any more but whom you still really enjoy getting together with for a few drinks and maybe a pleasant nostalgic romp in the sheets.

Star Trek -- I'm actually romping with this fandom as we speak. :)

The mysterious dark gothy one whom you used to sit up with talking until 3a.m. at weird coffeehouses and with whom you were quite smitten until you realized they really were fucking crazy.

Supernatural.

The one you spent a whole weekend in bed with and who drank up all your liquor, and whom you'd still really like to get together with again although you're relieved they don't actually live in town.

Tennis RPF.

The Steady.

Harry Potter.

The alluring stranger whom you've flirted with at parties but have never got really serious with.

Brokeback Mountain.

The one you hang out with and have vague fantasies about maybe having a thing with but ultimately you're just good friends because the friendship is there but the chemistry isn't.

Sherlock.

The one your friends keep introducing you to and who seems really cool except it's never really gone anywhere.

Star Wars.

The one who's slept with all your friends, and you keep looking at them and thinking, "How did they land all these utterly fabulous people?"

MCU.

The one who gave you the best damned summer of your life and who you measure all other potential partners against.

Queer as Folk.

The one you recently met at a party and would like to get to know better and who you think you might have a crush on.

I got nothin'.

The old flame that you wouldn't totally object to hooking up with again for a one night romp if only they cleaned themselves up a bit.

White Collar.

Your hot new flame.

I wish I had one. :(

The one who stole your people's hearts.

I don't really know what this means, fandom-wise. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Crossposted from https://secretsolitaire.dreamwidth…. Comment wherever you like. :)

If, like me, you're reading more at DW than LJ these days, you might be missing out on some awesome art being posted daily by mywitch under the heading 25 Days of Drawing. Here are a few of my favorites.

Severus/Hermione/Lucius (NWS): Gorgeous composition and colors. Also -- GUH.

Albus Severus/Scorpius (WS): A sweet little kiss in the snow. ♥

Albus Dumbledore/Horace Slughorn (WS): A lovely moment by a glowing fire. I love the warm colors.

Crossposted from https://secretsolitaire.dreamwidth…. Comment wherever you like. :)

Fannish content on this journal? Wha? :)

Just wanted to point you all to this gorgeous Remus/Sirius art: Remus and Sirius by finalsoul (G). I don't normally picture these two with facial hair, but they are so beautiful here. ♥♥

Crossposted from https://secretsolitaire.dreamwidth…. Comment wherever you like. :)

Just saw the movie and enjoyed it quite a bit. :)

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All HP art:

Ascendency by Anonymous (Harry/Draco, G): I'm not really one for dark!Harry, but this is absolutely gorgeous. Draco in particular looks so handsome and possessive.

Body Art by Anonymous (Harry/Draco, NC-17): Hnnnnnghh. The way Harry is just surrendering here is really hot.

Flower Children by acatnamedeaster (Harry/Ron/Luna, NC-17): This is just a delight. Luna in particular looks like she's having so much fun. :)

Crossposted from http://secretsolitaire.dreamwidth.…. Comment wherever you like. :)

I've spent the last several days completely engrossed in a couple of novel-length Brokeback Mountain stories. I am usually pretty wary of fanfic as long as this -- the first one is 274,000 words, and the sequel is 244,000 words -- because in my experience stories this long usually don't need to be this long and would benefit from a good editor. But I found that the stories in this universe were well written and held my attention despite their length.

The series is called Force of Nature by Jenna Hilary Sinclar. In this universe Jack never died, and he and Ennis are starting a life together in Eagle Nest, New Mexico. The series is about how they learn to live together after so many decades apart and how they balance becoming part of their local community while trying to hide their relationship. The author has a very readable writing style, and she doesn't skimp on the porn, which is sexy while not being idealized. (Just the way I like it. *g*)

The series currently consists of two novels that are part of a planned trilogy, as well as a few oneshots set in the future, after the main trilogy. (If you enjoy the stories available on AO3, don't miss the oneshot hiding at the author's LJ: part one, part two, part three.)

The third novel hasn't been updated since 2014, though the author said on her LJ in December 2016 that she does still hope to finish it. If you're wondering whether you should tackle this WiP, there is one significant plot point that's left hanging at the end of the second novel, but I didn't find it to be an agonizing place to stop; the author resolved what I felt to be the major conflict of that story and left the boys in a relatively good place, emotionally speaking. That said, I would say the first novel felt more "finished," so if you're sensitive about WiPs you may want to stop there. (If you can. *g*)

Crossposted from http://secretsolitaire.dreamwidth.…. Comment wherever you like. :)

Ugh, I keep forgetting I'm supposed to be posting at DW -- I open LJ and type a bunch of stuff and then remember. I'll get there.

Anyway, for some reason I started reading Brokeback Mountain fic today and found some pretty good stories. Here they are, for posterity and anyone else who's interested.

A Various Language by Destina (Ennis/Jack, R)
The summary says it all: This is the happy ending they deserved. If you want a well-written fix-it fic, try this one. :)

Her Daddy Was by moony (Junior, Ennis, past Ennis/Jack, PG, character death)
This is a future fic in which Junior tries to learn a little more about her dad. The ending made me sniffle.

Five Things They Never Talk About, Plus One More Thing by cathalin (Ennis/Jack, NC-17, rimming)
This one is short and painful and beautifully written.

Something Precious by Lintelomiel (Ennis/Jack, NC-17)
This one is in my favorite category, porn with feelings (\o/), a gapfiller for Ennis and Jack's second night in the tent. ♥

A Casual Match by frayach (Ennis/Jack, NC-17)
This fic, set near the end of their time together from Jack's POV, pretty much sliced me to ribbons. Perfectly captures the ache of canon.

In Country by cathalin (Ennis/Jack, NC-17, Vietnam War AU, racist language, minor character death)
This fic imagines Ennis and Jack meeting as soldiers in the Vietnam War. The author changes their power dynamic a little from canon (Jack is Ennis's commanding officer), and the wartime backdrop adds a different sort of urgency to their relationship.

Recompense by Rave (Ennis/Jack, R/NC-17)
Finally, I'm reccing this one for the gorgeous, visceral prose that captures Jack's increasing desperation.

If you see something you like, throw a comment the author's way. :)

Crossposted from http://secretsolitaire.dreamwidth.…. Comment wherever you like. :)

1. I just discovered that my local public library system has a bunch of M/M romance novels available as ebooks! I'm so excited.

2. HP art rec: Make Me by anemonen (James Sirius/Scorpius, NWS) -- Two gorgeous boys sneaking a moment of privacy in what looks like a shed. My favorite part is James' freckles. ♥

3. Read A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman on a recent trip and really enjoyed it. It's about a curmudgeon who inspects his neighborhood at 6:00 every morning (just in case someone is breaking the rules!) and generally thinks the world is going to pot. It sounds boring, but the writing is absolutely hilarious and the plot is unexpectedly touching. It made me laugh out loud quite a few times, even though I was in public (on a plane). Give it a try. :)

Crossposted from http://secretsolitaire.dreamwidth.…. Comment wherever you like. :)

Today the latest Adrien English book arrived at my house!

If you're not familiar, Adrien English is the main character in a series of M/M mysteries by Josh Lanyon. As I noted when I recced the series several years ago, I'm not into mysteries at all. But Adrien and Jake have become one of my all-time favorite fictional pairings. I reread the series (at least the good bits *g*) on a regular basis.

The latest book is just a novella, but I found it very satisfying in tying up a few plot-related loose ends, offering some bonus porn (because who doesn't want more porn?!) and basically giving us MOAR ADRIEN AND JAKE. *loves*

If you enjoyed the earlier books and haven't read the latest, do it. And if you're new to the series, give it a try. I bet you won't regret it. :)

Crossposted from http://secretsolitaire.dreamwidth.…. Comment wherever you like. :)

HP Art: Such a Good Boy by akatnamedeaster (Charlie/Draco, NC-17, chan, implied spanking and daddy kink, creampie)
Hot, hot, HOT.

The Atlantic: The Simple Psychological Trick to Political Persuasion
I thought this was fascinating -- it talks about how to reframe certain issues/arguments/policies for conservatives vs. progressives. (For example, liberals are more likely to see value in funding the military if you talk about how it offers opportunities for lower-income people than if you talk about patriotism or the greatness of the nation. True for me!) Could give some of us some food for thought when trying to convince folks on the other side.

The Nation: What Can Ivanka Trump Possibly Have to Say to Women Who Work?
Scathing look at Ivanka and how completely distant she is from most working women (including most of her father's own voters). It also mentions the disgusting ways in which POTUS has sexualized his own daughter. Ugh, ugh, ugh.

Crossposted from http://secretsolitaire.dreamwidth.…. Comment wherever you like. :)