A Number of Things

I get very excited about things, especially things with neurodivergent, non-binary, and asexual characters. Also time travel. And ghosts.

[sg1]

Stargate SG-1 | S09E18 Arthur's Mantle

[makingqueerhistory]

I love talking about King Kristina!

[birdofdawning]

Someone should do a book called 'The Manqué Monkey'

[longliveregina]

Regina “Jealous” Mills  ||  1x07 • 1x08 • 2x19 • 3x03 • 3x09 • 3x14

[birdofdawning]

No author is as interested in women's legs as Josephine Tey.

[birdofdawning]

The problem with reading a whole lot of Josephine Tey at once is not only that you have to 'it-was-a-different-time-haha' a breathtaking amount of really ugly classism, but you can't help but wonder if she was kinda into race science a fair bit*. And, hey, most Europeans of the early 20th Century were i guess? But it does all rather ruin one's enjoyment of Tey musing on women's legs and eyes and hair and how clever and amusing women are and wouldn't it be great if you could hang out with women all the time, and men could be there i guess but only as escourts to events and kind platonic helpers and then you all put on plays

And, oh my god, the physiognomy! Like, maybe a little more detective work, Tey, and a little less peering at eyebrows

[enchantedbook]

From "Sing-Song: A Nursery Rhyme Book" by Christina Rossetti. Illustration by Arthur Hughes, 1872.

[birdofdawning]

Younger generations need to come up with their own generation names and stop ripping off ours (not you, Millennials, you're fine)

[beardedmrbean]

Next up someone is going to claim that the Narnia series isn't kids books.

Kids books is probably not the best way to word it, you can enjoy them at every age, including your childhood, as you get older you may find new truths in them, but they're still good for any age.

[cookingwithroxy]

I want you to understand this. I NEED you to understand this. My mother read me the hobbit as bedtime story, and I started pushing myself to read before pre-school so I could in fact read the hobbit for myself instead of having to wait for bedtime.

I didn't do so right away but jesus wept I PUSHED myself to learn to read SPECIFICALLY so I could read The Hobbit! It is, in fact, a children's story! And children only see page count as 'there is a lot of this fun story to read!'

[justalurkr]

Truncated text of tweet from MrPitBull, Mar 11, 2026:

She kept finding women in laboratory photographs from the 1800s. Then she read the published papers—and every single woman had vanished. Someone had erased them from history.

Yale University, 1969.

Margaret Rossiter was a graduate student studying the history of science. She was one of very few women in her program.

Every Friday afternoon, students and faculty gathered for beers and informal conversation. One week, Margaret asked a simple question: "Were there ever any women scientists?"

The faculty answered firmly: No.

Someone mentioned Marie Curie. The group dismissed it—her husband Pierre really deserved the credit.

Margaret didn't argue. But she also didn't believe them.

So she started looking.

She found a reference book called "American Men of Science"—essentially a Who's Who of scientific achievement. Despite the title, she was shocked to discover it contained entries about women. Botanists trained at Wellesley. Geologists from Vermont.

There were names. There were credentials. There were careers.

The professors had been wrong.

But Margaret's discovery was just the beginning. Because as she dug deeper into archives across the country, she found something far more disturbing.

Photograph after photograph showed women standing at laboratory benches, working with equipment, listed on research teams.

But when she read the published papers, the award citations, the official histories—those same women had disappeared. Their names were missing. Their contributions erased.

It wasn't random. It was systematic.

Women who designed experiments watched male colleagues publish results without giving them credit. Women whose discoveries were assigned to supervisors. Women listed in acknowledgments instead of as authors. Women passed over for awards that went to male collaborators who contributed far less.

Margaret realized she was witnessing a pattern that stretched across centuries.

Women had always been present in science. The record had simply pushed them aside.

She needed a name for what she was documenting.

In the early 1990s, she found it in the work of Matilda Joslyn Gage—a 19th-century suffragist who had written about this exact phenomenon in 1870.

In 1993, Margaret published a paper formally naming it: The Matilda Effect.

The term captured something that had been hidden in plain sight for generations. Once you knew the term, you saw it everywhere.

Her dissertation became a lifelong mission.

For more than 30 years, Margaret researched and wrote her landmark three-volume series: Women Scientists in America. She examined letters, institutional policies, individual careers. She gathered undeniable evidence that women in science had been consistently under-credited and structurally excluded.

Her work faced resistance. Many dismissed women's history as political rather than academic. Others insisted she was exaggerating.

Margaret didn't argue emotionally. She presented data. Documented cases. Patterns repeated across decades and institutions.

Eventually, the evidence became undeniable.

Her research helped restore recognition to scientists who had been erased:

Rosalind Franklin, whose X-ray work revealed DNA's structure—credit went to Watson and Crick.

Lise Meitner, who explained nuclear fission—omitted from the Nobel Prize.

Nettie Stevens, who discovered sex chromosomes—received little credit.

Cecilia Payne-Gaposchkin, who discovered stars are made of hydrogen—initially dismissed.

And countless others whose names had nearly vanished.

Margaret changed the narrative. Science was no longer just the story of solitary male geniuses. It became a story of collaboration that included women who had been written out.

The Matilda Effect became standard terminology. Scholars used it to examine how credit is assigned, how authors are listed, who receives awards, who gets left out.

[birdofdawning]

No author is as interested in women's legs as Josephine Tey.

[33v0]

[zagzie]

this is the best tag I’ve ever gotten in my notifs actually

[wibblywobblyida]

More Bering and Wells Fic Recs! (2026)

Hi Nerdsbians, it is time for some new Bering and Wells fic recs!

You may have seen my list from 2021, this will be fics I've read and loved after that. I love all kinds of fics, and we'll start with my favorite smut fics published in the last five years, then I'll add some older fics, all ratings, and end with my favorite G-T-rated fics published in the last five years!

Here we go, some wonderful smut fics from the last five years:

La Petite Mort, by tigrecat. Rated E, 21 972 words. Summary: Will the arousing effects of an artifact and the power of Pete be enough to finally get Myka to make a move on H.G.?

An inner meaning almost expressed, by sallysetonswife. Rated E, 9223 words. Summary: H.G. has missed out on a lot of reading over the past century. Myka helps her catch up on everything she's been missing. (This is part one in a cute series.)

A Treatise on Electricity and Magnetism, by ninthwave. Rated E, 14 108 words. Summary: The team encounters a particularly challenging artifact. Myka and Helena find that they have a lot to teach each other. Or: What am I going to do, put up a sign that says SEX MACHINE: DO NOT TOUCH? Set in some sort of fancifully nebulous season 3-ish imaginary, where Helena gets to come along too. you know, for fun.

The Matter at Hand, by tigrecat. Rated E, 14 900 words. Summary: In which the effects of an artifact lead to some forced proximity, and some forced proximity leads to… well, just read it. The first chapter is something that could have aired on the show, the second is dubious, and both the third and fourth certainly could not have (read: they're gonna bump the rating up to E). The setting is in season 4, but in the AU where Helena came back to the Warehouse as an agent after returning the astrolabe.

The Farmhouse Series, by kla1991. Rated G-E, 4670 words. Summary: Myka arrived at the old farmhouse just before the snow started—Helena was waiting on the porch.

The Shower Can Wait!, by lilolilyrae. Rated E, 1034 words. Summary: Helena and Myka spending a morning in bed together.

Dakota, by Sheslump. Not Rated, 1068 words. Summary: “Myka?” Helena said softly. “Mmh?” “What are you thinking about?”

A Radio, an Open Door, by ash_madrone. Rated E, 2571 words. Summary: Here is a little one off that started as a lullaby and ended up… Not a lullaby. It's never a lullaby with these two. But perhaps they deserve a little comfort along the way?

A demure Victorian?, by vestwearer_wibblywobbyida. Rated E, 2453 words. I'm putting my own fic on the list! Eleven years ago, I wrote a fic where Myka walked in on Helena watching porn. I have been thinking about other ways that scenario could have played out. Here are two of them! (Separate stories, same original idea.)

I went down a rabbit hole so here's five Instinct fix-it-fics:

I would've taken a baseball bat to the house, by tigrecat. Rated T, 2965 words. Summary: “I don’t know why Myka was so accepting, I would’ve taken a baseball bat to the house, gonna be like, we’re leaving!” - Joanne Kelly. You’ve seen a million fix-it fics for “Instinct” - behold, yet another! My Warehouse-y take on JK’s baseball bat comment.

Rescued, by GoldenWaffles. Rated G, 3552 words. Summary: Yet another episode tag for the travesty that was "Instinct." After Myka drives away into the night, what will Helena decide to do about Emily Lake? She places a call that might change her life forever.

Meteorite, by ash_madrone. Rated T-M (easy to skip the M-rated chapter), 7284 words. Summary: Let's imagine there was a season 5. Myka and Pete are settling into their roles as senior agents, ready to recruit a new batch as Claudia moves towards Caretakerdom. Helena hasn't been heard from since Boone and Myka is moving on. Really. She is. OR: Helena leans casually against a wall at the entrance to the alley. And she has the… grappler? Myka lowers her phone from her ear. “What the fuck, Helena.”

Five days, by EliaAlice. Rated T, 8002 words. Summary: Myka holds it together for five days after the drive back from Boone, Wisconsin. Five days after the worst break-up, that isn’t really a break up but is still very much a break-up all the same, of her life. Five days after saying a goodbye that isn’t really a goodbye, but is still very much a goodbye all the same, to Helena. Myka holds it together for five days after the drive back from Boone, Wisconsin. And on the fifth, she breaks.

Beyond Instinct, by gigi2690. Rated M, 7950 words. Summary: My Version of a Fix-it, which basically means Myka takes Helena against various surfaces in Nate’s house.

Now some great fics from 2011-2015:

Point Clear, by kla1991. Rated G, 1977 words. Summary: Helena visits Myka during a mission in Point Clear, Alabama. Season 2 fic.

show don't tell, by ellenm. Rated T, 455 words. Inspired by the song "you're so damn hot" by OK Go.

The Game, by Redlance. Rated T, 4489 words. Summary: H.G. has been playing a game with Myka for weeks; Myka finally breaks.

The Pretty One, by rebeccavoy. Rated T, 1749 words. Summary: Helena sits Myka down for a heartfelt lecture.

Wings, by apparitionism. Rated T, 33 791 words. Summary: Aka The McCartneiad: involving all manner of celestial beings, an oversufficient amount of reflection on the physiognomy of wings, and way too much attention to John Milton. I basically just wanted to use the word “thronoi.” And then some twelve-part AU thing happened.

Books on a Bed, by unicarna. Rated T, 557 words. Summary: For the first time in a long time, Helena needs to be close to someone. Myka/H.G. shortfic, set during that time when everything was as it should be.

The Mere Sight of Her Lifts the Heart and Sets it Soaring, by JDaydreamer. Rated T, 5861 words. Summary: A sort of holiday fic with Myka, Helena and an elevator.

When it happened (and they knew it would), by unicarna. Rated M, 1231 words. Summary: It happened suddenly, unexpectedly, and it wasn't perfect. Except in all the ways it was.

The Seduction of Agent Bering, by seriousfic. Rated M, 2673 words. Summary: The best thing about the 21st century, Helena thinks, is that the women are so much looser.

We Really Shouldn't, by ABSedarian. Rated M, 1376 words. Summary: Bagging an artifact should stop its effects, shouldn't it? Not when it just intensifies the underlying emotions and opens up an opportunity too good to pass up. Bering & Wells, a motel room, and a bed.

Hotel, by apparitionism. Rated M, 7702 words. Summary: Because I am pretty sure we have not had deskclerk!Myka and businesstraveler!HG, and I was feeling all holiday-happy (though this is not holiday-related): here is that kind of sweet thing. Ugh, these two are the cutest and sweetest--and I hope I have done them some justice here.

take me to the finish line, by missymeggins. Rated M, 4736 words. Summary: "Pete I need you to keep me company tonight so I don't do what I've done for the past five nights in a row and booty call H.G Wells."

Intrigue at First Sight, by MykaWells. Rated E, 17 584 words. Summary: Pete takes Helena out for a night on the town. When they return, Helena decides that she wants to take a walk with Myka… The time frame of the fic is intentionally vague so that it can be either canon or a Nate-less, evil!Artie-less AU world in which Helena stuck around as a Warehouse agent for season 4. It's not particularly important because my main goal here is to inspire happy Bering and Wells feels.

And here are my favorite non-smutty fics posted in the last five years:

Squatter's Wrongs, by kla1991. Rated G, 2105 words. Summary: Post-Season 3, Helena needs a place to go, and she ends up in the abandoned Warehouse 12.

Flung Out Of Time, by JayVeeJulie. Rated T, 2660 words. Summary: Helena is flung out of time and looking for landmarks in a world with no common ground.

Fake Married in May, by lilolilyrae. Rated T, 10 000 words. Summary: Myka is sent on an undercover assignment: she has to pretend to be married to Helena, living in a small town in the middle of nowhere as they search for the artifact causing havoc in the area.

Scopolamine, by kedimight. Rated T, 5613 words. Summary: Myka is whammied by the artifact she's hunting and wakes up in the hospital, discovering that the artifact had caused her to articulate her ardor for her wife, Helena. The trouble is, she and Helena are simply colleagues and friends. No matter how much she wishes for more. But when Pete discovers the subject of Myka's confession and calls Helena, Helena will make sure that conversation finally takes place.

And Darling, by JayVeeJulie. Rated G, 1683 words. Summary: HG calls a lot of people 'darling', but when someone else calls her that she's unprepared.

Flower Crowns, by Lavendelhummel. Rated G, 2830 words. Summary: Fluff without plot, seriously there is not much going on other than the sun shining, naps in laps, picnic and flowers. And everyone being deliriously happy.

Of Knights and Monsters, by Purlturtle (NuMo). Rated T, 6470 words. Prompt: Myka and Helena are assigned to snag bag and tag a dungeons and dragons related artifact that puts them in an alternate high fantasy universe. (Myka’s got to have a sword!) Author's note: This story takes place in a ‘verse where Helena never got put on the Janus Coin but instead got proper therapy and eventually joined the Warehouse crew again as a full agent.

The Mind Readers, by BirdofDawning. Rated T, 1206 words. Summary: “Wait, so you can hear each other’s thoughts?”

Beam, Myka, Beam!, by deathtodickens. Rated T, 3445 words. Summary: Myka and Helena get caught up in the warehouse. (With illustration!)

The Cold Light of Morning, by JayVeeJulie. Rated G, 1233 words. Summary: In the lantern light, Myka watched as HG undressed down to her singlet and underpants before sitting at the folding desk, wiping at her skin with a cloth she dipped into a bowl - and it struck Myka that this was the type of bathing HG had been used to, that HG had come from a home in which plumbing was uncommon and wiping down more frequent than bathing. She was better at it than Myka; didn't leave splashes of water on their canvas floor, chased down impatient drops of water before they reached her elbows.

Words that change your World, by Viharistenno. Rated G, 623 words. Summary: Myka remembers every word Helena said to her and how it made her feel.

Rainbows, by Magi Silverwolf. Rated G, 526 words. Summary: During a mission, Myka and Helena find themselves in the middle of a Pride fest. The explanation of what Pride is leads to an unexpected result.

Heaven, I'm In Heaven, by Purlturtle (NuMo). Rated G, 1927 words. Summary: This is my contribution to this year's Bering and Wells Appreciation Week! Day One's prompt was "dancing", and I've always wanted to write something a little Ginger and Fred for them. This takes place early in Helena's reinstatement. Author's note: There's art to go with this fic! What better style to go with the golden era of musical movies than Leyendecker's art, so that's what I commissioned - I hope you enjoy that too!

Tango, by ash_madrone. Rated T, 3617 words. Prompts: Dancing and General Family Vibes.

Is It Casual Now?, by Evergreenlasting. Rated G, 1560 words. Summary: After Helena saves Myka from the chess lock, the two women have an important discussion.

Feral Cat: Warehouse Edition, by wizardofahz. Rated G, 6130 words. Summary: H.G. had told Myka that she wanted to rejoin the Warehouse, and yet there she is, still on the outside, keeping her distance but pawing artifact gifts their way like a feral cat in want of a family.

Sushi, by Lavendelhummel. Rated G, 18 127 words. Summary: Myka gets whammied. It forces her to reflect on herself and to grow. She learns to accept her feelings for Helena through this experience. But, still, please, can someone goo that artifact and make that fishtail disappear, now?!

The New Farmhand, by Purlturtle (NuMo). Rated G, 30 047 words. Summary: This year's Flufftober prompts spoke to me, and they said "What if Bering and Wells in Stardew Valley?" And who am I to deny a plot bunny so fluffy?

Lucifer's Servant, by lilolilyrae. Rated T, 17 805 words. Summary: Travel-photographer Myka and her tech savvy friend Claudia visit Leena in Scotland, where she has recently moved into an old castle. Part of the lands she has inherited is an abandoned abbey, where they find a strange figure that will bring Myka back in contact with an alien woman she would love to meet with more often... Warehouse 13 Characters in the Yoko Tsuno 'verse, works as a standalone so you don't need to know either fandom to understand this!

Scream for Spring, by Lavendelhummel. Not Rated, 3079 words. Summary: Myka is observing Helena make her way through Astrid Lindgren’s books. There is worry and there is joy, and healing and love. This is full of references to Lindgren’s stories, you can totally read it without knowing them, but it probably makes more sense if you know them.

The Unexpected, by kedimight. Rated T, 12 318 words. Summary: In the absence of Queen Alexandra, Lex Luthor assumes control of the Queendom of Univille, holding the Princess Kara hostage in her tower. Captain of the Guard Myka Bering simply wants to keep her queendom safe from the Rogues who are accosting travelers on the roads. Said Rogues H.G. and Lena only want to protect the queendom from the corruption of Lex Luthor and free Princess Kara. What will happen when their paths converge? (Supergirl crossover)

Travel journal, by Lavendelhummel. Rated G, 8818 words. Summary: Helena Wells likes to travel and she has a little tradition with herself: on every trip she seeks out one stranger in front of a famous sight and kisses them. She collects photos of these kisses in a special journal. In Paris she meets Myka Bering in front of the Eiffel Tower. Will they meet again after one fateful kiss or will all that survives this encounter be a fading picture in Helena’s notebook?

Post Merger, by imaginethat57. Rated T, 2254 words. Summary: The moment in the hallway with Kelly while Myka was in Pete's body has been replaying in her mind. It was such a brief interaction, yet it's stayed with her, forcing an amount of introspection she wasn't prepared for. She turns to Pete, who has become her closest friend and confidante, for better or worse.

Break, by kedimight. Rated G, 4013 words. Summary: Stuck on a case, Myka and Helena go ice skating to think.

Flannel (& Glitter), by lilolilyrae. Rated T, 100 words. Summary: Helena is sure that Myka can't object to her outfit - she looked at pictures from past pride events and knows it works perfectly. So why is Myka acting strange?

Adventitious, by apparitionism. Rated M, 18 441 words. Summary: Here’s a holiday tale, in which we rewind to S4: the Warehouse was restored, thanks to Helena. Let’s say that she did in fact disappear after the events of the S4 premiere, as happened on the show, and the first half of that season played out as depicted. But then let’s say also that Helena came back after fetching and carrying for Mrs. F, with no Boone interregnum (because I am sick to damn death of trying to come up with in-character reasons for that obscenity). Point being, it’s December at the Warehouse. Stuff happens. That stuff monkeywrenches Myka’s Christmas-related plan for letting the somewhat recently returned Helena know how she feels. Do things end happily? Depends on how you feel about slapstick. The working title of this story was “Banana.”

Novel length fics are getting their own category, here they are!

Strata, by Purlturtle (NuMo). Rated T, 64 743 words. Summary: Myka and H.G. get sent on a road trip after H.G.’s reinstatement as an agent. Myka is elated at the chance to get to know H.G. Wells better. Note: This story has sections that I (wibblywobblyida) had to skip. The writer made that very easy by spelling out when possible triggers would come and how to jump past them!

The Remington Standard #2, by anandabrat. Rated G-T, 62 170 words. Summary: It's 1997, and when a quiet teenager in a book shop finds an old typewriter with the previous owner's name and address inside, she writes a letter. When the previous owner writes back, she takes the 1881 date in stride, and two kids start to fall for each other. This story isn't an AU so much as an epistolary reboot, letting Helena and Myka flirt, chafe against the people who underestimate them, become adults, and ultimately find a way to the Warehouse (together!) without MacPherson or Paris as catalysts. The only obstacle in their path is time, and we all know that's no match for Myka Bering or Helena Wells.

What Myka Found There, by anandabrat. Rated E, 52 994 words. Summary: She takes a deep breath, and steps forward, and drops down immediately into the black. This one begins immediately following 'Stand.' I know there are a zillion Victorian London fics... but hopefully this one has enough of a spin on the idea to be worthy of adding to the collection.

Amanuensis, by anandabrat and ash_madrone. Rated M, 143 206 words. Summary: London, 1933: Crime novelist Helena Wells is desperate to join the Detection Club and enter the ranks of the great authors of the Golden Age of Crime. Typist Myka Bering works for several Detection Club authors but dreams of someday creating works of art of her own. Helena hires Myka to help her polish her latest novel to impress the like of Sayers and Christie. Will they be able to work together? A murder shocks the Detection Club members, unearthing secrets that threaten to drive the two women apart. Will Bering and Wells be able to solve the murder and save the day?

Fandom is community, and fic writers thrive when you comment on their fics! Please everyone, tell writers when you like their fic!!! If I'm re-reading and don't have a longer comment in me, I'm commenting "I have already left kudos here. :)"

I have made truly wonderful friends by commenting on fics, and you can, too! (Let's be friends!)

[lesbianshadowheart]

being a fan of a female fictional character is like yes im in love with her soulfully and carnally but i am ALSO her defence attorney her ambassador her pr manager her representative her missionary her right hand arm man her silly rabbit. her scholar her explainer the last man standing in her army. phd in explaining her nuance and depth priesthood in her church. could i be talking about other things?? move on?? maybe!!! were i not the animated suit of armor in her temple bound to protect her for eternity

[holodaxy-deactivated20220828]

(Some of) The Adorable Faces of H.G Wells

[miggylol]

Spin the wheel. That's who's trying to kill you.

Spin the wheel again. That’s who’s trying to protect you.

(If you have zero idea about a name you got, spin until you see someone you recognize.)

Are you safe?

Absolutely not. I'm dead. 100% dead.

I might stay alive, but it'll be a really close thing.

I'll take some hits, for certain, but I should be okay in the end.

A few attacks might get through, but nothing concerning.

The attacker might be able to get in one lucky hit. If that.

I am the opposite of worried. I'm 100% safe.

…Look. I've tried picturing this. But I honestly don't know how to answer.

Voting ended onJul 14

(I've run this poll twice before, expanding it significantly for the second run. With about a year passed since that second run, I thought it was time to add another couple hundred names to the list and have another go.)

[cohendyke]

and i said: let’s all lez out in the year 2000!!!!!

[birdofdawning]

I'm rereading Josephine Tey, and i adore the blatantly getting-through-society-events-together-ness platonic comradeship of Grant and Marta Hallard