Critically Tangled

Critical Role & Crochet Thirties|she/they CR spoilers are tagged #cr spoilers Gardening blog: copperhawkplots

[copperhawkthoughts]

One of my favourite things about Tumblr is being away for a long time and coming back and my dash is full of characters I don’t know; just a nice reminder that even though I haven’t had the brainpower to enjoy things for months now doesn’t mean no one has. Someday I will once again Know Characters

[stardust948]

Everyone download your fics beforehand

[omgcheckplease]

👋 Hi Wellies,

First—

Ukazu says, a rising tide lifts all boats, including the S.S. Check, Please! She’s hopeful that the success of Heated Rivalry, as well as another queer romance graphic novel-turned-TV show Heartstopper, will make the dream of seeing her work onscreen into a reality: The book has been optioned for adaptation. — Vanity Fair

Check, Please! has been optioned for a film/television adaptation. A while ago, actually—and that’s lovely. Nevertheless, the vast majority of options do not become television because it takes a million things going right to get projects off the ground.

That being said.

Ahem.

Speaking of getting projects off the ground...

From when Bitty first stepped out into the rink at Faber, to when he kissed the ice at graduation, we've all been part of this fun, weird, magical world of Samwell hockey. But when I left the world of Samwell hockey, I left knowing Jack and Bitty's story was done. Bitty's journey as the first openly gay NCAA Division I hockey captain was done. We baked the last pie; we shut off the lights at the kegster; the story was complete.

…But as I looked around I realized, I had one more story to tell.

Which is why I'm thrilled to announce that a brand new volume of Check, Please! will be serialized in 2026. Dozens of new comics, exciting update drops, your favorite characters with brand new storylines, and characters you've yet to meet.

Hello, Internet Land—SMH is coming home.

This fifth year of Check, Please! will be filled with shenanigans, drama, hockey, pies, Haus parties, and a new message of acceptance that is near and dear to me. And it's been brewing over the last year and half! But with the latest boom in queer hockey stories, I figured, hey! ¯\(ツ)/¯ Here's another one to look forward to. :)

Marginalized athletes still face harmful bigotry, and for this reason, queer sports stories are more important than ever. I love Samwell hockey and how each of you has embraced this roster of athletes.

There's so much more to come.

Ngozi 🏒🥧❤️

=

MORE NEWS? SURE:

I’ll be at Emerald City Comic Con 2026, and yes, I will be dropping exclusive details about Check, Please! Year Fived uring my spotlight panel: Ngozi Ukazu - From Check, Please! to DC and Back! (Be there!)

Follow me on Patreon for behind-the-scenes on the making of Check, Please!: Year Five. I'm gonna livestream...a lot.

If only there were an original mm romance that you could read right now while you wait for more Year Five updates! Good news—John Rich & The Big Picture is very cute and laugh-out-loud funny and you can read it now, for free.

My latest graphic novel FLIP has made the best-of lists for the New York Public Library, the A.V. Club, Kirkus Books, School & Library Journal—and more. Get it here.

[copperhawkthoughts]

Yes, yes, many important takeaways from e5, many wise and insightful things could be said, here is what I am thinking about, based on that fancy party flashback scene:

Cleaned up Caleb in his Rosohna clothes? In his e97 coat??

Going to eat down badder than Owelia on those bugs. Slay harder than two juiced up teens in a Cobalt Soul vault.

Widogast’s Web of Fire Fits making pseudo-medieval fantasy undergarments self-immolate left and right.

Not to be thirsty on main but like holy shit “I would very much like for you to see the sun rise” dressed like that?? Broader shoulders weathered face threads of grey? Yes zaddy I am SAT 🔥🍿

[copperhawkthoughts]

Owelia: chomps a mouthful of living grubs to cast that poison breath spell

Me: ugh, ough, gross! Ah, well, truly magic exacts a high price, the demands of wizardry are not for the faint of heart

Owelia later in the episode: crushes the nasty bugs in her fist to cast the same spell

Me: ohh so that was a choice-choice, huh

[copperhawkthoughts]

~*Caleb Widogast*~

[copperhawkthoughts]

Fascinated by the implication that people have to die violent deaths in close proximity to the Beacon for their souls to be absorbed.

(That lady couldn’t have died peacefully in her bed? They couldn’t have a quiet, sacred space in the Bastion specifically for that? She had to get stabbed to death by her partner???)

Do they actually have to be killed? Is that just tradition? Are there less-observant Kryn who forgo the deathbed stabbing? Is ritual sacrifice in the presence of the Bright Queen reserved for certain people or is that just how she spends her days?

Is this something they discovered the Beacon could do in the throes of the Calamity, soldiers and civilians alike dying left and right, and then after the fighting ended they just structured their society’s approach to death around the idea that if you want to live forever, you have to die brutally??

[copperhawkthoughts]

I don’t exactly know why but it is frying me that Essek left the blood on Dierta’s face until after she fell asleep, and then did a half-assed job of cleaning her up.

I think it’s something to do with the way it shows so succinctly that though he may care for her enough to be willing to break the world to preserve her, he has literally not the first idea of how to care for her, as in take care of, caretake.

(Who tended to his bloody noses, as a child? When he was sick, feverish, restless with it - who came with cool hands and soothing words?)

Just saying, something tells me the first time this man gets a hug it’s going to rewrite his whole trajectory, or something.

[copperhawkthoughts]

“You’ll take the chestnut out back”

That was clearly a palomino

[copperhawkthoughts]

Nothing like a good band of mismatched misfits, such as:

- John Wick Tinkerbelle;

- Princess’ Least Favourite Godling & his Emotional Support Domme;

- Jack Sparragorn;

- their captain, Lawful Good Kitty

[trippedintoa-volcano]

Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening by Robert Frost

Inspired by @copperhawkthoughts post

[copperhawkthoughts]

Yes yes holy shit yes this is all I wanted

[copperhawkthoughts]

The woods are lovely, dark and deep

But I have promises to keep

And miles to go

Before I sleep

[copperhawkthoughts]

The Crown Keepers

[copperhawkthoughts]

Soldiers, seekers, schemers, whatever - I liked today’s opening table: Laura & the Beefcakes

[copperhawkthoughts]

Dressed to the Neins 3 - Imogen

Pattern: Goldenrod Wrap Top by EarthTricks (on Ravelry)

Yarn: Hobbii Olivin

[shadowgast-recs-weekly]

Hidden Gems 11: A Shadowgast Rec List

This week, we have one of our recurring themes: fics that have under 150 kudos! Check under the cut for nine fics that we think deserve a little more attention, and of course comment and kudos if you like them!

All Witches Burn by Vailee (6102, Mature) Reccer's Content Notes: Choose Not to Warn, Major Character Death, Temporary Character Death, Panic Attack, Dissociation

Sometimes desperate people make the worst (or best) decisions. Like sneaking out in the middle of the night to wander the woods and finding Bad News.'

Reccer says: This is just such a fun AU! The set-up is very fun, I love the soft world-building (some questions left open but in the BEST sort of way - Also like how, as a Fantasy AU, it's similar-ish Canon but a step to the left~. . . VERY fun XD) - So glad I refound it recently, it's very fun /u\ (P.S, The author has alot of other really good/fun Shadowgast AUs, this one in particular is just my favorite ;3c XD)

And Not A Wild Shade by Pippin (7312, Teen) Reccer's Content Notes: Choose Not to Warn

Essek goes looking for spell components on the border of Fae lands, didn't expect to encounter a mysterious Fae-touched man guarding them. . . - Shadowgast Tam Lin AU!

Reccer says: A really well done AU, just fun from start to finish and so so soft! /u\

Half-Sick of Shadows by Copperhawk (14512, General) Reccer's Content Notes: No Content Notes

Essek departs from the Nein soon after the conclusion of the peace talks, saying he needs to tie up some loose ends - However he is a loose end all his own, and not the only one looking to weave this tapestry. . . (Lady of Shalott AU!)

Reccer says: A very fun fic!! Whether you know the poem or not, the fic is very well done and so fun to read - If you DO know it (or read it before reading the fic), it's fun to see the use of the framework of the poem within/meshed with the fic narrative XD The author plays with the ideas *very* well - Cannot overstress how fun and downright delightful I find this fic As a small note, while there's alot of platonic M9 & Essek and the ship-status is Pre-Relationship, there's also a nice amount of pining that's real neat XD Overall, just an amazing Fic

Act of Service by CitizenMocha (5488, Mature) Reccer's Content Notes: No Content Notes

Caleb and Essek do some roleplaying and learn more about each other.

Reccer says: I like the portrayal of nonsexual intimacy and the way Essek is written as having a disability.

The Icarus to Your Certainty by ithilielthechosenone (14091, Mature) Reccer's Content Notes: No Content Notes

sometimes you consider breaking time and then you go and kiss about it: big wizard energy

Reccer says: Some excellent post T-Dock angst and feels!

I’ll Bow to the Altar of Your Curiousity by Serlenti (10266, Explicit) Reccer's Content Notes: Rape/Non-con, Dubcon/Consensual Non Consent

Bren Ermendrud awakes, naked, gagged and strapped to an operating table, after he barely survived an implosion leveling the whole of Rexxentrum. Ready to die because of the Residuum in his arms, Bren quickly realizes that the mysterious Shadowhand is searching for something different entirely.

Reccer says: I like the medical themes!

Held in Place: Practical Applications of Immovable Object by C. Widogast et al by Artificial Haunting (6320, Explicit) Reccer's Content Notes: No Content Notes

Essek teaches Caleb some new uses of the Immovable Object spell.

Reccer says: I liked it!

Heart of Joy by Vvenus (68 276 , Mature) Reccer's Content Notes: No Content Notes

A WIP modern AU with magic featuring Caleb and Essek as dorm roomates.

Reccer says: A lot of open communication, Essek an overthinker who discovers infatuation with Caleb, it is very sweet, and also explores disabilities. It is a WIP but the author is updating 2 chapters a week !

Then we have two recs for this next fic!

Zweisamkeit by Ajaxis (29,086 (but still being updated), Mature) Reccer's Content Notes: No Content Notes

I follows Caleb and Essek as they traverse the ruins of Aeor right after the events of C2.

Reccer 1 says: I’ve been wanting a ‘Caleb and Essek Aeor adventure’ fic for a while now and this absolutely ticks all my boxes. It’s dual pov (which I love) and you can feel the unspoken longing between them in the air. It’s also incredibly well written! Reccer 2 says: I love Caleb and Essek’s dynamic in this!! This fic is full of tense moments, humorous moments, and the typical Shadowgast pining that everyone loves. It expands on and fills in blanks for what Caleb and Essek did in Aeor and is basically canon in my eyes. I wait patiently for every update, and so far, no chapter has disappointed

This is one of our weekly communally-generated shadowgast rec lists. Every week we announce a new theme and allow anyone to submit a fic recommendation. 

And hey, anyone includes you!

Next week, we'll be featuring time travel/time loops! Fun with dunamancy

Any fics coming to mind? Well, then use this form to submit!

[copperhawkthoughts]

🪵 CHETNEY CHORTS 🐺

First in my third Crit Role Crochet series Dressed to the Neins…a pair of C-Pop themed short-shorts.

Pattern: Janie Joggers by Tinderbox

Yarns: Bamboo Soft from Scheepjes