Call me FM, or Karo (she/her, 30s). I write fanfics; mostly angst, sometimes fluff/humor, all SFW. Feel free to drop me an ask or message if you'd like to chat :)
Omg, I was the one who requested the revenge fic. I love it soooo much!!!! :)
Thank you for the request, and sorry again for taking so long! I’m really glad you liked it; seems like vengeful!MC is really resonating with a bunch of readers 😬
Jesus Tapdancing Christ... THIS is a good welt pocket and the people who designed Simplicity 2895 ought to be blasted well ASHAMED of themselves for the crap way THEY wanted a welt pocket made. *SNARLS*
This is how I learned to do it and a good example of what you want to see in a short form tutorial: pinning, pressing, seam finishing, good fabric handling.
I would mention that you can make the pocket facing with a small panel of your matching fabric that is visible and the rest in a lighter fabric to reduce bulk. That's a lot of denim layers for comfort.
I think the Hunger Games series sits in a similar literary position to The Lord of the Rings, as a piece of literature (by a Catholic author) that sparked a whole new subgenre and then gets blamed for flaws that exist in the copycat books and aren’t actually part of the original.
Like, despite what parodies might say, Katniss is nowhere near the stereotypical “unqualified teenager chosen to lead a rebellion for no good reason”. The entire point is that she’s not leading the rebellion. She’s a traumatized teenager who has emotional reactions to the horrors in her society, and is constantly being reined in by more experienced adults who have to tell her, “No, this is not how you fight the government, you are going to get people killed.” She’s not the upstart teenager showing the brainless adults what to do–she’s a teenager being manipulated by smarter and more experienced adults. She has no power in the rebellion except as a useful piece of propaganda, and the entire trilogy is her straining against that role. It’s much more realistic and far more nuanced than anyone who dismisses it as “stereotypical YA dystopian” gives it credit for.
And the misconceptions don’t end there. The Hunger Games has no “stereotypical YA love triangle”–yes, there are two potential love interests, but the romance is so not the point. There’s a war going on! Katniss has more important things to worry about than boys! The romance was never about her choosing between two hot boys–it’s about choosing between two diametrically opposed worldviews. Will she choose anger and war, or compassion and peace? Of course a trilogy filled with the horrors of war ends with her marriage to the peace-loving Peeta. Unlike some of the YA dystopian copycats, the romance here is part of the message, not just something to pacify readers who expect “hot love triangles” in their YA.
The worldbuilding in the Hunger Games trilogy is simplistic and not realistic, but unlike some of her imitators, Collins does this because she has something to say, not because she’s cobbling together a grim and gritty dystopia that’s “similar to the Hunger Games”. The worldbuilding has an allegorical function, kept simple so we can see beyond it to what Collins is really saying–and it’s nothing so comforting as “we need to fight the evil people who are ruining society”. The Capitol’s not just the powerful, greedy bad guys–the Capitol is us, First World America, living in luxury while we ignore the problems of the rest of the world, and thinking of other nations largely in terms of what resources we can get from them. This simplistic world is a sparsely set stage that lets us explore the larger themes about exploitation and war and the horrors people will commit for the sake of their bread and circuses, meant to make us think deeper about what separates a hero from a villain.
There’s a reason these books became a literary phenomenon. There’s a reason that dozens upon dozens of authors attempted to imitate them. But these imitators can’t capture that same genius, largely because they’re trying to imitate the trappings of another book, and failing to capture the larger and more meaningful message underneath. Make a copy of a copy of a copy, and you’ll wind up with something far removed from the original masterpiece. But we shouldn’t make the mistake of blaming those flaws on the original work.
Other examples of “blamed for things their copycats did” include Watchmen (blamed for the gritty antihero comics of the 90s) and Madoka Magica (blamed for excessively edgy and grimdark magical girl shows).
Four years on, and I think you might be the first person to add this type of comment to this post. After receiving so many comments that are like “THG is nowhere near on the level of LotR” or “THG didn’t invent YA dystopia”, it’s so refreshing to see someone understand exactly what I meant by framing THG as “a work blamed for its copycats”, and expand on it with examples that I didn’t know about.
It’s so rare to get an original comment on this post. Thank you so much.
Oh yeah, it gets really annoying with Madoka. The original Madoka Magica had PURPOSE to its darkness, it wasn’t just being “edgy”. It was asking questions that other magical girl series took for granted.
Like, why are girls between the ages of 9-17 targeted? Because those are some of the most emotionally vulnerable people who can produce some of the greatest emotional extremes.
What are the monsters that the girls have to fight? They’re corrupted forms of the girls themselves, once the hope that powers them is extinguished.
Why does the cute mascot creature have special powers that perfectly work with taking down these monsters? (In this case, taking in grief seeds for disposal). Because they were the ones who started this whole thing and it’s basically a giant energy-harvesting scheme.
And the wishes! The magical girls are shaped by the wishes they receive in exchange for their service. Notably, while a lot of wishes go wrong, Kyubey is NOT a jerkass genie. I don’t even think he really gets to choose when and how the wishes get granted, exactly. They seem to be granted more or less in the way that the girl envisioned, so if things go wrong, it’s because the girl didn’t think the wish’s consequences through. I really like that.
How are these girls suddenly able to withstand way more punishment and pain than they ever could before, and why is the transformation item so important? Because their true bodies are now their transformation items, which are way easier to protect, and it lets them heal their old bodies even when they sustain lethal damage.
Madoka also acknowledges the horror of fighting monsters and how dangerous it is, which traditional magical girl shows often gloss over.
And in the end, it rebuilds some of this stuff. Yes, all this is horrifying, but Madoka perseveres and uses her emotions, her will, to reshape the world to be fairer than it is now, to give magical girls a happier ending! Hope is not useless, and love wins out in the end, even if it’s bittersweet.
Unfortunately, most of its imitators just go “Magical girls, but now they kill each other and die horribly!” and didn’t really have a ton to say beyond that, at least not using the unique strengths of the magical girl genre.
The brothers had only just begun to vacate their seats after dinner, leaving whoever was on cleanup duty to pick up the dishes, when Belphegor decided it was time to voice his offer:
"Make a pact with me."
The room went still. All eyes darted between the youngest demon and Kirana, who looked just as bewildered as the rest of them. A chunk of half-chewed leftovers dropped out of Beelzebub's open mouth.
Belphegor rolled his eyes as though she was being deliberately obtuse. "You heard me. I'm giving you my pact as an apology, and I'm not even asking for anything in return. You won't have to be afraid anymore."
"I shouldn't need it to feel safe around you," Kirana argued with a frown. Her pact mates gathered behind her in a display of solidarity; Satan hovered nearby as well, prepared to step in if needed. "You don't actually mean it. You're not trying to make up with me, you just want to appease Lilith's spirit."
"Then what more do you want from me?!" Belphegor's chair flew backwards with a deafening screech as he stood angrily. "I've been polite, I've been nothing but nice—" he practically spat, turning towards his twin. "Beel, back me up here."
Beelzebub wiped his mouth calmly. "I'm not your muscle, Belphie. You're on your own for this."
Kirana held out her hands defensively when Belphegor started advancing towards her, but she didn't back away. "Don't come any closer, or I will hit you."
"Stubborn as always." Like Lilith, went unsaid. The demon smirked and took another step into her space. "You don't have the guts—"
There was no telegraphing, no pulling back of elbows or shifting into bladed stances; Kirana's arm extended from where it already was, shooting outwards and striking Belphegor cleanly against the side of his face in one fluid motion.
Belphegor staggered backwards, more from shock than actual pain. Satan instantly put himself between them, a physical shield braced for retaliation, while Mammon, Levi and Asmo moved to flank their master.
Beelzebub shook his head and rose from his seat, joining the commotion at last. "Nice hook," he said with approval, not bothering to defend his twin or justify his actions. To everyone's surprise, he held out his hand towards Kirana. "May I?"
Belphegor looked absolutely betrayed when Kirana accepted it, scowling as he sensed Beelzebub's pact mark taking shape on her skin. "Finally choosing Lilith, huh?" He couldn't help but sneer.
"No, I'm choosing Kirana." Beel frowned at him. "She set a clear boundary. You ignored it. I don't like seeing you hurt, but you need to learn to respect her."
Lucifer, who had been silently monitoring the situation from afar, felt Kirana's gaze flicker to him, just for a split second. The message was clear: Beel's words applied to him too. He observed the way his brothers rallied around her, a united front, and dipped his head imperceptibly.
"I think we should all go and cool off for a bit. Come on, Belphie." Beel steered his twin away and practically manhandled him out of the room. Lucifer excused himself and left just as swiftly.
Mammon whooped and grabbed Kirana by the waist, lifting and spinning her around easily. "Atta girl! I knew you had it in ya!"
"You were so brave, darling!" Asmo caught her in a hug the moment her feet touched the ground. "How are you feeling?"
"That was really stressful…" Kirana whined, exhaling heavily. Her shoulders slumped now that all the tension was gone. "I don't want to do that ever again."
"But you were so cool!" Levi had stars in his eyes. "And that ult— You really dealt some critical damage; Belphie didn't see it coming at all!"
Satan quietly took Kirana's hand and rubbed a thumb over her knuckles, healing them with a non-verbal spell. "You stood your ground. I'm proud of you."
Kirana cleared her throat and looked away shyly, trying to ignore the way his gentle touch sent her heart into overdrive. "I need to decompress for a bit. Any suggestions?"
"I can take ya for a drive!"
"Or we can spend some time in that new virtual reality I downloaded!"
"My room is perfectly equipped for a relaxing spa~"
Satan didn't offer any suggestions on the spot. Instead, he sent a text after Kirana had retreated to her room for the night.
// There's a new cat café that just opened near RAD. How about some animal therapy after class tomorrow?" //
With a smitten grin that made her cheeks hurt, Kirana replied and promptly buried her burning face into her pillow.
Let mc from Dwbd au get revenge. Tell mephisto and have him put it in the newspaper. How their hostility is going against the peace diavolo is working towards.
Let them manipulate the brothers with the promise of forgiveness. Show them what happens when you get a human to truly HATE.
Make pride get on his hands and knees and beg for an ounce of forgiveness.
Revenge! Revenge! Revenge!
(I really like your writing! Hope you have an amazing day/night!!)
Sorry this took a while, but I hope I didn't disappoint! MC takes a more stealthy approach to revenge here, but at least Mephisto's more than willing to lend them a hand >:)
It was almost too easy.
You hadn't attended RAD for very long, but demons were demons, and you quickly identified the various cliques amongst the student body: the rich, the bullies, the athletes, the gossips…
Then, it was all a matter of being seen in the right place at the right time.
.
.
.
Mephisto prided himself on running a reputable newspaper club, so he took it upon himself to investigate the troubling rumors circling RAD as of late:
"—found them hiding under a table in one of the classrooms; I think they spent the night in RAD—"
"—their bag's always empty, so don't bother—"
"—uniform's too loose, how unsightly! Come to think of it, I've never seen them eat before—"
"—recommend some concealer for the poor thing, what with those perpetual bags under their eyes—"
Needless to say, it wasn't hard to jump to all the wrong conclusions. The whispers painted an ugly picture that threatened the very core of the exchange program. Still, Mephisto had to do his due diligence and went straight to the source:
"I lost track of Mammon, so I figured staying at RAD would be the safest option," you admitted.
"Didn't those imbeciles give you a D.D.D. to contact them?"
"It was gone by lunchtime. Since it was a brand new phone with the latest model and everything, I have no idea who could have stolen it."
Mephisto didn't think his opinion of the Avatars could get any lower. The way you wouldn't meet his eyes sent a faint pang of pity through his noble heart. "Do they even feed you properly at the House of Lamentation?"
You paused before answering carefully, seemingly reluctant to throw your hosts under the bus. "There's always food on the table. I guess I just haven't gotten used to Devildom cuisine yet."
Lies. Mephisto had money on a certain gluttonous Avatar eating his fill before you had a chance to take a bite. In fact, he suspected nobody even asked if you had any allergies or preferences during mealtimes.
"I've heard enough." The demon shut his notebook and gave you a firm handshake. "Thank you for your time. Please allow me to buy you a coffee for your troubles."
Later, much later, a report would find its way to Diavolo's desk, and a royal summons would be issued to the Avatars. You remained in the house after they had departed for the castle, enjoying the rare peace and quiet, cooking a hearty meal for yourself with the biggest smirk on your face.
DWBD AU. The end of the exchange program... or is it?
DWBD AU masterlist here. Requested by @ijustreadfanficsforaliving, sorry for the wait!
The portal had been active for some time now, but your friends weren't ready to say goodbye just yet. Luckily for them, Barbatos didn't seem to mind keeping it open a little longer.
Dracius tried to maintain his composure, but the heavy slump of his shoulders gave him away. Erkid clung to your arm silently as you made your rounds. Belyth was in mother hen mode, lecturing you about staying hydrated and taking your medicines, while Talon simply gave you a fist bump and offered her muscles if you ever ran into trouble. Vorgo chimed in about not skipping meals, Igfuur handed you another handmade stuffed toy to keep the ones he had already given you company, and Rache made the tenth promise to dedicate her debut album to you.
You had gotten gifts for everyone, little trinkets that reminded you of them and the memories you made together, hoping the lesser demons would continue to remain friends even without you as the common factor. Everyone's eyes were damp as they accepted your token of friendship, but they were smiling at the end of it.
All in all, a very touching and emotional farewell.
The surprise was visible in the Avatars' eyes when you approached them with small gifts of their own. They hadn't exactly been the ideal hosts, but they learned eventually. They tried. So you shook their hands with a smile and thanked them for their hospitality.
A far cry from hugs and tears, but it was better than nothing. Humbled, the demon lords could only wish you well in your future endeavors.
As you made your way towards the portal for the last time, a smirk crept onto your face. Tugging at the nearest demon, you whispered something into Igfuur's ear.
Nobody had ever seen the lesser Sloth demon look so alert so quickly. You winked at him, and he nodded dumbly.
With one last smile and a wave, you vanished through the portal, and the throne room was silent once again.
"What was that about?" Rache whispered loudly, staring at a stunned Igfuur, who quickly pulled out his phone.
"They said they just transferred me Grimm for last week's dinner," he mumbled, frowning at the notification on the screen. "But why—"
Belyth grabbed his arm with wide eyes. "That means their bank account is still open."
"I guess—?"
Even Vorgo was staring at their phone. "They just liked my Devilgram post."
"And they reacted to Talon's message in the group chat. Their D.D.D. line is still active," Dracius concluded.
"So we can still call them and talk and video chat and everything?!" Erkid gave a loud whoop. "I call first dibs!"
"And I'm next." Talon's grin practically dared the others to try and fight her for it.
"Oi… Is that even allowed?" Mammon nudged Lucifer, who was looking at Diavolo questioningly.
The prince laughed. "The inaugural exchange program may have ended, but my quest for harmony between the three realms remains ongoing. We can't allow forged bonds to be severed so easily now, can we?"
Concept: one of those standard plots where a magic user and a tech expert are arguing over whose purview the weird thing of the week falls under, but it's the magic user who's insisting this has to be a science thing and the tech expert who's insisting it has to be a magic thing, because they're not arguing over worldview, they're arguing over jurisdiction and neither of them wants to be the one who has to deal with it
"Look, it's a circuitboard. That makes this tech - your territory"
"That 'circuitboard' sure looks like a runic circle to me. Your territory"
ok so this is another long shot but a few years ago there was a twitter post (in japanese i think?) that had measurememts for how to make this book stand thing out of cardboard that you could use to double up books and use up more space on shelves
back then i made a bunch of these but by now i lost the pic and dont know how to find the original post anymore
if it comes down to it i can just take one apart and get the measurements from there but i would be very grateful if anyone happens to have the original post or something similar??
don't mind how long it's been since i made this post, anyway i realized that i don't even need to take one apart to get the measurements when i can literally just unfold it and refold it /FACEPALM
so anyway here is the diagram for anyone else who is interested!!
this requires pretty big carboard pieces, if you have a really big box or something you can make it from one piece, but if you don't, you can also just make each of the pieces individually and then tape them together
and then in the end you put it together like this!!
and then when you make a bunch you can put them all next to each other and stack your books like crazy
EVERYONE START GETTING MORE USE OUT OF YOUR SPACE NOW!!!!
I am a PASSIONATE commenter on fanfiction, but sometimes it slows down my reading because I don't want to read if I don't have the mental energy to leave the long comments I want to
Still, as an author, I know even a short note can mean the world.
So, I put together a little guide with different “levels” of comments, so it’s easier to leave something without overthinking!
for maximum impact with minimum effort can I strongly recommend the quick highlight?
copy pasting a particular line and your reaction to it is a phenomenal way to quickly provide specific, unique feedback!
it can even just be a keysmash or an emoji response to the quoted bit
authors have SO many micro decisions and careful word choices that go into the writing process and that they'll almost never get to see a specific reaction to
it's so fun to get even one of these things highlighted
I could . not. put. this down for 48 hours - stayed up too late, had weird dreams about it, woke up early, and played it while I was supposed to be doing other things. the last several dozen items took a lot of googling, which I do not even begrudge it.
and then. My partner started it. And the SAME THING happened to him.
surprisingly compelling. start when you have free time. like, yanno, a snow day.
oh my god, if you are the kind of person who gets sucked into logic puzzles, do not click that link if you have to do anything/go to sleep in the next couple hours
I was disappointed there weren't more levels, so I made them! The creator's code was under CC Share Alike, so I moved a copy to my website, rustled up 40 new categories, and added buttons so you can generate smaller puzzles!
LMFAOOOOOO so last night I tried the Tomodachi Life demo and created Kirana, Satan and Dracius for funsies (the demo only allowed up to 3 Miis) and at the end of the demo they showed previews of 3 events that took place in the full game.
They randomized the characters and one of the previews was basically Satan blowing a kiss to Kirana, but just as the flying heart was about to reach her, Dracius came jogging by and got smooched instead 🤣🤣🤣
(2 hands poly meme.png)
((I promise I’ve been working on the next two updates of DWBD AU but inspiration is dry and progress is slow 😔))
