love can be frightening for sure

ashlin - 27 - demi - she/her - iowa - high class multifandom trash

[vaultsixtynine]

ok it's been 2.5 years since i moved to washington state and i still barely can find apple butter why is it so HARD. like it can't be THAT uncommon, can it???

[vaultsixtynine]

please im gathering data:

where are you from

do you know what apple butter is

do you like/eat apple butter with any frequency

[farmlesbians]

i am NOT dating an aries

[alinaastarkov]

NO MOURNERS, NO FUNERALS

[whitepeopletwitter]

[brutalistarchitecture2]

hellooo open 4 a surprise

[musashi]

“how long have you been on tumblr”

there was once, like, a whole weekend where users on this website legitimately thought that you could defy the laws of equivalency and make infinite chocolate by cutting your chocolate bar a certain way.

[an-ace-up-your-sleeve]

There was once a time where info spread about a rare disorder where your eyes were purple

[lh7]

so many of these are still part of the background radiation of tumblr for me but i legitimately gasped after reading “humansona” for the first time in at least 3 years

[headspace-hotel]

Okay but the dress was in like 2015 I remember when that happened

[creepsandcrawlers]

this pisses me off but the chocolate thing was not people legitimately believing you could obtain infinite chocolate by slicing it a certain way. The reason the post was popular was because people knew it was impossible but the visual trick presented by that one gif was fun and unexplainable. this is literally just bad anthropology, its like seeing an audience applaud at a magic show and saying “wow people literally believe a rabbit disappeared” like no its a fucking amusing visual trick that people liked. 

[literal-ghost]

You forgot about when 4chan users ‘raided’ tumblr and tumblr users ‘raided’ 4chan and the result was people inventing a ship between anthropomorphic representations of both platforms and named it ‘4chumblr’.

there were pages and pages worth of art and fic people made.

[lithiummoonfox]

Chocolety milk spider

[teenagerposts]

100 level course prof: Attendance is mandatory, no phones allowed, 12 hours of homework/week, also we have 5 exams and one is in 9 days

500 level course prof: I illegally downloaded the texbook, I’ll send you the link. text me if you need anything. Do you guys wanna go kayaking?

[lesbiansinthegarden]

FYI

100 level course prof: Usually an adjunct. Very smol and new to teaching. Lives with dept head up their butt and double checking everything they do

500 level course prof: Is presumed to be competent and is left alone to become the true agent of chaos all teachers yearn to be

[gardenforsparrows]

500 level also has tenure and can do whatever they want with little to no consequences

[wormofmouth]

also 100 level course: 250 students, at 8:30 AM bc the department is required to schedule at least one class in that timeslot 500 level course: 5 students, a once-a-week four-hour-long shitshow in a coat closet that the prof is fond of

[someplanetelse]

“a once-a-week four-hour-long shitshow in a coat closet that the prof is fond of “

i´m shaking…

[nickyklose]

Andrew: let me get this straight. You’ve been on the run for 8 years, you have 22 identities to cover those, meaning a new identity every 3-4 months. You were almost sold to the ravens, your dad has tried to kill you multiple times, has killed your mom, and yet not only have you stayed Neil Josten for over a year but you signed on with the foxes???? Why

Neil:

[faintlyglow]

fixed it

wait wait wait I thought this was a sports anime but in book form? Like a bunch of gay teenagers playing a sport? what the fuck? secret identities? m u r d e r? W h a t

[nickyklose]

Listen. The drama.

[thepalmettofoxes]

oh buddy you have no fucking idea

[triquetrine]

the vibes

[abigail-abridged-summaries]

Roland realizing he likely just outed Andrew and also basically told Neil they fucked:

[schizophrenicarchivist-remade-d]

When I was little my mom’s meatloaf was my favorite food. But ONLY her meatloaf. I didn’t like anyone else’s, and she told me that she would teach me how to make it when I was older. And when I was like 19? She finally taught me, but she told me never to tell anyone else and I was like weird but okay

Anyway, she was super fucking homophobic and abusive to me when I told her I was gay, so here’s the recipe

4-6 lbs of Hamburger/turkey burger

1 pk onion soup mix OR ranch mix

1 TBs ketchup

1 Tbs spicy brown mustard,

1 Tbs bbq sauce

1 Tbs steak sauce

1 egg

mix, shape into a loaf in a big pan, and bake at 350 for 2 hrs (maybe 2 and a half if you’re feeling dangerous)

You can get almost all of these ingredients at the dollar store, and have leftovers if it’s just you. The leftovers make great tacos if (taco seasoning is also like a dollar). Enjoy your revenge loaf

[comfynb]

here's a mashed potato recipe from my homophobic mother that i swore to never share that would pair perfectly!

(6 servings)

-2lbs red potatoes

-1 cup butter (2 sticks)

-1 cup cream cheese (1 pack)

-Chives (optional)

-Salt & Pepper to taste

1. drop those bad boys (potatoes) in a big ol pot. U don't even have to chop them just wash them

2. boil til soft!

3. Drain

4. Mash (usually they're small enough you can use a fork if u don't have one of those squashers) until its a pretty chunky mix

5. add the other stuff. Keep mashing

I like my mashed potato consistancy more lumpy but its all up to you!! Peel the potatoes or keep them on, it literally makes the creamiest fluffiest mashed potatoes which she always served with the nastiest fuckin meatloaf

[tastefullyterrible]

So after spending hours combing through the recipes in the comments of this post I have created a cookbook. Feel free to use it. The link should work for everyone, its the only file on the google drive! I have referenced all of the recipes I used, all of which are from this thread. I made it for myself, but figured after all that work I should probably share. Happy spite cooking! 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1WjcDfZrPMr0Pw9f5GfEy0aTs2KEx4Pub/view?usp=sharing

[24ozsteak]

you ever just hand things to ur pet to sniff so they can feel included

[systlin]

A couple foggy days with frost freezing to every twig has made it very pretty on Iowa's nose

[systlin]

[pouchedmilk]

I took this one about a week ago and just a few minutes after I took it it had all melted away

[vampireapologist-archive-deacti]

remember tumblr 2010-2012 when we’d all change our URLs to holiday puns in December and put a snowfall animation on our blogs that was cute

[choiyeonjuns]

your first column of emojis describes your personality! what’s yours?

[roger-taylor-owns-my-wigg]

every person can feel freddie’s presence in their souls when they sing MAMAAAAAA UUHHHH, I DONT WANNA DIE, I SOMETIMES I WISH I’VE NEVER BEEN BORN AT ALL with all the air in their lungs i’m not joking

[peachdisco]

it’s fucking crazy to think about the amount of people who have sung bohemian rhapsody? like it’s such a unifying song, by nature of the fact that so many people know it. it holds so many good memories for me and other people. it’s a song you scream in the car with your friends while you drive around your boring hometown, it’s a song you drunkenly sing with your arm around your best friend, or a song you sing along to with strangers when it’s on in public. it’s bittersweet to think about freddie’s legacy carrying on like that through his masterpiece. freddie carries on because he’s a part of so many people’s good memories and bohemian rhapsody is a huge part of that.

[deathbutwithfuzzyanimals]

Reblog if you have sung bohemian rhapsody with your friends

[reikah-deactivated20190906]

every time i see this post i’m reminded of the video of 65,000 people singing bohemian rhapsody in near-perfect harmony

like, what other song can make that claim?

[crewdlydrawn-deactivated2022072]

Some of the highlights of that video include:

The crowd cheering after the first stanza when they realize what they’re all doing

So many people audibly ‘doing the guitar parts’… like ya do

The sheer number of voices joining the rediculous falsetto (thanks, Roger)

How they all start jumping at the ramp-up “so you think you can stomp me”

Hands up, hundreds, thousands deep for the final “ooooo”s and the last line to close the song

[aftgficrec]

Any new fics by our favorite authors? You know, everyday I think of some fics or aus I would like to ask for it’s just head empty, no thoughts. I think I’m going to have to write all of that shit down. So I would just really appreciate it if you gave me some good fics

We decided to let loose and have fun with this ask because we are bound to leave someone out, and some of our favourite authors are very new! Here are just some of the great fics that happened this year, from established writers and ones to watch. 2020 has been a tragedy, but our AFTG fandom content flourished! - A

Also check out our staff recs and random recs tags for more of what we love, and here’s a recent ask with more of our faves from 2020.

An Incomplete Yet Numbered List of 2020 Greats in No Particular Order

1. Junior Detectives

We Used To Be Friends by gluupor [Rated M, 104576 Words, Complete, 2020] here

Neil's life is thrown into disarray when his best friend is murdered. Suddenly at the bottom of his posh high school's pecking order, Neil works with his PI father to crack the case hoping to regain some of what he lost. 

Fun Facts: This Veronica Mars AU stars Neil at his observant and manipulative best and includes enemies-to-lovers-Andreil, awkward newcomer Matt wooing polished Danielle, and 47 uses of the word kiss. 

2. Favourite Collab

Surreal But Nice by fuzzballsheltiepants, gluupor, moonix [Rated T, 35145 Words, Complete, 2020] here, podficast here

Andrew's quiet life as the owner of an independent, cat-enriched bookstore in the heart of San Francisco's hills is thrown into turmoil when Famous Actor Neil Josten stumbles into his shop. Can the call of their hearts be enough to reconcile their vastly different lives?

Fun Facts: This Notting Hill fusion is crammed full with Pining!Andrew! Ace!Neil! Grown up Foxes as a family! Fuzzy cats and feels! Old books! Socialite/Friend/Beard!Allison! And? If you ever need to write a gratuitously naked character, I highly recommend our very own Matthew Donovan Boyd. Ahem.

3. Fuzzy Mobsters

The Bachelor of Baltimore by likearecord [Rated M, 32235 Words, Complete, AFTG Exchange Winter 2020] here

Nathaniel Wesninski, the only son of the Butcher of Baltimore, has two options: choose a mob boss to marry for the benefit of the Moriyamas, or meet with an unfortunate accident. 

Fun Facts: Look, we all know who gets The Final Rose, but what a ride to get there. (That bait and switch OMG.) This fic prompted our first spontaneous random rec, and made me grab some green markers and unleash my inner badass. (Edit: please mentally insert “want to” before grab. Thank you.)

4. OMG They Were Roommates

better than nothing by Stjosten [Rated T, 9174 Words, Complete, 2020] here

Andrew’s cryptid college roommate leaves him strange post-it notes, and a red-headed bartender with a thing for street art may or may not be flirting. Andrew wanted nothing until he decides that he kind of wanted something.

Fun Fact: We love when Andrew gets what he never knew he always wanted.

5. Gay/Ace Disaster Sandwich

definitely something by bazookajo94 [Rated T, 8011 Words, Complete, 2020] here

Neil thinks he’s found a good match for Kevin in Andrew: he’s good at exy, he can tolerate Kevin at his worst, and he always turns up whenever Kevin and Neil are out and about. Neil is pretty sure Andrew is half in love with Kevin already. Andrew is, obviously, very much into Neil.

Fun Fact: If you’re not a Kevaaron fan, their budding background relationship here may change your mind.

6. Winningest Rare Pair

coming loose by djhedy [Rated T, 26338 Words, Complete, 2020] here

It's hot, and the twins are disgruntled, and Aaron can't stop hoping for things he can't have.

Fun Facts: Sethvin is sooo 2019. The kev/aaron tag on AO3 added 120 fics this year to the previous 66 (and those were a combined total from 2017-2019). Even as background characters, their made-in-nerd-heaven pairing is becoming ubiquitous. This handy online calculator says that’s an increase of 182%. (My brain said 60 something x 3 = 18, the first two digits in 186 fics in a tag = 300%. This is why I don’t do math.)

7. Blood is Thicker

progress comes in small steps series by Ominous [Rated T/E, Series, 147727 Words, Complete, 2020] here and here

Before Andrew & Neil and Aaron & Katelyn, there was Andrew & Aaron. This series tracks the ups and downs of healing a relationship that was broken from the word go. 

Fun Facts: The last work in this series is the sweet ending of a multi-course feast. Much of this collection is in Aaron’s POV, and we see his flaws and insecurities and hopes and growth and love. Neil and Katelyn get to be badasses. Neil and Andrew get to show up in full protect-our-brother mode and put on a ‘we are very rich and famous married gay athletes’ show. It’s amazing. There's therapy and Foxes. There’s Med School and Katelyn’s parents. There's Vegas. And OMG that wedding

8. Love in the Time of Corona

playing dead by flybbfly [Rated T, 6598 Words, Complete, 2020, Locked] in Staff Recs - Quarantine (they’re all 🔥), more here

Neil is miserable in quarantine with his new roommate. Slowly, they get to know each other.

Fun Fact: Our blog’s debut grew from a purr to a roar when Covid 19 slammed the brakes on life as we knew it. We were delighted by this lockdown Andreil tale from an old friend.

9. A Lunar Chronicle

Selling Meteors To Dinosaurs by moonix [Rated T, 7076 Words, Complete, 2020]

Neil pretends to be a robot in order to escape his father and the Moriyama Corp ship he's confined to. He did not count on getting sent to bot mechanic Andrew Minyard to be fixed.

Fun Facts: A fandom favourite by any measure, moonix dropped this scifi diamond straight into our hearts. No spoilers, but not everything is as it appears. 

10. Guilty Pleasure

addicted to the quiet type by passive_phantom [Rated E, 92525 Words, Incomplete, Updated December 2020] here

It starts as a bet. A really stupid bet, considering the circumstances. Neil would go to Eden's - the local BDSM club - with Kevin for two months. 'Socialization', Kevin called it. 'Making new friends'. 'Learning to act like a human fucking being for once'.

Fun Fact: We can’t resist this walk on the wild side, but you won’t catch (most of us) in the club.

11. Crack Attack

Not a Fucking Squirrel series by justadreamfox, likearecord [Rated T, 9225 Words] here (now with a part 3)

Could squirrels talk? If squirrels could transform into a boy and push abusers down the stairs, was it out of the realm of possibility that they could talk?

Fun Fact: We were already howling over this when we got a pair of asks for the crackiest crack we could find, it was our crack destiny. (“Oh. Is he a Harry Styles?” RIP me, I’m dead.)

12. Andrew Minyard, Celebrity Crush

can i get a kiss (can you make it last forever) by Talls [Rated T, 8995 Words, Complete 2020] here

In which Andrew has a podcast, and Neil falls in love with him twice.

Fun Facts: Friends-with-benefits-to-pining-to-love? Yes please. And you can try to hide greatness in a collection humbly titled “aftg au oneshots,” but just like taxes, cream rises, baby.

13. Favorite Cats Treat

A Mewment Like This by fuzzballsheltiepants [Rated T/M, Series, 38784 Words, Incomplete, Updated July 2020] here

A well-loved ongoing series that started with strangers who both coincidentally owned a “cat with the weird name” meeting in a vet clinic, progressed to a blossoming friendship, and is heading towards more.

Fun Facts: WHAT A TREAT to get an installment of this series this year! It’s full of warmth and humour, and just enough angst to keep us on our toes. And like. Can we talk about that cliff hanger? And what is up with Jean?

14. Bad Boys

Dark necessities by boybeaulieu [Rated M, 20780 Words, Complete, 2020] here

The Small Town AU where Andrew Minyard has a reputation, Neil is helplessly infatuated and bound to get his heart broken.

Fun Facts: There were plenty of fics that caused A Stir in our fox house this year, but this stands out to me. Partly because I let myself fall into exactly three WIPs in 2020 (ok MAYBE five), but also because I love our fandom trope where a hard Neil will gut you without remorse but Andrew is almost always gruff and bluster but soft on the inside. Plus, he’s hot and misunderstood, ok??

15. Boys in Skirts

Vintage au! by 5a5b5p5 [Rated M/E/T, Series, 11217 Words, Updated Oct 2020] part 2 here

Andrew Minyard is a bored model taking NYC by storm. One day, he stumbles upon a vintage shop run by a mysterious man with a seemingly infinite supply of secrets — and skirts.

Fun Fact: We had many asks for boys in skirts this year, and this series is a little gem. To skip the smut, you can safely read parts 1 and 3.

16. Record Breaker

Blame It on My Youth by youreyestheyglow [Rated E, 446038 Words, Incomplete, Updated Dec 2020] here

10 years after the end of The King's Men, Andrew and Neil have decided to foster a kid. They have low expectations for themselves--they're not exactly ideal parenting material--but at the very least, the kid will be safe with them. But neither Andrew nor Neil do temporary very well.

Fun Facts: This megafic blew past fandom legend ‘Armies’ to clinch its 2020 spot of third-longest work in our fandom! Here are the stats on the current top five: 1. ‘Black as is the Raven, He’ll Get a Partner’ by nekojita, 644k here, 2. ‘Way Down We Go’ by nekojita, 621k here, 3. ‘Blame It on My Youth’ by youreyestheyglow, 446k WIP, 4. ‘Armies’ by nekojita, 342k here, and 5. ‘The Unkindness of Ravens’ by crazy_like_a, 306k WIP here. 

For further comparison, some famous published works in the 400k words range include 'The Stand' (uncut version) and ‘It’ by Stephen King, ‘Infinite Jest’ by David Foster Wallace, ‘A Storm of Swords’ by George R.R. Martin, and ‘Gone with the Wind’ by Margaret Mitchell (source). All of those clock in around 1,000 pages. And? We continue to poke each other when a new chapter of BIOMY comes out. (Also? Can I still be a stan if I have to pretend to know fics by their acronyms?)

17. Final Curtain

Red Rabbits: Season 2 by bloodydamnit, jeni182 [Rated M, 282064 Word, Complete 2020] here, plus ‘Behind The Pod’ has been recc’d several times, for favourite smut, Seth redemption, Kevin-centric, Matt processing his past, and Aaron-centric with the diminutive doctor battling Covid. Find several art pieces by @bloodydamnit here and the playlist here.

You’re listening to Season Two of Red Rabbits, the Case of the Newark 9. My name is Robin Cross. I’m number 8. And I survived. Season 2 has Neil Josten joining TFN to catch the predator who had kidnapped a young Robin Cross (a Fox from Nora’s extra content, tw: dark) and is still abducting girls. Come for the gripping, immersive crime drama with the accompanying staff blog @redrabbitspod where fans can go ham (to give you an idea, we featured a storytime with Neil post here). Stay for the relationships between the Foxes and their lives and loves. And the always and forever Andreil flame that stutters and nearly goes out, but then burns bright and true. 

Fun Facts: Once more for emphasis: the Red Rabbits Universe can be considered nothing short of an AFTG fandom phenomenon. The original ‘Red Rabbits’ true crime podcast drama (here) exploded onto the scene in 2019 as we met The Foxhole Network (TFN) family through their story and blog, @redrabbits-season-1. ‘Red Rabbits: Season 2’ threaded in current events including international tragedies, movements, politics, and the all-too-real global pandemic adding soul and pathos and depth and the urgency that comes from messy realities reported in real time.

The creators have said there will not be a season three, but Neil just landed his dream job and Andrew’s writing a book, and even Sir and King have something to purr about, so we have a sneaking suspicion that the Minyard-Jostens will find a way keep us fans posted in one form or another.

18. Bonus: Animated Attitudes

foxhole twins animation by @marxandria

Andreil during quarantine by @book.fanarts on Instagram (@bookfanarts)

Fun Fact: It’s just. So them. Endlessly watchable.

That’s All, Folks!

And that’s a wrap! Thanks for the warm welcome; we’re still a bit shell shocked by how the blog blew up! We can’t wait to read what’s to come and share it with you all. Cheers!

[omayga]

Just watched Soul on Disney + and it’s so good. The trailers hid so much and it’s really a movie you should go into blind. It has amazing POC representation, a message that really takes its time to get there, and develops the main characters very well throughout the story.