{"@attributes":{"version":"2.0"},"channel":{"title":"somewhere i have never travelled","link":"https:\/\/secretsolitaire.livejournal.com\/","description":"somewhere i have never travelled - LiveJournal.com","lastBuildDate":"Fri, 16 Aug 2019 00:06:33 GMT","generator":"LiveJournal \/ LiveJournal.com","copyright":"NOINDEX","image":{"url":"https:\/\/l-userpic.livejournal.com\/128401551\/10676212","title":"somewhere i have never travelled","link":"https:\/\/secretsolitaire.livejournal.com\/","width":"100","height":"100"},"item":[{"guid":"https:\/\/secretsolitaire.livejournal.com\/268031.html","pubDate":"Fri, 16 Aug 2019 00:06:33 GMT","title":"Fandoms as lovers meme","author":"secretsolitaire","link":"https:\/\/secretsolitaire.livejournal.com\/268031.html","description":"Stole this meme from \"[personal<\/a>dancing_serpent<\/b><\/a><\/span>, 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.<\/strong>

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.<\/strong>

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.<\/strong>

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.<\/strong>

Tennis RPF.

The Steady.<\/strong>

Harry Potter.

The alluring stranger whom you've flirted with at parties but have never got really serious with.<\/strong>

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.<\/strong>

Sherlock.

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

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?\"<\/strong>

MCU.

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

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.<\/strong>

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.<\/strong>

White Collar.

Your hot new flame.<\/strong>

I wish I had one. :(

The one who stole your people's hearts.<\/strong>

I don't really know what this means, fandom-wise. \u00af\\_(\u30c4)_\/\u00af

Crossposted from https:\/\/secretsolitaire.dreamwidth.org\/264402.html<\/a>. Comment wherever you like. :)","comments":"https:\/\/secretsolitaire.livejournal.com\/268031.html?view=comments#comments","category":"meme"},{"guid":"https:\/\/secretsolitaire.livejournal.com\/256060.html","pubDate":"Fri, 15 Dec 2017 23:55:09 GMT","title":"Quick HP art recs","author":"secretsolitaire","link":"https:\/\/secretsolitaire.livejournal.com\/256060.html","description":"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 \"[personal<\/a>mywitch<\/b><\/a><\/span> under the heading 25 Days of Drawing. Here are a few of my favorites.

Severus\/Hermione\/Lucius<\/a><\/strong> (NWS): Gorgeous composition and colors. Also -- GUH.

Albus Severus\/Scorpius<\/a><\/strong> (WS): A sweet little kiss in the snow. ♥

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

Crossposted from https:\/\/secretsolitaire.dreamwidth.org\/252908.html<\/a>. Comment wherever you like. :)","comments":"https:\/\/secretsolitaire.livejournal.com\/256060.html?view=comments#comments","category":["albus severus\/scorpius","albus\/horace","threesomes","severus\/lucius\/hermione","recs: hp art"]},{"guid":"https:\/\/secretsolitaire.livejournal.com\/255510.html","pubDate":"Sun, 03 Dec 2017 16:19:56 GMT","title":"Super-quick HP art rec","author":"secretsolitaire","link":"https:\/\/secretsolitaire.livejournal.com\/255510.html","description":"Fannish content on this journal? Wha? :)

Just wanted to point you all to this gorgeous Remus\/Sirius art: Remus and Sirius<\/a> by \"[personal<\/a>finalsoul<\/b><\/a><\/span><\/strong> (G). I don't normally picture these two with facial hair, but they are so<\/em> beautiful here. ♥♥

Crossposted from https:\/\/secretsolitaire.dreamwidth.org\/252213.html<\/a>. Comment wherever you like. :)","comments":"https:\/\/secretsolitaire.livejournal.com\/255510.html?view=comments#comments","category":["remus\/sirius","recs: hp art"]},{"guid":"https:\/\/secretsolitaire.livejournal.com\/252228.html","pubDate":"Sat, 17 Jun 2017 20:03:26 GMT","title":"Wonder Woman","author":"secretsolitaire","link":"https:\/\/secretsolitaire.livejournal.com\/252228.html","description":"Just saw the movie and enjoyed it quite a bit. :)

First, a few disclaimers: I have no history with or attachment to this character, either by reading the comics or seeing the...TV show? Previous movie? I'm not really into superhero movies (I think the only one I've seen was the Tobey Maguire Superman<\/strike> Spiderman movie) or most action movies.

So I went to see Wonder Woman partly because I saw a bunch of people say it was good and partly because I wanted to support a woman-directed film. And I ended up finding it both entertaining and moving.

1. I teared up a bit watching Diana pull Steve out of the sinking plane, I think because of how powerful it was to see the \"damsel in distress\" trope reversed.

2. I loved that on the whole Diana was not sexually objectified. I mean, her outfit was a little silly (though SO showed me comparisons to other incarnations of WW, with their cleavage spilling out, so I guess it was an improvement!), and it was clear that Steve and others found her attractive, but it wasn't in your face and it wasn't the point of her character. Because she was brought up in a woman-only world, she had a refreshing lack of experience with or acceptance of the typical woman-as-sex-object BS.

I really enjoyed this article<\/strong><\/a>, which articulates it better than I could:

Perhaps the most quietly stunning scene in Wonder Woman is when Diana and Steve leave Themyscira on a boat, headed for Europe. When night comes, Steve behaves like a gentleman: He gives Diana the makeshift bed and chooses to sleep uncomfortably elsewhere. Diana is confused by this, since it doesn't occur to her that sleeping next to a strange man might be considered inappropriate or dangerous by a \"normal\" woman.

It's not simply that Diana is so strong and fast that Steve wouldn't be able to harm her: It's that she grew up without the experience of rape culture as we know it in our world. It wouldn't occur to her to be concerned about a man's physical presence, even alone in the dark. So, instead of crediting Steve for his chivalry, Wonder Woman seems to ask: What is the source of \"gentlemanly\" behavior? Why is that protection even necessary? What violence is it designed to compensate for?

Diana's lack of cultural and accumulated background trauma is perhaps what makes this version of her so iconic compared to other superheroes, across both Marvel and DC. While all superheroes personify various fantasies of power, in this iteration Diana represents the fantasy of freedom from structural violence and harassment. It's not just that she can fight her way out of danger\u2014it's that she's a vision of what could be possible if women weren't in danger as often as they are.<\/em>

3. On a related note, I loved seeing Diana encounter the human world with such an outsider's perspective on things like impractical women's clothes and watches and male genitalia. I could've watched another hour of her and Steve interacting and arguing and falling in love. ♥

4. The No Man's Land scene was my favorite action scene because it was visually arresting and brought hope to such a hopeless situation. (The ending battle scene between Diana and Ares...not so much. Too long, too much CGI blowing-up-of-things.)

5. I really enjoyed reading the thoughts from \"[personal<\/a>marina<\/b><\/a><\/span> on Diana's kindness<\/strong><\/a>. On that note I was struck by the moment near the end of the movie where the poison chemist lady takes off her mask to show the damage underneath and Diana seems to recognize her flawed humanity.

6. I was so sad when Steve died. I wasn't really expecting it; I was thinking he might fly the plane into the ocean to get rid of the poisonous gas and then maybe Diana could save him again. But I get how his death was necessary for the storyline.

7. I wonder where the opening scenes of Diana's homeland were filmed. I get that it was probably mostly CGI or whatever, but if there's a real place under all that computer fantasy land I'd love to go there. (Reminded me of the Amalfi Coast of Italy. *g*)<\/a><\/a>

Crossposted from http:\/\/secretsolitaire.dreamwidth.org\/248915.html<\/a>. Comment wherever you like. :)","comments":"https:\/\/secretsolitaire.livejournal.com\/252228.html?view=comments#comments","category":"movies"},{"guid":"https:\/\/secretsolitaire.livejournal.com\/251368.html","pubDate":"Sat, 15 Apr 2017 15:05:03 GMT","title":"Quick recs post so I can close some tabs","author":"secretsolitaire","link":"https:\/\/secretsolitaire.livejournal.com\/251368.html","description":"All HP art:

Ascendency<\/a> by Anonymous<\/strong> (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<\/a> by Anonymous<\/strong> (Harry\/Draco, NC-17): Hnnnnnghh. The way Harry is just surrendering here is really hot.

Flower Children<\/a> by \"[personal<\/a>acatnamedeaster<\/b><\/a><\/span><\/strong> (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.org\/247864.html<\/a>. Comment wherever you like. :)","comments":"https:\/\/secretsolitaire.livejournal.com\/251368.html?view=comments#comments","category":["harry\/draco","harry\/ron\/luna","recs: hp art"]},{"guid":"https:\/\/secretsolitaire.livejournal.com\/250597.html","pubDate":"Sun, 19 Mar 2017 00:50:11 GMT","title":"One More Brokeback Mountain Rec","author":"secretsolitaire","link":"https:\/\/secretsolitaire.livejournal.com\/250597.html","description":"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<\/em> 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<\/a> by Jenna Hilary Sinclar<\/strong>. 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<\/a><\/strong>, part two<\/a><\/strong>, part three<\/a><\/strong>.)

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.org\/247288.html<\/a>. Comment wherever you like. :)","comments":"https:\/\/secretsolitaire.livejournal.com\/250597.html?view=comments#comments","category":["ennis\/jack","recs: brokeback mountain fic"]},{"guid":"https:\/\/secretsolitaire.livejournal.com\/250143.html","pubDate":"Thu, 16 Mar 2017 02:29:22 GMT","title":"Brokeback Mountain Recs","author":"secretsolitaire","link":"https:\/\/secretsolitaire.livejournal.com\/250143.html","description":"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<\/a> by Destina<\/strong> (Ennis\/Jack, R)
The summary says it all: This is the happy ending they deserved.<\/em> If you want a well-written fix-it fic, try this one. :)

Her Daddy Was<\/a> by \"[personal<\/a>moony<\/b><\/a><\/span><\/strong> (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<\/a> by cathalin<\/strong> (Ennis\/Jack, NC-17, rimming)
This one is short and painful and beautifully written.

Something Precious<\/a> by Lintelomiel<\/strong> (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<\/a> by \"[personal<\/a>frayach<\/b><\/a><\/span><\/strong> (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<\/a> by cathalin<\/strong> (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<\/a> by Rave<\/strong> (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.org\/246809.html<\/a>. Comment wherever you like. :)","comments":"https:\/\/secretsolitaire.livejournal.com\/250143.html?view=comments#comments","category":["ennis\/jack","recs: brokeback mountain fic"]},{"guid":"https:\/\/secretsolitaire.livejournal.com\/249631.html","pubDate":"Wed, 08 Mar 2017 03:28:16 GMT","title":"Super-quick post","author":"secretsolitaire","link":"https:\/\/secretsolitaire.livejournal.com\/249631.html","description":"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<\/a> by <\/a>anemonen<\/b><\/a><\/span><\/strong> (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<\/a> by Fredrik Backman<\/strong> 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.org\/246375.html<\/a>. Comment wherever you like. :)","comments":"https:\/\/secretsolitaire.livejournal.com\/249631.html?view=comments#comments","category":["james\/scorpius","books","recs: hp art"]},{"guid":"https:\/\/secretsolitaire.livejournal.com\/249371.html","pubDate":"Fri, 24 Feb 2017 02:39:11 GMT","title":"Squee","author":"secretsolitaire","link":"https:\/\/secretsolitaire.livejournal.com\/249371.html","description":"Today the latest Adrien English book<\/strong><\/a> arrived at my house!

If you're not familiar, Adrien English is the main character in a series of M\/M mysteries<\/strong><\/a> by Josh Lanyon. As I noted when I recced the series<\/strong><\/a> 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.org\/246107.html<\/a>. Comment wherever you like. :)","comments":"https:\/\/secretsolitaire.livejournal.com\/249371.html?view=comments#comments","category":"books"},{"guid":"https:\/\/secretsolitaire.livejournal.com\/249074.html","pubDate":"Sun, 12 Feb 2017 03:53:41 GMT","title":"More quick links","author":"secretsolitaire","link":"https:\/\/secretsolitaire.livejournal.com\/249074.html","description":"HP Art: Such a Good Boy<\/a> by <\/a>akatnamedeaster<\/b><\/a><\/span><\/strong> (Charlie\/Draco, NC-17, chan, implied spanking and daddy kink, creampie)
Hot, hot, HOT.

The Atlantic: The Simple Psychological Trick to Political Persuasion<\/a><\/strong>
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?<\/a><\/strong>
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.org\/245511.html<\/a>. Comment wherever you like. :)","comments":"https:\/\/secretsolitaire.livejournal.com\/249074.html?view=comments#comments","category":["interesting links","charlie\/draco","recs: hp art","politics"]},{"guid":"https:\/\/secretsolitaire.livejournal.com\/248640.html","pubDate":"Thu, 09 Feb 2017 01:40:03 GMT","title":"Couple of quick links","author":"secretsolitaire","link":"https:\/\/secretsolitaire.livejournal.com\/248640.html","description":"So I can close some tabs...

HP Art: TriWizard Tricks<\/a> by <\/a>mywitch<\/b><\/a>'I know they are going to die.' This foster father takes in only terminally ill children<\/a><\/strong>
This made me cry today. Just when you think there's no kindness left in the world, you read an article about a Libyan-born American with a big enough heart to take in one dying foster child after another. Bless this guy, seriously. (P.S. There is a Gofundme link in the comments of the article if you want to send him a few bucks.)

Crossposted from http:\/\/secretsolitaire.dreamwidth.org\/245383.html<\/a>. Comment wherever you like. :)","comments":"https:\/\/secretsolitaire.livejournal.com\/248640.html?view=comments#comments","category":["alastor\/cedric","interesting links","recs: hp art"]},{"guid":"https:\/\/secretsolitaire.livejournal.com\/247920.html","pubDate":"Sun, 08 Jan 2017 17:13:27 GMT","title":"DW, HP recs, QAF rewatch","author":"secretsolitaire","link":"https:\/\/secretsolitaire.livejournal.com\/247920.html","description":"I've backed up my LJ to Dreamwidth and will be posting in both places from now on. This is my first attempt at crossposting -- we'll see how it goes. :\/

Apologies if you saw this entry posted earlier in an incomplete form -- I hit the wrong button and posted too early. Argh.

Have some HP recs.

HP fic: Five Times Ron and Draco Almost Had Sex (And One Time They Did)<\/a> by Anonymous<\/strong> (Ron\/Draco, NC-17)
This is an eighth year story in which Ron brings Draco back to the Burrow for Christmas. I liked the characterizations in this and the way the author dealt with some of the emotional issues in the aftermath of DH.

HP art: Breakfast Is for Eating In<\/a> by Anonymous<\/strong> (Harry\/Draco, NC-17, rimming)
a;lsdkfhal;dkhfa;lkhfa;lsdkfha;dlfh This is gorgeous and so HOT.

In other news, I've been rewatching Queer as Folk (the U.S. version) for the first time in probably seven or eight years. I was so<\/em> into this fandom for a while; it's kind of interesting to watch it again after being away for so long. I've made it through 204.

This time watching season 1, Brian's treatment of Michael actually bothered me more than his treatment of Justin (who seemed both younger and brattier than I remembered). The Brian and Mikey show is just so dysfunctional. Melanie also has every right to hate Brian! She really gets the short end of the stick from him, at least early on.

To my surprise, I found myself really liking Dr. Dave -- he was hotter and sweeter than I remembered. Maybe not the exact right person for Michael, but nowhere near as controlling as I had remembered him.

I had completely forgotten about Ted's coma and about just how early Blake appeared on the show. Also, Ted's crush on Michael? Totally forgot about that...perhaps because it was mentioned in only two episodes, with zero evidence otherwise that it existed. Very strange and random plotline.

I still love Emmett as much as ever, and his \"See the Light\" episode still strikes me as unrealistic. Of all the characters, Emmett was always the one that seemed most grounded in who he was. But then he got a lot of bizarre plotlines (meeting his online screen name? That weird \"West Side Story\" 90-minute romance at Babylon? Whaa?).<\/a>

Watching the show again makes me want to finish up those QaF character pic spams I did a million years ago. I always regretted that I never had the chance to do one for Emmett, whom I adore. The other two I had planned were Lindsay and Hunter. But I'm not sure I even have any QaF fans still on my flist these days! We'll see. :)<\/a>

Crossposted from http:\/\/secretsolitaire.dreamwidth.org\/244568.html<\/a>. Comment wherever you like. :)","comments":"https:\/\/secretsolitaire.livejournal.com\/247920.html?view=comments#comments","category":["ron\/draco","recs: hp fic","harry\/draco","queer as folk","recs: hp art"]},{"guid":"https:\/\/secretsolitaire.livejournal.com\/247043.html","pubDate":"Thu, 29 Dec 2016 03:05:16 GMT","title":"Essays to read, art to look at, plus a drabble for me!","author":"secretsolitaire","link":"https:\/\/secretsolitaire.livejournal.com\/247043.html","description":"*pokes LJ* Like other people, I'm having some issues of late -- can't change my icon, can't see comments, can't preview entries, etc. Get it together, LJ!

A quick HP rec -- <\/a>torino10154<\/b><\/a><\/span> wrote me a delightful little Charlie\/Draco drabble: First Touch<\/a><\/strong> (PG-13).

Also, some HP art:

Hero<\/a> by blvnk-art<\/strong> (Harry, Lily Luna, G): Excuse me while I melt into a puddle over dad!Harry. Beautiful piece.

Hagrid<\/a> by vladislavpantic<\/strong> (G): This makes me smile -- Hagrid and his creatures. :)

Night Out<\/a> by Anonymous<\/strong> (Teddy\/James, NC-17, public sex): Yowza, this is hot. Love the long, lean bodies.

In non-fannish reading, I just finished A Place Called Winter<\/a><\/strong> by Patrick Gale, about a gay English man at the turn of the 20th century who has to find a new home on the prairies of Canada. It took a while for me to get into the book, and it took some heartbreaking turns, but I quite liked it in the end.

I've been wandering through some year-end lists at Longreads.com, which has led me to some really stellar essays.

David's Ankles: How Imperfections Could Bring Down the World's Most Perfect Statue<\/a>:<\/strong> This is a fantastic essay about Michelangelo's David; I had no idea that it was made out of a damaged marble block that had already been badly carved by someone else, or that its ankles are so cracked that the statue is in danger of crumbling.

Seeing Stars<\/a>:<\/strong> A beautiful essay about grief and taking comfort in the stars.

When Denmark Criminalized Kindness<\/a>:<\/strong> Ugh. I'm not sure whether to feel hopeless or hopeful after reading this, about Denmark's decision to make helping refugees illegal. Mostly hopeless, I guess, but it also heartened me to see how many people joined in the author's efforts to do the right thing.

Citizen Khan<\/a>:<\/strong> Fascinating piece about a Muslim immigrant who sold tamales in Wyoming in the first half of the 20th century.

Moving Stars<\/a>:<\/strong> Even as our nation convulses and writhes, a king snake biting itself, the Obamas stand calm. America may well be broken. The Obamas are not.<\/em> Love this take on the self-possession of the Obamas.

My Last JDate<\/a>:<\/strong> I went into this expecting a humorous and\/or bittersweet piece about online dating in your 50s, but what this actually is is a wrenching portrait of falling in love with someone who ends up being terminally ill. The writing is so visceral that I couldn't stop reading, even though it left me feeling shredded. It's a good read; just know what you're getting into.<\/a>

Hmm, let's see how posting this goes without the ability to preview! Please forgive me if anything is wonky.","comments":"https:\/\/secretsolitaire.livejournal.com\/247043.html?view=comments#comments","category":["recs: hp fic","gen","interesting links","charlie\/draco","teddy\/james","books","recs: hp art"]},{"guid":"https:\/\/secretsolitaire.livejournal.com\/246867.html","pubDate":"Sat, 24 Dec 2016 02:08:32 GMT","title":"Pointing to things","author":"secretsolitaire","link":"https:\/\/secretsolitaire.livejournal.com\/246867.html","description":"So I can close some tabs...

HP Art: Farmer Granger and the Most Glorious Cock<\/a> by Anonymous<\/strong> (Severus\/Hermione, NWS)
I can thank <\/a>kitty_fic<\/b><\/a><\/span> for pointing me to this brilliant<\/em> piece, which is drawn in the style of a children's book but full of hilarious, very adult innuendo. I cackled.

HP Art: Make the darkness fade away<\/a> by Anonymous<\/strong> (Harry\/Draco, G)
This is just gorgeous. I love the progression from the first panel to the last.

HP Art: Harry\/Draco<\/a> by <\/a>mywitch<\/b><\/a>I Rewatched Love Actually and Am Here to Ruin It for All of You<\/a> by Lindy West<\/strong>
This essay is several years old, but I recently read it again and just about died laughing. I've seen \"Love Actually\" a few times and found it entertaining, but it really is problematic as hell.

Website\/Podcast: Afford Anything<\/a> by Paula Pant<\/strong>
I read and listen to a lot of stuff on personal finance, and to me this website is a cut above a lot of many of the other offerings out there. Her posts go in depth with a lot of useful details, and she covers not just strictly finance-related matters but also behavioral things such as changing habits and thinking big. I thought this podcast<\/strong><\/a> was a particularly good listen.","comments":"https:\/\/secretsolitaire.livejournal.com\/246867.html?view=comments#comments","category":["severus\/hermione","harry\/draco","movies","interesting links","recs: hp art"]},{"guid":"https:\/\/secretsolitaire.livejournal.com\/246457.html","pubDate":"Mon, 19 Dec 2016 02:06:09 GMT","title":"Quick HP recs","author":"secretsolitaire","link":"https:\/\/secretsolitaire.livejournal.com\/246457.html","description":"So that I can close a few tabs...

Fic: Five Weddings and a Potions Accident<\/a> by Anonymous<\/strong> (Harry\/Draco, NC-17)
I loved this fic, which is about Harry and Draco having a supposedly \"just sex\" relationship while Harry gets set up on blind dates with other people. If you like plenty of porn with your plot you will enjoy this -- it's hot as hell, with plenty of hints at the deeper emotions underneath.

Art: Stopping by the Woods on a Snowy Evening<\/a> by Anonymous<\/strong> (Remus\/Charlie, NC-17)
I love how the artist has captured the visceral reality of a cold, snowy day -- note the visible breath and the blushing skin. :)

Art: Snowball Fight!<\/a> by <\/a>mywitch<\/b><\/a><\/a>quibbler_report<\/b><\/a><\/span> post, which I put here instead of at the comm. *headdesk* Thanks to <\/a>besamislabios<\/b><\/a><\/span> for the heads up.

But while I'm here, I'll throw you a few HP recs. :)

Fic: The Great Gryffindor Dating Game (No Money Back, No Guarantee, Accept No Imitations)<\/a> by <\/a>shaggydogstail<\/b><\/a><\/span><\/strong> (Remus\/Sirius, background James\/Lily, PG-13)
R\/S fic from <\/a>shaggydogstail<\/b><\/a><\/span>! Feels like the good old days of fandom. \\o\/ This fic is so fun. Sirius declares his interest in Remus in an over-the-top way, Remus thinks he's taking the piss, and then their friends try to get these idiots straightened out -- with hilarious results. If you need a smile, give this a read.

Fic: Weeds or Wildflowers<\/a> by Anonymous<\/strong> (Harry\/Draco, NC-17, light spanking)
Draco is using a magical matchmaking service, and somehow it keeps setting him up with Harry Potter. Draco being outfoxed by the dating service made me laugh, and then the sex made me bite my fist. (What a sexy<\/em> Harry, hnngh.)

Art: Untitled Snape\/Hermione<\/a> by <\/a>mywitch<\/b><\/a>Common Threads series<\/a> by <\/a>honey_wheeler<\/b><\/a><\/span><\/strong> (gen featuring numerous characters and some Bill\/Fleur, PG, canon character death)
This is an older set of stories, starting in the immediate aftermath of Deathly Hallows (the non-epilogue part). It's a bunch of interconnected gapfiller scenes featuring various characters; I especially love the one with George and Ginny, and the one with the trio. ♥

Art: Captured<\/a> by <\/a>akatnamedeaster<\/b><\/a><\/span><\/strong> (Sirius\/Severus, NWS)
Rich colors, sexy men, one gorgeous image.

Art: Untitled Sirius\/Severus<\/a> by <\/a>mywitch<\/b><\/a>the ship in port is the safer one (but it's not the reason it was made)<\/a> by KiaraSayre<\/strong> (Ensemble, background Spock\/Uhura, R)
You wouldn't think a 43,000-word gen fic featuring a mundane mission and squabbles over toilet paper would be riveting reading, but this one absolutely is. It's a funny, smart story about Jim figuring out how to do this captain thing, with great appearances from the rest of the ensemble.

Hockey RPF fic: This Is How It Works series<\/a> by <\/a>sophia_helix<\/b><\/a><\/span><\/strong> (Jonathan Toews\/Ben Smith, NC-17)
I don't read hockey fic anymore, but I couldn't resist finishing the last installment of this lovely series when the author posted it a few months ago. Jonny is just gorgeous through Ben's eyes, and the development of their relationship feels realistic and intimate.

HP fic: Adagio<\/a> by lupinely<\/strong> (Remus\/Sirius, R, light bondage)
This fic brought back all my angsty love for this pairing. It covers the first war through the \"lie low at Lupin's\" period, and all the times when Remus or Sirius could've said \"I love you\" but didn't.

Interesting links:

Some thoughts on hope<\/strong><\/a>: Increasingly, I'm convinced the critical choice (i.e. the crisis) we face as a species now is not hope\/hopelessness so much as care\/carelessness. Hope seems like an individualistic-- an essentially private -- balm. Care, on the other hand, is inherently relational, reciprocal (even self-care requires a kind of imaginative giver-and-receiver). But we have to be prepared to bump into pain -- our own and others' -- because that\u2019s what care will touch when it's really needed.<\/em>

The American City Is a Machine That Kills Fascism<\/a><\/strong>: Let's hope this is true. :)","comments":"https:\/\/secretsolitaire.livejournal.com\/245388.html?view=comments#comments","category":["lie low at lupin's","recs: hockey rpf fic","recs: hp fic","gen","remus\/sirius","toews\/smith","post-hogwarts","interesting links","recs: st fic"]},{"guid":"https:\/\/secretsolitaire.livejournal.com\/242741.html","pubDate":"Mon, 25 Jul 2016 01:35:57 GMT","title":"Quick Star Trek Beyond thoughts","author":"secretsolitaire","link":"https:\/\/secretsolitaire.livejournal.com\/242741.html","description":"Saw Star Trek Beyond today and for the most part enjoyed it. I definitely liked it better than Into Darkness, though not quite as much as the 2009 film.

I'm mostly into Trek for characters I like doing smart things in space, so I enjoyed the moments where the various crew members got to interact and figure their way out of problems. Spock and Bones were the best. :D (Also, if I can play around in the shallow end of the pool for a bit, Karl Urban looked fine<\/em> throughout this whole film. *purrs*) Scotty was a delight, and I felt like all the main crew members got a chance to be awesome at various points. I also really liked Jaylah -- a strong female character who wasn't a sex object, huzzah!

I'm not so into action sequences, so I glazed over during every hand-to-hand combat scene and rolled my eyes at things like Scotty hanging over the edge of a cliff. (Seriously? Is there a requirement that every one of these rebooted movies needs to have at least one character dangling over a precipice?) Also an eye roller: the scene where they blasted the music to throw off the bee-swarming things. (Fun, but ridiculous.) I did<\/em> like the scene where Sulu had to try to fly the old starship off the planet -- his little eyebrow raise\/mouth quirk at Chekov after they successfully took off made me smile.

Speaking of Chekov, I felt a little sad every time I saw him (RIP, Anton), but he was delightful too. I hear another movie has been approved -- will they find someone else to play Chekov? Not sure how I feel about that. :(

The plot was kind of silly -- not sure I bought that Kirk would really be bored with being in space after only about three years, and the villain's motivations were pretty thin. But overall it felt more like what I love about Star Trek than the last movie, and I felt like there was a lot of good fodder for fic: Kirk\/McCoy, maybe some Spock\/McCoy, gen fic about Jaylah? *grabby hands*<\/a>","comments":"https:\/\/secretsolitaire.livejournal.com\/242741.html?view=comments#comments","category":"star trek: reboot"},{"guid":"https:\/\/secretsolitaire.livejournal.com\/231709.html","pubDate":"Tue, 23 Dec 2014 21:33:24 GMT","title":"Recs: Hockey RPF and HP","author":"secretsolitaire","link":"https:\/\/secretsolitaire.livejournal.com\/231709.html","description":"It's been approximately eight years since I posted any recs, so I figured I'd take an afternoon to clean out some of my \"Hockey Recs\" file. But first, I wanted to point to a Harry Potter story recently written for me!

Adventures in Gift Wrapping<\/a> by <\/a>katmarajade<\/b><\/a><\/span><\/b> (George\/Lee, PG-13)
This is a sweet and funny story about Lee getting roped into helping with gift wrapping at George's shop. I love how willing Lee is to do ridiculous things just to make George smile. Warning: There is much talk about donuts in here, so it will probably make you hungry. ;)

Going to put the hockey RPF links behind a cut since there are quite a few of them!

HOCKEY RPF FIC<\/b>
Double Bind<\/a> by blue_spruce<\/b> (Kane\/Toews, R, AU, religion, internalized homophobia, depression, dysfunctional family relationships)
This is a long, thoughtful story featuring Patrick as a youth minister who's struggling with his own sexuality, and Jonny as his neighbor and someone who's undergone a religious crisis of his own. It's beautifully written and it has enough healing to balance out the heartbreak.

lean a little to the left<\/a> by demotu<\/b> (Kane\/Toews, R)
I like this one because it's different from the usual \"two bros who don't know how to communicate\" trope that I see so often. I enjoy those stories too, but I love that Patrick and Jonny have to learn to communicate like adults here; they've already tried a relationship of sorts without talking to each other, and they want it to work this time.

Generation<\/a> by <\/a>altri_uccelli<\/b><\/a><\/span><\/b> (Kane\/Toews, PG-13)
This fic is set maybe 20 years or so in the future, after retirement and kids and divorce. I love seeing the characters a little older and wiser and more thoughtful; I love seeing how they relate to their teenage kids; and I really love the way you can feel the weight of their history, both with each other and with the Hawks and the city of Chicago, in the relationship that develops between them later on.

Somewhere Only We Know<\/a> by jezziejay<\/b> (Kane\/Toews, R)
This starts with Kaner having an existential crisis at the age of 28 and Jonny trying to fix it with his dick, and it goes on in both hilarious and hot fashion, with an undercurrent of genuine sweetness. Jonny isn't exactly good at relationships, and it takes a village of teammates\/siblings\/wives-of-teammates to help him and Kaner figure things out.

Envy the Rain<\/a> by LadyJanelly<\/b> (Kane\/Toews, NC-17, D\/s AU, see fic for lengthy list of warnings\/enticements)
This is an interesting take on a D\/s alternate universe: two subs in a relationship. My heart broke over and over again for Jonny here; he's too traumatized to be with a dom again after a bad experience, but he's still trying so hard to be what Kaner needs. Gorgeous fic.

something old, something new<\/a> by longtime_lurker<\/b> (girl!Kane\/Toews, NC-17, felching)
Jonny quietly and hopelessly pining after a female Kaner gets me right in the feels. The sex, when they finally get there, is beyond hot, but my favorite part of this fic is how much respect Jonny has for Kaner. *loves*

Good Hands<\/a> by mermaid<\/b> (Kane\/Toews, NC-17, roleplay of dubcon, various kinks in end notes of fic)
This is glorious porn, featuring Jonny roleplaying as a massage therapist coercing Patrick into an increasingly filthy sexual encounter. The dirty talk is amazing and the porn is scorching, but I love that you can see their real personas peeking out from time to time.

Illuminate<\/a> by <\/a>sophia_helix<\/b><\/a><\/span><\/b> (Kane\/Toews, NC-17)
This is delightful summer porn by the pool, involving tan, naked Jonny and clothed Patrick and lots of feelings. Delicious.

Know the Ledge<\/a> by my99centdreams<\/b> (Kane\/Toews, NC-17, unprotected sex)
This is just simple, first-time, bottom!Jonny porn, but it pushes all my buttons. A smidge of dirty talk, a dollop of \"gotta be quiet because our teammates are in the next room,\" + a few unspoken feelings -- gorgeous.

broad sripes, bright stars<\/a> by demotu<\/b> (Kane\/Toews, NC-17, spanking)
Jonny's ass + U.S. flag briefs + spanking = a very happy <\/a>secretsolitaire<\/b><\/a><\/span>. HOT.

I'll tell you secrets<\/a> by torigates<\/b> (Kane\/Toews, Toews\/OFC, Kane\/Toews\/OFC, NC-17, voyeurism)
If you enjoy a little het with your gay porn, don't miss this. It starts with Jonny telling Patrick about his hook-ups with girls, then progresses to bringing said girls back to their shared room ... and you can probably figure out where things go from there. Blisteringly hot.

Care and Feeding<\/a> by maleyka<\/b> (Martin\/Neal, PG-13)
The summary says it all, really: \"Five Breakfasts Paulie Cooked for James (And One James TRIED to Cook for Paulie).\" It's the kind of fic that makes you warm and happy to read. :)

Latch<\/a> by hapakitsune<\/b> (Seguin\/Ference, NC-17, AU)
This is an AU about Tyler as a college student and Andrew as a divorced dad to a couple of little girls. I love how it's not just a romance but also a story about Tyler figuring out who he is and what he wants to do with his life. Beautifully written.

No Going Home<\/a> by algernon_mouse<\/b> (Crosby\/Malkin, NC-17, AU)
This is an AU in which Sid is a foster kid and Geno is his best friend. Sidney is so believable as a kid who's coming to terms with his own sexuality and afraid to trust that anything good will happen to him; my heart broke a few times on his behalf. Lovely, lovely exploratory first-time sex scenes with Geno too.<\/a>","comments":"https:\/\/secretsolitaire.livejournal.com\/231709.html?view=comments#comments","category":["kane\/toews\/ofc","recs: hockey rpf fic","recs: hp fic","threesomes","seguin\/ference","george\/lee","au","crosby\/malkin","toews\/ofc","martin\/neal","kane\/toews"]},{"guid":"https:\/\/secretsolitaire.livejournal.com\/218835.html","pubDate":"Mon, 17 Feb 2014 20:58:24 GMT","title":"Olympic fever + hockey recs","author":"secretsolitaire","link":"https:\/\/secretsolitaire.livejournal.com\/218835.html","description":"The more Olympics I watch, the more I feel like a lazy bum spending hours on my couch while these amazing athletes light it up across the world, haha. But I can't resist. :)

I was able to watch the ice dance live today, and wow -- lots of really fantastic programs! I cried over several of them. I was rooting for Davis and White, and have generally thought them to be the best team based on the other programs I've watched, but did anyone else think they weren't quite<\/i> up to their usual level of perfection in this final dance? Virtue and Moir were light and exquisite and emotional, while I thought Davis and White looked tight -- technically very good, but I wasn't moved as I have been watching their other programs. Obviously no one could blame them given the pressure they've been under, but I wasn't fully convinced by their landslide victory. :-\/

I actually sort of felt similarly about the Russian pair skaters that won the gold. I thought their short program was amazing<\/i>, but I wasn't as sold on their free skate. Maybe it's because my expectations were too high, or maybe it's because I love the Jesus Christ Superstar music and didn't think their choreography quite lived up to it. They deserved to win for sure, but I wasn't as blown away as I wanted to be.

The men's free skate the other night was a total bummer. There wasn't one program that really transported me. Hoping from better from the ladies later this week!<\/a>

I'm not Canadian, but I'm totally rooting for the Canadian men's hockey team (see icon for the reason why *g*). I don't like their chances at gold, to be honest -- my initial pick was Sweden, but given all their injuries they haven't looked all that strong to me either. And apparently no team in the NHL era has gone undefeated in the entire tournament to win gold (past winners apparently all lost at some point in the round robin). So who does that leave -- Finland? Russia? Switzerland? Hmm. *strokes chin thoughtfully* Wouldn't mind seeing Russia win in their home country, except I can't root for Varlamov. >:-( So we'll just have to see...

Hoping I can stay unspoiled for some of these elimination games coming up. I've been spoiled for pretty much every figure skating result that I didn't watch live. *claws face*<\/a>

I've been gathering hockey fic for months now, so I finally decided to put a few recs together. I still have about a dozen that I haven't written up yet, but I think this is enough to be going on with. \/o\\

Take me to the edge so I can fall apart<\/a> by linaerys<\/strong> (Kane\/Toews, NC-17, pain kink)
This starts at Chicago's lowest moment of the 2013 playoffs, carries through the summer after, and is a really fascinating look into Jonny's head from Patrick's perspective. I found the characterizations extremely convincing, especially Jonny's difficulty communicating what he feels to Patrick, and I thought the pain play aspect was handled in a unique way to what I've seen before -- not so much a sexual kink as an emotional\/psychological one. I was on the edge of my seat.

Switch<\/a> by montrose<\/b> (Kane\/Toews, NC-17, BDSM AU)
As soon as I finished reading this 35,000-word fic, I should have gone to bed -- but instead of leaving a comment and powering off my laptop, I scrolled up and started reading again. This was that good. It's set in a world in which everyone is supposedly either a top or a sub; Patrick is a sub, one of very few in the NHL, while Jonathan is a top who's struggling with occasional urges to submit (mostly to Patrick). I enjoyed the political aspects of the fic and watching these two try to figure out a way to fit their desires together.

a light-handed approach to regulation<\/a> by hazel<\/b> (Kane\/Toews, NC-17, alpha\/beta\/omega dynamics)
I'm not typically fond of the alpha\/beta\/omega thing in fic, to be honest, but I really loved the approach the author took in this story. I have a hard time describing it, which is why I haven't posted this rec in the months since I actually read the fic, but it's a really rich universe -- the alpha\/omega politics call a lot on gender politics in our world, as well as other things, and I love the use of scent to convey the characters' emotions. Tazer as the omega who's trying to get respect as the captain of his team is particularly fierce and wonderful.

I Got a Love (That Keeps Me Waiting)<\/a> by svmadelyn<\/strong> (Kane\/Toews, NC-17, mpreg)
Mpreg is usually enough to make me run screaming, but this author's stuff is always fantastic, and this is no exception. It's epic in length (160,000+ words) and in emotion, particularly in terms of Jonny's feelings for Patrick. The plot is unashamedly right out of a soap opera -- Kaner gets pregnant after a one-night stand at the Olympics that he was too drunk to remember, although the reader can easily figure out whom he must have slept with -- but it all just works. I was absorbed for hours, clawing my eyes out over all my Jonny feels. :)

From Russia, With Love<\/a> by salvamisandwich<\/strong> (Malkin\/Kadar, PG)
I've read this several times and loved it again and again. Mike Kadar is the trainer that worked with Geno to help him recover from his knee injury, and the story starts with them being mutually respectful friends. Then Geno discovers a secret about Mike that changes how Geno views both Mike and himself. The author does a nice job of capturing Geno's confused feelings, and Mike is a lovely, lovely character.

if you can hold on<\/a> by cherryvanilla<\/strong> (Toews\/Kristen Stewart, NC-17, BDSM, orgasm delay\/denial, pain play, AU)
If you like stories about sexual exploration, give this a try. Here Jonny is trying to figure out what he wants sexually, so he hires Kristen as a dominatrix and, naturally, falls for her. The author does a really nice job with Johnny's issues in the beginning -- he's so tense it's almost painful to read, but I loved it; it felt real. And then things get hot pretty much the rest of the way through. :)

Still After All These Years<\/a> by hapakitsune<\/strong> (Eberle\/Hall, NC-17)
I absolutely loved this future fic, set after Jordan gets divorced from his wife and discovers that maybe he was missing someone else who's had feelings for him for a very long time. If pining is a trope you enjoy, don't miss this one. I also liked Jordan's relationship with his kids, and the sense of what these characters might be like after they're a little older and more mature.

Together in this Place<\/a> by joyfulseeker<\/strong> (Kane\/Toews, NC-17)
This is one of many in the post-lockout genre, but it's an excellent one. There's sort of a deliberate, almost dreamy pace to it, with slow-building UST that makes the eventual coming together even hotter.

texas heat<\/a> by rest<\/strong> (Benn\/Seguin, NC-17, AU)
This is an AU in which Tyler is still a hockey player but Jamie is his dog walker. It's delightful -- I love Jamie's shyness and how he appeals to Tyler in part because he doesn't<\/em> have the chiseled body of a pro athlete. Also love the endearingly imperfect sex.

I Don't Think You're Ready<\/a> by siegeofangels<\/strong> (always!a!girl!Crosby, PG, AU)
This is a fantastic, thoughtful look at what it might be like for an incredibly talented Sydney Crosby to be the first woman in the NHL. I thought the author did a great job imagining the pressure, the sometimes insidiously subtle sexism, and Sydney's relationship with her body, with her teammates, with the PR team, etc. Compelling stuff.

make lots of noise<\/a> by maleyka<\/strong> (Eberle\/always!a!girl!Hall, PG-13, AU)
Hall\/Eberle can be tricky pairing for me sometimes because they're such good friends\/bros that it doesn't make for much narrative tension, but this author does a really effective job of writing both the friendship and enough UST\/awkwardness to make things interesting. The fact that Taylor is a woman in a primarily men's league makes the story more compelling (love her interplay with other female NHLers).

got that super bass<\/a> by listedheart<\/strong> (Kane\/Toews, NC-17, rimming, mention of felching)
Because sometimes you just need some rimming porn. (And because I never need an excuse to link to this picture, this<\/strong><\/a> is the ass in question.)

where all ecstasy should happen, kneeling will be my last pleasure<\/a> by stepquietly<\/strong> (Jones\/Weber\/Josi, NC-17, mild D\/S, rimming, spanking)
You don't need to know these players to enjoy this threesome porn. (I don't, and I did.) It's got a few of my favorite things -- spanking, rimming, and the bottom enjoying himself to the point of incoherence. ;)

kept me on your long line<\/a> by oflights<\/strong> (Crosby\/Malkin, NC-17, D\/S)
Filthy delicious D\/S blow job porn. Pretty much all there is to say.<\/a>

If you enjoyed any of those, consider leaving some love for the author!","comments":"https:\/\/secretsolitaire.livejournal.com\/218835.html?view=comments#comments","category":["recs: hockey rpf fic","jones\/weber\/josi","gen","malkin\/kadar","threesomes","hockey","au","benn\/seguin","eberle\/hall","crosby\/malkin","figure skating","toews\/kristen stewart","spanking","kane\/toews"]},{"guid":"https:\/\/secretsolitaire.livejournal.com\/218502.html","pubDate":"Sat, 18 Jan 2014 04:40:06 GMT","title":"Thanks! :)","author":"secretsolitaire","link":"https:\/\/secretsolitaire.livejournal.com\/218502.html","description":"Thank you to <\/a>kitty_fic<\/b><\/a><\/span>, <\/a>altri_uccelli<\/b><\/a><\/span>, and <\/a>beyondtheclouds<\/b><\/a><\/span> for prettying up my profile with the adorable V-gifts! ♥

And thank you, Blackhawks, for beating the Ducks on my birthday. :)<\/small>","comments":"https:\/\/secretsolitaire.livejournal.com\/218502.html?view=comments#comments","category":"thank you"},{"guid":"https:\/\/secretsolitaire.livejournal.com\/217929.html","pubDate":"Thu, 28 Nov 2013 17:38:26 GMT","title":"Recs!","author":"secretsolitaire","link":"https:\/\/secretsolitaire.livejournal.com\/217929.html","description":"Lately I really suck at a) reccing and b) posting, so I figured I'd take a nice lazy Thanksgiving day to remedy this situation. :) Happy Thanksgiving and\/or Hanukkah to all who are celebrating!

First off, I've been incredibly remiss in pointing to a few things written for me. In HP, we have:

A Very Happy Birthday<\/a> by <\/a>torino10154<\/b><\/a><\/span><\/strong> (Bill\/Charlie\/Draco, soft R)
*points to pairing* YUM, no? Delicious porny snippet in which I am incredibly jealous of Draco. ;-)

For White Collar:

Last Night<\/a> by <\/a>china_shop<\/b><\/a><\/span><\/strong> (Neal\/Jones, R)
I love, love how this writer handles this pairing. The tension builds exquisitely through the opening dialogue, and leads to a bittersweet final scene.

And from the hockey RPF files:

untitled ficlet<\/a> by <\/a>puckling<\/b><\/a><\/span><\/strong> (Toews\/Oshie, Kane\/Toews, R)
I prompted \"laughing during sex,\" which got me this delightfully funny ficlet. Worth a read if you enjoy bad sex or Tazer making himself look ridiculous. ;-)<\/a>

Now for some art recs!

HP ART<\/strong>
The Gory, Spoilery Alphabetic Guide to Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince<\/a> by <\/a>naadi<\/b><\/a><\/span><\/strong> (various HP characters, G)
This is the definition of epic -- 26 fantastically detailed scenes from HBP. A must-see for any HP fan.

Raising Harry series Part I<\/a> by <\/a>caladan_dd<\/b><\/a><\/span><\/strong> (Lily\/Snape, Remus\/Tonks, Remus\/Sirius, Harry, G)
Three separate scenarios involving Harry being raised by couples other than the Dursleys. I can't get over how beautifully this author draws Remus!

Lover<\/a> by Anonymous<\/strong> (Harry\/Draco, R\/NWS)
Guhhhhh. This is beyond gorgeous.

I Got You<\/a> by <\/a>fanlay<\/b><\/a><\/span><\/strong> (Harry\/Draco, NWS)
Stunning, especially for those of us who enjoy the \"one partner naked, one partner clothed\" dynamic.

At the End of All Our Games<\/a> by Anonymous<\/strong> (Harry\/Draco, PG-13)
This has a 1920's atmosphere to it that I absolutely love. Everyone looks really snazzy. :-D

Harry\/Ginny and Ron\/Hermione art<\/a> by <\/a>corkart<\/b><\/a><\/span><\/strong> (Harry\/Ginny, Ron\/Hermione, G)
I've missed this artist's work! Lovely collection of sketches.

The Story of a Certain Bed<\/a> by <\/a>trisstiss<\/b><\/a><\/span><\/strong> (Remus\/Sirius, PG-13)
This traces Remus and Sirius's relationship through various scenes in a bed in the hospital ward. Some really nice scenes -- unexpectedly touching at times.<\/a>

ST ART<\/strong>
Captain Kirk (Reboot) Original Traditional Media on Digital Print<\/a> by <\/a>kshepardart<\/b><\/a><\/span><\/strong> (Kirk, G)
Gorgeous colors\/textures on this portrait of Kirk.<\/a>

ADRIEN ENGLISH ART<\/strong>
The Dark Tide<\/a> by <\/a>catherinedair<\/b><\/a><\/span><\/strong> (Jake\/Adrien, PG-13)
I know I've got a few fans of the Adrien English books on my flist -- this one is for you! It captures a key moment in book five. :) To those of you who haven't read the books, you MUST. Here's my rec.<\/a><\/strong><\/a>

ORIGINAL ART<\/strong>
The Pine Wind<\/a> by beili and MY\u014cGADANI M\u014dra<\/strong> (OMC\/OMC, WS)
Exquisite watercolors to tell a story that feels like a fairy tale.

Undertow<\/a> by staringatsuns<\/strong> (OMC\/OMC, WS, character death)
I always admire the way some artists can tell a whole story in images without any dialogue. This is sad and a little unsettling, but powerfully drawn.

Skies Below<\/a> by Yuite Dio<\/strong> (OMC\/OMC, WS, minor character death)
Vividly drawn art to tell the story of two people of color -- not just about their love story but also about their family lives.<\/a>

If you enjoy something, consider leaving a little love for the writer\/artist!","comments":"https:\/\/secretsolitaire.livejournal.com\/217929.html?view=comments#comments","category":["neal\/jones","remus\/tonks","bill\/charlie\/draco","harry\/draco","gen","severus\/lily","recs: wc fic","recs: st art","recs: hockey rpf fic","recs: hp fic","remus\/sirius","threesomes","recs: hp art","harry\/ginny","recs: original art","recs: adrien english art","ron\/hermione","toews\/oshie","kane\/toews"]},{"guid":"https:\/\/secretsolitaire.livejournal.com\/216079.html","pubDate":"Thu, 01 Aug 2013 02:01:07 GMT","title":"Hockey Fic Recs","author":"secretsolitaire","link":"https:\/\/secretsolitaire.livejournal.com\/216079.html","description":"Hark! I've finally typed up some recs. They're all hockey, because that's pretty much all I've been reading lately, even though I've got some really awesome-looking stories bookmarked in other fandoms. (I'm sorry to the authors of those stories. I swear I will read them eventually, once my hockey honeymoon period is over. \/o\\) Well, there's one exception -- one of these stories is original fic set in the NHL universe.

These are all at AO3, and I think at least one of them is locked. If you don't have an account over there and you want to read something that's locked, let me know and I'll see if I can dig up an alternate link.

KANE\/TOEWS(\/OTHERS)<\/b>
Shot right through with a bolt of blue<\/a> by mermaid<\/b> (Kane\/Toews, NC-17, AU, light BDSM, see other warnings)
I followed this story back when it was being posted as a WiP, pretty much gobbling up each new installment the second it was posted. You can now read the whole thing (all 54,000+ words of it) on AO3, and it's so good<\/i>. It's an AU in which Jonny discovers as a teen that he has heat\/laser vision, and from then on has to figure out how to hide and control it. I found it fascinating (and often heartbreaking) to see how this unwanted power affects his characterization; his difficulty opening up to teammates and family takes the Captain Serious nickname to a new level. Seeing Patrick Kane come up against that shell is pretty fascinating too. In short: absorbing plot, solid writing, lots of pining and a very satisfying conclusion.

Password Protected<\/a> by lightgetsin<\/b> (Kane\/Toews, Kane\/Sharp, Kane\/Keith\/Seabrook, Kane\/Abby Sharp, Kane\/Crawford, NC-17, obedience kink)
I don't want to say too much about the premise of this, because it's sort of fun figuring out exactly what's happening. That said, what I loved most is how Jonny is barely on screen in this fic, but you can still feel his steady presence throughout, underlying everything Patrick does with other people. Very well written story, with lots of hot sex and some surprise!feels as well.

the days are young<\/a> by zarathuse<\/b> (Kane\/Toews, hard R)
This is set after the 2010 Vancouver Olympics, when Jonny played for the Canada team that beat the Americans, including Kaner, in the gold medal game. The two are an established couple, so it's partly a look at how the Games might have affected their relationship, and partly a humorous exploration of a new kink Jonny may or may not want to try. :)

the walls kept tumbling down (in the city that we loved)<\/a> by altri_uccelli<\/b> (Kane\/Toews, R, AU)
This is an alternate universe set in the world of Pullman's \"His Dark Materials,\" and though I've read that trilogy (years and years ago), I don't think you need to have done so in order to enjoy this. Basically each character has a \"daemon,\" ie an animal that is linked to him\/her and reflects his\/her personality. Patrick's daemon, a river otter named Puck, is a total delight, and so is this fic. It's long -- 46,000+ words -- and captures the early years of Patrick and Jonny's careers in a way that feels plausible to me, complete with rookie awkwardness and yelling at each other on the bench. I loved the extra dimension the daemons added to the development of Patrick and Jonny's emotional relationship.

Don't Let Go<\/a> by aohatsu<\/b> (Kane\/Toews, NC-17, minor character death, grieving)
This was one of those stories that I wasn't sure I was going to like (based mostly on the \"kid fic\" tag), but then I couldn't stop reading it. The story starts with Patrick rescuing a neighbor kid named Tigre after their high-rise catches fire. The suspense in the fire scene really drew me in, and then the emotional drama of what will happen to Tigre (who's orphaned in the incident) kept me scrolling. This is very much Patrick's story, and he's lovely<\/i> here, but as a hopeless Tazer fangirl I really loved him in this too -- such a steady, supportive presence.

The Nth Time, or The First Time<\/a> by Alex Smith<\/b> (Kane\/Toews, NC-17)
From the department of Porn with Feelings comes this ridiculously hot piece of bottom!Jonny smut. Just the right mix of filthy and tender.

I Want to Know What He Knows<\/a> by queeniegalore<\/b> (Kane\/Toews\/Sharp, NC-17, BDSM, mild daddy kink, consensual infidelity, spanking)
This is mostly porn -- it starts with Kaner walking in on Jonny sucking Sharpy's dick, and continues into the realm of spanking and dirty talk and hot threesomes -- but what I appreciated about this was the solid characterization. Sharpy may be a hot dom but he's also a total troll, as he seems to be in RL, and Jonny is kind of overly intense and a little dorky, bless his captainly little heart. The author nails all of their voices. And, obviously, it's hot. :-D

CROSBY\/MALKIN<\/b>
Take You There<\/a> by lightgetsin<\/b> (Crosby\/Malkin, NC-17)
This story not only has one of my favorite things in fic, which is realistically imperfect sex, but also an exotic location (Sidney and Geno have taken off for a private getaway in the Seychelles) and some lovely, lovely characterizations. This relationship felt very real to me.

all i remember is what i have lost<\/a> by mousselinegateau<\/b> (Crosby\/Malkin, PG-13)
Okay, so the plot of this fic puts me in my \"it hurts so gooooood\" happy place: Geno has some short-term memory loss due to a concussion, and one of the things he can't remember is that he and Sidney broke up a few days before his injury. I really loved seeing the back story unfold -- and, of course, watching these two figure things out. *happily rereads*

Closed Fracture<\/a> by lightgetsin<\/b> (Crosby\/Malkin, PG-13, somewhat graphic description of injury)
This story starts with a funny incident of Sidney getting injured at a little kids' hockey game, but it takes some unexpected emotional turns. Well constructed and understated. (This writer is very good -- there's a reason she\/he is in this rec list three times. *g*)

CROSBY\/OVECHKIN<\/b>
Screw Rhymes With Me and You<\/a> by hapakitsune<\/b> (Crosby\/Ovechkin, NC-17, unsafe sex)
Sidney challenges Ovi to pick him up in a bar. Hee! If you want a fun, quick read with funny banter and hot sex, check this one out.

ORIGINAL FIC<\/b>
you could make a life<\/a> by imogenedisease<\/b> (OMC\/OMC, NC-17)
This is not hockey RPF -- it's original fic set in the NHL universe, and I think you could enjoy it whether you like hockey or not. :) What I appreciate about this series is the realistic problems that the two players face in their relationship. One of them is a high-end talent; the other is struggling just to make the team. I found it fascinating to watch them deal with the different directions of their careers (not to mention their not-so-hot communication skills).

If you enjoy something, consider leaving a little love for the author!<\/a>","comments":"https:\/\/secretsolitaire.livejournal.com\/216079.html?view=comments#comments","category":["recs: hockey rpf fic","crosby\/ovechkin","kane\/toews\/sharp","threesomes","kane\/sharp","kane\/crawford","kane\/abby sharp","au","crosby\/malkin","spanking","kane\/keith\/seabrook","recs: original fic","kane\/toews"]},{"guid":"https:\/\/secretsolitaire.livejournal.com\/212052.html","pubDate":"Sun, 19 May 2013 19:51:49 GMT","title":"Quick ST:ID Thoughts","author":"secretsolitaire","link":"https:\/\/secretsolitaire.livejournal.com\/212052.html","description":"Just returned from seeing Star Trek: Into Darkness. I liked it -- it kept me entertained for two hours -- though I'm not sure if it'll bring back my fannish mojo. Especially since this fandom is really all about Bones for me, and he seemed to be nothing but an incidental bit player in the movie, with no real role except the occasional snarky one-liner. I'd imagine the K\/S folks will have plenty of fodder though!

Another real killer from a fannish perspective: Pike. :-( :-( :-( He's my favorite after Bones and Kirk, so that made me sad. SO and I were talking about how the opening scene (on the planet with the volcano) was kind of pointless -- seemed like they basically had to have Kirk screw up so he could lose the Enterprise but still have Pike supporting him, which would make it mean more when they killed Pike off. Sigh.

Liked Scotty and Nyota; thought Chekov was even more useless and underused than Bones. Cumberbatch\/Khan was kinda meh. (I'm not particularly a fan of Cumberbatch anyway, and there was one moment where I thought he was chewing the scenery to an extent that would make Shatner proud, LOL.)

There was absolutely no reason to show Carol Marcus in underwear. Stupidest moment in the movie, IMHO. Also hated Bones calling her \"sweetheart.\" UGH, Bones, not okay. >:-(

Overall, there was enough humor, emotion and characterization to hold my attention through the eye-glazing action scenes and to distract me from the occasionally dubious plot. Whether this brings me back to the fandom, well ... we'll see. :-) <\/a>","comments":"https:\/\/secretsolitaire.livejournal.com\/212052.html?view=comments#comments","category":"star trek: reboot"}]}}