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!thursday recs,
bts

Community Recs Post!

Every Thursday, we have a community post, just like this one, where you can drop a rec or five in the comments.

This works great if you only have one rec and don't want to make a whole post for it, or if you don't have a DW account, or if you're shy. ;)

(But don't forget: you can deffo make posts of your own seven days a week. ;D!)

So what cool fanart/fics/fancrafts/fanvids/podfics/other kinds of fanworks have we discovered this week? Drop it in the comments below. Anon comment is enabled.

BTW, AI fanworks are not eligible for reccing at recthething. If you aware that a fanwork is AI-generated, please do not rec it here.

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plants

"older but no more the wise, we've learned the art of compromise" (suzy bogguss)

In times like these it feels important to be visible when spoons and safety allow, so I just wanted to say: you are loved, and we're here for you. You're in this world to be exactly who you are.

In the immortal words of a fellow teacher explaining the plan for getting three different field trip groups along multiple walking routes to the same destination at the same time (cartoon maps and faux football play diagrams were involved), when responding to the following question:

"What do we do if it rains?"
"...If it rains, we go out and we fight. We fight and we fight and we win."

Relatedly, in the way that all things are, I'm enjoying

communal_creators right now. I joined, as with

battleshipex, because Marci did. And as with

battleshipex, it has done great things for my creative output and self-expression. (Along with drabble community

chenqing_100, a serene place that inspires me to contemplate the drabble-esque qualities of classical Chinese.)

Autumn arrives as well, and with it, the soft opening of my indoor light garden. Every single one of my high intensity lights from Gardeners' Supply is going strong, but none of my low-intensity lights from Amazon has lasted more than two seasons. On a quest, then, to find new gentle lights for my less sun-hungry plants, I tried the Gardeners' Supply light guide (illustrated) and laughed at the following multiple choice question:

"What kind of gardener are you?"
1) Tabletop: "I just want to keep my African violets happy."
2) Floor Plant Fanatic: "I've got a few monster-sized Monsteras and fiddle-leaf figs to tend to."
3) Plant Parenting Pro: "I'm growing light-loving houseplants of all sizes, including an orchid, several succulents, and a sago palm."

Option 3 may not quite cover it, but that's as high as the scale goes and I embrace it.

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Poll: The Sundial and the Box (drama)

Changcheng nervously holding the mysterious box.

The Longevity Dial's computer schematics.

Zhao Yunlan pointing at Shen Wei, but laughing off to the side.

Poll #33654 Episodes 1 & 2

Open to: Registered Users, detailed results viewable to: All, participants: 9

View Respondents

What is the deal with the little metal box in Li Qian's grandmother's couch cushions?

View Answers

the Shadow Man was hiding in it??
2 (22.2%)

it's a portal to Dixing
0 (0.0%)

the Shadow Man just happened to be lurking at Li Qian's house, looking for the Sundial, and sprang out the moment Changcheng opened the box
0 (0.0%)

Li Yufen used to keep the Sundial in the box, and it still smells of Hallow
6 (66.7%)

the Shadow Man recognised it as Hallow-adjacent, and that's why he pounced
4 (44.4%)

it smells of weed, and that's why the Shadow Man pounced
1 (11.1%)

it's an ancient artefact made of leftover meteorite
1 (11.1%)

it's just an ordinary cute little box, and the Shadow Man collects them
0 (0.0%)

other
0 (0.0%)

Where did Li Qian’s grandmother get the Longevity Dial?

View Answers

she had an affair with a Yashouren who took her to the Yashou Market, where she picked it up at a charms & jewelry stall (she has an interesting past)
3 (33.3%)

she had an affair with a Dixingren who gave it to her as a token of their star-crossed love (she has a tragic past)
1 (11.1%)

she found it while burying a body in her garden (she has a dark past)
1 (11.1%)

she found it while hiking in the mountains, near where the Mountain-River Awl was found (she has an outdoorsy past)
3 (33.3%)

other
4 (44.4%)

When the SID sees Li Qian wearing the Longevity Dial, Lin Jing brings up a 3D model of the Dial on his computer. Where did the computer model come from?

View Answers

free with Windows 10
0 (0.0%)

bundled with a particular flavour of Linux
3 (33.3%)

the Hallows don't want to be forgotten, so they send periodic reminders across space and time – like Netflix!
4 (44.4%)

a mysterious source (Shen Wei) provided detailed schematics on paper, and Lin Jing digitised them
3 (33.3%)

a mysterious source (Zhang Shi) created the computer models from memory
5 (55.6%)

other
0 (0.0%)

How do you solve a problem like Zhao Yunlan?

View Answers

How do you catch a cloud and pin it down?
2 (25.0%)

How do you keep a wave upon the sand?
3 (37.5%)

How do you hold a moonbeam in your hand?
4 (50.0%)

other
4 (50.0%)

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i made a thing

Did You Make a Thing?

This month is almost over, so, let's hear it. *g* How did it go with your fannish creativity?

Did you manage to make a thing?

Created fanart or made vids? Wrote fic or meta? How about picspams, link collections, character mood boards, themed playlists, promo posts, or whatever else you create for fannish enjoyment?

Here's the place to share it with us! Leave a link in the comments, or elaborate on it as much as you want.

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Calling All Volunteers!

( You're about to view content that a community administrator has advised should be viewed with discretion. )

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Writing/making Goals for the rest of the year

keep up fan_flashworks streak
finish current wishlist gift (quickly!) and write 3 or 4 more (so many tempting prompts!!)
finish two WIPs that are more than 4 months old, especially the Zhu Hong one)
Yuletide & treats?

Speaking of Yuletide, I think it's okay to post what you've nominated? I've nommed a handful of Kdramas: The Time of Fever, Unintentional Love Story[*], Good Manager, While You Were Sleeping, and Family by Choice (the dads).

[*] I'm never sure if it's okay to nom The Time of Fever and Unintentional Love Story? The pairing is the same for both. Ot1h, the shows have very different vibes, and ULS has different other characters as well. Otoh, you could reasonably write "ToF" fic set during ULS, or "ULS" fic informed by ToF... Mostly I nommed them both because I didn't know what other people in the (tiny, tiny) fandom might offer/request if they signed up, and I didn't want to mismatch if they only offered/requested one show or the other.
tl;dr: Umbrella fandoms solve a lot of problems! ;-p

Success????

So I'm (kinda) into sewing – wearables so far include one lined sleeveless A-line dress (made of velvet, because no-one told me velvet was a tough fabric lol) and one pair of pleated pants. I decided to make my own body blocks so I can draft my own things/alter crotch curves etc of other patterns to fit me. Today I decided to test out the bodice block.

expectation: I will have to do at least 1 round of alterations to get my bodice block to fit properly
reality: perfect block with optimal wearing ease on the first try????

So I now have a woven tank top made of a nice sky blue clearance bedsheet. I think I'll bind the armscyes, neckline, and bottom in bias binding and then have a wearable for next summer! I just need to buy a bunch of buttons for the closure (I'll put it in a side seam) and figure out a neckline. Currently, as befits a block, it's jewel, but I need to get it over my head so I'll need at least a keyhole and small button at the back...

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type: fanart

Two arts: Cheng Yi and Zhang Rishan

Preview:

Here in my journal

Btw, has anyone watched The Journey of Legend yet? The summary sounds promising.

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(no subject)

The wide spread objections won through, and Jimmy Kimmel is back on the air, making zero concessions/bullshit apologies.
Kimmel’s show to return Tuesday, but Sinclair will continue to keep it off its ABC stations.

But not all of ABC’s affiliated stations will be carrying Kimmel’s comeback show. Sinclair, one of the country’s biggest owners of local TV stations, said its ABC affiliates will preempt the show “beginning Tuesday night.” Sinclair said it will air news programming in the time slot instead.

“Discussions with ABC are ongoing as we evaluate the show’s potential return,” a Sinclair spokesperson told CNN.

Sinclair’s conservative owners condemned Kimmel last week and contributed to ABC parent Disney’s decision to pull the show from the airwaves.

+ + +

And then the trailer for The Mandalorian dropped!

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!event

Two weeks till Guardian Wishlist reveals

Just a reminder that

guardian_wishlist reveals are in two weeks, on 6 October (Reunion Festival).

If you've been meaning to take a look at the requests and make a little something or two, all wishlists are tagged for fandoms and media and open for receiving gifts. (Previous years' tags are labelled with their respective years, so check the plain fandom and media tags at the bottom for this year's wishlists.) Wishlist comments are screened.

Gifts must fit the requests and not include any DNWs. Prompts are optional. There are no minimums. Gifts must be unique to the recipient.

For posting guidelines, links to the Wishlist Spreadsheet and AO3 collection, and more information about the fest, please check the Rules/FAQ post.

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Chat corner 201: Acolyte - The Crystal Crown

Hi!

The topic for this week is "The Acolyte: The Crystal Crown", a tie-in young-adult novel for the show Acolyte that focuses on two of the side-characters, padawans Jecki and Yord. It came out in July of this year.

Have any of you read it - and would you recommend it? Are you interested - and why?

(Feel free to discuss the Acolyte show as well; we've already talked about it before, but maybe you have some new thoughts?)

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fandom: red white and royal blue

You know I love a London boy by xxnelli (SFW)

Fandom: Red White and Royal Blue (RWRB)
Characters/Pairing/Other Subject: Henry/Alex
Content Notes/Warnings: none
Medium: digital art
Artist on DW/LJ: n/a
Artist Website/Gallery: xxnelli on tumblr
Why this piece is awesome: The boys holding hands, out for a walk. An impressive level of detail, lovely work.
Link: You know I love a London boy

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My latest Guardian fanworks

Likely the last set of works before

guardian_wishlist gifts are revealed. :) ~~But who knows.~~

All fics, 1x drama Weilan, 2x novel Weilan, 1x Zhubai. :)

Peaches and Hope (1989 words) by facethestrange
Fandom: 镇魂 | Guardian (TV 2018)
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Shen Wei/Zhao Yunlan
Characters: Shen Wei (Guardian), Zhao Yunlan
Additional Tags: Ye Olde Haixing Era, Accidental Engagement, and intentional engagement too, Misunderstandings, Dixing Culture & Customs (Guardian), Lollipops, Kissing, Getting Together
Summary: "The sweet treat you gave me... What was it made of?"

Asking this simple question makes Shen Wei's heart race in a way that only the fiercest battles have ever managed to do before.

Not the Plan (1937 words) by facethestrange
Fandom: 镇魂 | Guardian - priest
Rating: Explicit
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Shen Wei/Zhao Yunlan
Characters: Shen Wei (Guardian), Zhao Yunlan, Original Yao Characters
Additional Tags: Married Shen Wei/Zhao Yunlan, Fluff and Smut, rated purely for smut, there's zero violence and no Crows get harmed, Porn with Feelings, Blow Jobs, Some Humor, Post-Canon
Summary: A couple of Crows with a nefarious plan are unlucky enough to interrupt the Soul-Executing Emissary's honeymoon.

At Last (970 words) by facethestrange
Fandom: 镇魂 | Guardian - priest
Rating: Explicit
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Shen Wei/Zhao Yunlan
Characters: Shen Wei (Guardian), Zhao Yunlan
Additional Tags: Plot What Plot/Porn Without Plot, Porn with Feelings, Drunk Sex, (but the consent is not particularly dubious because it's Weilan), Drunk Shen Wei (Guardian), Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, First Time, Grinding, Hand Jobs, Coming In Pants, Coming early, Rough Sex Turned Tender
Summary: Drunk Shen Wei finds a different way to slow things down, without throwing his entire self out of his body.

Love, Spilling Over (1672 words) by facethestrange
Fandom: 镇魂 | Guardian (TV 2018) RPF, Chinese Actor RPF
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Bai Yu/Zhu Yilong
Characters: Bai Yu (Actor), Zhu Yilong
Additional Tags: Tenderness, Established Relationship, set during the promo tour, Crying, Light Angst, Hopeful Ending, Soft, Guardian Bingo
Series: Part 12 of Guardian Bingo 2025
Summary: "Tell me about that life," he murmurs against Bai Yu's skin. "Not what we can or can't have. The life you want."

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music

Music: "No Joy" - The Beths

Watch on YouTube

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tomorrow when the war began

Saturday Night Recs

(I'm still awake so it's still Saturday night, right?)

All of these are fics I read in the past week and added to my fanfic database, and which I flagged for either being a favorite fic, or one I thought was exceptionally well-written. (For all fics I added this week, leave a comment and I can make a special post for you, or you can browse the regular posts linked in my master recs post.)

This week I was concentrating on fics from the Australian YA book series beginning with Tomorrow, When the War Began, as well as fics for the 2010 film by the same name. If you've never heard of either, I highly recommend them.

( Icon guide )

( Explanation of ratings )

( Ships )

( Content warnings and spoilers )

Below are the recs:

( Tomorrow When the War Began (book & film) )

If any of the non-dead links above no longer work, please let me know so I can flag them as "Dead" in my database, thanks!

Enjoy! :)

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Guardian fic: Experiments in Dynamic Translation (CSZ/SW, CSZ/SW/ZYL)

I posted my unexpected-kink fic for the Riddle round of

fan_flashworks, and today I archived it to AO3. It's part of my Breakage and Repair 'verse which is Post-Canon, Alternate Universe - Everyone Lives (mostly), Canon Divergence, but all you really need to know is that it's early-relationship Chu Shuzhi/Shen Wei/Zhao Yunlan.

Title: Experiments in Dynamic Translation (9003 words) [Explicit]
Relationships: Chu Shuzhi/Shen Wei/Zhao Yunlan, Chu Shuzhi/Hei Pao Shi
Additional Tags: Established Relationship, Relationships with complicated history, Being closeted in some spheres, Domestic, Unplanned/Impromptu Kink, Identity Porn (literal), Dom/sub, soft D/s, Dom!Shen Wei, Envoy!Shen Wei, Sub!Chu Shuzhi, (Zhao Yunlan enjoys the show), Fealty, Orgasm denial/delay, Dark-Energy Sex Toys, Low-key impromptu bondage, Dixing-Powers Powered Sex, Anal Sex, Voyeurism, Frottage, Long Hair
Summary:

It’s been just over ten weeks since his and Da Qing’s return to the land of the living, and in that time, Shen Wei has not yet had occasion to don his robes of office in front of Shuzhi—or indeed, to conduct any Envoy business at all in his presence. He’s visited the SID once or twice on official matters, but only in Haixing clothes, and he’s been sure to keep his manner light and casual in the public areas. Formal liaising is for the privacy of Zhao Yunlan’s office.

Now, faced with the prospect of a Dixing state dinner, Shen Wei discovers he’s slipped into—not so much keeping secrets, as compartmentalising. Again.

As I said in my end notes, it’s hilarious to me that my first E-rated fic in this ‘verse is something I usually DNW (D/s, especially when it leans into existing power dynamics). For some reason, it worked for me in this specific scenario.

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Three recent Guardian flashfics: one gen, two Chu Shuzhi/Shen Wei/Zhao Yunlan

Title: Feathers and Stars (747 words) [General Audiences]
Relationships: Ya Qing & Original Dixingren Character
Additional Tags: Backstory, Playing with narrative voice, Bedtime Stories, inconclusive ending, Twinkle Challenge
Summary:

Dear one, settle down, and I’ll tell you a story.

And two for my Breakage and Repair 'verse (CSZ/SW/ZYL) which is Post-Canon, Alternate Universe - Everyone Lives (mostly), Canon Divergence:

Title: Best Friends Forever (1523 words) [Teen and Up]
Relationships: Unrequited Chu Shuzhi/Guo Changcheng
Additional Tags: Background Chu Shuzhi/Shen Wei/Zhao Yunlan, Shen Wei is dead for three years, So is Da Qing, (Then they come back), Grieving, POV Outsider, Unrequited Crush, Friendship, Bittersweet Ending
Summary:

Now Hei Pao Shi is gone, of course none of them can stay the same.

Title: Experiments in Dynamic Translation (9003 words) [Explicit]
Relationships: Chu Shuzhi/Shen Wei/Zhao Yunlan, Chu Shuzhi/Hei Pao Shi
Additional Tags: Established Relationship, Relationships with complicated history, Being closeted in some spheres, Domestic, Unplanned/Impromptu Kink, Identity Porn (literal), Dom/sub, soft D/s, Dom!Shen Wei, Envoy!Shen Wei, Sub!Chu Shuzhi, (Zhao Yunlan enjoys the show), Fealty, Orgasm denial/delay, Dark-Energy Sex Toys, Low-key impromptu bondage, Dixing-Powers Powered Sex, Anal Sex, Voyeurism, Frottage, Long Hair
Summary:

Now, faced with the prospect of a Dixing state dinner, Shen Wei discovers he’s slipped into—not so much keeping secrets, as compartmentalising. Again.

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Tokurecs September 2025 Monthly Self-Reccing Period

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dang, they lost both Hulks, aunt May, and Mr Fantastic Space Papa.

Marvel Stars Stand for Jimmy Kimmel: Pedro Pascal Defends Free Speech While Others Endorse Boycott

Pascal’s post came on the heels of other Marvel stars taking their support a step further by endorsing a boycott of the studio and its subsidiaries, including platforms that stream their work. Marisa Tomei, who played Aunt May opposite Tom Holland in the Spider-Man franchise (a Marvel property distributed by Sony, though she appears in Disney releases from the Avengers universe), reposted a call to “unsubscribe and boycott” platforms under the Walt Disney Company umbrella, including Marvel, ABC, ESPN, Fox Entertainment, Hulu, Pixar, Lucasfilm and Bamtech Media.

Tatiana Maslany, who starred in the title role of She-Hulk: Attorney at Law, a Marvel series that debuted on Disney+, posted a behind-the-scenes photo of herself on set, urging her Instagram followers to “cancel your Disney+, Hulu, ESPN subscriptions!” Mark Ruffalo, who played the Hulk on the big screen, participated in a No Kings online event during which he weighed in. “My industry doesn’t really understand what’s happening right now, but what they do understand is our freedom of speech is being attacked.”

psa if you're going to delete your Disney+ account, cancel first. Deleting it doesn't cancel your subscription *shrug emoji*

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weekly chat

Weekly Chat

The weekly chat posts are intended for just that, chatting among each other. What are you currently watching? Reading? What actor/idol are you currently following? What are you looking forward to? Are you busy writing, creating art? Or did you have no time at all for anything, and are bemoaning that fact?

Whatever it is, talk to us about it here. Tell us what you liked or didn't like, and if you want to talk about spoilery things, please hide them under either of these codes:
or