Snowflake Challenge: Day 1

A bunch of my friends are doing the snowflake challenge this year, and I feel like I might have enough energy to join in!

Day 1

In your own space, talk about your Happy Place—the things that give you joy, calms you or keeps you sane.

Emotionally, it's been kind of a rough year. I'm not professionally diagnosed, but I'm pretty sure I had an intense depressive downswing earlier in the year that knocked everything out of place. So, in no particular order, things that have kept me going:

* Reading: I love love love Thriftbooks. They sell a lot of used books and they have incredible deals. I've found so many things that I love because their prices aren't prohibitive. I have been reading a lot of fantasy, which isn't unusual, but I've also risked my time on novels that have ripped my heart out, and historical nonfiction (specifically about the AIDS crisis, for a story I'm writing, and the golden age of pirates.) And a lot of fic. So. Much. Fic.

* Chai: Last year, dungeonmarm's parents bought me a huge thing of Big Train Vanilla Chai, which is my most favorite instant chai mix that I've ever found. I just finished my last cup a few days ago, and they got me another huge bag for Christmas this year! Thank you, Jay's parents, for giving me my most favorite drink!

* Cats: I cannot overstate this one. I have a Siamese named Jill who will let me do whatever I feel like. If I want to pick her up from where she was sleeping and squish her in a hug? She's cool with that. Do I want to bury my face in her fur and pretend I don't exist for a minute? She's cool with that, too. Alex, my tabby, isn't as forgiving, but as long as I don't make any sudden movements, she will lay next to me and go to sleep for a few hours. It makes me feel loved every time.

* Music: specifically, the Steven Universe Soundtrack Vol 1. It is sweet and good and catchy, and Here Comes a Thought is so meaningful to me that I can't even explain it.

Snowflake Challenge: Day 2

This one is a little rough for me, because (as I mentioned in the last entry) I've been reading more books and less fic. This is what AO3 bookmarks are for, I suppose. ;)

Day 2

Rec at least three fanworks that you didn’t create.

Okay, it's confession time. Although my primary fandom is The Flash I don't... read any fic. I really want to! And if you read fic in that fandom and want to leave me recs that would be great!

change my friends to enemies (show me how it's all my fault) by saekhwa.

This was written years and years ago, but it still gives me happiness. an X-Men(First Class)/Losers crossover in which Roque gets mutant powers and a new family with the X-men. It's Roque/Armando and has healing and redemption and Roque fighting to let people back in. Dark stuff happens, but there's a light at the end of the tunnel. Warnings are at the end of the fic.

Drunk Minds Speak Sober Hearts by m4x_87.

One of the few finished coldflash stories I have bookmarked on AO3. Barry gets whammied by Rainbow Raider, but it's lust instead of anger. This gets explicit near the end, and tbh the first chapter isn't that great until about half-way through? But it has solid Cisco voice, a charmingly scheming Leonard Snart, and a Barry Allen who knows exactly how to get under his skin. I re-read this today for this rec list, and it still made me laugh.

those three words over even "I love you" by QLaLa.

My second coldflash recommendation. Set during the episode "Family of Rogues", Barry decided to go undercover on a heist with Lewis and Leonard Snart. Leonard had feelings about this. There's snark and sexytimes and accidental feelings. It's lovely. Also explicit. Read this if you haven't already, you won't be disappointed.

For my last rec, I really have to go with The Night War: 60th Anniversary Edition by praximeter.

If there is one MCU fic that should be required reading, it's this one. Bucky Barnes' wartime memoir, and—guys, guys, just read it. It's painful and genuine and it's about loss and hope and love and how war changes people. It technically says it's Steve/Bucky, but honestly I consider this to be one of the most beautiful gen novels I have ever read.