Cycles of the Moon

Fandom: Dear Yuletide Author 2025

Fri, 24 Oct 2025 17:21:09 GMT

Last Update: October 25, 2025

Favorite fannish time of year returns, and I am delighted with this unplanned roster of werewolf(ish) requests.

Do Not Wants and general likes, followed by fandom-specific details, below. If there's a discrepancy between the DNWs/general likes and the fandom-specific details, go with the fandom-specific.

One of the things I love best right now: women as werewolves and other monsters with all their feral rage and love and hunger and struggling with their humanity and their monstrosity.

I'm escritoireazul at AO3, too. Treat option is enabled.

General Likes

+ Werewolf packs, chosen families, strangers to friends to family through wild, strange adventures.

+ Teaming up to survive horror movie scenarios (summer camp killers, haunted houses, cursed objects, holiday horrors, monsters on spaceships, ghost ships) or deal with monster-of-the-week casefic-style scenarios.

+ Weird west/wild west (the outlaw feel of it, untamed and wild, wilderness survival, big spaces with nowhere to hide, big woods claustrophobic around you, monsters could be hidden anywhere and everywhere, so long as it avoids the magical Indian/savage Indian/white savior tropes that show up in a lot of westerns).

+ alternate universes, a non-exhaustive list: space adventures, portal fantasies, canon divergence, survival horror, Jaeger pilots, elite athletes, spaceship crew exploring unknown galaxies

+ tropes, a non-exhaustive list: huddling for warmth, forced proximity, friends to lovers, enemies to friends (to lovers), oh no there’s only one bed, fake dating, survival horror, abandoned ships, burial at sea, burial by fire, crashed on a deserted island, not-so-safe harbor, locked-room mysteries, came back wrong

+ kink (female top/dom only except for biting and bloodplay): biting, light bondage, impact play, rough body play, bloodplay for supernatural characters, fireplay, marking, sensory overload, orgasm denial/control, pegging

Do Not Wants

+ rape, non-con, and dub-con
+ embarrassment/humiliation
+ pregnancy
+ Heir Apparent DNW: applying current real world AI politics, criticisms, and discussions to in-universe technology

Requests

500 Yards - Henry Galley (NoSleep Podcast segment): Jodie, Nikki "Fitz" Fitzgerald
Do Not Disturb - Halestorm (Music Video): Host, Female Guest, Male Guest
Get Some - Ghosted (Music Video): Samantha
Heir Apparent - Vivian Vande Velde: Giannine Bellisario | Janine de St. Jehan
Nasty at Bellua - Danny Lore: Kareem Nichols, Javier Ruiz

( 500 Yards - Henry Galley )

( Do Not Disturb - Halestorm (Music Video) )

( Get Some - Ghosted (Music Video) )

( Heir Apparent - Vivian Vande Velde )

( Nasty at Bellua - Danny Lore )

comments

Fandom: Dear Yuletide Author 2024

Fri, 18 Oct 2024 03:42:21 GMT

Letter complete as of October 20.

Dear Yuletide Author,

It’s my favorite fannish time of year: Yuletide.

Do Not Wants and general likes, followed by fandom-specific details, below. If there’s a discrepancy between the DNWs/general likes and the fandom-specific details, go with the fandom-specific. Mixing and matching fandoms and prompts more than welcome.

My absolute favorite things: werewolves, crossovers and alternate universes (the stranger and more unusual the better), and monsters and magic.

I’m escritoireazul at AO3. Treat option is enabled.

( General Likes )

( Do Not Wants )

Requests

Amazon "Red Riding Hood" Commercial: Red Riding Hood
Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969): Robert Parker | Butch Cassidy, Harry Longabaugh | Sundance Kid, Etta Place
Gods of New Asgard - Tessa Gratton: Vider Bearskin, Signy Valborn, Glory | Fenris Wolf, Astrid Glyn
The Mummy (Movies 1999-2008): Evy Carnahan O'Connell, Ardeth Bay, Rick O'Connell
Pushing Daisies: Olive Snook, Charlotte "Chuck" Charles
Willow (1988): Sorsha

It's been a rough few years, and again this year, my letter is not nearly as detailed as it used to be. Some sections may be longer than others simply because I pulled from previous requests. I want all of them equally. You can find old letters under the Yuletide tag if you want to see what I've written before.

Across the board, AUs I love: Werewolf packs. Teaming up to survive horror movie scenarios and save the girls (summer camp killers, haunted houses, cursed objects). Adventures in Space. Jaeger pilots. Elite athletes. Scientists fighting underground monsters. Weird west. Surviving inhospitable locations.

( Amazon Red Riding Hood Commercial: Red Riding Hood )

( Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid: Butch Cassidy, Sundance Kid, Etta Place )

( Gods of New Asgard - Tessa Gratton: Vider Bearskin, Signy Valborn, Glory | Fenris Wolf, Astrid Glyn )

( The Mummy: Evy Carnahan O'Connell, Ardeth Bay, Rick O'Connell )

( Pushing Daisies: Olive Snook, Chuck Charles )

( Willow: Sorsha )

comments

Fandom: Dear Trick or Treat Creator Letter

Wed, 18 Sep 2024 22:15:38 GMT

As of Sep 22, letter complete.

Dear Trick or Treat Creator,

It’s my favorite time of year: horror and Halloween and fall weather and Trick or Treat.

I unexpectedly had to miss Trick or Treat last year, and spooky season just wasn't the same!

Do Not Wants and general likes, followed by fandom-specific details, below. If there’s a discrepancy between the DNWs/general likes and the fandom-specific details, go with the fandom-specific. Mixing and matching fandoms and prompts welcome, as is making any prompt a trick or a treat.

My absolute favorite things: werewolves, crossovers and alternate universes (the stranger and more unusual the better), and monsters and magic.

I requested fic and tricks and treats. For the freeform tags: I am interested in extra gifts for the community challenge that don’t fit my requests. You may ignore my art/fic preferences for extra gifts.

My AO3 name is escritoireazul

General Likes

+ Halloween and horror movies, particularly horror movie alternate universes in any canon
+ alternate universes, a non-exhaustive list: werewolves, witches and witch hunters, IN SPACE, horror movies, haunted summer camps, ghost hunters (including this state-mandated idea), portal fantasies, monsters, canon divergence, weird west/wild west (I particularly like the outlaw feel of it, untamed and wild, big spaces with nowhere to hide, big woods claustrophobic around you, danger at every turn, as long as the AU avoids the magical Indian/savage Indian/white savior bullshit that can show up in weird west and westerns in general)
+ monsters of the week, casefic, adventure stories, mysteries
+ friends and family teaming up to save the world, particularly on road trips, and becoming chosen family along the way
+ crossovers and fusions so long as my requested characters are the main characters
+ tropes, a non-exhaustive list: wilderness survival, huddling for warmth, forced proximity, friends to lovers, enemies to friends (to lovers), there’s only one bed oh no, fake dating, survival horror, abandoned ships, burial at sea, burial by fire, crashed on a deserted island, ghost ships, not-so-safe harbor, locked-room mysteries, came back wrong
+ kink (female top/dom only except for biting and bloodplay): biting, light bondage, impact play, rough body play, bloodplay for supernatural characters, fireplay, marking, sensory overload, orgasm denial/control, pegging

Do Not Wants

+ stories focused on dealing with discrimination (racism, sexism, biphobia, fat hate, ableism, etc.)
+ character bashing or villainizing
+ rape, non-con, and dub-con
+ embarrassment/humiliation
+ permanent character death for my requested characters
+ big age difference in older man/younger woman romantic relationships (except for supernatural characters)
+ a/b/o or werewolf stories with Big Tough Alpha Male tropes
+ pregnancy, including mpreg
+ spiders, especially in art

Requests

Jurassic Park Original Trilogy (Movies): Ship: Kelly Malcolm/Lex Murphy (JP OTM), Lex Murphy (JP OTM), Kelly Malcolm (JP OTM)
Mummy (Movies 1999-2008): Ship: Ardeth Bey/Evy Carnahan O'Connell/Rick O'Connell (Mummy 1999-2008)
Trick 'r Treat (2008): Laurie (Trick 'r Treat), Danielle (Trick 'r Treat), Ship: Rhonda & The Werewolf Pack (Trick 'r Treat), Ship: Danielle/Laurie (Trick 'r Treat), Ship: Any Werewolf Pack Member(s) & Any Werewolf Pack Member(s) (Trick 'r Treat)

( Jurassic Park Original Trilogy (Movies) )

( Mummy (Movies 1999-2008) )

( Trick 'r Treat (2008) )

comments

Fandom: Dear Yuletide Author 2023

Sun, 15 Oct 2023 20:09:14 GMT

Letter complete November 1.

Dear Yuletide Author,

It’s my favorite fannish time of year: Yuletide.

Do Not Wants and general likes, followed by fandom-specific details, below. If there’s a discrepancy between the DNWs/general likes and the fandom-specific details, go with the fandom-specific. Mixing and matching fandoms and prompts more than welcome.

My absolute favorite things: werewolves, crossovers and alternate universes (the stranger and more unusual the better), and monsters and magic.

I’m escritoireazul at AO3. Treat option is enabled.

( General Likes )

( Do Not Wants )

Requests

Amazon "Red Riding Hood" Commercial: Red Riding Hood
Bulgari "Unexpected Wonders" Commercial: any
Monster - Christopher Pike: Angela Warner, Mary Blanc
The Mummy (Movies 1999-2008): Evy Carnahan O'Connell, Ardeth Bay, Rick O'Connell
Spellbound - Christopher Pike: Joni Harper, Cindy Jones
Willow (1988): Sorsha

Life is a mess right now and my letter is not nearly as detailed as usual. You can find old letters under the Yuletide tag if you want to see what I've written before.

Across the board, the AUs I would love to see: Werewolf packs. Teaming up to survive horror movie scenarios and save the girls (summer camp killers, haunted houses, cursed objects). Adventures in Space. Jaeger pilots. Elite athletes. Scientists fighting underground monsters. Weird west. Surviving inhospitable locations.

( Amazon Red Riding Hood Commercial: Red Riding Hood )

( Bulgari Unexpected Wonders Commercial: Younger Woman, Older Woman )

( Monster - Christopher Pike: Angela Warner, Mary Blanc )

( The Mummy (Movies 1999-2008): Evy Carnahan O'Connell, Ardeth Bay, Rick O'Connell )

( Spellbound - Christopher Pike: Joni Harper, Cindy Jones )

( Willow (1988): Sorsha )

comments

Fandom: Fast X

Mon, 24 Jul 2023 02:34:38 GMT

A few months ago I babbled my joy and excitement about the trailers here.

Finally saw it, and my spoiler free response is: ASD;LFANWPEOIGNA/S,MDC V;ALDSKJF0432H3WO0IGJANVSDZKFJL;WJFA;KJSFVAS;LDKFJQWOP;ENFAS;LDKVNO;

Some of Sister K's friends haven't seen any of the movies yet (and Sister K herself hasn't seen past Tokyo Drift, I don't think), so we've been planning a whole series watch spread over several months.

I'm trying to prepare them with some advice. In order to enjoy these movies, you must pretend the following doesn't exist: gravity, physics, logic, computer science, death, hacking, laws, justice, all science really, believability, and sometimes your rage at sexism. You must embrace: found family, cheesiness, the sheer and utter joy when gravity, physics, logic, computer science, death, hacking, laws, justice, all science really, and believability are off the table, the way the movies learn to embrace women in different roles, Dodge Chargers being indestructible, unbelievable surprises, and the looming promise that this is really all sci-fi and Hobbs & Shaw made that explicit.

Fuck, I love this stupid series.

comments

Fandom: Fast X

Tue, 16 May 2023 01:06:46 GMT

I am still not here, and also life has been very very very hard.

However, there is a new Fast and the Furious movie and of course I have to react to the trailers.

Way back in 2020, which was clearly thirty years ago, I recapped my reaction to the first Fast and Furious 9 trailer, because it made me cackle and gave me all the feelings.

I watched the three main US trailers in reverse order today (though I'd seen the first one before, because I remember desperately wanting more genetically modified supersoldier storyline a la Hobbs & Shaw), so my individual responses aren't clear, but I can tell you that one of my favorite moments in any Fast and Furious trailer ever comes from the third trailer: If it violates the laws of god and gravity, they did it twice.

I. AM. CACKLING.

I love when a franchise embraces its own ridiculousness.

A few other thoughts scattered across the trailers and the trailers themselves behind the cut.

( Fast X )

comments

Fandom: Yuletide 2023 Potential Request

Sat, 19 Nov 2022 02:29:15 GMT

On the one hand, this is a commercial for Hobby Lobby, which I hate.

On the other hand, look at this fucking adorable thing.

comments

Movies: October Spooky Season

Sat, 29 Oct 2022 20:08:37 GMT

Taking a brief break between dealing with some family responsibilities. More on them later, because I don't want all my posts to either be locked and about heartbreaking things or exchange letters.

I tracked some of the media I consumed for spooky season this month. (Which is almost over? HOW?) Here are some of the movies. (Links go to trailers on YouTube.)

Urban Legends: Final Cut (2000): Probably a rewatch for me, but I could not remember a single detail about it. More fun than I expected.

The Curse of La Patasola (2022): Another that was more fun than I expected.

Urban Legends: Bloody Mary (2005): It was fine. There were a lot of moments of characterization I loved.

Sissy (2022): Fuck I loved this one. Did not expect to once I realized the premise, but it was so, so good.

La Furia del Hombre Lobo (Fury of the Wolfman) (1972): So fucking weird. So fucking great. (I recapped this for this year's Snark at the Moon! over on Devil's Elbow.)

Werewolf By Night (2022): I did not like this as much as I hoped from the way people talked about it, but I really enjoyed it. Very visually nostalgic, and I adored a couple of the characters.

Grimcutty (2022): Fuck, this, too, was far more fun than I expected. Love, love, love the teen girls in particular.

The Requin (2022): Sort of run-of-the-mill shark survival, but I enjoyed it. Did not fucking recognize Alicia Silverstone for a hot minute.

Hunter, Hunter (2020): I loved this movie, but it was not at all the movie I thought I was watching, and I loved this despite the hard turn to rapist.

Black as Night (2021): My favorite movie of the season, and one of my favorite vampire movies ever. The main characters is the fucking best.

comments

Fandom: Dear Yuletide Author 2022

Thu, 20 Oct 2022 03:54:51 GMT

10.29.22 Edit: I have the treat option enabled on AO3. Forgot that was a thing.

Dear Yuletide Author,

It’s my favorite fannish time of year: Yuletide.

Do Not Wants and general likes, followed by fandom-specific details, below. If there’s a discrepancy between the DNWs/general likes and the fandom-specific details, go with the fandom-specific. Mixing and matching fandoms and prompts more than welcome.

My absolute favorite things: werewolves, crossovers and alternate universes (the stranger and more unusual the better), and monsters and magic.

I’m escritoireazul at AO3.

( General Likes )

( Do Not Wants )

Requests

Charlie’s Angels (2019): Elena Houghlin, Jane Kano, Sabina Wilson
The New Mutants (2020): Danielle Moonstar, Rahne Sinclair
Seance (2021): Camille Meadows, Helina
Sweetheart (2019): Jennifer Remming
United States of Asgard - Tessa Gratton: any (Astrid Glyn, Glory | Fenris Wolf, Signy Valborn, Soren Bearstar)
Willow (1988): Sorsha

( Charlie's Angels (2019) )

( Seance (2021) )

( Sweetheart (2019) )

( United States of Asgard - Tessa Gratton )

( Willow (1988) )

comments

Fandom: Dear Trick or Treat Creator Letter

Sat, 17 Sep 2022 00:07:20 GMT

As of September 19, letter complete.

Dear Trick or Treat Creator,

It’s my favorite time of year: horror and Halloween and fall weather and Trick or Treat.

Unplanned, I basically have a theme this year: women who survive horror, the horrors around them, and what happens next.

Do Not Wants and general likes, followed by fandom-specific details, below. If there’s a discrepancy between the DNWs/general likes and the fandom-specific details, go with the fandom-specific. Mixing and matching fandoms and prompts more than welcome, as is making any prompt a trick or a treat.

My absolute favorite things: werewolves, crossovers and alternate universes (the stranger and more unusual the better), and monsters and magic.

I requested fic and tricks and treats. For the freeform tags: I am interested in extra gifts for the community challenge that don’t fit my requests. You may ignore my art/fic preferences for extra gifts.

My AO3 name is escritoireazul

( General Likes )

( Do Not Wants )

Requests

Criminal Minds: Luke Alvez/Penelope Garcia

Crossover Fandom:
Breanna Casey (Leverage: Redemption)/Cassie (Down in the Library Basement)
Ellie Myers (Cursed)/Samantha (Get Some)
Ginger Fitzgerald (Ginger Snaps)/Ellie Myers (Cursed)
Ginger Fitzgerald (Ginger Snaps)/Laurie (Trick r Treat)
Ginger Fitzgerald (Ginger Snaps)/Samantha (Get Some)
Jenn (Sweetheart)/Alexa Wood (AvP)
Laurie (Trick r Treat)/Ellie Myers (Cursed)
Megan (Dog Soldiers)/Ellie Myers (Cursed)
Mindy (Tremors)/Lex Murphy (Jurassic Park)
Ship: Rhonda LeBeck (Tremors) & Ellie Sattler (Jurassic Park)

Down in the Library Basement - Rona Vaselaar | sleepyhollow_101: Cassie
Get Some - Ghosted (Music Video): Samantha, Mean Girls/Samantha, Jeff/Samantha
Ginger Snaps: Ginger Fitzgerald, Brigitte Fitzgerald
The Howling (1981): Marsha Quist/Karen White, Marsha Quist
Prey (2022): Naru
Sweetheart (2019): Jenn
Tremors (1990): Earl Bass/Rhonda LeBeck/Valentine McKee, Mindy
Willow (1988): Sorsha, Queen Bavmorda & Sorsha, Madmartigan/Sorsha/Airk Thaughbaer, Madmartigan/Sorsha

Prompts

( Criminal Minds )

( Crossover Fandom )

( Down in the Library Basement - Rona Vaselaar | sleepyhollow_101 )

( Get Some - Ghosted (Music Video) )

( Ginger Snaps )

( The Howling )

( Prey )

( Sweetheart )

( Tremors )

( Willow )

comments

Fandom: Dear Yuletide Author Letter

Thu, 21 Oct 2021 03:38:10 GMT

Completed on October 27.

Dear Yuletide Creator,

It’s my favorite fannish time of year: Yuletide.

Do Not Wants and general likes, followed by fandom-specific details, below. If there’s a discrepancy between the DNWs/general likes and the fandom-specific details, go with the fandom-specific. Mixing and matching fandoms and prompts more than welcome.

My absolute favorite things: werewolves, crossovers and alternate universes (the stranger and more unusual the better), and monsters and magic.

I’m escritoireazul.

( General Likes )

( Do Not Wants )

Requests

Gunpowder Milkshake (2021): any (Anna May, Florence, Madeleine, Sam, Scarlet)
Renault Clio “30 Years in the Making” Commercial: any (Gemma, Sieza)
Sweetheart (2019): Jenn
Tremors (1990): Earl Bassett, Rhonda LeBeck, Valentine “Val” McKee
Vampire Academy (2014): Lissa Dragomir, Rose Hathaway
Willow (1988): Airk Thaughbaer, Madmartigan, Sorsha

( Gunpowder Milkshake )

( Renault Clio 30 Years in the Making Commercial )

( Sweetheart (2019) )

( Tremors (1990) )

( Vampire Academy (2014) )

( Willow (1988) )

comments

Fandom: Yuletide Retrospective 2005 - 2020

Thu, 07 Oct 2021 15:32:01 GMT

The other day I realized this will be my 17th Yuletide, and that reminded me that I haven't done a retrospective through 2020. In that time I've received at least 30 gift fics. (I think my count is missing some from the pre-AO3 days.)

I'm up to 77 Yuletide stories written for 56 people across 38 fandoms. That's 4 new stories, 3 new people, and 1 new fandom for 2020.

Yuletide fandom summary (note that some stories were crossovers so fill multiple fandoms)

10 Yuletide stories:

Baby-Sitters Club series by Ann M Martin (2009, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015 x2, 2018 x2, 2019 x2)

7 Yuletide stories:

Lost Boys series (2008, 2014, 2016 x2, 2017 x2, 2019)

6 Yuletide stories:
Jurassic Park/Jurassic World series (2008, 2015 x2, 2017, 2019, 2020)

5 Yuletide stories:
Fast and the Furious series (2009, 2011, 2014, 2015 x2)

4 Yuletide stories:
Make It or Break It (2010, 2015 x 3)

3 Yuletide stories:
Emelan by Tamora Pierce (2005, 2007, 2012)
Lilo & Stitch (2011 x2, 2017)
Practical Magic (2009, 2013, 2014)
Thunderheart (2013, 2014, 2018)

2 Yuletide stories:
Blue Crush (2009, 2010)
California Diaries series by Ann M Martin (2009, 2015)
Confidant – Demi Lovato (music video) (2016, 2017)
Full House (2016 x2)
Ghost and the Darkness (2019, 2020)
Mean Girls (2005, 2006)
Sons of Anarchy (2010, 2012)

1 Yuletide story:
Avengers Grimm (2018)
Bend It Like Beckham (2005)
Brooklyn Nine-Nine (2014)
Buffy the Vampire Slayer (2012)
The Cave (2020)
Carmilla (web series) (2014)
Dog Soldiers (2006)
Dustland Fairytale by The Killers (music video) (2010)
Ice Princess (2015)
Fairy Tales (2009)
Fallen London (2011)
Follow Me Down by Seanan McGuire (2013)
Goblin Market by Christina Rossetti (2014)
Making Out (2014)
Never Cry Werewolf (2017)
Oregon Trail (2011)
Pioneer Trail (2011)
Scooby Doo (2009)
Seattle Kraken "A Legend from the Deep Awakens" (Promotional Video) (2020)
Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants series by Ann Brashares (2008)
Southern Vampire series by Charlaine Harris (2008)
Sparrow Hill Road by Seanan McGuire (2010)
Werewolf party game (2013)

( 77 Yuletide Stories, 2005 - 2019 )

comments

Fic: Yuletide

Sat, 18 Sep 2021 20:17:09 GMT

ETA: This brings me to 85 fandoms! At least for certain ways of counting it.

Did you know I did Yuletide 2020? Because I certainly never shared the fic I wrote. Or any recommendations. Or any life updates since last fall. I'm alive! I'm pretty happy! I'll post an update soonish.

For now, here are the stories I wrote for Yuletide 2020, just in time for Yuletide 2021 to start nominations.

Assignment: And It Burns, The Cave (2005), Charlie/Jack McAllister, Pacific Rim fusion, Summary: Charlie knows, with an inescapable certainty all the way down to her bones, that it is wrong to take the jaegers deep. Caving is about your body and the cave, strength and stone and darkness, and not some goddamn machine.

Treat: Brave Enough, Jurassic Park/Jurassic World, Kelly Malcolm/Lex Murphy, Summary: I DIDN'T EVEN WRITE A SUMMARY, HOLY SHIT WAS I OUT OF IT AT THE END OF LAST YEAR. Have one now: The Jurassic Park Survivors Found Family comes back together to save Claire, Owen, and especially Maisie Lockwood.

Treat: It Rises, Seattle Kraken "A Legend from the Deep Awakens" (Promotional Video), Summary: Mount Rainier burns the day the kraken comes.

(If you have never seen it, Meet the Seattle Kraken is the video, I listened tot he song in it on repeat the entire time I worked on the story, to this day I sometimes listen to it on repeat, it remains one of the best promo videos I've ever seen, and this fic is one of my favorites of my work. The Blues will always be my team, but here's my second time. Finally, fuck I miss Seattle.)

Treat: Smoke and Ashes, Ghost and the Darkness (1996), Colonel John Henry Patterson/Helena Patterson, Summary: The Pattersons are invited to the Louisiana Purchase Exposition in St. Louis, Missouri in 1904. Or rather, Lt. Colonel John Henry Patterson is invited to participate in the great engineering intellectual debates, and after Tsavo, John does not travel without his wife and young son.

It comes as no surprise when Helena finds them a ghost.

comments

Fandom: Dear Trick or Treat Creator Letter

Sat, 18 Sep 2021 06:26:20 GMT

As of September 21, letter complete.

Dear Trick or Treat Creator,

It’s my favorite time of year: horror and Halloween and fall weather and Trick or Treat.

Do Not Wants and general likes, followed by fandom-specific details, below. If there’s a discrepancy between the DNWs/general likes and the fandom-specific details, go with the fandom-specific. Mixing and matching fandoms and prompts more than welcome, as is making any prompt a trick or a treat.

My absolute favorite things: werewolves, crossovers and alternate universes (the stranger and more unusual the better), and monsters and magic.

I requested fic and tricks and treats. For the freeform tags: I am interested in extra gifts for the community challenge that don’t fit my requests. You may ignore my art/fic preferences for extra gifts.

My AO3 name is escritoireazul.

General Likes

+ stories about women, including f/f, gen, and het
+ werewolves, werewolf packs as families, and werewolf alternate universes in any canon
+ Halloween and horror movies, particularly horror movie alternate universes in any canon
+ chosen families and adoption stories where adoption is treated as totally normal, adoption and chosen families = real families, and the adoption is not a BIG DRAMATIC SECRET
+ alternate universes, a non-exhaustive list: werewolves, witches and witch hunters, IN SPACE, horror movies, haunted summer camps, ghost hunters (including this state-mandated idea), portal fantasies, monsters, canon divergence, weird west/wild west (I particularly like the outlaw feel of it, untamed and wild, big spaces with nowhere to hide, big woods claustrophobic around you, danger at every turn, as long as the AU avoids the magical Indian/savage Indian/white savior bullshit that can show up in weird west and westerns in general)
+ polyam families, threesomes, foursomes, and moresomes, in all configurations (Vs, triangles, dodecahedrons)
+ monsters of the week, casefic, adventure stories, mysteries
+ friends and family teaming up to save the world, particularly on road trips
+ crossovers and fusions so long as my requested characters are the main characters
+ tropes, a non-exhaustive list: wilderness survival, huddling for warmth, forced proximity, friends to lovers, enemies to friends (to lovers), there’s only one bed oh no, fake dating, survival horror, abandoned ships, burial at sea, burial by fire, crashed on a deserted island, ghost ships, not-so-safe harbour, locked-room mysteries, came back wrong
+ kink (female top/dom only except for biting and bloodplay): biting, light bondage, impact play, rough body play, bloodplay for supernatural characters, fireplay, marking, sensory overload, orgasm denial/control, pegging

Do Not Wants

+ stories focused on dealing with discrimination (racism, sexism, biphobia, fat hate, ableism, etc.)
+ character bashing or villainizing
+ rape, non-con, and dub-con
+ embarrassment/humiliation
+ harm to a dog
+ permanent character death for my requested characters
+ incest
+ big age difference in romantic relationships (except for supernatural characters), particularly an older man/younger woman
+ a/b/o or werewolf stories with Big Tough Alpha Male tropes
+ pregnancy, including mpreg
+ spiders, especially in art

Requests:

Crossover Fandom: Ship: Ellie Meyers (Cursed)/Star (Lost Boys), Ship: Ellie Meyers (Cursed)/Veruca (BtVS), Ship: Ginger Fitzgerald (Ginger Snaps)/Ellie Myers (Cursed), Ship: Ginger Fitzgerald (Ginger Snaps)/Laurie (Trick r Treat), Ship: Laurie (Trick r Treat)/Ellie Meyers (Cursed), Ship: Lex Murphy (Jurassic Park)/Ellie Myers (Cursed), Ship: Mindy (Tremors)/Lex Murphy (Jurassic Park)

Fear Street Trilogy (TV): Deena Johnson (Fear Street Trilogy TV). Ship: Deena Johnson/Kate (Fear Street Trilogy TV), Ship: Alice/Cindy Berman (Fear Street Trilogy TV), Ship: Sarah Fier/Lizzie (Fear Street Trilogy TV), Ship: Deena Johnson & Josh Johnson (Fear Street Trilogy TV), Ship: Samantha "Sam" Frasier/Deena Johnson (Fear Street Trilogy TV), Ship: Constance/Sarah Fier (Fear Street Trilogy TV), Ship: Constance/Sarah Fier/Lizzie (Fear Street Trilogy TV), Ship: Sarah Fier/Hannah Miller (Fear Street Trilogy TV)

Gunpowder Milkshake (2021): any (Anna May (Gunpowder Milkshake), Emily (Gunpowder Milkshake), Florence (Gunpowder Milkshake), Madeleine (Gunpowder Milkshake), Sam (Gunpowder Milkshake), Scarlet (Gunpowder Milkshake))

Mummy Series: Ship: Ardeth Bay/Evy Carnahan O'Connell/Rick O'Connell (The Mummy Series)

Original Work: Backpacker Who Accidentally Went Camping In The Extra Creepy Part Of The Magical Forest (OW), Female Truck Driver Who Accidentally Gives a Ride to a Werewolf (OW), Goth Lesbian Who Just Moved Into A Creepy Old Mansion With An Overgrown Garden (OW), Ship: Forestry Worker/Bashful but Lonely Cryptid (OW), Ship: Older Cottagecore Witch/Independent Young Woman She Seduces With Baking (OW)

Pacific Rim (Movies): Raleigh Becket/Mako Mori (Pacific Rim)

Pushing Daisies: Charlotte "Chuck" Charles (Pushing Daisies), Emerson Cod (Pushing Daisies), Olive Snook (Pushing Daisies), Ned (Pushing Daisies)

Tremors (1990): Mindy (Tremors), Rhonda LeBeck (Tremors), Ship: Earl Bass/Rhonda LeBeck/Valentine McKee (Tremors)

Willow (1988): any (Ship: Madmartigan/Sorsha (Willow), Ship: Madmartigan/Sorsha/Airk Thaughbaer (Willow), Ship: Queen Bavmorda & Sorsha (Willow), Sorsha (Willow))

( Crossover Fandom )

( Fear Street Trilogy (TV) )

( Gunpowder Milkshake (2021) )

( Mummy Series )

( Original Work )

( Pacific Rim (Movies) )

( Pushing Daisies )

( Tremors (1990) )

( Willow (1988) )

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Fic: Lost Boys, Sweet Valley

Sun, 08 Nov 2020 20:20:57 GMT

I have been very off the past few months, and for the first time since doing Trick or Treat and Shipoween, I did not manage to write any treats. I did write two stories I like quite a bit, though! (Also, a new fandom for me!)

Girls Like Honey, Sweet Valley Twins/Sweet Valley High, Jessica/Lila, Summary: The Fowler mansion is haunted, Lila says. Jessica Wakefield believes in ghosts.

Left to Lose, Lost Boys, Michael/Sam, Summary: Max died. It changed nothing.

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Fic and Art Rec: Pacific Rim, Mortel, The Meg, and Dog Soldiers

Wed, 04 Nov 2020 18:20:18 GMT

I have been spoiled this Trick or Treat and Shipoween season!

A delightful Mako/Raleigh post-movie Pacific Rim piece with a beautiful, quiet, complicated Mako point of view and some true laugh out loud moments: Survivors.

This gorgeous art treat of Sofiane and Luisa from Mortel with a creepy ghost and beautiful coloring and perfect characterization for both Sofiane and Luisa. I don't have the right words to express my love of art, but I love it so: Fast Answers or Right Answers.

A wonderful, warm, funny Jonas/Suyin fic about survival and monsters still lurking and competence and found family: it's not about the ones you lose.

And finally, this Megan backstory for Dog Soldiers with creeping dread, beautiful writing, and a gut-punch of an ending: In a Forest, Dark and Deep.

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Fandom: Dear Yuletide Author Letter

Sun, 25 Oct 2020 19:08:49 GMT

Complete as of Oct 27, 2020.

Dear Yuletide Creator,

It’s my favorite fannish time of year: Yuletide.

Below, I provide Do Not Wants and general likes, then fandom-specific details. If there is a discrepancy between the DNWs and general likes and the fandom-specific information, go with the fandom-specific information. Mixing and matching fandoms and prompts more than welcome.

My absolute favorite things: werewolves, crossovers and alternate universes, and monsters and magic.

My AO3 name is also escritoireazul.

( General Likes )

( DNWs )

Requests

There are spoilers below for each of my requests, which are:

The Ghost and the Darkness (1996): Helena Patterson, John Henry Patterson
A Knight’s Tale (2001): Kate
Nancy Drew and the Hidden Staircase (2019): Nancy Drew, Helen Corning
Renault Clio “30 Years in the Making” Commercial: Gemma, Sieza
Tremors (1990): Rhonda LeBeck
Willow (1988): Sorsha

( The Ghost and the Darkness )

( A Knight's Tale )

( Nancy Drew and the Hidden Staircase )

( Renault Clio 30 Years in the Making Commercial )

( Tremors )

( Willow )

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Fandom: Renault Clio 30 Years in the Making ad

Wed, 23 Sep 2020 01:36:03 GMT

I am nominating this for Yuletide, and I need help with one of the character names. The redhead is Megan, but the French brunette is whoever signed this letter (I think I've got the link where it should open right on the letter). There is an S at the beginning and maybe a z in there. Can anyone else actually read it?

Also: I love this fucking ad so damn much.

ETA: Many thanks to raine for finding the names! And to raine and paperscribe for pointing out the redhead is Gemma. Which I knew, and is what I meant to say, and I have no idea where Megan came from. I wasn't even listening to anything with the name Megan in it!

Anyway, Gemma and Sieza are headed to Yuletide!

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Fandom: Dear Shipoween Creator Letter

Wed, 16 Sep 2020 22:03:34 GMT

As of Sep 16, some prompts still in progress.

Dear Shipoween Creator,

It’s my favorite time of year: horror and Halloween and fall weather and Shipoween.

Below, I provide Do Not Wants and general likes, then fandom-specific details. If there is a discrepancy between the DNWs and general likes and the fandom-specific information, go with the fandom-specific information. Mixing and matching fandoms and prompts more than welcome.

My absolute favorite things: werewolves, crossovers and alternate universes, and monsters and magic.

I requested fic and spooky, seasonal, and no theme. I know this is a Trick or Treat thing and not a Shipoween thing, but I find it useful and want to include a similar note here: You may ignore my art/fic preferences for extra gifts.

My AO3 name is also escritoireazul.

General Likes

+ stories about women, including f/f, gen, and het
+ werewolves, werewolf packs as families, and werewolf alternate universes in any canon
+ Halloween and horror movies, particularly horror movie alternate universes in any canon
+ chosen families and adoption stories where adoption is treated as totally normal, adoption and chosen families = real families, and the adoption is not a BIG DRAMATIC SECRET
+ alternate universes, a non-exhaustive list: werewolves, witches and witch hunters, IN SPACE, horror movies, haunted summer camps, ghost hunters (including this state-mandated idea), portal fantasies, monsters, canon divergence, weird west/wild west (I particularly like the outlaw feel of it, untamed and wild, big spaces with nowhere to hide, big woods claustrophobic around you, danger at every turn, as long as the AU avoids the magical Indian/savage Indian/white savior bullshit that can show up in weird west and westerns in general)
+ polyam families, threesomes, foursomes, and moresomes, in all configurations (Vs, triangles, dodecahedrons)
+ monsters of the week, casefic, adventure stories, mysteries
+ friends and family teaming up to save the world, particularly on road trips
+ crossovers and fusions so long as my requested characters are the main characters
+ tropes, a non-exhaustive list: wilderness survival, huddling for warmth, forced proximity, friends to lovers, enemies to friends (to lovers), there’s only one bed oh no, fake dating, survival horror, abandoned ships, burial at sea, burial by fire, crashed on a deserted island, ghost ships, not-so-safe harbour, locked-room mysteries, came back wrong
+ kink (female top/dom only except for biting and bloodplay): biting, light bondage, impact play, rough body play, bloodplay for supernatural characters, fireplay, marking, sensory overload, orgasm denial/control, pegging

Do Not Wants

+ characters dealing with racism, sexism, homophobia, biphobia, transphobia, fat hate, or ableism within the story
+ character bashing or villainizing
+ rape, non-con, and dub-con
+ embarrassment/humiliation
+ animal cruelty or death (except for where it would be appropriate for farm animals or wild animals to be harmed by a non-human monster -- no matter what, though, no harm to dogs)
+ permanent character death for my requested characters
+ incest
+ big age difference in romantic relationships (except for supernatural characters), particularly an older man/younger woman
+ a/b/o or werewolf stories with Big Tough Alpha Male tropes
+ pregnancy, including mpreg
+ spiders, especially in art

Requests

There are spoilers below for each of my requests, which are:

Bones: Seeley Booth/Temperance Brennan/Hannah Burley, Wendell Bray/Jack Hodgins/Angela Montenegro
Criminal Minds: Luke Alvez/Penelope Garcia, Luke Alvez/Penelope Garcia & Derek Morgan
Crossover Fandom:
Ellie Myers (Cursed)/Star (Lost Boys)
Ellie Myers (Cursed)/Veruca (BtVS)
Ginger Fitzgerald (Ginger Snaps)/Ellie Myers (Cursed)
Laurie (Trick r Treat)/Ellie Myers (Cursed)
Cursed (2005): Jake/Ellie Myers & Bo/Brooke/Jimmy Myers
The Meg (2018): Jaxx Herd/Lori, Jonas Taylor/Suyin Zhang, Jonas Taylor/Suyin Zhang & Meiying Zhang
Pacific Rim (Movies): Raleigh Becket/Mako Mori
Trick ‘r Treat (2008):
Danielle/Janet
Danielle/Janet/Laurie/Maria
Danielle/Janet/Maria
Janet/Laurie
Janet/Maria
Laurie/Maria

( Bones )

( Criminal Minds )

( Crossover Fandom )

( Cursed )

( The Meg )

( Pacific Rim )

( Trick 'r Treat )

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Fandom: Dear Trick or Treat Creator Letter

Mon, 14 Sep 2020 20:36:03 GMT

ETA Sep 17: Added Battle of the Bands community challenge info.

Dear Trick or Treat Creator,

It’s my favorite time of year: horror and Halloween and fall weather and Trick or Treat.

Below, I provide Do Not Wants and general likes, then fandom-specific details. If there is a discrepancy between the DNWs and general likes and the fandom-specific information, go with the fandom-specific information. Mixing and matching fandoms and prompts more than welcome, as is making any prompt a trick or a treat.

My absolute favorite things: werewolves, crossovers and alternate universes, and monsters and magic.

I requested fic and tricks and treats. For the freeform tags: I am interested in extra gifts for the community challenge that don’t fit my requests. You may ignore my art/fic preferences for extra gifts.

My AO3 name is also escritoireazul.

General Likes

+ stories about women, including f/f, gen, and het
+ werewolves, werewolf packs as families, and werewolf alternate universes in any canon
+ Halloween and horror movies, particularly horror movie alternate universes in any canon
+ chosen families and adoption stories where adoption is treated as totally normal, adoption and chosen families = real families, and the adoption is not a BIG DRAMATIC SECRET
+ alternate universes, a non-exhaustive list: werewolves, witches and witch hunters, IN SPACE, horror movies, haunted summer camps, ghost hunters (including this state-mandated idea), portal fantasies, monsters, canon divergence, weird west/wild west (I particularly like the outlaw feel of it, untamed and wild, big spaces with nowhere to hide, big woods claustrophobic around you, danger at every turn, as long as the AU avoids the magical Indian/savage Indian/white savior bullshit that can show up in weird west and westerns in general)
+ polyam families, threesomes, foursomes, and moresomes, in all configurations (Vs, triangles, dodecahedrons)
+ monsters of the week, casefic, adventure stories, mysteries
+ friends and family teaming up to save the world, particularly on road trips
+ crossovers and fusions so long as my requested characters are the main characters
+ tropes, a non-exhaustive list: wilderness survival, huddling for warmth, forced proximity, friends to lovers, enemies to friends (to lovers), there’s only one bed oh no, fake dating, survival horror, abandoned ships, burial at sea, burial by fire, crashed on a deserted island, ghost ships, not-so-safe harbour, locked-room mysteries, came back wrong
+ kink (female top/dom only except for biting and bloodplay): biting, light bondage, impact play, rough body play, bloodplay for supernatural characters, fireplay, marking, sensory overload, orgasm denial/control, pegging

Do Not Wants

+ characters dealing with racism, sexism, homophobia, biphobia, transphobia, fat hate, or ableism within the story
+ character bashing or villainizing
+ rape, non-con, and dub-con
+ embarrassment/humiliation
+ animal cruelty or death (except for Tricks where it would be appropriate for farm animals or wild animals to be harmed by a non-human monster -- no matter what, though, no harm to dogs)
+ permanent character death for my requested characters
+ incest
+ big age difference in romantic relationships (except for supernatural characters), particularly an older man/younger woman
+ a/b/o or werewolf stories with Big Tough Alpha Male tropes
+ pregnancy, including mpreg
+ spiders, especially in art

Requests

There are spoilers below for each of my requests, which are:

Dog Soldiers (2002): Megan
Down in the Library Basement - Rona Vaselaar: Cassie
Mortel (TV 2019): Luisa Manjimbe
Silver Bullet (1985): Jane Coslaw
Tremors (1990): Rhonda LeBeck
Trick 'r Treat (2008): Laurie
Willow (1988): Sorsha

( Dog Soldiers )

( Down in the Library Basement )

( Mortel )

( Silver Bullet )

( Tremors )

( Trick 'r Treat )

( Willow )

Community Challenge: Battle of the Bands

Details about this year's community challenge can be found here. I'm interested in Battle of the Bands for all of my requested fandoms. I'm open to creators drawing inspiration from any song, really, but below the cut are some of my favorites from the list.

( Battle of the Bands songs )

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Fandom: Trick or Treat, Shipoween, and Yuletide 2020

Wed, 09 Sep 2020 21:49:09 GMT

I'm alive, and it is time for my fall fic exchange extravaganza, which is, of course, the time of year when I participate in fic exchanges. Trick or Treat and Yuletide definitely, they've been my tradition for several years now, and I had so much fun with Shipoween that I'm considering it this year, too, though I did find it a little stressful to have two exchanges on the same timeline.

What are you doing the rest of this year, y'all? Fic exchanges, but, you know, whatever else, too! I'm curious.

Trick or Treat

Nominations are done, sign-ups haven't started yet over at trickortreatex. I'm thinking about requesting the following:

Dog Soldiers: Werewolves. I'd like some Megan backstory and possibly canon divergence or full on AUs.

Wild Country: ...also werewolves. I want more Kelly Ann in the future and possibly a look at the world building.

Tremors: RHONDA FOREVER. I want her to have more adventures with monsters, and I'm down for an OT3 for them. Maybe also Mindy and how she grows up knowing that monsters are real. (See, also, Lex Murphy from Jurassic Park.)

Silver Bullet: WEREWOLVES. Possibly something bloody and horrific, maybe Jane growing up to fight more monsters.

The Howling: Yes more werewolves.

Down in the Library Basement - Rona Vaselaar: Weird pseud-spider monsters, I KNOW, but I love this warm-hearted story, and I love Cassie, and I've had such good luck with fic for it before.

Shipoween

Basically same schedule here, nominations closed, sign-ups not open over at shipoween. I'm considering:

Bones: A couple different OT3s I've wanted for a long time (Booth/Brennan/Hannah and Wendell/Jack/Angela)

Criminal Minds: I can never have enough Garcia/Alvez, especially now that the show has ended.

Crossovers: Ellie Myers from Cursed with pretty much all the other werewolves.

Cursed: Werewolf pack found family.

Jurassic Park Original Trilogy: LEX/KELLY FOREVER, maybe also Sarah/Malcolm/Nick

The Meg: Jaxx! Suyin! Meiying! I have all sorts of different combinations I'm debating.

Trick 'r Treat: MOAR WAREWOLVES

I may, you know, have some themes in the Halloween-era exchanges.

Yuletide

(Here's my Yuletide story retrospective through last year: 2005 - 2019.)

Nominations start later this month and the schedule is available over at yuletide_admin. I have no real idea what I'm going to nominate yet, but I'm considering:

This Renault 30 Years in the Making ad with queer girls: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MrNCVAqbCD0

This Porsche Heist ad: https://youtu.be/92sXWVxRr0g

Willow: SORSHA FOREVER

Tremors: again, more OT3 monster hunting

Mortel: OT3 monster hunting of a different sort!

The Ghost and the Darkness: maneaters!

The Half of It: a different sort of OT3, really.

I'm sure there are other potential nominations floating out there in my notes, but this is off the top of my head. What about y'all?

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Life: Covid-19 Meme Update

Fri, 17 Apr 2020 15:52:40 GMT

This might have been a more useful, structured way to get information across.

( Covid-19 Meme Update )

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Fandom: Fast Cars and Hot People

Wed, 12 Feb 2020 03:43:36 GMT

Two things.

One: I'm tempted to request this for Yuletide. Heists for everyone!

Two: I watched the first trailer for the new Fast and the Furious movie the day it dropped and promptly texted a bunch of people to shout. Under the cut is a recap of my reaction because it was A LOT. I cannot wait for this goddamn movie. I have loved this franchise since I saw Fast and the Furious in the theater back in 2001, and I cannot believe how far we've come.

( Fast and the Furious 9 trailer reaction )

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Fandom: Yuletide Retrospective 2005 - 2019

Thu, 02 Jan 2020 17:24:39 GMT

Using the same format I did for the last retrospective, which included stories through 2017. As of 2019, I think I'm at 73 stories in Yuletide written for 53 people across 36 fandoms. I know sometimes there's talk of a treating clique, but of those 53, I think I knew 5 before I wrote for them the first time. Some of them have become friends since, but the majority of the people I treat are strangers with really interesting prompts.

Yuletide fandom summary (note that some stories were crossovers so fill multiple fandoms)

10 Yuletide stories:

Baby-Sitters Club series by Ann M Martin (2009, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015 x2, 2018 x2, 2019 x2)

7 Yuletide stories:

Lost Boys series (2008, 2014, 2016 x2, 2017 x2, 2019)

5 Yuletide stories:
Fast and the Furious series (2009, 2011, 2014, 2015 x2)
Jurassic Park series (2008, 2015 x2, 2017, 2019)

4 Yuletide stories:
Make It or Break It (2010, 2015 x 3)

3 Yuletide stories:
Emelan by Tamora Pierce (2005, 2007, 2012)
Lilo & Stitch (2011 x2, 2017)
Practical Magic (2009, 2013, 2014)
Thunderheart (2013, 2014, 2018)

2 Yuletide stories:
Blue Crush (2009, 2010)
California Diaries series by Ann M Martin (2009, 2015)
Confidant – Demi Lovato (music video) (2016, 2017)
Full House (2016 x2)
Mean Girls (2005, 2006)
Sons of Anarchy (2010, 2012)

1 Yuletide story:
Avengers Grimm (2018)
Bend It Like Beckham (2005)
Brooklyn Nine-Nine (2014)
Buffy the Vampire Slayer (2012)
Carmilla (web series) (2014)
Dog Soldiers (2006)
Dustland Fairytale by The Killers (music video) (2010)
Ice Princess (2015)
Fairy Tales (2009)
Fallen London (2011)
Follow Me Down by Seanan McGuire (2013)
Ghost and the Darkness (2019)
Goblin Market by Christina Rossetti (2014)
Making Out (2014)
Never Cry Werewolf (2017)
Oregon Trail (2011)
Pioneer Trail (2011)
Scooby Doo (2009)
Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants series by Ann Brashares (2008)
Southern Vampire series by Charlaine Harris (2008)
Sparrow Hill Road by Seanan McGuire (2010)
Werewolf party game (2013)

( 73 Yuletide Stories, 2005 - 2019 )

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Life: Ask Me Anything - Favorite ritual

Thu, 02 Jan 2020 02:40:00 GMT

Yes, I am still answering questions from and taking questions at that Ask Me Anything from December 2018.

First, an update. Back in August, I wrote about my love for whatever vehicle I'm currently driving because the open road means freedom and adventure and etc. At the time, I mentioned the car I've loved most out of all my non-bike vehicles, the Charger. The Charger is now gone, replaced with the Charger. Silver Charger was more than 10 years old at this point and starting to need some work, and I made the terrible decision to test drive a much newer one and, well, now I have a black Charger. That I love even more than the silver one. I'm ridiculous.

karanguni asked: Favourite ritual that you do for yourself!

Whenever I get home from work, no matter what time it is (and that time is almost always a lot earlier now than when I worked at Wolfram & Hart, thank god), I do the following: stand in the entranceway petting the dog who is leaping for joy. Leave my rings in the ring dish and my keys in the key cup that I have by the door. Leave shoes and other outerwear in the corner of the entranceway (where our coat rack has been joined by several additional hooks due to my many many many many coats and scarves, along with a scarf organizer because many scarves, and dog's leashes and harness). Let dog into the backyard while I take down the gate that keeps her out of the kitchen and living room. Get fresh ice water. Take dog and ice water back to the bedroom where I will change out of my work clothes and then cuddle with the dog on the bed for a good ten to twenty minutes. Sometimes I read while I pet her. Sometimes I finish the podcast episode I listened to on the way home. Sometimes I just bask in dark and silence. It's a wonderful time.

The other daily ritual is my writing. I sit down and write every day, almost always between 8 and 10 p.m. Music, movie, ASMR videos of typing and no talking, nothing at all, that can change, but I always have my laptop, ice water, and the dog asleep somewhere between the other end of the couch and pressed right up against my thigh.

A third favorite ritual (I don't follow instructions well, clearly) is the Friday night drive home from work. I don't do it as often in the winter, because it's always dark when I leave and the right time of day for a lot of deer activity, but during the rest of the year, I almost always take the backroads home from work, twisty narrow two-lane roads that have sharp curves and lots of shadows and fields for miles and miles. Usually this involves the windows down and the music up. Hard, angry, loud music. I love it.

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