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Belated Yuletide reveal: Hornblower, plus an extra

Is it too late to post about Yuletide? Surely not!

For Yuletide 2024, I tried to pick up a Hornblower-TV pinch-hit. Alas, even though I had the first part of the story written, I wasn't quick enough to get assigned the pinch-hit. Which turned out just as well, because the story stalled out and while I told myself I could post it as a treat, I never finished it. I ended up quasi-trunking it that spring as a hopeless job.

But in November I finally figured out what its plot needed to be (sadly, it would require a complete rewrite!), and then one of the Yuletide 2025 requests was even a better match for the overhauled story than the original 2024 pinch-hit would have been. So I rewrote it, and published as a Yuletide treat, hurrah:

The Worst Part of Waking Up for BromeliadDreams

Bush/Hornblower

Hurt/Comfort, Dying Declarations, First Kiss (is also the) Last Kiss (or it should have been damnit), Everybody Lives (as embarrassing as that is for some), When He Made This Bed He Wasn't Expecting to Wake Up In It, Episode: Loyalty

Summary:

At the end of Loyalty, Bush is too late to save Hornblower. With his dying breath, Hornblower requests a kiss from Bush…

…only to wake up a week later and discover he's going to live after all. Damnit.

The title btw, was only meant to be provisional, but it was as sticky as fuck and time was tight and I never got around to changing it. I do realize it's the perfect title for a Folgers Incest fic (and I had a serious conversation with myself about whether I really wanted to waste such a great title on the wrong fandom), but in the end I don't have any real ambition to write Folgers Incest fic. And anyway, it's funny. So there it stayed, sorry for the earworm.

This morning I was tidying my WIP folder, archiving the stories I've finished since the last time I cleaned up, and remembered I still had the first version of the story, which is in Bush-pov. I still like it very much, and it's mostly all stuff that doesn't appear in the rewrite, except by implication.

So this morning I published it as a bonus:

Too Late, Too Late

Hornblower/Bush

POV William Bush, Hurt/Comfort, First Kiss, Episode: Loyalty

Summary:

Bush is too late to the beach to stop the firing squad.

Bonus Bush point-of-view on the beach scene.

One of the things I love about fic is that there doesn't have to be one canonical version; you can post alternate povs and alternate endings, and bits and bobs and scraps of things. And a lot of times people enjoy them! And if they don't enjoy them, they don't have to click. It's great.

So if Bush-pov on the beach scene is the kind of thing you might enjoy: enjoy!

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Romancing McShep Happy-ending Fest 2026

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A Prayer for the Crown Shy, by Becky Chambers

Mosscap and Dex's adventures continue from where they left off. They visit human places, including Dex's large and confusing family. Mosscap has a brush with mortality. Dex does not return to being a tea monk, their vocation still up in the air.

I enjoyed this novella for much the same reasons I enjoyed the first one, though I missed the tea service, which was my favorite part of the first book. Mosscap does turn out to be fallible and learns from Dex as much as Dex learns from it, which was nice. My favorite part of this book was the glimpses of the world, which still seems like an extremely nice place to live in.

Entry tags:

snowpocalypse

also have not finished reading one (1) actual book this year so far though i have purchased sixteen

Friday morning we had about 8-10cm of snow and public transport wasn't running, so I worked from home. All the main roads around me were clear pretty much throughout, but side roads etc didn't get clear - and then everything half-melted and refroze so anywhere that still had snow got pretty miserable. The pavements on my way to church yesterday had about 3-4cm of lumpy ice, and it was not a fun time, although it also didn't feel particularly dangerous as long as I walked carefully.

At ten minutes before Mass we had six people in the building including me, the priest, and one other altar server. As we went in we'd hit about twenty, and by the end of the homily we were up to 45, which is a bit under half the usual number (although there were a lot of unfamiliar faces, possibly coming to a closer church than they would usually attend?). I was very surprised by the number of latecomers; I left home half an hour earlier than usual, to be sure of getting there OK, and it's not like anyone didn't know there was ice everywhere. I can understand not coming in those conditions, but just, idk, leaving at the usual time? that seems weird to me!

Anyway, it's warmed up a lot today and has been raining for a couple of hours; remnants of the packed ice will no doubt hang around for a while, but hopefully most of the pavements will be more-or-less clear tomorrow morning when I leave for work.

Dad's off to France again this week, so I'm back over there next Monday for the week. My chances of ever catching up with the laundry are receding into the distance and I'm starting to feel stressed about the weekend after, since I'll be there until Sunday morning, then into a double choir rehearsal, then back in the office on the Monday. Probably it will be fine but I need to do a lot of thinking about food planning etc at some point this week. I was having such a nice relaxing time too!!!

Blergh

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Sudan's government returns to capital after nearly 3 years of war

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/ckgn5g90lggo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/ckgn5g90lggo#0

The military-backed government is back in Khartoum after being driven out by its paramilitary rival.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/ckgn5g90lggo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/ckgn5g90lggo#0

Last Kurdish forces leave Aleppo after ceasefire deal reached

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cx2p84xleg2o?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cx2p84xleg2o#1

The deal was announced in the early hours of Sunday morning after a week of violent clashes.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cx2p84xleg2o?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cx2p84xleg2o#1

US military strikes Islamic State group targets in Syria, officials say

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cly9597r4qpo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cly9597r4qpo#1

US President Donald Trump ordered the "large-scale strikes" on Saturday, US Central Command announced.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cly9597r4qpo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cly9597r4qpo#1

Signal Boost: Fandomtrees due Jan 17 (Deadline pushed back)

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Current Mood: productive
Current Music: Smooth - Santana feat. Rob Thomas

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adventures in cooking

the step in my groove, yeah

I've got French onion soup simmering away in the slow cooker (I sliced almost 3 lbs of onions last night and my eyes - even with the stupid onion goggles - were not happy with me) and I just took a pan of baked oatmeal out of the oven to be breakfast for the week. I was waffling between the oatmeal and another batch of orange cranberry scones, but the oatmeal won out because it used up a bunch of stuff - the dregs of both a bottle of honey and a bottle of maple syrup; the last 2 eggs in the carton (I still have a carton of eggs in the fridge, but now just the amount a normal person would have); the rest of a bag of frozen strawberries; the rest of a bag of chocolate chips; what was left in the bottom of the jar of cinnamon; and what was left in the container of rolled oats (exactly 3 cups - exactly as much as needed for the recipe). I still have cranberries in the freezer, though, so orange cranberry scones are probably still in my future.

Now I'm trying to decide if I want to make a loaf of bread to go with the soup. I originally bought a small loaf with my groceries on Friday, but then ate it as cheesy garlic bread for a couple of meals. *hands* The heart wants what it wants, and in this case, my heart wanted cheesy garlic bread.

Since the slow cooker is working, I can't use the KitchenAid (it is blocked in by the InstantPot), so I want a no knead kind of bread, but also one that is only going to take 2-3 hours, nothing that needs an overnight rise. I think I might end up making the old, reliable peasant bread (halved to only make 1 loaf). It's easy and fast (for bread), and doesn't require a stand mixer.

Hmm...

*

(no subject)

Still not dead but also still sick, so that's great. At this point I'm constantly congested and constantly exhausted. Bodies were a mistake.

Bride and groom killed by gas explosion day after Pakistan wedding

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c4gr7nlx421o?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c4gr7nlx421o#0

Eight people were killed after a gas cylinder exploded at a house the morning after the wedding celebration.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c4gr7nlx421o?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c4gr7nlx421o#0

Five hundred people in Canada were diagnosed with mystery brain disease. What if it isn't real?

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c623r47d67lo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c623r47d67lo#2

A small Canadian province feared it had a mystery neurological illness on its hands. The search for answers set off a battle for the truth.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c623r47d67lo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c623r47d67lo#2

Current Music: Velvet Underground

(no subject)

Having some Lapsang Souchong. The ice cream was great. I don't know why they don't publicize this more but they do this thing called a flight where you can have little scoops of six different flavors. I had chocolate, maple, banana, black walnut, butter pecan and mocha almond fudge. (I would have had eggnog but they ran out. Frankly if they sold eggnog in June I would buy it.)
Tonight I'm going to LoCoco to get Italian food and a glass of wine for dinner.

Current Mood: awake

mild attack of family bullshit

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Current Mood: giggly

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heated rivalry

another cute Heated Rivalry thought

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Sunday Sweets: Mythical Beasts & Where to Devour Them

Posted by Jen

https://www.cakewrecks.com/home/sunday-sweets-mythical-beasts-amp-where-to-devour-them-2026

The time has come, my Sweets-loving friends. Prepare yourselves.

[ahem hem hem]

UNLEASH THE KRAKEN CAKE!!

(By Gastro Gothic)

Thank you.

Yep, today we're delving into the Legends of Old... to bring you the Tastiness of New. Which sounded way better in my head. Er...

Look! Over there! UNICORN!

(By The Cake School)

Simply stunning. And if this reminds you of the movie Legend, then we should be friends.

And speaking of 80s movies: I watched The Last Unicorn for the very first time recently. Is it just me, or does that have a rather unusual amount of supernatural boobage in it for a children's cartoon?

Yikes, two cakes in and I'm already talking about supernatural boobage. That's gotta be a new record!
Er, here, allow me to distract you with...

(By Adventures in Cake Decorating)

Garden gnome eating cake!

Now let's all pause a moment to ponder the delicious irony of a cake eating itself.

(... which ALSO sounded better in my head.)

Hey, you know what's totally hot in mythical beasts this year?

(By Mike's Amazing Cakes)

Phoenixes. And I gotta say it, Mike: lovely plumage.

(Or, if you prefer Aladdin to Monty Python: Fabulous, Harry, I love the feathers.)

Ever stop to wonder what kind of occasion would call for a Cyclops cake?

(By Debbie Does Cakes)

Well, now you have.

Yay! We get to go back to 80s fantasy flicks with this next one, and let me tell you, I APPROVE:

(By Marcy's Cakes, photo found here)

Wow.
Wow, wow, WOW.

I've seen one or two fantastic Falkor cakes before, my friends, but this one blows them all away. Marcy even captured the pink undertones, and the unique texture of his scales and fur! [reference shot] Again I say: WOW.

How do you follow up the world's best luck dragon cake?

With the world's cutest baby dragon cake, of course:

(By a Pocket Full of Sweetness)

There are bunches of baby dragon cakes out there, but I love this little girl's unique design. Eye fins, 'stache beard, and a roly-poly tummy? YES, PLEASE.

Hmm, ok, maybe it's getting a little TOO cute in here. But what's that over there? Through the trees, over that ridge? Do you see a loping figure off in the distance?

No?

Well, how 'bout this guy?

(By Amber at the Hilltop Hy-Vee, more pics here.)

It's our very own Big Foot, no Wal-Mart pork ribs needed!

Now, I know this is stretching credulity, but believe it or not, this cake is completely fondant-free - and Amber, the baker, works at a Hy-Vee grocery!

We can only hope Amber will be doing her OWN nationwide tour to present the "body of evidence." [winkwink] (Dibs on the cold shoulder!)

Now here's a baker who could fool me any day with her edible sculptures:

(By MG Sugar Cake)

All of her toppers look like they were plucked out of a porcelain fine art gallery! (Check out her Princesses pulling funny faces design, too - your jaw will drop.)

And more prettiness, 'cause you know we've gotta have at least ONE fairy in here:

(By Splendor - Cakes and More)

Hard to believe the wee little plants & tree stump are almost as darling as the fairy!

Of course, there's a reason you see more dragons these days than any other mythical beast - and I'm not just talking The Hobbit and Game of Thrones:

(By Broken Sparrow Cakes)

Bottom line: dragons are awesomely badass.
Especially when they come with bucket seats.

Still, this is MY post, and I AM a girl raised in the 80s, so...

PEGASUS WINS:

(By Wicked Little Cake Company)
(More angles here)

And oh yes, my friends, those really ARE cotton candy clouds. Hit that link up there to see more angles, and for the best baker comment ever:

"All edible except the parts that make it stand, but I would probably kill whoever tried to take a bite out of it."

(Bwahahaha! Finally - I KNEW bakers had to feel that way sometimes!)

*****

P.S. Speaking of mythical beasts, check out this fantastic compendium:

Breverton's Phantasmagoria: A Compendium Of Monsters, Myths And Legends

It has excellent reviews *and* an amazing cover, which is what first caught my eye. Perfect for the cryptid lover in your life - or your own library!

*****

And from my other blog, Epbot:

https://www.cakewrecks.com/home/sunday-sweets-mythical-beasts-amp-where-to-devour-them-2026

Entry tags:

my writing: fics: kn8

Kaijuu No. 8 fic update: Warm as life (Kafka/Reno/Narumi, Reno/Iharu, Kafka/Hoshina) 7/7

And it is done! New fandom always a bit fraught to write in, but as stories apparently beget stories, I've already started a (MUCH SHORTER) one XD

Warm as life | Kaijuu No. 8 | Kafka/Reno/Narumi, Reno/Iharu, Kafka/Hoshina | 13k words | rated M

Summary: The new threat posed by No. 9 weighs heavily on everyone. Under these circumstances, emotions run high and what starts as a way of relieving stress can easily bloom into unexpected feelings. Some people find that easier to admit than others.

Read it on Dreamwidth or AO3.