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Wrote a 2nd fic for the CDrama Excellent Women.
Mar. 8th, 2026 08:52 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
estiroseGrab a paintbrush and follow me (508 words) by Estirose
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: 剑兰女探社 | Excellent Women
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Yang Moli/Yao Zhidi (Excellent Women)
Characters: Yang Moli (Excellent Women)
Summary:
Episode 32 is the most current episode; it looks like the drama will have a season 2 (which is already filmed). Also, part of the last scene irritated me so I made minor alterations to it, otherwise Moli would be in emotionally worse condition than she is in canon.
I really don't expect either of these fics to get many hits; they might be a F/F couple but they're an obscure F/F couple on an equally obscure Chinese Web Drama. I'll definitely be asking for this fandom for Yuletide just so I might not be the only writer for it.
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: 剑兰女探社 | Excellent Women
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Yang Moli/Yao Zhidi (Excellent Women)
Characters: Yang Moli (Excellent Women)
Summary:
Yang Moli after the events of episode 32.
(Slight deviations from canon)
Episode 32 is the most current episode; it looks like the drama will have a season 2 (which is already filmed). Also, part of the last scene irritated me so I made minor alterations to it, otherwise Moli would be in emotionally worse condition than she is in canon.
I really don't expect either of these fics to get many hits; they might be a F/F couple but they're an obscure F/F couple on an equally obscure Chinese Web Drama. I'll definitely be asking for this fandom for Yuletide just so I might not be the only writer for it.
see the world in just one grain of sand
Mar. 8th, 2026 09:48 pmmusesfoolUgh, daylight savings, why are we still doing this???
Anyway, I got up at my usual workday time instead of sleeping in so I could get the onions in the slow cooker, and I did both the "soak onions in cold water in the fridge for 15 minutes" and wore the stupid onion goggles, and still by the 4th onion my eyes were extremely unhappy with me. *hands* Thankfully I only had 6 onions total, so it all got done, and for dinner I made French onion pasta as planned, and now I have dinner for 3 more days as well. I do love this pasta dish - and I always use bucatini, which is one of my favorite pasta shapes, so it was pleasing all around. Every time I make it after not having made in a while, I'm like, why don't I make this more often!? and then I remember the onion-slicing and how annoying it is. Anyway, definitely recommended for a delicious and easy dinner (except for the onion-slicing). I also made bacon so I have lunch for the week also.
I meant to mention this yesterday and forgot, but The Mountain Goats collaborated with Mary Chapin Carpenter to cover World Party: Put the Message in the Box (don't worry if you only recognize one or two of those names - the song is good!).
*
Anyway, I got up at my usual workday time instead of sleeping in so I could get the onions in the slow cooker, and I did both the "soak onions in cold water in the fridge for 15 minutes" and wore the stupid onion goggles, and still by the 4th onion my eyes were extremely unhappy with me. *hands* Thankfully I only had 6 onions total, so it all got done, and for dinner I made French onion pasta as planned, and now I have dinner for 3 more days as well. I do love this pasta dish - and I always use bucatini, which is one of my favorite pasta shapes, so it was pleasing all around. Every time I make it after not having made in a while, I'm like, why don't I make this more often!? and then I remember the onion-slicing and how annoying it is. Anyway, definitely recommended for a delicious and easy dinner (except for the onion-slicing). I also made bacon so I have lunch for the week also.
I meant to mention this yesterday and forgot, but The Mountain Goats collaborated with Mary Chapin Carpenter to cover World Party: Put the Message in the Box (don't worry if you only recognize one or two of those names - the song is good!).
*
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that wasn't a no
Mar. 7th, 2026 09:07 pmmusesfoolWent to the office yesterday and as much as I enjoyed seeing so many of my co-workers, almost no work got done. it is just not a good use of time if they want us to be productive. Since it's an open office and we are all sitting together with no walls between us, we just chat and jump into each other's conversations and people stop by and also join in, and it's great for socializing but most of my work is stuff that requires concentration and quiet, which is in short supply at the office. But the anniversary celebration is a lot of fun and I probably won't have to attend another one for 4 more years. *g*
Our next in-office day is in late April, and I floated the idea of maybe bringing in baked goods, so I'm already considering what recipe I might choose to make, since I can experiment.
Today, I made these orange shortbread cookies and they're good, though I would zest another orange (I did 2 this time) if I make them again. Also I didn't sift the flour and instead of rolling out the dough and using cookie cutters, I rolled it into a log and just sliced them (after chilling), since they are just for me so there was no need to get fancy.
I also planned to caramelize onions overnight in the slow cooker, but then I ended up engrossed in F.D. Signifier's Tyler Perry video (which is FOUR HOURS long - I have one hour left but I'm taking a break to watch the WBC) and didn't end up doing the slicing I need to do, so I figure I'll do it in the morning, let them slow cook for most of the day, and then make French onion pasta for dinner. Anyway, I have never seen a Tyler Perry movie or show, but F.D. Signifier's videos are always worth watching.
So yeah, I've been sort of paying attention to the WBC and why is the "S" in USA like a strip of curly bacon on the Team USA jersey??? Once I saw it I couldn't unsee it. Also so many of these unis could be cool and yet so many of them are just meh. Design fail, Nike! Come on! Also, I might be rooting for the DR since Juan Soto is on that team; if Lindor were in it, I'd probably be rooting for Puerto Rico. Though of course I was pleased for Clay Holmes just now, and will be interested to see Nolan McLean pitch.
*
Our next in-office day is in late April, and I floated the idea of maybe bringing in baked goods, so I'm already considering what recipe I might choose to make, since I can experiment.
Today, I made these orange shortbread cookies and they're good, though I would zest another orange (I did 2 this time) if I make them again. Also I didn't sift the flour and instead of rolling out the dough and using cookie cutters, I rolled it into a log and just sliced them (after chilling), since they are just for me so there was no need to get fancy.
I also planned to caramelize onions overnight in the slow cooker, but then I ended up engrossed in F.D. Signifier's Tyler Perry video (which is FOUR HOURS long - I have one hour left but I'm taking a break to watch the WBC) and didn't end up doing the slicing I need to do, so I figure I'll do it in the morning, let them slow cook for most of the day, and then make French onion pasta for dinner. Anyway, I have never seen a Tyler Perry movie or show, but F.D. Signifier's videos are always worth watching.
So yeah, I've been sort of paying attention to the WBC and why is the "S" in USA like a strip of curly bacon on the Team USA jersey??? Once I saw it I couldn't unsee it. Also so many of these unis could be cool and yet so many of them are just meh. Design fail, Nike! Come on! Also, I might be rooting for the DR since Juan Soto is on that team; if Lindor were in it, I'd probably be rooting for Puerto Rico. Though of course I was pleased for Clay Holmes just now, and will be interested to see Nolan McLean pitch.
*
Fatal Frame 2 Remake demo impressions
Mar. 5th, 2026 06:24 pmestiroseSo the demo for the 2nd Fatal Frame 2 remake (basically, there was the original, then the Wii remake, and now this one) came out and it works just fine on the Steam Deck.
The community has discovered that a great deal of the outside areas are available (but obviously all the buildings are locked). I haven't poked around because I'm more interested in the gameplay. Said gameplay is pretty much chapter 1 of the game - wandering around the first house and encountering a ghost twice.
Needless to say, now that I know it works on the Steam Deck, I've purchased the deluxe version of the remake for download and playing next week.
There's a new handholding mechanic that I love very much - I've always felt bad that Mayu, the sister, is always left limping behind you, and it makes so much sense to hold hands with her. (The healing mechanic does not hurt.)
Other things:
* There are minor changes to things - Sae is missing her dialogue outside the Osaka house, the newspaper article about Masumi is found in the Osaka house instead of the trail to the village, Miyako's ghost heads in a different direction than in earlier games, the flashlight is found in a different location, etc.
* Save points have item shops, like Fatal Frame 4. (Another concept that was a thing in Fatal Frame 4 also makes a return, but not in the demo - however, you can see it if you go into photo mode.)
* You now have willpower, which depletes when a ghost attacks you, and health. If your willpower goes to 0, then ghosts start draining your health.
* Miyako, who is essentially the tutorial ghost for this game and normally a fairly easy ghost, whipped my behind. I didn't die, but I came really really close. (I replayed both of her battles in this chapter.) She charges at you a lot, and if you're not used to it - especially early on in the fight - she will take a chunk out of you. Part of the issue is that you need to aim the camera in her face, and sometimes her face is a bit hard to find. Yay upgraded graphics?
The community has discovered that a great deal of the outside areas are available (but obviously all the buildings are locked). I haven't poked around because I'm more interested in the gameplay. Said gameplay is pretty much chapter 1 of the game - wandering around the first house and encountering a ghost twice.
Needless to say, now that I know it works on the Steam Deck, I've purchased the deluxe version of the remake for download and playing next week.
There's a new handholding mechanic that I love very much - I've always felt bad that Mayu, the sister, is always left limping behind you, and it makes so much sense to hold hands with her. (The healing mechanic does not hurt.)
Other things:
* There are minor changes to things - Sae is missing her dialogue outside the Osaka house, the newspaper article about Masumi is found in the Osaka house instead of the trail to the village, Miyako's ghost heads in a different direction than in earlier games, the flashlight is found in a different location, etc.
* Save points have item shops, like Fatal Frame 4. (Another concept that was a thing in Fatal Frame 4 also makes a return, but not in the demo - however, you can see it if you go into photo mode.)
* You now have willpower, which depletes when a ghost attacks you, and health. If your willpower goes to 0, then ghosts start draining your health.
* Miyako, who is essentially the tutorial ghost for this game and normally a fairly easy ghost, whipped my behind. I didn't die, but I came really really close. (I replayed both of her battles in this chapter.) She charges at you a lot, and if you're not used to it - especially early on in the fight - she will take a chunk out of you. Part of the issue is that you need to aim the camera in her face, and sometimes her face is a bit hard to find. Yay upgraded graphics?
When I'm falling I'm at peace
Mar. 5th, 2026 05:55 pmmusesfoolWork has been intensely busy these past few days, and tomorrow I have to go into the office because Assistant J is getting a pin for being with the organization for 5 years (even though it's more like six and a half at this point, but no one wants to hear my rant about how anniversaries work again), and I never get much done when I'm in, so we'll see what happens. I do have to take all my tax paperwork and scan it for my accountant. This is much later than usual, eep.
*
Shrinking: Dereks Don't Die
( spoiler )
*
Lost Recipes was a really good read "about the legal and logistical barriers arrayed against people trying to archive rap media." to quote the email from Defector that included the link. It made me think about how despite its many, many issues (about which I have heard no news of progress at all, btw), the OTW is doing that work for this section of media fandom, and how important that work is (and how no one else was gonna do it). There's already so much that's gone, and that impacts how our stories get contextualized and passed on (thinking of all the thinkpieces on Heated Rivalry that only reference yaoi and animanga fandom and not Western media fandom, for example) and whatever place in the larger history of media and fandom this corner of it might have. Idk. I do recommend reading that post though, even if you're not a rap fan.
*
*
Shrinking: Dereks Don't Die
( spoiler )
*
Lost Recipes was a really good read "about the legal and logistical barriers arrayed against people trying to archive rap media." to quote the email from Defector that included the link. It made me think about how despite its many, many issues (about which I have heard no news of progress at all, btw), the OTW is doing that work for this section of media fandom, and how important that work is (and how no one else was gonna do it). There's already so much that's gone, and that impacts how our stories get contextualized and passed on (thinking of all the thinkpieces on Heated Rivalry that only reference yaoi and animanga fandom and not Western media fandom, for example) and whatever place in the larger history of media and fandom this corner of it might have. Idk. I do recommend reading that post though, even if you're not a rap fan.
*
(no subject)
Mar. 3rd, 2026 07:31 pmthawreckaIn a surprise turn of events, this weekend I started watching the Prince of Tennis anime from the beginning. Honestly, it's charming and well paced! I can see why I was so into it... 20+ years ago. I wouldn't say it's particularly mature; it is definitely a story about a 12 year old beating almost everyone at tennis and everyone talking about how cool he is. The adolescents are very adolescent - Kaido hissing like a snake is classic awkward 13-year-old behaviour.
I mostly remembered the important parts: the tennis and the cat. I had forgotten everything about Echizen's sleazy dad, and I would happily forget that all over again. I also forgot how long they drew out not letting you see how Tezuka plays tennis - I've watched 24 episodes, and I don't think you actually see him play until episode 25. There is a ton of filler, but the filler is all one episode fillers IIRC, so in that matter is vastly superior to, say, the endless Bleach filler arcs.
Overall it's feeling like light nostalgic fun.
I mostly remembered the important parts: the tennis and the cat. I had forgotten everything about Echizen's sleazy dad, and I would happily forget that all over again. I also forgot how long they drew out not letting you see how Tezuka plays tennis - I've watched 24 episodes, and I don't think you actually see him play until episode 25. There is a ton of filler, but the filler is all one episode fillers IIRC, so in that matter is vastly superior to, say, the endless Bleach filler arcs.
Overall it's feeling like light nostalgic fun.
she won't catch me or break my fall
Mar. 2nd, 2026 02:48 pmmusesfoolI really enjoyed this season of Bridgerton despite being mostly indifferent to Benedict as a character. Yerin Ha as Sophie was everything - I really hope this launches her into a long, bright career. ( spoilers )
In other fannish news, I saw some folks on bsky discussing who the best lightsaber duelist is in Star Wars, and since I didn't really know the people being quoted, I took myself to tumblr to post about it. I also texted my eldest nephew, who is the biggest Anakin and Obi-Wan fan I know (which, given some of the fangirls I know, is saying something) and his knee-jerk response was Anakin*. Which is the wrong answer, so we argued back and forth a bit, and he came around to my way of thinking that it has to be Obi-Wan, even though we never see him go up against Palpatine or Mace Windu (who may have beaten Palpatine if not for Anakin).
I did see people saying Ahsoka, because she survives Maul, Vader, and very briefly, Palpatine, but as much as I love her, she survives and escapes. She doesn't win. The list of Obi-Wan's duels is extensive and no one ever even lays a blade on him that I recall (though he doesn't beat Dooku, which was an argument my nephew made, and Anakin eventually does) until he puts up his saber and lets Vader kill him. Like, is Obi-Wan destroyed emotionally and psychologically by dueling with Anakin? One hundred percent! But he still wins until not winning is the best way to win in the long-term.
*I think you can make a case for him when he's Vader, but even then, Obi-Wan beats him on Mustafar and he only wins on the Death Star because Obi-Wan lets him. In the OWK show, he maybe sets Obi-Wan on fire a little but Obi-Wan takes no real damage in any of their fights until the Death Star.
*
In other fannish news, I saw some folks on bsky discussing who the best lightsaber duelist is in Star Wars, and since I didn't really know the people being quoted, I took myself to tumblr to post about it. I also texted my eldest nephew, who is the biggest Anakin and Obi-Wan fan I know (which, given some of the fangirls I know, is saying something) and his knee-jerk response was Anakin*. Which is the wrong answer, so we argued back and forth a bit, and he came around to my way of thinking that it has to be Obi-Wan, even though we never see him go up against Palpatine or Mace Windu (who may have beaten Palpatine if not for Anakin).
I did see people saying Ahsoka, because she survives Maul, Vader, and very briefly, Palpatine, but as much as I love her, she survives and escapes. She doesn't win. The list of Obi-Wan's duels is extensive and no one ever even lays a blade on him that I recall (though he doesn't beat Dooku, which was an argument my nephew made, and Anakin eventually does) until he puts up his saber and lets Vader kill him. Like, is Obi-Wan destroyed emotionally and psychologically by dueling with Anakin? One hundred percent! But he still wins until not winning is the best way to win in the long-term.
*I think you can make a case for him when he's Vader, but even then, Obi-Wan beats him on Mustafar and he only wins on the Death Star because Obi-Wan lets him. In the OWK show, he maybe sets Obi-Wan on fire a little but Obi-Wan takes no real damage in any of their fights until the Death Star.
*
With Your Antique Pen (Excellent Women, Yang Moli/Yao Zhidi)
Mar. 1st, 2026 03:21 pmestiroseFic for the Chinese Web Drama "Excellent Women"; I'll post it on AO3 when it comes back up. Yang Moli POV.
( I'm still working my way through this drama, but I had to write fic for this f/f pairing. Later episodes might invalidate this fic, but so far there's no back info on how these two got to know one another. )
( I'm still working my way through this drama, but I had to write fic for this f/f pairing. Later episodes might invalidate this fic, but so far there's no back info on how these two got to know one another. )
(no subject)
Feb. 28th, 2026 07:02 pmestiroseI've been watching the Chinese web drama "Excellent Women" on IQIYI, because Lin Fan is in it. Did not expect a possibly lesbian or bi character to essentially be hitting on Lin Fan's character.
I posted on Tumblr with two sets of screenshots: https://www.tumblr.com/estirose/809851002507395072/i-love-this-exchange-from-the-chinese-web-drama?source=share
We'll see if she hits on anyone else, but so far it's only Lin Fan's character. (As of this writing, only episodes1-6 are available to me of a 24-32 episode webdrama (I forgot I had IQIYI VIP, which gave me access to the entire run as it played out) - short episodes, at least, only about 15 minutes long plus credits.)
(Also, I guess the female cast sung the opening theme? And Lin Fan rapped!)
( Small spoilers for episode 32 )
I posted on Tumblr with two sets of screenshots: https://www.tumblr.com/estirose/809851002507395072/i-love-this-exchange-from-the-chinese-web-drama?source=share
We'll see if she hits on anyone else, but so far it's only Lin Fan's character. (As of this writing, only episodes
(Also, I guess the female cast sung the opening theme? And Lin Fan rapped!)
( Small spoilers for episode 32 )
i look to you and i see nothing
Feb. 28th, 2026 10:05 pmmusesfoolLast night, I logged off work and got into bed for a proper nap, none of this half-assed falling asleep on the couch business, and I thought I'd set an alarm so it didn't go more than an hour or so, but it turns out that all I did was open up the clock/alarm app on my phone without setting it, so I woke up at 8:30 pm all befuddled. I decided at that point that fuck it, we ball sleep, so I brushed my teeth, changed into my jammies, and went back to bed. And slept pretty well! I woke up once or twice but had no real trouble getting back to sleep, and then I woke up for good around 7:45 am, so it was like a FIFTEEN HOUR night. Which is bonkers, but I guess I needed it?
Anyway, I did a very small recs update today for February:
unfitforsociety has been updated for February 2026 with 7 recs in 3 fandoms:
* 5 Heated Rivalry and 1 Heated Rivalry/Sesame Street crossover
* 1 The Pitt
Maybe once I finish my DCC reread, I will get back to reading more fic, idk. It's just very hard to pay attention to anything these days, thanks to *gestures* everything.
*
Anyway, I did a very small recs update today for February:
unfitforsociety has been updated for February 2026 with 7 recs in 3 fandoms:* 5 Heated Rivalry and 1 Heated Rivalry/Sesame Street crossover
* 1 The Pitt
Maybe once I finish my DCC reread, I will get back to reading more fic, idk. It's just very hard to pay attention to anything these days, thanks to *gestures* everything.
*
