Enemies to “ugh I can’t believe I’m saving your life” to “ugh we have to work together or the world ends but it’s not like I like you or anything” to “oh we actually connect pretty well but that doesn’t mean anything” to “I would die for you but don’t read too much into it” to “I’ll kill anyone who lays a finger on you” to Lovers.
The thing with telling “cliche” stories, but with representation, is… these stories aren’t cliche for us.
Picture this. The people at the table next to you have been getting chocolate cake as a dessert for YEARS. After every meal, they get a chocolate cake. Now, it’s been years, and the people at that table can barely stand chocolate anymore. They want maybe a cheesecake. Or lemon mousse.
But your table? Has NEVER had chocolate cake. Mousse is also good, but you are SO hungry for that chocolate cake, cause you never had it before, and it’s brand new for you, and you’ve been watching the other table eat it for YEARS.
That’s what’s like getting a “cliche” story that’s representative. Has it been done a million times before? Yes. Has it ever been done for US? Well… no. Maybe it’s the 500th chocolate cake in existence, but all the other chocolate cakes weren’t meant for us (girls/PoC/queer folk/disabled folk/etc)
So it being cliche is not a bad thing. You may not want chocolate cake anymore. But we want our slice too.
Fandom is such a weird place. Like I watched a tv show and thought “wow, these two nerds have a lot of chemistry and I’d like to dedicate a large chunk of my life to thinking about them” so I went in search of other people who also thought these two nerds had a lot of chemistry and then it turned out that a shit ton of people were talking about these two nerds having a lot of chemistry and now it’s 4 years later and we write each other porn on holidays.
Tin sitting on a bench or somewhere with other students around him and suddenly there is a voice saying „Sorry, sorry“ and Tin just waits because he knows who is crawling over people and he waits for Can to throw his arms and legs around him (more often then not from behind) and a kiss which lands mostly next to his mouth and Cans voice: „Tin! I‘m soooo hungry.“ And gosh HE LOVES IT!
On this day in music history: November 21, 1975 – “A Night At The Opera”, the fourth album by Queen is released. Produced by Roy Thomas Baker and Queen, it is recorded at Trident Studios, SARM East Studios, Olympic Studios, Roundhouse Studios, Landsowne Studios in London and Rockfield Studios in Monmouth, Wales, UK from August – November 1975. After touring in support of the “Sheer Heart Attack” album, Queen break from their original management team when they discover the terms are highly unfavorable to them. Eventually, they align themselves with Elton John’s long time manager John Reid to look after their affairs. Now free to work on new music without business distractions, they return to the studio in the late Summer of 1975 to work on their next album. The title is taken from the classic Marx Brothers comedy, which the band were watching on television one evening during a break in recording. Like the previous albums, it features songwriting contributions from all four members of the band. The opening track “Death On Two Legs (Dedicated To…) is written (by Mercury) as a bitter kiss off to their former manager Norman Sheffield. Though the album’s centerpiece is the Freddie Mercury penned “Bohemian Rhapsody” (#1 UK, #9 US Pop, #2 US Pop re-release), a rock mini-opera compressed into a nearly six minute long track. It gives Queen their biggest hit, and breaks them on a worldwide basis. The single is promoted with a now iconic music video directed by Bruce Gowers. It also spins off the single “You’re My Best Friend” (#7 UK, #16 US Pop), written by bassist John Deacon. In time, it is regarded as one of the best rock albums of all time and a 70’s musical landmark. “Opera” is reissued on CD in 1991 with remixed versions of two tracks. To commemorate its 30th anniversary in 2005, it is remixed in 5.1 multi-channel surround sound, and issued as a CD + DVD-A set. It is reissued again in 2011 as a two CD set (two channel stereo mixes only), with alternate mixes and one live track. It is also reissued as a 180 gram vinyl LP in 2015, replicating the original gatefold sleeve and embossed cover. The album is also issued as a limited edition pressing, by vinyl subscription service Vinyl Me, Please in November of 2018. The LP is pressed on purple and pink swirled vinyl, replicating the original embossed gatefold sleeve, but printed on foil over the Queen coat of arms logo artwork. Due to a printing error with the limited release, the covers are scrapped and re-printed with the artwork in the proper original dimensions. “A Night At The Opera” spends four weeks (non-consecutive) at number one on the UK album chart, peaking at number four on the Billboard Top 200, and is certified 3x Platinum in the US by the RIAA.
listen if you all aren’t following the legal proceedings in the genre romance book community rn re: some asshat trademarking the word “cocky” and suing other authors over describing their male characters as such in their cover copy, you are MISSING OUT ON SOME MSSCRIBE LEVEL SHIT
bc i kid you not, the us patent and trademark office is now fielding a lawsuit petition that involves the phrase “’A Cocky Werewolf: A Gay M/M Mpreg Werewolf Shifter Romance’ by Wolfgang Glasscock”
and honestly i could not have asked for more out of 2018
and it is also an important fair-use legal case that affects all writers, so. that, too. but also, “my house servant is cocky and naughty with secrets” is a phrase that lawyers are arguing about.
“And how dare he, you know? He just strolls around so effortlessly! Everyone gives him anything he wants!” Can ended his rant huffing. Type continued nodding, as if playing the role of a kind older brother. “I just don’t get why he’s under my skin!”
“Uh oh…” Type looked at Can with a glint in his eye.
“What?”
“Sounds like someone’s in love.”
“Yeah right! I just think Ai Tin is cool. It’s not like I lay awake at night thinking about him!”
Type shrugged. “Sure you don’t. And Ae and Pete aren’t dating.”
“Eh?! But P’Type, when did they both break up?!”
“That’s not-”
“Oh god, I have to tell Ai Ae he’s being stupid. Ai Pete is the best!”
Can ran off and Type sighed. Hopefully Can would work it out later.
Later turned out to be that night. Can tossed and turned in bed, images of Tin passing through his mind. The brightness of Tin’s smile. The way Tin’s eyes narrowed when he smiled. The paleness of Tin’s skin. The feel of Tin’s hand’s caressing his neck. The warmth of Tin’s lips…
Can immediately sat up, his heart racing. “DAAAMN IIIITTTTTTT!”
“P’CAN, SHUT UP!”
Can immediately slapped his hands over his mouth before Ley could come barging in again. “Can’t even cry about how Ai Tin is on my mind at home!” Can stared at his lap as well. “You shouldn’t be reacting either!”
Before Can could complain further, his phone pinged with a message. Against his better judgement, Can checked it.
Tin had sent Can a sticker of a sleeping monkey followed by a picture of himself, peeking out from under his blankets. The next text read, “Good night, Cantaloupe. Dream of me.”
“THAT IS THE PROBLEM, AI TIN!”
“P’CAN!”
Can hid under his covers. If Ley couldn’t find him immediately at this time of night, he might be safe.
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