A-happy-sunflower - A_Sun_Flower - Tumblr Blog

₊⊹things to do to distract/help with hunger/cravings₊⊹ (will add more)

sleep

go on a walk

watch a movie/show

take a shower or bath

do self care

listen to music or a podcast

hang out with friends

gr0sspø

m3anspø

th1nspø/b0nespø/d3athspø/f4tspø

watch old victoria secret fashion shows

youtube videos

weigh yourself

play a game

play with a pet

chew gum

drink lots of water

rearranged your room

clean something

try on different clothes

do your makeup for fun

paint your nails

any dr*g that suppresses appetite

m4sturb4te 

dance

go on tumblr

drink coffee

scroll on tiktok

workout

make jewelry

draw/paint

write

read

⊹₊⋆ never forget, eating feels good for 3 minutes but skinny feels good forever ♡⊹₊⟡⋆

2024 Update to Tomarrymort Longfic Recs — 8 additional fics

I wanted to add 8 lovely new longfics that have been published since the last time I put together this rec list — 6 more for the Intermediate reads list and 2 more for Advanced. Hopefully you’ll find something within these additional 950k words of absolutely brilliant Tomarrymort fic to sink your teeth into and enjoy:

Longfic rec list collection:

Tomarrymort Beginner reads are the fics I would use to introduce someone to the ship and help them get a baseline for the variety, themes, and tropes that best represent our ship;

Intermediate reads are for readers that are already familiar/sold on the ship, and are looking for fics that explore interesting new facets of the Tomarrymort dynamic; 

Advanced reads comprise challenging works of some nature, whether the writing features more complex subject matter and/or pushes the boundaries of what’s possible in a piece of fanfic.

Please enjoy these 8 additions to the list, all of which are either completed or still updating as of 2024!

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Intermediate Longfic Recs

A Light That Never Goes Out by @kippipies (M, 80k, WIP)

Setting: Non-Magical AU Premise: If Harry is the target of a dangerous crime lord called Voldemort and his gang of Death Eaters in a modern mafia AU. Why I rec it: This is a delightful, high-energy caper of a fic in which Harry is a scrappy low-time criminal who accidentally crosses crime boss Voldemort. Naturally, Voldemort sets his sights on getting revenge, but Harry slips through his fingers at the last minute each time. The action scenes in this fic are incredibly dynamic and super fun — I felt like I was watching an action movie at each confrontation between Harry and Voldemort.

And the Living Will Envy the Dead by @k-s-morgan (M, 81k, WIP)

Setting: Time Travel (1940s) Premise: If Harry were flung back in time to Tom’s sixth year and almost immediately reveals he is Tom’s horcrux, setting off a chain reaction of obsession and control.  Why I rec it: An intricately crafted character study of Tom and how he gained control over the rest of Slytherin House by the time Harry meets him at the start of sixth year. Harry’s arrival throws Tom’s plans off-kilter, especially once Harry reveals he was Tom’s horcrux in another timeline. This leads Tom to believe the other version of him had somehow loved Harry, and shows him that it’s possible to form such a connection with Harry here if he wants, despite how dark, cruel, and violent he turned out and how little he cares for others. 

By Any Means by @corpium (E, 74k, WIP)

Setting: Alternate Universe Premise: If Harry has a younger brother Evan who is the Boy-Who-Lived, yet Harry’s overprotective actions towards Evan end up attracting the attention of Voldemort directly onto himself. Why I rec it: This is a really engaging and fast-paced adaptation of canon events if Harry were born 2 years earlier and his younger brother were the one that the prophecy applied to. The relationship between Harry and Evan is really sweet, as they share the burden of growing up at the Dursleys and all the adventures that Harry underwent in canon. There’s also such a fascinating exploration of magic as Harry gradually becomes more powerful as a result of all the trials that he’s put through, eventually becoming powerful enough to attract the attention of Voldemort. 

Pledged by @moontearpensfic (E, 118k, WIP)

Setting: Alternate Universe Premise: If Harry and Tom are best friends that enter together into a Hunger Games-crossed-with-Triwizard Tournament in their seventh year.  Why I rec it: This fic depicts co-dependency to such an intense degree between Harry and Tom. Not only are they inseparable best friends throughout their time at Hogwarts, they also perform a cooperative magic ritual that binds their magic to each other permanently, and allows them to share thoughts and feelings with each other across a mental link. There’s also an intriguing mystery at the heart of this story, as Harry and Tom try to figure out the origins of the Triwizard-style tournament that they enter into in their seventh year. 

Revolution of Configured Stars by @tollingreminiscentbells (E, 153k, WIP)

Setting: Voldemort Wins AU Premise: If Harry was raised in a pureblood family in a universe where Voldemort wins, and ends up attracting the attention of Voldemort in his seventh year at Hogwarts.  Why I rec it: This is such an intricate, incredibly thoughtful depiction of a society where Voldemort won and Harry was raised as a ward of a pureblood family. By the time it’s Harry’s seventh year, he’s a budding Arithmancy scholar who wants to explore whether it’s possible to choose the optimal timeline via arithmantic calculations, which catches the attention of Voldemort. Voldemort and Harry’s relationship unfolds in such a steamy way, and they truly feel like equals who hold each other in high regard, as Voldemort reveals that they have been inextricably linked by fate, whether or not he ended up trying to kill Harry as a baby in this particular timeline. 

the stars, my destination by @milkandmoon-ao3 (M, 15k, WIP)

Setting: Time Travel (Marauders Era) Premise: If Harry is sent back in time as an infant and adopted into the Potter family, growing up and attending Hogwarts alongside James.  Why I rec it: There is a dearth of Harrymort fics set in Marauders Era so it is such a delight to read about Harry’s friendships and rivalries with Marauders Era characters, like being best friends with Regulus and Quidditch rivals with James. As Harry starts his sixth year, the First Wizarding War heats up in the background and begins spilling into their life at Hogwarts as many of their classmates are recruited to fight on either side of it. All the while that he has to keep secret the strange mental connection that he’s had with the Dark Lord all his life. 

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Advanced Longfic Recs

Hearthstone Abbey (Series) by @ramabear (E, 152k, WIP series)

Setting: Soulmate AU Premise: If second year Harry is plucked away from his canon universe by Voldemort from another universe who is his soulmate. Why I rec it: I wholly melted at all the ways Voldemort takes care of Harry in this fic, better treatment than Harry’s ever gotten in his entire life, and Harry is so lovable and adorable in turn. Voldemort has established himself as a religious figurehead/cult leader in the alternate universe, and it was very interesting to read about his alternate path to power. The soft grooming in this fic was so so delicious, ramping up in intensity as the fic progresses; Voldemort completely dotes on Harry and their dynamic is so sweet and tender, a very nice counterbalance to the sinister and predatory tones that underlie their relationship.

if we were lovers by @reggieblk (E, 277k, complete)

Setting: Non-Magical AU Premise: If Harry and Tom meet in a prestigious drama programme and fall for each other against a backdrop of high stakes threatre productions.  Why I rec it: The character work is so rich and detailed in this coming-of-age story in a modern AU setting. It’s clear there was so much thought that went into all the character interactions here, not only between Harry and Tom, but also the ensemble cast of characters who inject so much heart and humor into this story as well. I love the way that @reggieblk cleverly weaves in elements from Shakespeare’s plays and uses the theatre backdrop to depict how the love story between Harry and Tom unfolds — their developing relationship feels, at the same time, both very immersive and cozy, as well as highly fraught with tension. (As a bonus, there is an absolutely amazing original play in the interlude chapter that was written specifically for this fic!)

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✨ Tips for Independent Russian Learners ✨

This is my entry for @haxyr3‘s weekly challenge: three tips for independent language learners, that is, learning without the aid of a teacher or a classroom environment. I’ve seen a lot of general tips so far, so I’ll contribute some that are specific to the Russian language. I’m a native Korean speaker, learning Russian for around 5 years now.

#1: Don’t neglect the stress (ударение) while learning new words!

This is SO IMPORTANT. Every time you learn a new word, learn where the stress falls within it! Don’t make the mistake I did of thinking ‘oh well… it’s being able to read the word that matters’, because this will come back to bite you during listening comprehension 😂 If you have auditory processing issues like me, this goes twofold, as I’ll illustrate below:

This is a production of Chekhov’s Вишнёвый сад (The Cherry Orchard). I know this play quite well. I read two English translations of it, wrote an essay on it while I was at university, etc. However, the first time I listened to the original Russian dialogue, this was all I could make of it (from 2:25):

Лопахин: ········ слава богу. Который час? Дуняша: Скоро два. Уже светло. Лопахин: ···········опоздал поезд? Час···· два, по ·········· ре. Я···· хорош, какого дурака свалял! Нарочно приехал сюда ······ станции вст···· вдруг проспал… Сидя уснул ·············· ты меня разбудила.

Stress isn’t just important for pronunciation purposes - it’s the thing that marks where the words are amidst all those syllables. If you can’t hear where the stresses fall, you won’t know what words you’re dealing with, even if you understand them on the page. The above lines are comprehensible once written out, and with added stress marks, I can finally follow the dialogue:

Лопахин: Пришёл по́езд, сла́ва бо́гу. Кото́рый час? Дуняша: Ско́ро два. Уже́ светло́. Лопахин: На ско́лько же э́то опозда́л по́езд? Ча́са на два, по кра́йней ме́ре. Я-то то́же хоро́ш, како́го дурака́ сваля́л! Наро́чно прие́хал сюда́, что́бы на ста́нции встре́тить, и вдруг проспа́л… Си́дя усну́л. Доса́да… Хоть бы ты меня́ разбуди́ла.

I often get lost with spoken Russian, and I believe this is largely because I neglected to learn the stresses with much of the basic vocabulary. Don’t be like me and fall into the trap of thinking you don’t need it, just because textbooks/online resources/some language apps don’t mark it.* Look up your words on the dictionary, listen to it on Forvo**, make notes as to when and if stress shifts between grammatical forms (e.g. вода́ - во́ду). In fact, I’d advise not relying on apps when it comes to stress at all. You’re better off listening to music, watching shows, whatever lets you hear how native speakers talk.

There’s no shortcut here. You just have to learn it, since there’s no universal rule for where the stress falls in any given Russian word. For an independent learner this is likely to be one of the biggest pitfalls, so don’t give up - but proceed with caution!

* For example: Drops is a great vocabulary aggregator, but stress is not marked; Duolingo does not generally mark stress, except in Tips sections. Memrise courses may or may not mark them, but I wouldn’t rely on it. Making your own notes is always the best way to do it. ** Even if not Forvo, always go for audio that was spoken by real people! AI-generated content is often misleading, if not outright incorrect.

#2: Consider your methods for typing in Russian.

There’s a lot of writing involved in learning, and being acquainted to the Russian keyboard will help greatly. I suggest one of those critters:

Keyboard stickers! (Mine use three languages, hopefully yours won’t be so crowded.) Or an entire Russian keyboard, if you prefer. If you’re on a tablet or mobile device, the Russian keyboard is already there, and you won’t even need anything extra to use it.

Get familiar with where the letters are, is what I mean. Unless you’re making notes 100% by hand, some degree of typing is unavoidable, and if you don’t already have Cyrillic on your keyboard it’s hard knowing where anything is. It’s possible to obtain a phonetic layout (e.g. so that the Russian В corresponds to where your English V is), but the average Russian keyboard doesn’t use it, so it’s best to get used to the latter from the beginning. I took up Russian with the intent to write fiction in it eventually, so this was very important 😌

#3: Learn to read the Russian cursive.

This is an odd one. I can both read and write the Russian cursive, but I’m not actually sure if learning to write it is necessary; if you share physical correspondence with a penpal, or you’d like to take handwritten notes quickly, sure. But most things are typed nowadays, so I can’t imagine it’s a disadvantage to not know how to write in cursive.

What I specifically recommend is the reading. You might not need to produce any cursive, but it’s very possible you’ll be subjected to other people’s handwriting, whether in a letter or notes on a text or a fancy menu or something. Being able to interpret those is better than not being able to read it at all, you know? Russian cursive looks sufficiently different from block letters that it warrants separate attention to read. Not something you need to learn from the onset, but it helps if you can do it.

I learnt to read and write cursive from The New Penguin Russian Course by Nicholas J. Brown, a truncated sample of which is above. There are better resources for writing, imo, but this book actually explains the distinctions between confusing letters, as well as tips re: loops or strokes that aren’t immediately obvious. Please check it out sometime!

I hope this is helpful to someone. Happy learning 💖

2023 fic recs, an incomplete list

I thought vaguely about doing some of the great fic rec themes going round this month and then did none of them, so instead here is a list of some of the great Tomarrymort I read this year. It is necessarily an incomplete list because I read so many good things.

And the Living Will Envy the Dead by Severus_divides_into_H

How the fuck is this so good?? It’s just so good!! It’s like someone walked up to me and said ‘here is the perfect fucked-up time travel Tomarry of your dreams’ and it is all that and more. Tom trying to kill Harry? Tom imparting his hunger to Harry to get him to eat?? SO GOOD.

Reckless Cartography by merrivale

I know this has a ‘this is going to end badly’ tag BUT I AM INVESTED ANYWAY. The dynamics are IMPECCABLE. The slow entwining. The possessiveness building. Tom has been on a murder spree. He’s told Harry “You’re supposed to be with me.” I AM TOO INVESTED.

In The Dark by dutch (itsevanffs)

Creepy bedsharing. Creepy bedsharing!! Tom is SO wonderfully, awfully, obsessively creepy. And fond of biting. And Harry is like ‘I have read Hamlet, I will be on guard for him wanting to kill me’ so close and yet so far Harry!

A Light That Never Goes Out by kippies

PERFECT MAFIA AU, I am reliving ‘super in disguise’ Harry going up to Voldemort to badly seduce him in the club on loop. And it’s got Voldemort like ‘This boy means nothing to me and to prove it I am going to think about him in loving detail for the next six paragraphs’. Truly what more do I need in life than this.

Would You Still Love Me? by chiocchi

All of these recs could just be me going HOW IS THIS SO GOOD. Anyway, how is this so good?? Every single one of Harry’s expressions is perfect. “I would still love you if you were one smooth gelatinous blob” rotates in my mind at regular intervals.

tautological by eleven_eaves

Clearly I love this, it has ALL MY FAVOURITE THINGS. Sneaky time-travelling Harry! Manipulation! Hot smut! More manipulation!! Let me go and read it again now actually.

the world is yours and mine by othernight

This was not written this year but I only found it this year and URGH I LOVE IT SO MUCH. I will always love fics where Tom doesn’t notice Harry for years… until he does, and here it’s because Harry has noticed him first, is the first person to see him, and they’re both dancing around each other and pulling at secrets and it is PERFECT.

Frigid by MrVillain

What the fuck, this fucked me up (positive). I have never read anything quite like it before and now it is stuck in my head forever.

Fractals by The_wig_is_a_metaphor

ROLE REVERSALS. Harry in the diary and Tom prying into his secrets. The characterisation is great and the dynamic is already DELICIOUS. I am so excited for more.