Code deploy happening shortly
Aug. 31st, 2025 07:37 pm![[staff profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user_staff.png){kind=small}
mark posting in ![[site community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/comm_staff.png){kind=small}
dw_maintenancePer the dw_news post regarding the MS/TN blocks, we are doing a small code push shortly in order to get the code live. As per usual, please let us know if you see anything wonky.
There is some code cleanup we've been doing that is going out with this push but I don't think there is any new/reworked functionality, so it should be pretty invisible if all goes well.
Mississippi site block, plus a small restriction on Tennessee new accounts
Aug. 31st, 2025 12:28 pmdenise posting in dw_newsA reminder to everyone that starting tomorrow, we are being forced to block access to any IP address that geolocates to the state of Mississippi for legal reasons while we and Netchoice continue fighting the law in court. People whose IP addresses geolocate to Mississippi will only be able to access a page that explains the issue and lets them know that we'll be back to offer them service as soon as the legal risk to us is less existential.
The block page will include the apology but I'll repeat it here: we don't do geolocation ourselves, so we're limited to the geolocation ability of our network provider. Our anti-spam geolocation blocks have shown us that their geolocation database has a number of mistakes in it. If one of your friends who doesn't live in Mississippi gets the block message, there is nothing we can do on our end to adjust the block, because we don't control it. The only way to fix a mistaken block is to change your IP address to one that doesn't register as being in Mississippi, either by disconnecting your internet connection and reconnecting it (if you don't have a static IP address) or using a VPN.
In related news, the judge in our challenge to Tennessee's social media age verification, parental consent, and parental surveillance law (which we are also part of the fight against!) ruled last month that we had not met the threshold for a temporary injunction preventing the state from enforcing the law while the court case proceeds.
The Tennesee law is less onerous than the Mississippi law and the fines for violating it are slightly less ruinous (slightly), but it's still a risk to us. While the fight goes on, we've decided to prevent any new account signups from anyone under 18 in Tennessee to protect ourselves against risk. We do not need to block access from the whole state: this only applies to new account creation.
Because we don't do any geolocation on our users and our network provider's geolocation services only apply to blocking access to the site entirely, the way we're implementing this is a new mandatory question on the account creation form asking if you live in Tennessee. If you do, you'll be unable to register an account if you're under 18, not just the under 13 restriction mandated by COPPA. Like the restrictions on the state of Mississippi, we absolutely hate having to do this, we're sorry, and we hope we'll be able to undo it as soon as possible.
Finally, I'd like to thank every one of you who's commented with a message of support for this fight or who's bought paid time to help keep us running. The fact we're entirely user-supported and you all genuinely understand why this fight is so important for everyone is a huge part of why we can continue to do this work. I've also sent a lot of your comments to the lawyers who are fighting the actual battles in court, and they find your wholehearted support just as encouraging and motivating as I do. Thank you all once again for being the best users any social media site could ever hope for. You make me proud and even more determined to yell at state attorneys general on your behalf.
Yuletide 2025 Schedule & New Year's Resolutions
Aug. 30th, 2025 03:24 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
yuletidemods posting in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
yuletide_adminIt’s time to start thinking about Yuletide! Here is our schedule for this year. Please note that the time of some deadlines has changed from last year. This may mean the date in UTC has also changed, or that the date relative to your own time zone may have changed.
Tuesday 14 to Friday 24 October: Sign-ups (end 9pm UTC 24 October)
Sunday 26 October: Assignments out (may be earlier)
Wednesday 10 December: Default deadline (9pm UTC)
Wednesday 17 December: Assignment deadline (9pm UTC)
Wednesday 24 December: Main collection works reveals (9pm UTC)
Thursday 25 December: Madness collection works reveals (9pm UTC)
Thursday 1 January: Author reveals, end of event (9pm UTC)
Please check back closer to the time if you want to be sure about deadlines! Deadlines in other timezones may be closer than they appear. If your region has a seasonal time shift during the above dates, your relationship to the deadline will also change. We recommend using timeanddate.com to check when each deadline is for you before it occurs.
We use the email that's associated with your AO3 account. This is a good time to check what that email is! If you have any doubts about whether you received it, you're welcome to check your status with us by emailing yuletideadmin@gmail.com. Please include your AO3 name.
See the rules for defaulting on AO3
If you defaulted in a previous year, we will not have sent you a new reminder. We issued a general amnesty for ordinary defaults before the 2023 round, but if you were told you needed to complete a NYR due to turning in a placeholder story or a similar problem, you are probably still on our NYR list. Please check with us if you aren’t sure!
If you had to default in a past year, we are aware that this may have been for a carefully-considered reason or in a difficult time. Needing to complete a NYR does not mean we think you're terrible. Even members of the mod team have needed to write NYRs in the past. We hope you use it as an opportunity to write something you enjoy.
People are also welcome to write NYR stories just for fun! The collection will stay open for late fills until Yuletide 2025 sign-ups close (approx Oct 24).
Prompts for Yuletide 2010-2024 can be found through the relevant individual collections and the NYR collections (see the Yuletide parent collection).
Contact Mods | Participant DW | Participant LJ | Pinch Hits | Discord
Please either comment logged-in or sign a name. Unsigned anonymous comments will be left screened.
2025 Schedule
Monday 15 to Friday 26 September: Nominations (end 9pm UTC 26 September)Tuesday 14 to Friday 24 October: Sign-ups (end 9pm UTC 24 October)
Sunday 26 October: Assignments out (may be earlier)
Wednesday 10 December: Default deadline (9pm UTC)
Wednesday 17 December: Assignment deadline (9pm UTC)
Wednesday 24 December: Main collection works reveals (9pm UTC)
Thursday 25 December: Madness collection works reveals (9pm UTC)
Thursday 1 January: Author reveals, end of event (9pm UTC)
Please check back closer to the time if you want to be sure about deadlines! Deadlines in other timezones may be closer than they appear. If your region has a seasonal time shift during the above dates, your relationship to the deadline will also change. We recommend using timeanddate.com to check when each deadline is for you before it occurs.
New Year's Resolutions
We just sent an email to everyone who took part in Yuletide 2024 and who needs to complete a New Year's Resolution story before signing up again.We use the email that's associated with your AO3 account. This is a good time to check what that email is! If you have any doubts about whether you received it, you're welcome to check your status with us by emailing yuletideadmin@gmail.com. Please include your AO3 name.
Who needs to complete a New Year's Resolution
If you took part in Yuletide and defaulted after the default deadline, or you submitted an incomplete story at the posting deadline, or you defaulted in Yuletide twice in a row, we generally ask you to complete a New Year’s Resolution story before you sign up again.See the rules for defaulting on AO3
If you defaulted in a previous year, we will not have sent you a new reminder. We issued a general amnesty for ordinary defaults before the 2023 round, but if you were told you needed to complete a NYR due to turning in a placeholder story or a similar problem, you are probably still on our NYR list. Please check with us if you aren’t sure!
How to fulfil the requirement
Stories written for the purpose of re-qualifying for Yuletide must be posted to the New Year's Resolutions 2025 collection before you sign up to Yuletide 2025. They must be over 1,000 words, written for a specific person's past Yuletide prompt, and given to that person. You can write for any Yuletide 2024 prompt, or you can choose an older Yuletide prompt as long as the fandom in which you write is small enough to still qualify for Yuletide (that is, there are fewer than 1,000 fics on AO3 that are in English, complete, and over 1,000 words long).Purpose of New Year's Resolutions
The NYR system exists for several reasons:- It's an incentive to encourage people either to default early, or, to push on through and post something
- It works as a warm-up, or as practice, or as a way of proving to yourself you can finish a story to a prompt
- It's a contribution to the project of getting more stories written in tiny fandoms
- It's a way of ensuring that past prompts don't get entirely forgotten.
If you had to default in a past year, we are aware that this may have been for a carefully-considered reason or in a difficult time. Needing to complete a NYR does not mean we think you're terrible. Even members of the mod team have needed to write NYRs in the past. We hope you use it as an opportunity to write something you enjoy.
People are also welcome to write NYR stories just for fun! The collection will stay open for late fills until Yuletide 2025 sign-ups close (approx Oct 24).
2024 prompts
- On AO3
- In an app
- In a text file
- From pinch hitters
- As part of the Someday My Fic Will Come mini-challenge
Prompts for Yuletide 2010-2024 can be found through the relevant individual collections and the NYR collections (see the Yuletide parent collection).
Please either comment logged-in or sign a name. Unsigned anonymous comments will be left screened.
"A Quiet Evening at Home" AU Dracula & Mina Mature Fic - Inspired by Dracula: A Love Tale (2025)
Aug. 30th, 2025 10:36 amearthspirits posting in historiumFandom: Dracula: A Love Tale (2025), Dracula by Bram Stoker (1897 novel)
Characters: Dracula, Mina Murray, Maria, The Priest, Original Character
Relationships: Dracula / Mina / Maria
Era: 19th Century
Era: 19th Century
Title: A Quiet Evening at Home
Rating: Mature - As the characters are depicted in a consensual romantic and very cozy ménage à trois.
Please note: There are film spoilers (of a sort), although I have changed details to better suit my story.
Word Count: 1,159
Summary: In my gentle redemptive AU story, I very much diverge from canon. Vlad Dracula and Mina Murray are happily married, and living in the French countryside, with their devoted companion, Maria.
POI: Love and Marriage by astolat
Aug. 30th, 2025 11:13 pmmific posting in fancakeFandom: Person of Interest
Characters/Pairings: John Reese/Harold Finch, Lionel Fusco, Jos Carter, Bear
Rating: Explicit
Length: 4697
Creator Links: astolat on AO3, silverkat1620 on Audiofic Archive, kalakirya on Audiofic Archive
Themes: Marriage of Convenience, Friends to lovers
Summary: "Harold," John said, "are you asking me to marry you for your money?"
"Well, Mr. Reese," Harold said, "given how much of it you've spent already, I don't really see how you can complain."
Reccer's Notes: This story is deeply based in canon and yet, despite having only a partial grasp of the show and never having watched more than a couple of seasons, I still find it easy to follow, and it packs an emotional punch. The reason for the marriage of convenience this time is financial, to strengthen John's cover story and explain a recent massive outlay of funds. This isn't one of those stories where there's a prolonged slow burn after they marry - despite the pragmatic reason and their initial obliviousness, they're kissing like it's their job even before the celebrant pronounces them hitched. The characterisation is perfect, and there's a wonderful original character in Miriam Hechel. This fic is a gut punch in the best way on a number of levels - from unexpected attendees at the wedding, to John's catharsis afterwards, to the very end when it seems someone powerful in the shadows made sure their wedding day was undisturbed. It's a lovely story, beautifully written, and there are no less than two excellent podfics.
Fanwork Links:
Love and Marriage - the text
Love and Marriage - podfic by silverkat1620
Love and Marriage - podfic by kalakirya
Characters/Pairings: John Reese/Harold Finch, Lionel Fusco, Jos Carter, Bear
Rating: Explicit
Length: 4697
Creator Links: astolat on AO3, silverkat1620 on Audiofic Archive, kalakirya on Audiofic Archive
Themes: Marriage of Convenience, Friends to lovers
Summary: "Harold," John said, "are you asking me to marry you for your money?"
"Well, Mr. Reese," Harold said, "given how much of it you've spent already, I don't really see how you can complain."
Reccer's Notes: This story is deeply based in canon and yet, despite having only a partial grasp of the show and never having watched more than a couple of seasons, I still find it easy to follow, and it packs an emotional punch. The reason for the marriage of convenience this time is financial, to strengthen John's cover story and explain a recent massive outlay of funds. This isn't one of those stories where there's a prolonged slow burn after they marry - despite the pragmatic reason and their initial obliviousness, they're kissing like it's their job even before the celebrant pronounces them hitched. The characterisation is perfect, and there's a wonderful original character in Miriam Hechel. This fic is a gut punch in the best way on a number of levels - from unexpected attendees at the wedding, to John's catharsis afterwards, to the very end when it seems someone powerful in the shadows made sure their wedding day was undisturbed. It's a lovely story, beautifully written, and there are no less than two excellent podfics.
Fanwork Links:
Love and Marriage - the text
Love and Marriage - podfic by silverkat1620
Love and Marriage - podfic by kalakirya
Old Guard: Diplomatic Complications by Sixthlight
Aug. 29th, 2025 10:50 pmstarwatcher posting in fancakeFandom: The Old Guard
Pairings: Nicolò/Yusuf
Characters: Nicolò, Yusuf, Andromache, Quynh, Nile, OCs
Rating: Explicit
Length: 14,400 words
Creator Links:
Theme: Marriage of convenience, Diplomatic marriage, Complete AU, Historical AU
Summary: There can be no misinterpretation or confusion on Yusuf’s part when what Duke Nicolò says is “But I didn’t want a husband, what does my brother think he’s doing?”
Reccer's Notes: Arranged marriages may be common in wealthy families -- but when the groom doesn't know a marriage has been arranged, and certainly doesn't want one, it throws a wrench in the works. Nicolò rejects the idea of marriage, and Yusuf can only accept that -- but everyone around them really, really want the two men to be married. Yusuf doesn't know how to do the seduction that Nile suggests, but a friendship slowly grows between them, and then more, which leads to a thoroughly satisfying ending.
Content Notes: None
Fanwork Links: Diplomatic Complications, by Sixthlight at AO3
Old Guard: A Fine Arrangement by sharkie335
Aug. 29th, 2025 10:05 pmstarwatcher posting in fancakeFandom: The Old Guard
Pairings: Yusuf/Nicolò, background Andromache/Quynh, hint of potential Nile/Booker
Characters: Nicolò, Yusuf, Andromache, Quynh, Booker, Nile, OCs
Rating: Explicit
Length: 24,600 words
Creator Links:
Theme: Marriage of convenience, Complete AU, Historical AU, Diplomatic marriage
Summary: Genoa managed to destroy Tunisia's navy, leaving the royal family to sue for peace. A treaty was struck, and Yusuf was offered in marriage to the King of Genoa's second child, the Princess Veneranda.
At least, that was the plan.
Reccer's Notes: Yusuf has no choice but to make a political marriage to bring peace between Genoa and Tunisa... but when the bride-to-be runs away with her lover, Nicolò it forced to become the substitute marriage partner. Yusuf and Nicolò find they are well-pleased by these developments... until they learn that Nicolò's father and brother have decided to hold Nicolò's mother for ransom. Throw in escape under cover of night, each enjoying copious amounts of married sex, a touch of palace intrigue as Nicolò doesn't know if his family's actions will reflect on his position, and we have a thoroughly enjoyable story.
Content Notes: This is an alpha/omega universe, but the story doesn't make a big deal about that; it's treated as just ordinary life.
Fanwork Links: A Fine Arrangement, by sharkie335 at AO3.
ATLA: Lu Ten's Hawk by thetrickisnotminding
Aug. 29th, 2025 01:01 pmsinesofinsanity posting in fancakeFandom: Avatar The Last Airbender
Pairings/Characters: Zuko, Toph, Lu Ten, Sokka, Katara, Aang, Suki, Hakoda, Ty Lee
Rating: Author did not rate it, I'd call it G
Length: 20,008 words
Creator Links: thetrickisnotminding
Theme: Marriage of convenience, arranged marriage, fork-in-the-road AU, diplomatic marriage, disability (blindness), families of choice,
Summary: In some facet of reality, there /was/ a way to help Lu Ten. And so the Avatar woke into a world where no one was questing for the Avatar yet, because certain soldier boys had different methods in their march home.
Reccer's Notes: I love this take on the different ATLA characters. Zuko is trying so hard in this to both prove himself and make up for how terrible his father is, but he's ultimately still the awkward turtle-duck we know and love. His "proposal" to Toph basically amounts to "you give our side a ton of money, I'll take you away from your over-protective parents and let you boss me around." Which she LOVES and takes full advantage of. Being a prospective princess does absolutely nothing to stop Toph from being a goblin-child and it's beautiful.
Content Notes: Some reference to suicidal behaviour; canon-typical reference to child abuse, war, and genocide
Fanwork Links: Lu Ten's Hawk on AO3
Pairings/Characters: Zuko, Toph, Lu Ten, Sokka, Katara, Aang, Suki, Hakoda, Ty Lee
Rating: Author did not rate it, I'd call it G
Length: 20,008 words
Creator Links: thetrickisnotminding
Theme: Marriage of convenience, arranged marriage, fork-in-the-road AU, diplomatic marriage, disability (blindness), families of choice,
Summary: In some facet of reality, there /was/ a way to help Lu Ten. And so the Avatar woke into a world where no one was questing for the Avatar yet, because certain soldier boys had different methods in their march home.
Reccer's Notes: I love this take on the different ATLA characters. Zuko is trying so hard in this to both prove himself and make up for how terrible his father is, but he's ultimately still the awkward turtle-duck we know and love. His "proposal" to Toph basically amounts to "you give our side a ton of money, I'll take you away from your over-protective parents and let you boss me around." Which she LOVES and takes full advantage of. Being a prospective princess does absolutely nothing to stop Toph from being a goblin-child and it's beautiful.
Content Notes: Some reference to suicidal behaviour; canon-typical reference to child abuse, war, and genocide
Fanwork Links: Lu Ten's Hawk on AO3
Star Trek AOS: For the Greater Good by reeby10 / cookiemom6067
Aug. 28th, 2025 08:01 amgarryowen posting in fancakeFandom: Star Trek AOS (Reboot)
Pairings/Characters: Kirk/Spock
Rating: G
Length: 1832 words; 11:27 minutes
Creator Links:![[archiveofourown.org profile]](https://p.dreamwidth.org/b164c54b26e4/-/archiveofourown.org/favicon.ico)
reeby10 ; cookiemom6067
Theme: Marriage of convenience
Summary: The Enterprise makes contact with an alien race who will only speak with a couple as representatives. Jim figures it's not a big deal to pretend he and Spock are together, but it turns out they play the role a little too well.
Reccer's Notes: Sliding in with one last rec for this theme. I'd forgotten about this story, but I happened to listen to the podfic this morning. It's a great example of a short marriage of convenience story that relies on what we already know to be a strong friendship between Kirk and Spock. In this story, a diplomatic mission requires Kirk and Spock to pretend to be a couple, but their clear bond (in the general sense, not the Vulcan sense) leads the planet's representatives to offer to hold a marriage ceremony for our favorite Starfleet officers. I like when outsiders are able to see the heart of things and call it like it is. This is such a sweet and gentle fic with a big helping of optimism. I'm sure someone needs that today. The podfic is also clearly and steadily read by cookiemom.
Fanwork Links:
For the Greater Good
Podfic by cookiemom6067
Pairings/Characters: Kirk/Spock
Rating: G
Length: 1832 words; 11:27 minutes
Creator Links:
Theme: Marriage of convenience
Summary: The Enterprise makes contact with an alien race who will only speak with a couple as representatives. Jim figures it's not a big deal to pretend he and Spock are together, but it turns out they play the role a little too well.
Reccer's Notes: Sliding in with one last rec for this theme. I'd forgotten about this story, but I happened to listen to the podfic this morning. It's a great example of a short marriage of convenience story that relies on what we already know to be a strong friendship between Kirk and Spock. In this story, a diplomatic mission requires Kirk and Spock to pretend to be a couple, but their clear bond (in the general sense, not the Vulcan sense) leads the planet's representatives to offer to hold a marriage ceremony for our favorite Starfleet officers. I like when outsiders are able to see the heart of things and call it like it is. This is such a sweet and gentle fic with a big helping of optimism. I'm sure someone needs that today. The podfic is also clearly and steadily read by cookiemom.
Fanwork Links:
For the Greater Good
Podfic by cookiemom6067
Tags: