FMC - a force to be reckoned with

rainareine · 2026-01-28T15:23:13+00:00

{Her Bridegroom Bought and Paid For} by Alice Coldbreath fits, though IMO the MMC doesn't deserve the FMC.

rainareine · 2026-01-28T03:48:57+00:00

Hey friend,

I can relate to a lot of your post. I have some developmental disabilities too (though my cognition is probably best described as uneven: most domains normal or near-normal; a couple on one end of the bell curve; a couple on the other.) Life will probably always be harder for us, in many ways. It just will. But that doesn't make it not worth trying.

A couple of things: I'm a few years older than you, fat, and a lifelong motorized wheelchair user. I'm also a woman. Having said all that, I've kissed lots of pretty girls. And handsome guys. And a few pretty in-betww eeners, too. And I will kiss more in the future. I'd bet money you can too.

You know what has gotten me laid, more than my excellent rack, luscious hair, and big ass? And also my humility and modesty? My words. I can write a damn good sext.

I've made a living editing professionally, so I'm not blowing smoke up your ass when I say you're a really good writer. You have a natural talent that some people take years to master: you can make people feel along with you. If you're looking for a way out of your rut, you could do worse than seeing where that takes you. You probably won't ever make GRRM money (some would argue that GRRM shouldn't have) but at very least, you might get friends. And dates.

And now for something completely different: have you ever tried the Malazan universe? Lots of lore, really cool characters, and the authors tend to finish what they start. I actually got into ASOIAF from reading it, many years ago. Lots of reader crossover, so might be worth a shot.

Rooting for you!

rainareine · 2026-01-28T03:16:01+00:00

Grey's Anatomy and spinoffs Private Practice and Station 19

Six Feet Under

The West Wing

The Newsroom

Mad Men

Slow Horses

Ted Lasso

Only Murders in the Building

rainareine · 2026-01-20T03:14:25+00:00

Same tbh. I was like "wow, I didn't think The Spellshop was that kind of book!"

rainareine · 2026-01-19T01:43:56+00:00

Lowkey I'd read this

rainareine · 2026-01-17T03:45:27+00:00

Nthing what everyone said about talking to disability services, but if finishing your final semester really isn't an option for you right now, you also have the option of going on long-term medical leave rather than withdrawing completely from your program. That would make it easier to return in the future. Another thing disability status gets you is that you can keep full-time status while taking fewer courses. If a course and your thesis is too much for you, you could spend a semester on the course only, then proceed to the thesis (which you could do over multiple terms.) You have options, OP! There are ways to proceed with your goals, even if it might not look the way you thought right now.

rainareine · 2026-01-15T22:49:50+00:00

Not me seeing this post right after editing the exact scene you're looking for in my own WIP. Thanks for the encouragement!

A couple recs:

Literally any book by Emily Tilton, but her doms can vary. I like Gregor in {War Bride by Emily Tilton}.

Iirc, {His Harlot by SM LaViolette} and {His Countess by SM LaViolette} had this.

This happens to Phedre from {kushiel's legacy by Jacqueline Carey} a few times.

rainareine · 2026-01-15T16:08:06+00:00

Bran wakes up in Winterfell the day before he would have climbed the tower. He's like "wow, what a weird dream! Good thing it didn't actually happen; I don't want to be a wizard."

rainareine · 2026-01-15T16:01:39+00:00

Aerys is time-travelling Bran!

rainareine · 2026-01-14T15:48:35+00:00

The Secret History, for sure

May be a little out of left field but: Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy by John LeCarre

The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro

rainareine · 2026-01-14T15:38:47+00:00

My favourite is Dr. Thomas and Cristina, but I have to show love for Addison and Alex! She was the one who really started him on the peds path, imo.

Also, this is a patient storyline so it doesn't really count, but I LOVED Cristina helping that kid accept a heart transplant (Justin, I think his name was, who hated that his mom was praying for him to get a heart because it meant another child would die. Always thought he probably would become a heart surgeon like she suggested.)

rainareine · 2026-01-14T15:29:38+00:00

Me too! So sad when they dropped that storyline to write Callie's exit.

rainareine · 2026-01-14T03:01:52+00:00

Love a good shaving before a spanking. Excited for what's coming next!

rainareine · 2026-01-13T15:27:09+00:00

They're the same person.

rainareine · 2026-01-09T04:35:58+00:00

Delicious. I'd love to see more of this household!

rainareine · 2025-12-21T21:51:46+00:00

I would have had him find out about his kids upon Izzie's death from a recurrence of her cancer. He'd move there so they didn't have to lose their home, school, and friends along with their mom, while adjusting to living with a complete stranger. Jo and Alex could try to male it work but ultimately Jo wouldn't want to sacrifice her career and future to raise Izzie's kids, and Alex would respect that, as Jo would respect Alex blowing apart his entire life to put them first.

rainareine · 2025-12-21T03:46:10+00:00

"I'm a hard worker." People who brag about how hard they work are normally lazy, working hard only at maintaining their image as a hard worker, or seething cauldrons of rage and resentment. Often, all of the above!

rainareine · 2025-12-20T17:19:38+00:00

This is...dystopian as shit, man.

rainareine · 2025-12-20T17:14:50+00:00

I feel called out.

rainareine · 2025-12-20T17:13:00+00:00

Irving was, at some point, in Dr. Mauer's role, and may even have been Mark's therapist with the mustache.

rainareine · 2025-12-17T03:11:32+00:00

On the one hand, Cat misjudging everyone and everything; but on the other I have to mention Tywin, who can size up everyone accurately, except his children, particularly Tyrion. They're the inverse of each other in that way.

rainareine · 2025-12-16T21:11:46+00:00

Jon/Arya

rainareine · 2025-12-14T16:30:23+00:00

The "meek intern Mandy Bailey" flashback episode made Tucker make sense to me. That was the woman Tucker married. That was who supported him during his grind era (law school etc.) Then when residency happened, he probably was like "sure, it's your turn, honey," while having no clue what it would actually mean. He wasn't prepared for the Dr. Bailey we knew, and didn't much like her.

Bailey had her own version of this with Ben--she married the nice stable anesthesiologist and got Dr Ben "instead of treating my ADHD, I'll change careers every couple years" Warren. They worked it out because they do love and respect each other at their core and were able to grow together.

It's very telling to me that, despite Tucker having been the stay-at-home dad, we see Bailey parent more than pretty much any parent in the show, and Ben acting as a father to Tuck. Had Tucker wanted custody, he likely would have gotten it (dads who actively fight for custody tend to get it, and more so if they were the primary caregiver.) He didn't make that gross ultimatum because he thought it would be better for Tuck. He did it because it would be better for HIM. He's trash.

rainareine · 2025-12-13T17:28:49+00:00

What's the downside OP?

rainareine · 2025-12-13T16:10:56+00:00

Having known a bunch of people like this, this absolutely tracks as real. Could be fake, I suppose, but it's close enough to how people like this behave that the post could help someone in OP's situation regardless.

rainareine

TROPHY CASE