machine-elf-writes

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"Novella November" (or just 30k words of progress November) - Week 3!

Getting very close to completing my goal! Past couple of days I've been able to hit the 1000 per day, but I think I need to scrap a bunch. Hit that point in writing where you go to write what you outlined, and found it's just... not working.

Since I'll probably hit 30k over the weekend, for the last week of November, I'm just getting as much done as I can to completely finish this fic in December, preferrably before the holidays so I can be free of it rest. At the very least I want to be set up to write the final arc of this thing and savour all the emotional climaxes I've been building towards.

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Chapter 38/54

Is that an expression? Are you trying to make an expression with that face? Why?

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Catch me crying about the Durge who was raised with a relatively peaceful childhood—only to have it so cruelly ripped to bloody shreds by their own hands because of the Bhaal given urge to murder.

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I always love seeing in art and fic the different interpretations of Durge’s relationship with Bhaal.

For Tebryn’s story, I had Bhaal be a seemingly absent father, having only directly spoken to Tebryn three times in his life (and he’s around 60-70 years old, still young for an elf). Bhaal is still very domineering and controlling via the Urge, but he’s a very sit back and judge silently kind of father. It keeps Tebryn in the dark and always chasing validation, therefore, always pleasing Bhaal no matter what. He’s definitely done things he didn’t want to.

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I’m not quite close to done writing this story (about 11.5 chapters to go) but I’m anticipating the post-fic depression so I already have some short related fics lined up:

Durgetash (Tebtash?) origins: the building tension, the first hookup, and the aftermath with Gortash’s “rules”

An alternate ending

The first ending I outlined that I scrapped because it was super mega grimdark

I won’t even start these until the New Year because I’m aiming to have the draft done and have my brain turn to sludge during the holidays. I’ll reserve a touch of brain power for editing and posting.

If I stick to the biweekly schedule, the story should be wrapping up some time mid-January.

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HE SAID THE NAME OF THE MOVIE FIC!!!

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Chapter 37/54

Astarion and the tadfools have converged! He may be tadpoled but that will never stop him being an asshole.

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"Novella November" (or just 30k words of progress November) - Week 2!

18k words down! Had a very good day yesterday - scenes where Tebryn and Gortash scream at each other just make my hands fly across the keys. Confident in crushing this goal and finishing this fic before the end of the year.

Btw I use TrackBear for progress tracking. I like it a lot.

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Chapter 36/54

Durgetash nation, I give you more smut 🥵🥵🥵

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He deserves to go all out occasionally, as a treat

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OH NO I’VE THOUGHT OF A SEQUEL

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I usually like writing fight scenes but the nature of undead enemies in the shadow cursed lands is really testing me

How is a guy who fights with daggers fighting skeletons like how is he doing any damage exactly. How do you hit Myrkul's avatar with a sword and injure him. Like. In real life.

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Chapter 35/54 (yes, it went up a bit)

Break's over, back to inflicting immeasurable psychological damage on our favourite vampire <3

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"Novella November" (or just 30k words of progress November) - Week 1!

10,475 words down! I am blasting through this draft that will need some serious editing before it's up on AO3 lol.

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WIP Wed- ahh fuck I missed it again- Thursday

text under the cut for legibility

“Well, this is a big step up for me! My lover is about to become Archduke. What will they say at the next summer ball?”

Worry crossed Gortash’s face and he softened his hold. “I’m not sure it’s wise we make public appearances together.”

Tebryn feigned a gasp and clutched an imaginary string of pearls. “Are you ashamed of me, Enver?”

“No. It’s more that a serial murderer should keep his identity secret. I am not universally loved in this city, and many are correctly guessing there is something unscrupulous going on at the Steel Watch factory. I don’t need more fuel in that fire, and you don’t need everyone knowing your face, especially since you’ve killed a few of their peers already.”

“I’m starting to think you didn’t get my joke.” Enver was so serious, so protective of him. It was sweet. Of course Tebryn didn’t want all that attention on him from the pompous fools Gortash was constantly surrounded by. He had chosen that life, and Tebryn had chosen his. Still, in another life, he may have wanted to be the piece of arm candy in fine silks at one of the vapid soirées the nobles threw. He’d enjoyed being at them when he chased an assassination target in the past. “Now whatever will we do when every nobleman will be lining up to attempt to marry off his daughter to you?”

“Ugh, that’s already begun,” Gortash said with a sigh. “Don’t worry, I haven’t accepted any. It’s completely unnecessary as we take the Sword Coast.”

Tebryn batted his eyelashes and ran his hands down his body, playing the seduction act again. He tilted his head to the side, giving his hair a flick. “Maybe I like the idea of being your mistress.”

“You’d kill anyone I’d marry before the wedding night.”

“You know me so well.”

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maybe your fanfic doesn’t have to change someone’s life maybe it can just brighten someone’s day for a bit

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I have (finally) mapped out the ending to the fic to my satisfaction after endless tweaking. Going for satisfying but absolutely gut-wrenching.