macolethings

[macolethings]

A writer friend told me something that broke my heart a little bit today; they're going to quit publishing their fanfic.

My instant thought was that they had been trolled or attacked or that something terrible had happened in their life because this person is so passionate about their writing. It wasn't any of that. Engagement with their works has been going down, as it has for many of us. Comments are like gold dust a lot of the time, and just looking through the historical comment counts on old fics on ao3 demonstrates this trend very clearly. It was not simply the comments dropping off which caused them to decide to stop posting, however.

My friend came across a discord server for their fandom (I should point out here that their fandom interest and mine diverged a couple of years ago, we stay in touch but don't currently read each other's posts because I'm not into their fandom and they would rather gouge their eyes out with a wooden spoon than read anything Star Wars) and specifically to share fic in that fandom. They joined, because we all love a good fic rec, only to discover that their latest multichapter fic, which has almost no comments and very few kudos, is being hotly discussed in this server as one of the best stories ever. Not one of these people has bothered to say this to them on the fic. When they asked, none of participants could see the point in telling the author of the fic they apparently loved so much that they love it.

This discovery has absolutely destroyed my friend's love of sharing fic. They share because they love seeing other people's enjoyment, and fic writers do that through comments and kudos/reblogs/likes because we don't get paid. There is no literary critic writing a blog post/article about how amazing the story is for us to copy and keep/frame. There is no money from royalties. All we have are the words of the people reading our works.

Those people on that server could have taken five minutes of the time they spent gushing about how amazing my friend's story was to other people and used it to tell the one person guaranteed to want to hear that praise how much they loved it. They could have taken a moment to express their opinion to the person who spent hours upon hours plotting, writing, editing, and posting those chapters. Instead, they deprived my friend of thing that keeps them sharing their writing, and in the process have killed their love of it. My friend now feels used and unmotivated.

I won't be sharing a link to their fic, they said I could share their experience but not their identity. I know they plan to post one final chapter. I know they intend to express their hurt at being excluded from the praise for the thing they created, and I know they intend to announce that as a consequence they will not be posting for a long while, if at all.

So please, I beg you, don't hide your love of a story from the writer. It's just about the only thing we have.

[macolethings]

Anon!! I was so excited to get an “ask”, and then I completely blew my end of the bargain and forgot to answer. Thank you for the kind words.

Even as a little girl, I very much picture Lexa paying attention to details, and trying to think through things thoroughly. I believe planning is in her blood, which makes her a natural leader when she becomes Heda.

I’m happy to hear that this snippet was enjoyable. Seriously, if you or anyone else has anything they would like to see in any of my stories don’t hesitate to shoot it over to me. It makes this whole writing thing so much more fun, and sometimes gives me ideas I would’ve never come up with all my own.

[macolethings]

New Clarke/Valentina (original character) fic posted!!

"What are you?"

Klark shrugged. "To some, a god. To others I am a bane. But in truth, I'm merely a friend who greets you in the end and carries you to the afterlife."

After thousands of years as the angel of death, Klark finds a home among a werewolf pack led by Valentina and her sister, Luna. They live in relative peace, eventually building a city, Wolfwind, where supernatural creatures can be themselves. Until one day, Val and Klark stumble upon a small wolf community nearby that has been transformed into undead creatures. The lone survivor, Madi, is haunted by what she has seen. Klark and Val lead the pack on the hunt for a necromancer who seems determined to gather an army of undead wolves.

Can they stop them before Val's pack and their beautiful home is destroyed? Who's responsible for the sudden influx of undead? And what do they want with Madi? Read to find out.

Here's the link.

[macolethings]

Lexa with other people x Lexa with Clarke  (Part 2)

She was ready to change for Clarke. Everyone saw in her only a strong commander. But… Lexa wasn’t afraid to show Clarke her weakness. Beside her she was so sweet, so sensetive.  Love make us happy.

[macolethings]

Final two chapters are posted!!! Read them here!

[macolethings]

[macolethings]

BIDEN YOU HAVE TWO MONTH LEFT AND THEY MADE IT SO NOTHING YOU DO IS ILLEGAL. NOW IS THE TIME TO PUT IN EXECUTIVE ORDERS THAT:

Grant abortion rights

Eliminate automatic weapons

Save science

Tax billionaires

Protect immigrants

Protect LGBTQ marriage, adoption, and healthcare rights

Fund schools

Make it possible for first time home buyers

FOR THE LOVE OF GOD, ACT NOW AND HELP US.

[macolethings]

[macolethings]

[macolethings]

New chapter for Love Hurts - Adjustments

A little snippet

Lexa went on her run late afternoon, she needed to take a break from studying. She was running around the lake when she spotted two swans tending to each other, it brought a smile to her face and even more so seeing one of the swans lifted up to reveal eggs.

She took her phone out and stopped her music to take a photo, she had a text and a missed call from Costia but she decided she’ll get back to her once she took the photo.

Lexa looked at the text saying:

‘Call me when you get this, nothing to worry about but I need to speak with you x’

Lexa thought it was odd and started to slowly walk back to her house as she called Costia.

“Hey, you okay? I just got your te-”

Lexa was cut off mid sentence.

“She what?!” Lexa almost shouted hearing what Costia was saying.

“I’m going to come now, I’m just out running.” Lexa started to move quicker.

“Are you sure? Okay, I’ll meet you at mine.”

“Okay, bye.” Lexa hung up and ran as fast as she could to her home hoping to be there before Costia to let her in.

[macolethings]

😈

[macolethings]

I wouldn’t want it any other way 😋. But I didn’t realize I was sharing (not that I’m complaining).

Need I remind you what happened last time we had boops?

Don't tell me you didn't want to celebrate our booping anniversary with another heavy session 😏

@blu3haw4 knows how long I can go for 🤭

[macolethings]

Killing Strangers - Chapter 8

John Wick/Modern Assassin AU

TW: Graphic (canon-typical) violence, alcohol mention

Rating: E

A Clextober 2024 update, based on the theme "Ghouls' Night Out". Happy Halloween, Clexakru!

No more of his allies come pouring through the shattered plate glass, and any civilian in the area is long gone. It's going to be a hell of a mess to clean up, with bullets and blood and broken glass everywhere, not to mention the witnesses…but that isn't her problem right now. Right now she crunches through said glass, falls into the bar chair next to Clarke, and drops the stolen Sig in front of her with a clatter. "Seems more your speed than mine," she mutters. Clarke hums in acknowledgement. “That was quite the show.” Somehow, in all the chaos of the last few minutes, Clarke Griffin has managed to spill nary a drop of her still mostly full martini. Lexa is momentarily mesmerized as she retrieves the garnish, taps it on the side of the glass, and pulls an olive off the toothpick with her teeth. “Tough night?” "About as expected," Lexa answers, channeling what would otherwise be a groan of pain into a sigh through her nose as she rotates her shoulder. "Target had friends. Do you know the SAC test?" When Lexa looks up Clarke’s head is cocked to the side, eyes slightly narrowed. “What makes you think I know what that is?” "You know enough about setting bones to do it in an airshaft. You know how to triage a knife wound, and there's a caduceus staff hidden in the flowers tattooed on your back." Under any other circumstances, the wide-eyed surprise that wipes the vaguely smug smile still lingering in the corners of her mouth off Clarke's face would be a cause for deep satisfaction. But at the moment, Lexa is too preoccupied setting her teeth against the pain radiating up her arm. "You have medical training. Do you know the SAC test or not?" Clarke opens her mouth—then closes it. Sighs. “Yes, I know it. Got five minutes?” Lexa snorts. “I’ve got all night.”

Read on Ao3.

[macolethings]

Clextober24: Vampire club

[macolethings]

Lexa takes Clarke on a date to a Halloween pumpkin patch where it has this maze of mirrors attraction. Lexa suddenly pushes Clarke, yells "tag you're it", and runs ahead as she beckons Clarke to catch her. Lexa smiles and giggles and plays hard to get with Clarke.

Lexa finds a dead end so Clarke thinks it's over and she can finally tag Lexa back. However Lexa starts putting the moves on Clarke. She smirks, bats her eyelashes, twirls her hair, bites her lip, and turns her body sticking her boobs and ass out.

Of course it works on Clarke who's distracted by her vixen. Lexa walks up to Clarke, runs her hands over her arms, chest, and crotch giving them a squeeze. Clarke is entranced and forgets that she's supposed to tag Lexa.

Lexa leans into her ear and whispers "you're still it" before she giggles and runs away again. Clarke is left dumbfounded because she couldn't believe Lexa was able to trick her with seduction

[macolethings]

For @clextober24

Fragments of Us

Summary: On a stormy Halloween night, Clarke Griffin and Alexandria Woods are on the brink of motherhood when a devastating mistake alters their lives forever. Six years later, as terrifying news unfolds, a heartbreaking truth is revealed, setting Clarke and Lexa on a path to put back the pieces they lost along the way and rebuild their lives with renewed hope.

Read Ch1 on AO3

Beta: @macolethings

[macolethings]

CLEXTOBER24!

The Scare - Six year old Lexa dresses up as a werewolf for Halloween to scare another Trikru kid that wronged her.

(Note, this story has spoilers if you haven't read through Chapter 5 of Sonraun Rein Kiken (A Life Worth Living) - Link here)

This idea came from a comment on my story. If there are other things you'd like to read about from any of the characters' pasts, or see in the future, feel free to share! Who knows, it may get added into the story, or be the reason for another snippet/one-shot.

Read below or on AO3 - here. Enjoy!

----------

The evening was cool and crisp when Lexa snuck out of the house to head into the forest. It wasn’t uncommon for her parents to let her explore the woods around their house during the day, even alone; after nightfall might be a different story, hence her need to sneak out.

Her skinny, six-year-old limbs did little to keep her body warm against the fall weather that had arrived a couple weeks ago. Not that she was worried about the cold. Soon she would be bundled up in a mix of tattered clothes that would surely keep her toasty. She also carried a water skin filled with a warm spiced tea, just in case.

Lexa had spent hours in the woods. Her nontu (father), Abe, taught her how to choose the best tree trunks for carving and building materials. Her nomon (mother), Ellyn, often requested her help in foraging for the best mushroom, berries, and roots, as well as hunting the small game that lived nearby. But her favorite times were playing in them with her older brother, Lincoln. Needless to say, she knew these woods like the back of her hand.

Lincoln, having recently reached his tenth summer, was given permission to venture out further into the world. With this new freedom, he and his friends had chosen tonight to explore an old, supposedly haunted, field from a war fought hundreds of years ago; for tonight was what the old world had called Halloween.

Halloween was viewed by Lexa’s people in a few different ways. Some feared the night, believing that spirits of dead ones could come back to the Earth to haunt those still living. Others thought it nonsense that such things could happen and believed it was purely an excuse for children to dress up and go to neighbors’ houses asking for sweets. The remaining ones gave it little to no thought.

Lexa fell somewhere in between thinking the whole thing nonsense, especially about old spirits, but also believing it would have been fun to dress up as something for a night. So, she decided that this Halloween, she would do just that.

For days she had debated on what she wanted to become. A princess didn’t fit her personality, and because she was a nightblood she had no desire to be a knight. She thought about being an animal, but none seemed to bring that idea of “fun” to mind.

Then, one night, snuggled into her nomon’s side on the couch, they read a story about a boy who became a werewolf and used his ability to scare the bullies of his school. An idea popped into her head so fast she nearly knocked the book out of her nomon’s hands and into the nearby candle flame.

Lexa would dress up as a werewolf and use the costume to scare her brother in retaliation for not allowing her to go with him and his friends on their day trip they were planning; the trip to the haunted fields she had begged him to let her go on with them. He had laughed and refused, saying she was too young and would scare too easily. Well, she would see who was easily frightened.

Keeping to the shadows in order to not get caught, Lexa finally reached the shed near their garden. Tucked behind some bags of chicken feed, she pulled one out that she had emptied days ago and filled with her costume.

Every day for the past week, after her chores were done, she would take to her favorite place in the woods to work on her costume. She started with the wolf mask, believing it the most important part of the whole thing. Her nontu had taught her how to carve wood, knowing the importance of such a skill if she were to ever get lost or abandoned in the woods, especially if she were to become Heda one day.

Lexa was proud of what she had whittled. The snout was hollowed out to fit her own nose, allowing her to breathe easily, and had two small holes on the side so she could secure it to her face. She even added a couple teeth to it, though the left side only had one instead of the two she’d planned after the knife slipped and cut into her hand. She flinched and dropped the snout on a rock, breaking one of the teeth off.

There was one good thing to come from her accident, though. Her black blood was the perfect way to paint the tip of the nose black. Dipping her finger into the trail of blood that dripped down her arm, she brushed the liquid where the nose was.

To cover her head, and appear more animal-like, she used an old, hooded shirt and glued a brown, somewhat bushy, moss onto it. From far away, and in the dark, it would easily pass as fur.

The last part of her costume was pieces of tattered, black, and brown clothes they normally used in the chicken coop to help keep the animals warm. Lexa had taken a few of the pieces that had only been there a day or two, meaning the horrendous stench had yet to really seep into the material. The rags made her look larger than her usual scrawny frame.

While in the shed, Lexa put everything on but the mask, including some “hairy” gloves covered with the same brown moss she used on the hood, and walked into the woods close to their home. Lincoln and his friends left earlier in the day but were to be back before midnight. Based on where the other children lived, and the direction they traveled, Lincoln would be the last one to get home.

Effortlessly climbing up into the tree she had scouted yesterday, she nestled down for the wait. Based on the placement of the moon, she wouldn’t have to wait long.

As she sat, she thought about her future. Soon, Lexa would be taken to Polis to begin her training as a novitiate. There was even a chance she would become Heda.

Her parents had worked hard to make sure Lexa was being trained daily, mostly using unconventional methods. She had learned the basics of how to survive alone in the forest during the two- and three-day tracks through the woods with her nontu. Her nomon had begun teaching Lexa to read and write earlier than was normal, knowing the ability to obtain and share knowledge would greatly benefit her. And daily sparring sessions with Lincoln, led by one of her parents of course, had taught Lexa how to protect herself.

Lost in her thoughts, it took the snap of a twig to bring her back to the present. Narrowing her eyes, she noticed the familiar figure of Lincoln, traipsing down the path. With practiced ease Lexa donned her wolf snout and brought the hood up over her head.

Lincoln's feet shuffled along the dirt trail, kicking small rocks as he mozied towards their home. Ever so quiet, Lexa moved into a squatting position and readied herself to jump out of the tree. Her goal was to land in front of him, so she could see the horror on his face, but also out of reach of any flying limbs he would use to protect himself.

 “Eight feet,” she thought to herself.

 “Seven. Steady.” She breathed.

 “Wait for it.”

She leapt out of the tree with unnatural grace considering all the clothes she had on, and roared as loud as her little lungs could.

Lincoln would forever deny the high-pitched screeching sound that passed by his lips that night, as he covered the sides of his head with his hands and sunk in on himself, doing as his father had taught them and protecting his vital organs.

Lexa wanted to keep it going, but she immediately burst out laughing at her older brother. Hunched over, trying to breathe through the giggling, she almost missed the realization spreading on Lincoln’s face as he took in his surroundings. He looked down towards his crotch, now darkened slightly from when he pissed his pants at the fear of being attacked by a bear. 

“You!” he growled, his hands clenched into fists.

“Now who scares too easily,” Lexa taunted. Throwing Lincoln’s words back into his face.

Lincoln’s eyes narrowed. “How could you!” he yelled, as he straightened himself upright; adrenaline coursing through his body. “You’re so going to pay for this.”

Lexa hadn’t planned for this part of the evening. She had planned to scare him, maybe have him run away. But the screech had her bowled over laughing, easily giving her away.

As he started towards her, she turned around and took over running back towards their house. Lexa was quick for her age, but Lincoln was taller and stronger. If she wasn’t bogged down with excessive clothing, she would have taken to the trees. The Trikru were known for their comfort and ease within the trees, and Lexa was no exception. In fact, her small stature allowed her to climb higher than others, and to use branches others couldn’t to jump from tree to tree. 

But she couldn’t waste time stripping everything off, so continued to run; the clothes slowed her down significantly. Her lungs gasped for air, and her legs were on fire as she tried to get away.

He caught up to her right outside the front of their cottage. The only light in the house was the soft glow coming from the living room where the fire would be lit. This meant that her parents were most likely still awake. The oil lamp that hung from the front door also still hung from its hook. Lexa hoped it meant that her parents had not realized that she wasn’t in bed, where she definitely should have been at this hour, and took off to look for her.

Panic started to set in as her only two options came to mind. If she ran into the house, she would reveal to her parents she wasn’t in bed. If she stayed outside, she was at her brother’s mercy. Lexa didn’t know which would be worse; angry parents or angry brother.

Then a thought occurred to her. Maybe she could negotiate with her brother. Take on his chores for a week. Or trade one of her books for drawing equipment he wanted. Anything that would keep her out of trouble.

She turned around to reason with him, when he slammed himself into her, tackling her to the ground.

Lexa’s training kicked in. She managed to turn in his arms just enough to land on her shoulder instead of her back. If the wind was knocked out of her, she would have no chance at winning the fight. 

Still caught underneath Lincoln, she twisted her waist and spine by shifting her hips. The movement lifted him just enough to give her room to rotate on the leg closest to the ground, throw her other leg up and over, and bring herself on top of his chest. It was a move she had recently perfected, her nontu continuously reminding her how important it was since she was small and could easily be strong armed onto the ground.

If they were sparring, Lexa would know exactly what to do to get Lincoln to yield. The fury she saw in his eyes though, revealed how angry he was, and angry people were unpredictable. She wasn’t even sure he would yield after the fright she had given him. 

Her thoughts drifted too long, and strong arms forced her backwards with a push. Next thing she knew, fists started to wildly rain down on her. The extra clothing she wore slightly softened the blows.  Pulling in her arms to protect her midsection, Lexa  started to kick, catching him on a tender spot of his thigh. The grunted “oomph” informing her she landed her mark. 

That seemed to anger him more. Try as she might, she couldn’t get an upper hand on him, and for the first time ever fighting Lincoln, she was afraid he might truly hurt her.

“Lincoln, stop.” Lexa called out. 

His anger slowed him from stopping as quickly as he should. Instead he worked to put her in a final hold.

“I yield!” she yelled, still trying to buck him off. 

He pulled back instantly, his arms still holding hers down on the ground by her wrists. She could see the hurt and embarrassment now in his eyes. 

“I’m sorry, Linc. I only meant it as a tease.”

Lincoln didn’t have a chance to respond. They heard the front door fly open, followed by a voice they both feared. 

“Spirits! Both of you!!” Their  nomon   stalked towards the two still laying on the ground, frozen. “Lincoln kom Trikru, off! Alexandria kom Trikru… I have no words!”

Lincoln rolled off Lexa and lowered his hand to help her up. 

“I have no idea what is going on, but I can tell you right now that you both are going to pay dearly unless there is a very compelling reason why you are out of bed so late at night," she pointed at Lexa, "and why you," she turned to Lincoln, "have taken it upon yourself to fight her."

Both ducked their heads. 

"Well?" Ellyn prodded, her eyebrows rising so high they almost disappeared into her hairline. 

Lexa and Lincoln looked at each other, a silent conversation between the two. Even when mad at one another, they always had each other's backs when a third party was involved, especially if that third person was their  nomon. A couple quick nods affirmed that nothing would be revealed by their lips. Turning back to their nomon  , they both squared their shoulders, ready for the punishment. 

Ellyn looked back and forth between the two, eyes narrowing. 

"I see," she said pointedly, knowing she would hear no reasoning from either of them. "Thick as thieves." She shook her head, but internally smiled at the bond her children shared. 

"I'm not sure what happened," she continued, "but you will both be punished for what I have witnessed. Since you are both so loyal, your punishment will be shared. You will both have chicken coop duties for the next two weeks." They groaned. 

"And," their nontu chimed in from the doorway, "you will take over my offer to chop wood for Glidea and old man Diksen for the winter." 

They both nodded their heads. 

"Nami (Understood)?" their mother asked firmly. 

"Sha, nomon.” they replied. 

"Now. Inside. Both of you." she demanded. 

The two walked into the warmth of the house, but Lexa didn't make it very far before her nomon stopped her. 

"Alexandria, you smell like chicken shit. Outside, and clean up before you come back into my house."

She hung her head as she sulked back outside, knowing the water would be freezing. But smiled slightly as she realized it had all been worth it.