maddstermind

[maddstermind]

The divine right of kings but it's a curse

[maddstermind]

Obsessed with vampires but specifically when they're really pathetic

[maddstermind]

Send "🖍" and I will draw a random OC of mine

[maddstermind]

"writing about fucked up things doesnt indicate your values as a person" and "the way you write about things may indicate some of your values" are not conflicting statements if im going to be real

[maddstermind]

i think fiction should be abolished. if yo uwrite about a character dying you should be put on trial in real life for murder

[maddstermind]

I’m not naming names because I’m not trying to start anything but I’m seeing several mutuals claiming they always knew Gaiman was a bad egg and it was so obvious, as though they didn’t make me stand in line with them to get his signature and kept their signed copies of his books on a special shelf akin to a shrine.

And like, listen, you don’t need to pretend.

This isn’t the devil’s sacrament. You’re not tainted by association. You’re not morally bad for not immediately knowing when someone is being charming and persuasive to hide something they don’t want you to know.

Abusers don’t just groom their victims. They groom their witnesses too. You were never supposed to know something was wrong because it was intentionally hidden. It’s okay you didn’t know. You don’t need to act like you never liked him or his work. You don’t need to pretend. But you do need to stop being shitty to other people who also didn’t know because it reeks of victim blaming.

“Well I knew, so how come others didn’t?”

His victims were fans. Are you blaming them for not knowing?

Christ alive, I hope not.

[maddstermind]

chosen one not as in the one the prophecy foretold but as in lamb to the slaughter. as in the only person both brave and foolish enough to do it. chosen one as in sculpted, molded to be the perfect sacrifice to something expertly, divinely crafted to annihilate you wholly and surely. chosen one as in taken away. chosen one as in death sentence. chosen one as in goodbye

[maddstermind]

me: *writes fic*

me: great! time to post to ao3-

ao3 summary box: *exists*

me: 

ao3 summary box:

me:

ao3 summary box: 

me:

[maddstermind]

DETAILS ABOUT OCS !

send an emoji/description of emoji to learn more about a writer's oc! many of these are taken from my munday asks meme, because i thought it would be fun to make a version for characters too! the prompts are categorized by emoji type and given descriptions in case anyone can't see the symbols. can be used for roleplayers and any general writers alike! for roleplayers, these can also be used for your interpretations of canon characters if you so desire as well!

𝐎𝐁𝐉𝐄𝐂𝐓𝐒. 💭 THOUGHT BALLOON — what is your oc's MBTI, enneagram, and/or other personality aspects (if known/interested in)? 🚗 CAR — does your oc have a driver's license? can they drive/operate any automobiles/machinery besides cars? ✈️ AIRPLANE — does your oc like traveling, or do they consider themselves a more homey person? 🎮 VIDEO GAME CONTROLLER — what are three of your oc's favorite hobbies? 💍 RING — does your oc have any piercings? do they want any (more) piercings? 🖊️ BALLPOINT PEN — does your oc have any tattoos? do they want any (more) tattoos? 📚 BOOKS — what level of education has your oc most recently completed/is currently in (GED, undergraduate, grad school, phd, etc)? 🎻 VIOLIN — does your oc play any instruments? what is their skill level (beginner/intermediate/advanced/virtuoso/etc)? 🩹 ADHESIVE BANDAGE — does your oc have any physical and/or mental disabilities? 🩸 DROP OF BLOOD — what is your oc's blood type?

𝐒𝐘𝐌𝐁𝐎𝐋𝐒. 🎶 MUSICAL NOTES — what type of music does your oc like? do they listen to music very often? 💯 HUNDRED POINTS SYMBOL — share three random facts about your oc that others may not know. 💤 SLEEPING SIGN — is your oc a light sleeper or a heavy sleeper? how are their sleeping habits? 🔱 TRIDENT EMBLEM — can your oc swim? do they enjoy swimming? 🔺 RED TRIANGLE POINTED UP — does your oc know how to use any weapons? 🔶 LARGE ORANGE DIAMOND — does your oc know cpr? do they have any other medical expertise? 🚫 PROHIBITED — does your oc drink/smoke? do they do it regularly, or is it more on occasion or for special events?

𝐍𝐀𝐓𝐔𝐑𝐄. 🌈 RAINBOW — what is your oc's sexual orientation/gender identity? what pronouns do they use? 🎄 CHRISTMAS TREE — what is your oc's favorite holiday? 🐶 DOG FACE — does your oc have any pets? 🐈 CAT — does your oc prefer a wide circle of friends or a few close friends? 🐷 PIG FACE — what is your oc's favorite animal? 🐉 DRAGON — what is your oc's favorite mythical creature? 🍃 LEAVES FLUTTERING IN WIND — what is/was your oc's favorite subject in school? 🌴 PALM TREE — does your oc have a green thumb? do they enjoy gardening? 🍎 RED APPLE — where was your oc born? do they still live in/around their place of birth or do they live somewhere else? how do they feel about their birthplace?

𝐇𝐄𝐀𝐑𝐓𝐒. ❤️ RED HEART — what are three of your oc's positive traits? 🤍 WHITE HEART — what are three of your oc's neutral/questionable traits? 💔 BROKEN HEART — what are three of your oc's negative traits? 💘 HEART WITH ARROW — what and/or who do(es) your oc consider the most important to them? 🧡 ORANGE HEART — does your oc tend to prioritize family or friends? 💛 YELLOW HEART — how many languages does your oc speak? what language(s) are they learning, if any? 💚 GREEN HEART — does your oc prefer being inside or outside? 💙 BLUE HEART — does your oc have any cool/special powers and/or abilities? how are they with magic, if it exists in their world? 💜 PURPLE HEART — what is your oc's ancestry/genetic background? 🖤 BLACK HEART — has your oc killed or seriously wounded anyone before? have they broken someone's heart and/or broken someone's trust?

𝐅𝐎𝐎𝐃𝐒. 🎂 BIRTHDAY CAKE — when is your oc's birthday? how old are they? what are their sun, moon, & rising signs (if known)? what about their tarot card, ruling planet, & ruling number (if known)? do they fit the typical traits of these sun, moon, & rising signs? 🍝 SPAGHETTI — what is/are your oc's favorite food(s)? 🍰 SHORTCAKE — what is/are your oc's favorite sweet(s)/dessert(s)? 🍦 SOFT ICE CREAM — what is/are your oc's favorite ice cream flavor(s)? 🍔 HAMBURGER — is your oc good at cooking? are they good at baking? which one do they prefer? 🥯 BAGEL — what does your oc's typical breakfast look like? do they usually eat breakfast? 🥪 SANDWICH — what does your oc's typical lunch look like? do they usually eat lunch? 🍛 CURRY AND RICE — what does your oc's typical dinner look like? do they usually eat dinner? �� COCKTAIL GLASS — what is your oc's favorite alcoholic drink, if they can drink? ☕️ HOT BEVERAGE — does your oc prefer coffee, tea, hot chocolate, milk, water, or some other drink? how do they like to take this drink (ex. coffee with milk, hot chocolate with whipped cream, a specific kind of tea, etc)?

𝐏𝐄𝐎𝐏𝐋𝐄. 😊 SMILING FACE WITH SMILING EYES — what are your oc's career/general life desires? what do they want to get the most out of life? 😖 CONFOUNDED FACE — is your oc an introvert, an extrovert, or an ambivert? do they let people in easily, or are they more reserved? 🤔 THINKING FACE — what are some of your oc's quirks/mannerisms? 🧐 FACE WITH MONOCLE — is your oc more logical or emotional? 🤓 SMILING FACE WITH GLASSES — is your oc chatty or quiet? are they at ease in social situations, or are they more shy? 🤩 FACE WITH STARRY EYES — is your oc a planner, or are they more spontaneous in their actions? 😥 SAD BUT RELIEVED FACE — is your oc prone to getting stressed out, or is it easy for them to keep their cool? 😓 DOWNCAST FACE WITH SWEAT — is your oc open-minded or stubborn? are they inquisitive or do they prefer to keep to their bubble of knowledge? 😞 DISAPPOINTED FACE — does your oc attract others, or do they tend to be left alone? 🤒 FACE WITH THERMOMETER — does your oc get sick easily? 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 FAMILY WITH MOTHER, FATHER, SON AND DAUGHTER — how many people are in your oc's immediate family? how many people are in your oc's extended family? do they have aunts, uncles, cousins, grandparents, etc? who in their family are they closest with? are they close with their birth family, or do they have a found family?

[maddstermind]

(4)

(4) pick an alternate setting you would want to put either the main cast of your work or [specific characters] in— zombie apocalypse, medieval fantasy, regency era, office hijinks, etc. describe what it would look like and/or write 100+ words in this universe.

Y'know what's so funny? I have a lot of thoughts for the one that was right above this (#3, branching universe) but not really for this. I think it would be funny to switch the casts of aubie and sogbog though; they're both fantasy worlds, but the magic systems and the like are Very different. But I don't think that answers the question.

This is hard.

I'll go with zombie apocalypse, why not. Feels different enough.

I'm assuming this is a completely non-magical world, so take away all the magic, take away the fantasy races, etc. I think instead of magic-averse, those who are magic-averse will just have a real-world disability that feels applicable to them. (Some of them already do, but regardless). Just like how this sometimes causes issues for characters in base aubie, this would surely cause issues for surviving an apocalypse.

I think Rosamund has been sheltered from much of the apocalypse by her mother, keeping her locked away after losing her husband and one of her children in the outbreak. Slowly, Daphné and the remaining Eldridge siblings start to accumulate survivors, and create something of a haven - though Daphné has the final word on everything.

Another such haven is the one made by the Garland family, which is much more lenient and has had a definite upper hand due to the family being very wealthy before the apocalypse. Sensing potential, Daphné reaches out to create a formal alliance, sealed by a wedding of Rosamund to a member of the Garland family: Addison.

Addison is obsessed with trying to learn about and preserve knowledge of the world before the outbreak. During the engagement ceremony, however, there's an attack, leading to both of them getting bit. Rosamund manages to hide hers, but Addison gets thrown out. He finds his way to another shelter, Port Mimslow, where they let him in even though he's been bit. Clearly, something strange is happening here.

Anyway. That's all I have for now lmao. Maybe the Academy itself is also a haven, and that's where Christie and her friends are, looking into the weird zombie shit that's happening there.

Thank you for the ask!!

[maddstermind]

(18)

hey im doing all these pretty late sorry!! but thank you for the asks!!

(18) pick 1-5 songs which you believe define either [project] or [character (relationship)] and elaborate on why with attached lyric selections. (optionally: link a playlist)

I have a playlist but it's vague as hell lmao, so allow me to dig through and find some songs that I actually have meaning behind!

Umami - Go! Child In a place that feels like home I've been spending time on my own But if this is home, then please explain to me Why I feel out of touch

This song feels very much like Rosamund to me. She struggles a lot with how she feels about the people around her, and how she's expected to be. She is the only POV character who never leaves a set location (the castle). It's home, but it's also a place she's bound to.

This song also has the lyric "The year is gone but I am not / It seems my rope was longer than I thought" which feels very Rosa, but also very aubie as a whole, as the story takes place over the course of exactly a year.

Peregrine - The Ballroom Thieves I'm leaving here tomorrow For a place I don't exist Where I claim to burn my sorrow And my heart don't beat the heaviest

This feels like an Addison song to me. At the start of the story, he is leaving to go to a place where he won't be known (and hopefully won't be found). He's hoping to have a good time, but winds up going through quite a lot. I know that's vague as hell but. I promise it connects in my head lmao

In the hopes of not making this post ultra-long, I'll leave it at that for now lmao. Sorry it's only two! Thank you for the ask!!!

[maddstermind]

Last Line Tag!

Thank you for the tag @thewritersplace!! Check out her post here!

I've been struggling like hell for. So long now. The scene this is from is going poorly but oh well lmao

     "Call me a heretic all you want," Adrián said back in Sivonese, much to the man's surprise. "I'm not letting you kill anyone here."

I shall tag @emrowene, @mxxnlightwriting, @forthesanityofstorytellers, and anyone else who'd like to!

[maddstermind]

Last Line Tag

Thank you to @akiwitch @cheshawrites @serpentarii and @innocentlymacabre for the tag! I know I'm super late to doing this.

🌹🌹🌹

“I met my new step-mother today.” Beáta continued, beginning to unpack. “She's beautiful, and much more welcoming of me than the others were.”

Talking to the portrait may have seemed silly to others, but Beáta found it comforting. It also helped her process her thoughts, and made her feel less alone.

🌹🌹🌹

Tagging: @sourrcandy, @innocentlymacabre, @akiwitch, @maddstermind and anyone who would like to do it!

[maddstermind]

Find The Word Tag

Thank you to @sourrcandy @innocentlymacabre @bitethebard @veneritia @asablehart and @revenancy for tagging me!

This is going to be a long post due to how many people tagged me in this tag game.

My words are as follows: sky, sly, fly, clean, sweet, love, kiss, lady, revenge, vision, hate, hint, archive, embrace, sister, hand, window, turn, sea, rift, luck, hold, star, vague, silk, whisper, mine, grasp, silence, morning, heavy, understood, false, alone, stay

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Sky

Senka had never seen such a magnificent sight before. The sky was red and orange as the sun began to sink, casting the ground in the same hue. Blood covered the dirt in random patches, and the sounds of a violent battle filled the air. Again and again, the soldiers attacked with their swords and their lances, and again and again the Turks were forced to retreat. Horses trampled and stampeded both the living and the dead, their heads thrown back in defiance as their masters shouted in rage. The queen turned from the balcony to watch her husband, who was putting on his armor. He would lead the next charge, and she would launch an attack from the castle. A dozen archers and cannons were stationed at the battlements, ready to attack as soon as she gave the word. “Are you ready, my love?” the prince asked, now behind his wife, a hand on her shoulder.

Clean

“That's not important.” Vlad lifted his head, licking the last of her blood from his lips. Her wound was clean now, and beginning to heal. Soon her skin would be flawless once again. “What's important is that now you see me for what I really am. A monster.”

Sweet

Rose couldn't help but smile at the girl's dedication. “You're very sweet, Mina, but you don't need to worry about me. I'll live as I've always lived.”

Love

She’d rather risk rejection than continue to act like nothing was different, than continue to pretend that she wasn't completely head-over-heels in love with this beautiful girl.

Kiss

“My love, you are only a murderer if someone cares.” Senka’s voice was soft, and her tone was gentle. “The people know that you kill because it is war, and because the punishment for breaking a law is death. They accept that because it is better than the alternative.” she continued, before placing a kiss to his forehead.

Lady

The man smiled politely as he got down on one knee. “Forgive me, my lady.” he said, and this time Rose noticed that he had an accent, but not one that she’d heard before. He bowed deeply, his hand over his heart, and Rose smiled. “It was wrong of me to speak of your peers that way.”

Hate

Didier stroked her hair again, then stilled his hand on the back of her head, and looked out the window. The sky was clear, and dusk was falling. It was a serene moment, and it made him hate the universe all the more. The world was quiet, peaceful, and filled with beauty, while his sister was standing wrapped up in his arms in her bedchambers, heartbroken over the disappearance of her husband, and filled with endless worry that she may never find him again.

Hint

Vlad looked at her for a minute, as if she were some fascinating creature, before his mouth split into a wide grin, teeth bared. He began to laugh, a deep, booming laugh, with a vicious undertone. There was a hint of madness too, if one paid attention.

Sister

“I am with you, sister.” Didier said, his hands folded behind his back. “I am with you always, until the end of time.”

Hand

Beáta watched as her father kissed her step-mother’s hand, and noted how happy Rose looked at the gesture. They clearly loved each other very much.

Window

Rose found a few dresses she liked, and purchased them along with a few pairs of shoes, some jewelry, and a suitcase. She paid the cashier, then asked if there was a telephone she could use. She was directed towards the back of the store, and, while looking out the store window for Van Helsing, phoned her brother.

Turn

“Thank you, Lady Rowan.” Beáta said, inclining her head again. She then picked up her bags and headed towards the stairs, which in turn led up to the floor where her room was.

Luck

“Good luck, Vlad. May God go with you.” she said, before departing.

Hold

Now it was Rose’s turn to laugh. She threw her head back and laughed — laughed until she had to hold her sides because they hurt so much. “Oh my love, I am far from holy.” she gasped out the words in between breathless laughs, tears pricking at the corners of her eyes.

Star

Rose set her book back down and took his hands in her own, lacing their fingers. “Vlad, the sun can burn out, the stars can fade, the earth can stop spinning, the oceans can dry up, the land can turn to dust, and humanity can cease to exist, but the one thing that will never come to pass is my growing tired of you.”

Vague

Vlad thought for a minute, then shrugged. “Vaguely.”

Silk

“No. I just know you well.” Senka rotated in the chair, arm resting on the back of it. She was dressed in a flowy robe, which covered a silk chemise. “It can’t be the Turks. We sent them home with their tails between their legs.”

Whisper

The young woman turned in the direction the whisper had come from, but then it changed just like the wind.

Mine

“Are you joking?” Rose let out a startled laugh, interrupting his proposal. “You’ve refused that particular request of mine at least ten times over, and now, all of a sudden, you’ve changed your mind.” she remarked, hands folded on top of the book’s spine. “Who are you and what have you done with my husband?”

Grasp

Mere minutes after they had brought their things inside, and taken some of their items up to the bedroom, Rose had grabbed Vlad by his lapel and kissed him. After a three-day delay, she was absolutely desperate to have her wedding night, and wanted it to start as soon as possible. Vlad was just as desperate to have her in every way possible, but he was much better at hiding the desire, so she had no idea how much he had been yearning for her. At least, not until he grasped her by the arms and pressed her into one of the bedroom walls.

Silence

A hiss echoed sharply in the air, and the young woman shot a glare at nothing in particular. After that, only silence followed, and Beáta finished her journey to her room in peace.

Morning

Nazhi turned over once more, and stared up at the ceiling for a long moment, trying not to let the silence of the house bother her. After the moment concluded, she reached over and grabbed her phone. Her sister was often up at night, due to her young children, but even if she wasn't, Nazhi knew she wouldn't mind talking. Then again, their brother was also up late sometimes, usually playing Go by himself or painting. Nazhi pursed her lips as she debated who to call, as she felt a little bit bad about disturbing either of them. Eventually, she set the phone down and shifted back to laying on her side, having decided against calling either of them and instead opting to send her sister a text asking if they could talk in the morning.

Alone

“Please, I’m begging you. Please leave him alone.” Rose cried, getting up and stumbling forward. “He won’t hurt anyone now. Please let him go.”

Stay

“Please, wait.” Rose let go of Vlad, and stepped in front of him. She knew that her height would scare some of the men off, but a few stubborn ones would probably stay. “You don't need to do this. He won't hurt you.”

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Tagging: @sourrcandy, @innocentlymacabre, @akiwitch, @maddstermind and anyone else who would like to do it!

[maddstermind]

Hurrah hurrah!!! Hello @akiwitch! I'm your pinch-hitter for the @writeblrgarden Secret Santa event!

I've been wanting to make this since reading part of Summoning Trouble you shared a while back, so I'm glad to have finally gotten the excuse to do it!!

[maddstermind]

Want an ask about your writing and characters? No problem! Reblog this post with an emoji for a corresponding mystery question in your inbox!

🎆 Fireworks

❄️ Snowflake

🌒 Moon

(accepting requests until January 31st, 2025)

[maddstermind]

the five stages of grief: writer's edition

denial: "this draft is amazing. no need for edits. it’s practically perfect as is." you’re so confident that you close the document for the day, smiling like you’ve just discovered the next great american novel (or swedish, or british, whatever). plot hole? who is she?

anger: "why did i ever think this was good? this is garbage. i am garbage. my characters are flat, my dialogue is cringe, and my prose sounds like a robot swallowed a thesaurus and threw up on the page." rage-quit the doc and go aggressively scroll pinterest for "writing inspiration" that you will never use.

bargaining: "if i fix this one scene, the whole thing will click into place. i just need to write one more subplot, maybe five more chapters, a quick rewrite of the entire ending, and then it'll be fine. totally manageable." queue up 17 youtube videos on "how to fix your plot" that you play in the background while staring at your ceiling.

depression: "i will never finish this book. it’s doomed. i’m doomed. why do i even write? who let me have ideas?!" lay dramatically on your bed, considering taking up knitting or rock collecting instead. cry a little over how your characters deserve a better writer.

acceptance: "this is the best i can do right now, and that’s okay. i’ll take a break, come back with fresh eyes, and remember why i love this stupid, broken story." suddenly, your MC whispers something brilliant, and you're like wait… maybe i'm a genius after all.

and the cycle begins again. writing is a joy.