#//it is long to set the whole scene you can just start from wherever you like

[big-snack]

Porcus Isle Part I

Dom had always been larger than life. Standing at an impressive 6'5" and built like a linebacker, he was the kind of guy who turned heads wherever he went. But beyond his imposing physique, Dom was known for his easy-going nature and infectious smile.

Dom worked at a tech company downtown, San Diego, often putting in long hours. Despite his demanding job, he always found time for his true passion: exploring the vibrant food scene in San Diego. From taco trucks in Barrio Logan to high-end restaurants in La Jolla, Dom's weekends were filled with culinary adventures, always in search of the next great bite.

But Dom's favorite place was a small, unassuming diner near the beach. It was there, over a stack of pancakes and a steaming cup of coffee, that he found a sense of peace. The diner was a hidden gem, known only to a few locals, and Dom had been coming there since he moved to Socal. The owner, Jack, greeted him like family, and the regulars always had a seat ready for him. The whole diner was run by and frequented by big men. Dom felt right at home with these guys.

One sunny Saturday morning, as Dom was savoring his breakfast, a new face walked into the diner. He was a tall, built man with sharp features and immense confidence. He took a seat at the counter, glancing around the diner as if taking it all in. Like he was appreciating all the men. "Hey stud, you find what you're lookin' for?" Jack asked...

Intrigued, Dom decided to introduce himself.

"Hey there, first time here?" Dom asked, flashing his friendly smile.

The man looked up, meeting Dom's gaze with a curious look. "Yeah, just moved to San Diego a few weeks ago. Name's Alex," he replied, extending his hand.

"Welcome to the best diner in town, Alex. I'm Dom," he said, shaking Alex's hand firmly. "What brings you to San Diego?"

Alex chuckled. "A bit of everything, really. New job, new city, looking for a fresh start. I'm a software engineer."

Dom's eyes lit up. "No kidding! I'm in tech too. It's a great field, but it can be pretty demanding. This diner is my escape from all that stress."

As they talked, Dom and Alex found they had more in common than just their profession. They shared a love for video games and a passion for good food. Dom offered to show Alex around the city's best eateries, and Alex eagerly accepted.

Their friendship grew quickly, and soon, weekends were spent exploring San Diego's food scene together. Whether it was sampling street tacos, enjoying a craft beer at a local brewery, or having a quiet meal at the diner, Dom and Alex's bond became a craving for both men.

One evening, after a particularly grueling week at work, Dom and Alex decided to unwind at a new barbecue joint that had just opened in North Park. The restaurant was buzzing with energy, the scent of smoked meats wafting through the air.

As they dug into a platter of ribs and brisket, Dom looked at Alex and asked, "So, how's the new job treating you?"

Alex wiped his hands on a napkin, leaning back in his chair. "It's been challenging, but in a good way. The team's great, and the projects are interesting. It’s just... sometimes I miss having a bit more of a work-life balance."

Dom nodded. "I hear you. That’s why it’s important to have nights like this, to just relax and enjoy good company and good food."

Alex smiled. "Speaking of good company, thanks for showing me around, Dom. Moving to a new city can be pretty overwhelming, but you've made it feel like home.", "Anytime, man" Dom replied, raising his glass.

As the night wore on, their conversation shifted to their mutual love for video games. Alex mentioned an upcoming release he was excited about, and Dom suggested they set up a game night. This became the perfect way to unwind after eating out.

One evening, after a particularly intense gaming session and drinks, Dom and Alex found themselves talking about their interests. Alex expressed his admiration for Dom's physique and said he's looking to join a gym. "All this eating is starting to fill me out." Alex jiggled his belly. Dom's eyes darted to his bloated stomach. "Damn man. I didn't even realize." Dom was stupified.

He had always been focused on his own weight, but he hadn't noticed the changes in Alex.

"Yeah, it's been creeping up on me," Alex admitted, a bit embarrassed. "I've been so caught up in work and our food adventures that I haven't made time for the gym. Do you think you could help me out?"

Dom smiled, feeling a surge of excitement at the prospect. "Of course! I'd love to help you. Dom had no idea why the thought of Alex's weight gain turned him on.

That night in his dark room. He thought about that moment. His belly jiggled like it was no longer a part of him. There was no visibility of his ribs. His arms filled out his shirt sleeves more. His face softened up. Dom had never masterbated to a guy before. He stopped for a second to think about it.

It was late. He was alone. No one could judge him if he stared to look up what he was fantasizing about. He pulled up Google and started with image searches. 'Fat belly': 'fat belly guy'; 'beer belly'; 'beer belly men'.

That night he spent a few hours looking at fat guys. The bellies started small, but the longer he searched the bigger they got. He glanced at a picture of a man 600 pounds. His belly was covering his lap in bed. Every single ounce of his body jiggled from the slightest shallow breath from being overstuffed. The guy leaned back on his bed and his head disappeared. The big bulbous crescent shape stood at least 4 feet high; he imagined.

Dom hit his climax and started to cum. His body filled with chills, made the hair on the back of his neck stand on end. "I need to see this in person" he screamed and then he slumped back in his seat. He had some clarity and was worried about what he'd just done. "Why the hell did I do that?"

The next day he saw Alex at the diner, for brunch, and had a new appreciation for his body. "You know, after you mentioned it, I thought more about your physique." Dom shared. "Oh really? What is it you appreciate?" Alex said flirtatiously. "Um, well, I mean you're pretty beefy. That's a popular body type." He said nervously. "Beefy implies that I've been working out. I'm all jello, buddy."

The entire restaurant is quieter than normal. Dom didn't notice, but all the men in the diner were listening.

Dom could feel a twitch in his pants. "Ugh, shit, not this again." Alex was blushing. Dom was intently looking at Alex's body well beyond what was normal. "Something tells me you like it." He said with a smirk.

Dom smiled nervously. "I mean, you could say I appreciate the way you look." Dom was getting hot. "I need to use the restroom" Dom said. "Perfect, I'll go with you" Alex responded. Dom struggled to stand up straight.

They walked to the bathroom. "I feel like we're both flustered." Alex said. "Oh yeah, I guess it pretty obvious. I'm not sure what's going on lately", Dom replied.

Instantly and without hesitation the locked bodies and started making out. Dom's hands caressed Alex's newly sprouted love handles. Alex pulls back from Dom's lips and whispers, "You did this to me."

The door handle turns and someone walks in. They separate and the man said, "Are you that clueless, Dominick? We have all been dropping you hints for a while now.

"Is this like a chubby chaser establishment?"

The man responds "You mean the diner between a bear bar and a leather shop? Of course that's what it is. We managed to get you to gain 20 pounds man."

"Holy shit!" Dom exclaimed. "No wonder I love this place. Fat men make me horny. I can't believe I just said that out loud." Panic washed over him. "It's ok Dom. Nothing has changed." Alex reassured him.

"You were a part of this?" Dom questioned.

"Not really, you spoke to me first. I was coming here because I knew what I wanted. It took me a while to realize you had no idea what was going on. I thought you were playing hard to get" 

"Dude I just found out I might be gay, I don't have the bandwidth to come to terms with a fetish."

"Great tech pun" Alex replied.

They both started laughing. When Dom rejoined the room it was like he was seeing it all for the first time.  Some men had their large sack of flesh bulging out of their shirts.

"All right you guys. Dom knows what's going on." Alex announced.

That day was the moment Dom knew that Alex was the one.

---

The next part flashes forward

[bet-on-me-13]

Danny is The Doctor (Dr Who)

So! I've been on a Dr Who High for a little while now, and I thought this idea up.

Danny, as the apprentice to Clockwork, has the ability to traverse Time, and his can use his own Powers to traverse Space.

(He is not at the same level of Time Manipulation as Clockwork, but he is still very good at it. Less of a Time Master, and more of a Time Lord if you will)

So, after his family dies and he is left alone for his Immortal Life, he gets bored. Taking a Cue from Ellie and her whole Exploration Obsession, while also indulging in his own Space Obsession, Danny decides to explore Space and Time to his heart's content. (Maybe Ellie is his Companion?)

He travels the Universe, visiting different planets, witnessing historical events, and sometimes even Helping wherever he can. He is still a Protector Spirit after all.

He doesn't use his powers much these days, in fact he has mostly locked them away in favor of using his own custom built Inventions to get any task done. He is the son of Mad Scientists after all, and he likes to Own It.

Danny becomes known across the Universe in the same way that the Doctor is. To some he is a Savior, a Healer, a Wiseman. To others he is a Demon, a Trickster, a Warrior.

Danny becomes the Boogeyman of the Universe, so it's no surprise that one day someone tries to contain him, to keep him Locked Up so he can never interfere with the Universe again. To do so, they build a Device named, The Pandorica.

(Yup, I'm using that little thing in this)

Danny is trapped within the Pandorica, mulling over the Irony of being trapped by a Device named after one of his friends, for Eons. He is completely and utterly trapped.

Sealed Away, waiting for the day when someone will set him free.

...

Now imagine this.

The JLA has just confiscated an extremely Old and Extremely Magical Box from an Alien Cult, who were proclaiming that they would use the Pandorica Warrior to fell their greatest foe.

They call in Constantine to explain what it is, and just imagine the Doctors description of the Pandorica Scene coming him him.

"This is the Pandorica, an Ancient Magical Prison designed to hold the worst of all bad guys." Started Constantine.

"Why was it made?" Asked Superman.

"There was a Goblin, or a Trickster. Or a Warrior." Constantine explained as he paced a circle around the Box in front of them, "A nameless, terrible thing. Soaked in the blood of a Billion Galaxies. The most feared being in all the cosmos."

He took a closer look at the box and Continued. "And nothing could stop it, or hold it, or reason with it. One day it would just drop out of the sky and tear down your world."

He paused and took a deep breath, "Or at least that's how the Story goes, probably why those cultists wanted it so bad. The greatest Warrior in existence on their side? It would be an instant win button."

"Is it possible to open it?" Asked Batman.

"Easily, anybody can break into a Prison. I just want to know what we'll find first."

Zatanna interrupted, "Won't need to wait long, it's already opening. Layers and Layers of Magical Barriers are dispersing as we speak. That Cult knew what they were doing, it's going to open soon. Very soon."

The Box in front of them shuddered a little, and they tensed. They waited for a few moments to see if it would do anything, but eventually they realized it was probably just a side effect of the barriers falling.

"How soon can we expect it to open?" Asked Batman, still tense.

Constantine replied this time, "From what I can tell, maybe 2 hours at most. So you have that much time to prepare to meet the Universes most feared Individual."

...

Just thought of this while I was binging Dr Who videos on Tiktok and thought, "this would be cool as a dpxdc idea"

Here is the Video that inspired me, give it a watch

[mousy-nona]

Because I'm a sucker for seeing Vox lose it over RadioApple, and also them dancing, maybe a thing where RadioAaple both a little tipsy, dance in Lucifer's room late at night. Vox sees them on his drone and freaks because 1) Alastor is letting himself be unguarded with a person 2) Alastor is dancing and 3) Alastor has, in fact, made nice with the King like Vox was afraid of. Very nice by the looks of it.

“Do you ever think you may have a problem?”

That was Velvette, who was using her best “let’s not piss off the crazy man” voice. 

“No.”

“Not even a little one?”

“No.”

Valentino and Velvette exchanged telling looks, which Vox promptly ignored. He had more important things to worry about, like keeping this stupid drone in the air. Maneuvering the machine itself was easy, but getting around the electromagnetic force field Alastor had set up around the hotel’s perimeter was a whole lot trickier. Vox had been flying in circles for hours, trying to find a weak spot in Alastor’s defenses. 

(He knew it’d been hours because Velvette had started shooting worried glances at him around hour two, Valentino had showed up around hour five, and they’d started a game of rock-paper-scissors to figure out who was going to do a wellness check on him around hour six.)

“Ah-ha!” Vox screamed, jabbing both fists in the air when the force field flexed and glitched, creating a half second window of opportunity. He urged the drone forward, barely zipping past before the shield re-formed. “Boo-yah! Who’s your daddy?” 

Valentino smirked and took in a long drag of his pipe. “Vox, baby, not outside the bedroom.” 

Vox’s metal heart – the same one he always denied having – started beating faster as the camera zoomed closer and closer to the hotel. He zipped to Alastor’s radio tower first, then his room, frowning slightly when all he found was a half-eaten deer, a cooling cup of coffee, and a discarded coat.

From behind him, Velvette clapped her hands with an annoyed huff of relief. “Oh, well, looks like the asshole is out. Too bad, so sad. Can we please get back to something actually fucking important?” 

But Vox shook his head. “That doesn’t make sense. It’s 11 o’clock. Alastor usually finishes his business before seven so he can have dinner at eight, or else he gets too hungry to do–” He trailed off when he saw the look on both their faces. They were both staring at him as if he was a terminal patient, come down with an incurable case of Alastor-itis. 

He sighed and re-focused on the screen. “It just doesn’t make sense, okay?”

The library. The lobby. The kitchen. Alastor was nowhere to be found.

Then Vox had a horrible thought. He remembered the rumors flying around town, the wild laughs of excitement and the curses emanating from the hotel recently. He remembered Alastor’s most recent broadcast (“Folks, when living with an annoying roommate, always remember to assert your dominance wherever possible”). And most of all, he remembered Alastor’s smug face as he strolled down the street, humming merrily to himself as he twirled an unfamiliar white top hat on his staff. 

He remembered the strange apple that had appeared on the top right of the hotel, just down the hall from Alastor. 

His heart in his throat, he slowly moved the drone higher, then higher still. Don’t be there, don’t be there, don’t be there –

Velvette and Vox went quiet at the scene that appeared on the screen. Alastor was there all right, but he wasn’t alone. As if he’d suddenly downloaded a virus, Vox could only process what he was seeing in chunks.

He saw the record player first, oddly enough. An old-timey song was playing, static crackling and popping as a low sweet croon, somehow both deep and high, filled the room. 25%.

The room was dark, but a few candles and duck-shaped lamps were gleamed with a heavenly light, washing the pair slowly revolving in the center of the room in a seductive golden glow. 50%. 

The king of hell was there. The expression on his face was…tender. His head was tucked into Alastor’s narrow chest, one hand on Alastor’s shoulder and the other clasped in Alastor’s hand. His eyes were sparkling, almost overfilled with a nameless emotion that Vox knew all too well. Alastor’s hand was curled around his waist protectively (possessively). 75%. 

And finally, Vox saw Alastor. Really saw him, as if for the first time, because this wasn’t his Alastor. His Alastor was always one step ahead, always untouchable, cold, cruel, and capable of truly unspeakable acts of violence with an effortless charm that made his blood boil with envy and need at the same time. 

But the Alastor in front of him…his coat was off. For the first time in fifty years, Vox saw Alastor’s bare skin, his shirt rolled up to his elbows as he allowed another living soul to see him undressed. Unguarded. His eyes, always so alert and aware, were closed. 

Worst of all was his smile. It looked soft. Gentle – or whatever passed for gentle with Alastor. As Vox watched, Lucifer’s lips moved. The words were too soft for the drone to pick up, but whatever it was, Alastor laughed. Not in a mocking or teasing way, but an actual, genuine laugh, as if Alastor was a real boy with a real heart.

100%.

Suddenly, Alastor’s eyes flew open, and he stared at Vox through the screen. The wicked smirk that curled his lips was the last thing the drone ever saw as it glitched, red shaking and warping the feed until it went completely dead, and the three of them were left staring at a black screen. 

Silence reigned. Then – “Well, I’ll be. Looks like the deer found himself a doe.”

Velvette shot Valentino a warning look, then took a hesitant step forward. “Vox – “ Velvette started, but Vox started cackling. Wild, out of control, utterly insane laughs ripped from his wires as his monitor-face went haywire. 

“I am going to kill that motherfucker!”

[literaryvein-reblogs]

Writing Dialogue

Dialogue is a spoken exchange between multiple characters in a play, film, TV show, or another type of creative writing.

Writing dialogue reveals character development, speech patterns, and mannerisms, which can also propel the plot forward.

Often, authors employ realistic dialogue that captures how specific people speak.

Sometimes they use direct dialogue (showing what a character wants), and other times they are rich in subtext (illuminating depth beneath the surface of the exchange).

How to Format Dialogue Dialogue formatting can show verbal exchanges between two characters effectively.

Consider these guidelines on how to punctuate dialogue:

Quotation marks. Writers should use double quotation marks to encase a character’s spoken words. Single quotation marks may appear within dialogue when someone is quoting another.

Dialogue tag. Writers typically insert a comma at the end of a sentence as a dialogue tag to denote the speaker (such as: “Let’s eat,” Travis said.). The comma should appear comma before the closing set of quotation marks.

Closing punctuation after quotation marks. An exclamation point or question mark may also appear before the closing quotation marks.

New paragraph. When characters talk back and forth to one another, start a new section each time another character speaks a line of dialogue.

How to Write Dialogue

Consider the following writing tips from Judy Blume on how to craft strong dialogue:

Dialogue breaks up your text. Writers can use dialogue to enliven long blocks of text. “I'll flip through a book, and if it's dense, dense, dense, dense, no paragraphs, no dialogue, I don't want to read it,” Judy says. “But dialogue lightens up your book on the page. You want white space on the page. Dialogue gives you that: playlets, I often put in little playlets in my book; it's like a little play within a scene.”

To write better dialogue, read more of it. Authors write great dialogue by reading great dialogue. “Reading and reading and reading, you will find what's good dialogue, what you think is good dialogue, and what you think is wooden and not very good dialogue,” Judy says. “And you will learn from that just by reading it and reading it and going to the next book and finding it because it's there. It's in every novel. There's dialogue.”

Keep your word choice simple. In a few of her earlier works, Judy did not use the word “said” when writing dialogue. “I decided that I would write this whole novel without ever using he word ‘said,’ that said was such a boring word,” she says. “‘He said.’ ‘She said.’ I had my thesaurus by my side, and my characters did everything but say. My characters exclaimed. They beguiled. And they did everything but say. Throw away your thesaurus when you’re writing.”

Write realistic voices. Developing a character’s voice requires observing real-life exchanges and using smart word choices. “It’s a question of capturing the way people talk when they're talking to each other on the street, you know, in the workplace, wherever,” Judy says. “Your characters should each speak as themselves, meaning they are believable and recognizable.”

Source ⚜ Writing References: Worldbuilding ⚜ Plot ⚜ Character More: Better Dialogue ⚜ Children's Dialogue ⚜ Dialogue Prompts

[octoberautumnbox]

Yuri is lucky that she could go to Hyewon's place whenever she needs to washup lol. Can't imagine Yuri's face when she discovered the roach in her bathroom 🤣🙈

What if Yuri goes over to Hyewon's place...

And Hyewon still insists on giving you head when Yuri is only a short distance away in the shower 😳

"Hyewon... Ah...Now's not the best time, Yuri will hear us! She could be coming out anytime soon!"

"So what? Who said the bathroom is the only thing I'm sharing with Yuri today 😉"

Yuri's look of hunger when she sees the moment you're cumming uncontrollably inside Hyewon's throat. Your eyes watery and Hyewon has her whole face pressed against your crotch while your body spasms from the stimulation 🙊

Even though I'm gonna embarrass myself horribly, I don't think I could turn down Hyewon's offer 🤤

a/n: thanks for the ask frisky! to this day it's still wild to me how they did a post-bath/shower scene in Yuri's photobook but im literally the last one on this planet to complain 😋

~~~

"Aish, you two," Yuri says while running her fingers through her hair. "You couldn't wait for me?" She takes a seat next to you and leans her head on your shoulder, staring lazily at your cock.

"You were taking forever. He was getting bored." Hyewon licks her lips as she says it, savoring the taste of your cum. She makes a show of it by dragging her tongue all along her plump lips, and the blatant attempt to try and get you hard again is regrettably working.

Your reply comes in the midst of ragged breaths: "Don't... pin this all on me. I wanted to... wait for everyone to... be ready."

The older girl takes your hand and starts sucking your index finger, giving it the same love she gave your cock just moments ago. The younger, on the other hand, giggles at her valiant efforts to get you going again and decides to help her out.

Yuri takes your other hand and places it over her breasts, only a thin fabric in between her chest and your fingertips. Even then, you can feel her soft and perky tits through her top, and the playful pinches you deliver on her nipples cause them to stiffen in pleasure. You watch as they start to poke against the fabric, and she catches you ogling her. With a smirk, she let's out a cute moan to signal her pleasure.

Hyewon, not wanting to be one-upped, takes her place on your other side. She pulls her top off, revealing in tantalizing slowness of the skin of her tummy and chest. Once it's all off, she takes the same position as Yuri and makes you cup her boobs too. Her nipples stiffen in the same way, and her moans at how you play with her body spur all three of you on.

With a knowing look shot at each other, the girls decide wordlessly on a two-pronged attack. Hyewon's delicate fingers wrap around your cock and give long, slow strokes, while she goes in and takes your lips with hers. At the same time, Yuri leans down and starts licking and kissing the tip of your dick, making sure to leave her spit and help her unnie out.

Your tongue and Hyewon's swirl around each other, forcing more moans out of her, while Yuri's soft lips place kisses on your head and shaft wherever she can reach. She takes your cock in her mouth as best she can, trying her hardest to share with her unnie's hand instead of taking you all the way to the back of her throat for herself.

You wonder for a moment how you got two of the most beautiful idols on the planet this needy for you. How on earth did you get to the point where they're so willing to share you between themselves, allowing you to grope their bodies and suck your cock as if they were your own property to do what you please with?

But that doesn't matter now. You find both Hyewon and Yuri with two of their own fingers inside their cunts, rubbing their walls at the pace you set as you play with their boobs. Hyewon grows careless with her kiss, growing sloppier by the minute, not caring how much of your shared saliva falls out of your mouths. Yuri's moans deliver just the right vibrations to your cock growing needier with each lick of your slit. She frantically tries even harder to take more of you into her mouth, her common sense slipping away from her.

You try to warn Yuri that you're close, but Hyewon never lets up. Each time you try and pull away, all she does is pull you back and make you squeeze her soft tits harder. You do the same with Yuri, pinching her nipples harder and groping her more roughly, and it drives her wild. You're not sure if it delivers the message you wanted it to, but you slowly forget as your orgasm arrives.

Hyewon feels the way your cock throbs and immediately lets go, only to force Yuri down onto your crotch. Yuri welcomes it and takes you all the way, licking your shaft as much as she can, savoring your taste and the hard work she put into this load she's about to take. You don't disappoint, and suddenly her mouth is flooded with your thick and warm cum. She tries taking all of it in, but inevitably she lets a few drops fall out with the sheer amount of it. Still, her tongue works overtime to extract every single drop you can give her, and each thrust into her mouth-pussy sends away another thought in her head to be replaced her desire for you and you alone.

Two orgasms so far into the night, and they haven't even started getting serious. You start to get nervous, but they reassure you that everything from here on out is all just mindless fun.

"Don't worry, oppa," Yuri sighs dreamily, obviously still in the ecstasy of getting her face fucked, "we're gonna have so much fun."

"Yeah, just relax and fuck us like you always wanted to." Hyewon punctuates each word with a kiss on your neck. "I promise we'll play nice, unless you want us not to."

~~~

a/n: holy shit wait a minute is this my first threesome fic??

[moodymisty]

Crosshair loves physical contact and will hang onto you as much as possible

Tech loves whenever you cling to him while working. He loves when you lounge over him and just chill and lets him be, while still being close

- @clone-whore-99

Author's Note: Yessssss!! I am sold thank you so much for feeding me in my time of need these are top tier <3

Relationships: Crosshair/Gn!Reader, Tech/Gn!Reader

Warnings: lots of fluff

✦ Crosshair ✦

Crosshair really does consider it one of his 'weaknesses', that he's constantly yearning for at least some level of physical contact with you.

Like him sitting down and you sitting in the spot between his legs, and his chin rests on your head or shoulder depending. He still has that usual grumpy expression, but is clearly soaking this whole thing up.

Or sitting sideways on his lap; But if you don't want to sit on this thighs, he'll still pull your legs to rest over his.

He's just constantly stealing chances to hold your hand, put an arm around your shoulders; Anytime he can, he will. He always takes the spot right next to you, wherever you are.

In public he's far more likely to just use an arm around your waist or a hand on your shoulder, more subtle but still some form of contact.

If he's helping you with something, he'll have a hand on your shoulder or back, standing well past close enough that he can get a good look. You'll usually get a ruffle of your hair or shoulder afterwards so he can watch your face scrunch up before he walks away.

Sleeping together normally involves a position that gives him the most surface area; Usually spooning or holding you against his chest. And if you don't start that way, you'll usually find yourself in one of those positions by morning. And he latches on tight; Especially if his sleep is being particularly unrestful that night.

He's just, so surprisingly touchy sometimes that it's almost a complete dichotomy to his usual attitude.

Reading through another paragraph on your datapad, you quietly bite your lip and squeeze your eyes closed for a moment. They feel a little sore, but the momentary relief seems to settle them for a bit. At least long enough to keep reading a little longer.

This book has potential, but you aren't totally sold on it yet. Crosshair doesn't seem to be either, as each time he finishes a page he is either completely silent, or lets out a vaguely unamused 'hmm'. When you're both done you move to the next page, and start the whole process over again.

You feel a little bit too close to the edge of the seat for your comfort, so you scoot back a little bit more into Crosshair's body, and he straightens up more as a result. His arms raise a little bit before setting back down, loosely wrapped around your waist while the side of his face rests against your temple. It's not an uncommon position for you, especially when you're both reading something together. If anything, it's become sort of a habit.

But when you'd first met Crosshair, you never thought he'd be this, cuddly. He seems content as can be leaning into you, even if he hasn't spoken a word in a significant amount of time.

"Having fun?"

Hunter enters the Marauder's cockpit and looks at the scene in front of him with raised eyebrows, a drink in his hand.

Crosshair doesn't even need to say anything, only look, to let Hunter know that his comment is not appreciated in the slightest. Once he's finished doing so, he turns back to the datapad in your hand, and uses his own to tug you just a tiny bit closer.

✦ Tech ✦

Over time you've become a master at snuggling him, while also staying unobtrusive to whatever he's working on. Like hugging his waist instead of his shoulders. Or looking over what he's doing from the side to not block the light.

At first you just laid your head on his shoulder, testing the waters, while he kept tinkering. Overtime Tech went from largely indifferent to it to actively hoping you'd do so, working in places that had more room for you to sneak in next to him.

Sometimes you'll help hold something for him if he needed the extra hands, but more often then not you'll end up falling asleep; At least if it's late. Which it usually is when Tech is up tinkering.

No matter the time however you'll usually listen to him chatter about his current work; As his voice a nice, pleasant tone to relax or fall asleep to. You'll hum and try to keep up, but Tech seems to just like that someone's listening, knowing that you might not understand it all.

Sometimes if he makes a loud noise that startles you awake he'll mumble an apology, feeling you move against him.

Every now and again you'll feel his hand brush against you, as if just taking a moment before going right back to work.

Tech has a dilemma.

He needs the tool over on his workbench in order to continue working on the project in his lap, but right now your arms are wrapped around his hips, cheek pressed against his waist.

And... He doesn't want to move.

But he needs to finish this; Not for any particularly urgent reason, other than his brain will never allow it to remain unfinished now that he's started. So he sits with his quandary, subtly looking down at the way you're clung to him and debating how he can remove himself from this to get what he needs, and then return to it without anything having changed.

Though instead of having to do so Tech's hero arrives; Echo walking through the doorway moments before Tech was going to ask you if you could detach from him for a moment. He can't quite tell if you're asleep or not however, so he speaks in a soft enough tone that hopefully wouldn't wake you, if you indeed are the former.

"Echo," He murmurs, watching Echo look up from the datapad he was focused on to see Tech looking right at him.

"Could you perhaps hand me that tri-point screwdriver on my workbench?"

Echo quite quickly realizes the situation Tech is in, and why he's asking such for him to do something so minute. Echo takes a few steps off of his original path and snatches the screwdriver off the table, walking it over to hand off. Tech nods, silently thanking him for his assistance.

Now he can get back to work, feeling the way you adjust your legs so they entwine with his just a little bit more.

[mx-myth]

Mlc au where li lianhua just. Doesn't re-enter the jianghu. He has a couple of Big Realisations and disassociates so hard that li xiangyi is permanently dead now and he's not touching that shit with a ten foot pole.

He still meets fang duobing except they meet during on of fdb's probationary cases because he's like, sprained his wrist. He's also bleeding a lil' bit everywhere so when he sits down at the booth where llh has set up shop llh is like who is this yucky boy. Fdb is like daifu I'll pay you x amount of money to heal me. Llh ups his first impression to yucky rich boy.

Anyway it turns about when llh isn't there to guide him fdb is really reckless. But guess what! He always meets li-daifu wherever his case is! Isn't it a miracle? (Llh is long-suffering. Why does this (his, unfortunately) yucky little rich boy keep coming back to him)

Very soon fdb starts giving him gifts instead of money (because he has no money management skills). He starts off small like flowers and little soaps then desserts and then suddenly he's showing up with a set of fancy robes for llh (who had seen fdb looking at him all intently when he was estimating his measurements and thought he was checking him out. It was the start of a minor - soon to be major and ongoing - crisis) (but it turns out he likes the fucking robes).

At some point fdb runs into A Spot during one of his cases and declares, to everyone in the vicinity, that he's li xiangyi's disciple. This is overheard by di feisheng's spymaster (I CANNOT remember what his name is) who reports it back to dfs, who is like hmm, interesting.

And obviously, the most logical response here is to kidnap him and announce that he has li xiangyi's disciple held hostage.

Llh hears of this, scoffs because xiaobao can take care of himself, paces for ten minutes, and then grumbles to himself while grabbing his sword and booking it. He bursts onto the scene and it's all like:

Dfs: ...li xiangyi? You're alive?

Fdb: li lianhua-daifu!!! ...why do you have a sword.

Dfs: oh, i get it, you went into hiding. *shaking fdb* is this your new boytoy

Llh: di feisheng! Unhand him, he's a paying customer!

Dfs, nodding: I see. Boyfriend then. But you haven't had the balls to court him properly, huh

They have an argument that is actually just them exchanging small talk. Fdb is slowly dying because this is dfs, villain of the jianghu, so why is he having a reaction to him scruffing him like a kitten? Also, is li-daifu actually li xiangyi???

Long story short about three weeks later dfs arrives for dinner. And then he just. Keeps showing up. The third time he shows up fdb is there also having dinner with llh. They bristle at each other like street cats but eventually it becomes a Thing That They Do.

(In the background dfs is picking up the fucking slack and destroying the whole nanyin revival plot. Fdb keeps unintentionally and accidentally foiling related plots as he takes cases)

(Fdb: I found this in my latest case and I don't know what it is. *holds up the Rama heavenly ice shard or whatever it is*

Dfs: ...it's a screwdriver.

Fdb, who has never seen a screwdriver in his life*: oh, okay *sticks in a drawer of the lotus tower and immediately forgets about it*)

(Dfs thinks it's amusing bordering on ridiculous because fdb just keeps bringing these artifacts back. But he doesn't know what they are and neither does llh so the lotus tower is turning out to be a really safe place to put them)

Also because this version of llh actually knows from the start that he wants to live. He just never actively looked for a cure because he didn't have much to live for in his little life. But now he does so he accepts the Styx flower or whatever dfs finds for him and they all live happily ever after.

(*Edit: oh I'm an idiot. Of COURSE fdb knows what a screwdriver is. He lives with the Queen of Inventing Clever Things (master he my beloved) for god's sake. I think if he knew dfs was lying to him he wouldn't be able to let it go, since we all know how he is. So I don't know what dfs would actually tell him lmao)

[mercurygray]

Blind Dates Fest 2024 - Freda Torvaldsen, ARCS

A few days ago I asked for MOTA prompts, and @junojelli delivered:

A MOTA scene prompt for you: a new arrival is amongst the clubmobile ladies at the local pub one evening. Of course, it would only be right that they give her the lowdown on the men they can see in the bar, and the recent gossip on possible nocturnal escapades of course 😏

So! An extra Blind Date! You can learn more about @blind-dates-fest at their blog.

Fandom: Masters of the Air

It was only a matter of time before the subject came up.

“Can’t say I’ve ever met a Freda before.”

It was always like this, her first day in a new assignment, where you been, where you from, what do you do. And then inevitably someone would work around to the obvious. So... what’s a name like Torvaldsen doing with a name like Freda?

“And neither had my mother,” Freda said with a resigned smile, sitting down heavily and nodding thankfully to one of the other girls for the beer. “After my father and brother were both Peters I think she just wanted something interesting.” She shrugged. “She told me once she found the name in a short story in a woman’s magazine. Never got confused with another girl in class, though! Fred’s just fine, for every day use. It’ll get tossed in eventually, so we may as well start there.”

Fred was easy - approachable, even. A good way to start a conversation, a quick, easy joke to set everyone on the same level. Who’s on shift today, girls? Rose, Laura, and Fred. Wait, Fred? And she’d stick her head out from wherever she was hiding, and the boys would all have a laugh that Fred was really a twenty-six year old blonde from Madison, Wisconsin with a big smile, and not the paunchy driver from Brooklyn they all pictured when they heard the name. She didn’t mind the jokes, really - it made the whole job easier. So what’s your name, solider? You have a nickname, too? Where you from? The whole reason she was there, in three questions or less - to make the average G.I. feel at home, seen, valued and wanted.

“Where’d you say you were, before this?” Helen asked. At least, she thought it was Helen - or was it Ellen? Honestly, Tatty had run through the team of three pretty quickly this morning and she might have misheard. Tatty, of course, was easy to remember - Katherine Spaatz, with a last name the papers wouldn’t soon forget and a face that liked being photographed. Mary Boyle was the other, a sparkling-eyed Irish girl from Des Moines who looked like just the kind the fellows all liked to spin around a dance more than once. She couldn’t remember the name of the girl she was replacing, either - not that that mattered much. She was going home with the one non-communicable disease the Red Cross didn’t want to deal with - pregnant, Mary had mouthed across the table when they’d first met this morning, her fresh off the bus from London and Tatty skating artfully around the subject.

“Did a spell at the canteen in Washington, another couple months in London in a few different spots,” Freda offered. “I guess I’m a professional replacement at this point - which is either a compliment or a curse. You’ll have to tell me which.”

“Well, we’re happy to have you, for as long as we’ve got,” Tatty said with a nod. “Did they tell you what the work would be like? Working a base is different than canteen service.”

“The hours, for a start,” Mary said, rolling her eyes.

“If they’re running a mission, they’re up and at ‘em at 4:30 for a 5 am briefing, which means -”

“Service ready for 4:45,” Freda filled in, nodding along. “Means we’ll be starting about...three thirty, maybe, to have everything hot and ready?”

“Will that be a problem?” Tatty asked, her eyes dark and decisive across the table.

Freda shook her head. “Always was more of a morning person. How long are they usually out for?”

“Longer runs...six, seven, eight hours at a time? Tower will give us a ring when they’re expected back in, and then we rack up donuts and coffee in the interrogation hut. You’ll need to be sharp on that shift,” Tatty warned. “They don’t always come back looking pretty.”

“Doctor’s usually on hand to evaluate anyone who can walk. If they’re still standing he’ll turn ‘em loose on the interrogation team,” Mary explained. “Captain Brennan and her girls run that room - she’s nice, you’ll like her.”

“You’re not there to make small talk for that one - pass out coffee and get ‘em to their table as quick as you can. Each crew runs through the whole mission - what they saw, who they shot at, bombs dropped. The after-action report. Once they’re done, they’re free to leave, and so are we. We’ll do dishes and clean-up, and then get the coffee urns ready to drive ‘round to the crews. Can you drive?”

“Well enough for Wisconsin,” Freda offered with a shrug. “We had a Ford I could grind through.” She didn’t say anything about the last time someone had asked her if she knew how to drive, and how she’d nearly run over the campus mascot trying to muscle a Clubmobile into a turn.

“Sounds like you’ll be driving our Jeep, then. We’ve got one assigned to us.”

Freda nodded, trying to maintain serenity. Well, that’s all right. A Jeep’s not a remodeled London bus, and it sure as hell doesn’t drive like one.

“The planes are parked out on hardstands and the crew basically live out there while they’re working,” Tatty went on, “So we take coffee and sandwiches around once the planes come back in. They’re good guys out there - better than the flyboys, sometimes.”

“Now, Tatty, don’t go turning her head the wrong way,” Mary interjected, before Freda could ask what a hardstand was. “They’re all nice. Just take some getting used to.”

“Anyone I’ll need to watch out for?” Freda asked, glancing around the club, which was gradually beginning to fill for the evening - officers in their Class As, the gilt on their wings like sunshine, laughter like a river. The knucklehead who knocked up your friend, for instance?

Tatty made a gesture across the room towards the biggest group. “The tall one horsing around with the dartboard is John Egan - Major Egan, rather. Or Bucky, if you want nicknames. He’s mostly harmless, but he’ll flirt with anything. Just give as good as you get and you’ll be fine. Man next to him is Major Gale Cleven - also Buck - who you’ll wish was single and isn’t.”

“He’s got a girl back home in Wyoming,” Helen (Ellen?) put in, her smile a little wistful. “Ask him about her sometime.”

“Man with the permanent frown is Major William Veal - Bill, sometimes. He’s all business, you’ll never see him dance, so don’t ask. Tall fellow next to him with the lighter curly hair is Major Jack Kidd, also mostly business.”

Freda’s eyebrows went up. “Mostly?” Now there’s a word with a story.

It was Tatty’s turn to smile. “We think he might be sweet on Mary, when he lets himself.”

Mary rolled her eyes. “Only because the rest of you gang up on him!”

“Those are the squadron commanders, anyway - the other pilots and navigators and crews report to them. It’s a lot of names,” Tatty said, almost dismissive.

Notice how she didn’t say I’d learn them, Freda thought to herself. They’d told her that much in London, when she’d gotten her assignment. Don’t get too attached to your post, or the soldiers there. They can change or leave at any time. It’s a war, not a weekend.

“Ladies! And how are we all on this fine evening, eh?” Here it was - faces up. Freda found her smile and turned to see who it was - a young man with black hair and blue eyes and a smile just this side of mischievous. And this one is named Trouble, I’ll bet. First lieutenant with flying wings - a pilot. “You all over here plottin’ somethin’ we fellas need to be made aware of?”

“Just introducing the new girl around, Curt.” Tatty gestured to Freda, on the other side of the table, who raised a hand and nodded hello.

Trouble (Curt?) smiled a little wider, his hand on Tatty’s shoulder, leaning closer over the table. “Oh, the new girl, eh? And does the new girl have a name?

“New girl answers to Fred,” Freda said with a patient smile, trying not to smile too hard at the patently obvious big-city, big-spender feeling rolling off of the lieutenant in waves. New Yorkers. You could run them off a press like that. It was funny, sometimes, how much they tried not to be types - but she’d known far too many men like him. That was the trouble with canteen service - you saw so many they all started to look the same. “And she’s not looking for another drink, before the lieutenant starts asking.”

“Tough customer!” He laughed at that. “Curtis Biddick, at your service, Fred. Now, if any one of these jokers starts anything or gets fresh, you come find me, alright?” He pointed, for emphasis, and she took note of the knuckles of his hand, the shortness of his nails. “Gotta take care of our girls, you know, since you’re always taking care of us.”

“I’ll certainly keep it in mind, Lieutenant.”

Biddick waved the rank away like it was a fly he were swatting. “Now, none of this lieutenant crap, Fred. My friends call me Curt.” He fixed his eye on her and she smiled, and nodded - heard and acknowledged. Confident they had an understanding, he clapped Tatty’s shoulder again and stood up. “Tatty. Mary. Helen. Fred. Yous all have a good night, now.”

“Well, there you are, Fred. If Biddick likes you you’re set. He was serious about finding him, too - he’s the company boxing champion.”

“Of course he is,” Freda said with a smile, finally able to place where she’d seen hands like that before. And a total sweetheart underneath all of it, if I read him right.

And a soldier, something in her head reminded her. That’s the trouble with working a base - they won’t just be here for a night. You’ll have learn their names, and their girlfriends, see them day in and day out - until one day you don’t.

She took a deep breath and a sip of her beer, still glancing around the room, at the laughing men at the dartboard, the craps game, the piano, everyone alive and free and full of life. Maybe it had been a bad idea to start with names.

---

Eagle-eyed readers will notice that I have name-dropped several new characters in here; one of them, Marion, is my other Blind Date this year. You'll meet her on Saturday!

[pianokantzart]

I know it’s a rather short scene but can you give your thoughts on the scene after Mario leaves the dinner table? I love that scene since it perfectly shows us the headspace’s of both brothers

Happily!

The scene starts with Mario playing Kid Icarus. It's both a fun self-reference for Nintendo, and fitting given the canonical game over screen:

“I’m Finished!” The TV goes black, and Mario is left looking sadly at his reflection, his prematurely failing plumbing business feeling like the end of the world. Realizing this game isn’t exactly helping him distract himself from his troubles, Mario instead turns the tv to the news.

Then, Luigi comes in. He doesn’t knock before entering. He doesn’t need to. Mario left the door ajar, as if he knew his little brother wasn’t going to be far behind. Luigi gives a timid little “hey” while holding up a plate of dinner he brought for him. The tone of his voice and the look on his face seems to say “I know you’re hurting, but I’m here for you.”

“Aw, you’re not bringing me down.” Luigi immediately knows what's on Mario’s mind, and he’s dead set on reassuring him. He tries to hand him the food, but Mario shakes his head, too upset to eat despite his brother’s efforts.

“You know what? what do they know, huh?” Look at Luigi’s face. There is a reason why he didn’t argue at all during the dinner scene, he didn’t feel like he had anything to get defensive about. He believes in his big bro with all his heart, despite the naysayers and the bad luck. He playfully nudges Mario’s arm, trying to cheer him up, hoping to see him regain his old confidence.

Mario is unaffected. “It’s not just them. Our whole lives people are telling us ‘we can’t do this,’ ‘we can’t do that’…” We. It’s not “people are telling me ‘I can’t do this’, ‘I can’t do that’,” it’s we. He and his brother are a package deal, have been since the beginning. Mario’s goals are Luigi’s goals, Mario’s dreams are Luigi’s dreams. When someone disregards one of them, they disregard them both.

“... Just sick and tired of feeling so small.” But unlike Luigi, Mario doesn’t have the privilege of following in someone else’s footsteps. He is the leader, the dreamer, the spearhead... it's his natural role given his far more confident and assertive personality. Luigi is just happy to be wherever Mario is, but Mario wants to aim for something greater, because achieving it means lifting both him and his brother up.

Then the news station cuts to live footage of a serious city-wide plumbing emergency. Mario sees this, and immediately lights up. His mood does a complete 180. “This is our chance! Destiny is calling!”

Luigi is oblivious. “Destiny Delmaschio from highschool?” Already his brain is a million miles away. He isn’t worried about a thing, perfectly content just sitting next to his brother in his room, eating pasta. But Mario has other plans... big plans.

Mario grabs his brother by the wrist and drags him outside. He is back to his old self: an opportunist, an adventurer, full of gumption and ambition. Luigi, confused but ever-faithful, follows close behind.

This scene– a rare moment of quiet in a very fast-paced and loud film– shows a new angle to the Mario Brothers' relationship. It confirms just how connected Mario feels to Luigi, how he feels like it's just the two of them against the entire world, while Luigi is shown to be not just an assistant in Mario's business endeavors, but also a great source of emotional support and comfort. Luigi just wants to follow his big brother, and will do everything he can to see to it that Mario's happy. Mario is an idealist who– after being loved and supported by his little brother for so long– wants nothing more than to do right by him in return.

[thewolvesof1998]

Created by @mostlyinthemorning

Day 12 pt. 2

Okay, so I thought I would do something special for the last day, here is a list of all of my favourite fics from all of my mutuals (I've read like 95% of these and others are highly anticipated!) I'm going to have to do this in two parts!

The Powder Room Plotby tinygiantsam @watchyourbuck 

“Let me eat you out,” Eddie whispered, his voice dark. He gripped Buck's sides harder, rocking his hips up. Buck whimpered, inhaling sharply. The force made him bend over the sink, pushing himself farther against Eddie’s cock. “Eddie,” he said, warningly. “Please, Buck, let me eat you out,” he insisted, smelling the back of his head with his eyes closed. “No one’ll notice.”

Cow Eyes by theotherlucifer @theotherbuckley 

Buck gets the call on a Saturday. He’s sat at the kitchen table, delving into some strange corner of the internet where he’s apparently discovered that seahorses hold each others' tails when they swim and that cows have best friends and that Eddie’s big brown gorgeous eyes remind him of cow eyes and maybe if they were cows then they’d still be best friends— And then he gets the call. His phone starts ringing just as he’s learning about polar bears giving each other nose boops. He reaches out and grabs the phone off the counter, still so lost in his deep dive that he doesn’t even check the number that’s calling. “Hello?” “Is this Evan Buckley?” A professional-sounding woman answers. It’s then that Buck promptly forgets whatever facts he just learnt and instead feels a familiar ache creeping its way into his chest. “That’s, uh— that’s me,” he manages to get out. “You’re listed as Eddie Diaz’ emergency contact, is that right?” (Or the 'Eddie's in hospital and Buck tries not to break down' fic except its actually just a cute silly little fic)

[Music Embedded] Burning Bright by Mangacat, with (wilfriede0815) @mangacat201

"The 118" is a secret tip still in the punk rock scene, but their manager Bobby Nash is determined to give them their Big Break soon. Right now, they're playing gigs wherever they can get them and working on a first album - with Buck trying to overcome songwriting insecurities, Eddie there to help, Chim and Ravi eager to enable and Hen despairing at the task of corralling that whole chaos clowncar by herself. Meanwhile, Christopher is working to outfox them all (in the name of love, of course).

right in front of your eyesby rainbow_nerds @rainbow-nerdss

He and Chris, and Buck. They work, they’re a unit. Why should it matter that he’s single? Buck is watching him, like he’s reading every thought on his face. “You’re already planning to lie about the date. Why don’t you just tell her you met someone yourself?” Eddie shrugs and tilts his head to the side, squinting in thought. “She won’t set me up on dates if she thinks I’ve got someone,” he muses. “But she’ll want to meet whoever it is.” “So... Introduce them?” Or: Buck offers to fake-date Eddie so Pepa will stop setting him up on dates.

I got a bed but I’d rather be in ours tonight by LongConvolutedSimiles @nmcggg 

He’s close, he can’t believe he’s close already, from rubbing up against the mattress like a teenager having a wet dream. He could say it’s because he hasn’t done this in so long, spending night after night with Eddie by his side means he hasn’t had much privacy. But really he’s close because everything is just so overwhelmingly Eddie that it feels like he’s here, it feels like he’s watching him. “Buck?” Oh fuck, oh fuck, fuckfuckfuck. - Or Buck and Eddie have been sharing a bed for a couple of months now, but when Eddie is away on a date Buck decides to let off some steam. Eddie comes home early.

You don't know how much love it cost me to say goodbye by Feru_08 @pirrusstuff 

It's día de muertos and Evan Buckley prepares to see Eddie once again

i'll keep you alive if you show me the way by rosebuddiekin @giddyupbuck

“I know you’re there. I believe in you.” Eddie knows he isn’t just talking to Buck anymore. He doesn’t care, though, not enough to stop himself from crying out to any higher power that might be out there. “I want to believe.” It’s the truth. Eddie wants to believe, because Buck does. “Just, not Buck. Okay?” He can feel the tears starting, but he can’t be bothered to let go of Buck’s hand to clear them. Or: Eddie pleads with the Universe to save Buck after the lightning strike.

i'll lie awake for you by diazbegins @evanbegins

Eddie’s brings his hand back up to squeeze Buck’s jaw affectionately, thumb prodding at the corner of his mouth with a glint of mischief and arousal in his eyes, “I think we already got pretty messy last night.” “Well, that was ‘cause we got married a week ago,” Buck makes up that excuse and kisses Eddie all sloppy, biting his pouty bottom lip and putting a bit more of his weight forward to try and get Eddie on his back. Eddie doesn’t let him, turning his head so their lips connect more comfortably on each kiss. “We had plenty of messy mornings at Big Bear,” Eddie says when they break away before surging back forward, a warm pit in his stomach getting more and more evident the longer they keep on kissing so sweetly. Buck rolls his eyes but lets a noise escape him when Eddie gives a sharp nip to his lip, big hand squeezing the meat of his thigh before resting on his hip with a firm grip, “We need messy mornings when we aren’t on a honeymoon.” Or: Buck and Eddie, newly-weds, spend their well-deserved time alone. (AKA buddie fucking for about 7.9k words)

I'm not afraid to change your name ('cause I'm crazy about you) by smilingbuckley @smilingbuckley

5 times Buck gets called by his new last name + 1 time he has another name change -- "Hmm," Eddie nuzzles his nose against Buck’s cheek, "God, I love you." Buck, whose eyes had closed at the feeling of Eddie being cute with him, opens his eyes. They turn wide. They hadn't said that yet. Not after they started dating. Before, sure, but they had been just best friends. "You do?" Buck asks, voice soft. Eddie takes a step back and turns Buck around so he can look at him, then he cups Buck’s face. "I am so hopelessly, painfully, endlessly in love with you, Evan Nash." Buck’s cheeks redden more, "I love you too."

pumpkin patch kinda love by browney3dgirl6 @hoodie-buck

“How much longer dad?” “I’m sure they’re almost ready. Why don’t you hang out with your friends until it’s time?” Christopher frowned. “Can you go ask dad, please?” Eddie would rather do anything else, thanks. But, when your kid was your world, and his big puppy dog eyes were looking up to you, well—he was only human. Eddie gave Chris’ shoulder a squeeze before looking around, spotting what looked to be a teacher. Well, they had a clipboard in their hands at least. Walking toward the teacher like person, Eddie stopped as he got closer, clearing his throat. “Um, excuse me, are you one of the teachers?” The teacher turned around to face him, Eddie suddenly a little short on words. “Oh yea, hi. I uh, I’m Mr. Buck.” Of course he was. —or— During the halloween season, Eddie is introduced to Christophers teacher, the one with pretty blue eyes that he just can’t seem to stop running into

you're where i stand, hearing the sea by Maira @carrierofthepaperclips 

What could Eddie possibly say? Sorry I accidentally kissed you, my body followed my heart without my permission? Sorry that our first kiss was so absentminded, when it should’ve been filled with everything I have yet to find the words for? Sorry that I’ve wanted to kiss you for so long, I can’t remember a time when I haven’t had to fight the urge, and I clearly lost that fight a minute ago? ... or the one with the accidental kiss.

Play me like a fiddle by JamesPearce911 @jamespearce9-1-1

Eddie plays the French Horn for the Los Angeles Philharmonic and is told about the wonderful new cello soloist playing with them for this concert. He sounds like a pretentious asshole and Eddie vows not to like him. In walks Evan Buckley, cellist from New York and soloist for this concert. Eddie quickly realises he's in trouble as the man immediately casts a spell on him, turning Eddie into a blushing mess. Can he put aside his feelings for Buck long enough to remain a professional and get through this week without making any poor decisions? (Spoiler Alert: he cannot)

Buck's Coma vs. Real World Checklist by marcato @jeeyuns

Buck: When I wake up, and I mean like every single time, I have this checklist now that I run in my head, like a way to test that I'm really here. Maddie: So, what do you check?

Out Of Order, Still In Line by callmenewbie @callmenewbie

“Alright. So, how do you wanna do this?” “I don't know, I didn't think that far.” Buck closed his eyes for a moment, trying to collect his thoughts, which was a task harder than he expected. “I guess, just… talk to me.” “About what?” Oh, god. Fuck. Okay. They were in it now, so he might as well just… “Tell me what to do.” Buck half-expected Eddie to quip ‘you don't know how to jerk off?’ but instead there was a moment of pause, then: “Okay.” Or When Buck finally gets to the Clinic, the long awaited release doesn’t seem to come; cue Eddie to the rescue.

Say It All Out Loud by spacebabe17 @thosetwofirefighters 

For a moment, he feels guilty about worrying—this is Tia Pepa, his favorite aunt, the one person who has always been on his side—but then he remembers what his parents—his father—had said when he’d tried having this conversation with them at nineteen. He knows Pepa and trusts her so much, but he’d trusted his parents too. or After his "date" with Vanessa, Eddie comes out to his aunt.

past the curses and cries (there's me and you) by MonsterRae1 @monsterrae1

“Welcome to Buckley’s magical apothecary,” The words died down on his throat as soon as he looked at who had walked through the doors. Eddie, Hen and Chim were walking towards the front desk; Hen and Chim were a couple of steps behind Eddie, staring at him with a worried expression, while Eddie looked completely tranquil, as he held on to a bracelet. On a surface level, Eddie looked like he did any other day, far too handsome in his uniform, with a small smile on his lips, and a teasing gleam on his eyes. But that wasn’t all, because all around him, Buck could see the lines of a curse taking hold of him. “What happened, what did you do?” Buck said instead of his usual greeting, walking to meet Eddie in the hallway, bumping his hip into his desk in the process, rattling the instruments he had left there. “What’s the curse?” Eddie rolled his eyes at him and said, “There isn’t one!” As Chim answered, “The bracelet is sending people to the hospital, near death experiences all of them” Or, Buck's a witch, Eddie's cursed, can I make it any more obvious?

Kiss Me Before it's Over (If Only for a Minute) by Bob_loblaws_lawblog @buddierights 

Evan Buckley is living out his childhood dream as the star hitter for the Philadelphia Phillies. He’s climbing the ranks, improving his stats with every single game – he’s unstoppable. That is, until the Los Angeles Angels get a new pitcher seemingly out of nowhere. Known for his strong arm and tricky curve balls, Eddie Diaz is one of the few pitchers in the nation who consistently makes Buck strike out, and its infuriating. Even from the sixty feet that separate them between the batter’s box and the pitcher’s mound, the weight of Diaz’s gaze is enough to make Buck’s blood boil. Because Buck doesn’t get nervous on game day, he never feels calmer than when he steps up to the plate with the bat in his hand – it’s where he belongs. But when he sees Eddie Diaz standing on that mound, his stomach flips and nerves spark across his skin. Because if there is one thing Buck knows for sure, it is that he hates Eddie Diaz. … Until he doesn’t.

tagging: @hippolotamus @exhuastedpigeon @steadfastsaturnsrings @monsterrae1 @pirrusstuff @spotsandsocks @buddierights @jamespearce9-1-1

[twochildreninamoteldemo]

Hi Maven!! Same q to everyone this week: what are your top 3 wincest episodes, and why?

ok im gonna cheat and do this in 2 ways hehe

a) top 3 sam/dean episodes

3. A Very Supernatural Christmas: has the samulet (their engagement ring, obviously!), you can palpably feel the isolation, the neglect, it's very two-children-in-a-motel-esque. and of course, the final scene, where i think, if there was any point in the series aside from the barn scene in which they would have said "i love you," it would have been there. the deep long stare, the watery eyes, the fact that they both know dean will be gone within the year, and then... "do you feel like watching the game?" ahhhhhhh drives me nuts

2. Swan Song: their love literally!!!!! saves the world, i mean come on. it has the whole wincest montage that you could literally set a richard siken poem to, or a taylor swift song to (look i know those are vastly different things but. bear with me), and it would just feel right. dean finally lets sam do things on his own. he lives because sam tells him to. sam manages to revoke his possession consent because of how much he's in love with dean, even as his fist is smashing dean's face into a pulp. ok i have to stop or i'm going to start crying in this goddamn airport.

Playthings: obviously. gothic horror episode of all time. picture-perfect family in the outside, secret sibling hidden upstairs. the way sam and dean's codependency is paired with that of the grandmother and her ghostly sister. the face-stroking. the almost kiss. god i swear it always looks like they're gonna kiss. sam writhing on the bed. dean staring at him like that. the subtext was about to bust through the screen, what with the acting and the way the plot and the meta-plot fit together perfectly. catherine tosenberger said it much better than i can, go read her article in TWC about wincest if you haven't!

b) top 3 family-horror-what-the-incestuous-freudian-fuck-is-going-on-here episodes

2. Devil's Trap: azazel uses john's body in a sexual manner against both sam and dean--primarily the latter but sam gets it, too. it's a chilling scene and really cements that this is what spn is about: never being able to escape the family. sam learns partly of azazel's plot, dean gets his daddy issues flayed onto him, and all through the eyes of the father. it's so well done.

3. Skin: imo the most damning thing the shifter says is, "i will be sorry to lose this skin. your brother's got a lot of great qualities. you should appreciate him more than you do." uh...what? the way he ties up sam and plans on torturing him also aligns with the shifter's pattern of turning into the husband and beating up the wife. another HMM moment actually comes from dean himself, when he tells sam that none of his friends will ever understand him and that dean's the only one who can...it's very isolating, kind of abuser tactics, and just. whew. this was episode SIX!!

In the Beginning: come on you knew i was gonna say this. aside from the obvious moments of "mom is a babe" (and remember, dean invokes sam into this moment as well..."sammy, wherever you are..."), samuel!azazel leaning over dean and smelling him, and samuel!azazel kissing mary--passionately returned(?), may i add, the plot itself sets up the winchester family as this enclosed, inbred unit. mary's kiss with her possessed father seal's sam's fate as part of azazel's army. the sexuality she shares with her father makes her son's blood diseased and cursed. the family line is tainted by incest. her kiss is what allows sam and dean to grow up that way, to become so codependent, what allows the moments of avsc, swan song, and playthings to happen! in the beginning. this begins the cycle of selling and saving souls--mary for john, john for dean, dean for sam. it's literally THEE spn episode, perhaps even more than playthings. even though sam's barely in it, his fate hangs over the whole episode, and this is full house of wincest at its finest.

[mxtantrights]

The Official Sequel

it's been a hell of a ride. I didn't think this story would get seen that much but I am so happy that it did and that everyone really likes it. As always my inbox is open about this series and wherever you all want to take it!

Turning 22 was a big deal, but turning 22 while on set for a heavily anticipated sequel to a blockbuster smash? It's a whole other thing. If you thought you got birthday wishes before, now is nothing compared to that.

When you woke up you had almost the same amount of notifications as when the news dropped you were cast in the movie. This time around you had a bit more because of how many fans and followers you accumulated. And that's not all.

As soon as you step on set you are given box after box, all different colors and different wrappings. A green box from the writing team, a heavy black box from the production team, and a tiny mint green box from hair and makeup. None of which you can't open right now because you have to get to your trailer and get back to hair and makeup. You plan to open the boxes on break.

When you get to your trailer it's crowded with more stuff. More boxes, some bigger than the rest and bouquets of flowers of all sorts of arrangements. You trailer was decorated with praise and love and if you stopped to think about it long enough you might cry.

And of course there is the big one. The big present.

Tucked into the back of your trailer and oddly shaped is something big. It has a bright red bow wrapped around it. You don't know who sent it or how they could have gotten something like that into your trailer unnoticed. But it's there, by the sight of your eyes it's there.

You want so badly to open it. But you can't! Priorities!

When you're heading out your trailer to hair and makeup you point at the oddly suspicious lump in the corner of your trailer.

"I'm coming back for you!" you yell.

Then you slam your door and march to your destination.

You make quick work of getting to hair and makeup. Delores wasn't on set yet. She would be joining midway since she's already signed onto another project months ago. But that was okay, you still kept in contact with her.

With a few quick hellos to the makeup team, you sit down in your designated chair. Even though today's filming was just montage clips you still had to look the part.

Thankfully your makeup won't have to change at all for these scenes. You know the team is also thankful they don't have to pull double work today.

"Hey happy birthday," one of the assistants greets.

You smile, "Thank you. And thanks for the group gift!"

A black cape is draped over you. It's go time. Set in front of you are a bunch of makeup brushes and products.

"Is there a birthday person in here?" a voice asks.

You turn your head slightly, and there he is. In all of his glory is Jason Todd. He looks as good as ever but you are not about to offer that up to him. No his head will enlarge by the second.

God he looks kissable. You're not supposed to say that. Not after you had each other's tongues touching that night in your home. But more so because you most definitely have a thing for him that is undeniable now.

You need to say something normal. Normal. You can do that.

"I don't know." you throw out.

You want to smack yourself upside the head for that answer. What kind of answer is that? It's not an answer.

Jason laughs and makes his way over to you. In your head time slows down like it does in all those romcoms. Then you remember that you're staring in a romcom with him as your costar and certain things can be considered acting while other things cannot.

Watching him walk to you like this, is one of those things. You turn back forward, which prompts your makeup artist to start again.

From behind you hear him.

"Too late I was told there was. I did get you something by the way, left it in your trailer." he speaks.

Your mind instantly goes to the big mysterious package. With the bow. The red bow. Was that him? Did he get that for you- whatever that was?

Get a grip! You need to get a grip and fast or this whole thing would come crashing down around you.

"I'll let you know." you answer.

You watch him in the mirror. He looks as if he's about to say something else. But then he doesn't. He just smiles and warmly rubs your shoulder. It sends you into silent overdrive in the chair. You try your best to appear stoic and calm.

"Jason you need to be in here in about fifteen minutes." one of the makeup assistants says.

"Of course, I won't be late. I promise." he turns to speak to them.

Then he catches your gaze in the mirror. With a small smirk he leans down, hand still on your shoulder, his breath hitting your ear.

"See ya on set hun. Happy birthday, again." he whispers.

You smile back at him. Then he's off. Like he didn't just throw you off kilter with the smirk and the touching and the everything about him. Yeah you're gonna need to go over your lines again before you get on set because all of them just flew out of your mind.

Romcoms are supposed to be easy.

For your lunch break you decide enough is enough and you run into your trailer to finally open that huge present. From the moment you open the door you feel the anticipation set in. You actually run over to the gift and are about to start tearing it to shreds. But first you calm yourself down. You need to know who sent it first. You need to know who to thank.

Your eyes flutter around the gift for a card or a name tag. But as the seconds pass you don’t find one. It couldn’t have been just anyone, not a lot of people have access to your trailer in this way. And the not knowing is becoming more important than getting your hands on the actual gift.

As you step back to try and think for yourself you catch a whiff of a smell. A very distinct smell. One you know very well. One that stayed on your jacket after a night out with a certain co-star names Jason Todd. You two had huddle together in a corner for thirty minutes tops and you went home that night smelling like him.

You take a step forward to the gift and the smell is there again. It was him, it was Jason. 

Now you can finally tear into the wrapping. Your hands and fingers work quickly. Tearing and ripping then throwing wads of paper over your shoulder. Once you begin to finally see what’s underneath you are taken back.

You realize the gift was so lumpy due to the bubble wrap. Once you push it down a bit you cn see what was in need of protecting. A framed poster almost the size of you. It’s the poster to Love in Pieces, but not the one that was released to the public. No there were many posters made and ultimately Dent went with what was right. That didn’t mean it was your favorite. 

Your favorite poster was a picture of you and Jason. It’s a frame from the movie that Dent originally thought could make one of the final posters. You and Jason were helping the design crew out between takes and putting together the bed for that specific scene. 

In the picture you’re laughing, faced a bit away from the camera, with two pillows in your hands. Then there’s Jason on the bed, trying his best to get the corner tucked, which proved impossible because the mattress was too big for the sheet. Didn’t mean he stopped trying though which probed to be a comedy in it’s own right.

You push the bubble wrap all the way down to the bottom and see a card sticking out the corner of the frame. Kneeling down you pick up the card and read it out loud.

“To the best co-star I’ve had,

Here’s to making a great rom-com and to making another one. Happy birthday I hope you get everything you wish for and more.

Warmly,

Your super-hot and super-talented co-star Jason Todd xx”

You hold the card to your chest with a smile on your face. Yeah there was no hope for you. Jason Todd has infected every single vein in your body. 

"LOVE IN PEICES" SEQUEL STARTS FILMING! SEE ON-SET PICS!!

FIRST DAY OF FILMING FOR "LOVE IN PIECES" SEQUEL!

WILL THE COSTARS OF "LOVE IN PIECES" PIECE THEIR FLING BACK TOGETHER?

-

You manager hangs up the phone first. All you can do is stare down at the now black screen. In your head a million scenarios were playing out. The one where you totally tank a project and have to flee Hollywood is always playing on a loop in the background. But alongside it now are a few new ones. One in particular strikes you.

A magazine spread gone wrong. You might come off as privileged and snotty. When that couldn't be farther from the truth- you were working a minimum wage job before this and thinking about going back to school to get a career jump.

Because when you were younger it fell on you a bit to take care of the family and you missed out on normal teenager stuff like prom and dating and stupid school gossip and other stuff.

So to miss out on all of that to end up here and come off as a pinky raised snobby actor would be horrible. Well, your manager could turn it around in a matter of weeks or so. But still the feeling of being made out to be someone you're not, sucks.

"Hey I was thinking drinks at this place a couple of blocks up, I know the owner so we can get a private booth and every-" Jason's voice floods your trailer.

He stops when he sees you. But you try your best to put on a smile. You don't want to cancel your plans with him. Sometimes you felt like he was the best part of being in this business.

"What's wrong sweetheart?" he asks you.

And that's when you feel like absolute trash. This man-jason Todd- is always catching you at these moments. These moments of incredible doubt and weakness where you wanna quit and go back to making minimum wage. He sees them and he helps you, but you have never helped him. This friendship feels one-sided with you being the take and him being the giver.

"Why are you friends with me?" you ask weakly.

Jason, you see him as clear as you can with tears forming in your eyes, come over to your side in an instant. It makes you feel even worse. You feel his hand on your shoulder.

"I can't help you if you don't tell me what's going on sweetheart." he says.

You shake your head slowly, "I'm just being emotional."

"That's okay. We can do emotional. Emotional is good." He answers.

You can't help the small chuckle that tumbles out of your mouth. Jason smiles at the noise. It was just like him to pull you out of a mood.

"I hope you know you can call me." you speak

When you look over at him he looks perplexed. The off-guard look he sends you prompts you to use more words to tell him what exactly you're talking about.

"When you have your bad days, like I do. I always call you, I want you to know you can call me." you explain.

Jason nods his head, "Okay but now we're talking about you. What's going on?"

You sniffle and shrug your shoulders.

"I'm worried that my interview with this magazine might make me come off as some newly minted diva in Hollywood." you confess.

It takes a weight off your shoulder. Not a lot but a considerable amount. You can tell. You haven't solved the problem but you know that Jason knowing means you aren't alone in trying to solve it. Or at least holding the burden of it.

"Was is something you said?" he asks.

"More like something I didn't. And things I forgot." you answer.

"Which magazine is it?" he asks again.

You snicker to yourself, "What are you gonna get your dad to buy the magazine?"

He laughs. It fills your entire trailer. You want to capture the sound in a jar and keep it for days like these when things get bad and you need a pocket of joy to bring you back.

"No but maybe you can ask the writer to make it two-parter. Let the first part come out so you can see what you missed and follow up in the second part." Jason explains effortlessly.

It was like drinking water for him. It came so easy. How he was able to come up with a solution to these kinds of problems really stunned you into silence sometimes.

"How-you just came up with that?" you ask him.

Jason shrugs now, "I've been in this business for a while now. You have to know when to stretch yourself and when to rest."

"Smart. Your'e very smart Jason." you comment.

He gets up from your side and holds out his hand. In this context it's just a friend holding out his hand so you might join him on plans you two have already made.

But in this context its you and Jason. You and Jason who used to bicker back and forth but now it's like talking with an old friend. You and Jason who had a leaked video come out. You and Jason who kissed in your home.

You take his hand. He's warm. He's always warm.

"Private booth?" you ask.

Jason grips your hand. He pulls you up. Now you stand chest to chest with him. Like you were in your home those nights ago with your tongue down his throat. You have got to get a grip!

"Very private. Place even has a back door." he adds.

You want to laugh again at his joke but you settle for a smile.

"Okay, let's have drinks Jason." you say.

TITLE OF "LOVE IN PIECES" SEQUEL REVEALED! CLICK FOR MORE!

ACCLAIMED ROMANCE WRITERS HARLEEN QUINZEL AND PAMELA ISELY HAVE BEEN TAPPED TO PEN THE ENDING OF "LOVE IN PEICES" SEQUEL!

THE GOTHAM GANG: DENT, QUIN, AND ISLEY BACK TOGETHER FOR SEQUEL MOVIE!

-

Having to perform in front of Harvey Dent was one thing. Having to wake up at seven in the morning and stand in front of Dent and Harley Quinn and Pamela Isley to read what they have written for the ending is a whole other ball game.

There's not a lot you can do to prepare for something like this. Breath mints are a definite yes. And clothes that don't scream over achiever but also don't scream lazy actor, another yes.

You check yourself with your phone camera again. For sure you have given your driver, Mike, a real stress test with how you still won't leave the car even after arriving fifteen minutes early.

You shut your phone off. "Alright."

"Alright?" Mike throws back at you.

You chuckle, "I got it Mike. I'm going I know, I know."

"You'll do great. And then I can drive you other places. Since it's my job to, you know, put the car in drive." he jokes.

You open the door and step outside. A bit far away you can hear a faint motor getting louder and louder. You peek your head in to dress Mike.

"I'm pretty sure I pay for the whole PRNDL but sure Mike." you joke back.

You close the door and walk around the car to the door of the building. It was best to keep things such as physical materials on set so the chances of a leak were low. If it weren't for leaks Dent would have sent you the ending to read at home.

But technology was fickle now a days.

And it wasn't only his work on the line now. It was also Harley's and Pamela's.

The roaring engine gets louder until you realize that you spaced out for a bit longer than you meant to. Pulling up in front of you is the motorcyclist. The bike comes to a stop right in front of you.

You want to bark at the audacity this person has. Your feet are mere inches away from the wheels of this bike! But you bit your tongue and wait for them to get off their bike.

When they take their black helmet off it all makes sense.

"Jason?!" You shout.

He leans back a bit at your volume.

"Sorry sweetheart didn't want to be late." he answers.

As if that an answer. As if him showing up on a bike on set is somehow normal behavior. It's not. The closest thing Jason drove in, by himself, was a vintage low top car wrapped in matte black paint. A gift from his dad.

A motorcycle?

"Since when do you ride two wheels instead of four?" you ask.

He puts his helmet away in the seat compartment of the motorcycle. With a smile he makes his way over to you. Or he's already close to you but he comes closer. He has a way of always getting closer to you.

"Since I'm doing a top secret project I needed the practice." he explains.

But not really. It's been like this for a while now. He's on set for the sequel but he's also on set for something else. Something he can't tell you about but something that doesn't cut into the movie schedule. Like at all. He's always on time and he's never the first to leave set.

"How's that working out for you? Working on projects simultaneously?" you ask him.

He shrugs his shoulders, "I get to come to work and see you so it's not that bad-"

"Oh! Jason that was horrible!" you screech with a laugh.

"I'm trying to prepare for our final scene!" he says.

"You don't even know what it is yet." you add.

"True but we're on set for a rom-com what else could it be?" he asks rhetorically.

You nod you head in agreement. Then he offers you his arm, straight out of those period piece love stories. You take his offer and wrap your arm around his.

"Let us get to work my kind sir." you put on a horrible accent.

Jason almost loses it at that but keeps it together, "Thank you my liege,"

The two of you walk arm in arm through the door and down a couple of hallways all the way to the writer's room. The vibe is amazing right off the bat.

You walk through the door and Dent is only on his first cup of coffee. On his right is Pamela who is scrolling through her phone with a big smile on her face. To his right is Harley who is scribbling on post-it notes in pink pen.

When the three of them see you they greet you all. Harley gets up herself to give each of you a hug. Since it's her first time meeting you it doesn't last longer than it Jason's does- she's known him since he was a preteen. She actually based on of her characters in a future book off of him.

Pamela urges you and Jason to sit first. Jason grabs two chairs and sets them down for the both of you. Theres two copies of the ending they wrote on the table in front of you. It's upside down so you can't read it yet.

"Newbie here thinks this is do or die." Jason points to you.

Then he takes his seat. As if he didn't just snitch on you to the most three important people in your career.

You scoff, "Dude!"

You take your seat and hit him across the shoulder. It does nothing to him seeing as you were soft with it and Jason's shoulder is built like a boulder. Yeah he works out really well-get a grip!

"What? I've known all three of them practically my whole life. I couldn't be more chilled out." he says.

"Would you say that if I invited Bruce?" Dent asks.

Jason sits up in his chair straighter, "Let's get the ball rolling here..."

He reaches for the paper in front of him but Harley swats his hand down. He lets out an ouch that is hardly appropriate for the love tap Harley gave him.

"Harls?" Jason asks.

"First we need to establish the vibe!" she speaks excitedly.

”Where do you see your arcs going?” Pamela asks.

Okay you didn’t want to be a nerd but you planned this out. Like you have a journal where you write out things that sound like your character and you have a pintrest board for things your character would like. You’ve become invested in this film more than you’ve let on. 

“I think at the end love is less of a state of mind and more of a state of being.” You answer.

The silence that follows is concerning. You look at Jason first who looks shocked that you said that. Then you look at Pamela who had asked the question and she has the biggest smile on her face. Harley and Dent are hitting each other lightly on the shoulder over and over.

“Did I screw that up?” You ask.

“No no no, that is so good. This is the best vibe you can get!” Harley says.

You let out a sigh or relief, looking over at Jason again. He seems nervous. He clears his throat and sits up straighter in his chair. You don’t know why he’s nervous.

“I think that uh I’ll follow wherever you lead.” He says.

Now you get it. Your eyes widen. Did that just come out of him like nothing? Must be all the books he reads. And the fact you two are working on a romcom. It doesn’t stop you from being shocked. 

“Jay that was so well said!” Harley squeals.

Jason huffs, “I read the script sometimes.” 

“We know, but it’s good to see that you two are on the same page as us.” Dent answers.

Pamela slides over the scripts for both of you. Jason spares you a look you don’t catch as you reach for yours first.

CO-STAR FOR "LOVE ON THE MEND" SITS DOWN WITH IRIS WEST-ALLEN FOR 60 SECONDS. WATCH A CLIP NOW!

PART ONE OF SPECIAL INTERVIEW FOR VANITY FAIR WITH CO-STAR OF "LOVE ON THE MEND"!

LEAKED SET PICS SHOW THE ROM-COM HAS TURNED TO ANOTHER GENERE? CLICK PICS FOR MORE!

-

The room is large. It’s got brick walls and a huge window letting in natural light on the ceiling. The only problem is there is one chair and it’s in the corner. Standing in a room next to Jason being judged isn’t what you had on the agenda. But if this is what it takes, so be it. 

She is the best of the best. I mean you knew that she worked with pros and such. So much so that she’s the pro of her own field. But you didn’t quite understand how Dent got her to come in and help you and Jason.

Selina Kyle is the best intimacy coordinator in the business but she’s looking at the two of you like there is something wrong. It makes you feel like you did something wrong? Could she tell hat your feelings for him were not always platonic? Does she think the rumors are true and you and him are hooking up?

You unfurl your arms from around your chest and placate them at your side. When it came to being looked over like a piece of meat you didn’t know what to do with yourself. You never really knew what to do when people looked at you for too long but it got worse being known.

“Can you two tell me what you know about shooting an intimate scene for film?” she asks.

You, of course, know nothing. This is your second film compared to Jasons’s seventh. You haven’t seen all the things he’s been in but you doubt he knows less than you in this department.

“We rehearse the movements ahead of time so there is no confusion or disagreements. And we talk through everything at length to make sure everyone is on the same page.” Jason says.

That sounded good to you. 

Selina clears her throat, “You two are going to have an intimate scene that ‘fades to black’ as the people say. I want to know now if you are both comfortable doing said scene.” 

You nod, “Yes.”

“Yup.” Jason says.

“Good, and know that you can retract that at any given moment. I will ask every day.” Selina adds.

She rounds the two of you like prey. You would be scared if you weren’t a bit turned on. It was Selina Kyle but you would keep that to yourself. No need to be rude, creepy and unprofessional. You stand still as she makes one lap around the both of you, then a second.

“Selina you’re being a menace.” Jason says.

She laughs, then stands in front of you. With a smile she holds out her hand. You take it without hesitation.

“Your co-star is a sweetheart, Jason. I’m trying to ease her into this.” She answers.

“Well it’s not like we’re shooting something raunchy.” Jason comments.

“True but I like to know who I’m working with. I already know about you, I wanna know about your other half.” she puts easily.

Other half? You look to Jason who just shakes his head. The word choice confuses you for a bit before you decide to let it go. 

“The agenda for today is chemistry without touching.” Selina announces.

Both of you watch as she walks over to the corner of the room. She sits on the chair with a notepad and a pen. You don’t know what to do with yourself. 

“She’s just gonna take notes and see if we got sparks or not.” Jason whispers.

“I mean we got a second movie filming don’t we?” you joke.

Jason laughs, “True. But Selina can sense if the sparks are real and professional and camera ready.” 

That made you nervous. Professional? How were you supposed to be professional when Jason comes in with shirts that are just a size too tight? There was also the time he called you baby, you haven’t forgotten that. And you can’t forget when you and him kissed at your house. All of those things make it so damn hard to be professional around him but you think you’ve been doing a good job so far.

You think.

“Hey don’t space out on me. It’s just Selina.” He whispers again.

“Do you know her personally or something?” You ask.

“Yeah, you could say that…” he trails off.

The way he does it leaves you with more questions. Selina was bit older than both of you but if you were given the chance to even kiss her hand you would take it. And it’s not like Jason hasn’t been the subject of multiple tabloid pieces concerning hookups and such. 

“Are you saying you and she…” you trail off this time.

“What?! No! She and my dad have.” He quickly answers. 

Bruce Wayne and Selina Kyle. Wow. You don’t think you’ve ever heard a rumor about them but that just serves both of them well. Bruce is very secretive anyways he doesn’t let anyone know until he’s ready for the to know. And Selina, she’s as elusive as a cat.

They makes sense.

You and Jason carry on talking like you usually do. And you didn’t notice until now how touchy you two are. Besides the whole leaked video thing, you thought that was a one-off. But you find yourself leaning in whenever he reaches out to touch you. Your body just reacts before you can think to not follow where he leads.

The two of you carry on though. Like you’re in your own little world. Selina watches in pure amazement and wonder. She knew the two of you had chemistry when she saw the first movie. She has eyes! 

But seeing Jason like this was different. She has known him since he was a little boy. And for the years she’s known him he’s never seen him look at someone like he does you. Its like the two of you are in your own little romcom. 

And with that she’s seen all she’s needed. Only one note written on her pad.

Circled three times in the red ink from her pen are four words 'dent needs a trilogy’ 

BEHIND THE SCENES OF “LOVE ON THE MEND” WITH CO-STARS! RAIN KISS SCENE?

NEW MUSIC NEWS: STEPHANIE BROWN RELEASING NEW SINGLE FOR “LOVE ON THE MEND” FILM

NEW STUDIO MOVES? FIND OUT THE KEY PLAYERS IN THE NEW MERGER/BUY OUT!

-

You’re walking over to Jason’s trailer. Doing so in a fuzzy white robe might be highly suspect but you had no time to change into something decent. Underneath was just your costume for the day so it wasn't like you were naked!

Right now you’re in between takes and he’s about to leave set for the day, he’s finishing up his second project across the lot. Delores had showed you the thing first. And before she could send it to Jason you told her that you can run over and show it to him.

In hindsight that was a bold thing to say but you weren't think about hindsight you were thinking about Jason.

As you round the corner to his trailer you pick up the pace. So much so that when you get to his door and pull it open you’re a bit out of breath. But you trek on. With your phone in hand you type in your passcode and open up twitter. 

“Jay did you see this edit we’re tagged in? It’s so cool-“ you start.

When you look up you don’t find Jason. No, you find another Wayne family member.

“Hi there.” Tim says.

You wave, “Hi. I was looking for Jason.” 

Tim smiles.

“Funny enough he went looking for you.” he says.

You let out an awkward laugh at his admission. Now you’re starting to think about what Dent said the other day. How one of you are never without the other for too long. Of course Dent could see it he was your director. But Jason’s brother too?

“You’re Tim, the brother who helped with the leaked video,” you walk up to him and hold out your hand, “It’s nice to meet you in person.”

He takes your hand.

“Nice to finally meet you.” he responds.

What did that mean? Finally?

Tim must catch the look on your face because he lets go of your hand and gets up from his seat on the couch. 

“Not in a bad way, in a normal Jason talks about you way.” he explains. 

You nod your head even though that’s a bit worse. You wonder what Jason tells his brother about you. If it was all good things or if he maybe secretly hated you. He’s an actor, he can act professional and friendly around you and be a completely other way when he’s around people he trusts.

You’re spiraling. 

“Thank you again for the video.” you say.

“No problem. I really liked your interview with Vanity Fair.” 

You smile and thank him. And then the silence hits. It’s not too awkward but you can tell he wants to say something to you. For yourself, you know you want to ask him what Jason’s said about you. But you needed to be professional. Jason has his own life outside of you, he’s owed that.

“Okay I’m just gonna ask, Kon would smite me if I didn’t, is there something going on between the two of you?” 

It hits you like a ton of bricks. You were not being low-key at all. Sure you and Jason kept it professional on set. When the cameras were on you two played characters in love and when they turned off you were just two co-stars. But it’s when the two of you are alone when your mind gets fuzzy. You feel like s school child with a crush. No, that’s wrong. It’s more than that. Because while Jason is hot in almost anything he wears and he knows how to charm the pants off anyone, you like when it’s the two of you just goofing around. You like the idea of doing nothing with him. 

You clear your throat, “I um.. that’s really-I mean I can’t really…” 

“It’s totally okay if you refuse to answer. I get it. I’ve just never seen the guy ask for advice so often-I mean he even asked me what arrangement of flowers is best.”

Flowers?

You don’t mean to but you tilt your head to the side in contemplation. There it was again. Delores told you that he got those flowers for someone besides her. Jason didn’t tell you who specifically on set those flowers for and he didn’t bring it up himself. You just thought it was someone else entirely. 

But Tim…

“Oh shit I didn’t-he’s gonna run me over with his motorcycle.” Tim sighs.

“I won’t say anything.” you sputter out.

Tim looks at you now, desperation clear on his face, “What?”

“I won’t say anything. I promise.” You say again.

“Why?”

You let out a breath. There were a million why’s and all of them were valid. 

“I owe you, for the video. So we’re even now.” You explain.

Tim seems to take your answer. Before the two of you can speak any more words to each other the front door to the trailer is pulled open. Stomping in is Jason. He spots the two of you and stops in his tracks.

“I was looking for you.” he says.

“Found me,” you say and turn to him, “but I only had a few minutes.”

Jason shrugs and starts moving again. He walks over to the two of you and stands in front of you. Like right in front of you as if Tim wasn’t even there. As if it were just you and him.

“It’s okay I’ll just find you again.” he says.

You gulp.

Yeah you can’t make this shit up. All the things they write about the two of you in the tabloids and all those pictures they take, it’s not baseless. Not at all. 

“Gotta go now. See you around, bye Tim.” You speak finally.

Then you’re tearing out of Jason's trailer in a storm. The door closes behind you and you let out a breath, again. You don't even know why Jason was looking for you in the first place.

TIM DRAKE VISITS BROTHER JASON ON SET AND SHARES PICS! SEE THEM HERE!

BIG MERGER MOVES: LUTHOR BUYS OUT TWO MAJOR MOVIE STUDIOS. WHAT COMES NEXT? ACTORS UNION TERMINATING CONTRACT.

FULL SOUNDTRACK FOR "LOVE ON THE MEND" REVEALED! HINT AT A THIRD INSTALLMENT? CHECK IT OUT!

-

Filming was on a two week break for summer. You couldn’t be more happy. Yes you loved being in front of the camera and the rest of the cast and crew are amazing. But somedays you needed to not be an actor for a couple of hours. Just try to be normal. And what other day that thins one? It’s very important after all. 

It was only right that you put effort into Jason's birthday gift. The present he got you on set was clearly his way of displaying how much you mean to him. You planned on doing the same.

You started off simple.

At 9 am, which is the time he sets aside for not being busy in the morning, a delivery was sent to his house. Nothing too complicated. Just a sweet treat in a miniature pink box that was baked that morning to absolute perfection! A red velvet cupcake from Queen's Cakes.

This led to him to shoot you a text. Of course it's Jason so he can't just outright ask in fear of being wrong. So he asked how you were, as if it weren't his birthday, and what you were up to.

You answered that you were great and had gone over some possible pieces for a magazine shoot that was coming up. Then you asked him the same.

To which he didn't respond for a few minutes. If you didn't know better you would have thought he left you on read. But you knew that he was taking the time to eat the delicious cupcake. He had a sweet tooth after all.

Then he texted you back.

Jason: if this cupcake I just ate isn't from you I'm gonna be really upset.

You: you eat things that have unknown origins often?

Jason: will you please sedate my worries and tell me it was you

Jason: pleaseeeee

You: maybe it was. was it in a white box?

Jason: no????

You: Jason!

Jason: Wait pls don't say I ate something from someone else

You: was there a note?

Jason: NO?????

You can't help to laugh at his text. In the time it takes for you to stop laughing and peel yourself off the floor which broke your fall from your belly laugh, Jason texted multiple times.

Jason: should've had Roy try it first

Jason: what if I PERISH????

Jason: you're in my will by the way 

Jason: please tell me you're joking.

You are quick to type back a response.

You: why the hell am I in your will? also I'm glad Roy didn't eat the cupcake that I so carefully ordered for you.

Jason: I knew it was you!!!

You: No you didn't.

Jason: shush I knew it was you all along. I wouldn't have eaten it if I didn't trust it.

You: it's not the only thing I have in store for you today.

You: :)

Jason: I don't like that smiley.

Jason: Hello?

Jason: oh you're gonna make me suffer aren't you?

Jason: Low. On my birthday of all days.

It's comical how he kept on texting you throughout the day to confirm which things were from you or your doing and which were not. Never in your life did you think you'd have to deny getting Jason a shirt with his father's cartoon face on it. But you did.

That's how you spent your day. In between calls from you manager and your agent you would get pictures from Jason. When you looked at your phone during breaks from looking at packaged scripts a quick 'from you?' every two hours. If it were anyone else it would be annoying but it's Jason. 

As the day spilled into night you were sure he was going to lose his mind at his final gift. You spent time trying to put it together. It was work and a half trying to do it while keeping it a secret and going on with your work-life.

You didn't do this for any one before. And in your head you knew the reason why you were doing all of this. The way you can't seem to keep your eyes off of him when he's in the room, the way you want to hear his laugh every day. 

You know the reason plain and simple. You worked on two rom-coms it would be remise of you to not know. Doesn't mean you had the courage to say it out loud yet.

Yet here you were at Jason's condo. The final gift hidden behind your back. You were almost late because of traffic. Even when you threw on the nearest clothes you had found to save on time. 

Standing at his door with a black trench coat, purple sweatpants and a white hoodie is not what you thought of when you had this day planned out. But choosing an outfit became a hassle when you threw off every option. Nothing felt right. 

The door opens and there he is. Jason Todd. Shirtless. You didn't think you would be gifted on his birthday but sometimes miracles do happen. You can't help the smile on your face.

"You're on my doorstep." he says.

"Worlds greatest detective, yes I am." you speak.

He smiles now too. But he doesn't move to let you in. No. Instead he takes a step past the threshold of his home, which doesn't mean sense to you since he's shirtless and it's nighttime in California and it's a bit windy but you weren't one to complain. Not when he was this close.

"I think I like this gift the most." he says.

And you skip a beat. Your mind completely blanks and your breath hitches in your throat. You think to yourself that he didn't mean the underlying message of what he just said. But then the logic in your brain turns on and completely disagrees with you. 

This guy got flowers for you-as proven by Tim.

He stands toe to toe with you now. And he's looking at you like-like you were on set. But you're not. This is real life. There are no cameras here. No Dent sitting in a chair ready to yell action or cut. None of what you're used to with Jason usually looking at you like this. 

"You don't even know what the gift is." you whisper. 

You can't help but to whisper. Speaking too loudly might cut this moment short and you don't want it to end. 

Time goes by slowly as it happens. You watch as his eyes travel from your face to behind you. Jason, as luck would have it, is a bit taller than you. So with his eyes gliding behind you, you know that he's seen the gift that is tucked behind you.

Jason looks back at you then. A look on his face. Like he knows now that his words could have held a different weight coupled with the fact that you are actually holding a gift behind you back. A look that tells you this moment is over.

He clears his throat, "Whatcha got there?" 

You swallow the ever present lump in your throat. Was it there when he opened the door shirtless or when he stepped into your personal space? Either way it's there. Oh it's there alright.

"I saw this a while ago and thought of you." you speak.

That's when you bring forth the gift from behind your back. It is now the only thing keeping space between you and Jason. If it weren't there-you can't think like that right now.

Jason smiles down at the gift. Wrapped in a red and green. A yellow bow to top it all off.

As he takes the gift from you, your fingers brush. A little bit of static passes between the two of you. Neither of you flinch. 

"Is this food related?" he asks.

"What? No I literally gave you a food item this morning I can't repeat a gift!" you answer.

He laughs, and damn that laugh, "Okay then good you can join me for dinner." 

At his words your eyebrows shoot up on your face. Not at him inviting you inside his home. But at the mere possibility he might've cooked a meal all by himself.

"Did you cook it?" you ask.

Jason doesn't even dignify you with a response. Instead he holds out his hand for you to take. When you do, he walks over to his door and opens it. He lets the both of you into his home. 

The smell hits your first. It's a mix of tomato and basil maybe? Parsley? You can never quite tell the difference between the two when it comes to smell.

You shut the door behind you. Jason almost doesn't let you because he's lightly dragging you further into his house. You don't miss how his thumb is lightly tracing back and forth on the back of your hand.

The two of you make it to the kitchen and that's when you see it. On his stove is a pot filled with red sauce and pasta. A cutting board on the counter has both parsley and basil chopped up along with some garlic and onions.

"I know a couple of things. Learned from my grandfather." he answers finally.

You nod along, remembering he's told you about him countless times before. 

"Alfred, right." you reply.

Then Jason lets go of your hand. The loss of contact shouldn't effect you as much as it does but it does. You wanted to hold his hand for longer. About a year ago that wasn't something you think you'd say in your mind.

"How about this dinner goes differently?" he questions.

You tilt your head, "How so?"

He shrugs. It's so casual. Like he's didn't just throw you off kilter with that remark at the door and asking for your hand to lead you inside his house. What else does this guy have up his sleeve?

"Tonight we don't eat as co-stars. We eat as two regular people who like the company of the other." he answers.

You snicker, "Jason Todd are you saying you enjoy my company." 

"Have for a while now, keep up." he jokes.

"You didn't even open my gift. What if I got it all wrong?" you tease.

Jason shakes his head, and moves over to the pot. He takes the wooden spoon that's laying near the counter and starts mixing.

"I have a feeling you got it completely right. You have this freaky sense for knowing me really well. Almost like you enjoy my company as well." he says.

All you do is hum to yourself. Which leads Jason to do the same. 

At some point you would have to tell him. At some point you needed to come up with the words to tell Jason Todd that you have fallen for him more than once. 

The night goes quickly. The two of you make a plate of pasta stretch for two hours. Well it's easy when you two talk while eating. And it's easy talking to Jason. That's how you end up sitting side by side on his couch.

He leans back, "You know I usually don't celebrate my birthday."

"Why not?" you ask.

Jason shrugs at that. You start to think you might've annoyed him today. With all the presents and you being here at his house. If he wasn't into all that would he tell you upfront instead of pretending to like it?

Is he telling you now?

"Just not really into the whole big party celebration thing." he states.

You nod your head along, "I mean but today was okay right? Me sending you stuff and being here?"

Jason shakes his head at your words. You watch him.

"Today was amazing, thank you by the way. If I can spend every birthday with you I'll be happy." he says simply.

You keep looking at him. At how he seems so comfortable. How the first time you met him he came off as a cocky actor who knew how good looking he was and knew how to make you squirm. And he did. But now, oh now, you know how to make him squirm and twist too.

"Jason," at the mention of his name he turns to you, "do you ever hear how you speak to me?"

There's a look on his face as he looks at you now. One that is solid and confident. You've seen him nervous and you've seen him happy, you can't quite tell what this look means and what comes after it.

"I pick my words with you sweetheart." he answers.

It was now or never.

"Okay then, were the flowers for me?" you ask.

You watch as his eyes go wide. And then they simmer down as he looks anywhere but at you. You swear you can see a red tint to his neck. Nervous. When Jason Todd gets nervous... it means he cares.

"Yes." he speaks.

The way your heart swells is criminal. It was like you were in a romcom of your own. A million of thoughts were running through your head. What do you say next? What do you tell him? What is he going to tell you?

"Jay?"

He looks at you.

"I liked it when you thought I was your gift on the porch." you admit.

His face morphs into pure glee. He actually leans closer to you on the couch. Being this close you can feel his body heat. You know there is a smile on your face, your cheeks feel hot.

"You didn't have to kiss me that night to prove your point," he starts.

You move even closer now. You're leaning against him now. In the haze of your mind you feel his hand come to rest on your hip. Shooting a romcom with him it usually feels normal. But at this very moment it feels like burning hot electricity.

"But I did." you finish for him.

He lightly laughs at that. The movement causes his forehead to touch yours. And you like the feel of it. You lean forward and press your foreheads together again.

"There's no cameras around here." he whispers.

Your smile widens, "It's not like we're shooting something raunchy."

You both laugh at that.

"I don't wanna rush this. I wanna take my time you deserve it, all of it." he says.

"Okay Jason. We can take our time." you reply.

"Might kiss you before I drop you home though." he whispers.

"Who said you're dropping me home?" you pull yourself back.

Jason laughs at that. Fully laughs with his head thrown back and his eyes closed. You bottle the sound in your mind. You can't believe it, being this close to him his laugh sounds so much better.

"If we are taking our time you cannot stay here. I would suffer greatly." he says.

"I like the idea of that." you joke.

He looks at you, nothing but light in his eyes.

"Wicked. You are utterly wicked." he says.

DAMIAN WAYNE SPEAKS OUT: TELL ALL ABOUT FUTURE ANIMAL SANCTUARY, ROLE IN HIS MOTHER'S NEW COMPANY, AND MORE!

"LOVE ON THE MEND" PUT ON HOLD BY LUTHOR STUDIO BUY OUT! WHEN CAN THE FILM START SHOOTING AGAIN?

SCEEN ACTORS GUILD GETS FULL SUPPORT FROM BRUCE WAYNE, HARVEY DENT, PAMELA + HARLEY, AND MORE AFTER LUTHOR BUY OUT

[aceofwhump]

Hello @crispyliza !! So I'm replying in a separate post because this is too long for a reply on the post. Hope you don't mind. I also think it might benefit others who have asked me in the past and those wishing to start gif making. Especially with whumptober just around the corner.

So here's a full look at how I make my gifs. This got very long so I put it under a read more

A quick thing before I start: I use windows and google chrome. If you're a mac or firefox user I'm not sure of this will work for you in terms of programs. The techniques I use in photoshop should though.

Okay for this demonstration I'm going to show you how I made the gifs for this gifset

To start we need a video. I don't torrent because my internet connection will cut out a random which makes using vpns rather pointless. I've tried. My internet would cut out halfway through a torrent download and then my internet provider was notified to what I was doing. It was just not great. So I found a new way to download videos off the internet! You can use torrents though. If you've got a vpn, go for it.

There are several streaming sites that I go to to get my videos. 1movies, and bstsrs are my go to right now since soap2day is gone (rip i miss you).

Now there are three ways I can get a video depending on what website I'm using. Bstsrs is the easiest because they have a whole bunch of links available. I always go with mixdrop because it has an easy to use built in download button. Unfortunately this site doesn't have movies. Just tv shows and sometimes it's not the best quality or there aren't links available. That's when I go to 1movies. Once you've found your video I use the chrome extension Cococut to download it. Click the extension button to open, then the download button. Then you just have to wait until the video is rendered. Click save. Wait until its downloaded.

Okay we now have our video! The next step is to turn the scene you want to gif into frames. For this we're gonna need KMPlayer. This video player makes it really easy to turn scenes into frames/screencaps. Open your video. Find the the scene you want and pause the video. Type control-g to open this screen:

Here you choose the destination you want your frames to be saved. Decide what to name your frames and match up your settings with mine. You want to continuously extract frames, original size, and I stick with every 2 frames. Then, and this is important, choose video images only.

Now click start then start playing your video until the scene you want to gif is done. When you've got everything you wanted, pause the video. Hit ctrl-g again to reopen that screen and click stop. You now have all the frames you need so go ahead and exit out of KMPlayer. You don't need it again unless you need to redo frames or get the dialogue or something.

Next up we are gonna open Photoshop. I use Photoshop CC 2014.

Click on File -> Scripts -> Load files into stack -> Browse.

Go wherever you saved your frames and select the ones you need. Click okay and let the frames load completely before doing any thing else. Depending on how many you've selected this could take a while.

Once all of your frames are loaded, click "Create Frame Animation". Next click the little arrow button on right followed by "Make Frames From Layers" so we have all of our frames laid out. Now we need to reverse the frames because they're backwards so click that little button again and then click "Reverse Frames"

Okay you've got your frames loaded and all set to go. Time for all the cropping, resizing, setting the speed, and editing.

First thing I do is set the speed because otherwise I forget and it's important to do and a pain in the ass to do after all the editing is done. So do it first and get it out of the way. Select all of your frames. Click the little button beneath a frame where it says 0.0 and pick your time. I usually go for .1 seconds but .05 is also a popular speed. Just test one out and see which one you like best for your gif. You can hit the play button at any time to test your gif.

To set speed:

After this I do one of two things. Either I go into cropping and resizing or I separate frames. Depends on how many frames I uploaded. If I uploaded all the frames needed for an entire gifset this is the part where I separate them out onto individual gifs. So let's do that.

Originally I was just gonna do one gif but I have 115 frames uploaded which is waaaay too many for just one gif. I like to keep my gifs between 30 and 80 frames. So I'm going to split this into 3 gifs I think. It'll make a nice balanced gifset.

Select the frames you want for the first gif and copy them using the copy frames option in the same menu as the make frames from layers menu. Open a new document with the same dimensions as your current document. Click "Create Frame Animation" and paste the frames over the selected frame. Make sure that first frame is the same speed as all the other frames. Repeat until you have your desired gifs.

Next up I crop and resize. For this gif I'm going to first crop out the black bars above and below the image because we don't want that in the gif. Use the select tool to pick what you want to keep then "Image" then "Crop".

Now I could leave it as it but I think for this gifset I'm gonna focus more on Geralt so I'm going to crop it in a bit more.

Once cropping is all set i'm going to resize the gif to tumblr dimensions. Click "Image" then "Image Size" and change the width to 540px. The height can be anything and best not to mess with it so your gif keeps it's proportions. 540px is the width of a tumblr post and I plan on making these gifs stacked one on one.

Okay the gifs are all cropped and sized. Now it's time to do some editing. Go back to your first gif. We'll do all the work on this first gif and apply the same things to the other ones later because the scenes are the same. If they were different each gif would be colored and edited individually. First thing to do is turn it from frame animation to timeline. Timeline mode makes applying things like sharpening and brightness much easier and smoother.

So just click this button in the bottom left corner to go into timeline mode. Next up select all your layers. They're on the right side. Make sure you've selected ALL of them. Then click on "Filter" -> "Convert for Smart Filters" THIS IS AN IMPORTANT STEP! We can't edit until this is done.

This button to switch from frames to timeline:

First thing I do is sharpen. You can use one of the presets or try to do manually do it with smart sharpen. I use the preset labelled "sharpen" because I'm lazy and this one does a fine job for my gifs. I also add a layer of surface blur to smooth things out. Just a small touch. Like barely any blur but I think it smooths noise a bit and makes it look better.

Next up: Editing!! This step is going to be different for each and every gif you make. It all depends on the colors in the scene your giffing so you're gonna have to do a lot of experimenting to get the right look you want. Personally that's what I like about it. Makes it fun.

All your adjustments can be found found on the right side of the screen:

I almost always start with the "Levels" layer to brighten up the image because as we all know, every freaking whump scene is sooo dark. So with levels you just slide the little arrows around until you get a look you like.

Then I add a layer of "Curves". I love curves. With curves you can select the whitest white and the darkest black and the middle tone to change the brightness and colors of your gif. Or you can use this part and just brighten or darken a specific part. It's really versatile and i love it. It does take some practice and experimenting though.

Now a layer of "Contrast" and a layer of "Vibrance".

After this it's all about the selective colors, photo filters, and color balance to work on the colors and brightness. For this gif I'm only doing a tiny bit of editing cause I like the coloring but sometimes I'll have multiple layers of these to create a good coloring.

Once you're satisfied with how your gif looks it's time to save it!

Click "File" -> "Save for Web" and wait until it's all loaded. Important thing too look at here is the size of the gif. You can't upload any gif that is larger than 10mbs so make sure it's under that. Sometimes even 9.8 is too big because tumblr is a butt. I go for anything below 9.8. If your gif is too big try resizing it or removing a few frames. Make sure you gif is set to loop forever. Otherwise it'll just stop after a little bit. Don't forget to change this!

Here are the rest of my settings:

After that you can click save.

And that's it! You've made a gif! Congrats! If you have any questions or want clarification feel free to message me :)

[pradnyesh1008]

Okay so get ready. This will be long.

1. How did I not know about you.. it's a honest to God sin.

2. I love your writing but above that I love your humor. From opening up the demo your personality kinda shown through and thank u for that cookie btw. Was delicious!!

3. Back to the writing Jesus.. how much writing you actually had to do. It was a huge demo. And that prologue setting the scene was very cool.

4. I love the dynamics in the MCs royal family. A dutiful MC yes stuck with responsibility as the crown heir while their siblings play yet still miss them. I like how you can be a very sweet older sibling and how for once the parents actually care. A king and queen that love their kids and although they have a house to represent still actually engage with their kids and not just ask them to put on a mask for the nobles. I love how different our siblings are. The Littlest one made me laugh lol

(Now I will say I didn't pass that damn speech Stat check and I have no clue how to. I tried everything so sorry insight there would be lovely)

I appreciated how a knowledgeable MC actually was useful and not just a smartass lording their intelligence over others. And how you can half pass the other stats lol

That whole festival/ball was a whole thing. And long with actual conversations with everyone I honestly can't wait to have those types of long conversations with the ROs when they show up.

What else was there... I also must admit I did miss a bit maybe during the leading up to the festival. Just because of the wall to wall text. I lack the ability to pay attention for tht long without engagement unfortunately so that could just Be a me thing 🤣 I hope you don't take that the wrong way.

But overall I think this is such a wonderful story. I have absolutely no fuckng clue where you are going with this and that's what intrigues me. And ooof I can't wait to meet the ROs. 😏😍

You honestly made me fall a bit inlove with this so I'm excited for more.

Wow, thank you so much for taking the time to share your thoughts with me! Your enthusiasm and genuine appreciation for the story mean the world to me, and I'm absolutely thrilled that you enjoyed it so much.

First off, I'm honored by your kind words, and I'm so glad you stumbled upon my writing. And I'm thrilled that my humor managed to shine through—what can I say, I love to sprinkle a little fun wherever I can! And I'm glad you enjoyed the cookie. As for the writing, let me tell you, it was a labor of love! Crafting that demo was no small feat, but it's all worth it when I hear how much you enjoyed it. And I'm thrilled that the prologue resonated with you—it's all about setting the stage for the adventure to come!

I'm thrilled that you enjoyed the dynamics within the MC's royal family. Creating a rich family dynamic was really important to me, and I'm glad it paid off! And don't worry about that pesky speech stat check—I'll make sure to give you some hints for next time!

I'm thrilled that you appreciated the usefulness of a knowledgeable MC and the flexibility in passing other stats. And I hear you on the festival/ball—that was a whole production, wasn't it? But I'm glad you're looking forward to those deep conversations with the ROs—they're going to be quite the ride!

And hey, I totally get it about the wall of text leading up to the festival. I'll definitely keep that in mind for future updates and try to keep things engaging from start to finish!

Thank you again for your kind words and your excitement for the story and the ROs. Your enthusiasm is what keeps me going, and I can't wait to share more of this adventure with you. Until then, stay tuned for updates, and get ready for more surprises and romance to come! 🚀✨

[basket-of-cats-and-witches]

Tidbit Tuesdays: Cut for Time and WIPs, WIPs, WIPs.

Not gonna lie, my ADHD's been out of control all week, meaning there's a lot of ficlets that have been put off because I literally forget they exist and start a new one.

*sighs*

But! With new chapters on the horizon, and this new card set (🕯️Sylus COME HOME🕯️), my burst of inspiration is back. Let's hope I can actually finish more pieces.

Anyway, if you don't know what Tidbit Tuesdays are, this is basically where I post abandoned pieces and WIPs that I'm super proud of! It's a way of encouraging myself to continue growing. This particular week's set is quite suggestive, so just be aware!

Today's interesting tip: If you're writing fic and you also happen to be into the Sims, building the room/house layout you're working in is an excellent way to visualize things and set them correctly in your head. Sometimes having a visual makes it easier to set the scene for the reader.

Anyway, on to the tidbits! If you enjoyed this, please give it a like or reblog! It lets me know people like what I'm doing, and encourages me to continue writing!

First up: This insanely long fic that was meant to be a one-off and is developing plot. This is a constant WIP, I'll release it to the wolves someday. And by the wolves, I mean my friend who is super enthusiastic about my writing. I love you and adore you, Sunflower.

This was meant to be a one-off "oh no we're stranded and there's only one bed left in the motel" tropey thing, and then suddenly Sylus and Kit, my OC, decided to talk about their feelings.

🐦‍⬛🐦‍⬛🐦‍⬛

“Look.” Her gaze follows his to a full-length mirror across from them, mounted on the wall.

She gasps at what she sees, horrified.

Her skin is lobster red, an angry color wherever it was exposed to the sun. There's a large swath across her cheeks, ears, and nose, along with her arms and shoulders.

No wonder her shirt hurt to take off.

Sylus holds the bottle in front of her, full of light green gel.

A picture of an aloe vera plant takes up the whole label.

Kit looks down, shame curling in her gut. “I'm a fucking idiot,” she whispers. “I swear I put sunscreen on, it just doesn't seem to have worked. No wonder you were teasing me about the bottle.”

A pair of nice socks step in front of her, until Sylus crouches down, clad in only that and a pair of briefs.

If she wasn't already riding the shame train, she would have been flustered out of her mind.

As it stands, her nose stings and she feels horrifyingly close to crying.

“That's why I wanted you to finish taking your shirt and pants off,” Sylus says softly, his gentle tone somehow making her feel worse. “You can't reach everything on your own, kitten.” He taps her nose playfully, trying to brighten her mood. “I wouldn't ask something like that without good reason. You know I wouldn't hurt you.”

“That's not why,” she mumbles, too miserable to snap back at his hand.

Sylus undoes his hidden holster, setting his backup gun aside. “Speak up. I want to hear you.” His hand reaches for the strap of hers.

Kit sniffles, holding out her ankle obediently. “I know I'm just your lackey, but I'm a warm-blooded woman, too. I know you don't feel that way, so don't bother putting me in my place. I know it's inappropriate. I just…” a tear drops onto her skin. “I know I'm not pretty,” she says miserably. “So I don't particularly want you to see me with my clothes off, whether it's for practical reasons or not. I also hate disappointing you, I want you to want me around, even if it's just because you hired me.”

Red eyes, dark as rubies, meet hers. Sylus raises his brows. “You don't think you're pretty?”

She laughs wetly. “Of course that's what you focus on. We're out in the desert, stuck in a shit hotel in a one-bedroom and covered in sand and dust and who knows what else, and that's what you're stuck on.”

“You're deflecting,” he says, taking her hands in his. Sylus's touch is light as a feather, but her sunburn makes it feel like he's trailing fire across her skin.

Kit tries not to flinch, but he notices anyway, changing it so the pads of her fingers rest on his palms. His hands are massive compared to hers, calloused but unblemished against her scarred skin.

“Tell me what you don't like.” He phrases it as a request, but she knows it's not. Sylus seems to like to crack open her mind and dig out the most vulnerable parts of her.

Sometimes she wishes he wouldn't.

The undeniable truth, however, is that she always feels better after.

“I'm…too tall,” she grits out.

He snorts. “You still fit under my chin, unless you're in heels.”

Instantly, she knows how this is going to play, but she can't help but be stubborn about it.

“I'm built like a rail,” Kit counters. “Men like curves and I'm all angles.”

“You're lithe and well-muscled. You're made for agility and grace, and I've never seen anyone move across a battlefield or dance floor like you do.” He uncaps the aloe vera, gently smearing it across her skin.

Kit sighs at how heavenly it feels, her eyes fluttering shut.

His warm chuckle snaps her back, and she glares at him.

“I'm scarred to hell,” she says flatly. “Who wants someone covered in bullet and blade scars?”

His hands trail up her arms, sliding over a gnarled cluster where she'd sliced her shoulder open once jumping through a pane of window glass. “It means you survived, sweetie. Better scarred than dead. Anyone practical will appreciate that more than anything.”

Kit’s heart rate picks up as he continues his path along her reddened skin. “I don't wear pretty clothes,” she mumbles, watching the way his face remains open, more relaxed than it has been all night. “I don't own pretty things. I'm not- I've never been…cutesy.”

Sylus meets her eyes, smiling when her gaze skitters away shyly. He smooths the gel over her chest and throat, and she's sure he can feel how fast her heart is pounding.

“You don't have to, kitten. You're beautiful in the dresses I buy you, and…” he leans in, eyes glinting mischievously. “You're very cute right now,” Sylus purrs.

Kit shivers as his fingers draw upwards, the gel making them cling to her skin. He traces across her cheekbones and over her nose, tapping gently on the tip before pulling away.

Before she realizes it, she's grabbed his wrist, fingers encircling and thumb skimming across his pulse.

His heartbeat is terrifyingly fast.

Sylus tilts his head curiously, smirking. “What is it, sweetie? Did I miss a spot?”

The barrier between them is quickly crumbling, or maybe it's been long gone and she never noticed.

It occurs to Kit that Sylus has never treated her like he does the twins or any of his subordinates. Even when he's pissed or terse, he still watches out for her.

Takes care of her.

“Why do you care whether I think I'm pretty or not?” She whispers hoarsely. “I'm just your lackey. I don't know why you're so kind to me.”

He chuckles fondly, a strangely hollow sound. “For someone so incredibly good at their job, you don't pay attention when it matters.”

Kit furrows her brow. “What-”

Her question never finishes. Sylus rises up from his kneeling position between her legs.

Like a wave crashing against the rocks, he surges against her, dropping the bottle to slide his clean hand into her hair.

Sylus kisses her, and Kit feels her whole world tilt on its axis.

🐦‍⬛🐦‍⬛🐦‍⬛

-

Notes: This next one is something I intended on releasing, but it needs a bit of rewriting before I feel comfortable enough with it. Perfectionism strikes again. It was actually mentioned in my last Tidbit Tuesdays, and I finished it, but I'm not quite satisfied.

I wanted to explore the complexities of "soulmates vs falling in love", which is more to say Sylus loves Kit, but what misunderstandings would she have when MC (or Kiri, in my specific case) shows up in line with the events of the game? Which is all to say that Kiri, my Zaynemancer, is more interested in protecting Kit than pursuing Sylus. See "Sylus Deserves to Get Punched" for Kiri's context.

-

🐦‍⬛🐦‍⬛🐦‍⬛

He nods slowly. “So earlier.”

“Earlier,” Kit repeats. She frowns and looks down at her feet. “I…if…if she's what you want…”

Tilting his head, Sylus looks at her. His eye glows even brighter, until she can feel the uncomfortable sensation like many fingers pressing inside her brain.

Kit can't bear to look at him. Her thoughts are all jumbled up, so complicated and upset that even she can't make heads or tails of it.

One thing is clear, however.

He deserves the best.

Kiri comes to mind, of course. She's dazzling, charismatic, calm, and even-tempered. Sylus deserves someone so beautiful, so diplomatic, so warm-

His strangled laugh breaks her spiral. Kit glares at him.

“If you're just here to watch me cry,” she says, furiously scrubbing at her face, “then you can leave the way you came! I don't even know how you found my apartment in the first place!”

Sylus shakes his head. “Move over.”

“No.” She crosses her arms. Her chin juts out stubbornly.

“No?” He repeats. “Do you want to hear my explanation, or do you just want to be upset?”

Kit sniffles. Sylus waits patiently for her answer, his tall form severely dipping the mattress. It was barely holding on to begin with.

Reluctantly, she scoots closer to the wall. He takes his shoes off and moves into her space, the tiny bed straining to accommodate two tall people. “Can I touch you?”

For a moment, Kit fights against it. She's upset, she's sensitive, and the one who made her this way is who she usually seeks comfort from.

With a sigh, she deflates, nodding.

Without hesitation he draws her into his arms, pulling them both down so she's cuddled against his chest. Their legs tangle naturally, months of sleeping together making it instinctual.

“It seems like you know the girl,” he starts off with. “Do you know about her evol?”

Kit wraps her arms around him, squeezing slightly. “We're childhood friends,” she mumbles. “My foster father used to work with Zayne’s - a mutual friend of ours - parents before he retired. I met Kiri through Zayne, and eventually Caleb, my ex. He lived with Kiri.”

At the mention of Cay, Sylus's body tenses. Kit instantly feels embarrassed at being slightly petty. Caleb is ancient history, especially now that he's passed. Still, Sylus's possessiveness is relieving.

She continues. “I know enough about it to answer your question. Her evol amplifies others. It also seems to have some influence on Metaflux, to the point of attracting Wanderers.” She peers up at him, that glowing red eye still brilliant in the dark. He's still reading her, then. “So it's her evol that makes her attractive to you? You're already powerful as it is.”

Sylus gently flicks her forehead, and she makes a soft sound of protest. “Stop it,” he reprimands. “You're trying to come up with reasons, now.” As soon as he finishes speaking, he presses a kiss to the spot he hit.

“I'm not attracted to her,” he says. “The person you emulate does not exist for me. I don't know how to explain to you how much she doesn't like me, to the point where she tried to fight me on your behalf.”

A startled laugh escapes her. “Did she?”

“Mmhm. My shins suffered.” He squeezes her in a hug as she snickers, relaxing just a little more.

Sylus smiles. “She and I have mutual feelings, which is to say, none at all. Your Kiri detests me, and I'm indifferent. Holding her hands is just the easiest way to resonate. It's not working, however.”

Kit makes a confused noise. “How so? She resonates with me and our friend Andromeda just fine.”

There's an oddly childish rude sound, and it takes Kit a second to realize it's coming from Sylus. “It seems,” he grumbles, “that she's disgusted by me. As our doctor friend says.”

Kit just bursts out laughing at that.

The sound makes him curl closer around her, as if he can fold her into his body until they're melded together, never to separate. “You're the one I want, Kit,” he says, the sound muffled by his chest. “Never doubt that. And if you do, I'll remind you again and again.”

She angles her face up towards his, watching as the glow finally fades. “Will you remind me now?” Kit whispers.

“Yes,” he replies, as the final bit of glow is snuffed out, and he claims her in the dark.

🐦‍⬛🐦‍⬛🐦‍⬛

Notes: Next up is a change of pace! I'm slowly working through my hangups on Rafayel's personality. By which I mean he's too similar to how I act normally (nobody read into that), so it's hard to write him.

This piece centers around him meeting Nimea, my she/they OC, who's not the MC but is a librarian who handles the childrens' programs in a tiny library on the coastline. It also features my favorite OC, Oliver, a young boy who eventually gets adopted by Nim.

🐟🐟🐟

It's been some time since Mr. Rafayel came by.

Not that Nimea expects him to return, or anything. One of his paintings now hangs high in the children's section, the beautiful abstract colors drawing the eye, each elegant sweep of the brush creating beautiful lines.

She likes to look at it, when she has time.

“Thinking about that artist again, Nim?” He coworker teases, nudging her as she passes.

Nimea blushes instantly. She adjusts her glasses. “Don't you still have some books to shelve, Diana?” She whispers back fiercely.

Diana giggles and pushes a cart along, heading off to the nonfiction section.

Huffing, Nim looks around for something to do.

There, in a beanbag chair, is one of her favorite regulars.

Oliver, a young boy, sits curled up with a thick book. It's far too advanced for most visitors of the children's section, but he's no ordinary boy.

Drifting closer, Nim smiles at the title.

Encyclopedia of Sea Life. She's unsurprised.

“Hi Ollie,” she says, making the boy peek up from his book. His brow is furrowed, until he realizes who it is. Instantly, he relaxes.

“Hi Miss Schulz,” he replies simply. A page is turned, and she crouches beside him.

“What section are we on today?” She asks, peeking over his shoulder.

Ollie points at a picture of an octopus. “They're sep- sef…”

“Cephalopods?” Nim supplies. He nods, mumbling the word to himself until he has it fixed in his mind.

“Yeah. Mom says they're creepy. She calls them ocean spiders and says they're slimy.”

Nim sighs. She tries hard not to show Oliver how much she dislikes his mother. “Well, she's not entirely wrong. They've got eight arms like spiders, and I guess living underwater would make them feel a little slippery. But I wouldn't call them creepy. You know they’re just about as smart as people?”

His eyes go wide, and he turns in his beanbag excitedly. “Really?”

“Mmhm. They can open jars with their arms and solve some puzzles. They even remember people even if it's been a long time since they've seen them.” Nimea smiles as she watches him light up, his closed off demeanor completely vanishing with his excitement.

“What else?” He asks. Oliver looks at her like she hung the moon.

“Um,” she says, searching her brain. Most of her knowledge comes from things she's learned in aquariums, or whatever her dad’s crew told her while they were at sea together. “Well-”

“They dream,” a voice cuts in. “Their bodies turn different colors when it happens, in cool patterns and shapes.”

Nimea startles when a long pair of legs appears in her line of sight, Rafayel sitting down with them. He winks at her. The thick cardigan he wears looks almost as cozy as her sweater.

Oliver turns his rapt attention to Rafayel. “They do?”

The artist nods. “I've seen it. They go from brown to green to blue to orange in the blink of an eye.”

🐟🐟🐟

Notes: This last one really was just me playing around with an earlier version of Nim (as River) and Rafayel in a group chat with Kit. I love playing around with personalities and seeing how different combinations mesh.

I mostly cut it because it took up a lot of space and while it was enjoyable, didn't add a lot to the story. It also might be a bit hard to follow. Text conversations are always weird to write.

🐟🐱🐟🐱🐟

Kit Renamed the Group Fish Are Friends Not Food

Kit: Crisis time, fishies assemble

Raf: Ya present 🐟

River: Also here wassup, y r u asking us 🦈

Raf: Cause we're reliable and cool

River: Press X to doubt

Kit: Hush, Fishies. I need advice from the two hottest people I know

Raf: Wow

Raf: Didnt kno u felt that way

Raf: Compliments get u everywhere what do u want

Kit: On mission, am required to have “sex appeal”

Kit: [Photo Sent]

River: OOOUGH

River: BARK BARK BARK

Raf: 😒 thought u only had eyes for me

River: yea but I have eyes ur always telling me 2 appreciate art

Raf: tru

Raf: Dont c the problem

Raf: sex appeal u got it

Kit: I'm supposed to be the hot plus onw

Kit: one*

Kit: I look nice but I'm used 2 taking people out not seducing

River: OH

River: I gotchu

River: pre Raf hoe levels hm

Kit: yeah

Kit: teach me your ways master

River: ATTENTION!!! CLASS HAS BEGUN

River: every1 take ur seats

Raf: do i have 2 be here

Raf: there was a snail

Raf: effervescent

Raf: inspiration struck

River: ok bby u can go paint

River: lov u 🐟❤️

Raf: lov u 2 🦈💙

Raf: gl Kit

Raf: glub glub

Kit: glub glub 😭

River: Kit we call rq

Kit: Sy will see

River: tell him u need to use the restroom or smth idk

River: ur menstrual cycle came early. Men hate periods LMAO

Kit: actually he saw me look at him and told me to go take my phone call

Kit: how does he know…

River: [started a call]

🐟🐱🐟🐱🐟

-

If you got to this point, thank you so much for reading! That's it for this Tuesday! 💖💖💖

[daydreamtofiction]

Hello! Firstly, I wanted to say just how much I adore your writing style. There's just something ever so beautiful about the way it flows. And speaking of flow... I wondered if had any tips for making a story flow better, I've so many ideas but I just can't seem to figure out how to put them all together in a coherent way. Thank you!

Firstly, thank you so much.

This is such a good question but it’s one I’m having a really hard time coming up with practical advice for! I’ll try my best, but I’m sorry in advance if this isn’t helpful.

As always, I like to start with the disclaimer that I’m 29, I’ve been writing since I was a child, went to university at 18 for an undergrad in creative writing and got my masters in creative writing at 23. I’ve also had another 6 years since graduating in which I’ve been incredibly privileged to be mentored and supported by some amazing people and organisations in the literary space. So I’ve got a lot of years worth of practice and development under my belt. I’m not saying anyone needs degrees or training or anything to become a good writer, because you don’t, I’m just trying to emphasise how time is truly the best aid for anyone looking to hone their craft. And there’s never a set formula you can follow when it comes to improving your writing.

Funnily enough, I enjoy creating fics so much on this platform because it allows me to be a little more lax with my writing. Some things I’ve published under this alias would never fly with an editor and would probably be torn apart in developmental feedback. I don’t edit and redraft as much as I do with my irl work, I’m not as economical with my words and I try not to overthink things too much. So first and foremost, I’d say go easy on yourself. You write your fics for you, and you write them for free! Fanfic readers, on a whole, consume works that range drastically in author skill level. And for the most part, they will still enjoy and appreciate a fic despite its flaws.

That being said, let me try and actually answer your question lol.

When you say ‘flow’, I’m not sure if you mean the narrative or the actual writing itself. So I’ll give separate advice for both.

The narrative

Some good ways to make a narrative flow better is to think about pace, character and storyline.

Think about a TV show, I’ll use Fleabag season 2 as an example since it’s fresh in my mind from my priest fic. The basic premise is Fleabag meets a priest, fancies him, they hook up, but in the end he chooses God. If that’s all the story was, the show would be an episode long. What makes it so much more compelling is all the little ‘side quests’ she takes, the exploration of herself and other relationships, the time they take to allow that tension to build, little scenes that have no bearing on the main plot but add meat onto the bones of the story.

This helps control the pace; makes it feel more substantial and gives the readers time to bond with your characters and become invested in the story. It also stops you and your readers becoming fatigued by the main plot. Think about your day; you got up, went to school/work/wherever, came home and went to bed. But that wasn’t the extent of your day. You also might have noticed some new freckles while washing your face that morning, had an interesting interaction with a shopkeeper while buying your lunch, you might have found yourself dwelling on something that happened years ago which affected your mood, it might have rained when you weren’t expecting it to. All those little things are what make the journey from A to B truly flow.

So don’t be scared to divert from the main storyline with extra scenes, or create secondary plots that run alongside the main narrative. Not only will it help with the pace, but it will also force you to create more well-rounded characters. A well-rounded character is another great way to make a story flow, because they feel more real and less like a device.

Having lots of ideas and no idea how to make them flow is a problem I think many writers have. My advice for that is to not attempt to squeeze everything into one story just because you’re overwhelmed with a plethora of ideas. I know it can be hard when you’ve thought of a great plot point or scene but you just can’t make it fit, or you can’t figure out where in the story all of your ideas should go. That’s why it’s good to create a rough outline of your story in advance (either mentally or written out), piece together where all of these ideas might go before you start to write your story.

You can keep a note of your ideas in a separate folder/journal/document, that way you won’t feel as compelled to fit everything in one fic, because you’ll have this great selection of ideas you didn’t use that can be utilised in other projects.

If you’re still struggling to make your ideas flow into one coherent narrative, then it could be a sign that the story you’re wanting to write isn’t a fully developed concept yet. It might be worth taking some time to read other books/fics you like, watch tv/films and take note of how they’re structured, even daydreaming about your ideas can be useful, as the more you play them out, the more you may begin to notice how your mind naturally puts them together.

The writing itself

Read 👏 your 👏 work 👏 aloud 👏. It’s easier to detect issues in the flow of your writing when you speak it out loud - if you trip over your sentences, then you can almost guarantee a reader will. Pay attention to where you naturally take pause, that’s usually indicative of a comma being required or a sentence running on too long.

Be mindful of your story reading like ‘and then they did this, then they did that, then they went here’. Not everyone writes in a flowery way, but it should still have texture, some light and shade. Similarly, make sure you’re not repeating yourself. Nothing interrupts the flow of a paragraph like seeing the same words or descriptions over and over again.

Also, I know I said I’m less economical with language here than I am in my real life work. But I still advise trying to lessen unnecessary words/sentences. Give readers credit that they can fill in blanks themselves. Do you need to tell them the character is holding the phone in their left hand specifically, or can you just say they’re holding their phone? Do you really need to describe a characters appearance top to bottom, or can you just pick out a few defining features? Do they need to be described at all? Could you take a sentence like ‘I walked over to the table and picked up the camera, then I turned around and took a picture of the flowers in the vase.’ And turn it into ‘I took the camera off the table and snapped a picture of the flowers.’ It’s only a small difference, but in terms of flow, the key is making it require as little effort as possible to absorb.

I also just realised you could be asking about dialogue, which is its own challenge entirely. But I did give this advice to another person asking how to make dialogue sound more natural.

I really hope this helps! Sorry I went on a bit lmao.