#( and i'm totally thrilled for this!!!! )

[a-memory-a-distant-echo]

wip wednesday—well, it's still wednesday somewhere.

have a bit of the fic that i'm not writing, which is unfortunately one of only two things my brain is currently willing to produce words for.

Fang Duobing jerks awake into the grey light of morning. In bed next to him, Li Lianhua lies still and silent. His breath isn’t rattling the way it has since they found him on the beach. He’s not shivering. He always shivers.  Fang Duobing's hands hover anxiously, and tears spill down his cheeks, because this stillness can mean only one thing; can mean only that after everything, they’ve failed. He’s failed. Li Lianhua died right next to him, pressed against his side, and he didn’t even notice. The feeling catches in his throat and chokes him, and a desperate, gasping sob falls from his mouth. He carefully keeps his hands to himself, burying his face in them rather than stretching them out, because when he touches Li Lianhua, it’ll be unavoidable. It will be real, and he’s not ready to live in that world yet, not when he can cling to this one, tears or not, for even a moment longer.  ‘Xiaobao?’ Li Lianhua’s voice is morning-rough but steady, and Fang Duobing discovers that his hands move of their own accord, pawing through the blankets to find Li Lianhua.  ‘Xiaohua,’ he gasps, still shoving blankets aside. ‘You’re—’ His hand touches warm skin, and he gives up removing the rest of the blankets and flings himself on top of Li Lianhua, as careful as he can bear to be, but desperate to know that he’s still there. Fang Duobing rests his forehead on Li Lianhua’s bony shoulder. ‘I thought you were dead,’ he says. ‘You were so still; you were so—’ ‘What have you done?’ Li Lianhua cuts him off so sharply that it makes him pull back far enough that he can see more than the shoulder directly in front of him. ‘I was so scared,’ Fang Duobing says. ‘I  thought—’ ‘What have you done?’ Li Lianhua asks again, sounding panicked. 

[hawkland]

If we'd gotten the Heaven reunion we deserved...

[i3utterflyeffect]

how the the Showdown different in the untitled time travel au? given that TDL causes less damage, could TCO be less willing to fight them. ooh, untitled could drag TCO to alan's desktop to show the virus's damage and harm to stick figures.

bonus: the idea of untitled drawing with TSC is so cute...TSC asks him why their (TSC/alan's and untitled's) drawing styles are so similar and untitled bluescreens. "uh well we are related :)"

IT TOOK ME A WHILE TO REMEMBER SAYING THAT. but maybe... i could see him intervening instead of Chosen honestly!!!! he KNOWS what they're planning to do with the virabot, and honestly? he's still very biased about this i think. he's viewing it under the thought process of both 'dark is going to get hurt' AND 'dark will hurt the others', but he can't exactly tell them that....

i'm having trouble having ideas for how things could escalate in a good way to the point they do is the only problem, but it's possible he intervenes in the middle of dark and chosen already fighting???

maybe chosen and dark terrorized the internet behind his back instead???

if that's the case. WELL THEN. he'd say some things that he'd regret, i think, including possibly comparing dark to user!alan >:3c

things go very similar to canon, and they end up having to rescue the CG, but his reaction is pretty notably more extreme than Chosen's. rather than 'ugh, this is my problem now, isn't it?' it's more 'OH SHIT, MY STICK FRIENDS ARE GOING TO DIE', so he pretty much immediately takes off to save them!

i think it's this point where it becomes obvious that he knows something Chosen doesn't, and it's kind of terrifying, because suddenly he goes from being the calm (and usually pretty quiet) stick they're familiar with to complete panic mode.

he tries to stop Dark, but it goes very unsuccessfully.... so he basically is forced to watch as not only the CG is killed, but also as SC kills(?) Dark.

he is very, very freaked out by this.

he knows SC pretty well, so unlike Chosen, he figures out pretty quickly that xe has no idea what the hell just happened, but he's not sure if xe should know. maybe not yet. killing a person isn't exactly something that you're going to be able to just be able to get over, even if you only learn after the fact

anyway IN RESPONSE TO THE BONUS. THAT'S SUCH A FUNNY THOUGHT.... ESPECIALLY IF SC JUST GOES TO ALAN AND GOES 'why didn't you tell me you knew him?????'.

[mermaidsirennikita]

I'm sorry, and I say this as someone who loves a lot of books with an accidental pregnancy in them, but like...

If you're writing a contemporary romance set in the now times, and your heroine gets knocked up in like a one night stand, and she isn't like, specifically crazy and attempting to get pregnant by a random, if she's genuinely not at all trying to get pregnant or planning on a pregnancy...

I'm not saying you have to have her consider an abortion, but the idea of her being like "this is all hunky-dory", even if she wants a baby in the long term, is INSANE

Like... in this economy? In this current world? In a reality wherein even if you don't typically support abortion, you know you can't have one even if it threatens your life depending on where you live? Not second-guessing your accidental pregnancy or having negative feelings at all is INSANE and to me it makes your heroine unrelatable, even if she was knocked up by a random billionaire who later swoops in and takes care of her

I mean, I know someone who recently got pregnant by accident, and she was with a man she was planning on marrying and kids with in the long term, they lived together, they had a dog together, the proposal was discussed and right around the corner... and she wasn't happy and she wasn't immediately sure she was going to have it. She decided to in the long term, but she was like, SOBBING when she found out. Because it's a big deal and even if, after some contemplation, you're super happy about having the kid, it's at min OVERWHELMING.

idk I just... that's bad writing imo.

[ra-archives]

Ah yes its 'Follow the Lights' time where we get to watch everyone in the chain get shocked half to death because they had the audacity to simply exist.

Lu-tober day 14

Prompt: Electrocution From my Goretober prompt list

*TW* A bit of lighting and Wars being shocked. Its not very graphic, but figured I'd throw this on there anyway

Experimenting with art styles? More like I didn't have time for todays prompt but still wanted it to be colored so I decided to just go a messy version of my texturing style and hoped it looked good without lines. Honestly its not terrible, could use a bit of clean up but otherwise pretty okay.

IS IT RAMBLE TIME YES IT IS

'Follow the Lights' is a fic written by CluelessMoose on Ao3. 'Don't Go Into the Light' is the follow up alternate POV fic, and they are both fantastic. Expect more angsty art based on this fic.

The idea behind both of them is a Chain meets Wild fic, except everyone gets scattered across hyrule between a bunch of different shrines. Super angsty, and is definitely on the more extreme side, but is also fantastic. Come here to get your helping of hypothermia, heatstroke, blood, gore, unreliable narration and a lot else. Its essentially just kicking the chain while they're down and I love it. Especially Wild, he gets kicked a lot.

[greedbent]

"I know it's your whole thing to never smile, but you look like you've swallowed a lemon. Maybe try to frown a little less at least?" [ who else other than Star lmao, bc of this post ]

@drolliic || star is 5ever the pest we love to see <3 <3

“I smile.”

He doesn't present it as an argument, but as a statement. A truth. A whole reality of which this particular thorn in his side so happened to be unaware for a multitude of reasons. In fact, Kaz could prove it right now, if he so wished. He could turn to them, sarcasm tainting not just the edges, but the whole of a tight-lipped grin simply to play this game right along with them.

But, well, he's never been one to show interest in any game where he gains nothing.

“If you aren't around to ever see it,” he says, only then at the absolute least allowing his gaze to slide and meet theirs, “then maybe you ought to consider a common denominator.”

[ghostlyauroras]

I think TTPD is the Red of Taylor's 30's - not so much in terms of songwriting and bad breakups, but in the generational divide it will cause between younger and older fans.

Relating to Taylor's lyrics is the very nature of being a swiftie, so when she writes about something so personal you think it's weird that she did/felt that and you could never relate, it does alienate you from her in more ways than one.

I remember being 17ish when Red came out and being like... wtf? where are the fairytales? The romance? The sparkly dresses? I couldn't connect with this new Taylor that wore shorts, I thought all the songs sounded the same, I thought there's nothing special here, where did my heroine go? Then at 23 i got my heart broken so badly and i was like oh. oh i get it now.

I'm 29 now and in a 5 year long relationship that has had its ups and downs and almost ended once but so far it keeps coming back to life and I hope I never lose him! But I did briefly have to imagine a life without him and I thought it might kill me! But if it didn't kill me I think I could very well go fuck the first loser I came across just to escape the pain! So i get it, I get why she made this album. I can't relate exactly but I know what's at stake and I can see myself being like her.

But a lot of the younger fans will judge and say that they don't like this style of music, all the songs sound the same, how can she be so fucked up over ratman, etc. and that is a valid opinion to have. I was there, I was that fan, maybe you'll get it one day, hopefully you won't.

But speaking from experience, don't write it off as a bad album or a downturn of her career because it's not for you - just skip it and maybe come back in a few years to find out if you made better choices than her, had better luck in love, or crashed to pieces and need her help picking yourself up again.

Either way, let her make the art she feels in her soul, it will always be infinitely better than anything she'd make if she were just trying to please her fans.

[thelonelyshore-if]

helloo c: if you’re still doing the character questions, would you mind doing 15 for Willow, and 37 for Jay? i feel like they’re less popular characters for some reason.. they need more love!!

Hey!! I absolutely still am <3

15. What’s the most obvious difference between their behavior at home, at work, at school, with friends, and when they’re alone?

Willow's a whirlwind of energy, constantly jumping from one thing to the next. This is undoubtedly intensified whenever they have an audience. So if you get Willow in front of people--be it working, with friends, or with their family--their whole vibe is cranked up to eleven. When they're alone, though, they're surprisingly subdued. Still driven by an intense passion, but a bit more thoughtful about it. Quieter. They're surprisingly capable, when they're not putting on a show.

37. What’s a secret they haven’t told serious romantic partners and don’t plan to tell?

I'm going to very specifically go with the MC here!! Eventually, the MC gets the chance to have conversations about what happens if they find a way to leave Easthaven. Would their RO go with them? The secret that Jay wouldn't tell them, and wouldn't want to tell them, is that Jay probably will never leave. Sure, they're curious about the outside world. Yes, they love MC, and don't want to lose them. But Easthaven is their home. Their family is there. Their work. Somewhere out in the woods their father's bones still rest. It would feel...wrong, to abandon it all. The idea of MC leaving without them breaks their heart...but they know they can't leave. Jay doesn't know how they'd tell the MC the truth, and they don't 't want to lie about it. So it's a conversation they try to avoid.

[cosmic-kinglet]

YOU ALL NOW UNDERSTAND WHY I WAS LOSING IT HERE LAST NIGHT

[hopeinthebox]

I was telling Steph about your russian roulette bts edition playlist and I could barely get the words out I was laughing so much 😂😂😂

skdjhfbdjs apryl i'm THRILLED you're still getting a good giggle out of my nonsense

[queenlua]

swim strokes ranked from worst to best:

worst: breaststroke. sorry i'm just not coordinated enough to enjoy this one girlies

next-worst: freestyle. "basic bitch" personified as a swim stroke

getting better: butterfly. i'm absolute garbage at this one but i feel like a badass whenever i do it b/c i'm making BIG MOVES and throwing WATER EVERYWHERE and that's basically equivalent to goodness right

hell yeah: backstroke!!! only stroke i ever got a blue ribbon in at summer swim meets as a kid, and you can TELL, i am fucking MOTORING, i don't have to do JACK shit wrt timing my breaths or whatever, it's just ALL GAS NO BRAKES oh owie i bonked my head but hey i'm getting over it because it feels so MIGHTY—

S tier: the little "monkey airplane soldier" thing they teach you before you learn actual backstroke. why is it not its own event??? it's so chill, you're just vibing on your back and pushin along, absolute preferred form of water locomotion 11/10

[queenofbaws]

Hi Queenie, being a bit cheeky and asking for 2 on the same weekend! :)

I know Thanksgiving is approaching in the US, and probably a bit stressful like Christmas, but what is it like in Hackett House?

Hope your weekend's been awesome so far.

A floorboard creaked from somewhere behind her, and Kaylee's entire body slumped with relief. "Finally," she sighed, stepping aside to make more room for him at the counter, "I been choppin' shit for the past two hours, can you just finish so I can take a shower or somethin'?!"

Like her tension was contagious, the moment Kaylee relaxed, Chris tensed up; he grimaced into the refrigerator as he grabbed himself a beer, forcing it into something a little closer to a smile before turning to her. "Kay, honeypie, I'd love to, only...thing is...you know, and I know, that your gammy has some...let's say 'outdated' ideas about who does and doesn't belong in the kitchen - " when she scoffed, he shrugged his shoulders apologetically, " - and so if she comes back in here and sees me usin' the good knives, the turkey ain't gonna be the only thing getting cooked tonight, know what I mean?"

"I know you're a coward, I know that," she said, though it was utterly devoid of venom since she also knew he had a point, "I know when everyone's goin' around sayin' what they're thankful for later, I'm gonna stand up and say 'I'm thankful at least one of us ain't scared of Gammy,' then I'm gonna point at each of you and go 'Not you, not you, deeefinitely not you...'"

Chris opened his mouth to say something to that, to apologize maybe, or to deliver some sort of sagely and fatherly wisdom about how learning to cook was a good thing, and knowing how to feed herself was a valuable life skill, but that's when a door from somewhere down the hall slammed and Constance, almost omniscient, hollered, "NONE OF YOU IDIOTS BETTER BE FUCKIN' AROUND IN MY GODDAMN KITCHEN!" and he settled for pecking his daughter on the cheek and making a hasty retreat.

six sentence sat(or)sunday!!!

[tidaltow]

❛  god, this is so embarrassing. i need your help, okay ?  ❜ ( from thalia ! )

@cinnamunspice || meme

“Which part? That you need help, or that you need my help? You're gonna have to be more specific.” Percy figures, hey, if Thalia Grace is seeking out my help, it's probably something pretty serious. So, consequently, he isn't taking it seriously—yet. Look, in his defense, she herself seemed mostly fine and seemed massively more . . . peeved than actually upset. He'd start worrying the moment she showed up at his doorstop in rags and tears (of both varieties pronounced those two different ways because English made so much sense) begging him.

For now . . . ? Yeah, sue him; he's gonna take advantage of his strong, independent, typically-has-no-issue-taking-care-of-herself friend needing him. Specifically him.

Your Fatal Flaw is loyalty, not pride, dude. Chill.

Percy leans against the doorframe, crosses his arms while he looks at her in the dim light. “Is this like a 'I need to come inside and talk about the crap going on' thing or a 'I'll explain on the way' thing?” His fingers run over his pocket, like somehow Riptide wouldn't already be there ready for the latter. And, just as equally a massive somehow here, he actually does chill enough to add more earnestly, “What's going on, Thalia?”

[fortes-fortuna-iogurtum]

man I really would love to see an (explicitly) religious companion on Doctor Who. esp one who's written in such a way as makes their faith relevant to the storylines and challenges and tests it but ultimately remains respectful and keeps the theme of it relevant within the specific science fiction setting that Doctor Who occupies. I personally just think that would be great.

[fountainpenguin]

Hey! Idk if ur still into TD, but me and my friends absolutely adore ur fics for it! It’s so awesome to see you still writing and on tumblr, i hope ur doing well!!!

Thank you! I'm so glad you've enjoyed those 'fics <3 I'm not currently reblogging TD stuff here or working on TD stories, but there's a special place in my heart for all of it (Life of a Loser turned 10 years old in June, sob... My baby's all grown up...)

My TD stuff definitely walked so the 'fics I write now could run, and TD kicked off a love of "huge cast of wildly different characters" & "the status quo isn't sacred" storytelling that still influences my writing and favorite media today. I never stopped loving that type of "Every character is the main character of their own story and they're all looking out for themselves first" style, ha ha.

I'm glad my TD stuff is still making people smile. There are some goodies in there and I have a lot of feelings about the worldbuilding and character portrayals I went with. And if you / your friends / anyone else reading this ever wants to send Asks, I'd be happy to talk about TD even though I'm not posting new content right now; it holds a special but firm place in my heart :)

I did think my TD stuff had run its course since I haven't heard a peep from the fandom in years, but ever since I uploaded "Sunk Too Deep" to AO3, I've gotten a flood of adoration on my TD stuff, so I might have to start posting some of it over there and maybe I'll dig up some old drafts I never finished; we'll see. It means a lot to hear people are finding my stuff for the first time and falling in love with it. I'm glad it's held up.

Thanks for the comment! Forever kicking, forever writing <3

[icharchivist]

Lamorak's motivation is actually really interesting, I feel like you don't get to see that often. When does selfless lead you on the path to villainy, indeed

FOR REAL he fascinates me!!!

Like we joke and joke about how he's the "i can fix him" type of guy, but also like, how rare it is to have an antagonist being set up fully on the fact that he just wants to help the main antagonist getting better, even if it means playing along with the villainy yaknow?

And i just think it's fascinating, especially with the thematic going on with the Wales Brothers and all.

Aglovale dealt with his grief seeing everyone as the enemy, he became uncaring, unloving, seeing the worst in people even when they did nothing wrong to him.

Lamorak dealt with his grief the complete opposite way. He started to care too much, to love too much, to see why everyone walked with a broken heart just like he did, seeing constantly what good was inside a person no matter the amount of villainy in their action.

Percival is the one who balanced it out. He's kind and caring but if someone is acting vile, no matter their reason to act this way, he will not let it stand. He still has problems and everything, but ultimately he came out of it with a pretty healthy outlook on how to connect with people in a way neither of his brothers did, because Aglovale gave too little, and Lamorak gave too much.

And i also just adore how Lamorak's whole thing, the whole reason he's like this, is because he failed to heal his mother, and he failed to be able to develop healing magic, so he's going to "heal" people the only way he has left. He doesn't want failing healing people anymore, and since he can't heal them physically, he will heal them mentally, emotionally, as much as he can.

and this is because he has this healer motivation that he's currently an antagonist. He's villain because, at heart, he's a healer. How rare is that as well?

And of course his motivations on the long term is still to sabotage Merlin, to not have Merlin cause the destruction he seeks, but in order to save Merlin from his own grief, Lamorak still has to play along with his plans. He will bear the price of being a villain if it means staying at Merlin's side so that eventually down the line he could help him get better.

Lamorak is such a fascinating character and i'm obsessed with him.