#(and I technically haven't done the last conversation of chapter 8 but I did all the actual Doin Stuff)

[kirby-the-gorb]

[eleanorfenyxwrites]

2023 AO3 Stats Breakdown

I did this last year and I thought it was interesting for me to see if nothing else, so I'm doing it again this year! I didn't get my main goal done (which was finishing all my outstanding WIPs....or any of my wips....) but let's see what I did do!

Total Wordcount (approximate*): 62,285 words across 7 fics in 1 fandom

Most popular (by hits): Soldier, Poet, King (5,435) [Although if we'd like to go based on fics that were actually finished in 2023, the winner would be Why Not Me?, which I finished posting on January 29th and currently has 3,885 hits)

Most popular (by kudos): Why Not Me? (486)

Least Popular (by hits): The Romance of Anonymity (615)

Least Popular (by kudos): The Romance of Anonymity (100)

Highest Wordcount: Soldier, Poet, King (101,359) (up 22,669 words from last year, which would still put it above anything else in the list)

Lowest Wordcount: Outta Time (4,737)

*This year my approximate wordcount is EXTREMELY off. Partially because I know how much of SPK I wrote this year but not how much of Why Not Me? technically fell in 2023 so that one's more than it should be. Also, though, because I have two fics that I've been working on that I have posted absolutely nothing of, one of which is collaborative. These two projects together are another 200k easily, and while I don't know exactly how much I've contributed numerically to the collaborative fic, I've probably done roughly half, probably a bit less. That's still another ~150k that y'all haven't seen yet, and that's partly why my numbers feel so much lower than what they've been in the past.

Fic Breakdown

I only wrote for the MDZS/CQL fandom this year, and with the exception of Why Not Me? everything that I've written for has been 3zun (and that actually includes my secret projects as well). I haven't had nearly as much time to write this year as I would've liked due to real life shit, so when I do have the opportunity to write I'm much more likely to write about 3zun than anyone else as they remain my favorite ship. If we don't include Soldier, Poet, King and Why Not Me? in this year's lists, as I started them both in 2022, then in 2023 I wrote a total of 5 fics.

These 5 fics account for 35,422 words out of my total (dubious) wordcount as calculated by AO3.

1/5 was a total standalone oneshot: Cut From The Same, which was inspired by art/posts from littlesmartart and guqinandflute here on tumblr, was written for Polyship Week 2023, days 4 & 8 "Soulmates/Free Day" (I wanted to do it for day 4 but ran out of time, so I posted it on day 8 instead).

2/5 are parts of a new series: Outta Time and Roses Are Falling are the first two installments in the Orville Peck Cinematic Universe series, sparked by conversations between myself and littlesmartart about my tentative ongoing Brokeback Mountain AU, Orville Peck's music, and the appeal of cowboy culture in general.

2/5 are additions to ongoing series from 2022: The Romance of Anonymity is an installment in my 90's Strip Mall AU series, Tales From Jianghu Shopping Center, and was written to fulfill Polyship Week 2023 prompts for days 1 and 3, "Roadtrip" and "Bed Sharing", respectively. You're Safe Here is an extra for my 1970's Wangxian AU, The Sculptor, and the series is now called Lavender and Free Love. I wrote it for Polyship Week 2023 day 2, "Missing Scene" (which I didn't realize at the time meant a missing scene from somewhere in canon not from one of my own fics, but oops oh well).

With all that said - what did I actually write?

I almost exclusively posted one-shots this year, with the exception being The Romance of Anonymity, which is two brief chapters written for two separate prompts. Like I said, it's been a busy year in a lot of very good ways, but they weren't very conducive to hammering out chaptered/massive fics very quickly. That being said, Secret Project 1 is currently at 12.5 chapters with 103,939 words written, and by the time I'm done it'll probably wind up somewhere around 15 chapters/~130k at my current trajectory. Secret Project 2, the collaborative one, is currently at (I believe) 14 chapters, with ~111k words written, pre-final editing and logistics. It'll also include at least 4 extras which are currently being written. I also currently have two more active WIPs for the OPCU: a prequel NieLan-centered fic centered on Mingjue acquiring the ranch, and a post-main-timeline SangCheng fic the summer after the original fic(s) (that will also become its own series/universe like the 3zun works).

So big things coming in 2024!! I've been writing a lot behind the scenes, even with things like my first public exhibition back in May, working 40+ hours a week while also visting family back home over the summer, and now (as of September) working through the final year of my undergrad degree while simultaneously continuing to make professional connections so I'll (hopefully) have jobs to fall back on once I graduate in June.

What did I enjoy writing the most this year?

The Orville Peck Cinematic Universe, hands down. I absolutely love this universe and the art that littlesmartart makes as the other half of it, I'm slightly feral for my 3zun modern-day cowboys in love. The same as with Tales From Jianghu Shopping Center last year, I love love love having a fun, relaxing, low-stakes universe to play around in and write fluffy things that make me happy to help me offset some of the stresses of life, and I really love flexing my AU muscles to make sure everyone still (hopefully 😅) feels very natural and right in a setting so far removed from canon.

I didn't accomplish my goal of finishing any of my longstanding WIPs this year, but I'm okay with that! I still don't consider any of them to be abandoned and I do genuinely want to see them all finished one day, but for now I've given myself permission to let them sit there languishing while I make things that give me that good brain juice while my life is going through a lot of transition stages that leave me very little energy to enjoy my hobbies.

Looking ahead, this year I'll be graduating from art college; attempting to find a 'real' job that will satisfy immigration laws so I can continue to stay where I am and begin working on becoming a naturalized citizen; making and selling my ceramics on the side to begin building a solid studio practice in my local community; exhibiting my more artistic work in exhibitions both local and foreign as well as submitting it for awards to begin building up a CV; and trying to start saving money in the hopes that I can buy my house in a few years' time. At the risk of sounding like a broken record, I'm busy as all hell and that's not going to change anytime soon, but hopefully I'll have some good writing time in 2024 and continue to be active in this fandom/community that I love so much!

Y'all are really the best and thanks for another great year 🥰

[miumoou]

Not Alone Tonight ~ Chapter 8

Dazai X Reader 💞

After a long slow paced thirty minute walk we finally reached the place I called my second home which I shared with a couple of friends.

There was a total number of six of us with each having their own exclusive bedroom. We also had two shared bathrooms, one single toilet with a tiny sink and one large spacious kitchen with two well used coal black sofas and a TV monitor screen which was bought in by one of my friends from their own home.

As I reached out for my keys a wave of realisation hit me. I left the keys in my bedroom when I was rushing out to find Dazai.

"Oh!"

Dazai didn't say a word.

"I forgot the keys in my bedroom!" I exclaimed.

Dazai continued to stay silent.

"Ohhh what should we do! Maybe I'll message them but what if they are all asleep now? It is quite late....aghhh why did I leave them!"

Suddenly Dazai spoke up after being silent for awhile.

"[Y/N] over there"

Dazai's slender finger pointed at the blurry figure of a human through the door window which seemed to approach us closer and closer.

Then the door gently opened and I saw a familiar face. He was just a bare shadow a moment ago but now he had clear features. It was Luke.

His diamond blue eyes met mine. They were full of worry, fear and a slight hint of anger which was almost entirely hidden. His eyes were a little puffy which meant that he once again stayed up late last night probably drinking like he always does.

"[Y/N]? Did you forget your key? Why are you back so late? Everyone was worried!" He asked.

"Haha yeah I did...you know me Luke! I always forget things haha thanks for opening the door!"

"Yeah of course" his cheeks flushed similarly to the sunset I saw earlier. He always gets a little shy around me when I thank him which I find to be his sweetest trait.

"Your a real big help Luke! Like for real!" I gave him a wide happy smile as I lifted myself off the pathway into the house. I chucked my shoes to the side forgetting that Dazai was behind me. Once I realised that I did that in front of him I felt a surge of embrassment flood me.

"Wait" Luke stopped Dazai from entering.

"And who might you be?" He asked Dazai with an intense gaze.

"Oh well I'm-" I quickly cut halfway through Dazai's words like I cut through statements in Danganronpa games.

"Oh he is my friend! One of my old friends from school! He is just visiting [Insert where you live here]"

You see Luke can act quite overprotective and I'm not sure why. He woun't let me have a stranger over at my room but he'll let others do so which doesn't make sense?

So I had to make sure that he believed that Dazai was my good old friend. He can't know that Dazai is technically a stranger or should I say a fictional character which makes him sound even more suspicious!

"Oh your her friend yeah?"

Dazai gave Luke a slight nodd.

"Fine you can come in I suppose" his eyes wondered around the corridor until he met Dazai's chocolate brown eyes again. "Would you like to drink with me?"

"Drinking?? Why ask? Of course I would like to drink. Drinking is my hobby ~" he excitedly replied. Then he looked over at you and noticed your smile fade away.

"[Y/N] will you join us?"

"Oh well... I don't drink Dazai" I hesitantly responded..."I know that you love to drink so I woun't stop you but I woun't"

Dazai's eyes widened with shock.

"...you don't drink? But don't everyone?"

"Everyone but not me Dazai. I don't want to be like everyone. I'm not a big fan of drinking or the aftermath effects...and well you see I'm happy being sober" I smiled awkwardly back knowing that I'll probably be alone tonight in my room as Dazai will leave me to join Luke on a drinking game.

Dazai was silent for a moment. He looked like he was analysing the situation.

Then he turned back to face Luke.

"If [Y/N] woun't drink then neither will I...I don't want to make her feel left out after all that she has done for me. Sorry."

Luke's eyebrows rised. And his mouth line became straight like a ruler. His drinking proposal had never been declined like this. Everyone loves him and his drinking games. But now here he stood.

"Are you sure?? You see [Y/N] woun't mind..." Luke gave me a look which told me that I should say something.

"Dazai you don't have to...its ok you can enjoy yourself tonight you've had a long day!" I quickly faked a smile.

"No I woun't drink today as much as I would love to I can't make you feel uneasy." He firmly responded.

My [E/C] eyes glowed. I've been waiting for so long to hear someone say that they woun't drink. I know I shouldn't say this but seeing Luke like that makes me chuckle inside. Haha finally his drinking proposal got rejected! And I woun't be alone!

"Well then what shall we do [Y/N] chan? ~" he happily whistled.

"Oh yeah of course! What about you come to my room! You can leave your coat in my room and well you know..." I looked over at the pocket where the cotton white bandages were located.

"Sounds like a plan lead the way ~"

We walked passed Luke leaving him in his confused state and headed up the stairs to the second floor. We stopped at plain white door. A sign hanging with my name on it was almost sliding off the door handle.

"Here's my room"

I opened the door and let Dazai walk in first.

I closed and locked the door behind me to make sure that Luke woun't be able to enter or peek into my room. I also hurried to the window and closed it as well. My friends sometimes hang around in our small garden and I woudn't want them hearing our conversation. Then a thought just hit my head. I need to hide the bungo stray dogs manga and light novels! I quickly grabbed each book before Dazai could even have a chance to have a look and put them in a plastic bag which I found near the closet. I just need to keep an eye on this bag. I placed the bag inside my closet as he probably woun't look in there considering how private a girls closet can be.

Looking back at Dazai he was heavily examining my room. I could see his eyes linger from corner to corner as he walked around the small space.

Finally he came to a hult and spoke out.

"Your room is so lively. I like the use of blue in your room. Those posters with the hot air balloon with a bright blue sky, the blue double bed duvet with hummingbirds painted on it and the blue dinosaur plushie. It's very cute [Y/N]"

"Aha thank you! I tried to give my room a theme and in this case it's a light blue theme! The posters are of my favourite band BTS!"

"BTS?" he looked at me with a puzzled look.

"Oh haha of course you don't know them" I waved my right hand left to right.

Dazai sat on my soft bed trying to be extra careful to not mess anything up. He took off his coat, took the bandages out and placed the coat on a nearby chair.

"Hey Dazai let me help you!"

"Hmm?"

"Let me help you put on those bandages I know it must be tough doing it all by yourself all of the time and it's the least I could do for what you told me earlier!"

"Hmm sure [Y/N] why not"

I sat beside him and gently moved his left arm towards my lap. I took out the bandages and began cutting with the scissors which I grabbed before sitting down. Then I wrapped his left arm like a present. I did the same with the right arm.

"And I'm done!"

Dazai looked over at his arms "Haha thank you. You don't seem to be much of an expert tho! I've never seen anyone wrap bandages like this pfff" he laughed.

"Hey hey I know I'm not an expert but I tried!"

"I know but it's just" he coudn't stop laughing and smiling.

My eyes looked to the side I was so embarrassed. "Hey stop laughing!"

Then I grabbed my pillow and chucked it at his face.

"Oh your also feisty [Y/N]! ~" his arms waved around then he smirked I could almost imagine anime sparkles surrounding that face.

"You really are something Dazai!" I crossed my arms and huffed.

"Okay okay I'm sorry for laughing for real though thanks [Y/N] I haven't laughed that much in awhile~" he spoke out in a joyful tone.

"Fine fine I forgive you"

"You do??" Dazai got incredibly close to my face. His puppy eyes charmed me and I coudn't help but forgive him. I shyly nodded.