#Feylands Wip

[madstronaut]

WIP WRITES RIGHTS NOW! I SAID WIP WRITES RIGHTS NOW

blahblahmaster rant list link blahblah dont look at me

PSA when you only just discover a moot is a prolific writer you run to read all her writing and comment in excruciating detail cc: @gemmahale

blorbo x named oc fans, this one’s for you (it’s me, im talking about me)

please see below a random and incomprehensive ramblelist of my stream of consciousness as I sampled from gemma's works:

Feylands WIP

I find the content warning tags extremely titillating (also I have not seen such a prolifically well organized tag list AND color coordinated to boot like gemma’s blog???? putting my outlook inbox/work docs/excel sheets to shame!!!) and I don’t even read/like fae stories (yes I never read ACOTAR and I don’t plan to anytime soon, I missed that booktok ship, most likely cos im not on the tikky tokky as the children like to say, i watch the reposts on instagram like a proper mlllenial)

Josephine’s heart pitter-pattered at the compliment, heat climbing up her cheeks as she mumbled a thanks, their eyes locking again. 

🥰🥰🥰NOT THE PITTER PATTER

my inquisitive ass is already like “what’s gary’s real name” and “hearing aid = soap b/c of all the damn bombs he blows up?” “but i headcanon gaz with freckles, maybe it’s gaz? gaz = gary?” “or maybe ghost = gary?” GEMMA GIVE US WIPS I MEAN HINTS PUT ME OUTTA MY MISERY

Call of the Wild WIP

I love the little note gemma included about this being inspired by @deadbranch (shoutout to branchy btw my beloved) - honestly floored at all the beautiful fic/headcanon/drabbles/askfills ive read that are the brainchilds birthed from love for other creators’ brainchildren

also equally floored at how many of writers here are like “this incredibly layered/moving/tender/spicy/nasty fic came to me in a dream”

also SUBVERTED TROPES SUBVERTED TROPES SUBVERTED TROPESSSSS

Kyle cleared his throat, shifting his stance. “She prefers to be called a wolf.”

AHAHAHAHAHAHA GODDDD THIS WAS A ZINGER

“Please!” Kyle called back, face half covered in shaving cream.

i need fanart of this right fucking now let me, i mean shannon, sorry oops but haha..unless? finishing shaving you bby

and FUCKING ROACH IS IN THIS FIC HOLD ME BACK OR YOU *WILL* GET CAUGHT IN THE CROSSFIRE OF ME TEARING APART THE BARS OF MY ENCLOSURE BECAUSE MY BRIEF HYPERFIXATION ON ROACH IS BACK WITH A VENGEANCE FROM THIS SMALL SNIPPET AND IN THIS 500 PG DISSERTATION I WILL-

also THAT PROLOGUE APPETIZER SLAYED ME

“The way I see it, you’re fucked either way. You don’t make it out of here, you’re fucked. You become mine, you’re fucked - but in the good way.”

this + the mention of bulge + damp cheek definitely brought a visceral IRL memory for me (affectionate/horny)

also sidenote: it’s the little things that matter and gemma i see you gurl and salute you - incorporating things like hearing aids, mentioning roach is HoH/using sign language, shannon using a shower cap for her curly hair - 😘👌

Corporal Distraction WIP

holy MOTHER OF FUCK THIS SHORT LITTLE EXCHANGE IS FUCKING HOOOOOOOOOT

The captain moved closer to her, gently lifting her chin up with his finger. “So you’re the bird that’s got my sergeant distracted.”

“Sir?”

“Been trying to figure out what’s got Gaz so twisted up lately. Figured it was a partner, didn’t think it was a Corporal under him.” He didn’t release her chin, now holding it between his thumb and finger. “Has good taste, at least,” he muttered, eyes shifting to the Lieutenant, who only huffed in response.

any premise that fucks with/frustrates/sleep-deprives soap has my heart 🥰

Flowers From My Love WIP

the bit where they discuss the casserole perfectly encapsulates each of the boys imho - price grunting out a response, soap eagerly asking about the food (such youngest of the group/im baby vibes), gaz picking up on the note and name/# left, ghost grumbling and ofc he fucking HAS to bring up manchester- 

and the MOODBOARD!!!! God I fucking love when writers flesh out a bit of their worldbuilding with related art, moodboards, face claims, etc etc etc i WILL lick up every crumb from the floor like a starving doggo- fun fact, one of my first interactions in cod fandom was requesting a moodboard from @the-californicationist (also shoutout to cali my beloved)

and PEPPER THE SERVICE DOG OH MY LORD PLEASE GOD IF THE 141 MEN CAN’T BE REAL LET PEPPSY BE REAL PLEASE GOD IF I HAD TO ASK FOR ONE THING FROM THIS CURSED HELLSITE-

Palace Hallways WIP

my mind blacked out at artificer soap and knight kyle and druid ghost - I also just finished a campaign with my homegroup IRL not too long ago and we’re taking a long break before the next game while our DM preps and this is making me miss playing with them ;-;

Edge Dressing WIP

KATE KATE KATE KATE KATE KATE that’s it that’s the tweet

“She did, did she?” Kate murmured, scratching at Letty’s scalp and smirking as the woman went boneless against her.

yes only natural, i too would also go boneless if laswell was scratching my scalp and giving me a massage mommy? sorry. mommy. sorry? mommy. sorry?

Embroidered Secret WIP

if someone told me a year ago when I wasn’t into regency shows/fics that reading some COD AUs - yes fucking CALL OF DUTY, the military propaganda first person shooter video game - would change my mind - well id be more shocked than if someone flashed some ankle at my victorian pearl clutching ass

also please i love every single trope listed here

141 Studios WIP

“Our sweet soft girl Samantha (plus size rep ftw!) finds her niche quickly as the resident camgirl - creating a new set of films called "Tip of The Tongue", where she (and others) commentate on the scenes being filmed in a behind the scenes way.”

fuck i would read an entire multiseries for this premise alone???

Crew scramble around to clean up the sweat and cum streaked across the couch to reset for another scene.

fun fact - i briefly interned as a PA in college and one of the producers i worked with mentioned offhand that he once rolled up to a set that was cleaning up after a porn shoot and claimed they were rolling away literal barrels of lube 👀

“You the new girl?” His voice was deep, rumbling like stones cascading down a mountain.

NEW GIRL, OLD MAN, BLUE BIRD, CLOWN WITH A BUCKET HAT, I WILL BE ANYTHING FOR YOU PS!SIMON

A Protege’s Trust WIP

The most titillating tag of all..an empty one! lol jk im just messin with ya gemmy but actually yes i don’t see any posts with this tag

Museum Muse WIP

ahem you already know my rabid thoughts on this but noticed this new post re: multiple timelines and tbh do I know what’s going on? absolutely not - do I want to dive into this museum muse multiverse regardless? absolutely yes

Brix WIP

Re: “If it’s a story about learning to be loved again after a series of devastating losses, can that story then end on another loss? (And should the epilogue soften that loss by allowing them some sort of reprieve?)”

YES! i need to be in a certain mood to read angst but GOD WHEN I AM IN THE MOOD DOES IT HIT THE SPOT/FEEL SO CATHARTIC

also re: these comments - “Also, a bit of catharsis for my shitty experience working in the orchard industry.”

“It's less of a love story and more of a healing story. It's also a bit of a middle finger to the orchard that nearly hospitalized me. 🙃 (It's healing not only for the characters lol.)”

i find these types of fics are some of the best ive read when the writers have IRL experiences bleed into their writing - just has a certain je ne sais quoi about em

also i could be knee deep in sewage sludge and if i sensed soap within a 1 mile radius i would throw myself at him, brb busy handforging a trophy for annabeth for having enough willpower to continue working while JOHN SOAP MACATAVISH WHINES ABOUT WANTING TO COP A FEEL

Squeamish Stitches WIP

✨GLITz!!!! ✨fucking love this name

“God, I’d die here a happy man,” he grumbles into your thigh as you adjust your balance. 

His hands wrap around your calves, grunting as the treads dig into his shoulders. “No, between your legs.”

Ghost interrupts. “Keep it tactical, Sergeants.”

THE FUCKING BANTER? GHOST COCKBLOCKING GAZ? FUCKIGN SCREAMINNG

Useful Girl WIP

you had me at “we gonna get nast-ay kink-ay” and also got strong “secretary” with maggie gyllenhaal + james spader vibes 

also i had to look up ‘brown bottle flu’ as i’ve never heard that term before! ✨i learn somethng new with fanfic daily✨

She felt the breeze as the door opened behind her, the whiff of cigar smoke and cologne causing her to shift in her seat and sit up straighter.

if you’ve ever smelled/heard someone before you saw them it is *quite* the experience

“It's the prickle of the mountain's oncoming storm. It's the flapping of the flag in the howling wind. It's the explosion of lightning hitting a tree, splitting it open, part charred and part living - two states diametrically opposed to each other. It's the sigh of relief when the clouds finally part and the rain pours out. It's the breath of fresh air when the storm dissipates and everything is left clean.

It's yearning so hard for something that it leaves one fundamentally changed when they achieve it.

...I really ought to make moodboards for this fic. 😅”

this was an incredible fucking paragraph to read, fucking poetry right here, also incredibly erotic? though that might just be leftover brainworms in my head from watching shogun and a scene where one of the main charas describes an orgasm as “clouds parting after rain” 

Highland Tartans WIP

She reached her hand into his wool, petting him. “He comes from a good line and all, he’s just young.”

MacTavish laughed, sliding his hands to rest on his waist. “Aye, young and dumb. I know the type.” 🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺

PLEASE GOD GEMMA

I CANNOT CHOOSE FAVORITES BUT SPARE A THOUGHT FOR MY FREE TIME AND WORK HOURS WHEN YOU POST MORE OF THESE AND AT LEAST SPREAD THEM OUT SO I CAN KEEP MY JOB AND PAY MY BILLS INSTEAD OF GORGING ON YOUR WRITING

anyway to sum up i am fully convinced the multiverse lives inside of gemma’s brain because goddamn i am convinced once day some god-tier epic space opera multiseries is gonna spring out fully formed like athena from the gemmamind (yes I compared you to zeus, a mythical god, deal with it)

[gemmahale]

twenty questions for fic writers!

tagged by @391780 (Love you bunches, Early!)

1. how many works do you have on ao3?

One. The Price of Pegging

2. what's your total ao3 word count?

3,825

3. what fandoms do you write for?

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare (mostly reboot but I sprinkle in canon from the originals when I feel like it - mostly Roach) Pedro Pascal Characters, but most of those are on pause at this point.

4. top five fics by kudos

I only have the one. 😅 It gets both first and last place.

5. do you respond to comments?

I do my best to! Sometimes I get overwhelmed and forget because I'm human and will respond much later.

6. what is the fic you wrote with the angstiest ending?

Probably Brix or Flowers from My Love will have the angstiest ending.

7. what's the fic you wrote with the happiest ending?

Call of the Wild I think will be the happiest.

8. do you get hate on fics?

I haven't really gotten any sort of hate of any sort. (knock on wood it stays this way.) Probably because I have one piece fully published lol. I think I make up more hate for myself than actually exists.

9. do you write smut?

Yes. I have multiple universes written explicitly for smutty reasons that plot.

10. craziest crossover:

...I haven't done a crossover. 😅 Yet.

11. have you ever had a fic stolen?

Not to my knowledge.

12. have you ever had a fic translated?

Not yet, but I'm open to discussing it!

13. have you ever co-written a fic before?

Yes-ish? @eilidh-eternal and I are playing around in our own little world together, @pfhwrittes and I have a little world and a few fics they're my key brain worm detangler, and I'm always open to batting around ideas.

14. all time favorite ship?

I'm actually really struggling with this one - ask me later.

15. what's a wip you want to finish but doubt you ever will?

I intend to finish all of them, eventually. I don't like doubting myself.

16. what are your writing strengths?

I'm really good at sassy character dialogue.

17. what are your writing weaknesses?

I feel I struggle with pacing and deciding when to make people move and how to do it. I've also noticed my sentences tend to be very repetitive in terms of rhythm/structure.

18. thoughts on dialogue in another language?

Depends on how it's used and if translation is provided. It bothers me somewhat with Spanish since I'm semi-fluent (I'm rusty, but I was fluent for a number of years) and things are wrong. I try to either keep a definition next to the other language or use Early's strike-through method (which I think is really nifty).

19. first fandom you wrote in?

Hogan's Heroes. No you probably will never see it.

20. favorite fic you've written?

Feylands. Hands down. Followed swiftly by The Contract.

No pressure tags to friends: @gnpwdrnwhiskey, @swordsandholly, @sentientcave, @femalefemur, @maggiemayhemnj 💚💚

[gemmahale]

From Feylands. Josephine and Gary go on a "real" date.

Gary gestured with his chin to a bench and table in the corner, catching Josephine’s eye. After she’d deposited her coat over the back of one of the chairs, he lifted her chin with his knuckle, his eyes meeting hers. “I’m going to go get us something to eat and drink, all right?” Josephine felt that familiar curl of heat inside of her, her brain becoming softer and hazier the longer she looked at him. He brushed his thumb over her cheekbone, and her eyelashes fluttered softly. She assented with a quiet hum, snuggling into the cushions on the bench.  She watched as his muscular form made its way across the room, leaning against the bar with a casual air. He made short conversation with the bartender - a portly man with white facial hair - before glancing back over at her with a wink. She felt the bartender’s eyes on her then, and she grinned and gave a little wave. Still watching Gary and his animated discussion with the bartender, Josephine let her mind wander.

This week’s word is…

✨ AIR ✨

Find the word in any WIP and share the sentence containing it. Reply, reblog, stick it in the tags, tag us in a new post, or keep it private. All fandoms, all ships, all writers welcome.

[mysunfreckle]

Best montprouvaire fics? (Besides yours)

I always get very nervous when people ask me for recs, because I don’t actually read that much (too busy writing ^^;;) and I’m very fussy about what I do like to read. So instead of a ‘best of’ I’ll give you a list (in no particular order) of Jehanparnasse fics I’ve read that stuck with me for a variety of reasons…

WARNING: One of the things I’m fussy about is happy endings, so this list contains spoilers in that respect.

@vintage-jehan‘s The Life and Times of a Sullen Coffee Shop Employee (5 parts, 18k)

It’s the fic my sister used to drag me into this fandom and I love it. I’ve reread it so many times, I podficced it, I just love it okay. It’s fluffy, incredibly funny and snarky, and all the conflict is imaginary and promptly solved. This is an excellent comfort fic. (Technically the Jehanparnasse might not be the main ship as they only get together at the end, but it’s Parnasse’s POV, so to me it counts.)

@theblazeofmemory‘s fae au: [1], [2], [3], [4]. 

These are four very pretty ficlets that I’ve been fond of from the start. A magically gifted Jehan wanders into the fae realm and gets found by a fae (?) Montparnasse. While it’s not quite wrapped up, it doesn’t end on a cliffhanger either. They just really bring the faerie mood and I love them for that:(Not angsty, but I wouldn’t call it fluff, it is a unseelie faerie story after all.)

Of Poets and Pickpockets by @fishandchipsandvinegar (3.5k)

This is a modern au one-shot that just makes me smile. It’s sweet and silly and deliciously free of conflict. It does have some slight ‘conflict with parents’ themes, but it’s mostly poetry and an adorable established relationship.

@just-french-me-up‘s Of Growth and Decay (5 chapters, 27k)

The other fic my crafty sister trapped me with. It’s a Greek Mythology (Hades & Persephone) AU and it’s full of dramatic tension and poetry. There’s a kidnapping theme and definitely some angst (and violence), but it’s enemies to lovers done well and I am weak for all the symbolism and the happiness at the end.

Black Coffee and Chai, also by @just-french-me-up (2.4k)

This is a delightful first (blind) date from Montparnasse’s POV and it has just the right amount of snark and awkward cuteness. Modern AU, conflict free, but does fleetingly discuss some of the shit of the world.

What flowers are at my feet, by @mardisoir (4.4 k)

This is a dark, medieval fairy tale that just manages to snatch a happy ending from the claws of regret. It’s magical, intense and even though I have to warn for both angst and violence I am still very much enamoured with this. Once again an enemies to lovers theme and it casts Jehan as a powerful witch.

Devil’s Backbone, by @feyland (16 chapters, 29k)

Speaking of angst and violence… This is a definite darkfic and a modern crime au. It ends well, but I have to admit that I skipped some bits. It has the protective criminal theme and it’s done well, but it is heavy. In between the hurt there are wonderfully soft moments though and it’s a thrilling read. (Rated M and please mind the warnings author Jane provides on this fic, I’m not kidding.)

Le chat et le moineau, by thestarsblinkjustforus (3.8k)

This is a dark one too and it’s the only canon era piece on this list. It’s pure dark poetry and for some reason this doesn’t register as angst to me. This is rated M on AO3 but I would rate it E and please mind the tags. I like it because the darkness in this has a glitter to it and canon Montparnasse the pretty murderer and Jehan the morbid Romantic are just so incredibly aesthetic.

Oh, we’re so disarming, darling, another by Mardisoir (1.2k)

Yes, this is short, but I have reread it enough times for it to take up as much space in my head as any fic (I am also still hoping for more). It’s a 1920′s au and it glitters and gleams. The word ‘wicked’ comes to mind. It’s fun and there’s no angst, because all the bad stuff happens to people of no importance. If you want aesthetic, this delivers. Trust me.

One Thousand Nights, once again by Mardi (10 chapters, 90k, WIP)

This is a modern au Jehanparnasse ‘origin story’ and it is, above all, realistic. There is happiness, there is pain, there is humour, there is anxiety, and they are all woven together around characters that feel like fully fleshed out human beings. This is not an easy read, it’s rated E and the world it takes place in is not pretty and so believable that it comes dangerously close to breaking my heart. But I have read this twice now and I am far too in love with all these characters to let go. Plus, a happy ending was promised and when this fic does decide to dish out happiness, you can feel it in your soul.

Thus ends my Jehanparnasse reading list :P

I hope this was helpful, anon! ❤

[gemmahale]

Printed Feylands out. I’m feeling stuck in a rut on it.

Maybe doing some one on one character blurbs will help shake cobwebs out? Maybe editing it will help?

Idk; I’m still on the fence about whether I like the pivot I made - giving her the choice to [spoilers] feels….stupid and cheesy.

Why’d I go make her [spoilers] anyway?

I don’t know. Fuck me. Fuck it all.

Goal: nail down lore and general plot

[gemmahale]

Writers confidence challenge! List your 5 writings you love the most! Reread them and tell yourself you are a gem to this world! And if you want, send this to the writers you like let them know how awesome they are! It can WIPs or published fics! 💌

🧡 for you, beloved gemma, creator of incredible worlds.

Sy, thank you! Since you specifically referenced worlds, here's my top 5 world-building/AU WIPs. (I love them all equally, though. Okay?)

Feylands - I've spent so much time on worldbuilding here. It keeps getting more intense lol. Magic, royalty lineage, staff hierarchy, technology, botany - I get to play with all these fun nuanced pieces that all influence the world(s) I'm building in this story. I'm hoping for the possibility of playing more in this universe when I'm done with the main story. (This means smut, mostly.😉)

The Contract - @pfhwrittes blew it out of the park helping me develop this one. This world keeps expanding too, but in a different way. There's a universe to tell different stories in here, which ought to be fun. It's definitely a wee bit darker than Feylands, but just as good.

Call of the Wild - Would you believe me if I said this one came from a dream? Well..parts of it. I'm kind of making up the lore on the fly for the werewolves/shifters, so it's not as detailed for lore as other stories. Will my brit-picker absolutely lose their mind when they read it? Probably.😅 But it's a different universe! Lightly inspired by @deadbranch's Werewolf AU. (<- So good. Go read it. All of it.)

Journal Exchange - Six planets formed. Entire resource and processing plans are being developed. Societal structures built out of what little's given in Prospect (highly recommend watching if you like sci-fi) and expanded it into a universe. I want to get back to this one, even if the style (journals sent to an individual) is difficult to write.

Palace Hallways - An as-of-yet unshared WIP. Inspired by @sentientcave's Heavy Weighs The Crown WIP and some ideas that have been floating around in my brain soup. Lady-in-Waiting 'Petal' is menaced by Knight Kyle, Artificer Johnny and Druid 'Ghost' assist. Playing fast and loose with historical fiction and D&D lore. (I have a thing for Gaz x Soap x Ghost x OC, okay? That's two now.)

[gemmahale]

gemma! hi friend. for talk shop tuesday, i have questions! Horizon Mirages

knowing your penchant for research, what's something new and interesting you've learned in researching the wild west?

how did you pick the occupations for the love interests?

Righteous Fury

without spoiling anything, is there a redacted screenshot of the timeline you mentioned here? 👀

Random

spooky season is fast approaching. which of your projects is the spookiest? 👀

care to share the latest line you wrote?

Talk Shop Tuesday!

Hello Sy! I shall endeavor to answer your Questions. (Gosh these are good questions.)

I'm throwing them under a cut because it's long as heck and there are spoilers for the following: (I also hope that gif blocks the spoilery images from showing up in previews or anything.)

Horizon Mirages

Righteous Fury

7 Sins Bookstore (Minor)

Feylands (Minor)

The Contract (minor)

Horizon Mirages

I'll admit, I have always lived and breathed Westerns. Laura Ingalls Wilder was part of my bread and butter growing up, I now live in a cattle-dense part of the country that was directly affected by that part of US history, I loved the hell out of watching Red Dead Redemption 1 and 2, the "wild west" has called to me so viscerally. I think part of it is that my families settled here in the Midwest. Now, specifically related to Horizon Mirages - the information on shepherds and such has been really interesting to get into. They (and by proxy our Shepherdess) live in structured wagons to keep up with the sheep on their rotations across the plains. The similarities and differences between cattle and sheep has been really interesting to get into.

I thought about who would have interesting stories to tell. I don't actually know if they're all love interests yet, or if they become platonic. I also looked for foils to the 141, but that was kind of last-minute when I tacked on their relationships to the 141. I wanted a way to bring together some of my special interests - beekeeping, distilling, sewing, fiber arts) into the story in a way that made sense. Because if I'm going to write things, I might as well write about things I have some knowledge of, lol. The Shepherdess was the first one out of the gate, nearly fully developed at idea creation. The other three have gone through a number of changes and morphs to what you see today (and they very well may change between now and publication. The General Store Owner started as a homesteader, for example. The Seamstress was just a widower, husband lost to a rogue shoot-out, but had no career (or maybe she was the school teacher? I don't remember now).

Righteous Fury

Ha. This post. Let me see what a bit of post-screenshot editing I can do.

Okay, the quality is 💩, but hopefully it's legible and not too spoilery. I learned how to redact PDF's today! Neat! (I was hoping to be able to blur it out, but alas, this was the fastest solution I could find on company time. 😅) Screenshot to PDF back to screenshot kinda tanked the quality lol.

Re: the timeline. I fudged the years a little bit. I think I kept canon years where they were, but I made Soap a little older. I just...I was struggling to write him as a 20-something, so I made him 6 months older than me. Because artistic license. Also worth noting: those are not all siblings of his. Some are cousins.

I really hope there's not too many spoilers here, and that you're more excited than disappointed when the truth's revealed. This is just one aspect of the story anyway.

Random

Which of my projects is the spookiest? Yeesh, I suppose it depends on how you define spooky. Feylands has a few spooky vibes in it, so does The Contract. 7 Sins Bookstore does too, now that I think about it. But none are intentionally spooky in the Halloween sense. Just spooky in the eerie/something's not quite human here way.

Last line I wrote: From Righteous Fury

“MacTavish, a word. Everyone else, dismissed.” The clatter of chairs and the slaps on the (good) shoulder do little to bolster John’s mood.

[gemmahale]

WIP Wednesday (5/1/2024)

Fandom: Call of Duty: Modern Warfare Reboot Games

Title: The Feylands

Pairing: OFC Josephine ‘Josie’ Kaplan + Everyone (Capt. John Price, Kyle 'Gaz’ Garrick, John 'Soap’ MacTavish, Simon 'Ghost’ Riley, Kate Laswell (and her wifey!), Gary 'Roach’ Sanderson, Alex Keller, Farah Karim) (Not a relationships are sexual nor romantic here. It’s…complicated.)

Synopsis: The Court of Maevonia have been in search of a human for their court plaything for a while. Josephine Kaplan fits the description of what they want. But when she accidentally shows up unannounced just as a war with a neighboring kingdom is kicking off, it seems like things might work out differently. Can Josie work with the Court to save not only Maevonia, but also Earth from the Penumbra and it’s Shadow Bringers?

AKA: ...shhh. Gemma's worldbuilding. 😉

General CW’s: Stalking, Dub-con, Climate Catastrophe (Earth), mild horror, weird time-space-dimension distortions

Snippet CW's: None.

Divider by @saradika-graphics

Josephine subtly let her eyes roam over the man as she strolled to the restroom. His eyes were focused on the TV screen above the bar, the hosts droning on about team points and predictions for the upcoming season. It was the perfect situation for looking him over without being caught.

He was tall, his leather work boots resting on the barstool’s rung. His shirt was cuffed up, displaying the gentle muscular curve of his forearms. He took a sip of his beer, raking his hand through his reddish brown curls that flopped back to their original position. Josephine got one good glimpse of his profile before having to look away - strong jaw, five o’clock shadow, a faint scar just along his cheekbone. 

Jane was right, he was attractive. Unfairly so, almost. He looked like he belonged out in the wilderness - with the sturdy work boots and dark jeans, he’d be better suited to chopping wood and blazing trails than here in the heart of the city. Josephine snuck another peek at the man as she returned to the table, irresistibly drawn to him now that she was aware of his presence. 

This time, his eyes caught hers in the mirror as she slid into the seat next to Jane. They held eye contact that way for a moment, before he smirked, winked, and raised his glass to her reflection in quick succession. Josephine’s cheeks warmed under the attention, and her eyes flicked down to her hands on the table - partially ashamed she’d been caught ogling the man, and partially excited that he’d noticed her. 

“See? I told you.” Jane whispered as she pushed Josephine’s fresh beer to her. “He’s into you, Jos.”

Josephine scoffed, taking another sip and letting her eyes roam over the stranger’s profile as he let his attention fall back to the screen. “Doubtful. He just happened to catch me staring and didn’t want to make it weird.”

Jane groaned, shaking her head as she stood. “Jos, you sell yourself too short. You deserve a good man in your life. I’m going to the restroom, don’t make eyes at him all night.”

Josephine snorted, pulling her phone out. “I won’t, Jane.” She flicked open her text messages, responding to a few texts from Lucy before starting to scroll through her social media accounts. 

She failed to notice Jane plopping down on the bar stool on the far side of the man, gesturing to their table, and clapping him on the shoulder before continuing on her path to the ladies room, wide grin on her face.

“Sorry, I hope I’m not intruding,” Josephine’s hand stuttered, inadvertently liking a post as she fumbled her phone. She blinked up into smiling amber eyes, her mouth drying further as she realized it was the stranger from the bar standing over her. “Your friend suggested I should come introduce myself.” 

Josephine wordlessly gestured to the seat across from her, sliding Jane’s beer off to the side out of the way. His voice was warm, honeyed and husky all at once and she suddenly wanted to hear more of it.

“I’m Gary,” he offered, as he slid into the seat Josephine offered.

Her voice warbled. “Josephine.” She absentmindedly traced swirls in the water droplets on the table, trying to mask the sudden onset of trembling in her hands. 

“A pretty name for a pretty lady,” Gary murmured, smiling at her.

Josephine’s heart pitter-pattered at the compliment, heat climbing up her cheeks as she mumbled a thanks, their eyes locking again. 

He was even more handsome up close, a smattering of freckles playing across his nose and cheeks, his heavy framed glasses accentuating his eyes. A small hearing aid was tucked beneath a curl of hair. The scar she noticed across his cheek actually stretched across over the bridge of his nose, like a pair of lab goggles had pressed a permanent indentation into the skin. He rubbed at his chin, smirking at her.

“So, Gary,” she started, taking a sip of her beer to mask the exhilaration and glee racing through her veins - no one this attractive sought her out intentionally. She coughed as the alcohol coursed down her throat. “Sorry, I’m not used to hot men just coming over and introducing themselves like that.”

He laughed, and it sent giddy shivers up her spine. “It’s understandable. Usually I don’t find such a lovely woman to introduce myself to.”

[gemmahale]

Head’s up: thanks to a typo, Feylands is now Frylands.

Hi, welcome to Frylands, would you like fries with that?

[gemmahale]

Hiii! For the writers ask my question for you is: what keeps you on track when working out a story? Especially a story with intricate details that will pan out way later in the game?

Talk Shop Tuesday!

Ooh. This is a convoluted answer.

I have a summary at the top of my working document. Sometimes this has 2-3 iterations in bullet points, sometimes it's a few paragraphs, it kind of depends on what mood I'm in while I'm drafting. Sometimes it's a scribbled 3 sentence clusterfuck I have to decode.

All my key info is kept in the summary/character profiles near the top of the document for easy reference.

If I have a conversation about it in Discord or DM's I'll try and screengrab/summarize the takes from there too (or I'll search them if I need to.)

I also probably rely far too much on my own memory too. 😅 Does that mean I've lost some things? Sure, but it also means that I have new ideas that integrate much more smoothly. (Tagging things on Tumblr with the specific WIP tag and #Insipration or #Reference helps too.)

Now, if I were writing by hand, and not digitally? A lot of post-it notes, a journal with too many highlighters, and a corkboard with a lot of yarn. 😅

Spoilers below the cut. Pass at your own risk. Includes Reference to:

Museum Muse + Righteous Fury

Feylands

Bury the Lede

Headers in Google Docs has been (and continues to be) the easiest way for me to navigate a story.

Take Museum Muse/Righteous Fury for Example. This is in my "Working Document" where I keep important information to reference later. V1 and V2 have two different POV's in it, for example.

And this is in the working document for Righteous Fury. Chapters, then scenes, and scraps at the end.

In Feylands, in contrast:

But I have key info about all of the characters (though this has now changed and needs to be revised - oops) under their names. I have a direct line to the setting to make sure I get my information straight if I need to make a reference. (Tbh, this is a shoddy example because I need to clean it up and streamline the thoughts - but that's neither here nor there. It's a mess in my head and on paper until I write lol.)

Now, when it comes to long-term planning? Ehhhh...there's a reason I don't publish work until I'm happy with the whole story for the most part. That gives me the chance to go back, nudge details, account for something that'll pay off in spades later, make sure that my clues are set in the right place, etc.

With some stories, I'm running on vibes alone and I don't really have a plot sorted out. I spend time exploring the characters (Feylands has little blurbs for every character that I tweak as I find things out about them, for example), until a story begins to develop. Or I'll write as far as I can and then noodle on it for a while. (Sorry, Bury the Lede, I just can't figure out how to get into the next part yet.)

Usually I have the general plot (What if x happens? Shenanigans. is my go to.) figured out though. Specific details don't pay off until I'm writing and then it's a matter of rereading what I have and relying on my (sometimes questionable) memory/notes.

I told you it was convoluted, lol.

[gemmahale]

Gemmmmmaaaaa, it's-a me, Sy! 5, 17, and 23 for the writer game, please.

Hi Sy! I got distracted last night and totally spaced answering this, whoops! Here you go now!

Fic Writer Asks

5. First sentence of the 5th paragraph of an unpublished WIP.

Feylands, Chapter 3

“Stop!” His voice reverberates, deep and thundering. Josephine turns and runs faster, breaths puffing ahead of her in delicate little clouds.

(I gave you two, because the first was short. And I know you love Feylands. 😉)

17. Talk about your writing and editing process.

Oof. I'm always thinking about things and drafting scenes in my head (a solid number make it to the WIP eventually). But when I have time to actually sit down to write (and I'm not avoiding reports or anything 😅) I'm actually really...mundane. I don't have a special "writing beverage" or "writing snack" - at this point, I'm curled up in some convoluted shape in my chair with my tablet balanced in some gravity-defying manner (still learning the best way; when it was my phone it was different lol) and keyboard in my lap. Most likely in a blanket because I live with a human furnace named Kallen who keeps the house chilly. (I can put layers on, I only get crabby about it once in a while.) Hopefully when we get my office/craft room squared away, I'll be in there sometimes. Nothing really changes except a desk/table to work on; I am actively looking at lap desks for both crafting and writing purposes. 😄 The first part is picking my WIP - sometimes it's based on vibe, an idea I had, a comment I had when I'm co-brainstorming with someone, etc. I have 18 (oof) direct links on my tablet now to different WIPs. (Five - what the hell Gemma - of which aren't listed on my masterlist because I'm holding them close to my chest still. For an assortment of reasons.) Usually, Kallen and I are watching a livestream or playlist of YouTube videos from a few creators we both enjoy when I'm writing. If he's off to his office to go play with some friends, I put some music or a chill stream on for background noise. And then I go to town. Editing is kind of an ongoing thing for me - I go back and re-read what I've written before to get the vibe, see what's working/what isn't, fix weird spelling errors, etc. So there's always little tweaks happening to documents. I've shared WIPs with some close friends - you included, Sy 😉 - to get vibe checks and/or general feedback. But when (if) I choose to publish, I'll read through the document once or twice, have someone else proof it, and then off it goes and I find a spelling mistake upon posting. So really, I'm a poker and tinker as a writer. I know where I'm headed, we'll get there eventually. Someday.

23. Pick three words that describe your writing.

Evocative, personable, vivid

I used "personable" because I couldn't think of a word that meant "people are written as people - good and bad" because I feel like I do that well.

[gemmahale]

Last Line Challenge!

show the last line you wrote and tag as many people as there are words (or however many you’d like). Note: I'm tweaking this and pulling last lines from active WIPs, because I haven't had as much time to write as I wish I could have.

@syoddeye tagged me, so...have this from Feylands.

“I can’t sleep. It’s a half-sleep daze when I try, and that’s assuming I don’t have nightmares. It’s not restful.” Josephine looked up at Jane, setting her screen glasses aside on the desk. “The only time I get any decent sleep has been the few times I’ve fallen asleep on Gary while we’ve watched a movie.”

I think most everyone's been tagged at some point today, so consider this an open tag - if you want to share, this is your chance!

[gemmahale]

For the wip asks! Ok, because I love this word, dappled. And a back up word just in case, sunlight!!

Ooh, these are good words! Please hold while I go trawling into my WIPs. (You get the "first one I open that I find" special lol.)

See the prompt here.

Dappled: from Feylands

The sun had burned off any morning chill that was trying to hang around, and the dappled sunlight through the fall-tinted trees flickered on the neatly manicured grass.

Sunlight: From The Contract

With his knuckle, he nudged her chin up so she was looking at him, blinking against the bright sunlight.

I almost gave up on "dappled" but Feylands came in clutch!

[gemmahale]

Okay. Since I’m doing a Feylands dive tonight, come bother me with lore questions.

Is there enough info to do this with everything that’s tagged? I don’t actually know…I hope so? Tell me if not. 😅 The link above takes you to everything I’ve tagged with #Feylands WIP.

[gemmahale]

Talk Shop Tuesday: How do you settle on the setting in your fics? Do you base it around the plot? Or is it one of the first things you think of when planning the plot?

Talk Shop Tuesday

Tats, this is so complicated to explain because my writing method is so convoluted. I wanted to say "it just happens".

But picking the setting really depends first on what kind of story I'm telling. Unless I'm working in an AU, I'm probably using whatever setting is provided by canon. (Typically modern-day somewhat urban.)

Sometimes though, stories just have to be set somewhere specific. I want to write a Western AU? It's going to be set in some facsimile of the Western US. I want to write a mafia AU? An urban/city setting is most likely. And so on.

Now, when I'm setting up details on a scene's setting - house v. flat/apartment, bistro v. bar, etc. - I kind of let the characters dictate as much of that as I can.

One of my characters is much more likely to go to the little mom and pop deli shop for lunch than go out for drinks and dinner, so I'm going to put them in that deli shop to meet someone for food. Another of my characters doesn't drink - sending them to a bar is counter-intuitive (I mean, they can still go, but it's probably not their first pick.) A side character may live on the outskirts of town because they're married and have three beagles, but my MC may live in the city because they're single and wanted a shorter commute to work/access to city amenities.

So choosing details within my overall setting really is dependent upon the characters and what the plot needs.

But when it comes to writing it, I picture it like a stage - what's needed to set the tone and what's needed to interact with? I try to leave enough room for readers to fill in the blanks. (Whether that works or not remains to be seen.) This is also why, sometimes, I'll mention curtains or small trinkets and then you'll never hear about them again. They are no longer needed, but we can tell we're in the same place.

An example of this: In Feylands, Josie walks down snowy streets of a downtown city. She lives in an apartment building, doesn't own a car, and lives like 5 blocks from her office building. Just from that, you can extrapolate a lot of info about my setting. (I don't usually specify cities/towns in my writing. I will states/provinces/countries though.)

She frequents a burger/brewery joint a few blocks away - again, that tells you a lot about Josie and about the city she lives in.

It's walking home one night when a crucial plot glimmer happens - because where else could it happen? See how it all feeds back into itself?

Because it's set in a city, my character probably lives in an apartment. Because they live in an apartment, they probably don't have a car (or if they do, drive it infrequently). So they probably rely on mass transport or walking to get from A to B. Since they can walk to their job and their favorite spots, [key plot point] can happen. (No it is not kidnapping or a mugging, be creative. 😉)

That's how so many of my stories are written - big decisions inform small plot points and vice versa. I feel like I'm completely off my rocker saying this shit though lol.

[gemmahale]

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare (Reboot) - Works In Progress

I'm always happy to answer questions and share progress on any of these! My Ask Box is always open. Links lead to the tag for that WIP.

All WIPs are 18+. Minors, please don't.

John 'Bravo 6' Price

#Useful Girl WIP - A retrospective that takes John Price from Pompous Playboy Lieutenant to Suave Dominant Captain with a woman that makes his head spin and his pants tight. BDSM, D/s, boot blacking and similar kinks. John Price x OFC Scarlett Morgan

#Bury The Lede WIP - An investigative journalist followed the paths of multiple women that have gone missing in a desert town. Now she's stranded with her car fucked. The kind Samaritan that took her to his friend's mechanic shop might know more than he lets on. John Price x OFC Reporter x [Redacted] x [Redacted]

Kyle 'Gaz' Garrick

#Call of The Wild WIP - When his werewolf girlfriend goes missing, Kyle Garrick must set his feelings aside in order to save her from a hybrid trafficking ring. Kyle Garrick x OFC Shannon Porter Shifter AU

#The Contract WIP - In a fit of frustration, Rosalind Henderson makes a deal with a demon. When he comes to collect, they're taken aback by how normal he is. Or is there more to this contract she didn't know about when they signed? Kyle Garrick x OC Rosalind 'Rosie'/'Lin' Henderson Demon AU; Collab with @pfhwrittes

#Corporal Distraction WIP - Sgt. Kyle Garrick has been seeing Corporal Anna Gibson in secret. His teammates have had enough of their late night shenanigans and decide to take matters into their own hands. Kyle Garrick x OFC Anna Gibson; John MacTavish, Simon Riley x OFC Anna Gibson

#Embroidered Secret WIP - Kyle Garrick meets Lucille Fitzroy at one of the many balls. Follow their courtship with a lost and found trinket, a realization of love, and lots of witty banter and stolen moments. He fell first, she fell harder trope. Kyle Garrick x OFC Lucille Fitzroy Regency AU; Collab with @ofdivinity01

#Flowers from My Love WIP - Johanna Hawkins, disabled flower farmer, meets the Taskforce 141 and becomes smitten with Kyle Garrick when they occupy the neighbor's house. When a farmer's market event is attacked, she has to trust her new friends to be able to get her out of the precarious situation she's found herself in. Kyle Garrick x OFC Johanna Hawkins

#A Protégé's Trust WIP - Laswell's CIA Operative Lisa 'Badger' Compton manages to get under Kyle's skin every which way he turns. It's infuriating how much she bothers him. Her silky voice over comms, her voluptuous curves handing him information, the twinkle of her painted fingernail on her firearm's trigger - one of these days, he's going to lose it over this woman. Kyle Garrick x OFC Lisa 'Badger' Compton. Collab with @pfhwrittes

#Squeamish Stitches WIP - When Gaz is injuried on a recon mission, it's up to Jen 'Glitz' O'Dolan to get him patched up. One catch: her last visit to med bay resulted in her fainting at the sight of blood. Squeamish or not, his life rests in her hands while Ghost secures the safehouse. Aka: the Triple G Crew Kyle Garrick x OFC Jen 'Glitz' O'Dolan; Simon Riley & OFC Glitz

#Palace Hallways WIP - It's not awful being the newly crowned Queen's lady-in-waiting. What is awful is the attention you've unintentionally garnered from Sir Garrick. What's even worse, is the Royal Artificer and Royal Druid seem to be paying you the same kind of attention. You're a mess, and no one will do anything about it. Fantasy AU Kyle Garrick, Johnny MacTavish, Simon Riley x OFC 'Petal'

#Schooled WIP - Kyle's life's been uprooted after the failed capture of Makarov. Will moving to Wales, accepting a new position in MI6, and flirting with his twin sister's best friend help him reacclimate? Kyle Garrick x OFC Erin Whitford Collab with @eilidh-eternal

John 'Soap' MacTavish

#Museum Muse WIP - An online friendship blossoms between KelpieTinker93 (John) and IrisOfTheLake (Daisy) when they keep finding themselves active in the same online forums - especially a few spicy ones. Shy flirts become outright come-ons, and a tentative relationship blooms.

Tinker and Iris eventually decide to meet at a coffee shop in person - but can their relationship survive the shift to IRL? Or are they in for the biggest surprise of their life when face to face with reality?

BDSM, D/s dynamic, puppy play Johnny 'Soap' MacTavish x OFC Darlene 'Daisy' Houghton

#Righteous Fury WIP - When one man finds himself in the same position he was in four years ago, he has a choice to make. When the beast hungry for retribution and protection roars, Sergeant John 'Soap' MacTavish answers.

That choice leads him into a life he never expected as part of Task Force 141 and SpecGru: one of subterfuge, counter-terrorism, and intelligence operations. He knows how to defuse a bomb and shoot a gun, but can he handle the increased pressure of the work?

Set in the Museum Muse Universe. Published Masterlist John 'Soap' MacTavish, Task Force 141 and Others

#Brix WIP - Orchard manager Annabeth Turner deals with becoming a safehouse for a clandestine task force. The Scot on the team can't seem to help himself and continues to get in the way. Johnny 'Soap' MacTavish x OFC Annabeth Turner

#Highland Tartans WIP - John MacTavish and Holly Duncan, of neighboring Scottish clans, are set to be wed. Historic Scottish Highlands AU (historical accuracy is questionable) Johnny 'Soap' MacTavish x OFC Holly Duncan

#Corporal Distraction WIP - Sgt. Kyle Garrick has been seeing Corporal Anna Gibson in secret. His teammates have had enough of their late night shenanigans and decide to take matters into their own hands. Kyle Garrick x OFC Anna Gibson; John MacTavish, Simon Riley x OFC Anna Gibson

#Palace Hallways WIP - It's not awful being the newly crowned Queen's lady-in-waiting. What is awful is the attention you've unintentionally garnered from Sir Garrick. What's even worse, is the Royal Artificer and Royal Druid seem to be paying you the same kind of attention. You're a mess, and no one will do anything about it. Fantasy AU Kyle Garrick, Johnny MacTavish, Simon Riley x OFC 'Petal'

Simon 'Ghost' Riley

#Palace Hallways WIP - It's not awful being the newly crowned Queen's lady-in-waiting. What is awful is the attention you've unintentionally garnered from Sir Garrick. What's even worse, is the Royal Artificer and Royal Druid seem to be paying you the same kind of attention. You're a mess, and no one will do anything about it. Fantasy AU Kyle Garrick, Johnny MacTavish, Simon Riley x OFC 'Petal'

#Squeamish Stitches WIP - When Gaz is injuried on a recon mission, it's up to Jen 'Glitz' O'Dolan to get him patched up. One catch: her last visit to med bay resulted in her fainting at the sight of blood. Squeamish or not, his life rests in her hands while Ghost secures the safehouse. Aka: the Triple G Crew Kyle Garrick x OFC Jen 'Glitz' O'Dolan; Simon Riley & OFC 'Glitz'

#Corporal Distraction WIP - Sgt. Kyle Garrick has been seeing Corporal Anna Gibson in secret. His teammates have had enough of their late night shenanigans and decide to take matters into their own hands. Kyle Garrick x OFC Anna Gibson; John MacTavish, Simon Riley x OFC Anna Gibson

Kate Laswell

#Edge Dressing WIP - Kate is roped into a bootblacking demonstration by her wife Letty. A curious voyeur learns more about the art than they expected. Kate Laswell x OFC Letty Laswell x OC (TBD)

Task Force 141 - Price, Ghost, Gaz, Soap (May Include other MW characters)

#Feylands WIP - The Court of Maevonia have been in search of a human for their court plaything for a while. Josephine Kaplan fits the description of what they want. But when she accidentally shows up unannounced just as a war with a neighboring kingdom is kicking off, it seems like things might work out differently. Can Josie work with the Court to save not only Maevonia, but also Earth from the Penumbra and it’s Shadow Bringers? Fey AU OFC Josephine ‘Josie’ Kaplan x Gary 'Roach’ Sanderson; + Task Force 141, Kate Laswell, Wife Laswell, Alex Keller, Farah Karim

#141 Studio WIP - Samantha West, stage name Poppy, interviews for a position with Studio 141 - one of the most elite, ethical and diverse porn studios. With her hiring comes a whirlwind of changes - mostly for the better. But when trouble comes knocking, will Poppy have the answer on the 'Tip Of The Tongue'? Porn Studio AU. AKA: Kinky Bullshit. Gemma needed a sandbox for gratuitous porn, pro sex-worker. Task Force 141 + Friends x OFC Samantha 'Poppy' West

#7 Sins Bookstore WIP - Seven Sins Bookstore and Cafe is warm and cozy inside - a maze of bookshelves filled with tomes and little reading nooks tucked throughout on one side, and on the other, a bustling cafe with delicious food, hot beverages, wine tastings and room for groups to congregate. But in the basement, beyond an unassuming office door, lies the real purpose of the institution. That’s where the real deals are made, where blood is ordered to be spilled, and pacts signed in indelible hemoglobin ink. Vampire Mobster AU Task Force 141 x OC's - Journalist, Researcher, Barista Manager, Author, Regular Customer

#Horizon Mirages WIP - With an increase in bandit activity in the area around the small town of Whisperdale, recently elected Sheriff John Price and his deputies - Simon Riley, Johnny MacTavish, and Kyle Garrick - are pressured to ease tensions between cattlemen, homesteaders and townsfolk alike. Western AU Task Force 141 x OCs - Seamstress, Shepherdess, Saloon Co-Owner, General Store Manager

#Blow A Man Down WIP - The clipper 141 sails upon the seas, exploring and trading at ports across the globe. Returning to home port is always an adventure. Historical Sailor AU Task Force 141 x OCs - Captain of the Sally Lou, Barkeep, Merchant, Dockmaster + Friends

Glitter Background in Header: 1tamara2 from Pixabay Text Divider: @saradika-graphics Last Updated: 10/10/2024