#I have about 20 others authors that I absolutely adore and love

[iridecsense]

 Lip Smacker - m.

⤷ summary: in which izuku, katsuki, and shouto make a bet about what flavor chapstick you wear.

word count: 4.8k   pairing: tdbkdk | fem!reader   warnings: none ♡   genre: crack, smut | lime author’s note:��This is a COLLEGE AU, meaning all characters are aged up to 18+ consenting adults—more specifically all characters are in their 20s.

If there was one thing about you that everyone knew, it was that you were not one to shy away from PDA with anyone. And by anyone, that means anyone. It was no secret you were overly-affectionate, especially with your friends. It wasn't a bad thing, just a little jarring at times. 

You were a big cuddler. It was absolutely normal to embrace one of your friends and hold them hostage on the common room couch. It was practically routine. Holding hands was another habit of yours. You hated walking to class alone, and whoever you convinced to go with you would have your hand tightly wrapped around theirs the entire time.

There were other ticks too, like how you’d sit on the nearest person’s lap even if there was space for you elsewhere, or when you essentially tackle your friends into a hug when you got too excited, which was surprisingly quite often. It’s just how you were, and your friends had long since accepted that. 

There was one thing, however, that a certain group of testosterone-heavy someones couldn't wrap their heads around. As harmless and simple as it may have seemed to you, it really stirred up tensions with your guy friends. Out of all your little ticks, there was one tick you loved to do the most, and that was kiss.

It wasn’t a sexual thing. In fact it was far from it. You kissed everyone, including your girl friends. Truthfully, you kissed your girl friends more often than your guy friends, but it didn't change the fact that you kissed a lot. Like... a lot. So much so that the guys of your dorm have a bit of a competition around it. 

You see, you were a very pretty girl. You were sweet and kind, and adorable, and all the things guys fawn over in a spritely young woman such as yourself. Having someone like you around the dorms was a blessing for them. A pretty girl who isn’t afraid of some platonic touching with the opposite sex? What an absolute win!

“I’m telling you guys, y/n totally wants me!” Denki burst into the common room.

“Did you take the stairs? Why are you sweating?” Mina asked, turning around on the couch to face him.

“Yeah, the elevator was too slow,” he huffed, throwing his bag on the floor and jumping onto an empty chair.

Jirou scrunched her nose. “We live on the third floor why are you sweating that much?” 

“Oh my GOD, did you guys not hear what I said?” Denki groaned, changing the subject. “y/n wants me! She wants my plug in her outlet, and she wants me to stick it in and out all night long!” 

The room erupted into a sea of disgusted groans. A rogue pillow found itself impacted in Denki’s face, courtesy of Mina. 

“Ew, dude?!” Jirou cringed. 

Kirishima shook his head disapprovingly. “Come on, man. Not cool.” 

“That’s just gross,” said Sero.

“Trust me, the last thing y/n wants is any of...” Mina gestured to Denki. “that.”

“I know I am going to regret asking you this, but what happened to make you think that she wants you.” Kirishima curiously asked. 

Denki smiled and excitedly made his way to sit on the open seat between Mina and Kirishima. 

“I was walking back from class, right? And I saw y/n walking to class on her own. So, I ran up and offered to walk with her there. She smiles all big, bats her eyes and goes ‘Oh Denki, thank you so much! I’m so happy you’re here! Why don’t you just take me already, oh-hoo-hoo-hoo~!’”

Jirou rolled her eyes. “She did not say that.” 

“She might as well have!” He countered rather defensively. “Anyway, she takes my hand and––dude, she’s so close to me I can smell her shampoo—she's brushing against my arm, laughing at all my jokes; and when we get to the science building she’s all big-eyes and pouty lips, ‘Thank’s again Denki, you are such a good friend,’ and then, boom! She lays one on me, right here!” He points to his left cheek where there was a faint pink glossy mark. 

“Oh, so like, what she’s like with literally everyone else,” Sero bleats. 

“Nah man, you weren't there, you didn’t see the way she looked at me! Those were fuck me eyes, I’m telling you.”

Jirou suddenly stood from her seat in the lounge chair. “Seriously, guys? If you’re gonna keep talking about y/n like that, I’m leaving. You guys are gross. Animals.”

“Yeah, I’m out too.” Mina followed Jirou to their room leaving the boys to themselves.

“I don’t know what they’re so mad about. They get to room with her. If I got to share a room with y/n I'd be the happiest man on earth,” Denki swoons.

“Yeah because you’d be the last man on earth, dipshit,” Sero snickers, causing the others to laugh. 

Denki’s cheeks turn red. “Whatever! You guys are just jealous because y/n likes me the most.”

“What, because she kissed you once on the cheek? Please, she’s kissed me at least three times,” Sero not-so-humbly brags.

Denki shoots up from his seat. “No way!”

“Yeah, and even then, it’s obvious who her favorites are, and—newsflash—it's not you or me.”

Just as Sero was picking apart the last bricks of hope Denki had left, the elevator dinged, revealing the other occupants of the floor. 

Kirishima smiled. “Sero’s right. Your little science building peck ain’t got nothing on whatever the fuck those three got going on with her.” He gestured to the three boys who leisurely walked in.

“What are you guys talking about?” Izuku asked as he stepped from the elevator with Katsuki and Shouto following behind. 

“We were just trying to see which one of us is y/n kisses the most to figure out who her favorite among the guys is,” Sero answered.

Katsuki sucked his teeth, his already permanent frown deepening. “Do you idiots really have nothing better to talk about?”

“It’s easy for you to not care when she’s all over you 24/7,” Denki pouts. “‘Katsuki can you open this for me please? Katsuki can you walk with me to psych? Katsuki can I lay on your lap while you play overwatch?’” Denki offensively mimics the sound of your voice. 

The common room erupted into snickers, turning the hot-headed blond’s neck red. “Watch it, dumbass,” he warns.

“Well, if you’re really that curious, I believe it's me,” said Shouto confidently, earning everyones attention. 

Katsuki’s brow twitched. “Oh, yeah? What makes you think that Icy-hot?”

“I can think of many occasions when y/n has kissed me and most of them were on the mouth. I think that would make me the favorite,” he stated as if it were fact.

It was this revelation that captured the attention of everyone in the room with great surprise. 

“You’ve kissed y/n on the mouth multiple times?” Sero gawked.

“She kissed me,” he clarified cooly.

“No way Shouto kissed y/n on the mouth before me!” Cried Denki dramatically, causing Shoji to comfort him. “That sneaky bastard preyed on our sweet, innocent girl and took advantage of her!” 

“I told you, she kissed me,” Shouto reiterated once more, becoming increasingly irritated.

Kirishima gave a heavy-handed pat to his back. “Congratulations, dude! I didn’t know you had it in you,” he smiled encouragingly.

Katsuki scoffed and crossed his arms. “So what? y/n’s kissed me on the lips too, and some of them weren't just innocent pecks neither.”

A strangled cry muffled by Shoji’s chest escaped Denki’s lips. 

“Guys should we really be talking about this?” Izuku shifted nervously. 

“Don’t go acting all high and mighty, Deku!” Yelled Katsuki. “I saw you and y/n kissing at the culture festival last month!”

“Stalk much?” Sero muttered snarkily under his breath.  Izuku’s cheeks went red and a coy smile spread across his lips. “Well...”

Denki broke free from Shoji’s strong arms and rushed towards Izuku, taking him by the collar. His reddened cheeks were stained with tears and nostrils flared. “Is this true Midoriya? Please, tell me it isn't true!”

“It is,” Izuku admitted, completely flustered and somewhat scared of his passionate, but clearly deranged friend. 

Denki fell to his knees. “You have to tell me what it was like! Was there tongue? How soft were her lips? What did she taste like? Tell me, I need to know!”

“This is getting sad,” Kirishima frowned, genuinely concerned, and Sero nodded in agreement. 

“I-I don’t know,” Izuku stuttered. “It was nice, I guess...” His mind went back to the day she kissed him at the festival by the taiyaki booth, and all the other times she’d placed her lips on his. He smiled softly. “Her chapstick tastes like watermelon.”

Denki smiled. “Watermelon,” he hummed. “Why didn't I think of that, that’s perfect for her! Fresh and sweet, just like her!”

“It’s not watermelon, idiot,” Katsuki spoke up. “It’s vanilla. It's always been vanilla.”

Izuku furrowed his brows. “Vanilla?” 

“Now that I think about it vanilla does suit her style better,” Denki muttered to himself. “I think Bakugou might be right on this one!”

“No, I’m pretty sure it’s watermelon,” Izuku asserted. 

“Strawberry.”

Everyone turned to Shouto, who all of the sudden looked very serious. “Her chapstick is strawberry flavored.”

The three boys locked eyes in an intense stare-off. Kirishima and Sero shared a look and identical smirks, hatching the same idea. 

“Why don’t we make this interesting,” Sero cut in, his mischievous grin glinting. “Why don't we make it a bet? Watermelon vs. Vanilla vs. Strawberry. Whoever is right can claim that they’ve kissed y/n the most, and therefore is her favorite.”

“I’ll take that bet,” says Izuku confidently. 

Katsuki scoffed. “You seem pretty confident for a jackass that’s about to lose!” 

“The same could be said about you too, Bakugou” Shouto quipped, poking the blond’s already short-temper. 

While the three fought, the rest of the boys that still littered the room placed their educated bets, spreading the word to the others in a group chat. Soon all of class 1-A and some of class 1-B had placed their bets on what flavor chapstick you wore. 

All of this, of course, was unbeknownst to you as you were conveniently left out of the betting chat, along with Mina and Jirou as were your closest friends and would undoubtedly blab to you about the whole thing. You had to be kept in the dark, which made the events of the following week rather...interesting.

It started the next day, after bets had been placed and the tension between Shouto, Katsuki, and Izuku manifested in their sudden desperate efforts to cater to your every need. You didn't suspect anything at first. You’d just assumed that the boys were being kind. 

You woke up early, two hours earlier than when you needed to be up in preparation for your first class. It was sunrise and despite you still being tired, you couldn't fall back asleep no matter how hard you tried. Giving up, you slipped from your bed and into your robe and slippers. Groggily, you made your way to the kitchen to make yourself a mug of coffee to sip on while you watched TV in the common room until you decided to start your day. 

It was there that you ran into Shouto, standing in his pajamas over a hot stove cooking a fried egg. His back was turned to you and you debated announcing your presence. However, you should have known the son of the number one hero was always incredibly keen on his surroundings. 

“Would you like some?” His question hung in the air, waiting for you to catch it.

“You don’t have to,” you sputter, suddenly flustered. “It looks like you’re almost done. I was just getting some coffee.” You said as you stood at the kitchen island. 

Without saying a word, he grabbed the bowl full of fried rice at his side and slid the fried egg on top, drizzling a demi-glace sauce on top before turning around and placing it in front of you. He took your mug from your hands and replaced it with a spoon. You watched him, almost starry-eyed, as he placed your mug under the coffee machine and pressed the button to make it brew with coffee. He said nothing, and made himself another bowl. 

You smiled softly and took a seat on a stool at the island, deciding to watch him cook instead of another episode of Too Hot To Handle. 

“Thank you, Shouto,” you said as you scooped a spoon full of rice into your mouth. You hummed in delight. 

Shouto’s lips twitched into a barely-noticeable smile, not that you could notice it with his back facing you. “Do you like it?” He asked. 

“I love it!” You praise. “I didn’t know you could cook so well!”

Shouto did the same as he did before, taking his bowl of fried rice and covering it with a hot egg and demi-glace sauce. He found himself a spoon and walked over to the coffee machine, which had filled your mug with hot, black coffee. He grabbed it too, and came over to take a seat at your side. Reaching his long arms to the center of the isle he brought closer the sugar and creamer for your brew. You thanked him again. 

“My sister Fuyumi is the better cook,” he told you. “She taught me how to make a few things for myself while I am away at university. Quick, simple meals, like rice and ramen. Nothing special.”

“Thank goodness for your sister then,” you said. “Maybe I should wake up this early everyday so I can steal more of your delicious breakfast, simple or not.”

You giggled to yourself and took another bite. Shouto watched you from the corner of his eye. He’d never seen you like this, in the morning with a fresh face and your hair tied back, dressed in your pajamas and a robe that hung loosely off one shoulder. 

It is in moments like these, when Shouto finds himself alone with you that he is reminded of your magnetic attraction. Even he could not resist it, the thing about you that cast a spell upon all those you meet, rendering them your adoring subjects. He ate silently beside you, only occasionally engaging in small talk when you incited it. When you had finished, he reached for your empty bowl, prepared to clear it for you, but your hand gripped his wrist. You stood from your stool. 

“The least I can do is clean the dishes. You should go. I know you’re only up this early to train before class.”

Though it was your hand that encased his left wrist, it was he that felt burnt by your touch. You took the bowl from his hand and collected his from the isle counter to wash, but not before you stood on the tips of your toes to plant a soft peck to his lips on your way to the sink. It was sweet, innocent even, perhaps only lingering a half-a-second longer than it should’ve. But unlike the many previous kisses you’ve shared before, he licked his lips and could not help the smirk that appeared in response to the taste of candied strawberries that lingered on his tongue. 

“I was right,” he muttered to himself. 

You raised an eyebrow. “Right about what?” 

Shouto cleared his throat, his cheeks tinted pink. You’d never seen him do that before.  

“I mean, you were right,” he corrected himself.  “I should go. I’ll see you later, y/n.”

You nodded your head. “Oh, alright. See you later!” You called after him as he left to return to his room. 

The rest of the day went on rather normally. You had gotten ready and got to class on time (something that was rare) feeling particularly spritely and energized. You assumed it had something to do with having an actual breakfast instead of a singular mug of coffee. You reminded yourself to thank him properly the next time you saw him. 

Around lunchtime was when you encountered Katsuki. You had just gotten yourself lunch from one of the dining halls to eat at one of your favorite spots outside. It was a particularly nice day, especially for the dead of winter, so you decided to not let it go to waste. On your way there you saw a familiar mess of blond hair ahead of you. 

“Katsuki!” You yelled excitedly, quickening your pace to catch up to him.

His shoulders tensed and he stopped in his tracks, craning his neck to look behind him and expected to find someone annoying headed his way. He relaxed only a little when he saw it was you. Still someone annoying, but a lot less annoying than all of the people he knew. Once you reached him you gave a bright grin. The sun shone down on you, igniting the highlights of your hair and the color in your eyes, imitating an almost heavenly glow; the kind that even he couldn't deny made you look perfect. It was one of the many things about you that pissed him off. 

“Where ya goin’?” You asked in an almost sing-song voice. 

“Back to the room to take a nap, why?” He grumbled.

You held up your plastic bag of food. “Want to have lunch with me? I have extra.”

“No.” He said simply and began walking towards the dorm. 

You pouted, a small whine came from your chest and you chased after him. “Please, Katsuki?” You begged. “I don’t want to eat alone today. Besides, who else is going to help me eat all this spicy pork curry?”

He sighed, once again stopping his journey to his comfortable bed that had been calling his name since his 8 AM class. You smiled triumphantly, knowing you had won. He looked down at your heavy plastic bag full of what he now knows is spicy pork curry and other side dishes. Sucking his teeth he grabbed the food from your hand. “You’re lucky I’m fucking starving. Why buy so much if you weren't going to eat all of it?” 

He nagged you all the way to the campus arboretum, where you had a special place among the grass and trees you liked to sit and eat at. He was only giving you a hard time because it kept him from thinking about how pretty you looked in your dress, or how cute you had sounded begging him to come eat with you. He didn't want to think about how your arm often bumped his because you had an awkward, lop-sided gait, or about the smell of your perfume. All he wanted to do was get to your picnic spot and eat. So he did. 

The two of you ate together on a blanket you had brought. You’d gotten on the topic of final exams which turned into a shit-talking fest about who you both felt in your class would pass and who would fail. He found it very easy to talk to you and you never made him feel bad about the things he said, unlike most people who spend most of their energy scolding him instead of just talking. Not you though. You always let him talk. 

It was when he said something that made you laugh that you accidentally spilled your soda on your dress. You cursed and fumbled for napkins to dab it clean, but the stain was evident. 

“Dammit!” You groaned. “I have class in fifteen minutes I don't have time to change.”

You were so busy cleaning your mess, it wasn't until you felt the weight of Katsuki’s thick hoodie plop over your head that you knew he had even taken it off. You snorted a chuckle and pulled your head threw the neck hole to see him left in his black compression shirt. 

“Take it dumbass,” he told you. 

“You won’t be cold?” You asked. 

“I’m done for the day. Just bring it to my room later.” He said. 

You smiled and pushed your arms through the sleeves, pulling the oversized hoodie over you to cover the stain. It was...toasty, you think is the correct word, and it smelled like his cologne. You closed your eyes and held the fabric to your nose, inhaling his scent deeply. Katsuki furrowed his brows as he watched you.

“It smells so good!” You practically moan. “And it’s so warm. It’s like I’m getting the best hug in the world. A Kaachan hug!” You teased, snickering to yourself. 

Katsuki’s face grew hot, and he pinched your cheek, tugging with his fingers, making you yelp and whine from the minuscule pain. “Who told you to call me that, huh? Can’t you just say thank you like a normal person? I can take my hoodie back and let you walk around with a shitty stain on your dress.”

Your hand gripped his arm, attempting to pry him off. “Okay, okay!” You yell, half laughing, half hissing in pain. “I’m sorry! Thank you!”

Satisfied he let your cheek go, and you soothed the spot by rubbing it in circles with your hand. You pouted while he cleaned the blanket of your mess and threw the trash away while you folded it back up. He decided to walk you to class since he had nothing better to do and he knew you wanted him to (certainly not because he wanted to). When you made it to the entrance of your building you stopped and turned towards him. 

“Thanks for walking me and for the hoodie,” you smiled. “I’ll see you back in the dorms.”

You started to turn around when you felt his hand wrap around your arm, keeping you in place. Confused, you stood still. You might have been imagining things, but from where you stood, it looked as though his cheeks were flushed red. 

“What’s wrong, Katsuki?” You asked, concerned. 

“Don’t I...get a kiss?” He couldn't believe what he was saying. 

“A kiss?” You repeated, also not believing what he was saying.

“As a thank you,” he explained.

Your lips twitched into a teasing smile. “I thought you didn't like it when I did that in public.”

“When has that ever stopped you before!” He countered, his cheeks growing redder. 

You laughed and took a step closer, closing the gap between you. You craned your neck up to place a chaste kiss on the corner of his lips. Unsatisfied, Katsuki sucked his teeth and reached his hand up to your chin, turning your head in a position for him to press his lips against yours, and kissed you. It was unexpected, but after a few seconds, the shock drifted away, and you closed your eyes, returning the kiss. It was longer than the kiss you shared with Shouto earlier that day, but not by much; and once it was over, he licked his lips. 

‘Vanilla...’ He thought as he pulled away. 

His hand fell from your chin and he sighed. “Hurry before you’re late,” was all he said before turning around and walking back towards the dorm, leaving you in a post-kiss daze. 

You made it to your class, albeit, late because your mind kept trying to make sense of the kiss that you’d accidentally passed the door to your classroom...twice. Of course, you had kissed Katsuki before. Kissing him on the lips wasn't necessarily a rare occurrence either. But never had he incited a kiss on his own—and in public? Well, that wasn't even in the realm of possibility before. No matter how many times you tried to convince yourself it wasn't strange, you couldn't help but feel suspicious. 

As you dissociated from your lecture your brain kept replaying the kiss, searching for a reason to why the kiss felt different. No, it didn't feel different. It felt strange. But it only felt strange because something about it felt familiar. It shouldn't have felt familiar. If a guy initiates a kiss with you for the first time it shouldn't feel familiar. Why did it feel familiar? 

And then it hit you. He licked his lips. 

He licked his lips!

Your brain switched to your kiss with Shouto earlier in the day. After you kissed him he had licked his lips too. You thought it was weird then, but didn't think twice about it. Now you were thinking twice.

‘I’m just being crazy,’ you thought. 

In what way could the kisses be related? What? Because they both happened to lick their lips afterwards? So what? That didn’t mean anything. It meant nothing. You were sure of it... 

Almost. 

You shook the thoughts from your head, refocusing your attention back to your professor at the front of the room. After class, you made your way back to the dorms to get started on your studies while Mina and Jiro were out. The sun had long since set, and you were two hours deep in frustration preparing for your Hero Physics midterm when a knock came from the door. 

You welcomed the distraction, considering you were about to re-read the same question for the fifth time with no progress of understanding it anytime soon, and if you read it again without a miraculous conclusion, you were going to bash your brains in with your laptop.

Needless to say, when you opened the door to see Izuku standing in the hall, you welcomed him with open arms. 

“Hey!” You smiled. 

Izuku looked you up and down. You were still wearing Katsuki’s hoodie, but you had switched out your dress for pajama pants and fuzzy socks. It was subtle, practically unnoticeable, but the slightest crease formed in-between his eyebrows when he noticed. 

“Is that Kaachan’s hoodie?” He asked. 

You looked down at your torso, as if you had forgotten you were wearing anything at all. “Oh, yeah,” you said. “I spilled soda all over my dress earlier while I was with him and he let me borrow it. Honestly, I’m thinking about keeping it at this point. I was supposed to return it as soon as I got back but it’s freezing in here because the thermostat is stuck at sixty-nine degrees and this hoodie is so much warmer than any of mine.”

“You should really call maintenance to fix that.” He brushed past you, entering your room and plopping his backpack on the floor by your desk. You closed the door behind him and crossed your arms.

“What's this?” He asked, picking up your notebook. 

“My suicide note.”

Izuku chuckled, looking over your notes and at the assignment on your computer. “I took Hero Physics last semester,” he told you. “I can help you if you want.” 

“If you want to dedicate your time to a hopeless cause, be my guest.”

And he did. He took a seat next to you at your desk and spent the next hour tutoring you on Hero Physics by walking you through questions like ‘Find the velocity of this speed-type hero’ and what-not. Surprisingly, it wasn't long into your session that you began to understand the words on your screen. You didn't suddenly become Einstein or anything, but at some point you started to work your way through them on your own with few mistakes. The assignment you had spent two hours slowly killing yourself over was completed in one with the help of your freckled friend. 

“I think you’re aiming for the wrong profession, Izuku,” you tell him. “Schools need more teachers.”

“Then schools should pay them more.”

You tried to snort back your laughter, ultimately failing, causing  Izuku to laugh along with you. 

“Want a drink?” You asked, standing to your feet. 

“Sure.” He nodded. You left him at your desk and came back with two Arizona teas from your mini fridge to share with him. 

“You never mentioned why you stopped by unannounced,” you said as you took a sip. “Not that you’re ever unwelcome.”

“Oh,” he smiled. “I guess I just wanted to see you.”

You looked down at your hands wrapped around the can, unable to meet his eyes. Izuku always managed to make you blush. You weren't sure if he meant to or not. Either way, he was completely oblivious to the effect he had on you. 

“Well thank you. It’s always nice to see you.”

Similarly, Izuku blushed as well, his cheeks turning pale red. His eyes shifted to the clock on your desk. “I should probably go,” he said, not really wanting to go. “It’s getting late.”

“Oh, right.” You both stood to your feet and Izuku gathered his things. You walked him to the door, leisurely leaning against the doorframe as he exited into the hall. “Think you can keep tutoring me?”

Izuku turned around. 

“I still need to pass finals,” you said. 

He nodded. “Then I'll make sure you pass finals.”

Grinning, you closed the space between you, mindlessly reaching to place a kiss on his cheek when you were reminded of the other kisses you'd shared with Shouto and Katsuki. A thought in the back of your mind spurred from your suspicions—a thought that quickly turned into an idea. At the last second, you acted on your impulse to b-line for his lips, catching you both off guard. You stuck with it, pressing your lips against his harder than you intended. The action stunned him, but it didn't take him longer than a second to embrace it.

It was just a kiss. Not unlike the many kisses you often shared with the others. Not unlike the kisses you've given him before. It was just a simple peck...until it wasn't. 

You pulled away, prepared to give him your thanks for helping you with your studies. But, you never got the chance. Your words were silenced by his lips chasing after yours. Your breath hitched in your throat as your back pressed against the door frame. His hands cupped your cheeks and your lips moved in sync, his tongue daring to swipe across your lips. In the heat of the moment, your mouth nearly opened for him, but he pulled away just as your lips began to part, and you opened your eyes to meet dark green irises peering down at your flushen face. 

Your eyes flickered down to his pink lips, now reddened and somewhat swollen. You watched in disbelief as—just like the others—he, too, licked his lips. 

“Watermelon,” he said lowly. Your chest heaved, your words escaping you. Izuku stepped back, his usual sickeningly sweet smile staring back at you as if nothing happened. 

“We should split some watermelon,” he said. “The next time we study together. That’s my asking rate.”

You nodded hazily. “Okay.”

With that, he said goodbye and left you standing in the doorway to your room dumbfounded. 

.

.

.

Yeah.

Something definitely was up. 

[jhoneybees]

I love your writing and the effort you put into it, and I was wondering if you'd be willing to share one shot of (Any year) Elvis with a Mexican reader. Specifically, one of him and his mama being invited to a party (birthday, reunion, or any type of party with family). This would be the first time Elvis gets to meet the readers. 

Also, I just genuinely think Gladys would enjoy the little chisme that goes on in the kitchen as the grandma's and tías cook.  Just a bunch of wholesome fluff!

Oh thank you! Yes I'm willing to share! This one was quite a challenge to do because I know nothing about Mexicans so please forgive me if I used the wrong Spanish words and this is more of a blurb so...please forgive me on that too😭

Fiesta

Characters: 50s!Elvis X Mexican!reader

Warnings/triggers: Probably nothing!

Author's note: Pétalo means petal, Tía means aunty, Tío means uncle, Sobrina means niece, Sobrino means nephew, Hermana means sister, Hijo means son, Feliz Cumpleaños means Happy birthday 🤧

_____________________________________________

Elvis has always been so polite and caring towards your family and when you first introduced him to your parents in ‘56 he instantly became the favourite. Out of all your brothers and sisters’ partners, Elvis won the spot of definite future son in law.

Your parents absolutely adore him, it’s not because he’s the upcoming celebrity but because of how well he treats you. Elvis would pick you up from your house for dates with a massive bouquet of flowers in his hand every single time and as much as you love the gifts, you tried to tell him to not spend so much on you but he kept insisting. He just loves watching you and your parents' reaction to the expensive things he would give you. Flowers, jewellery, clothes, anything.

Elvis would never forget to give your mamá something either, no, no, no, he’d give her the most beautiful things which you thought your papá would feel somewhat jealous of but no, he absolutely loves it!

Today is one of those days, Elvis has a lovely gift and he and his mama are dressed up to attend your mamá’s birthday party.

Your parents haven’t met Elvis’ parents yet and you weren’t going to lie, you’re a little nervous. Your family is very loving and welcoming when it comes to new members and Elvis’ parents are wonderful but you just can’t help it.

What if it’s not like that at all when he arrives?

“That must be your boyfriend!” Your aunty gasps in delight at the sound of the front door bell, you bite your bottom lip preparing yourself for some sort of disaster as you put down a plate of Chilaquiles.

“Quickly, you have to come and introduce us!” stumbling a little when your aunty drags you out of the kitchen into the living room. “Todas! Y/n’s boyfriend’s here!” She shouts, calling all the tías, tíos, sobrinas and sobrinos from all corners of the house. Holding onto your arm tightly with an excited smile on her face as your papá opens the front door.

“Hello.” Elvis grins, leaning to one side to peek inside of the house as your cousins scrabble around you to see who’s arrived.

“Ah! Pétalo, he’s handsome!” Your other aunty cheers.

Then in a blink, all of your family usher Elvis and his mama inside, the tios happily shaking hands and the tias greeting and complimenting Gladys. Your heart smiles at the delighted cheers and laughs.

“Hermana, look how tall he is! He must be really strong.”

“Could easily lift two of us up onto his shoulders!” The tias giggle.

“He reminds me of my late husband!”

“How could you think that? Your late husband wasn’t this handsome.”

“What do you mean? He was american!”

“Hermana, how long have you been living in America? 20 years? Not all Americans look like that!” The others argue.

You groan in embarrassment, hiding your face in your hands at how your aunties are all over Elvis and Gladys.

“Todas! Todas! You’re going to scare them if you keep latching onto them like that!” Your mamá clicks her tongue with an amused smile on her face. Walking calmly through the sea of people to gasp and squeal seeing Gladys. “Hello, you must be Gladys!” Excitedly grabbing her hands and admiring her hair and skin. “Oh mi, you’re beautiful!”

Gladys smiles shyly, thanking your mother politely before her eyes turn to look at Elvis. “Oh, my hijo!”

You smile gently, watching Elvis chuckle and laugh as he bends down to hug. “Hello mamá.” He replies, carefully putting a nicely wrapped up jewellery box in her hands, grinning at how her eyes soften. “Feliz cumpleaños to the birthday girl.”

You’re quite surprised how well Elvis pronounced happy birthday in spanish, you would often teach him a few words whenever he wants to impress your parents.

“Aww my son…Come! Come! I made Camote, your favourite!”

Elvis nods with a laugh and with a delicate push, he says to take his mama to the kitchen and show her.

“Hi baby.” He turns to you, his eyes sparkling with joy at the sight of you. Slowly sliding his arms around your waist to be closer to you and seeing out of the corner of his eye, he sees your cousins watch with open mouths and he smirks, suddenly attacks your neck with playful kisses and growls.

“Ai! Elvis! Stop that!” You gasp in a hushed tone, hearing the little kids snicker. You start to laugh too, pushing him away you shake your head in disbelief. Kissing him a little when he hums for one you scrunch your nose at the youngest ones watching. “All of you, go away. This is adult stuff.”

“Why?”

“Because I said so!”

“OooOoo Pétalo’s going to give her boyfriend kisses!” One jokes with a cute giggle.

“Go!” You order again and this time they all begin to pile out.

“How’s my baby, hm?” Elvis asks with a cheeky deep voice, his hands sliding up your waist to the sides of your breasts. Chuckling as you rest your arms around his neck.

“Good, how was your trip here?”

“It was good-”

“Lunch is ready, lovebirds! Come and eat before it’s all gone!” Your Tía calls making both of you laugh.

“Yes, Tía!” Elvis answers back with a big smile.

You really do wish Elvis would become your family's son in law, he's perfect to you.

“C’mon, Pétalo. Let's go.”

[destinationtoast]

*waves shyly* Hello!! First off, I absolutely adore all of your stats and get excited when you post new ones -- thank you so much for all that you do!

Secondly, a friend and I have been discussing fandom longevity lately, and I wondered if you have thoughts? Subjectively, it seems to us that new fandoms tend to have more quick bursts of fandom activity when a new season/movie/book/etc comes out that fades quickly with time, whereas older established fandoms have more staying power. I'm curious if you have any insight about whether this is objectively true in most cases or not, and as to whether or not the type of canon source material matters (eg show-based fandoms vs book-based fandoms). I hope you're having a great day <3

Hi there, and thanks! :D This is a great question, and one I have been having a bunch of conversations about lately.

I share this subjective experience -- it sure seems like the attention span of fans and lifespan of fandoms is shorter than it used to be, when I think of how quickly people stop talking about a bunch of newer movies and TV shows these days. And then I see some of the older fandoms like Harry Potter still producing a ton of new fanworks, and I think, "Wow, maybe new fandoms just don't have the staying power of older ones." At the same time, I also question how objectively true/simple that story is for a few reasons, including:

Memory bias: When we look back on the past, the fandoms we remember most are usually the ones that lasted a long time. So our estimates of past fandom longevity may be overly generous.

Changes to fandom size: Maybe any changes to fandom lifespan are mostly due to some other change, like fandom size... Attention is more splintered these days than it used to be across more streaming services/etc, and I think there are more, smaller fandoms than there used to be. Maybe if a fandom doesn't get really huge, it's just not likely to last that long.

For TV fandoms -- changes to canon release schedule: most TV shows used to have seasons that lasted most of the year, so they had a lot more reason to stay in the public mind longer. Now many seasons are shorter and sometimes drop all at once. Perhaps if we compared popular TV procedurals with 22 episodes/season from now vs. ~a decade ago, we'd see similar patterns of fandom activity?

I've been thinking about ways to try to gather quantitative data about the changes, and testing out a few methods. A few ideas I've had:

Look at the Tumblr official lists of top fandoms and see whether the top fandoms tend to leave the top 20 rankings faster now than they used to. (The Tumblr rankings go all the way back to 2013 on a yearly basis, at least -- I'm not sure how long they've been releasing the weekly lists; those may have started later.)

Look at AO3 fandom activity after new canon infusions - how quickly does activity drop off after a new movie/book/video game release, or after a TV season ends? How has the rate of activity dropoff changed over the years? (And how much of that seems to be explained by other factors, like fandom size?)

See how quickly AO3 authors/creators tend to migrate to new fandoms, and how that's changed over time - many authors tend to be active in multiple fandoms, so we'd have to define what it means to migrate to a new fandom, but I think we could do so in a way that would allow us to look for changes.

Look at Tumblr, Twitter/X, and/or Reddit activlty after new canon infusions - same as AO3, but on a platform where people are posting shorter content and there's more of a discussion. (This data would be harder to collect, though.)

I'd love to also hear other ideas. I think I'm going to need some volunteers to help gather data if I do any of the above, though... Readers, if you'd be interested in helping to gather data for an hour or more to help investigate this question, please reply/DM and let me know! And/or join the new fandom-data-projects community.

Also if any readers know of anyone else who has looked into this/similar questions, I'd love to hear about it!

[torialefay]

☀️ Sun in Libra ⚖️

bangchan as your boyfriend!!! (pt. 2)

(based on astrology) 🔞

✨bangchan x reader (f); fluff, angst, slight smut if you count like 4 sentences.

✨ word count: 2.3k

✨take a look into chan’s natal chart to see what type of boyfriend he would be! in this post, i will be talking about his sun in libra. this is a series!!! so follow up later if u want more <3

✨i will give a brief synopsis of what each chart placement means (for all my non-astrology friends out there <3) and how that would affect channie in a relationship :)

✨ author’s notes:

(1) some very sweet stays confirmed that channie’s birth time is in fact 20:54, yay! this means i will get to look into more aspects of his chart and post more content for anyone who wants to keep up.

★★(2) i am considering doing brief (just bullet points/highlights) astrological compatibility readings if anyone wants one! if you’re interested, message me your birth date, time, and location OR lmk your placements. i’m gonna limit the reading to include you x 1 skz member only! just specify who you’d like.

(3) i am trying to get better at using gender-neutral pronouns so more people can feel included in my posts. i’m really struggling since i use phrases like “my girl” a lot. anyone who has some good alternatives or tips, please message and lmk!

(4) the aspects in this reading are based solely on my opinions and interpretations! nothing about a person is set in stone simply because of astrology. please don’t use anything i say as canon :)

✨warnings: light sexual undertones???

✨ tl/dr: chan is a people pleaser, and thus as a bf will be a YOU pleaser. happy thirsting.

Sun in Libra: Sun signs are all about personality- the face you show the world! It is also the lens through which you usually see yourself and how friends would describe you.

-Libra is a cardinal sign, meaning that people who are in this placement REALLY live by the aspects associated with that placement- in other words, chan is likely to hold very true to these values.

-Libra is ruled by Venus, the planet of love, beauty, and charm. People with a Libra Sun tend to be extremely charming and value beauty in the world. They often seek approval from others and are people pleasers. They want to be well-liked and well-known. Because of this, they will avoid conflict and have a hard time being criticized or being involved in drama of any kind. They will also often “mold” themselves to fit into any environment. This is partially because they highly value balance and peace in their lives, and can also lead to indecisiveness.

as your boyfriend:

• Chan will mold every aspect of his personality to fit with yours. Once he decides he is interested in you (because he can be one indecisive mf’er), he will literally BECOME the person you want and need (even tho you think he’s perfect as is). And he loves it too. He loves the feeling of being the only person in the world who is “perfectly made for you." Even more, he loves the fact that you know that he’s the perfect man for you. He will need constant reassurance of it too.

• He LOVES when you dress him. I’m talking (1) you are picking him out an entire wardrobe, (2) you are picking his outfits for every date you go on… so it matches with you ofc hehe, (3) if he doesn’t know what to wear, he is automatically calling you (i mean you know his closet anyways since you chose it all, so might as well choose from afar). He wouldn’t buy any clothing without sending it to you first to make sure you think it’d look good on him. He’d like for you to pick him out new styles, but he would ADORE when you stick to things he’s comfortable with like blacks and more comfortable attire. He would love how much you thirsted over him when he put on his “bad boy tumblr aesthetic” outfits. It would make him feel so much more confident going into everyday life knowing that he was dressing up for and catering to his girl only.

• He will absolutely still mildly flirt with stays (sorry y’all). But he will be mindful to not take things too far… in other words, no more calling stays Mrs. Bang lol. That one is reserved for you. He just has such a charming and flirtatious personality that he can’t help himself. BUT he always makes sure to conclude anything he says to stay with “haha I’m just joking… So thankful my beautiful girlfriend will share me with STAY.”

• He is taking you out on LOTs of dates and TONS of events. He is a super social guy, so he loves any chance he gets to take you out and make memories- especially in groups. If any of the boys have a significant other, he would love nothing more than to go on double dates with them. He would always plan for something low key, but fun with them. Anything extravagant is reserved for you only.

• Chan would introduce you to all the s/o’s of skz and would basically push you to be besties (without even realizing it). He’s so good at being social and over-committing himself that he would most likely always take up the opportunity to hang out with skz and their partners, including you by default. Cause you’re an extension of him, duh. He’d love when you’d bond and get super close with the members’ partners, and it would reassure him that you were the one for him when he saw how well and perfectly you blended into the friend group.

• He is buying you flowers every damn week. It doesn’t matter if you’re with him or on the other side of the world, he is making sure you have flowers. Or snacks. Or whatever you’re into. He is a people pleaser by nature, and who else would he want to please? He also can’t resist the smile on your face when he knows that he’s the cause.

• He likes it when you baby him. You are the ONLY person he lets take care of him. He has such a strong and happy personality with others, and many times he will not feel comfortable being vulnerable with too many people. You know how stressed he gets. He is always trying to keep up appearances after all. When he gets home from a long day of doing everything anyone could possibly ask of him, he feels the immediate comfort of knowing that you will take good care of him. He would love when he’d come home to a meal that you cooked. Or when you were watching a movie and you’d sit up with your legs in front of you, motioning for him to rest his head on your lap so you could play with his hair. He would absolutely melt if he was sitting at his desk working on something, and you’d come up behind him, towering over him with forehead kisses while you squeezed into his back. He would love the comfort he felt during foreplay (or even when he was bored) of just holding, squeezing, and sucking on your tits while you looked down at him with loving eyes. He’d go wild at the way you would straddle him and rub him through the fabric of his shorts while telling him how perfect and loved he is.

• Channie will hate any fights he has with you. He genuinely cannot deal with it. He hates feeling like he’s done something wrong, and it will take him a longggg time to talk to you about it if he feels something isn’t right or if he gets mad. Usually, you will have to initiate the conversation.

• “Channie? Can we talk?” You knocked on his door. You had gotten into an argument with him about an hour ago.

◦ A stupid argument really. He had heard you talking with a friend over the phone. “You and I both know Chris isn’t going to buy me that,” you laughed into your cell. “He’s saving up for that new car that he has to have,” you rolled your eyes and smiled. You thought it was a joke of course. It’d be ridiculous for him to buy you a $5,000 ring for no reason. YOU thought you were just being sarcastic. Maybe in retrospect, Chan didn’t feel the same.

◦ He looked at you with a face that tried to mask being upset. But you could tell. “What are you talking about?” He asked with a clenched jaw.

◦ “That ring,” you smiled and stuck your tongue out at him, obviously messing with him. He knew the ring. You’d showed him weeks ago.

◦ You saw his face go blank, like a bare canvas just waiting to see what reaction would be painted on next. He raised his eyebrows, pursed his lips, and nodded. You could see the annoyance on his face. He stood up of the couch and promptly headed to the bedroom. What was his problem?

◦ Now here you are… an hour later and radio silence.

• Chan gave no response. “Please, I want to talk about this…” you trailed off and waited for a few seconds. Still no response. “Come on Channie, I hate when we are fighting, please let’s just talk about this so we can feel better.” You heard rustling and then saw the door in front of you slowly open. There was a messy-headed Chris stood in front of you with puffy eyes and a locked-in jaw. You put your hand on his chest and nudged him ever so slightly so you could pass through the doorway and sit on the edge of his bed. He followed.

• “Okay, do you want to go first, or do you want me to go?” You asked, trying to get him to look into your eyes. He avoided them at all costs.

• “Do you really think I’m that bad of a boyfriend? You think I’m that self-absorbed to be funneling money into some fancy car, when I wouldn’t even buy you a ring you’ve been wanting for months? I would give you the world y/n, and you know that! Why would you even say something like that?” His lids and eyebrows turned downward as he spoke loudly. He was genuinely hurt.

• “No, I do not think you are a bad boyfriend! I think you are the best boyfriend in the world. Honey, I was KIDDING. I know how expensive that ring is. I was making light of how ridiculous it would be for you to just randomly buy it for me. I was joking that the reason you didn’t do it was because of the car, but it was just sarcasm. That’s literally it. How could you think I was serious?” You looked him dead in the eyes with a furrowed brow.

• “Because I AM serious y/n. I already bought you that ring. Because I love you. I was waiting until Valentine’s Day to give it to you. And you saying that just makes me feel like I’m the worst boyfriend. And now, that’s what your friends think too. I just- that just makes me really upset.” You felt your heart break. It wasn’t anger in his voice. It was disappointment. Disappointment in you. You knew how badly he struggled with self-image and with how others perceive him. It meant a lot to him. Even though he was trying to work through it, he wasn’t there yet. And you knew that.

• “Channie,” you breathed out. “I am so so sorry. I need you to know that it wasn’t my intention to make you feel that way. I think you are the perfect boyfriend.” You scooted closer to cup his face in your hands. “My friends know you are the perfect boyfriend. I talk about it all the time.” You lowered your face down to look him in the eyes. “I tell them about how much of a gentleman you are, always opening the door for me and holding my hand when we’re walking. About how beautiful you sound when I visit you at the recording studio and you’re making a sample. About how strong you are that I can feel it every time I grab onto your arms.” A tiny smile crept across his face and he looked down in embarrassment. You unconsciously mirrored his smile back. “I absolutely revel in the fact that you are the most perfect man I’ve ever known. Please don’t think that I think anything less of you. You are my perfect boy, and I’m sorry if I did anything to make you feel unloved or unappreciated. I will call her back right now just to emphasize to her that I was kidding if you think it would help you feel better.”

• Chan had a small tear in his eye when he finally looked back up at you. “No, no, you don’t need to do that… I’m sorry baby. I just- I took it the wrong way. You know I can do that from time to time,” he giggled up at you, getting embarrassed again. And he wasn’t wrong. “You are the most special person in the world to me. I never want to not live up to what you deserve… I know I have had problems with this, but I promise you that I’m working on them, and I will continue to work on them until I get better at it. You’ve already helped me so much.” Looking deeply at you, he sighed and tucked a loose strand of hair behind your ear. “I will do better, I promise.”

• “It’s okay, it really is. We just have to work together through this. I also promise to do better at not making little jokes about you and being more respectful about our relationship. We will work on it together, okay? Deal?”

• “Deal.” He stuck out his pinky for you to intertwine with yours. In the same moment, you both bent down to kiss your hand. You’re sworn into the pinky promise now. You followed up with a swift kiss to his lips and a big hug around his neck. You stayed like that, locked in for a couple of seconds until you could feel his body relax underneath you.

• “Let’s not fight anymore. This feels way better,” you murmured into the side of his neck.

• “I can think of something else that would feel even better.” He locked his hands behind your waist and flipped you to onto your back. Maybe pinky promises could be broken, you thought. Hell, you’d break it if the fighting led to this.

• He gently kissed down your neck. “We will be okay,” he whispered softly into your ear. “I will be perfect for you, and you will be perfect for me.” Sun in Libra.

[ryuichirou]

Replies

New week!

Replies mostly related to our recent posts, but some are miscellaneous (twst related and not). Also, there is a shitpost sketch at the end of the post lol

Anonymous asked:

Just a random question but what was your very first ship?

Can’t even say for certain because it’s been like 20 years already lol But the first one that I called a ship would probably be Cedric/Phobos from W.I.T.C.H.

Look at me loving backstabbing scheming douchebags since day one…

Anonymous asked:

I feel like their was two bodies after the twins delt with things, cause even tiny as heck I can see them taking bodies

(related to this post)

Aw come on, Anon, look at those innocent angels!! (you are absolutely right)

Anonymous asked:

hi i sent the cat dad ask, that was the CUTEST thing i’ve ever read in my entire life it was adorable and everything and more than what i’d hoped for omg!! my flowers are watered, my skin is clear, my illness is cure😭😭😭 THANK YOU SO MUCH!!

idia being the most enamored cat dad is so cute AAUGGHHH i think lilia would make matching outfits for him and his cat, maybe with pop music club’s help. vil cooking for his cat!!! 😭😭😭 oh his pretty kitty would have their own engraved bowl. i think vil would send so many pictures to his dad

all of this is extra cute to me with the idea that i had that these strays are probably leading difficult lives on the streets but aren’t scared of humans. it’d be a “to be loved is to be changed” moment (pls look it up it’s before and afters of sad cats and it’s SO CUTE). ok i’m sorry i’ll stop haranguing you about cats JSKDKDKS THANK YOU AGAIN

— shroudswap anon

(related to this post)

Aah, it was you, Shroudswap Anon!!

I am very happy you liked the post, once again thank you for the ask! <3 It really was a lovely one to write! Somehow, it’s easier to write wholesome stuff about boys caring for animals than for each other lol

But also, what have you done, now I’m thinking about Vil sending cat pics to his dad… His dad became a grandpa the day that cat chose Vil as his human lol I’m sure he is going to send them even more gifts than Vil buys for the cat + spoil the cat rotten as much as he can.

But also, what have you done [2], now I’m also thinking about how these strays would be so much happier and healthier with the boys taking care of them :( To be loved is to be changed indeed!! Just look at Jamil smiling to his cat lol

I’m always happy to talk about cats…

Anonymous asked:

Sister Idia must be the very image of a saint with his ethereal glow. Nevermind that the glow is coming from his hair, that's just a physical manifestation of God's grace, obviously.

Also be honest, are the sick nuns getting a healthy diet of shrooms in the infirmary? I guess that's one way to experience mystical ecstasy

(related to our new AU)

The symbolism is all here, Anon! That imagery suits Idia so well. I really want to draw him holding a lamb or something lol

To answer your question… people say that sister Jade cares for the sick ones so well that whenever it’s their time to go, they always die smiling <3 It’s like their pain just went away and they fell asleep peacefully~

So yes, he does feed them with stuff they’re not quite supposed to eat and add some funky additions to the stuff he injects them with lol

m1lk-n-cook1es asked:

The nun au reminds me of a Little Mermaid fanfic from the same author as "Once Upon A Nightmare" that I told you a while back, where mermaids are more inhuman, with tentacles that look like fins in the distance, claws and fangs, and Ariel banging Eric (who is a trans guy) and impregnating him with her eggs

Dark themes and mermaids are always fun!! In fact, I think people should consider merpeople to be dangerous more often lol

Fun idea for a fic though :) Poor Eric lol

Anonymous asked:

I saw your Gidel and Fellow doodle on your twitter about the name change and I LOVE THAT SO MUCH cause I'm also thinking the same thing 🤣

"It's for our disguise Giddy!~" 🦊

Everyone calls him all sort of different names, Fellow said so himself (Episode 1-3) 😆

This bitch probably has done a lot of name changes for his con jobs n shit. (¬‿¬) 💚

(referring to this sketch from a 🔑twt acc, since it’s not for ko-fi and just a shitpost, here you go. He can’t even read the papers...)

Thank you Anon!! <3 Just like any other person I really hate that name change, but thinking about Fellow having lots of different names pacifies me a little bit lol Well, at least it makes me laugh and not want to break walls.

I wonder if Fellow has a guy that helps him out with fake ids… maybe his bosses make it easier for him these days; he probably used to go to various shady people before. But then again, they probably don’t always need to have papers… just come up with a name and go! Right, Ernesto? Good grief…

tardigrade-misfit asked:

Silver looks so adorable in his lil hoodie meanwhile Sebek looks like he only agreed to wear it because it was Malleus themed lol

(related to this post)

Thank you! Yeah, Silver is a cutie pie, as always lol Sebek should wear that hoodie with pride! He is closer to his beautiful waka-sama with those little horns on his hood.

I love these hoodies a lot; they are from that one drawing that Yana did of Diasomnia boys going to a movie theater. Katsu and I both are so obsessed with it; they look so adorable wearing those! I wish Yana did more sketches with characters hanging out like that, but of course I am grateful for everything she already does…

Anonymous asked:

I saw the latest comic about Gidel and Fellow Honest (I refuse to use the English names) on kofi and I think I have a proposition. I’ll be their sugar whatever but I get to touch their fuzzy ears now and again. Do you think they’d accept my terms?

Since we got this ask the same day we posted previously mentioned sketch (also a comic), I assumed you were referring to this one as well, but come to think about it we did have a Gidel and Fellow comic posted on ko-fi the other week…

Regardless! I think you absolutely should be their sugar whatever (… parent?), their sponsor and their financier lol Fellow will refuse at first, but it’s just because he is a bit prideful; maybe after some fuzzy ear touching he’ll reconsider. Keep petting the fox! The little cat will help you.

Anonymous asked:

I too used to hate all things girly when I was younger. Now I’m grown and like to wear kawaii clothes and will kick the asses of those who say otherwise  (◕‿◕✿)

This is exactly what Vil would’ve wanted for you, Anon. And this is exactly what he wants for Epel. 💪😔

Anonymous asked:

Do you do any chesward here?

Nope! Sorry.

[more-better-words]

fic author interview

Yoinked this from @ladytharen because it looked like fun. Hope that's not presumptuous of me. <.<

Tagging @deadheaddaisy, @phoenixflames12, @butcharondir, and anybody else who'd like to play.

1. How many works do you have on AO3?

60! That's a nice round number.

2. What’s your total AO3 word count?

Currently 593,580 - though in fairness, nearly a third of that is a single fic.

It was a different time back when I wrote that.

3. What are your top 5 fics by kudos?

The four fics of my Built to Last series (though not in order, lol)

What We Build Here

For the Duration

From the Ground Up

The Place We Call Home

And rounding out the top 5, a Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency fic!

Lay Down the Beat 

4. Do you respond to comments? Why or why not?

Absolutely! And because I have very little self-control, I will often do so within minutes of receiving them! 😅

5. What’s the fic you’ve written with the angstiest ending?

Hmmm. I don't really do angst - I mean, I'll write stories where angst happens, but that's rarely the point of the story. If the plot demands a dash of angst, then, much like a chocolate recipe that needs some salt, it will get its angst. But I don't really set out to write A Series of Sad Events in Which the Characters Are Sad; that's just not my style or my taste.

So I can't really say that ANY of my stories have an angsty ending. Oh well.

6. What’s the fic you’ve written with the happiest ending?

With the above in mind, happy endings are basically a guarantee, at least up to a point. 😆 I let my darlings be happy, I let them get married and have things work out, because it's fiction, dammit, and I can.

That being said, probably the happiest of all would be just about any of my Trip/T'Pol fic, because I let them get married and have kids and successful careers and be surrounded by friends and family who love and support them because SCREW YOU CANON.

7. Do you write crossovers?

No, I don't think my brain's wired for that. I just...can't seem to.

8. Have you ever received hate on a fic?

Never on AO3 (okay, I once got snippily told I'd mistagged something, but that wasn't hate). I have gotten hate here on Tumblr, though never anything specific, just general "u suck" which...whatever.

9. Do you write smut? If so, what kind?

For a long time, I did not.

That answer has since changed.

As for what kind...the sweetest, fluffiest, most loving, happy, vanilla, tooth rotting smut ever.

10. Have you ever had a fic stolen?

Not to my knowledge, and I seriously doubt I ever would. I'm rather niche.

11. Have you ever had a fic translated?

Again, niche. Haven't yet, doubt I will.

12. Have you ever co-written a fic before?

Years ago, I worked on an AU fic project with a friend that was very cool and a lot of fun. None of it ever got published, though.

13. What’s your all-time favorite ship?

Which ever one I'm writing right now. 😁

14. What’s a WIP that you want to finish but don’t think you ever will?

I wouldn't mind finishing my Shadowrun: Dragonfall fic The Haven. Maybe some day.

15. What are your writing strengths?

Dialogue, baby! I can have two characters sit and talk to each other FOREVER.

16. What are your writing weaknesses?

Action and physical description. Even when I can clearly see a room where action is occurring in my mind, I have real trouble describing it on the page.

17. What are your thoughts on writing dialogue in other languages in a fic?

I used to not have any, then I started making up words and phrases in my own version of Andorian for my Trek fic.

And I still don't really have many thoughts, because I'm sure I'm doing it wrong.

18. What was the first fandom you wrote for?

Hmmmm. Pretty sure there's some BtVS fic of mine still existent on LiveJournal. 😅

19. What’s a fandom/ship you haven’t written for yet but want to?

I'd love to write Discworld (I adore Carrot/Angua), but Discworld is already so perfect. It would have to be an absolute gem of an idea.

20. What’s your favorite fic you’ve written?

Whichever one I just finished. 😄

[laura1633]

Fic authors self rec! When you get this, reply with your favorite five fics that you've written, then pass on to at least five other writers! Spread the self-love 💞

This was actually really difficult. I feel like this list would change on a daily or even hourly basis, so no particular order

Friendly Gifts - I like this one because it’s one of the first times I wrote about oblivious omega Max. For anyone who doesn’t really follow the asks on my blog, oblivious omega Max is just Max being adored by all the grid alphas and not even being aware of the effect he has on them.

Flush  - I normally prefer writing omega Max but this is a version of alpha Max I loved writing. He is a mob boss who is sexy and confident and he takes care of Charles (mostly sexually but its implied he will look after Omega Charles going forward in other ways too). I would love to expand this universe at some point. 

The Sweetest Deal - just absolute babygirl Max agenda really! Plus hot business man and sponsor Charles. I know a lot of people like the Lestappen ship the other way around but I love to sometimes write Charles in the sexy hot confident role. 

Number one fan - This one made me giggle and cringe when I wrote it. Max being a complete embarrassment yet still having a famous millionaire F1 driver chasing him around! Plus I got to write some Max/George with was fun as George makes me laugh but I don't get to write about him that often.

A heat inducing inchident - baby omega Max going in to his first ever heat after the inchident and baby alpha Charles calming him down and making sure he is okay despite coming to his room to argue with him.  This is another one where I would love to expand at some point next year if I get the chance, I have a whole fic in mind I just don’t if I will find the time to write it. 

I normally get embarrassed by my writing or worry it’s not that great when I read other people’s work so this was really fun because looking back there were about 20 or so other stories I also wanted to include in this list so it made me realise I have written things I like! 

So thank you so much @saviour-of-lord for sending this ask to me. I will send it some other authors and if anyone wants me to send them this ask so they can look through their old fics then let me know <3

[temnurus]

LWJ POV Fic Recs

I've done a WWX rec list, so I thought it was about time I made one for Lan Zhan, whom I adore & can never get enough of. The fact that we couldn't see into his head during canon will forever drive me mad, & if this bothers you as much as it does me, boy do I have good news for you! There are not one but two series re-writes from LWJ's POV in this list for your reading pleasure, along with 8 other not-quite-so canon compliant fics that are nevertheless out of this world good. Not gonna lie, people, several of these would make my top 20 if I redid my favorites list today, so I wish you some very happy reading. 😉

he comes in colors by ilip13 (M, 63,596)

Thoughts: The prose was absolutely gorgeous. I loved the author’s writing style, & the way they portrayed how Lan Zhan viewed the world was breathtakingly beautiful. I appreciated the nod in the author’s note about him possibly being read as neurodivergent because I picked up on that, & it felt both familiar & comforting in an I’m-not-so-alone-after-all way. I outright sobbed at some points due to the intensity of the emotions, both Lan Zhan’s & others’.

Wei Ying’s care & consideration for Lan Zhan was very gratifying & lovely to see. The depiction of grief was deeply moving, & the dynamics between all the characters in the story were rich, deep, & very meaningful. This is a new favorite of mine, & I couldn’t stop thinking about it for days after I finished. Fic hangover is very much a possibility with this one, but it will be 100% worth it; I promise you that.

paint smears on sunny days by SnowshadowAO3 (E, 53,808)

Thoughts: Barely anything hurt in this. Like, you could blink past a minimal amount of anxiety. It was mostly an adorable kid fic in which Lan Zhan very quickly found himself falling for his son’s art teacher. Wei Ying being so desperate to spend more time with both of them was heart-meltingly cute, & I loved how he just slotted so easily into their lives it was like he could’ve been there all along. If you like domesticity & gratuitous fluff, then I urge you to give this one a go. I was thoroughly charmed & added it to my favorites list immediately.

The Price of Old Wishes by SoManyJacks (E, 67,793)

Thoughts: This was absolutely fantastic. I crave Lan Zhan POVs, & a fic that was basically canon from his perspective was very much on my wish list. I was so excited when I found it, & I devoured it in a day. The tags that serve as trigger warnings are all referring to events in canon, so there’s not really much that’s going to be a surprise in that respect. If you handled canon, then I think you’d probably be fine to read this fic. I loved the explanation for Lan Zhan’s difficulty with words being selective mutism. It’s the second fic I’ve read with that idea, & I’ve loved both of them. I highly recommend this. It’s definitely been added to my favorites list.

leave all your love and your longing behind by ScarlettStorm (E, 143,609)

Thoughts: This was one of the best modern AUs for Wangxian I’ve ever read. It hooked me from the very beginning, & I absolutely melted at how sweet & caring Lan Zhan was when Wei Ying invaded his house in a panic while trying to escape from the dog that was chasing him. His cat Bunny (so cute) was a love muffin & such a comfort in the moment. The dynamics between the neighborhood help squad Lan Zhan contacted to assist with the dog & its overwhelmed owners were also incredibly heartwarming. This fic expanded beyond a love story into a lesson on the importance of community & treating each other with kindness. I can’t recommend this highly enough. I already know it’s going to be a consistent reread for me. It really is just that good.

When the Lights Come Up by brooklinegirl (E, 50,012) Thoughts: This is more Notting Hill inspired/adjacent than strictly following that story, for which I was actually quite grateful, as there were parts of Notting Hill I wouldn’t have cared for or felt fit Wangxian’s dynamic. I loved Lan Zhan’s characterization in this so, so much. Actually, I enjoyed pretty much everyone’s characterization, even down to side characters like Lan Huan & Nie Huaisang. Wangxian’s chemistry in this was spectacular, & the yearning was FELT. I got so anxious & heartbroken during the angsty bits, but as always, brooklinegirl delivered on that happy ending with aplomb. As someone with ADHD, I lamented the lack of chapters for good stopping places, but this is a minor personal quibble & by no means takes away from the overall brilliance of the work.

Where You Fell by Sweet_William (E, 303,010)

Thoughts: The angst was REAL in this fic, y’all. The intensity of Lan Zhan’s feelings is one of my favorite things about him, & that aspect of his character was fully realized here. I cried like a baby several times in this fic. I probably lost count, to be honest. Wei Ying being homeless & begrudgingly allowing Lan Zhan to help him in small ways at first nearly broke my heart, & then it absolutely shattered into a million pieces when the story hit peak angst later on. Tissues were a necessity, but I promise you that it was all worth it in the end. The slow burn was fantastic & so, so satisfying when they finally got their happy ending. They certainly deserved it. It was very overdue!

to hold the wind by androids_fighting93 (E, 62,474)

Thoughts: I was very excited to read another Wangxian soulmates AU, & this one was particularly interesting with the execution. The first time soulmates touched they remembered a scene from their past lives together. This of course offered a wealth of opportunity for angst with the quality of the memories Wangxian would have of theirs, & it delivered exactly that.

The slow burn was torture, & I cried at a couple of different points, particularly at Lan Zhan stifling his own feelings in order to respect Wei Ying’s boundaries regarding not wanting to remember. This fic also made me incandescently angry at Jiang Fengmian & Madam Yu for being such shitty foster parents & utterly failing Wei Ying (not that it was a new feeling, heh). He got his happy ending eventually, thank fuck, because we all know I couldn’t possibly accept anything less.

And He Knew Those Silver Eyes Were Trouble by PieceofLove (E, 311,140)

Thoughts: This is basically a series rewrite of The Untamed from Lan Zhan’s POV, though the author does mix book canon in as well, like the Phoenix Mountain kiss, etc. It’s the second I’ve read, though much longer than the first & not quite as well written but only because the bar was set so high by the first! I very much enjoyed this fic. I binged it within a few days, & that’s not bad for a little over 300k. The author clearly adored Lan Zhan (as they should), so it was fun to get their take on his side of the story. I’d absolutely recommend it as worth reading, even if I still like The Price of Old Wishes best of all the Lan Zhan POV rewrites of the series I've read so far.

Adventures in Pet Sitting by raitala (E, 63,003)

Thoughts: Wei Ying was a surprise extra roommate for Lan Zhan when he showed up to his brother’s apartment to pet sit. This was the first fic I’ve read that featured Lan Zhan as the one who was under the misapprehension that he was straight due compulsory heterosexuality. Usually I see Wei Ying placed in that position, so it was an interesting change of pace.

I loved how awkward things were at first & how it built up over time with the intense sexual tension between Lan Zhan & Wei Ying. One of my favorite scenes pre Lan Zhan’s self realization earned the light dom/sub tag, & I was very jealous of Wei Ying for the experience. That’s all I’ll say so that you can find out for yourself. Nie Huaisang was another highlight of the fic. I loved his meddling & the comic relief he provided amidst the Wangxian shenanigans.

varied my velocity by fantasiavii (E, 58,876)

Thoughts: I adored Lan Zhan in this. I have a soft spot for Lan Zhan POV fics, & this one was really well done. His characterization was just perfect. My heart went out to him for the shame he carried surrounding his sexuality. It made me cry at one point. I also really enjoyed the author’s dance background & how it came through in the fic with Lan Zhan’s love of ballet. The banter & intimate moments between Lan Zhan & Wei Ying as they got closer were absolutely fantastic. I really can’t rec this highly enough. It’s a new favorite.

*Edit: So I goofed & had to replace Scales & Arpeggios in this rec list because I forgot it was an alternating POV fic, not strictly Lan Zhan's. I do promise that the brooklinegirlfic is just as good. She's one of my very favorite Wangxian authors, after all.

[blindmagdalena]

Was re-watching Diabolical and have been genuinely wondering for a while about this………

Do you think Homelander could have been redeemed within those first 1-4 of his years of his initial roll out? It was obvious that he had no moral compass but he wasn't intentionally malicious back then. He seemed just kind of like a paper cup blowing from here to there as long as the promise of adoration existed.

I can't help but wonder if he had been surrounded by actually decent people rather than Vought psychopaths and manipulators if he still had a chance, even at that age.

a lot of things could have been different for Homelander when he was that young. it's a little fuzzy how old he was in Diabolical 8, but the general consensus seems to be 18-20.

we know he already had a kill count in the lab. he killed several of his teachers/nannies by the time he was 13, maybe more after that. he experienced a deluge of being made to crave the love of humans while also coming to view them as disposable.

as toys, if you will.

vague potential spoilers for s4 and longwinded rambling under the cut.

in my (wholly uneducated) opinion, this is where the foundational fracture of baby John's psyche begins. he had three "core" members of his team who formed a dysfunctional parental unit. Barbara, Vogelbaum and Stan Edgar. i believe that as a child, John had genuine and strong love for both Barbara and Vogelbaum, whereas i think it's always been a fearful respect of Stan Edgar.

then there were the regulars who existed in periphery, but mainly as antagonists. such as Marty and Frank. think of them as like... creepy uncles.

the rest of the scientists and caretakers were nothing but nameless, faceless props. the first time he killed someone, they were swiftly replaced. same with the first, second, third... who knows how many he went through. who knows how many "accidents" Vogelbaum swept under the rug in his pursuit of the Perfect Hero.

that little smile we see at the end of the clip? that's all Homelander.

Homelander fundamentally does not care about people, but has a deep-seated desire for their approval, and does grow strong attachments on an individual level. this is the "split" that exists in him. this is the 16 year old that left the lab.

he was always going to latch onto someone and have little regard for anyone who wasn't them. no matter how well-meaning and kind that person was, Homelander would have been an extremely difficult (and frightening!) child to manage.

you think he's immature and temperamental now? try him from the ages of 16-25. yikes!

he may not have hurt anyone on purpose initially in that rescue gone wrong, but he had absolutely no problem covering his bases once shit went sideways. he was only afraid of retribution from Vought/His Favored People. he wasn't upset that he hurt people. he was upset he might not get away with it.

it would make for a really interesting fic to explore what would have happened if the hero "Homelander" had been scrapped entirely for whatever reason. if he'd been if he had fallen into the hands of someone who actually meant well, who would parent him.

someone who would love enough about him to teach him the fundamentals of caring about other people not just on an individual level, but on a conceptual one. whether or not he still could.

ultimately, Homelander isn't a real person. it's entirely up to the author whether or not he could or could not be "redeemed." he'll always carry the trauma of what was done to him, but at the very least, maybe he could come to understand some degree of empathy or compassion outside of himself.

either way i'd read the hell out of it!

[death-note-lawlight-fic-recs]

Lawlight ao3 fic recs

This list ended up being longer than expected. Thus, most one shots and smut fics will get their own list. I can't fit them all in here, alas.

I will probably add more fics later as I remember. Any fics published after this one [dated: 21 July, 2023] will be in a new list.

Check the summary and notes. Read the warnings and authors notes for each fic. I'm not responsible for what you end up reading, rating wise.

Bestest of the best. Go Read ASAP.

Primitive Liars

Summary: Light is a being of intellect, not of instinct; however, he may be starting to understand that the two are not mutually exclusive. While he struggles to define himself in an unjust world, a new Kira holds society - along with a couple other valuable things - hostage. Omegaverse AU.

Notes: My absolute favorite lawlight fic. Right up there with Of Music. I have probably read Primitive Liars 20-30 times and still love it. Its that good. Primitive Liars is the fic that introduced me to the abo genre and I have not found another fic that does it as good as this one does. Primitive Liars, my beloved ❤️❤️❤️

Time Speaks

Summary: In his first life, L died in the arms of his greatest enemy.

In his brief second one, he died alone.

And in his third, too-long life, L died anticipating finally getting even with the man who'd won their game one too many times.

And Light Yagami? If he'd known this is what picking up the Death Note would bring....well, he'd probably still have done it anyway.

Notes: This fic has everything. I love it. I adore it. Its tied as my favorite ao3 fic with Primitive Liars. Lawlight loop over and over, and fall in love while Playing Their Game (reference intended). Each arc has something different, each arc is amazing. Words cannot describe how much i recommend this fic. If there's one and only one lawlight fic you will ever read, it should be this one 🙏.

Decisions and Consequences

Summary: [Part 1] “Ryuzaki I think you’re right about me, I think that at one point I was Kira”. Light decides to trust L when he admits that he too suspects himself of being Kira and asks L for help in preventing him from becoming Kira again.

[Part 2] After giving up the Death Note, Light struggles with the knowledge of what he has done. No longer believing in the ideals he followed as Kira, he now has to live with the fact that he himself is what he so despised: a murderer.

Notes: This is a series of 2 fics. It has ace Light, L who loves Light, Light facing the consequences of his actions and learning to live with them. This fic takes what it does seriously. This is a journey of Light healing from being Kira and finding someone to share his life with in the process. I cannot recommend this enough. Enough of Kira getting away scott free from his actions, giving up the notebook and never facing what he has done because amnesia is a get-out-of-jail free card. This Light faces reality head on.

In The Eye Of The Snowstorm

Summary: During a cold, Colorado winter after L's defeat of Kira, Light struggles to deal with the fact that he has lost the game. But along with the bitterness of losing his New World brews something deeper: the pain from a much more personal blow dealt to Light by L on the day his godhood crumbled around him, juxtaposed against his still-lingering love for the detective. Across five scenes where Light refuses to admit he's still in love with L, and one scene where he finally does - the two learn to live together again despite the storm that they've created.

Notes: People often forget that for the Kira case, it's ultimately L's decision on how it ends. L is the detective in charge of the case, L is the one with connections, resources and authority who could have both saved and/or condemned Light even if they had been in a relationship. In short: their relationship and its future was ultimately L's choice. This is a true compromise fic. Which can also be seen as an L wins fic. I love how soft it was and how they get their happy ending without either of them compromising their morals or thoughts, despite being in love.

Into The Grey

Summary: Light is a young, hot, reclusive Omega who follows all the rules and does it all right. Except when he's sneaking out to capture criminals as the vigilante only known as Kira. L will always and forever be the world's greatest detective, but the Alpha might have a little competition in the Kanto region of Japan.

In a world just barely free of Omega oppression, these two geniuses find themselves in a race against the clock and each other.

Notes: Another Lawlight abo fic. This is my one of my favorite abo fics, mixing a new case, a new take on death note characters in a world without shinigami. I love the dynamics and the political backstory this fic explores throughout the plot. The world building is amazing. I love it.

Seeking His Hand

Summary: Soichiro asks: "Why do you want to marry my son?"

L stares at him for a moment, then sighs almost imperceptibly. "It is a truth universally acknowledged that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife. …or husband."

A historical regency-esque romance AU in which L seeks Light's hand in marriage. And that's only the beginning.

Notes: Regency Era lawlight AU. Yes!

Heirs and Spares

Summary: L and Light are all that remain of the first generation of Wammy House kids. L's the world's greatest detective and Light runs the House cultivating a new generation of geniuses into useful positions. They're rivals first and family second. But Watari suggests, in case of emergencies, it makes sense for them to legally be each other's next of kin. Light's not so sure he wants to marry L, despite the logic of the suggestion, but L's seemingly on board with the idea. Or is it his idea in the first place…?

Notes: Growing up together at Wammy's AU! Yesyesyesyes!!! This is my favorite fic by TrashKing.

Death Wish

Summary: Death Note users don’t go to heaven or hell. Instead, Ryuk sends Light to an alternative universe where the Death Note exists but it doesn’t fall within his grasp. Even though he doesn’t have the Death Note, L still suspects him and the worst part is that in this new world he is an omega. Hilarity ensues.

Notes: Summary is accurate. I really can't say more because that would be spoilers.

The Sweet Taste Of Silver

Summary: Email after email…It only made Light sicker to look at them. Final notice. Past due. Expulsion threats. He knew going to one of the best schools in the country would be pricey, but that's what his scholarships were for, right? At least until they start running out. At least he'll have his internship…And his new employer.

Notes: The lawlight sugarbaby AU. Has a sequel from Ryuk's PoV, which is absolutely hilarious.

Sit and Stay A While

Summary: "The obsession prodded again, pushing at him, but Light didn’t let it near his mouth. He shoved it down, hard, until it thundered down the cellar stairs of his mind palace. Sulking below all his appropriate thoughts was the insistent wanting that made him avoid L’s gaze – the desire to sit in L’s lap."

(Light has a fantasy of sitting in L's lap, and he's got a plan to make that a reality.)

Notes: Light wants to sit in L's lap. He has a 12 step plan for it. Light is good at planning, so he achieves his goal.

Shining Light

Summary: Bored beyond comprehension, Ryuk decides after seeing what humans do with the Death Note, to experiment with what would happen if a human lived their whole life with access and knowledge of the Death Note. This leads him to find four-month-old Light Yagami, whom he decides to use as his test subject and has a little fun.

Light's parents, as with anybody else, can't see Ryuk and thus think Light is possessed, so while trying to find answers, Soichiro turns to a young cadet for assistance taking care of his son.

Light grows up knowing he is different but rarely bored with Ryuk by his side throughout his whole life and having little interest in using the Death Note, training in Shinigami magic and learning the ways of the world instead. But things become interesting when, after multiple incidents regarding his secret, someone else with the Death Note begins using it as the mass killer known as Kira.

Add in a dumbfounded detective and a task force all aware of Light's situation and far past caring, and Ryuk knows he made the right choice because he's found plenty of entertainment, even though he has to fight the protective instinct he's developed towards Light.

Notes: There are many things I love about this AU. The first and foremost being its world building.

Is This The Way It Ends Now

Summary: L dangled the note in front of him. It had appeared out of nowhere, as had the accompanying CD. It claimed to contain information crucial to their investigation.

Was this a trick? Another evolution of Kira's power? Perhaps a different supernatural force trying to help them against Kira?

He didn't know, but the only way to find out was to view it.

Notes: This fic is here because of three reasons. That its good and well written. That its the only complete series watch fic. And that I love this fic. However, I am aware this fic and its take on Kira isn't everyone's cup of tea.

Better than the rest

Honey In Your Tea

Summary: Light falls with a cup of hot coffee in hand. L is to blame.

Notes: A blind!Light AU. Light is not Kira AU too. So soft and sweet and tender and I just can't-

The Execution Of All Things

Summary: "I want to be soft, to say here is my underbelly and I want you to hold the knife, but I don’t know what I want you to do: plunge or mercy. I deserve both. I want to hold and be held." – Nicole Homer

A world where Light is shot by Higuchi at the end of episode 7 and doesn't regain his memories or the Note.

Notes: The one and only lawlight fic for the TV drama. Well, not really. There are other fics too. But this one, is my favorite of them all.

Fifteen Stories Down

Summary: When a series of explosions brings down a hotel in the heart of Tokyo, Detective Light Yagami finds himself trapped in the company of the strangest man he's ever met.

Notes: An excellent Light is not Kira AU, with adult!Light and L meeting down the line.

Bodach Killa

Summary: Having found Light's deadly notebook, L sees but one way to force a confession out of him: become his closest friend and confidant. To this purpose, L goes undercover to To-Oh, as Kira supporting college student Hideki Ryuga. Somewhere along the way of this ethically questionable quest, L finds the friend he'd been missing all along.

Notes: L finds early proof of the death note. The case takes a whole new direction.

Wordplay

Summary: Three murders in Japan mark the beginning of what seems to be a slightly abnormal copycat case. However, it turns into a much more complicated scheme that pushes L and Light to their limits in order to solve it and catch the killer.

Notes: A case fic with adult lawlight that's more about Light and Sayu's relationship. Lawlight is there too.

Passengers

Summary: It comes in the middle of the night, on the eve of L's death. Both L and Light find themselves on a train right out of science fiction, handcuffed and totally unprepared.

Notes: Lawlight crossover with infinity train. No prior knowledge of Infinity train required.

Bluebird

Summary: Light Yagami had always found his day to day life menial and mundane. He was startled out of his boredom by the sudden appearance of the supernatural mass murderer, Kira. Light had certainly not expected his last year of high school and first year of college to be so convoluted and stressful as the greatest detective in the world suspects him of being the greatest mass murderer in history. Light must work with L to catch the real Kira before it's too late.

Notes: Light isn't Kira in this AU. Someone else, an original character, is Kira. And that takes the plot in a whole new direction. That is what I love about this fic.

Hidden

Summary: All gammas are the same, seen as basically genderless they are raised equally before presenting as either alpha females or male omegas.

Light Yagami never really cared about his gamma status until other's took notice. Fearful of spending life as a kept omega, Light will fight against anything, including his own instincts, to be seen as an alpha instead.

But fighting one's dynamic isn't easy.

Light just hopes it isn't impossible.

Notes: A fic that explores the social problems inherent in an typical abo world.

Tangled

Summary: L and Light divorced ten years ago and split the kids. When Mello demands to meet his twin brother L is forced to reassemble the family unit and co-parent with Light while they figure out a new custody arrangement. But, despite all that’s been said and done, feelings linger and both parties start to wonder if there are pieces of their broken marriage that can be salvaged?

Notes: Ex and established lawlight AU. Lawlight as parents in this AU. It's wonderfully done and I love it.

Introduction To Muggle Studies By Yagami Light

Summary:

How to use a Death Note - Rule 4: The person in possession of the Death Note is possessed by a god of death, its original owner, until they die.

ICW Classification of Magical Beings - A muggle possessed or bonded with a magical being, similar to a muggle infected by a werewolf and surviving, is no longer a classified as a muggle. They are, for all intents and purposes, a wizard/witch.

Notes: This one was a tough choice for me, for various reasons. But in the end, I put it here because yes, it's a fun read! A crossover between Harry Potter and Death Note. Fake character death, lots of pining, long distance lawlight relationship. Knowledge of Harry Potter needed upto book 4.

Back Again

Summary: What is Light to do when he wakes up after his life as a Shinigami is over, only to find himself with both his memories and his life back to the way it was before…with the Death Note in his school bag?

Notes: Lawlight AU where Light time travels.

Touch Starved

Summary: L's a Blue Poison Dart, an endangered species closely related to the blue poison dart frog. His life has been difficult, prejudiced and overall touch-starved. But he spends his days as L, the world's greatest detective, who's species is undisclosed to the general populace. When other endangered species start dying and disappearing in Japan, he decides he must travel there to solve the case.

On the way, he meets the Kitsune Light, a Japanese 9-tailed fox. They start a relationship, L unaware that he's next on Light's list.

Notes: Another amazing fic by Pyreneese. L as a poison dart frog, Light as a Kitsune.

Change OR the one where L and Light get married

Summary: L wasn’t a good driver; he could admit that, to himself. Since he and Quillsh were the only ones who knew the route to the old Wammy summer home, L wasn’t surprised to be behind the wheel. (Thankful, maybe, that he had the forethought to secure this little automatic Volkswagen rather than flounder on the stick shift Quillsh always tried to teach him.) He dared to be happy about his driver role, even; it was appropriate that he chauffeured Light to where they’d be married in a day’s time. Something romantic about crossing the threshold, carrying his love into his world – L stuck out his tongue. Long drives made him corny.

(At Quillsh Wammy's summer mansion, L and Light prepare to get married in front of the Yagami family, Watari, and the ghosts of their past.)

Notes: What do you mean, this isn't how canon ended? Aka the lawlight happy ending AU that they deserve.

Sail The Wildest Stretch

Summary: Light Yagami has a Final Destination-esque vision of his seven years as Kira. He wakes up in his high school on the day he receives the Death Note. What will he do differently, knowing the future?

Notes: What can I say, I have a weakness for lawlight time travel fics.

Do It Again, L!

Summary: "The moment L’s eyes close at the time of his death, he awakes in a panic in his bed.... Before L can move forward, he would need to perform tests.... The things he knows right now: .... He had just gone from dying of a heart attack in Japan to lying in his bed over 6,000 miles away in a blink of an eye. He distinctly remembers being 25 years old, but now he looks closer to ten. "

Notes: After 2 fics with Light going back in time, it's L's turn to time travel.

Throw the dice and play with me

Summary: You don’t forget how to play the game just because you lost at it and Light had their instructions manual permanently etched into his very soul.

L wins AU! in which Light has been in jail for two years when L shows up asking for his help with a case. Light desperately wants to help, he missed their competition and has been very bored without it but he feels that L is hiding something. Still, Light helps hesitantly, all the while trying to figure out what game the detective is playing at. Meanwhile, L is willing to play at any game, as long as Light plays with him.

Notes: An L wins fic, this fic has L coming back for Light. Light is, of course, still hurt by his time in prison and the lack of trust everyone except L shows him. L is there to catch light and put him back together. I loved reading this because it was not as dark as some other "L wins and Light in prison" fics get, but still tackles the issues it presents.

Corruption

Summary: After the LA BB murder case Naomi Misora has finally returned to work for the FBI as planned. Her first task on her return, requested through the pipeline by L, is to interrogate Beyond Birthday, who has not told any of the investigators anything about his crimes up to that point.

Beyond proves himself useful to the FBI to help solve the cases that they are stuck on, and so Naomi is sent back again and again, and gradually is drawn into Beyond's web.

Notes: Wherein Beyond gets together with Naomi and plays matchmaker for lawlight.

Another Path

Summary: Rem makes a different call (based from Episode 15 of the TV series).

Notes: Rem confesses to L that Light was Kira. L, attached to Light by now, decides he is a better choice for Light than death or prison. This fic has a novel approach to L wins post Yotsuba arc. I don't remember except that I enjoyed it.

Hurt, Angst, Tragedy, Whump. Mixed with Comfort and Bittersweet endings, for a treat.

Who Am I and Who Are You?

Summary: Light has been under suspicion of being Kira for far too long. After his girlfriend, Misa Amane, falls under suspicion for actual DNA evidence tying her to the case. Light then goes into confinement. And even after he has gone to extreme lengths to prove that there is no way he could be Kira, L still doubts him. Because L just KNOWS Light Yagami is Kira. The only way for L to be assured of Light's innocence or guilt is to become handcuffed to him. And no matter how long it takes, L will get a confession. No matter what he has to do, he will find out the truth. And Light will do anything to save his own life, to convince L that he isn't Kira. Even at the cost of his own sanity. This is all just a game, but a game that could be deadly.

Notes: Ever thought what if Light really wasn't Kira, he was really a scapegoat and L went on Hard Mode during Yotsuba arc? This is that fic. I love this version more than the rewrite, because this one has a happy ending. Bittersweet ending. As happy as it can be, anyways. A whump, hurt/comfort fic, this fic balances veryyyy nicely between hurt and comfort.

Note2: This fic has a second version, a sort of rewrite. That version is a very bad ending for lawlight. I won't link it here, but those industrious ones of you who enjoy such fics can look it up in the author works.

Genius Is A Curse

Summary: If Light had never touched the Death Note, would he ever have found an escape from the depression and boredom that plagued him? Would he have had a future at all?

Notes: This... isn't exactly lawlight. This is more L and Light. However, imo, lawlight undertones are there. It might just be the shipping fan in me speaking though. This fic isn't for the faint hearted. It's depressing. Light is depressed, L is depressed, at a point they both get suicidal. I don't suggest reading it in one go. I also suggest being at least 21+ when reading it. Please, read the tags, mind the warnings and be safe mentally when you read this fic.

A Thin Veil

Summary: There is a thin veil between sadism and masochism, life and death, order and chaos, and all of this becomes apparent as Light comes up with his most sadomasochistic plan yet, willingly subjecting himself to illness and an agonizing death to force the hand of the task force and scare them into dropping the case, as well as prove his "innocence."

While L suspects that this is all somehow Light's doing, he finds it harder and harder to watch Light suffer as he gets increasingly ill, even if he wants to help catch Kira with the limited amount of time he has left. L refuses to lose the game, but at the same time finds the idea of losing Light to be equally unpleasant, leading him to search frantically for a loophole or capture Kira before Light dies as collateral damage.

Notes: Light will do anything to prove himself as not-Kira. Including forcing himself through sickness- Uncaring of the emotional tolI it would take on himself and everyone around him. I was looking for hurt or sick Light fics other than the one with religious undertones. And I found an alt sick Light fic. This one. It was well worth the search as oh boy does Light prove to all and sundry just how much he is willing to sacrifice for his 'New World'.

Sweet Dreams Are Made Of This

Summary: L has always struggled with insomnia and sleep paralysis. But the Kira Case is making it worse. He knows that if he continues like this, he'll end up self-destructing.

Notes: L and Light are both in a bad place. They help each other recover.

Grip me tight (won't you love me before you go)

Summary: Engaged Lawlight but Light isn't Kira and is killed by Kira for being with L.

Notes: Short, to the point, ripped my heart out in less than 1000 words.

Reflections

Summary: L spends a day with Light. Everything is as it should be.

Notes: A sad tragedy fic. This fic is here as a break before we go into truly bad ending and psychological horror/thriller fics.

I Will Follow You Into The Dark

Summary: Four hundred and ninety days.

Less cryptically, L kidnaps Light, perhaps for reasons all his own.

Notes: L is a sadistic bastard. Not in the whump way. L wants to win, L wants to defeat Kira, L wants Light. And L will do anything for it, Light's wishes and well-being be damned. There is no comfort here.

Inked

Summary: Light Yagami keeps his soulmark hidden at all times. L wants to know what it looks like. Things ensue.

Notes: A soulmate AU where L isn't Light's soulmate. That doesn't stop L.

A Balm For Social Failure

Summary: L begins to suspect something is missing from his life. He believes the key to be in social interaction - his weak point. At the appearance of the enigma named Light Yagami, he is challenged to rise to the occasion.

Notes: Light is a bastard. This has a happy ending, in a way. But the journey there is filled with dubious triggers.

Fade

Summary: When a mysterious notebook falls from the sky, bearing the story of a world in which Kira reigns supreme, L is forced into a desperate struggle to change both his fate and the fate of the world. But his attempts are complicated when he discovers that he only holds half of the story—and that the other half resides with the living paradox that is Light Yagami. The resulting chaos finds two geniuses from different worlds thrown together, racing to change the future.

Notes: This fic.... I like to pretend that L and Light reached Wammy's and that's where it ends. That it has a happy ending. But it does not. It took my heart, filled it, and then stomped it to the ground.

Prisoners

Summary: L got enough evidence to imprison Light but not destroy him. Two years into Light's confinement L is desperate to move the dial towards a decisive victory and close the Kira case once and for all but he’s not sure how much of his own mind he’ll have to crack into pieces to do that. Especially when there’s a very real chance Light’s lost his mind entirely.

Notes: Usually, I only read and rec happy ending fics. I remember reading this one, without checking the warnings. Its been a long time since, but I still remember this fic and believe it has to be here. Check the warning tag before reading, guys!

You're 38, Light

Summary: On Light's 38th birthday, he has a special visitor, triggering many memories.

Notes: This fic makes me sick. It's good as a bad ending fic, but oh gosh, why, just kill Light already, L.

Crack & Crack Taken Seriously (yes, both are different)

Dealing With Shinigami

Summary: Meet Prince Light, a prince who, to the public's eye, is everything a prince is meant to be—handsome, brilliant, hand-working, kind, polite. In actuality, he is hot-headed and headstrong, has strong sense of justice that goes against how the kingdom runs...

And bored.

So bored that news of an arranged marriage leads him to run away to live with a Shinigami. And not just any Shinigami, but Ryuk—one of the most powerful, dangerous, and equally bored Shinigami around. Of course, Light has a way of hooking up with dangerous characters, and soon he's coping with a witch, a jinn, a death-dealing talking bird, a stone prince, and some very irritating Yotsuba wizards. Eventually, he will find the not-very-kingly King of the Enchanted Forest who may sweep him off his feet.

If the prince ran away to find some excitement, it looks like he's found plenty.

Notes: A fairy tale world with death note characters. Meet Light as a prince who is bored, L is a king who is lonely, Ryuk as a shinigami who is looking for fun. The world building uses classic tropes for fun, the character interaction leaves me wanting more, I love everything about this fic.

Welcome To The Family

Summary: L has concluded that Light is Kira but due to his own conflicted feelings instead of arresting Light or having him executed as he promised he kidnaps Light and dumps him at Wammy's House…

Notes: My favorite "Light gets taken to Wammy's" AU. Too bad it stops at the best time.

Yagami Light can have a little mental breakdown, as a treat.

Summary: In which Light goes through the five stages of grief, Misa is a good friend, L has the best night of his life, and everybody else is just along for the ride.

(AKA: The uni AU in which Light has a crush and doesn't know it until everybody else does as well).

Notes: Lawlight university AU. Misa helps Light "denial isn't just a river in Egypt" Yagami reach enlightenment. L "idiot in love and doesnt know how to flirt" Lawliet, the target of said crush, gets front row seats to the discussion.

The Complaints Box

Summary: "Gentlemen," he addressed everyone in the room with a meaningful glance, then focused on the cardboard box, "It is my understanding that ever since we've moved into this building, relationships between you all have been... tense. Petty arguments are not constructive for the workplace; therefore, I have decided to introduce a conflict preventative measure, a source of stress relief if you will."

In which, Watari decides that everyone in the office needs to begin venting their stress like mature adults. And within those pages were not rants worthy of a therapist's shrine, but a documented love story...

Notes: A fun and amusing read. Watari has such great ideas.

Eat, Fight, Love

Summary: L was perfectly content to live out a solitary existence among his sweets and puzzles, and never considered that one day he might actually have to beat the shit out of his soulmate upon seeing them for the first time.

Yes, what absolute nonsense.

Notes: Where soulmates punch each other at first sight.

Unexpected Little Guest

Summary: Sayu and her husband decides to go on a vacation for two weeks and leave their eight years old daughter, Mei, in the hands of Light and L.

Light had thought about starting a family for quite some time, so he gladly accepts it to see what kind of a father L would be with this little adventure.

L, on the other hand is everything but happy about this. But in this two weeks, he develops something for the little girl that he didn't expect at all...

Notes: Established lawlight. Light wants a child. Sayu needs a babysitter. Light has an idea.

Basket Case

Summary: During the day, he writes names on coffee cups. At night, he writes names in the Death Note. Now starting his third year at To-Oh, Light Yagami didn’t think his life could get any more complicated. Until L Lawliet came and screwed everything up.

A college AU where Light is Kira but L isn't a detective.

Notes: A fun AU where Light is Kira, L isn't a detective and Ryuk ships it.

This Isn't A Noir Film

Summary: Moving to Los Angeles was not Light's best idea. It's blazing hot, always on fire, the traffic is the worst, and the mafia is acting up all over again. When Rod Ross is found not guilty yet again on murder charges and the murders start up again, Light joins a taskforce with decidedly eccentric people who could all only be described as complete and utter pricks. He should be more worried about what's happening to the city he lives in and the people he's sworn to serve and protect, but honestly, he's a bit more concerned at how well he fits in with these weirdos.

Notes: A fic set in the backdrop of LA. I don't recall much about this fic except that it's good.

Treaty

Summary: When Great Britain and Japan come to an agreement on a major treaty between the two countries, there is a long standing requirement between the country's packs that must be upheld. A match between a high ranking or highly valued Alpha and Omega must be made between the countries as a sign of good faith. With all of the official nobility of age already mated in both countries, Great Britain selects an Alpha, the World's Greatest Detective as their representative. While the country of Japan, provides their best and brightest, the attractive son of the distinguished Chief of the NPA, Light Yagami.

Both L and Light are thrown in as reluctant participants. Each with their own secrets, personal challenges and life ambitions. Can they find a way to happily co-exist or will the obstacles they face prove too much to overcome?

Notes: This is a lawlight abo AU which is crack taken seriously. So dont take the fic seriously, alright? OOC abound.

Koi No Yokan

Summary: Koi no yokan 恋の予感: the feeling upon first meeting someone that you will inevitably fall in love with them.

Light decides to take a little risk and seek a no-strings-attached hookup and gets a surprising (accidental) match. Light and L gradually open up to each other over the course of a night, not knowing who the other is. However, as they go back to their lives in the morning, suspicions take hold and secrets come to light. The chance meeting starts to feel a lot more like fate as L closes in on Kira, and both must decide whether they felt anything real for the other and what that means. This decision is only the first of many as Light plans his New World and L finds out sinister secrets about his childhood and Wammy’s House.

Notes: The ultimate death note conspiracy fic. This fic has boldly gone where no fic has gone before. No regrets, no takebacks. Leave logic outside the door. There will be no fic that can compare to the twists and turns this one takes, ever again.

The Japanese Brooklyn 99

Summary:

Aizawa: We are NOT naming this chat ‘The Japanese Brooklyn 99’!

Matsuda: I don’t see why we can’t? Just because you’re too embarrassed to admit you’re not cool enough to be Rosa does not mean we cannot name this group chat that name. Besides, it’s a good name!

Ide: Why am I here again?

...In which Matsuda makes a group chat and all goes to chaos.

Notes: Death Note fic which is set in Modern era and with a group chat. The obligatory group chat fic where everything is nice, nobody hurts (for long), and everyone has a happy ending.

Todokete!

Summary:

Soichiro: What exactly is the point of this again?

Matsuda: so we can all talk even when we’re not together, duh!

so anyway…

how do we feel about the de-sexification of the green m&m?

Light: matsuda, respectfully, shut the fuck up

Matsuda creates a Discord server for the task force to communicate in. Between L's awkward attempts to make friends, Misa and Matsuda's constant Love Live references, and the stress of Light being a suspect, the rest of the team is in for a wild ride.

Or, the ridiculous chatfic that no one asked for.

Notes: Another Yotsuba arc chat grp fic. Lots of memes and references. The summary says it all.

Consolation Prize

Summary: As a special prize for writing so many names in the Death Note, Kira becomes a catboy.

Notes: Catboy!Light. Enough said.



The Name Game

Summary: Light really hates the customer that keeps coming up with the worst fake names for his orders.

Five times L gave a fake(sorta) name for his tea to annoy the irritable, pretty barista and the one time he tells him his actual name.

Notes: Lawlight coffee shop AU! Woo hoo!

The Mello Situation

Summary: Or how Near decides to use L and Light's fumbling attempts to be together to develop his own relationship goals. Post canon, alternative ending.

Notes: Wherein Near asks relationship advice from L. It goes as well as can be expected.

Deus Ex Saiki

Summary: Ten year old Kusuo Saiki decides he's tired of Kira's shenanigans so he's gonna solve the problem himself.

It may not have been worth it.

Notes: Saiki does a short, quick fix of the Kira situation and everyone is happier for it.

A,B,C,DeathNote!

Summary:

A collection of what were meant to be oneshot ficlets (but ended up as an interlinked series) for each letter of the Alphabet.

Set during the YotsubaArc, this is the story of how Light and L fell in love amidst the Kira case and their developing relationship from secret lovers to husbands.

Notes: I don't remember much about this fic except that it was good and that it is crack.

[kandisheek]

FIC REC WEEK 20 - 616

AUTHOR SPOTLIGHT: Sineala

One of the things I love most about Sineala's writing - other than the general brilliance of it - is how much work she puts into tying her fics into canon. I feel like most of what I know about Marvel Comics I learned by reading the helpful notes she adds to her works, explaining which volumes and arcs each canon element is from. Aside from that, Sineala is one of the best writers in the fandom (in my opinion, but honestly, it's just a fact), and I love everything she's ever written. I've recommended a bunch of her stuff this year already, but honestly, you should just read her entire AO3 catalogue.

Here's some of her work that I think you should check out:

Every Now and Then I Fall Apart

Pairing: Steve/Tony Rating: T Words: 6,000 Tags: Truth Spells, Chronic Pain, Secrets

Summary: When Tony gets hit by a truth spell, the consequences aren't what anyone expected. They're sure not what Tony expected. He wishes he could stop telling his teammates about all the medical problems he tries to hide. As long as he doesn't open his mouth and reveal his secret feelings for Steve, or all his secret inadequacies as a human being, though, everything's going to be fine. And Tony's good at keeping secrets... or so he thinks. But maybe Steve knows him better than he knows himself. And just because Tony believes something, that doesn't make it the truth.

Reasons why I love it: I'm always down for a truth serum fic, and this one is absolutely lovely. Tony being a fan of Total Eclipse of the Heart makes me unreasonably happy, and I love how angsty his accidental confessions are. And of course, the Stony in this is wonderful. I love this fic so much, please go and read it!

Down to Zero

Pairing: Steve/Tony Rating: T Words: 18,336 Tags: Temporary Amnesia, Extremis, Hurt/Comfort

Summary: After a battle against the Controller goes awry, Steve is bewildered and guilt-ridden when Tony begins to treat him exactly the same as he treats everyone else.

Reasons why I love it: Holy fuck, this fic is good. I love how guilty Steve feels about taking Tony for granted, and how he immediately knows that something is wrong with him, even when nobody else does. The resolution, once Tony gets his memories back, is fantastic and always puts a smile on my face. I adore this fic, and if you haven't read it yet, you absolutely have to!

Trust Fall

Pairing: Steve/Tony Rating: E Words: 39,107 Tags: Hurt/Comfort, Love Confessions, Coming in Pants

Summary: Tony needs someone who cares about him, bandages, a jacket, ibuprofen, dinner, a lasting romantic relationship, a nice time in bed, and assistance committing federal crimes. He gets them. In that order.

Reasons why I love it: Aaaah, give me all the feels!!! The hurt/comfort is incredible. Steve is so caring, and I want to wrap Tony up in blankets. And oh my god, the smut! It's everything I never knew I needed. This fic was an instant favorite for me, and I've probably read it twenty times since it came out. So yeah, if you haven't read it yet, please go and do that now, you won't regret it!

The Fall and the Rise

Pairing: Steve/Tony Rating: T Words: 5,148 Tags: Fix-it, De-Serumed Steve, End of the World

Summary: After the Great Society incursion, the Illuminati refuse to destroy another world. When the next incursion looms, they go to await their deaths in peace. Tony ends up on the doorstep of the last man who ever wanted to see him. At least he's going to die at Steve's side.

Reasons why I love it: This one HURTS, but in a really hopeful way, if that makes sense? The angst is superb, and I love how the bitterness can't quite overshadow the affection they still have for each other. This fic stuck with me for a long time after I read it, so I hope you go and experience it for yourself.

And in Your Head It's Worse

Pairing: Steve/Tony Rating: E Words: 30,204 Tags: BDSM, Scene Gone Wrong, Aftercare

Summary: Tonight is Steve and Tony's anniversary. And since they have the night off, it's the perfect time for Steve to tie Tony to the bed and drive him out of his mind, until Tony can barely remember his own name. It is definitely not the perfect time for Ghost to attack Stark Tower.

Reasons why I love it: This fic explores subspace and especially subdrop in a really compelling way. I love how Sine created the perfect awful situation for Steve and Tony to be in, only to fix it with the fluffiest fluff to ever fluff. It's lovely, and cements its status as one of my all-time favorite comfort fics. I love it so much, and I bet you will too!

[toss-a-coin-to-your-stan-account]

honestly in light of another show getting cancelled after one fucking season despite being very loved and full of potential recent events i'm thinking a lot about the current state of TV and how it relates to the Gravity Falls renaissance going on right now with the new content (the book of bill/thisisnotawebsitedotcom.com). i'm thinking about how this show was adored as it aired and how it's still loved now, a decade later as it's audience has grown up. i think about what led to this story being so loved and adored so far past it's end.

and I think one of the biggest reasons for that is that Gravity Falls lasted long enough to tell the story it was made to tell.

While there are still fans who wish for a new season, it's largely agreed upon that the show lasted just long enough to tell it's story without dragging on. It finished in such a way that most major plot points were resolved with good pacing and not being rushed out of fear of cancellation. It goes down in television history as one of those shows where people think

"did it end at just the right point? yes. would I love more of it if the creators/crew wanted to do it? ALSO yes."

(definitely! ABSOLUTELY!)

So when new content was released and it builds on what was already masterfully established, people have ran back to it like it never left and are engaging with the story they love all over again.

And I think it has a lot to do with the fact that Gravity Falls is one of what feels like the few modern shows (especially since the last few years where everyone can name a show they loved that they're angry got cancelled after one or two seasons) that has gotten to just... come to an end. It wasn't cancelled prematurely because of nonsense streaming criteria or censorship; it didn't get a cut-down final season that forced half-completed plotlines to be thrown out or pruned to a shell of what they were meant to be; it came to it's natural intended end when it was meant to.

But it was also given time to breathe.

While the overarching mystery was constantly present throughout the show, it was also paced in such a way that it was mainly hinted at early on and not explored in detail until later, after we'd seen how the characters act in mundane, self-contained situations; episodes that focus on the main plot (mainly those in season 2) often happen after a good number of "normal" episodes that focus on the day-to-day hijinks of the Pines family, where we don't have to focus on the plot - we can just watch what the characters do and enjoy the ride.

And it's the presence of silly episodes about a merman being broken out of the local pool and dipper cloning himself via a copy machine to be able to party and two elderly ghosts who haunt a convenience store being appeased by dipper dancing in a lamb costume that make the episodes like the one where a recurring "crazy ol' hillbilly" was revealed to have been a highly skilled and intelligent scientist who was so haunted by the harrowing otherworldly horrors he'd seen that he drove himself insane so daunting and memorable. There is a balance to the pacing and tone that is a rarity in newer shows.

And honestly? I think one of the other reasons Gravity Falls is still so loved today is because it encompasses so much about TV shows that people really miss in today's era of how shows are structured.

"I miss when shows had 15-20 episodes a season." Gravity Falls did that.

"I miss when shows had filler and didn't rush through the plot so fast." Gravity Falls did that.

"I miss when we got to watch the characters do things besides The Plot and just got to watch them do funny hijinks that don't lead to something big and Plot Relevant." Gravity Falls did that. Gravity Falls did that. Gravity Falls did that and it was so much fun.

And I think about how if it were being aired now, we might have gotten that iconic and unforgettable years-in-the-waiting "The author of the journals... my brother." reveal as early as episode six out of eight.

Or even worse - it would have happened at the very end of the first season, and the second the credits rolled, fans would have had to scramble to write PSA posts to watch it as soon as possible and play the season on loop and tell everyone to stream it; they wouldn't have been able to just revel in the excitement of a well-paced reveal that was years in the making; they most likely would have had to immediately get to work and jump through hoops and fight like hell for a chance at the story to be completed.

And worst case scenario - it probably wouldn't have worked.

TLDR; Gravity Falls is a well-loved masterpiece bc it got to do what so few new shows get to do and have enough time to tell the story it was meant to tell and I'm so relieved it aired before the shithole that is 8-episode seasons (read: only one 8-episode season before the near-inevitable cancellation) became the norm for new shows.

[hils79]

Hils Watches Conjuring Curse - Part 1

IT'S BABY TRIANGLE MOVIE DAY! Sorry to Mysterious Lotus Casebook but my tomb boys come first. I'll be back to you later.

Disclaimer: I adore DMBJ. It's been my main fandom for the past 3 years. But there's no denying it's utter nonsense so proceed in the knowledge that I will most likely be (fondly) roasting the shit out of this

I have no idea how many parts this liveblog is going to be. The movie is nearly 2 hours long, and those who have been around for a while will know that I am very Not Normal about these idiot boys.

Okay, I'm going in!

Okay, so we're starting with a flasback to grandpa Wu. Interesting.

Ah, shit, I forgot about the creepy dolls from the trailer and the poster. Thankfully it's lunchtime here so it's not dark. Yes, I am a wuss even when it comes to stupid tomb shows

NOPE NOPE NOPE

I hope we cut to the Iron Triangle soon or this liveblog is just going to be me screaming about scary dolls

DUDE THAT WAS NASTY! I'm not sharing a screenshot because you didn't really see much but random dude just died horribly

XIAOGE!! Just the back of his head and I'm already having feelings

PANGZI MY BELOVED! He's wearing the necklace! I'm fine! Absolutely normal. Is that a translation of what it says on his shirt or they just telling us what his job is?

In this house we speak to Pangzi with some fucking respect!

THERE HE IS! He just saved Pangzi's life when a trap activated so I am awash with pingpang feels already.

Sigh. I suppose subbing Xiaoge as Qiling is better than subbing it as Kylin

Of course he's keeping count. God.

SOBBING IN PINGPANG

Of course someone has mailed Wu Xie a cursed doll. That's the plot of so many DMBJ fics

Retirement?? You look like you should still be at university studying architecture

Xiaoge napping in the back while Wu Xie and Pangzi discuss the plot while driving. Yep, this is definitely DMBJ

I'm assuming this is supposed to be set some time between Sha Hai and Reboot, but he has big Ultimate Note Pangzi vibes

Okay, I love them. All Pangzi does is say 'can you smell gas' and Wu Xie immediately knows what he's doing and goes along with the fake gas leak so they have an excuse to break into the house

It's so true (affectionate)

Aww yay he's doing the hand thing

They said the title of the thing in the thing!

Look at Xiaoge standing on the roof of the van while it drives along like a total badass

Now I see why Xiaoge is on the roof. Not just so he can act as lookout, but because everyone else is inside being Loud. He really is introvert goals.

Aww Wu Xie tossed him some water. Gotta keep hydrated.

No one can murder us while Xiaoge is here. It's fine.

Of course the shady gang of bandits know Wu Xie

Yeah, you've heard of me. But have you heard of my (other) boyfriend who will most definitely fuck you all up if you try to kill me

Yep, definitely need to inform the authorities about this definitely not illegal tomb raid we're about to embark on

Not sure how I feel about Wu Xie threatening to use Xiaoge as a weapon. Not that I think he'd actually ask Xiaoge to kill people for him but something about this just doesn't feel right.

God, I'm only 20 mins into the movie and I've hit the image limit. This is going to be a long one, fam.

Part 2

[fictionadventurer]

Hello

3,8,9,13,14,15,18,20,21,22,26,30,33,39,41,44,45,46,48,52,55,58,60, for the ask game !

(I recognize that i may have asked too many questions.....partly as an excuse to get more book recs!)

Okay, let's do this!

3. How many books have you read (this year) so far?

According to Goodreads, 77, but that counts a lot of short stories, novellas, and in one case, a serial story where each part counts as a single book.

8. A book you've always wanted to read but never got a chance?

Lots, but lately I've been thinking about how I've never gotten around to reading A Canticle for Leibowitz, despite being recommended it years ago.

9. A book you're never, ever gonna read?

Harry Potter.

13. A genre you aren't a fan of in particular?

Horror.

14. A genre you love?

One I've recently started to define as vintage fiction--cozy books that are old enough to be classics, but aren't high-brow enough or famous enough to be considered classic literature.

15. A reading habit you could get "canceled" for?

Leaving so many books unfinished for no good reason.

18. Recommend a book to the person who sent you this ask.

Roverandom by J.R.R. Tolkien--a very fun fairy tale fantasy he wrote for his kids.

20. A book series you can't wait to read.

Once a Queen by Sarah Arthur feels like a fantasy book that should have a minimum of four other books already available for me to read, and the sequel can't come fast enough.

21. A book series you're never going to read.

A Court of Thorns and Roses

22. A celebrity's book rec that you loved?

Jo Walton enthusiastically recommended Desire by Una Silberrad and introduced me to a new favorite obscure author.

26. Your favourite reading position?

Sitting?

30. If you could have access to anybody's bookshelf, dead or alive, which person would you pick?

I am sticking Manalive on Steven Moffat's bookshelf so he will write the adaptation (and read the rest of Chesterton and become Catholic).

33. Do you annotate as you read or prefer not to?

Absolutely not. When I read a book, I want to read it with fresh eyes, as the person I am now, without the person that I was last time chattering in the margins.

39. Favourite book to movie/TV show adaptation?

The 1995 Sense and Sensibility is one of my favorite movies of all time.

41. If you could read the first draft of any one book, which book would you pick and why?

I'd like to read the original version of Black as Night by Regina Doman, which apparently had an entirely different plot before major rewrites.

44. Favourite book protagonist?

I can't pick one favorite! I'll just mention that Wilkie Collins has written some of my favorite female characters in Victorian fiction--Marian Halcombe in The Woman in White is one of my favorite characters ever, and I loved The Law and the Lady mostly because of how much I loved the narrator.

45. Favourite book villain?

One of the reasons Little Town on the Prairie is my favorite Little House books is because of how well Wilder presents Nellie Oleson and Miss Wilder as villains.

46. Favourite literary quote?

How am I supposed to pick one?

Here's what I'm going to do. I'm going to go to Goodreads and find something that got highlighted in Kindle.

Okay, here's a quote I highlighted in Sylvia's Lovers by Elizabeth Gaskell that I had completely forgotten about.

He was just the kind of man that all his neighbours found fault with, and all his neighbours liked.

48. If you could be a part of any story you've read, which book would you pick?

I'm just going to live in the cottagecore atmosphere of your average Elizabeth Goudge book.

52. Do you like audiobooks? If yes, which is your favourite audiobook?

I adore audiobooks!

Probably the coolest one I've ever listened to was the full-cast audio recording of Fairest by Gail Carson Levine, because it takes place in a world where people often sing in their day-to-day lives, and this audio version has the characters sing all the songs!

As far as ones that are readily available, my favorite is the Jim Dale version of Around the World in 80 Days. That man's range of voices is astounding!

On Librivox, Vanity Fair (Version 2) has the best Librivox narrator I've ever heard. Most of the time, I'm just happy if the narrator pronounces everything correctly, with bonus points if they have a fitting accent. This woman was doing multiple accents!

55. If you could have any book related job in the world (librarian, editor, publisher, writer, etc), what job would you pick?

Writer.

58. A book that emotionally wrecked you?

I wept through large portions of In a Far-Off Land by Stephanie Landsem.

60. Talk about books! Anything you like, maybe share some more recs<3

I've just started Codename Edelweiss by Stephanie Landsem, and I'm excited to try another book by the author, because I've heard even more good things about this one.

[bagheerita]

Writing Interview Tag Game!

Thanks to @aintgonnatakethis for the tag! (I've copied his idea and posted the template in a "read more" if you decide to go ahead and play, so you don't have to pick the questions out from between my answers)

About me

When did you start writing?

I’ve been telling stories since I was old enough to remember words, but probably only writing them down since about high school. Crossover ideas about my favorite characters meeting each other and having adventures have been my bread and butter since I was in the single digits though. 

Are there different genres or themes you enjoy reading other than the ones you write?

Oh yeah. There’s plenty of things I think I’m not very good at writing that I love reading, especially really grounded realism and humor. Also I do not have the patience for the really fantastic speculative xenobiology that I absolutely adore reading.

Is there an author you want to emulate, or are compared to often?

Not that I want to emulate. A teacher told me once that my writing reminded her of Danielle Steele, but as I've never read a Danielle Steele novel I'm not sure how accurate that is, or if it even applies anymore because that was 20 years ago. I feel like I tend to emulate whatever author I’ve been reading a lot lately, but I don’t read a lot anymore. I used to really love Patricia Briggs (I mean, I still love the books I've read, Dragon Bones is probably one of my top favorites ever, but I haven't been as impressed with her recent offerings) and I feel like there was a point where a lot of her werewolf psychology bleed over into the way I write Wraith.

Can you tell me a bit about your writing space?

So at the moment I mostly write on my phone at work during breaks. The space is both chaotic and tense, and very boring and low-key. I do final edits on my computer though: that set up involves 2 screens, which is really handy for edit comparisons between an AO3 window and my backup document, and there’s a cat bed under the desk for Bug to hang out. 

What’s your most effective way to muster up a muse?

Over the past few years writing has become a way to channel my anxiety about the world, so I tend to write more when I’m anxious or when I’m stuck sitting somewhere that isn’t mentally stimulating but I have enough energy that I’m not completely zonked out. 

Did the place(s) you grew up in influence the people and/or places you write about?

Um in a specific sense probably no? I mean, I would say that how you grow up is extremely formative to who you are and what you write and that holds true for me. But specifically the only story influenced by the place I grew up is “Sunlight”; the setting is based on a place near where I grew up on Lake Michigan. 

Are there any reoccurring themes in your writing? If so, do they surprise you?

Love will save the day. I don’t mean sex or romance, I mean the affection, compassion, and consideration that humans are capable of having for each other and for creation in all circumstances. And I don't mean “save the day” in a eucatastrophic sense, though I like that too, but that living in love is what saves us as people and reminds us that we are communal creatures who need each other. No, that doesn't surprise me. 

Characters

Would you please tell me about your current favorite character?

Lol, well I’m currently obsessed with Tora Ziyal from DS9. I'm planning to abduct her, and Ellia from SGA, and throw a Canon Doesn't Deserve You/Won't Treat You Right party. But that’s a story I’m not actually writing yet, so probably Todd? I’m also kind of currently obsessed with femdom and power dynamics among Wraith, and just generally with Todd’s dynamic with Carter because I feel like there’s a lot that was unexplored there in canon. I have one story for them which I’m posting that's all just sex, and 3 more ideas in various stages of wip that are more adventure bases. Somehow sex is easier to write than plot. 

Which of your characters would you be friends with in real life?

lol

Look, I spend my time trying to get into these people's heads to figure out what makes them tick, putting them in Situations, and orchestrating their sex lives. Would you be friends with someone like that??? 

(For me) the entire point of this is that fictional people are not real, and do not exist in real life. 

Which characters would you dislike the most if you met them?

I have 4 different answers for this one....

See above.

2. I feel like the point of these questions is really to ask about Original Characters and... I can't answer that in this case because Spoilers.

3. I feel like the other point is that "dislike" doesn't necessarily mean "hate," but rather "we wouldn't be friends." So, back when I was a 12 year old girlchild with a television, watching Deep Space Nine, I adored Jadzia Dax. Rewatching the show recently I find her far more immature than I remember (though may be it's just because the writers had no idea what they were doing with her), and honestly the more I learn about Curzon Dax the more I think he sounds like an absolute nightmare of a person. I do not think I would be friends with Dax. Not maliciously, just complete incompatibility of personalities.

4. But the fandom answer for characters I hate is: in a general Stargate sense, I utterly loathe both Frank Simmons and Lucius Lavin and would most certainly throw garbage at them if I existed in the stargate EU and happened to meet them. In addition I loathe Naraku from Inuyasha, would plot to murder the Head Founder from DS9, and would certainly cheer for anyone in The Last Kingdom who stabbed Aethelwold repeatedly and left him to be eaten by wild dogs.

Tell me about the process of coming up with your characters?

When I have a role that needs to be filled or a scene that needs to be populated with a character, I create a background character to fill it, who then tends to take over my brain and develop all sorts of traits. The process can vary a lot from character to character, but I'll use Sara as an example. 

I start with the problem: I need an OC who will present Ronon with an unconventional take on the Wraith in order to help him shift his worldview. This needs to be someone whom he does not find physically threatening. Also they need to have had an opportunity to develop a relationship with the Wraith, likely with a single specific one. So, most likely I'm looking at a child, and an orphan, and they will need to be cut off from other humans because of Circumstances in order to have the opportunity to bond with the Wraith character. Very early on in developing Sara, I was influence a lot by the character of Rin from Inuaysha, who is an orphan girl who travels with a powerful demon whom most humans fear. I chose the name Sara because it's both a very common name and simple enough to be translated to another galaxy easily. Because I based the character on Rin she is "Japanese"/East Asian when I describe her physical appearance, I imagine her name being pronounced in the Japanese way (both a's with the same vowel sound and a soft "r"), and her people practiced a religion inspired by Shinto. Because I tend to eschew the canon proscription against the existence of queer people, I wrote her as being Asexual and Sapphic, though I had more difficulty than I wanted trying to make that aspect of her character textually obvious, since she doesn't really have the vocabulary to explain it and it's not focal to the plot.

So, this was intended to be a rather side character, but she herself became much more of a central part of the story than I was intending, rather than just the effect she would have on Ronon, which was what was supposed to be the focus of her character's contribution to the story.

Do you notice any reoccurring themes/traits in your characters?

Not really? I do feel like I have to fight harder than with the canon characters to make sure that they don't all share my values and outlook.

Since I mostly write for SGA, and most of the characters already present are cis het white men, when I create characters I usually try to make them… not that in some way. (Though I do also assume that all characters who exist in stories that I write, including canon characters, are bi unless the fic clearly states otherwise.)  

How do you picture your characters?

I don’t usually “picture” characters. I guess because the show is already visual I’m bad at remembering to create visual descriptions for the characters I create? Does that make any sense? Or maybe because the story is visual in my head there are parts of it I forget to “export” to the page. When Eos used to beta for me, she would badger me all the time, like “but what do they look like??” and I’ve been a lot better at describing things since then. Though still, I'm not really visual in that way I guess. 

My writing

What’s your reason for writing?

There are stories inside of me and they want to come out. There are stories I want to read and no one else is writing them.

Is there any specific comment or type of comment from readers that you find particularly motivating?

All comments are fantastic, but my absolute favorite is when they quote a line from the chapter because 9 times out of 10 my response is “I know!!! I loved that line too!!”

How do you want to be thought about by your readers?

I do not want to be perceived lol

Honestly this is not something I’ve ever really thought about? Like, I hope they enjoy my writing, but I don’t think I care about what they think about me. 

What do you feel is your greatest strength as a writer?

Enjoying myself.

What have you been told your greatest strength as a writer is by others?

I used to say my greatest strength was characterization (and I do still believe that any character action or reaction is believable if you justify it correctly in the text) and I used to be a lot more interested in writing stories that aligned with canon or progressed believably from canon. I don’t so much care anymore, though I’ve had several comments praising my characterizations.  

How do you feel about your own writing?

I love it. I wrote it for me to read. Even the older stuff that is bad now, it’s great to see how much I’ve grown and changed as a writer, and also how some things stay the same. 

If you were the last person on earth, would you still write?

Probably not? The stories exist inside of me. Writing them down only accomplishes two things: 1) allows others to read them and 2) gives the story a static form. Without the need for 1 I don’t think I would bother to write them down, and they would stay in my head and continue to change and evolve and become other stories. 

When you write, are you influenced by what others might enjoy reading, do you write purely for yourself, or is it a mix of both?

Both. I write what I want to read, but I do like to push myself to write things I wouldn’t normally try; especially last year I wrote a bunch of prompt fics which was a lot of fun (and also left me with a handful of ideas I couldn't finish but still want to try lol). I also do a lot of read-throughs and edits to try to make sure the story is as good as I can make it because I do want others to be able to enjoy it. 

NPT: @anonmadsci @chaniis-atlantis @adriankyte-writes @the-itzy-bitzy-spider @annwayne

@tiltingheartand @ladyaldhelm @mx-seraph @only-in-december

About me

When did you start writing?

Are there different genres or themes you enjoy reading other than the ones you write?

Is there an author you want to emulate, or are compared to often?

Can you tell me a bit about your writing space?

What’s your most effective way to muster up a muse?

Did the place(s) you grew up in influence the people and/or places you write about?

Are there any reoccurring themes in your writing? If so, do they surprise you?

Characters

Would you please tell me about your current favorite character?

Which of your characters would you be friends with in real life?

Which characters would you dislike the most of you met them?

Tell me about the process of coming up with your characters?

Do you notice any reoccurring themes/traits in your characters?

How do you picture your characters?

My writing

What’s your reason for writing?

Is there any specific comment or type of comment from readers that you find particularly motivating?

How do you want to be thought about by your readers?

What do you feel is your greatest strength as a writer?

Have you been told is your greatest strength as a writer is by others?

How do you feel about your own writing?

If you were the last person on earth, would you still write?

When you write, are you influenced by what others might enjoy reading, do you write purely for yourself, or is it a mix of both?

[thatonebirdwrites]

Answering Questions for Fun

20 Questions More

This is a deeper and more detailed version of the 20 questions for AO3 fanfic writers.

I yanked the questions from someone in the supercorp fandom. I forget who. I never get tagged since I'm not really well known writer yet (I'm still a tumblr newbie!), so I'm doing this just for funsies and because I like answering questions.

I will be answering this for the supercorp and korrasami fandoms. My works are here (though I do one-shots on tumblr sometimes).

1) How do you keep getting ideas for your ship / fandom?

By existing, reading, listening, writing, watching things, staring at the sky and watching the clouds drift by. Seriously, my ADHD's superpower is generating ideas. So I have way too many of them, and I have a note in my Scrivener projects with all the ideas. If anyone needs more ideas, I'll spin out so many. lol

2) Which authors inspire you in your fandom, and why are they so freakishly good?

So for the Korrasami fandom, that would be @korrasamibottles for their fantastic oneshots, Progman for one of the best post-series fics I've ever read (seriously, the Asami Sato of RRU is awesome), Shigan for some amazing korrasami oneshots, FuzziFox for an adorable and action-y AU where Asami goes south with Korra, lovedeathcats for the best Indiana Jones AU ever, RainbowRosie for a great AU where bending has vanished, paxbanana's Place in the World is an interesting AU take on Korrasami. @asamiontop's Modern world AU is a must read (she also has some great supercorp one-shots). For supercorp? @jazzfordshire has exquisitely written fics, everything @fazedlight writes is gold, @snowydragonscave's oneshots are adorable, @mycatismyeditor has some great AU's that really dig into the characters, @ekingston has some of the best written AU's I've ever read, @karalovesallthegirls has the most hilarious fics ever (Mime fic), robie's AUs are some of the best slow burn I've read, TheUnforgivingMinute wrote a fantastic spookysupercorp, @coffeeshib floored me with their gorgeous prose, @rustingcat not only does amazing art but the fics are such a great slow burn, @chaotic-super's back to Krypton was absolutely goldmine of fun and digging into the lore of Krypton. I could go on. Let's just say I LOVE Y'all's fics. The above are the people who had the most impact on me personally. Where I learned the art of fanfic writing. Since I'm a science fiction writer, I tend toward creative writing techniques that don't always jive well in the fandom realm, so learning from others helps me refine my writing to use the least amount of words for the biggest impact possible. It's also great practice for my original fiction honestly.

3) Aside from the characters of your main ship, who are the characters you love to write?

I really love writing Sam Arias. Nia is also super fun to write, and writing Brainy and Lena arguing about science is always fun too. Alex is a littler harder for me to write (her snark is hard for me to capture), but she's a blast once I get in the right headspace for it. For Korrasami, I really love writing Jinora and Bolin. Asami considers both of them basically siblings at this point, and Korra does too actually. heh.

4) Are there pairings or tropes you know for sure you'd never write about? Which ones?

I will NEVER EVER writing Makorra - that is a clusterfuck I will never touch. Hell, it's why I didn't rewrite book 1 of TLOK for my Shared Moments series because I really didn't want to touch it at all. lol I just skipped to the six months after and started there. I'll NEVER write Lames or any relationship that features Mon-el. Nope. Not touching it. I prefer to write sapphic pairings for the main protagonists. Sure, side characters can have het pairings (like Brainy and Nia), but I won't write a fic with them as the focus. Other folks can do that.

5) What is your writing process and why is it cursed?

Step 1: Wake up, wash up, and get tea. Step 2. Cuddle the cat to prepare myself. Step 3: Put on my compression gloves and stretch my arms. Step 4: Put on the correct playlist (absolutely essential step otherwise it'll throw off the entire scene and then I have to start over.) Step 5: Try to avoid Tumblr. (Doesn't always work, this place is cursed I swear. lol) Step 6. Open Scrivener project (who am I kidding, these primary projects are always open on m computer). Write while my brain is cooperating. (30 to 40 minutes before I got to rest for 45 minutes then I can start writing again. Chronic illness sucks like that.) Step 7: realize I need to research something and lose two hours to that. Step 8: AO3 emailed me! Who commented this time! Oh noes, now I've fallen down the looking at the Internets.

The other thing I do is carry my journal everywhere to document everything and end up with some weird random poetry, drawings, and dialogue from people I overhear. Oh, and on bad brain days, I'll draw cursed images.

I also use Scrivener and go all haywire on all its features to a ridiculous extent. Like, I try to stuff ALL my outlines, research, scenes, into that Scrivener so it's all in one place, that way I don't forget anything. It makes for large projects. ha.

6) What is your favorite part of your writing process?

Incorporating my research into the story in subtle ways to fill out the world and immerse the reader more fully. It's fun to put some of this research in the end-notes for my fics on AO3. (The power AO3 gave us writers with those end-notes!!)

7) What’s the weirdest thing you’ve had to research for a fic?

Maturation of bird species and the DNA overlap with human beings to see if I can craft an alien species that is at least 90% DNA similar to humans but is more birdlike.

I looked up the absorption of chemicals through skin. (This is why I use duckduck go for anonymity for this sort of stuff. LOL)

8) Is there a particular writing rule you struggle with (grammar, spelling, tense, reality in general)?

Reality in general - ha. Seriously though, the chronic illness makes it really hard to concentrate and have energy for writing or really anything. The second thing I struggle with is I have an annoying habit of adapting my tenses to what I'd last read. So if the story I read was past-tense, I'll jump into my writing using past tense (which most of my stories is that tense, but there's two that aren't so that's when it gets annoying).

9) What was your hardest scene to write so far and why?

The hardest scene was the end of Book 3 for Shared Moments for the Korrasami series. Both Asami and Korra (due to the bond they forged by accident at Harmonic Convergence) are captured by Zaheer, so that was a brutally painful set of scenes. Full of pain, fighting, poisoning, and a struggle to survive. I wept through it honestly. Whew. Yikes. For Supercorp, the hardest scene was when Nia assists Lena with her dreams and memories of her birth mother. Those were so sad and I totally teared up writing them. It was also hard to sort out the best way to reveal details without giving too much away either. Since Nia's powers are a little all over the place too.

10) Have your characters ever done something you didn’t expect, changing your plot completely?

All the time! For the TLOK: Shared Moments series, Asami keeps surprising me, so I often have to sit down and remap her timeline, and it always enriches the entire series. For Supercorp, Nia keeps doing things that surprise me. She's like this chaotic good agent that adds in humor and twists that enrich the tale in subtle ways I think. There's many other surprising moments the characters do. That's half the fun! Seeing where the characters end up and if I need to adjust my plans. :D

11) If you could converse with any of the characters, who would it be and why?

That's a tie between Asami Sato and Lena Luthor honestly. But then I sort of think of them as basically the same person (Lena may be more neutral in temperament while Asami is chaotic good. Also, Asami isn't afraid to fly planes and crash them for Korra. Lena would prefer no flying. lol). I just wanna talk science with them. Oh and ask them about how in-love they are with Korra and Kara respectively. (Lena will try to deny it, but Asami will gush and admit it because she's a little more in touch with her feelings). I just love these two so much. :D

12) What are some of the tropes or themes that you find yourself returning to in your writing?

Healing journeys. I really enjoy writing healing from trauma, because I feel like it's so relevant for our times, and the characters never really get that in their series (well, Supergirl characters don't, and they really need it!).

The theme of chosen family is another theme I come to again and again. Partly due to how my life is -- my bio family is not healthy for me (outright abusive), so my chosen family is my real family. So I like to dig into those dynamics a lot.

I also tend to write the survivor narrative a lot. It's a more interesting narrative structure, but it's also less used so that can startle readers. Sometimes in good ways? A good example of a survivor narrative structure is TLOK actually.

Another good example of the survivor narrative is Sam Arias' journey in Season 3 of Supergirl. Maybe I'll write an essay someday on it.

13) What's your most important resource as a writer?

There's isn't any one most important resource. I'd say fellow writers and artists is a great resource, lore books is another, random research books (yes, I have a guide to weapons for writers, guide for poisons for writers, guide to x or y for writers, because I'm a nerd like that), the Internet, and lots of listening to others.

14) Can you share some of your strategies for editing and revising your work?

For editing/revising, I start with SPAG: spelling, punctuation, and grammar. Once I do a few run-throughs of that, then I look at the dialogue -- Is the dialogue true to the character's personality and quirks? Can I make the dialogue more succinct?

After that, I look at descriptions: Is the description immersive? Do I utilize the five senses in a concise way? Can I pare down the description while still keeping the immersive quality? Is there any description that doesn't add to the scene or character's growth and can that be moved to a different scene or saved for later?

Finally, I do a fresh read-through and check how it impacts my emotions. Do I laugh at the funny parts? Do I tear up at the sad/angst parts? Does it feel too dry or not emotive enough? What words could be used instead to better invoke emotions?

15) Which is worse: making the summary, picking the tags, or the anxiety when you post your fic?

Ugh, summaries are the worst. Sometimes it's easier to just pick an excerpt of a scene and slap that as the summary. Tags are even worse. I never know what to use for tags, especially since people seem to be kind of random with AO3 tags. I mean, I feel like some writers just will write a statement as a tag and it's amusing but also confusing.

16) How do you define success for your fanfic - hits? Kudos? Comments? Bookmarks? Or just if you like it?

I don't really measure success.

If I get comments from folks that say they're enjoying it? That's a source of joy for me but it's not about success. Because I'm writing mostly for my enjoyment, but to hear that others enjoy it too? Damn, that's like the best news ever. It really helps me feel better about myself and my writing. Like I'm valued and not forgotten. That I actually have an impact. So yeah, go leave comments if you like stuff, please. Us writers love it.

17) Do you have a playlist for your favorite character / ship?

YES. I Always make a playlist for each project I do. I craft it based on their personality, their character arcs, the mood of the piece, and I focus on a variety of genres. I think about the lyrics of songs and try to match it all together. I might spend way more time on playlists than I need, but since I have them playing as I write, I need them to fit the mood and atmosphere to increase inspiration.

18) If fan art was going to be made from your work, which fic would you pick and which fan artist would you like to create it?

Um. Huh. This is a hard question. I try to draw my own, but I can't do color (y'all that do color, are freaking WIZARDS). I think Confession fic and the scene where Lena resurrects Kara, and if and when I have money again, I'd ask @rustingcat if commissions are open for them.

For Korrasami, I'd choose Book 3 or 3.5 but I'm not sure on the artist.

19) How many WIPs do you currently have?

UM. If I count just fanfics, probably fifteen. I'm actively working on six. (Three in each fandom. Two are usually shorter, and one is the longer fic) If we include original fiction and fanfiction? Uhhhhh. Hahahah, that's like twenty-five or so. I'm only working on one original fiction piece set on my SF world of Elivera.

20) What's your advice to new fanfic writers?

Pace yourself and take some time to edit and revise before posting. Also, take some time to review the transcripts and how the characters talk. That can give some fun insight into the characters and ways to expand on them in interesting ways.

Ask questions a lot! There's so many nice folks in the fandom, and folks are so kind about answering questions. I know because I still ask questions and talk to folks about this, and more seasoned writers have been so lovely.

Write what you want. Don't write for your readers (unless someone requests and pays you for a fic, then I guess write for them. lol) but otherwise, write what you want. This is supposed to be fun. If you're getting stressed out, take a break otherwise you will get burned out. To avoid burn out, take time to rest. Read a bit, do fun hobbies, do some practice writing, and then dive back into your fic.

Yes, it's important to try to finish things, but don't feel pressured. Remember, having fun is crucial! It's okay to take your time. Readers will stick with you if they like your tale.

Happy Writing!

P.S. I'm going to quote Brenda Ueland who wrote one of the best books on writing (If You Want to Write):

“Don't always be appraising yourself, wondering if you are better or worse than other writers. "I will not Reason and Compare," said Blake; "my business is to Create." Besides, since you are like no other being ever created since the beginning of Time, you are incomparable. ” - Brenda Ueland

And:

“I want to assure you with all earnestness, that no writing is a waste of time, – no creative work where the feelings, the imagination, the intelligence must work. With every sentence you write, you have learned something. It has done you good. It has stretched your understanding.” - Brenda Ueland