#I just feel like I picked the hardest one for me. XD

[kidokear]

Finally finished this beast!

If anyone is interested in watching me struggle with the rendering, I made a speedpaint!

[ourlittleuluru]

I HAVE SO MANY, BUT ALSO 0 THOUGHTS ON THE NEW MEMORY WITH XAVIER???? (Because I feel like my brain is entirely assaulted by so much... no brain cells survived)

Okay... but the vibe that I got previously where I mentioned that Xavier felt like he could finally bring his walls down... MAN JUST BROUGHT DOWN THE ENTIRE DAM I TELLS YOU!

All in all, LOVE the story line and the development that happened within! Big character development too!

Full ramblings under the cut (ヘ ° w °;)ヘ (beware... it's a hecking long post...)

Off the start and there's already reference to their past lives being in the same school 😭

Of course, he made the first move, he was the one that even wanted to elope, but MC was dense (and also too responsible) 😤

Xavier... you and your technicalities. This man, seriously... And the fact that his profile has like... 0 information... huh. What a surprise, not. The way MC retorts thoooo

HE IS A PLANET THAT'S STRAYED FROM ORBIT இ௰இ And Xavier's been on his guard this whole time...

AND HELLO? NEWLYWED BANTER ALREADY???! CUTE??? 😩

ALSO THE FACT XAVIER SPUN THE STORY THAT HE BROKE AWAY FROM HIS FAMILY...! ELOPING!!! ANOTHER CALLBACKKKKK 😭😭😭

(and as usual, there's gotta be the gossiping asian aunties xd;;; )

Okay I need to stop it with the caps.... But I really can't help feeling like yelling into the void because all my brain cells are just being thrown all around by this memory. Okay, breathe...

Classic Xavier just... easily winning over the elderlies =w=;;; and then the corny (cringe to me) petnames tho 😭 stud muffin???? cutie patootie??? I can't evennnn

Okay the CN version, they just call each other baby/宝宝... the stark difference 🤣

it's still cute how they try to act so hard X'D but Xavier's totally just living out his fantasies at this point, I'm sure. Xavier's acting was very natural in a way. How easily he just leans on MC before, and calling her using a pet name, even just holding onto her after and naturally flowing into a "Come back soon" 🥺🥺🥺

Just a few days and they're already naturally living their domestic life, as if it's always been that way o(TヘTo)

Later on, Jenna commented on how MC has gotten thinner and MC was like thinking how most of the food was cooked by Xavier ToT Man is trying his hardest!

AND OKAY HELLO???! XAVIER CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT NUMBER 1????

MC totally is just letting Xavier use the kitchen???! No snappy remarks about kitchens on fire???

(and also MC just casually remembering what her at-home husband's favourite fruit is and just picking one up back for him 😭)

AND NO KITCHENS ON FIRE FOR REAL!!! I REPEAT NO FIRES IN THE KITCHEN! Xavier FINALLY can cook!?!! (but what's with the teasing Xavier ToT MARSHMALLOW SPAGHETTI?????)

His food is MC approved 😭😭😭😭 BABY BOY HAS GROWN!

And he just... casually indulged in her touch....

And why is it that after carrying out their mission, Xavier went from a simple white shirt, shows up in a whole getup? ToT but I'll take it! And MC being dense again and how Xavier just corrects her but she goes to hug him right away???? The whole 21 days to create a habit thing... And the way he asks for more?????? Man is slipping. He's about to just. Let it go.

And to think... the whole Kindled just started with MC's little push when Xavier replies vaguely as usual

Guess after 21 days of living out your dream life, nothing be holding him back at this point huh. And the way Xavier's tone just completely changed! HE BECAME SO SOFT AND LIKE NEEDY SOUNDING LIKE AHJDSHAFKLSDFL

BUT OML????! HELLO??? HOLD ON!!!

In the trailer, there were 2 kisses, right? MC just straight up snuck one! And Xavier went in for not one, BUT TWO! MORE TIMES. TWO!!

LOOK. THE FLOOD GATES HAVE OPENED. HE JUST BE LETTING ALL THE STUFF HE'S HELD BACK, OUT. Nothing is stopping him any more. And he's not about to let anything stop him after this, for sure.

Xavier finally can be himself. No facades, no alternate identities that he feels like he needs to put a distance with. Just as much as he loves every version of MC, he's dedicating every bit of him to MC 😭😭😭 I just... I can'tttttt. THIS WHOLE PART AFTER THE KINDLED BROKE ME...!

AND THEN HE SNEAKS IN ONE MORE FINAL KISS RIGHT AT THE END?!!! (≧﹏ ≦) aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah

Okay. I'm done. I'm just... so done. I won't recover from this. I don't think I can... 💗_(:з)∠)_

[stinkylittleanon]

Hello! I wanna make a request

Can you do any character you like X neighbor who's sensitive to loud sounds?

If you don't want to please feel free to ignore xD Thanks!

I saw this request that you sent to someone else /lh /t

Welcome Home x Neighbor who is sensitive to loud noises!

This includes: Julie, Howdy, Wally, and Frank! Can be read as platonic or romantic!

Julie

I imagine Julie can be loud when she's excited, and at first she doesn't even know that she's hurting your ears!

But when you ask her to quiet down, and she asks why, you explain to her that loud sounds can hurt!

She's like "Ooooh! I'm sorry, Neighbor! I'll make sure to be extra extra quiet!"

And then she proceeds to start whispering EVERYTHING and now you can barely hear her

So you have to explain that it's just loud noises, as long as she doesn't get too loud you'll be fine!

She still doesn't get it, but she tries!

Definitely has the hardest time out of the bunch

Frank

Frank has to remind Julie to quiet down, and has the easiest time understanding what you mean.

While it doesn't happen to Frank himself, he knows that Julie has somewhat the same problem and he's learned more about it

You're thankful that he reminds Julie to quiet down when she yells!

"Julie, you're hurting the neighbors ears! Quiet down."

One time things got a bit chaotic on a holiday, and Frank immediately took you outside where it was quiet

You two talks about butterflies! Or any of your interests, of course!

It was sweet, and Frank does his best to help (without admitting it)

Howdy

Obviously has the best hands to cover your ears! Two sets o' them, to be exact!

He's done this before, when things got rowdy and he noticed you looked uncomfortable

He put all four hands on your ears, two on each, and told the others politely to quiet down in his shop

Gave you a good ol' hug after!

"Aww shucks, neighbor! You don't have to thank me, it's the least I could do!"

You don't need to explain it to him, he picks it up quickly after that incident

Gives you some noise-cancelling stuff with a discount! Anything for one of his best customers!

Wally

The first to know, he's always known.

You never have to worry about Wally being loud, his voice is always at the same tone and he's always speaking the same

Will invite you to go out with him when he wants to doodle outside, somewhere quiet! No loud noises to bother either of you!

Barnaby will join as well, here's your Barnaby cameo!

He can't really cover your ears since he's shorter than you, but he'll catch your attention and remind you of the things you bought to help with your sensitivity

"Neighbor, your earplugs." "Neighbor, don't forget your headphones." "Neighbor, let's grab your fidget toy."

The most 'attentive' neighbor to your problem, always notices and always tries to help.

[faislittlewhiteraven]

So seen a few 'What if the ISAT cast were in Pokemon Mystery Dungeon' posts...

And I'm gonna put my hat in the ring because darn it I've been thinking about this for over a week now and I want to infect others with these ideas.

Siffren: Hisuian Zorua - White, adorable AND comes free with a neck ruff to hide their face in, but well, doesn't it fit Siff extremely well lore wise too? Just a cute little guy that's a remnant of a home and life forcefully taken away, Normal enough to be among the living with no issues but also Ghost because there's something missing... Something lost that shapes them, tears at them but they just can't let go... Also they eat a lot, have a good amount of mischief in their nature and use 'illusions' for self protection so like. It's a perfect fit really~ XD (Also the 'red' aspects during the Vs Friends fight makes me wonder if in the PMD version of ISaT Siffrin is evolving so wrong somehow that the universe is breaking and a huge chunk of the fight is the party basically mashing B button in utter terror~ XDDD)

Isabeau: Ditto - No joke, Isabeau had me really stumped for ages because what kind of pokemon species goes from nerd to buff to eventually somewhere in the middle during their evolution line but then I realized 'Wow I'm an idiot. There's a pokemon all about Change that can be any form right over there!' and thus Isa-Ditto was born in my mind. I like to think he's almost always in the form of a Marchoke, Zangoose or Scrafty or something that to the others is big and buff but Isa's warm smiling ditto face always stops him from ever looking intimidating, and back in the 'nerd' days Isa probably stuck to being a Gothita/Gothorita, if only because they're about the only mon I can think of with braids and they do seem like a good form if one wants others to stay away so they can focus on studying and stuff...

Mirabelle: Minccino/Cinccino - Ok, most of my reasoning for this one is because Mira visually reminds me of the Minccino line (those eyes <3 And her ribbon! <3) but like, she IS pretty studious and helpful and probably cleans up after everyone and that's Cinccino as anything to me, plus the sheer way this mon blitzs with Skill Link... IDK I just really feel the line suits her.

Odile: Kanto Persian or Purugly - After realizing Siff, Isa and Mira were all Normal types I decided to make it a thing and since under this logic Odele couldn't be a Kadabra (as was my first instinct), the idea of her being this big old book reading cat affectionately rolling her eyes at everyone else's nonsense just had so much appeal <3 Leaning Persian if only because its design matches her visuals better but the thought of her as a Purugly feeling comfortable enough around the others she doesn't puff up her fur via her tail around them is pretty cute/very 'seems standoff-ish but is secretly affectionate Odile' so I'm still struggling to choose between them.

Bonnie: Zigzagoon - Bonnie was probably the hardest to pick out because there were so many possibilites (Aipom for the mischief? Munchlax for the cooking/food vibes? Oh but what about Meowth for their weird hug face???). But then I realized pokemon of all sorts could do all of those things and what really stands out about Bonbon is their 'NPC somehow on the big adventure and doing their best' vibes so a spunky little Zigzagoon using their 'Gluttony' expertise in food to 'Pick Up' the party's sprits felt really fitting (also they way they dart in and out of combat with their Quick Feet just. It works you know? XD). Not sure which Zigzagoon form would be most fitting for them but currently leaning Galarian if only because Siff being weak to Bonnie fits hilariously well, it matches with Bonnie's 'desire to be edgy despite still being adorable' vibes and the mental thought of them far off in the future, all grown up and protecting their family as a big bad Obstagoon gives me a ton of warm fuzzies so yeah~ <3

Euphrasie: Lopunny - Look, it's just the hair, the affectionate personality and her being really really tall compared to the others alright? Only the party is actually Normal locked to me! X'D (I could see her as an Altaria or a Mega Ampharos as well but Lopunny just feels more 'right' somehow.)

The King: Hisuian Zoroark - . . . In my defence, he's an incarnation of malice born from the loss of his home/life with long long hair who acts as Siffrin's foil, pushes them towards 'discovering the red' and yoyos between tragically lamenting and being a ruthlessly, cruel monster who would hurt a child. There was no other option.

Loop: currently torn but leaning Cosmog/Cosmeom or Mimikyu for most of the game and Necrozma/Ultra Necrozma for the Act 6 secret fight - Finally the one non Normal type! And the fact it's the eldritch feeling Loop is kinda perfect? Helps them stand out more at least, and well you really can't beat Ultra Necrozma for 'star shaped thing that is both terrifying, potentially world ending and in immense amounts of pain'. (...Also its weak to Siff's H!Zorua and Bonnie's potential Dark type so it fits type wise also XD).

Change God: Mew - Do I really gotta explain why? (Legendary, has Transform, cute and sweet but also a little bastard, etc- It ticks all the boxes XD

So... Yeah. Those are my In Stars and Time 'what Pokemon would the main cast be' thoughts.

[kyojurosprettygirl]

If you're willing to write for demons, can you do a short Akaza x fem slayer story?? One where the reader keeps chasing him because he refuses to fight her on account of her being a woman? It could be a cute enemies to rivals to lovers, maybe even be a little angsty. I would imagine the y/n's bewilderment that the gosh darn uppermoon 3 wouldn't kill her, or that she's insulted that he refuses to fight.

a/n: OH EM GEE. NONNIE THIS IS PURE GOLD. i feel you've read my mind , and it's a little scary . i've had smth similar in my head for MONTHS and you don't know how excited i am to write this now that i have a baseline!!! XD this has given me much more inspiration for it and surprisingly more leeway . it's kind of hard to keep my stories short... ;;; I HOPE YOU ENJOY REGARDLESS X)))) I WONT LIE, this was super hard to write.

the sun will always rise.

Akaza x Demon Slayer! Fem! reader

for each and every kill a slayer makes, it counts as a single but notable step toward the designated finish line. the finish line where humans will be safe from harm; where a corps dedicated to killing demons wouldn't have the need to exist. it should be a simple thing, you realize. in hindsight, people think you just train, kill, and repeat, until finally your flame dies out and your just another warrior who's sacrificed their life without a name left behind, depending on how much you killed that is.

In reality, though, the corps is much more complex. There are ranks, hidden villages, hidden faces, and most notably demons who were once human too. who were once filled with their own ideologies, their own minds and voices, they were once a full glass rather than an empty shell of what once was. Some, too far gone, others, just unfortunate people who fell into the deep end. It is when you fight with a demon when the complexity really set's in, you hear them, feel them even, and although some are easy to ignore, other's are much harder. and for you, it was always harder, your empathetic nature toying with your mind and heart. it was something you connect well with the young slayer you've come to know as Tanjiro, but you differ in one thing, you find killing the demons much easier than he does. choosing to ignore their pasts to reduce the risk of dying, using the most painful form you know on them. It's how you got into this mess to begin with.

your feet ache, burn even, trying their hardest to keep up with your mind who seems to not have any limits. your fingers are numb, your cheeks burn, and your neck itches from the cloth constantly rubbing on it because of the frantic movement. for the second time tonight, another strong demon made it's way into your line of vision. though its more unfortunate for them than it is for you, you're still human and your body begs to succumb to the comfortable earth below you. the fight was drawn out, too much for your liking, making your patience to run extremely thin. dodging it's attacks left and right, you spoke out to the demon, surprisingly finally hitting a nerve. when the demon had stopped to tell you it's sorrows, how it feels, you called a form and decapitated it without second thought, it having given you an opening. you dropped your blade and keeled to where it's head laid and you gently picked it up, facing it toward you.

"I wish you a comfortable trip to hell." you rasp out. gently placing it's head on the ground as the sun rises, it's body ashing out into nothing. you sigh and look at the unlit part of the forest, noticing piercing eyes in the shadows. in curiosity, you appear infront of the demon in a split second, him barley dodging your blade. his eyes go wide in surprise and he groans in frustration, disappearing into what's left of the dark. he was gone just as fast as you appeared and you decided to ignore it, convincing yourself it was simply your lack of sleep.

but it happened again. and again. and you began to grow frustrated. you began to seek the demon out, and every time you got close, he'd dodge and refuse to fight you. At first, it was one-sided, where you seeked him out, he tried to avoid you, just wanting to complete muzans orders, but the closer you got to tracking him down, you began to interfere greatly with his orders. orders of which when failed to complete, he'd have his blood wrung dry, but still keeping his morale of not intentionally hurting you. you were a woman, it would be wrong. and, it was your job. could he really blame you?

"what the hell." he thinks, as he dodges another one of your hits, you're much faster than what he's used to, so you must be a high ranked slayer. He splays his arm out in an attempt to grab your blade from you when he heals the blade into his skin , but it's futile when you catch onto it and twist, creating another wound where you have enough time it grab it back. as the sun began to creep up, he knew he had to get out of the fight quickly, but he knew you well enough to the point where you wouldn't drop it that easy. you huffed, a slight smile gracing your features, and for a moment he's enamored, your strength is admirable and your beauty shines through the roughness of your hits, but he doesn't stare too long. Instead, he runs from under you when you jump, and runs deep into the dark forest. He hears your scream of frustration as you begin to chase after him, except going the opposite direction. he exhales, you were going to be a problem, he could already feel it. so he opted from then on to hide away from you, knowing you were constantly chasing to kill him.

sooner or later though, for every slayer he was ordered to kill, you'd come in and save double. For every place he managed to hide himself in, you'd cover them head to toe in wisteria poison residue. For every item he'd need to retrieve, you'd try to combat with him, leaving him no choice but to leave and go back empty handed. you can only imagine how angered he was becoming. where he'd usually draw fights out, get to know the powerful slayers, and even give them more chances to kill him, he found himself just wanting to kill them immediately as a means to save himself from your wrath. you were everywhere, wherever he was, you somewhere were always there. he figured it was your crow. It was getting to the point where he was thinking of letting go of his morals, maybe you would be the only exception to his rule. he hated your existence, and was hoping another demon would do the job for him. he realized you were specifically targeting him, and it's what angered him even more. he decided he'd start to put his hand's on you, and use a few words, maybe then you'll get off his ass.

you panted as you finally managed to get him on the ground. he had no way out of this, unless he hurt you, and oh was he tempted. you make a move to cut his head off, a gleam of relief running in your eyes, one he caught onto. he then grabbed your hips and rolled into a position where you laid under him, getting off as fast as he could and attempting to take his leave. you grunt, chasing him and he grabs your wrist before your blade could make contact with him. 'why won't he just fight back.' you think, your eyes widening at how gentle his grasp was. you furrow your brow, jerking your hand off and kicking him, creating a wave of dirt dusting over your vision. "why do you run from me! just get up and fight me!" frustration was evident in your voice, and he laughed at it. god, you sounded like inosuke, you realize. "you just don't give up." he grunts, he looks you in the eyes and you realize he's an uppermoon. "because you are a woman." and at that your face is one of bewilderment. 'this entire time!' you think. you make a move to throw him deeper into the forest but he dodges and runs into the forest. again. you groan and notice the sun was beginning to peak from the horizon. "it's now or never, demon!" you scream, and chase after him. it was a fruitless chase.

he thought it would have led to you giving up, but it instead became a game of cat and mouse. whenever you did encoutner him, you'd push for answers, for him to just hit you back, deem you worhty of his time, but he just rushed out of the match. leaving you at the same time the moon did.

his comment made you assume you thought he was weak, and knowing he was uppermoon three fed into those assumptions. he only ever fought the highest rank slayers, you noted, and he was almost always victorious in them, except for those who made it til sunrise, two to be exact, and they would talk about how he just never gave up, how he seemed eager to elongate their fight. although, that was years ago, and you weren't even sure if he was considered the third uppermoon then. this continued on for months, and fueled your ambition even more. yet as the days passed, you began to falter more and more, your spark dimming by the seconds. you felt weak, and knowing you weren't was different than feeling you weren't, you felt unworthy, and a demon's word's shouldn't hit as deep as Akazas did. he fought Rengoku, a hashira you grew to know well, and from what he had told you, you just grew insecure. you felt guilty, he survived by a single thread, and instead of wanting to avenge him, you just wanted to be recognized by the demon. you selfishly wanted him to ask you to be a demon, to ask for your name and say that you were gifted. you had soon given up on the chase, guilt eating at you faster than the fire you had in you did. but the fire of wanting to kill him remained in you regardless, laying dormant and behind your old wounds.

as you walk mindlessly, you only notice the moon when you walk into a small running river, the coldness easing the ache in your feet. it was a long day, and you'd just completed a mission the master had given you. you sit on a rock and let the water dance around your ankles, giggling when small pebbles tickled you. you sigh and close your eyes and enjoy the night, trying to find the person you once were before encountering the demon. he hadn't left your mind since, and knowing his name had simply made it harder. your brows furrow in subconscious annoyance. you were sick, sick of him unintentionally controlling your life. "fuck off , Akaza" you groan, opening your eyes. and as the saying goes, speak of the devil and he shall appear. you jump and squeal when he suddenly appears next to you, the height difference increasing as he isn't sitting down. "what the Fuck." you say, trying to get your blade, but stopping when he just laughs. it's soft, and you decide to just give up. he notices your lack of reaction, and sits next to you on the ground. at this point you were both at eye level, and you felt embarrassed that you needed a rock to reach his eyes while sitting. he doesn't know what to say, and neither do you, your interactions were only your attempts to kill him, and him trying to avoid your strikes. you break the silence. "why are you here." and he hears your voice differently for the first time. rasps he's gotten used to aren't there, and it lacks loudness. it's silky, and it pricks at his skin. he can admire you now, he thinks, and he savors every second. he decides to respond truthfully. "i want to know your name." you gasp, its almost ghostly sounding, but he catches on. you feel regret fill your mouth the same way saliva does before you vomit, but instead it's for being happy about a demon asking for your name, and the acidity soon to come is you giving it to him. you contemplate it, and you face him, his breath hitches at finally seeing your relaxed face. your crazy wild eyes are now sharp and gleam the same way gold would, your mouth isn't in a tight frown but instead a slight smile, he assumes it's how it naturally falls. you open your mouth to speak, before your brows furrow, an expression he's gotten used to. "you don't need it." you state. your tone is firm and a familiar coldness returns to it. he hums, "but i wan't it" you tilt your neck back, and sigh, 'oh what the hell'. "y/n." your gaze turns to him and he feels his blood rush, he hates how you easily put him in a trance. "i wan't to kill you." you say boldly, and he lets out a laugh before he realizes your serious. "do you even hear yourself?" and he laughs again. you grab your blade and stab it into his heart, a hit that would have killed anybody normal. "loud and clear, uppermoon three." and he gets goosebumps from your voice. Akaza decides to humor you, and grabs your blade to throw it at you, knowing you would easily avoid it. he sees excitement in your face and smiles at it, it wouldn't hurt to humor you, he just needed to be very careful. Although your skeptical you decide if you die fighting him, people would see it as an honorable death, and it would ease you in your final moments.

Akaza felt guilty. he was there for one reason only. to kill you. it was an order from muzan, and as much as he wanted to remain loyal to the man, he couldn't. "you aren't serving me as efficiently as before, I believe it's the Kinoe." he was right. and it was then when he stated he was to kill her, or he'd kill them both himself. He wasn't going to kill you himself, he was going to have a smaller demon do the work for him, but he wanted to know you, wanted to do what he couldn't do before. He was gravitating toward you, and he wasn't given any room to pull way. He thought it'd be okay to let you spend our last moments doing what you wanted. To fight him.

But the fight turned a different way than he thought.

each sentence you spoke, each sassy remark, you'd made him more intrigued. he found himself wanting to know everything about you, and as the night went on, after you cleanly sliced the lower demons dead and continued to speak as if nothing happened, he felt he was ready to give up his loyalties. he was afraid, you spoke for the entire night and he had to decide to kill you and execute his duties as muzans right hand, or, if he'd die with you. as the sun rose, reminding him the same way an hourglass would, he decides to run. again. but this time, with a promise to see you again. you land one more hit and he trips you, catching your arm before you hurt yourself on a jagged rock. he positions you as you catch your balance, and he holds your blade in his hand, his palm bleeding as he digs it deeper. "you could use more work on your form." he chuckles, and you simply snicker. "i haven't done this fighting style for hundreds of years y'know." he hums, and walks into the forest, he needed an excuse, and a way to hide the night he went through from muzan.

deep shit, you think.

this continues again, and again, until eventually, you know more of Akaza than you do your own family. night after night, saying goodbye when the sun rose. he was able to make it seem like you'd been killed, ofcourse not with his own hands, muzan wouldn't believe it, and you never got in the way of his missions.

it felt wrong, but the way he ignited you pushed you to continue the growing relationship. but you knew deep down, eventually it would slip, and muzan would find out, if not him, then your comrades. but to both you, you stopped minding it.

you were killed, in a torturous way infront of akaza, muzan had found out, and it was one of the moments that made it easier for him to not grow his head back when decapitated. he figured if it was you who he was meeting again, then maybe death was the answer.

funfact! he refused to let you walk with him to hell. he made sure you both wen't separate ways, but once he made it far enough, you ran back to him and you both fell to the depths together.

'you don't belong here.'

'i do. if i was a saint, i would have never met you.'

[ayjadasblogforeverything]

Fic Writer Q&A

Can you imagine that *I* got tagged at a *fic writer* q&a? Yeah, me neither! Thank you, @sirenofthegreenbanks!

Perhaps I should precede this with saying that I barely write, I have published 5 works or so. And when I write, it is very short, perhaps because I am a mathematician, perhaps because I talk so much on a daily basis. My longest work is <1k and three of the five works are drabbles (like, the old school 100-word pieces). Also, I can ironically already feel that this is going to be an essay. You were warned :)

How many WIPs do you currently have?

I usually don't have WIPs, or if I have a WIP, I usually only have it for a few days, as my pieces are very short. I have fragments that I wrote for myself that I do not intend to publish. There will not be progress there, so they are not WIPs. But currently I actually have not only one, but two fragments that I would consider WIPs! That's infinitely more than on average!

Which one are you finding the hardest to finish?

Most of my fics so far are based on more or less stupid jokes and are in general light-hearted, funny or cracky. I think in general, I find it hardest to write earnest stuff to a satisfactory level. Perhaps that is because that might be inspired by me projecting, which leads to things being too out of character. Perhaps I just find it hard in general to hit peoples' voices, which might have a greater impact in serious topics. Perhaps it's also that writing always feels like a striptease of my soul and I deal badly with the perceived vulnerability that it brings, which is worse when it is about more serious topics. So out of the two WIPs I have, I expect the one that deals with some insecurities to be the one that is harder to finish or to finish to my satisfaction, even though it is the shorter one.

What does it usually look like when inspiration strikes for you?

Öhm. If it is about how I find inspiration, I don't know. It either comes or it doesn't, and I am very chill about that because I am very much not ambitious with my writing. Once I have a situation in my mind, I aim to note the gist of it down on my phone, but I am a master procrastinator but also forgetful, so that will take some time.

Then if I feel like I want to get creative and challenge myself at some point, I look up my list of ideas and pick one that feels doable at the time. (Rarely, I sit down immediately to write up a first version, but it needs to be a special idea for that to happen.)

Do you curate playlists for each fic or is your process different?

No. With the length of my fics, it would take way longer to curate a playlist than I would have time to listen to it.^^ I tend to not have any music on when I am writing or only music without lyrics. I think I wrote the last few drabbles late in the night when I procrastinated going to bed or something and some invisible force possessed me to open my document with my drabbles and I just started writing and stopped when I had a decent not-quite drabble. I was just in this pretty weird, awesome mood you sometimes get into when it is in the middle of the night and you don't know what the time is even if you check the clock and you feel like you are the only alive thing in this world and it is just somewhat... tranquil? I tend to not be in the mood for music in this state of mind.

Do you go balls to the wall and write as you go or are you more organized?

With the length of my fics, there's no other choice but balls to the wall XD. I think this is also a big reason why I prefer extremely short formats - you don't have to plan. Sometimes, I picture the entire situation in my head and collect a few phrases I could use beforehand so that most of it is already in my head, in case that counts as being organized.

I used to have a list in my mind of situations that I wanted to collect in a longer fic, but I think by now, I forgot it all. Damn. Why did I not write it down? But then, the fic would never get written because I am still not creative enough for a some overarching plot to my collection of situations.

Overall, I feel like I am not enough of a writer to answer these questions, actually, but for that, I wrote a lot I guess XD

Of course, I am curious about @deneb-al-giedi's answers. And about everyone else's that wants to talk about their fic writing process.

[phaerlax]

The GaruKaru to-do list

My most important notes.

Characters I've contrived into fucking Karu

Morvay (sucked his brains out through his cocklet after refusing to let Karu top in a size queen moment)

Edmond (receives a blowjob after getting a dose of devious sex pollen poison meant for Eiden)

Olivine (gets dry-humped after curing his food poisoning)

Quincy (plows his ass after healing it from Garu's offscreen ass-plowing session the night before)

Kuya (flogs him in magical chastity until he cums on release)

Eiden (gets ass eaten in heat until he begs for cock)

A sparrow yokai (ass beaten with a switch, figged, fingerblasted, tail-stroked)

Characters I must contrive into fucking Karu

Aster. I can easily come up with Aster/Karu 'punishment' scenarios, but I'm usually more interested in Karu coping with the aftermath. I must find something interesting that Aster would want to do himself, and maybe make it a bit more sexual than strictly punishing. Just to give Karu a break from all the mistreatment I always have in store.

Yakumo. Easier to come up with Yakumo/Garu. There might be potential in Karu's 'apprentice' delulu, though. And I think it would be fun if Karu was very offended by Yakumo's crushing anxiety about his dick being too big for him XD

Blade. This one is easy, I have more than one concept lol (nosy Blade embarrassingly prodding Karu in the aftermath of an Aster/Karu punishment; Blade giving Karu and Garu the full belly rub special after they give him a cute birthday present)

Dante. God as my witness I will have Dante go OOC and wrestle overpower and spank Karu's spirit out over petty tsun bullshit. Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings + check notes.

Rei. Need a bit more canon info but I love the concept of Rei letting Karu top out of guilt, being unsure of how to handle the novel feeling of caring a lot about his partner's pleasure, and giving Karu pointers. I also love the image of Karu fucking Rei and burying his face onto him as he angrily vents about stuff that is stressing him out and Rei is like there there. Idk.

Rin. Need a LOT more canon info to make this more than generic noncon.

Characters I've contrived into fucking Garu

Aster (bullied him a little, bit his ass, and then more)

Morvay (fucked him with enthusiastic consent as part two of a birthday present after Karu's balls were empty)

Blade (gave him a handjob while they were both missing Eiden)

Eiden (bath sex after some teasing, right after Howling Cyclone room 2)

Characters I must contrive into fucking Garu

Yakumo. This feels like a gimme, I can think of infinite scenarios in which horny Garu initiates and Yakumo is like okay... ;~; and then awooga. The challenge is in picking one that doesn't feel bland tbh.

Edmond. I actually have a "Garu is working as a K9 officer to sniff out drugs with Edmond and the knights but oh no sex pollen" premise, I hope someone else writes it for me but I might do it myself eventually.

Olivine. Okay this is probably the hardest... I got nothing. I do have images of Garu and Karu being really into booba for pubby reasons, but that doth not a fic make... or doth it?

Quincy. The reference in my Karu/Quincy does not count, it needs to be onscreen! I can easily think of situations in which these two would be alone in the forest. All it would take is some essence shenanigans to get things going.

Kuya. My kuyaru fixation mostly lies in Kuya/Karu so this is harder than it may seem... it would probably begin as Garu broaching the topic of Kuya/Karu. I also like the idea of Kuya giving him a condescending bath, but again, I'd rather do that for Kuya/Karu.

Dante. I think the dynamic would work quite well, because I like to write Dante as being weak to cute things, and he would probably appreciate and praise Garu's obedience, which would really do it for Garu. The problem lies only in a good premise...

Rei. I prefer the potential I see in Rei/Karu, but maybe a simple concept of Rei having an 'episode' and Garu being the only one around to help. Or Garu getting himself into a Predicament that needs a sexual solution (these mushrooms will only leave your system once you cum six times-)

Rin. See above.

Also a more direct Garu/Karu needs to happen of course...

[breannasfluff]

I love your Wing AU so muchhh!!! Thanks for sharing your writing and art. Any chance you have any wind or warriors wing headcanons?

Oh boy, my two hardest boys in wing world XD Let's see.

Warriors - So I mentioned that Warriors has a wonderful singing voice, but he's shy about singing in front of others! Sometimes the boys will catch him singing if he's bathing alone and more than one of them has hidden behind a tree to listen. He's got no reason to be embarrassed about it, but he is.

Ferruginous hawks can dive at speeds of 150 miles per hour! Normal flight speed is 20 and 40 miles per hour. Which is insane, to me. I'll have to look up how fast the other raptor birds fly for a comparison, so take this interesting fact until then.

Warriors prefers wide open spaces, so the amount of travel in forests they do is a constant source of annoyance. He would normally avoid forests; they make him jumpy and cranky. It's a really hard place to fly and take off in.

While he works well with others when leading, he does have a bit of a temper, especially when the others are goofing off and not paying attention.

Wind - Tropicbirds can fly backward! Normally this is important when attracting a mate, but since Wind is a juvenile he just likes to show off his skill. His wings are built for flying and, like Sky, he doesn’t like being forced to walk. He complains a lot less, though.

Wind prefers warm, tropical water, which is what he grew up with! He also loves exploring islands in the ocean. He was well-suited for his adventure. Wind is an excellent fisher and will dive straight into the water. I think he’d probably be good at spear fishing like this. Wind can dive around 15 feet to pick up crabs!

This freaks Time out, because he worries about the depth. As a raptor, he just isn’t built for it. Wind has also caught a fish with his bare hands when it jumped out of the water. It’s unclear who was more surprised; Wind or the fish. He promptly dropped it 😅

So glad you like these boys! Feel free to drop more questions and I’ll do my best to answer! If there’s a delay, it’s because I’m researching bird facts, haha.

[smashwolfen]

hello i am so in awe that you have collected all the pokémon games (i finished my collection of 3ds ones a bit ago but i considered a lot of the other ones out of reach) and i was wondering how long it took? i know especially the older remakes are insane to get so i’m super curious

(This got incredibly long i'm so sorry for the wall of text my guy)

In relation to this post

Hello there! :D

Believe me, I still can't believe it myself that I managed to pull it off considering who I had to get ahold of! Been happy dancing to myself ever since I got the last game~

God it feels like it was longer ago honestly, but I only really began trying to finish the Pokemon collection just a year ago! Had to check back in my DMs with my buddy, but the day I began to seriously search for the rest of the authentic generations was May 5th 2023, the day I discovered my copy of Platinum was a repoduction, ya watch ONE video regarding reals vs. fakes and it all went down from there when I looked over the ones I owned already, luckily Platinum was the only one who was fake ;w;

I had passively over the years been picking up games as I went, but from that day last year til recently I looked where I could for the games I was missing, to be fair I had about half the collection to begin with just from growing up and finding ones out and about, I only needed to find the pair of whatever I owned already, besides gen 5.... since I somehow never played gen 5 growing up. Funny enough I didn't have to look too far, every single game I found had all been local! Facebook marketplace saved me big time I just had to wait and compare prices til I was happy with what I was willing to pay for! I scrutinized every single copy I got my hands on and triple checked everything before I was satisfied XD

The 3DS titles were very easy to get thankfully, and the same goes for you too good on ya for getting your 3DS ones! Hardest for sure were gens 3-5, specifically ALL of gen 5 they are the WORST to get since no one wants to sell them and they're required to be able to move anyone forward to the 3DS and then to the Switch! I think It'd be easier to list who I owned and who I hunted for in the year of the search.

So I owned:

Red, Blue, Yellow, Gold, Silver, Crystal, Leafgreen, Emerald, Diamond, Pearl, X, Alpha Sapphire, Moon, UltraSun, Sword, Violet and Arceus (some I had gotten as gifts growing up and others I had gotten through yardsaling and thrifting by chance as I grew up, Emerald was 70 at a yardsale!)

The ones I got from the year of the hunt:

Ruby, Sapphire, FireRed, Platinum, Heartgold, SoulSilver, Black, White, Black 2, White 2, Y, Omega Ruby, Sun, UltraMoon, Shield, Lets Go Pikachu, Lets Go Eevee (I DID own Eevee before but traded it in before the hunt) Scarlet, Brilliant Diamond, and Shining Pearl.

Now knowing who I had to get, we all know it costs a pretty penny, so I essentially sold things myself to fund the hunt, like my amiibos I didn't really need or want, a handful of random collectable things I picked up and kept over the years (notably a masterchief helmet from the legendary collection I got for free like 10 years ago lol) and some odds and ends I didn't need anymore and to declutter the home! I think out of my own pocket I only paid maybe 40 bucks total so I paid for everyone that way! It was all mostly luck finding everyone and keeping an eye on marketplace, and some of them I had gotten from folks I knew! Black and Black 2 actually came from one of my managers at work who sold them to me for insanely cheap, and Sapphire I got for free as I mentioned in the games post XD

If you do try to go for the complete collection, I say have a gameplan for how to pay and build that piggybank of funds, go for what you can afford! So if you see a game without a case thats usually better, you dont NEED a case or have a game CIB really, a bunch of mine dont have a case or box and I'm alright with that! Look locally at second hand stores, vintage ones, marketplace or any other local yardsale or fleamarket type thing you may have in your area, and I say this with caution, but if you HAVE to, you can consider ebay, but I strongly suggest not to when it comes to the games. I had originally tried to get a Brilliant Diamond copy from there and well, dude never sent it at all and got my money (ebay fully refunded me but that still bites). And finally get well versed in learning how to authenticate to the best of your abilities, 3DS and switch I don't think can be faked but everything else can be! I used this as my guide to figure out who was real and fake in my search and it worked very very well! Twas my bible of knowledge

End of the day it didn't take as long as one would think, but luck played a HUGE roll in this endeavor, I was smart with my money, and I was very very VERY stubborn and wanted them all XD

If you go for the complete collection like I did then I wish you the best of luck my friend! And thank you very much for the ask! It kinda got away from me while typing but yeah thats the story and process of how I got all the main series titles!

[kittlesandbugs]

Fanfic Writer Questions

Tagged by @sidestepping & @askweisswolf, ty for thinking of me!!!

1. How many works do you have on AO3? 62, but if you unstack the one shot compilations... 138ish? if I can math right.

2. What's your total AO3 word count? 119,010, and the bulk is FHR lol

3. What fandoms do you write for? Currently Baldur's Gate 3 and Fallen Hero, previously TWC, Dragon Age, Mass Effect/Andromeda, Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic 2

4. What are your top 5 fics by kudos? Gonna cheat a little and do one per fandom because this is heavily slated towards Mass Effect Andromeda just from age lol

Sleep it off - Mass Effect, Shepard/Aria T'Loak, Shep gets drunk at Purgatory and Aria babysits her

Little steps to the side - FHR, Chargestep/Argentstep/Chargentstep, currently 55? little one-shot fics, usually prompts, sometimes tiny ideas I get in my own head

Space snippets - Mass Effect Andromeda, Jaal/Ryder, a few prompt one-shots that picked up big steam when it finally went Explicit lol.

Bottles of Thedas - Dragon Age Inquisition, Solavellan, 20 short one-shots inspired by the collection of booze you can pick up off the ground throughout the game (minus the Warden mixes)

Business and Pleasure - Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic 2, Exile/Luxa, a re-write/better ending for Luxa gift fic for an exchange

5. Do you respond to comments? I am absolutely terrible at responding to comments because I see them in my inbox and I'm like oh yeah I'll reply to that later when I have time and then.... six months go by... the shame happens... I love every comment I get and I am so sorry alkdsfjoajsdfl

6. What is the fic you wrote with the angstiest ending? Ehhhhhhhhhh most of my fics are in-between things, not really stand-alones on their own. Probably the one I milked the hardest for the ending of it specifically is Words not spoken (FHR, Chargestep, Ortega visits Riley's apartment post-Heartbreak)

7. What's the fic you wrote with the happiest ending? Again.... in-between things... the Mass Effect Andromeda and TWC fics are largely feel good fluff, so most of them?

8. Do you get hate on fics? Not that I'm aware of, lol

9. Do you write smut? If so, what kind? Typically fluffy and/or hurt/comfort character exploration, although sometimes I feel a need to go for a whump

10. Do you write crossovers? What's the craziest one you've written? I haven't written a crossover since I was 13. I'm 37 now. I don't remember. It was pre-AO3 time for sure. XD

11. Have you ever had a fic stolen? Not that I'm aware of.

12. Have you ever had a fic translated? Not that I'm aware of.

13. Have you ever co-written a fic before? No, but I've written fanfics to fanfics by @ellstersmash and @sidestepping because they're both so talented and I Felt The Compulsion

14. What's your all time favorite ship? Whatever I'm currently writing for, in this case... any combo of Chargentstep aaaaaaaaaaand Durgetash lol

15. What's a WIP you want to finish but doubt you ever will? Me, staring at my endless folder of WIPs, some of which having not been touched in five years

16. What are your writing strengths? Character explorations, snappy dialogue, short and sweet and punchy

17. What are your writing weaknesses? Writing long-haul, we're here for a good time, not a long time

18. Thoughts on writing dialogue in another language in fic? Love it when other people do it! Very rarely do it myself!

19. First fandom you wrote for? Megaman X back in.................. 2000-ish? Very bad self-insert script fic lol

20. Favorite fic you've written? I think Time doesn't heal (FHR, Chargestep, all the Rangers and Riley experiencing the 3rd Heartbreak anniversary) is one of my biggest brain moments for writing fic, but Bottles of Thedas (mentioned above) has a special place in my heart for being the first and perhaps only large project I've finished.

Gonna taaaaaaaaaaaag... @astarien, @the-rebel-archivist, @gingerbreton, @rab-bitly, @catastrofriend

[luimagines]

[What if the chain met a naga reader imagine??]

Warrior and four are the most puzzles confused on seeing a giant snake snakeish person in a world or timeline..

Time and legend are on edge but want to question how they survive this long.

Twilight trying to keep wind and wild away from them since we'll it can be dangerous it may attack them when their back is turned.

Sky and hyrule are amazed by this snake person and are infront of reader to ask nicely to touch the tail which reader nod allow them freely to feel their tail.

Reader: you all smell like my brother link but aren't him...sssspesking of, have you seen him?

Four: we smell like your brother?-

Wild: is he like you?

Reader: no he's hyrulian but he's-

Sister! We're are you?!

Reader: that must be him now-

Sister!! Help the monster wolves are after me!!

The chain hear and arm themselves to help this world link and this snake reader out on the monsters but the chain are shock to see this world link ran through the bushes and clearly is wind age as the monster wolves show up and a fight begins.

Naga reader pick up their brother link and will not allow the monsters to harm him one bit.

YOU!!!!!

Have!!!!

Incredible insight. XD

Guess what's coming out on Thursday? lol

Granted, I didn't take it in this direction. And it's only on Hyrule's section, but still!!! Good timing! :D

On that point, to actually respond to your ask, I think I headcanoned Sky to have a slight phobia of snakes in the past so this would be a very interesting dynamic between them. Even more so if the naga ended up being the hero's sibling.

Naturally that elevates their "status" so Sky can't just..... ignore them (as much as he'd want to.) He's trying his hardest to be nice and calm and chill and friendly- but he is fighting for his life!

[tripodmaximum]

Hey guys. I love the tripod and spent my whole Sunday listening to you guys. I have been a fan for a long time yet you had a lot of new interesting info I didn't know yet. Great job and professionally done!

can you make an episode about "fanons" (fan headcanons) that are big in the fandom, or the bigolasdickolas incident, or more about what you think will happen in the final season predictions?

Also can you discuss the biggest mysteries like Wolfwoods age, Vash's and Knives gender, Vash's love interest

Can you compare the endings of trimax and 98 and predict how stampede will end

and how the human vs plant conflict could possibly be solved?

also who are you fav characters, ships and scenes in the anime/manga?

Hello dear nonny, 

We are so grateful for your support & ecstatic you are enjoying the podcast!!!

Excellent suggestions!!! We have lots in store for future episodes, and rest assured suggestions like yours are pulled into consideration! In the meantime, here’s an answer for your last question:

Favorite Character / Ship / Scene

@aubielikey: Fav character is Vash!! He is Everything to me. 

I enjoy lots of ships…fav to write/draw is VashMeryl, but fav overall might be VashWood??? 

Fav scene is hard to choose, but I think…Trimax Vash approaching his final conflict (Vol 12 Ch 1). The panels are gorgeous, and it is so, so poignant.

@chaoticbuka: Wolfwood is really interesting to me right now. Milly has been my ride or die since 2003. 

I am genuinely Multiship. Currently participating in the VW big bang while simultaneously up to my nose in MerylWood brain rot. 

As far as favorite scenes? Anything related to project seeds flashbacks; I love the lore.

@museqmeg: Vash my beloved. (He was my first anime crush back in the day!) 

I adore both vashmeryl & vashwood. They’re the most canon to the story and I’m a canon girly. I create for vashmeryl but consume so much vashwood. I just love to see Vash love and be loved. 

My favorite scene in Trimax is a bit of a silly one, but I adore the end when Vash “accidentally” admits his feelings (platonic/romantic-pick your poison) for Meryl by saying “We’re good together, aren’t we?” The panels after that are adorable. The surprised faces on Milly and Meryl with Vash blushing at them get me everytime. I love them all dearly.

@tombiwidgeon: I almost feel like I have to put Vash aside to pick a fav char because he's a given xD I'm going to go with Meryl in her new expanded role in Tristamp. She gets to play a much bigger part in the story, and in fact drives much of it forward. Her impetus to find the truth of the humanoid typhoon, who she only ever saw as a man even before meeting him, catapults her to right where she needs, and wants to be, to make a difference, especially in Ju Lai.

I multiship most everyone, though VashMeryl is my OTP.

Favorite scene was the hardest. I finally landed on Vash running to the sound of Meryl's/Rem's voice in S1 Ep12. The way Orange animated his desperation, including him wiping his hand across his face, just touched me so deeply. They are masters of their craft.

Love and peace!!!

[blackjackkent]

Writing Interview Tag Game

I was tagged by @ra-scheln - thank you! :D

When did you start writing?

A looooooong time ago. Haha. As a kid there was a several year period where I thought I wanted to be an author as a career, and always liked writing even after I moved on to other plans. The stuff I wrote as a kid is mostly lost to time, although I do still have the Google doc of a “novel” I wrote for my senior English project in high school. I haven't had the courage to look at it for a long time because it is uh. Not Good. :P (No judgment on my past self - we become better through trying and learning. But it would probably be unrecognizable compared to my writing now.) 

Are there different themes or genres that you enjoy reading than what you write?

Sort of? I like reading scifi and fantasy and the majority of my writing has also been in those genres. But I also like reading things like regency romance, historical fiction, very specific types of horror, etc. that I have no real interest in trying to replicate. 

Can you tell me about your writing space?

Sometimes I write on my phone flopped on the couch - that's how I'm writing my answers to these questions in fact! I'm a pretty fast phone typist but it's still a slower process, though, so when I really want to buckle down I usually go to my desktop computer which is in the office. Right now it's a big wooden corner desk but I'd like to replace it with a couple of smaller ones that are more easy to maneuver and put cool rgb lights on for the Gamer Aesthetic. XD

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

Lately as I've been trying to write more consistently, I've been having a lot of luck with this web app called 4thewords.com. It's a bit of gamification but the main thing I like about it is you pick an amount of time and a word goal and it sets a timer for you and it has proved REALLY effective for forcing me to just get words down on paper. The first draft is the hardest for me by far and it's been often really useful for getting over that hump. So lately I'll set myself up for 500-1000 words or so per day of “battles” and that gets me the forward momentum that I'm trying to maintain. 

That said, I'm also trying to be better about not forcing myself to write when it's just not coming at all. I don't want to burn myself out. 

Are there any recurring themes in your writing?

I am sure the answer is yes but it's hard for me to distinctly identify them. (I'd be interested in hearing reader answers to this question.)

Off the top of my head, though - missing scenes, mutual pining, struggles with emotional control. I think one major thing is that, as someone who missed my prime dating years due to the Big Sad, a lot of my characters do have an underlying thread of finding love/fulfillment/connection despite obstacles, later in life, or when they feel they don't deserve it or don't know how to do it. 

What is your reason for writing?

The same reason I was almost an actor, the same reason I like making people laugh on my stream. Hell, even the same reason I like programming and making software that improves someone's day. 

I like making people feel things. I like seeing their reaction to something I've done and hearing that it evoked something in them. This is the most fundamental human connection in my opinion. 

Is there any kind of specific comment or type of comment you find particularly motivating?

Honestly, any time someone takes time out of their day to leave any type of comment at all, it's guaranteed to make my whole week. But in keeping with my previous answer - my favorite comments are ones where I get to hear about how I affected the reader's emotions, or where they mention particular parts that really struck them. Those always make me really happy. c:

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

Interesting question. I think… as someone who is good with character voices and keeps tight hold of the fundamental core of the characters even when putting them in different situations. Someone who can manage both angst and humor well. Once again, I'd like people to look forward to what I write because they know it's gonna make them feel something that they enjoy. 

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

Character voices and dialogue. I've been told I've been very good at catching the cadence of different characters, and some of my favorite things to write have been just bouncing those voices off each other and seeing what happens. I think this is really the pillar on which all the rest of my work is able to stand bc the characters feeling like themselves makes the rest have more impact. 

How do you feel about your own writing?

This really depends on when you catch me, haha. Some days I'm really proud of it, and some days I have a hard time seeing anything good in it. Currently in a bit of a trough of overthinking it, but I’m lucky to have a couple readers who are v supportive which helps. <3 Overall though I think I do a good job and have some interesting stories out there and in my to-do list. (I also tend to way over-compare myself to other people in the fandom; there are so many incredible writers around here that it's hard to put myself next to them.)

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

A mix of both, I suppose? Certainly in picking what I want to write about I am thinking primarily about what I would find fun to write and not about what has a “market” in the fandom per se. But I also am lucky enough to have found other people who do enjoy the same characters as I do and enjoy my take on them, and in that sense I am definitely often more excited about a particular idea because I know one or more of my friends would be excited to read it. :D So both things are definitely a factor. 

-----

Tagging: @writer86 @rhysintherain @bardic-inspo @thedarkstrategist (and anyone else who wants to do this honestly)

[theshatteredrose]

Secrets: Best Left Untold? (Chapter 22) - Etrian Odyssey Untold 2 Fanfiction

AN: And we’re finally getting to the fun parts XD

Ao3 | Wattpad | Inkitt | FFNet

-

Chapter 22:

Flavio hefted a large basket of clothes onto the bench in the laundry room. Of course, he had already asked permission from Hana to borrow the room for a bit. Ever the dutiful and helpful matron, she had offered to do it for him, but he declined. He needed to do it. For himself as well as for the others.

Luckily it was a sunny day. So far. He needed to make the best of it.

He was not alone. Fafnir stood in the hallway, just a few paces away, with Bertrand, the two conversing with one another. What the two were talking about, he did not know. They spoke in hushed tones, not wanting others, not wanting him, to overhear them.

They were likely talking about the restaurant…

Hrothgar entered the laundry room and perched himself upon a bench opposite where Flavio stood. “The need to keep busy can be a frustrating one, hm?”

Flavio gave a short laugh of agreement as he began to sort the clothes between darks and lights. “It can be. I just want to feel useful, you know?”

“Oh yes, everyone does.”

Flavio tried his best to suppressed a wince. “I’m sorry, it’s hard on everyone, isn’t it?”

He heard Hrothgar sigh quietly behind him. “Please, stop apologising. It’s hardest on you, so do try to think about yourself for once.”

“Sorry,” Flavio automatically replied. That time he did wince and cast a quickly, apologetic glance over his shoulder at the redheaded protector. “Hah, right. I’ll try my best.”

Flavio picked up Fafnir’s white shirt to add it to the light’s pile, only to inexplicably find a tear in the seam by the collar. That would not do. He needed to fix that. Fortunately, he brought his sewing kit with him.

“Though, I suppose I don’t have much right to talk,” Hrothgar began, his tone light and somewhat empathetic to lighten the mood. “It’s not easy thinking about yourself when all you’ve done is think about others.”

Right?

Flavio grabbed his sewing kit and carefully attempted to thread the needle. “It’s just…so hard, you know? I have never been the centre of attention before.” He managed to get the white thread through the eye and sighed. “I don’t think I like it very much.”

Hrothgar chuckled. “I’ve noticed that you’ve become quite the beloved figure around High Lagaard.”

With the sewing needle pinched between his finger and thumb, Flavio grabbed Fafnir’s shirt and turned around to face Hrothgar, leaning his back against the bench behind him. “Not quite to your standard, though. Especially amongst the explorer community.”

“I suppose so.” Hrothgar appeared absentminded as he leaned back on his hands and looked up at the ceiling. Perhaps recalling a memory. “You know, someone said something that has resonated with me to this very day. It was something like “there will be times where there will be some who will hate you for how you are loved.” That may apply here.”

Flavio almost stabbed himself with his sewing needle. “Jealousy?”

Hrothgar tilted his head forward to look at him. “Perhaps.” He gave him a small smile. “Of course, it could be way off the mark, too.”

Flavio nodded his head idly and turned his gaze back to his task of restoring Fafnir’s shirt. His eyes drifted to the door leading back into the inn. Where Fafnir and Bertrand stood just out in the hallway.

“…Do you know about Regina?”

Hrothgar leaned forward where he sat on the bench, his hands curled around the edge. “Bertrand told me,” he admitted.

Yeah, he was not surprised. Everyone in the guild likely knew.

“Honestly, Arianna is more devastated than I am,” Flavio said as he returned to the easy task of fixing Fafnir’s shirt. Something he could do without much thought or concentration. “I guess I kinda expected. In a way.”

Hrothgar tilted his head to the side questioningly. “With how you were treated in regards to everyone else?”

Flavio nodded. “I didn’t truly understand it back then, but it kinda makes sense now. I get the feeling that Regina didn’t really understand it, either. She was likely acting out subconsciously, annoyed that everyone was drawn to me instead of her.”

Or something like that.

It would explain why he was always thrown out the front to work with the customers. To meet and greet them. To show them to their table. To take their orders and to hand them to Bertrand, who be the one to give them to Regina. Then be the one to give them their food. And when things die down, be kicked out of the restaurant for ‘errands’, only to repeat the cycle when things get busy again.

He was the one that was always working. Always on his feet.

He did not exactly mind. He preferred keeping busy. He liked meeting new people.

But…he was being taken advantage of.

Was he?

No, he was. Compared to the others, he was the worker. Someone who was to be used to ensure the end goal was achieved. He was treated differently than the others. They were allowed to sit around, relax, use the restaurant as they pleased. But Flavio was expected to work. Urged to. His workaholic habits provoked and encouraged.

When Flavio hurt his hand that time, Regina was immediately worried about losing a waiter. Not about him. Not about his injury. About losing a servant.

It probably was not intentional. Not entirely malicious.

But it happened.

Flavio carefully tied off the stitch and added Fafnir’s shirt to the light’s pile of clothes. “I don’t know how to feel about the restaurant now. If it is to return.”

“It’ll take months to be restored,” Hrothgar added. “You’ll have plenty of time to ponder about it.”

“That’s true.” Flavio packed away his sewing kit. “We may come to some kind of truce then.”

They definitely needed those months to figure things about. The restaurant returning from an arson attack will improve its reputation. But they needed to expand on Regina’s lacking people’s skills if they wanted to keep the positive momentum.

“Though…a lot of people think I should just open my own store,” Flavio mused.

“Hm. That’s quite a commitment.” Hrothgar suddenly chuckled lightly. “But, I can see it. You pottering around. In your own little store.”

People really needed to stop saying that. They made the idea sound enticing.

“I’ve got a few more commitments I need to see through first,” Flavio said with a slight shake of his head, but a smile on his lips nevertheless.

They…they still needed to deal with the labyrinth, with the Fafnir Knight, and Ginnungagap.

Flavio resisted the urge to sigh and slump his shoulders in exhaustion. There was just…so much they needed to do. They did not need the extra stress of his stalker situation.

So much trouble for nothing…

“Are you all right?” Hrothgar asked him softly.

Flavio nodded his head as he idly grabbed a pile of clothes and placed them into the washer. “I’m just tired.”

“It’s been an overwhelming couple of weeks for you, hasn’t it?” Sympathy and empathy were abundant in Hrothgar’s voice. “But, at the very least, you’re together now with Fafnir, are you not?”

Flavio was grateful that his back was toward the redheaded protector as his features heated up in a flaring blush. “Y-yeah.”

“Ah, I’m glad,” Hrothgar immediately replied. “You need someone dependable by your side.”

Flavio fell still and just smiled as he thought about Fafnir. “Yeah. I don’t know what I would do without him.”

He dared not think about it.

“Hng…”

A quiet groan of discomfort made Flavio tense and he immediately glanced over his shoulder at the only occupant in the room with him. He turned just in time to witness Hrothgar fumble his way off the counter. He gripped the edge of it with one hand while the other clutched his forehead as he bent forward at the waist. Flavio immediately stopped what he was doing and crossed the short distance between them.

“Hrothgar?” Flavio grabbed him by the elbow in an attempt to help him stand up straight. “What? What’s wrong?”

“I…I don’t know,” Hrothgar stuttered slowly in response. “I feel…tired all of a sudden.”

Tired? Was he feeling ill? A sudden onset of an illness, perhaps?

“Shit.” Hrothgar movements were both frantic but sluggish as he pushed away from the laundry counter to grasp Flavio by his arm and peered up at him through barely opened eyes. “F-Flavio, run.”

Flavio froze. “What?”

Hrothgar’s eyes began to close on their own accord, even as he tried to push him away. “It’s…It’s a hex. Run.”

He then crumpled to the floor, landing on his side, his head falling into the crook of his elbow.

“Hroth-!”

A strange, tingling sensation suddenly struck Flavio, lodging his voice in his throat. Almost choking him. It was like a cold, wispy hand had grabbed the back of his neck, causing his hairs to stand on end. The sensation lasted only a moment before his vision blurred and his limbs, his eyelids especially, felt heavy.

No…

Flavio dropped to his knees next to Hrothgar and fell to sit haphazardly on his heels.

N-no, he had to fight back…

But Fafnir and Bertrand…they were just in the hallway. And the door to the outside. It was locked. From the inside. Why were they being hexed? What…was the point? Or, were Fafnir and Bertrand also going to be targeted?

Wait…

Th-the Grimoire stone from yesterday. It should be in the pocket of his coat…

If he could…

Flavio’s vision blurred heavily; his world tilted. But he had to reach for his pocket. He still wore his jacket. The Grimoire stone was close. If he could just get his fingers around it. Just touch it, he could activate it…

A metallic click made Flavio freeze and his heart all but stopped when a low, almost inaudible creak was heard.

The door that led into the back garden of the inn…opened? No, it was locked. How did they open it from the outside? Did they have a key?

That cold chill of the sleep hex being reinstated drew a soft gasp from Flavio and his world began to grey out. He felt himself sway and he fell to his side, landing heavily.

Through his blurry vision, through the strain of sunlight, he swore he saw the door of the laundry room open. And a darken figure appear. Tall. Towering over him.

Boots…

It was all he could see. But it was enough for Flavio to know it was them. The one behind everything. His stalker. They had finally showed themselves.

But his vision was failing him. The hex was too strong. He had to choose between summoning up the energy to get a visual on them or getting to the grimoire stone that was in his pocket.

He had to concentrate on getting the grimoire stone.

Flavio grimaced and gritted his teeth in a desperate attempt to stay away as he reached into his coat. He had the grimoire stone. He knew he did. He placed it in his coat that very morning.

It was so close…

The boots paused in their steps.

And took a slight step back.

Flavio pulled out the grimoire stone and gripped it tightly in his hand.

Please work…

“R-refresh…”

A strange warmth flooded through Flavio’s body rapidly and Flavio immediately sat up straight, instantly awake and alert. Fully awake and conscious.

It…worked?

He whipped his head around to look toward the door. Where his stalker appeared from. But all he saw was an open door that swung lightly in the soft morning breeze and the bright sunlight from the world outside.

They fled.

They could not have gotten far!

“Fafnir!”

A split second later, Fafnir was in the room. His eyes widened when he realised that both Flavio and Hrothgar were sprawled out on the floor and the back door was open. “What? What happened?”

“Someone tried to use a sleep hex on us,” Flavio explained simply as he placed his hands on Hrothgar, readying for the use of the refresh grimoire.

“What?!” Like a shot, Fafnir was out the back door and on the search for anyone suspicious.

Bertrand lingered behind, immediately crouching down on the floor in front of Flavio, his eyes narrow in a hard gaze. “Did you see them?”

Flavio shook his head. “Just their boots, not nearly enough to identify someone.”

They were light brown, though not brand new. They were…out of place in a building full of hearty explorers. They looked as if they had never set foot inside the labyrinth. Not even once.

Strange.

Bertrand uttered a curse under his breath and pushed himself to his feet to move toward the door, also. He did not step through it, however, choosing to stop at the threshold. Choosing to stay close by in case their assailant returned.

Flavio hoped that Fafnir was all right. With his Fafnir Knight Curse, spells and hexes were not all that effective on him. But there was always a first time.

If that bastard did anything to him, Flavio would never forgive himself.

Flavio shook his head to push that thought aside for the time being as he focused on the task of waking Hrothgar from his sleep trance. He leaned forward and with the refresh grimoire stone in one hand, he rested his palm of his other hand against Hrothgar’s forehead.

A moment after Flavio activated the stone, Hrothgar crinkled his nose before his eyes fluttered open. “Are you all right?”

Hrothgar appeared confused, but his eyes widened a mere second later and he immediately pushed himself into a sitting position with his hands and looked directly at him. “What happened? You weren’t hit with the hex as well?”

Flavio sat back on the heels of his feet and cradled the grimoire stone in his hands. “No, I was. You remember that medic that came up to me yesterday by the restaurant? I used the grimoire stone he gave me. It worked immediately.”

Hrothgar glanced down at the stone in his hands before he released a sigh of relief. “I guess we owe a thanks to that medic, then.”

“Are you all right?” Flavio asked again and Hrothgar nodded his head.

“Yes, just a little lightheaded. I’m not used to hexes.”

Who was?

Flavio and Hrothgar began the process of picking themselves off the floor as Fafnir prowled back through the door. The deep scowl on his face evidently told everyone that he was not happy.

“Any luck?” Bertrand asked, anyway.

“No,” Fafnir said sharply, his frustration palpable as he turned and closed the door, locking it securely. “There was no one about other than a few oldies trying not to slip on the ice.”

Flavio felt partly guilty. Maybe he should have concentrated on calling for Fafnir than reaching for the grimoire stone? But he could barely get his voice to work, nothing above a whisper anyway.

Bertrand frowned deeply as he looked at the door before he looked over at Flavio, and somehow his frown deepened. “You know what this was, don’t you?”

Fafnir dragged a hand over his face. “Yeah…”

Flavio furrowed his brow as he looked between the two men. “What?” he asked. “Tell me.”

“Kid,” Bertrand sighed, “this was an attempt to abduct you.”

The desperate need to deny the possibility sat on the tip of Flavio’s tongue, but a wave of nausea swept over him, killing those words instantly. He covered his mouth with his hand and knew that he had gone pale as Fafnir had crossed the short distance between them and swept him up into his strong arms, holding him and supporting him when his legs suddenly felt so weak.

He wanted to deny it. He so badly wanted to deny that anyone would want to abduct him. But also knew them to be true.

A few more steps…a few more seconds and that sleep hex could have worked…

If he did not have that refresh grimoire stone…

Oh god…

“To snatch you right from under our noses, no less,” Bertrand muttered, his tone full of self-loathing and bitter.

Fafnir cradled Flavio against his chest, Flavio grasping onto the front of his jacket with a white knuckle grip. “He’s advancing.”

“Yeah.”

“Grab the grimoire stones,” Fafnir suddenly ordered. “We need to sort through them for anything useful. I don’t know if our assailant is a hexer or has a grimoire stone, too. But they obviously tried to use a sleep hex. They may have others. We need to be prepared.”

“Right,” Bertrand immediately replied, without any protest or exasperation. “Let’s commandeer the tearoom. It’ll give us more space.”

“Sure.”

“I’m sorry I was so useless,” Hrothgar apologised, his tone also filled with self-loathing.

Bertrand walked over to the redheaded protector and placed his hand atop of his head. “Don’t be like that. We weren’t expecting them to use hexes. We probably should have. It won’t happen again.” He gave his hair a slight, good-natured ruffling before he pulled his hand back. “Now, help me with the grimoire stones.”

“Of course,” Hrothgar eagerly returned, and the two protectors turned and disappeared deeper into the inn.

Leaving Flavio and Fafnir alone in that laundry room.

“Fafnir…”

Fafnir hugged him tightly, burying his face into the nook of Flavio’s shoulder. He was more shaken up about the near-abduction than it outwardly appeared. “I’m sorry I wasn’t there.”

Flavio managed to unfurl his fingers from around the material of Fafnir’s jacket to slip his arms around Fafnir, to return the hug and to run his fingers through his white hair. A small, perhaps feeble attempt to comfort him. “You were when it counted. They came from outside. You were just a few feet away. Just a shout away. They used a hex on me. They knew what they were doing.”

They definitely did it on purpose. They have had to know that Fafnir and Bertrand were close by. They certainly did not care that Hrothgar was in the same room.

They did not care about anything.

He…could not go anywhere without them tormenting him, could he? He hated it. He hated it so much.

When would it stop?

No…what had to happen to make it stop?

… … … … …

Fafnir stayed close to Flavio’s side as he stubbornly finished the washing. He had started it. He needed to finish it. After that close encounter, surely his stalker wouldn’t be stupid enough to try again so soon.

That was the mantra that Flavio kept in his head, anyway.

With that done, Flavio and Fafnir made their way to the tearoom. Where the fireplace was burning brightly, promptly reminding Flavio just how chilled he actually was. And where Hrothgar and Bertrand had grimoire stones scattered about in a hasty attempt to sort through them.

They had a lot of stones, ranging from slightly damaged, to pristine, top of the range.

Flavio idly patted his coat pocket, where the refresh grimoire stone sat. This little stone was not going anywhere. He was going to keep it close to him, out of sheer paranoia.

“How’s it going?” Fafnir asked as the two of them walked into the room.

“Slow going,” Bertrand returned. “The list we had has gone missing, so we have to inspect each and every stone again. I’m also pretty sure some are missing.”

That brought a frown to Flavio’s lips. Missing? Though, it was possible that a few stones got left behind in the ruins of the restaurant. They had five-hundred of them, after all. One thing that kept a few regulars returning were the bargaining of grimoire stones.

“Hello, boys!” Hana’s cheerful voice suddenly echoed into the room long before the stout women herself made an appearance, expertly balancing a large silver tray in her hands. “I know you’re working so hard; I brought you some afternoon tea.”

Flavio immediately turned and gave the dedicated matron a warm smile. “Hana, thank you. We appreciate it.”

Hrothgar leaned forward from where he sat on the couch to make room on the coffee table situated in front of the fire place. “Sorry for stealing your tearoom like this.”

“Oh-hoho, not at all!” Hana immediately replied good-naturedly.

She placed the tray down and seemed set to leave them to get back to work. But as she instinctively gave a visual sweep of the room to ensure everything was in order, her gaze fell upon the tall tree that stood in the corner.

And she immediately clapped her hands in delight. “Oh, you’ve been working on the Christmas tree!”

Flavio wrapped his arms around himself and moved to sit down in the chair closest to the tree. “Ah, yes. On and off. Not entirely sure I’m doing the right thing.”

“Nonsense, it’s beautiful! I knew it would be!”

Thank goodness for Hana. She always knew how to lift his mood. She was the mother figure he never had but always wanted.

“Oh yes, you must go to the great Christmas tree festival tomorrow!” Hana suddenly said. “You’ll have a wonderful time. They have street and food vendors, many exotic items from across the world to buy, and you simply must do the Tree of wishes ceremony!”

An expression of realisation flickered across Hrothgar’s face. “Ah, is that tomorrow?” he turned to regard the others. “It’s a very popular event on High Lagaard’s social calendar. A lot of people are going to be there,” he explained further.

A festival? It sounded nice. And should be fun, something Flavio’s guild deserved, but should Flavio himself go? A lot of people was to be there. Possibly including his stalker.

“You surely must attend!” Hana insisted. “I’m sure a lot of people would love to see you there.”

…Surely, his stalker would not do anything with so many people around?

“Of course, Hana. It sounds wonderful.”

[sergeantnarwhalwrites]

Hey! For the ask game: 🌿🌻🍄🍰🍓👒

Hope you’re having a good day!

Hey! Thank you for the asks! I hope you're having a good day too!

🌿 who is your favorite character you've ever written?

That's a great question and arguably I want to say Hollis (Robots & Gardens). My technological know how is limited. I did robotics for like two years in high school and was obsessed with shows like How It's Made and Mythbusters. And other bits and pieces of information I've absorbed. So I'm really proud when I write a scene with her and it doesn't sound stupid as fuck. XD Wing that shit with the finest. Arguably this is why I love Digits too. Because her tech/prosthetics are ass it allows my mediocre mechanical and electrical and biological engineering status to be what it is. Hot garbage.

🌻 least favorite character / hardest to write

Cosma and Greeter (Space Don't Dictate Fate Characters) are so unbelievably hard for me to write. It was difficult in the original and it seems to be getting more complicated in the rewrite. Arguably Greeter is more difficult than Cosma for me. They elude me in the worst ways it's hard to just write from the gut with these fuckers. Something always feels off.

🍄 name a song that represents your mc

I'm just gonna pick one main character from each wip. Cosma (Space Don't Dictate Fate): Trying by Orion Sun Green (Robots & Gardens): Heartsink by Blood Red Shoes Saz (Fucked at Five): It Was a Monstering by Everything Everything

🍰 where you like to write

Anywhere the inspiration strikes really. As long as I have something to write with (phone, laptop, my notebook, sticky notes, etc.) I usually can't be stopped unless I am preoccupied or lack the motivation.

🍓 worst thing you've done to your characters

XD Ummm just one? Arguably the worst thing I did to them was create them and put them into their respective worlds. But I mean Greeter is getting tortured by a space god so RIP Greeter you would've loved pre-workout powder and jongs (jean thong please look it up XD).

👒 nicest thing you've done to your characters

Digits gets to experience the best kind of relationship, platonic. Digits gets two close friends out of the whole thing. She's friends with Peace and Green too she's just closest with Donnie and Hollis.

[writingjourney]

can you give some advice on writing such long, beautiful, slow-burn fics?

chemsi you're so sweet ♡

Now hmm this could be a long reply lol. I would say and I still struggle with this is that you have to take your time even when you don't want to. The pacing of a story is sooo hard to get right and also very personal, for some people it will be too drawn-out while for others it's still too fast. Also depends on the plot, if you have a sort of secondary arc besides the romance then it's easier to build the tension while finding solid reasons why they can't quite act on it yet.

But really a lot of it for me is intuitional, sort of finding scenes to add that help with character growth and developing trust and building momentum but also don't just feel like fillers to draw it out for the sake of it because that's gonna show. Often it can get frustrating when the tension isn't resolved and it's very tempting to just make them give in too early bc you want to get to the smut. But it can also be dissatisfying if the reasons why they don't give in make no sense or haven't been fleshed out enough.

For multi-chapter fics I think it's more about spacing out the many small but increasingly more intimate scenes throughout the overarching plot and giving the characters some growth in the process that brings them together. You don't have to be too picky here because you have a lot of space and time and then if you think about the classic story arc you have the climax somewhere close to the middle. So there is usually a lot of stuff happening before and after that you can play with, exposition and falling action etc etc.

For longer one-shots it's more about picking interesting scenes, then building the tension by repetition and a steady increase in the intensity of those scenes that then kind of lead to a more explosive moment usually at the end. So I usually want it to end on a high note basically? It can just be subtle and slow if you want it to, doesn't even have to be smut, but you can tell it leads somewhere that makes the wait worth it.

So yeah, it's really about finding balance and that's just ALWAYS the hardest thing. I have no idea if that helped at all xD

send me asks? ♡