#I would love to write for these three but I'd have to rewrite this entire show to be... good!

[theoneandonlylobster]

My Big Damn Ashes of the Academy Thoughts

Okay so honestly I just need to take this panel by panel because frankly my overall impression of the comic is that everyone got replaced Invasion of the Body Snatchers style with people that look the same as they do and have the same name, but have zero idea of the backgrounds or motivations of said characters, and so they were just making shit up as they went along. Like, I write fanfic, I read fanfic. I have, in general, a pretty high regard for fanfic. And of course one of the more common Dangerous Ladies childhood type fics is how did they meet, why are these three very different individuals friends, etc etc.

And this was not even approaching the worst, crappiest, least coherent of that type of fiction I've read over the last nearly two decades.

Ashes of the Academy is a giant nothing burger comic, a fart in an elevator you're trapped with until you can make your escape.

So, without further ado, let's begin:

So right here on the second page of the comic, and the first page with dialogue, we have Ursa letting us know that, apparently, contrary to what we know, the Academy made Azula a bad person. Not her parents, definitely definitely not Ursa. You got that? It was all the Academy's fault. And we will continue beating that ostrich horse the entire rest of the comic, make no mistake!

Ah yes, Ursa, noted Not Ever An Imperialist At All, Not Even Once, Nuh-Uh.

Skipping several pages that would be me saying these two things multiple times...

Credit where credit is due, I like these two panels. I like this tiny glimpse into the friendship of Kiyi and Lihua or whatever here. One, because I imagine this is more like how Azula probably actually was, based on what we see in Zuko Alone. And two, that means Kiyi is unconsciously mirroring her sister and I like that interpretation of her character. It seems that Hicks does too, on a subconscious level. Look at that devious little look on her face! Little shit. Yeah, you cause a ruckus! Adorable.

I'd be lying if I said this didn't get a chuckle out of me. Is Katara on Zuko's Ministry of Education? Lol wtf. Still funny though.

More Kiyi being a little shit that I can get behind. This time in a Little Miss Know-It-All superiority complex sense that I'm sure would get real old real fast for anyone around her.

I've pointed this out on another post but Kiyi isn't a princess? Wtf? Come on, Hicks. Like it's not hard to figure this shit out. I think giving her a character trait of literally running to her big brother the Firelord anytime she feels slighted is pretty good, but of course it's never explored, because that's not a heroic trait and Kiyi has to be a hero for some reason unlike that irredeemable monster Azula who was born bad.

So nice of you to ask her first Zuko! Fuck's sake! Being Firelord has really gotten to this boy's head, like I know he has absolute power and all that shit but damn, if I was Mai, I would be wanting to get back with him less after this, not more, regardless of whether or not I liked the job in the end. Fucking consent, bro! (Previous page has him telling the headmistress she'll do it.) Unfortunately, this is actually not ooc for what we've seen of Zuko, honestly, imo. Mai, you can do so much better. Like, I ship Maiko. I love their dynamic etc etc. But girl. Respect yourself. This boy is NOT it at this point.

This is our continuing indication that they'll be rewriting the past in this comic, and we'd all better get on board. Zuko certainly thinks Azula treated him badly and has a very, "Zuko did nothing wrong!" approach to it all, but Mai was there for the vast majority of it, witnessed it with her own two eyes, so she would not react to that sentence with, "True." She just wouldn't. At least not the Mai we know. So let the assassination of Mai’s character commence!

Like, was this comic so half-assed nobody could be bothered to look up the spelling of Ukano's name? Yes. Yes it was.

Can I be made to believe Ukano said this to Mai when she was smol? Absolutely, yes. He's portrayed as a social climber and willing to utilize basically any route he can access to gain clout and influence. That's a man who is not above using his daughter in this way. I think it's somewhat implied by Mai’s dialogue in The Beach, even. Dude was a shitty father, Caldera was rife with them. Do I believe for one second Mai became friends with Azula because of this counsel? Absolutely not. The Mai we know thinks for herself 100% of the time, it's basically her thing.

Oh, cool, there's a 10 image per post limit. Well. I'll keep going in reblogs and indicate when I'm done. Bear with me, friends.

[d-targaryenshoe]

Rather Or Rather Not - Luke Thompson

Word count: 868

Summary: Would you rather answer questions by yourself or to be joined by your lover and a friend?

The grand ballroom on the Bridgerton set was abuzz with excitement as a game hosted by Netflix began. 

You, Nicola Coughlan, and Luke Thompson, three of the most talented and beloved actors in the Bridgerton series, gathered around a lavish table adorned with candelabras and sparkling chandeliers. 

The theme of the game was Would you rather, inspired by your beloved show, Bridgerton. 

The air was thick with anticipation as you waited for the first question to be revealed.

"It's time to play!" cheered Nicola Coughlan, who portrayed Penelope Featherington, as she flitted about the room, handing out cards to each of the players.

 "Remember, you must answer the question truthfully, and may the best actor win!" With a dramatic flourish, she flipped over the first card, revealing the first question: "Would you rather... binge-watch the entire series in one sitting, or have to wait an entire year for the next season to premiere?"

You all glanced at each other, knowing full well that this was a question you had been contemplating for months.

 You, who portrayed the vivacious y/c/n, grinned widely and said, "Oh, I could never wait a whole year! I'd much rather binge it all in one go." 

Nicola Coughlan, who brought the iconic Penelope Featherington to life, nodded in agreement.

 "I completely understand," she said with a sigh. "It's torture not knowing what happens next."

Luke Thompson, your boyfriend and the man who played the dashing and mysterious Lord Benedict Bridgerton, chuckled and said, "Well, it seems you two have already made up your minds. In that case, I'll have to go with the opposite choice. I'd much rather take my time and savor each episode as they air." 

You and Nicola laughed, impressed by his restraint.

The next question was revealed: by you.

 "Would you rather... have your character end up with your on-screen love interest, or have them find true love with someone else?" you bit your lip, considering the possibilities. 

"Oh, that's a tough one... I think I'd want my character to end up with their true love. Even if it means someone else gets the happy ending, you know?" 

Nicola Coughlan nodded in agreement.

 "Agreed," she said. "As much as I love my character with Colin, I think it would be more satisfying to see her find happiness with someone who truly deserves it if the story would be different."

The tension in the room was palpable as the final question was revealed by your boyfriend. 

"Would you rather... have your character's life play out exactly as it does in the books, or have the opportunity to rewrite their fate and give them a different ending?" Luke furrowed his brow, deep in thought.

 "That's a hard one... I think I'd like to see my character have the chance to write their own ending. Even if it means straying from the source material, it's important for them to have agency and make their own choices."

Nicola Coughlan glanced over at you, who was still lost in thought. "What about you, y/n? What would you choose?" 

You looked up, a determined expression on your face. "You know, I think I'd rather rewrite their fate. Because even if their life isn't perfect, they can still find happiness in the end. And who's to say what's meant to be, anyway?" 

The other actors nodded in agreement, feeling the weight of the question settle over them.

The final question hung in the air, unanswered, but for now, it could wait. There would be plenty of time for more questions, more laughter, and more memories to be made.

 Because in the end, that was what being a part of the Bridgerton family was truly about: finding joy in the journey, no matter where it led.

The question was revealed: "Would you rather... spend the rest of your life in the world of Bridgerton, or step outside of it and explore new roles and experiences?" 

Nicola's eyes widened, and she glanced around the table at her fellow actors. 

"That's quite the quandary," she mused. "But I think I would have to say that I would rather stay in Bridgerton. Not only because I love it here, but because I believe that we are one family and that there is so much out there waiting to be told."

You nodded in agreement. "I feel the same way, definitely. This role has given me so much, and I think there are so much possibilities in this project. I can't wait to see what it still holds." 

Luke, ever the optimist, added, "I'd have to say the same. And I know that whatever comes next, we'll always have Bridgerton and each other." 

You all raised your glasses in a toast, the clinking of crystal against porcelain filling the empty ballroom with a joyous noise.

And so the game went on, the questions flying fast and furious, as you all shared your thoughts, your dreams, and your fears. 

You discussed your favorite moments from the series, your hopes for the future, and the lessons you learned along the way.

You laughed and you cried, you debated and you agreed, and through it all, you all felt a bond that went deeper than any script could ever convey.

[theunholybastard]

Hi! This is my first time sending a request for anything 😅 but I was wondering if you could maybe write about the era 5 ghouls/ghoulettes comforting the reader while they're on their period? Basically, it's just comfort/fluff. My favorite is Phantom and I feel like he'd be such a sweetheart 🥹

Hi, lovely! 👋 I'd be honored to take your first request! I didn't know how exactly you wanted me to write it, so I just went with some little headcanon blurbs. Lmk if you want me to rewrite a drabble/full length fic of any specific character/s and I'll get to that when I have the time. <3 Enjoy!

Era 5 Ghouls/Ghoulettes Period Comfort Headcanons

(CW - Brief mentions of period sex/blood kink for Swiss and Sodo/Dewdrop)

Phantom:

He's a little confused, but he's got the spirit.

His knowledge on the human body, especially the female anatomy, is limited, so he's not entirely sure how to help you. He is however, a great listener, and is always willing to do whatever you ask of him to make you feel better, no hesitation.

Building off of him being a great listener, he's also more than down to just listen to you complain. Whatever you choose to talk about, period-related or not, he is sat, intently listening to every word.

He's a very curious ghoul - he wants to hear about your feelings, he wants to know what's making you feel the way you feel, and how to make it better.

Food is his love-language. Always ready to pick up whatever food you're craving at the moment, at any time. Wake him up at 2 A.M and say you want ice cream? He's immediately out the door to get ice cream. (and picking up some cookie dough for himself, too.)

Three words: Food, Movies, Cuddles. Snacking with you, bodies intertwined, while watching your favorite movies, is his own personal Heaven. (ok maybe Heaven isn't the right word but ykwim)

He's a messy eater, so make sure not to let him eat in your bed. Other than that, you're in good hands.

Rain:

If you like physical affection, you're in luck, because Rain is the unofficial King of Cuddles™️

Babies you, but not in the belittling way.

Yes, he knows you can get out of bed and do things yourself, but why would you so much as lift a finger when you have him to pamper you?

Sings to you and plays guitar for you

If you're ever feeling self-conscious during this time, he will do anything and everything in his power to make you feel beautiful

Compliments you any chance he can get, brushes your hair for you, has skincare nights with you (loves floral-scented face masks and those cucumber eye masks)

He makes sure you are very well taken care of

Mountain:

Also babies you, but unlike Rain, it does feel a little belittling. He means well, though.

Freaks out over you just getting out of bed to use the bathroom. Insists he carries you because you're "too weak and fragile to do anything in this state."

You're pretty much bedridden for a week, sorry.

Prepares healthy meals for you, loves hearing you compliment his cooking.

Insists that nature is the best medicine. Opens the windows to get you some fresh air. Will gladly go on walks with you if you manage to convince him you're fine and perfectly capable of movement.

Picks you fresh flowers

Plays with your hair to help you fall asleep

Sodo/Dewdrop:

Also doesn't really know how to help you.

Just kinda treats you like normal, unless youre having pains

Offers you painkillers, but if you'd rather not take medicine, he'll rub your stomach, your back, whatever area is bothering you.

Lucky for you, he's got the body temp of a furnace. He's your own personal heating pad.

Also suggests orgasms help reduce cramping. Doesn't push it, but he makes sure you know he doesn't mind parting the red sea

Swiss:

Oh Lord. This man. Is so horny.

Obviously he doesn't press if sex isn't something you're interested in during this time. He'll find other ways to comfort you. Though sex is his favorite way to do it.

LOVES giving massages. He'll lay down one of those hydrophobic blankets so you can free bleed while he gives you a full-body massage he might get hard

Very touchy. Cannot keep his hands off you. Constant cuddling.

Builds you a little nest of pillows, blankets, stuffed animals, anything soft and comforting to you that he can find. You basically live in a blanket fort for like a week.

You can talk to him about anything period-related. Don't bother sparing the gruesome details, TMI does not exist with him. Nothing you could say would shock him.

Cirrus:

Princess treatment, 24/7.

Fawns over you when you're having cramps, not leaving your side until you feel better.

Tells you silly stories or gossip to distract you from your cramps. Anything to get a smile out of you. Shes the ultimate yapper gf (except for maybe Aurora)

Self care nights! Bubble baths, painting each others nails, doing each others makeup, braiding each others hair (or you could just braid hers if your hair is too short)

Whispers words of affirmation in your ear as you sleep in hopes it will make you subconsciously feel better

Cumulus:

Tells you she will personally fight God for giving you a period. Mainly just to make you laugh. But she would if she could.

If Rain is the Cuddle King, then consider her the Cuddle Queen™️

So soft. So comfy. You are in for some GODLY naps.

Cooks for you and insists on feeding you herself (she's been tempted to go "here comes the airplaaane!" but she doesn't want to risk pissing you off)

Cleans up your space for you so a dirty environment doesn't cause you additional stress. Will scold you like a disappointed mother if you try to take over the work.

Sings you to sleep

Makes sure you have a comfy place to relax and a nice full belly at all times

Aurora:

Shes really not as helpful as she thinks she is, but she tries.

Shes a very energetic ghoulette, so if your idea of comfort during this time is doing as little physical activity as possible, she's gonna be a bit out of her element.

Offers to go on a run together, swearing it's the best distraction for if you have cramps.

But if you'd rather stay in bed, she will oblige. She does love cuddles. Shes very touchy.

She uses your period as an excuse to buy a shit load of candy. She ends up getting a stomach ache because she ate most of it and now you have to comfort her. At least she's cute though

Gets excited if your cycles are synced up because that means you two can free-bleed together

Brings home little trinkets for you like a crow

-

[pinehutch]

When I say that I want to be evil

what I mean is I want to be powerful. What I mean is I want to be free.

Some weeks ago I spent more money than I should have on my first ever (ever!) two-piece swimsuit. You have to understand that as a child I was told I was fat, and as a teen I was told I was fat, and as an adult I've always been fat*, and you can't read your way out of the shame caused not strictly by the word but by its connotations.

(I know, because I've tried. I have been trying for almost twenty years. Looking for plus-sized fashion brought me to the digital 'fatosphere.' It made me a better person as I learned about another dimension of intersectionality and about power and oppression. It made me feel like I could wear clothing that I liked. It made me more informed about the diet and wellness industry. It's been over 20 years since I first read a critique of the BMI; it's been almost as long since I started wondering why gros/se in my close-second language didn't have the same (haha) weight to it as fat does, in my first.)

At the tail end of June, days long and scorching, I stepped into a two-piece swimsuit with a deep-v neckline and my whole midsection exposed and I spent the day in full view of dozens (hundreds?) of strangers. Cold, cold water on the joints; warm, soft pools for the evening. My hair got bigger and bigger. My neck and chest sunburned. My midriff stayed comically, blindingly pale, and everything else? It was lovely; it was fine. I rarely thought about my body, unless it was 'this feels nice' or 'my swimsuit is so pretty.' I took a selfie, even, though I deleted it. I was worried that posting it would count as thirst-trapping; shame has cored out and replaced so much of me. It was a good pic, though, and I wish I'd kept it.

What was true of me that day: I was a quite tall, very fat femme person whose feet swell with arthritis and whose hair takes up the entire frame and who's had cellulite since grade eight. What else was true: many people complimented my swimsuit. I looked out across the valleys and the mountains from the top of my almost-six-feet. I let my shoulders roll back and smiled at the sight of my bare skin gone blue-wavering-dappled beneath the surface. I stood tall. I made eye contact. I enjoyed delightful company, and let that enjoyment extend to the simple pleasure of having a body that felt fairly good, in garments I had chosen for the joy of it.

You can't read your way out of shame; it's only part of the equation. I didn't go swimming the next day with my family members, because I didn't want to feel them looking at my body and being disappointed that What A Beautiful Girl turned out like I did (though: if What A Beautiful Girl then why You Need To Watch What You Eat?). But for an entire day I felt like anyone else, gentle enough, good enough, in my skin.

It would have been good for me to swim with my family that weekend, because I'm finding that - as in all things - the practice is important. You can't read your way out of shame, not entirely, but in working with and through it there's maybe a chance to rewrite our stories.

There's a fallacy that I think a lot of us fall into, when we're trying to counter and challenge fatphobia, both culturally and in ourselves. It's the fallacy of the Good Fat. It's why I want to tell you about how two-pieces are maybe a better swimwear choice for me because of the drastic difference between my tits and hips vs my waist. It's why I wanted to post that selfie, so people could shoutycaps and fire emoji me on twitter. It's why I want to craft this post into a narrative where spending a single day mostly-unburdened by body shame has led to a hot girl summer, and I'm walking for miles every day and going to the pool four times a week. (I'm not. I still have a day job, and writing to do, and a physical disability, and the ol' depression. I'm more active than I was three months ago, and working to improve that, but still. It's not a lot.)

It is, simply, the same lie as we tell ourselves along so many different axes of marginalization: that as long as we are exceptional in a way equal and opposite to our marginalization, we'll be fine. It's the model that says you earn the right to exist fat and unashamed by being healthy, by being active, by being hot. Sorry my hip is squished against yours on the airplane; at least I've got a nice face and good hair and am well-dressed, wanna admire my hip-to-waist ratio about it?

There's no such thing as a Good Fat because we live in an inherently fatphobic world. I mean: airplane seats are too small for anyone average sized. I mean: 20 years ago I was a size 16/18 and couldn't fit into the newer lecture hall seats at my university without a lot of stress and embarrassment. I mean: I can't buy a compression sleeve for my arthritic joints at the drug store. If I ever needed to take Plan B, it might not work because I weigh (as do most adults of my acquaintance) more than 165lbs. You cannot be hot enough or active enough or well-dressed enough to escape from this; the only option is to be Not Fat.

But why on earth would we want to accept this? We know the system is fucked up and evil, and so: we want to be evil. Just a little bit, just enough. We want to be hot villains. We want to serve cunt and to be cunts. We want to nailcare emoji, fire emoji, crown emoji, and we want to take no prisoners unless it's between our thick thick thighs. Sit on their face; if they die, they die. It's fun and sexy, in a world where "everything is sex, except sex, which is power" to dig in and grab handfuls of what looks like empowerment, fuck the rest of it, get what makes you feel best.

It's a mirage; freedom doesn't live there.

Because of course fat people are hot. Fat bodies are desirable. Fat bodies are strong, sometimes, and athletic, sometimes, and powerful in whatever way you'd like to read that. That's true no matter what.

And yet (this will hurt) fat bodies are still (I'm sorry, I'm so sorry) not good enough. If the system is the problem, your individual empowerment is not the (whole) solution.

When I say that I want to be evil, what I mean is I want to be free. I want the strange rare days I've known I was desirable because I was desired, specifically and individually. I want the days where I grant myself dignity. I want the day where I lived peacefully in my mostly-naked body around hundreds of strangers, and went to bed happy.

Reading is input, it's taking in. I can't read my way all the way out of fatphobia, out of body shame because that's like trying to put out a forest fire 2000km away by throwing baking soda on your stove element. (Not harmful, but insufficient and misdirected.) It has been so helpful to know that other people wrestle with all of this, in ways that are more intelligent and expert than mine; it doesn't change material reality, though.

It's not the shame that's the problem, but where it comes from. It's not my internalized fatphobia or low self-worth or lack of body confidence that keeps people from life-saving medical care because their doctors were obsessed with their weight instead of their symptoms. My soft abdomen has never shamed a stranger on the internet, my calves (never in tall boots) haven't forced someone to buy a second seat.

Maybe it's time that I redefine what I mean when I say I want to be evil. I want to be a hot villain that was justified in their takedown of the status quo. I want to put a crown on every head. I want these thick thighs under me as I pull you into my lap and love you, and to use those fire emojis to make room for new growth.

I want us all at the pool together, celebrating as the sun sets.

*I'm using "fat" to here mean something like "size 16 US women's or larger," but there's no good definition

[cinder-rose]

Ugly Beautiful Reread: chapter twelve

omg they are KISSING

https://archiveofourown.org/works/47669389/chapters/123233524#workskin

I love fucking about with chronology in short fics and am never usually brave enough to do it in long fics. But it works so well here!

My nephew was going through a dinosaur phase when I wrote this (he still kinda is, I encourage it. Dinosaurs are cool.)

What is Käärijä if not a chaotic smudge for Jere to hide behind?

This is too much for me, two years on and I knew exactly what was coming and it still breaks me. I'm not at all sorry I did this to you. Fuck, Jere, I need to hug you.

Pretty. Yes I will describe a sky as "bruised" wherever possible.

Describing their friendship as unhealthy is strictly a fic thing, you understand. I just needed to make the point that all was not right, that it isn't what it seems, that it can't go on as it is. That's obvious, right?

Little siblings get it. Doesn't matter how old you are, you never stop needing that approval.

I had to rewrite this a few times so it didn't sound forced, but we had to meet Bojan's blazer early on so can Jere can seamlessly wear it later

Remember how Bojan thinks everyone only ever sees him as pretty, and lucky? That no one ever realises there's more too him that that, and how hard he works to be where he is?

Don't ruin our dreams, mikke 🥺🥺

Awkward.

I'd been waiting the ENTIRE FIC to make this joke

🎶you've got a fast car

Is it fast enough that we can fly away?🎶

Baby boy needs to be taken care of

Tipsy emotions are the most fun to write

If I'd finished the fic, this would have been important foreshadowing.

This entire exchange!!! 💖💖💖💖

YEAH fuck you mikke

I'm basically just screenshotting the entire chapter at this point. YES they had to get caught in the rain, it was a narrative necessity! No it's not too cliche, I needed it. And how so much actually happens in these scenes that I had to use little speed-running phrases to keep the flow of the pacing.

If he'd finished the fic he would have.

YEEEEEEEES 😍😍😍😍😍😍💚❤️💚❤️

Also please listen to Legacy by Cadillac Three which heavy influenced the vibe.

No songs, no competitions. Only the Bojan.

Fuuuuuuuuuuuck this is so perfect after Bojan feeling distant from him because of the language barrier in the last episode!

If I'd finished the fic, there would have been more of this. Jere saying things he wouldn't be brave enough to say in English. Except Bojan has been learning a little Finnish and can pick up a few key words.

"wait, what did you just say?"

"NOTHING"

I can't cope. Fuck.

Guys why did you ever read this? This is brutal I am dying wtf

And of course, this is the chapter that introduced me to the magnificent @lumea-art!! The first time I'd ever had art done of a fanfic, this was INSANE

https://archiveofourown.org/works/49355239

[spnfanficpond]

New Member Spotlight July 2024

The Pond is always growing and we want to make our new members feel welcome! Here’s a list of recent additions to our fishy family and a little info about them!

GIF by akaribaby

Guppies, Jellies, and Mutuals, oh, my!

RainyThursdayNight

Tumblr handle: @rainythursdaynight

AO3: miss_bored_tf_outta_her_mind

What is your SPN OTP? Dean/Castiel

Are you in any other fandoms? The Umbrella Academy, She-Ra, Attack on Titan, The Legend of Korra, Avatar the Last Airbender, The Owl House, MCU, Harry Potter, Detroit Become Human, The Walking Dead (Telltale), etc.

What are you looking for in the Pond? A place to write alongside others/learn from other SPN writers/jump into writing for SPN with other authors and readers from the fandom!

What types/pairings do you like to read? Dean/Castiel, Castiel/Meg, Sam/Eileen, Dean/Jo, Sam/Jessica, Sam/Rowena/Gabriel, Claire/Kaia

What genres do you like to read? What are your favorite tropes Hurt/Comfort. Angst with a happy ending, Pre-series/Stanford Era, Solo Hunters Dean and Cas, Found Family, Wrong Number AUs, Time Travel AUs

What kinds of fics do you like to write? Introspective Character Studies with plot, Time-Travel, Found Family, Crossovers, Secret Agent AUs, Media Inspired AUs, literally almost anything tbh

Is there something you have not written but would like to try? Writing for Supernatural is completely new to me. I was part of a large-scale rewrite a while ago so I've rewritten episodes of the show but never really a fic, so having you guys be exposed to my writing first before I post it would be really nice. Having people who've read similar stories reading mine before I give it to the general public is the goal!

AylaCaveBear

What is your Tumblr name? @aylacavebear

What is your SPN OTP? Sam and Eileen, or Sam and Jessica

Are you in any other fandoms? Dabbles in Vampire Diaries

What are you looking for in the Pond? Interacting with others who share the same interests, i.e. Others who enjoy SPN fanfics, reading and/or writing. Learning more about navigating Tumblr better and enhancing my writing, as well as helping others if I can.

BOOST: Honestly, I'd like to promote my sister. She made something for me to promote my tumblr on youtube. (I'm not looking for subscribers or views. She's just amazing at what she does and thought there might be other users who might be interested in what she offers.)

What type/pairings do you like to read? Reader Inserts mostly, A/B/O dynamics, Dean x Reader/You and even some Sam x Reader/You.

What genres/tropes do you like to read? All of them honestly. I have to say though, Smut with Fluff and Angst are my absolute favorites. I also love a good plot twist.

Do you have a favorite Fanfic writer? I can't say I have one favorite. There are so many amazing authors on there. @holylulusworld has some amazing A/B/O fics, as well as many others. I've sort of been binge-reading them at the time of answering these, lol.

What kinds of fics do you like to write? I love to write fics that are Dean x Reader/You. The "reader" is typically also an OC and they typically have some bizarre 1-in-a-million trait. I love writing series with lots of parts and typically have a slow burn filled with fluff, angst, and all sorts of fun little things.

Tumblr Master List

Your most underappreciated fic!

Is there something you have not written but would like to try? I have three, lol - A/B/O, Choose Your Own Adventure (already have a plan in mind), Cas x Reader (as per a request on a one-shot I wrote asking for more and I'd love to write it).I'm not entire sure about help with any of these, as I have others I need to finish before I can even start on these.

TheCatSaysMew

What is your Tumblr name? @thecatsaysmew

What are you looking for in the Pond? I've been writing Supernatural fics for over a decade, but it has been mainly for myself so I don't publicly publish them. I absolutely love writing fics and doing character studies, and I really like reading them on Tumblr too. I was hoping to connect with the community, make some friends, get inspired to write more and also inspire others.

What pairings/type do you like to read? I'm a reader-insert girlie through and through. I usually go for the Dean x Reader fics!

What genres/tropes do you like to read? Angst. I sometimes read smut, but I find angst far more delicious than smut!

Do you have a favorite Fanfic writer? All my fic reading is mainly done on Tumblr. I feel like I've read every Dean x Reader fic on the platform, so I'm always excited when new ones pop up. I love reading stuff from @avanatural, @mind-empty-just-fictional-people and @wearywinchester among many others!

What kinds of fics do you like to write? Reader/Self-insert, angst, mixed in with a little soulmate trope

I don't have a masterlist as I don't usually post stuff publicly, but I did rewrite a theme from my current longfic to take part in a writing challenge.

Your most underappreciated fic!

Is there something you have not written but would like to try? A casefic. I actually want to incorporate it in the final part of my longfic, and I really want to get the early seasons aesthetic on point. It's so difficult to verbally describe something that we're so used to seeing visually: the gloomy shots, the dingy motels, the impala parked in front of a small town home in the rain, etc. It would be lovely to discuss on how to best write visual / cinematographic descriptions like that! Also, I'm not very good at detective-style writing, so I'm finding it quite the challenge to write a 'solve a case and defeat the monster of the week' fic.

CrowleysMistress

Crowleysmistress (ao3 not on tumblr)

Discord: Sacha04534

What is your SPN OTP? Sam/Lucifer (I mean not like shipping them but it’s all I write even if in a non-con way)

What are you looking for in the Pond? Other SPN fans - particularly angsty Sam ones

BOOST: I have a a witchcraft podcast called The Brujas Broadcast

Fic types, tropes, pairings, genres: I skip slow burn, super long ones, all reader insert, most OC, all crossover. (I like) Angst for sure, AU, adventure, smut and fluff some days depending on mood.

Do you have a favorite Fanfic writer? So my (AO3) history says I like ultimatefandomtrash, angelszn,

What kinds of fics do you like to write? Sam/Lucifer

AO3 Master List

Your most underappreciated fic!

Is there something you have not written but would like to try? A long multi chapter piece. I feel like I need to have it all done and ready to post together and not be working on something and just post pieces of it.

xPurdyGlambertx

Tumblr: @xpurdyglambertx (on all socials), including Discord and Wattpad

What is your SPN OTP? Too many - multishipper

Are you in any other fandoms? TWD, Stranger Things... those are the big ones

Pairings, genres, tropes, fic types: Ships and poly both, Mostly smut and angst

What kinds of fics do you like to write? Smut and angst, mostly oneshots but I'll pump out a multichaper fic every now and then!

Tumblr Master List

Your most underappreciated fic!

LucasBarr

Tumblr: @lucasbarr

AO3: Ophelia_Yvette

What is your SPN OTP? Dean/Cassie or Dean/Benny

Are you in any other fandoms? Mermaid Melody and Harry Potter!

What are you looking for in the Pond? fellow writers! People to talk about fic with and to help with fic writing (bc spelling is my nemesis lol)

Pairings, tropes, genres, fic types: Dean pairings for sure 😂 I am a multi shipper at heart tho so I enjoy a lot of pairings (besides like reader inserts). Found Family, Angst, Fluff, AU

Do you have a favorite Fanfic writer? Basically any spn fic writer who writes about his Amazon daughter Emma or any of the female characters of SPN 😂

What kinds of fics do you like to write? Ones about the kids of SPN like Jody’s girls, Kaia, the Freaks and Greeks gang, Ben, and Dean’s Amazon daughter Emma 😂

AO3 Master List

Your most underappreciated fic!

Is there something you have not written but would like to try? I want to get better at writing Sam and generally capturing the atmosphere of the early seasons in a fic (if that makes sense?)

Meryl1988

Tumblr: @meryl1988

AO3: Meryl1956

What is your SPN OTP? Well: I'm going to be honest here. You may feel free to kick me out Castiel/Dean. Sam/Dean. Love both equally.

Are you in any other fandoms? Starting 911

What are you looking for in the Pond? I am in complete awe of the wonderful writers of son fiction. If I can provide any support or good for thought, I would feel honored.

Pairings, genres, tropes, types of fic: Castiel/Dean. Sam/Dean. Castiel/Dean/Sam. Dean/Benny. Sam/Jessica. even though I am a total m/m reader. I love fics where she's alive and posseses a good personality. Every single one. I love stripper tropes, enemies to lovers, any AU with my boys. Hooker fiction. Poor/Privileged pairings. I also love Omega verse and Mpreg. Also RPF

Do you have a favorite Fanfic writer? This HARD! There are many but I will list a few @Felisblanco @Justinedelarge @friendofcarlotta On A03 Dollyluxe Nyxocity. Tumblr Flesflutter. Tumblr Hellhoundsprey Morgan Sunglasses Spn_kinksock Lukinha_jesus Compo67 taymarpigeon Applecrumbledore Ashtraytheif Castielslostwings Castiel_left_his_mark_on_me Amypond45 Rivkat Boydean Komodobits Naughtypastrychef Lovethemwinchesters Abs_cats Smackthedevil Chaotictrinity Anyrei. Queerwolf. Co authors Dmarie92

Sardonic-The-Writer

Tumblr: @sardonic-the-writer (and on AO3)

What is your SPN OTP? destiel, but i'm extremely partial to sabriel and crowstiel

Are you in any other fandoms? mainly spn right now, but i also love the umbrella academy and the gorillaz

What are you looking for in the Pond? mostly just to insert myself into the spn fandom space more, as well as find a safe space to share fanfics and stuff

Pairings, genres, types of fic, tropes: mostly reader inserts, but a solid ship fic of literally anyone is also good. pretty much anything genre wise, as long as i have a fun read. some of my favorite tropes would have to be friends to lovers, or just straight up a reader inserts where there's no romance and just them working a case alongside the guys. it appeals to me as an aroace guys

Do you have a favorite Fanfic writer? unsure, but i really enjoy gabriellives, The_White_Rabbit_42, and relic_amaranth's works all over on ao3

What kinds of fics do you like to write? reader inserts! mostly platonic, but i try romance sometimes. i also write a lot about my spn sona ezra (azrael) but that's mostly for me and the few people that know about him

Tumblr Master List

Your most underappreciated fic!

Is there something you have not written but would like to try? i haven't written a ton of ship content before, but i know that if i want to i will!

Codepend

Tumblr: @codepend

AO3: theknife

What is your SPN OTP? sam & dean

Are you in any other fandoms? good omens, hannibal

What are you looking for in the Pond? share my fanfics and make friends!

Pairings, genres, fic types, tropes: ships, angst, fluff, pining, unrequited

What kinds of fics do you like to write? one shots although I am working on larger projects

AO3 Master List

Your most underappreciated fic!

Is there something you have not written but would like to try? I find multi-chapter fics more overwhelming

That's all for this month, folks! (If we're missing anyone, let us know and we'll add them to next month's list!) Make sure to say hi to the newbies and make them feel welcome! Thanks to all from @manawhaat @mrswhozeewhatsis @mariekoukie6661 @thoughtslikeaminefield and @heavenssexiestangel

[somegirlontheinternet135]

With Diabolik Lovers content still being made, I'm surprised no one; and I mean NO ONE has dappled into rewrite!

For those who don't know, earlier this year, I've fallen down the neverending hellhole that was Diabolik Lovers and MY GOD WAS IT AWFUL!! The writing, the character designs, the characters themselves! It was edgy, thirst bait for the generation at the time(2012)

I say with confidence that if you wanted to torture someone, you'd have them watch this series. . . It'd hurt even more when you realize the previous versions of the story were actually good. .

The more I fell, the worse it got. . . Thus Diabolik Lovers: The Glass Labyrinth was born!✨ A Diabolik Lovers Future/Rewrite AU where Yui learns to become a witch & slowly comes to terms with her trauma!

Part 1

Part 2

I go into more detail in these posts but the story focuses on Yui, roughly 5 years after the events of season 2; having just escaped the Sakamaki & Mukami brothers with the help of The Painter Witch, Niji Shikisou. Taking her to her new home, The Kame Isles, a living mass of islands housing the world's biggest coven!

I've made this post announce three things:

1. Rather than doing rewrites for the Sakamaki and Mukami brothers, I decided to take a step further & instead do full overhauls, essentially making new ocs from the rewrites as a whole. The reasons I'm doing this is because I'd be struggling with them in terms of redesigns, I had a lot of ideas for redesigns but the ideas always fell flat.

What I'm trying to say is that their og designs were far too constricting, and I felt working with a blank slate could help. Not to mention, it opens to many new possibilities when I design them! To cut things short, overhaul ocs will be taking the places of the Sakamaki and Mukami brothers; with Rewrite!Yui being the only exception since I love her🥰🩷

2. Every time I've talked about my rewrite, I've had a lot of support for the fandom, which I appreciate; I love how we can all agree that the show is terrible & needs to be fixed, but I've had people tell me that they've seen other people rewriting, and that I say

"WHERE!?"

"WHO ARE THESE PEOPLE!? WHERE ARE THEY HIDING!?"

Listen, I loved hearing that people were rewriting the show, I think it's amazing & people should do it; but I have not seen a single rewrite of the show other than my own. And so PLEASE FOR THE LOVE OF GOD TELL ME ABOUT YOUR DIABOLIK LOVERS REWRITES TwT🙏 I would love to hear about them; so don't be afraid to share!

3. Since I'm starting my research for overhaul ocs + other ocs, if you have any ideas, questions, or suggestions for Diabolik Lovers: The Glass Labyrinth🦋✨, don't be afraid to ask/share! I'm writing this story entirely on my own, so any sort of help counts!

But anywho, that's all I've got for now. Sorry I haven't been active as from recently, I'm quite busy with life at that moment & I hope to get some things done during my last few days of break.

Be on the lookout for my other projects. . .

And as always stay tuned^^✨

[glitch-in-the-system]

So the 1st episode is… very, well, silly. It's goofy as shit. I always debate whether it's a 'good first episode' or not because, technically you could say no, 'it's just random bullshit'…

… But also all Freakazoid IS, is random bullshit. If someone doesn't like the 1st episode then they're probably not gonna like the rest of the show. Not that everyone sees or has seen every show in the exact order-- but like if you were to show them the Chip Part 1 and 2-- while some of my personal favorite episodes… I wouldn't say they're 'misleading' unless you're trying to sell someone on the show being something that it isn't. Because if they go in expecting a plot… they're going to be very quickly frustrated that there isn't one.

To go on a bit of a tangent here-- I dunno if this is a common view now as it was when I was in the fandom, but there was this view that the show we got now was a 'failure' and that we 'deserved' a 'REAL' show. One that was what it was supposed to be initially-- and that we had to just make due with the 'slop' we were given until someone could make that 'real show' we all obviously wanted.

As someone writing like… three reboots now because my muse keeps escaping me, for one, I have to question why you're even watching the show at all if it's to try and piece together some 'real show' you want-- don't get me wrong! I love looking at something I don't think got it right and rewriting stuff… BUT, if you're looking at this ENTIRE show with revulsion, you stick your nose up, you go 'ew, I wish we got the 'real show'' instead of this'… why are you here? No, really? I ask this with sincerity.

I'm not saying there's not bits that didn't age well or stuff you can't criticize or even things that would have been cool if they were a more proper show-- it's fun to imagine a what-if. I personally fucking LOATH the fatman and blubberboy short and their characters-- it's just… one big uncomfortable fatphobia joke to me. There's not even any worth in TRYING to 'reboot' their characters without essentially making them different from what they were initially. Which is the fatphobia-- however, if you don't like the show as is… you can happily go to any other media or show that actually does do what you want-- I don't even mean this derogatorily! Just that being spiteful at this show for not being more typical when there's more shows that are typical (generally speaking) seems like a waste of time.

This was more of a tangent than a 'review', but like, if you don't like the first episode, the rest of the series will not be for you. Especially if you can't survive the 'Handman limitus test' essentially. If you're fascinated by where the rest of this clown car goes, however, hop right in.

Anyway I'd have to say my personal review is… a four out of five. It's very fun, and very like, chaotic and wacky-- but this was a pilot where they're figuring stuff out. By the end of the series it's incredibly fun to see how they figured all these characters and gags out essentially on the fly. It's a MIRACLE we even GOT a season 1, let alone a season TWO.

[firecoloredwater]

Ask meme: 6, 7, 22, 30

...I had the answers 99% done and then my computer froze and I had to restart and lost all of them. So OKAY, TRYING AGAIN

6. Are there any fics from others you reread all the time?

Not really! I wish I did. I am apparently very weird in that a fic (or anything I read) needs to be a certain amount of unfamiliar, or my brain won't engage enough for me to enjoy it. If I've reread something too much then my brain will go 'oh I know what's happening, I don't need to pay attention' and wander off and get distracted. Making myself focus deliberately just means being bored and annoyed. I am also really good at remembering stories (and like nothing else) so I can read a fic twice, maybe three times if it's especially long/complex, before I have to put it down for anywhere from some months to a few years to let myself forget enough details to make it new enough to read again. (For related reasons, I basically never read my own fics for enjoyment. I'll reread to refresh my memory before writing more, or while rereading comments, but I know my own fics too well to really ever approach them as a reader. I might get enjoyment from 'oh I actually pulled that alliteration/foreshadowing/etc off well' but not just from reading the story.)

7. How many ideas for fics do you have right now?

Uhhhhh somewhere in the range of infinite. Depends on how you define ideas for fics? If you mean fics I'm actively working on/hoping to write in the near future, that would be... about 6-8, probably? But if you mean fics I'd like to write even if I don't actually expect to have the chance, that gets up into several dozen immediately. If you include ideas that I haven't specifically thought about how I'd write them, then we're probably into the hundreds. I am an endless font of ideas and it does not turn off.

22. Do you know how your fic will end before you start writing?

Usually vaguely! But it ranges from 'and then everything is good the end' to like, a two-sentence bullet point of the ending scene(s). I don't plan ahead in much detail, because I do a lot of discovering and adding things as I write, and what I throw in that way will affect later scenes. So if I had a lot of detail planned for the end, I'd just have to replan/rewrite anyway when I got there, and probably be annoyed about losing lines I liked. So it works out better for me and the fic if I keep my plans minimal. There is an exception for very short fics. If I'm writing a fic that's basically just one or two scenes, and the entire momentum of the fic is writing toward the end, then I can know exactly what the end is. But that's fairly rare, partly because I also need to be able to write it all in one shot, and I rarely have that much time.

29. Share a bit from a fic you’ll never post OR from a scene that was cut from an already posted fic. (If you don’t have either, just share a random fic idea you have that you don’t plan on getting to.)

.......................well I was going to dump a scene from one of the self insert AUs here, but it turns out two years is enough for me to no longer love the writing in that. So uhhhhhh guess I'll just. Write a new thing real quick!

(@executeness and @denialcity, enjoy)

Every clan has their own way of finding soulmates. Some are more reliable than others, and most are closely guarded. That's never mattered to Takami: the Uchiha's tradition is reliable, so any uncertainty that other clans live with isn't his problem.

He is fifteen and it is the first dawn after the winter solstice. The fire in the center of the Uchiha compound has burned all night, built steadily larger until it roars, and the flames dance as high as his chin.

Takami is not the only fifteen year old with a sharingan, but he is the clan heir, so he goes first. The entire clan sings as the first rays of dawn break through the horizon, and Takamii steps forward, sharingan burning as he shapes chakra and breathes a thin, precise stream of his own fire into the core of the flames.

He's thought before about how it would look, whether he would see his soulmate's form made of ashes and embers swirled within the flame, or if the flames themselves would twist into the right shape for only his eyes, or....

It's clearer than he imagined. As if he's looking through a window, tinted gold and shifting in the breeze, but otherwise the overlapping images are perfectly clear, as if he were looking at reality directly. But there are so many people--the fire shows the watcher's soulmate, but also everything around them, and there are so many overlapping forms. Takami prowls around the fire in a circle, watching the shifts within it, tracking which faces stay in focus.

He can hear. The longer he watches, the more sound grows. It's still thin and distant, but seems to come from deep within his own ears, so even the whole clan singing together can't quite drown out what his soulmates hear. A song, of course, and orders....

There is one flaw in the Uchiha method of identifying soulmates, Taka realizes: it's public.

He finishes a last circle of the fire. The song hasn't faltered despite the time he took, and it continues as he stops, and turns to face his father.

His whole family: Father and mother and four younger brothers, even Kunimi, who drank enough tea to keep anyone else awake for a week and is standing in his proper place with his face screwed up in determination. But Tajima is the clan head, so Takami faces him first.

Tajima's voice is pitched to carry over the song. "Have you seen what you are looking for?"

"I have," Takami says, steady as if this were any ordinary year. "There were a lot of faces, I had to move to be sure which one is mine. We should make people dance, next year."

"Then your soulmate is within the clan?"

Takami grins. "Hako's mine," he announces.

Several voices falter then, and people in the crowd shift, and surprise makes it through even Hako's near-perfect composure.

Takami is the heir, but Hako is beloved, the most beautiful and the most perfect and the most wanted. No one in the clan had even bothered to pretend they were more interested in learning Takami's soulmate now than Hako's next year.

They're not wrong, all those people chasing after Hako's every glance: Hako is the best and they should all be honored to have his sight fall on them. But he's Takami's brother first, and now no one can ever try to interfere.

In the firelight, so subtle than only the sharingan could catch it, Hako relaxes. Beside him, Madara sneaks a thumbs up, and his grin distorts his singing for a few lines.

It's not this easy, Takami knows. They're soulmates, so they won't be separated now, or expected to put anyone else first. But they'll still be expected to have friends and get married, and the whole clan and half their allies will chase Hako for both of those. Some of them will remember that some people have multiple soulmates, and keep hoping for another year that Hako will claim them even though Taka hasn't.

At the same time, it is this simple. Takami and Hako belong together, and no one will ever question it again.

Takami steps away from the fire, and goes to stand beside Hako instead of in his proper place. He takes up the song as the others look for their soulmates: one outside the clan, and one within it.

There are more traditions, more celebration, and Takami goes through them gladly with Hako at his side. Even so, Hako can read him like no one else.

It's late morning before they get even a few seconds out of everyone's sight, but the instant it's possible, Hako has Takami out of sight and hearing.

Out of sight like this, Hako isn't perfect either: his forehead is creased and worry bites in at the corners of his eyes. "Nii-sama, tell me you didn't lie."

"I didn't."

Hako frowns, his forehead creasing more, but it's true. They're soulmates. Takami didn't lie.

"Then," Hako says slowly, "why are you bothered?"

"I saw you." The images are still in Takami's eyes, hovering with sharingan clarity. The whole clan singing around the fire, centered on Hako, posed and perfect. And overlapping, a training field, four boys and a man with a voice Takami knows, barking harsh orders. "I also saw a Senju. Butsuma's son. One we haven't seen on the field yet."

"He has enough sons," Hako says harshly, then catches himself. "What did you think?"

Takami didn't think. He just watched, and knew better than to reveal anything like that. And Hako was right there to smooth things over, as always. "It doesn't matter. He'll probably just die anyway."

"You don't need him anyway," Hako says. "You have me."

"Yeah." Takami grins. "Always."

"Always," Hako promises, even though there's no need to, and then he moves on to batting a wrinkle out of Takami's clothes and herding him back out to the celebrations.

The next year, Hako looks into the fire and sees Takami alone.

Six months after that, Senju Kawarama arrives on the battlefield. He's grown, but Takami still knows that face.

He puts a scar on it.

[asamis-jodhpurs]

29, 56, and 74!

Thank you Newty!!!

29 (What’s your revision or editing process like?) - Okay my greatest writing sin is one hundred percent the fact that when it comes to fanfic the editing process is just me rereading the initial draft, fixing typos, and maybe shuffling a couple paragraphs around, or sitting bolt upright in a cold sweat and remembering something I forgot that I need to shove in. While I was working on the first three arcs of Loved by (Almost) No One, my first fic, I actually did have chapters drafted far in advance and was able to do more extensive continuity edits/even rewrite a couple OCs entirely, but that was during a summer in lockdown before I'd made an AO3 account and had the siren call of instant feedback to listen to, so I don't know that I'll really ever be able to achieve that again.

56 (What’s something about your writing that you pride yourself on?) - I'm gonna go with rhythm, actually. I'm a big formal poetry/scansion nerd, and it was an academic focus of mine in college, so one of the things I actually spend the most time on in drafting is trying to make the emphasis of the words land and feel right in a way that sets a good speed, and overall I'm pretty proud of the flow I've developed.

74 (You’ve posted a fic anonymously. How would someone be able to guess that you’d written it?) - On a line by line level, the starting of paragraphs with conjunctions and the constant Emotions Happening As Feelings In People's Chests are probably my tells. On a plot level it's 200k+ Words, Two Friends From Childhood, One of Whom Is Heir To a Bloodstained Legacy They Are Pressed Into By Force, the Other of Whom Is Clever and Lonely and Capable of Becoming Anything by Virtue of the Fact That They Are Nothing, Slowly Fall In Love, but Oh No! They Are Separated Traumatically and Must Fight Desperately To Return To One Another, Both Claiming Lives and Shedding Their Innocence in the Process. Can They Still Love One Another As They Once Wished To?

Anyway, two nickels, but it's weird that it's happened twice.

Thank you again for the ask!

Fanfic Writing Ask Game

[acaciapines]

THE OWL HOUSE DAEMON AU IS DONE!!!!!!

that's right. i just wrapped up on the epilogue, and this project that i've been writing almost nonstop since june of 2022 is...done. finished.

i'm.

this isnt the first project of this scale i've ever taken on. but its the first ive ever finished and LIKED, that im PROUD OF, despite the many things i know i'll have to do in editing, the s1 oneshot i never figured out til near the end. this is a project im so, SO excited to get to read again, get to go through and edit, and make it--well, not perfect, because that would be impossible, but something im excited to share.

its. i dont know. i guess it doesnt feel REAL, right now. that i really made it. i started this with the first episode of season two, and i finished it at the very end of the last episode of season three, and.

ive been writing these characters, this story, for so long. this story really is just--a love letter to the owl house. a show i never thought i'd come to adore, this much.

i still have a lot to do. i have editing, rewriting, a oneshot that covers all of season one. but i finished it. from start to end, i wrote what i set out to complete.

as of now, the story spans 41 individual documents, 155 chapters, and about 900,000 words. these arent the final numbers by any means but to think that i CREATED all of this is like. holy shit, man.

i don't really know how to end this. i guess i'll say: i'm so, SO excited to share this entire story with you all. i am by no means done with this universe by any means. so i'll see you all in the summer of 2024 with story one, chapter one, of and a grove of palistrom to you.

[morningstargirl666]

for ao3 wrapped: 9 (non-klaroline if i can specify, because i'm curious), 18, 30. also just to be evil: 1 >:D

9. Favorite pairing you wrote for this year?

I'm afraid I haven't written for any other pairing than klaroline this year. I wrote a dramione fic once on ffnet? What can I say: when it comes to otps I have a type.

18. The character that gave you the most trouble writing this year?

Probably Rebekah. She's got more scenes in tbbw's rewrite, and I struggled with writing her in for a bit. Compared to the brothers, I think her character was never as fleshed out in the show, with a lot of it only surface level. What does she like to do? What are her hobbies? Likes/dislikes? Dreams and ambitions? We know Klaus paints; it could be argued Elijah is a bit bookish, (and if taking TO into account, has a pention for creating cults and fight clubs lmao) and Kol, we know had an interest in magic and in my opinion, was a secret nerd. All three share the family flair for the dramatic, and can be psychotic in their varying different ways. But Rebekah? The writers really fucked her over. She's portrayed more as a Klaus 2.0 temperment wise, copies everything Caroline does as soon as she rolls into town, and the only thing that sets her apart from her siblings is she has a passion for the pursuit of love, and the human life she was robbed off. Which is fine as a foundation for a character, but not as the summary of their whole character. It's one of those times where the show's misogny was really blatant and I don't like it.

So I fixed it. It felt like pulling teeth writing her --- mostly because I haven't written her before --- but I did it. Pretty proud how she turned out.

30. Biggest surprise while writing this year?

I'd say how much I've written but that would be a lie. I knew after writing 10 chapters and not even reaching 100k it would not end well for me.

I guess, what surprised me was how tbbw's story evolved as I was rewriting it? Like, there's flashbacks that explore Elijah, Kol and Rebekah's characters and intergrate them more into the story. Things like holes in the lore and plot problems just starting clicking. I think when you write one chapter at time, you don't sit back and look at the bigger picture --- the entire fic as a whole. Editing tbbw gave me that, and its better because of it.

How many words have you written this year?

You are evil. You are the evilist evil to ever evil. I am feeling so ATTACKED right now.

436,507 words. That's how many I've written --- the exact count for tbbw, as I started rewriting it around christmas last year. And I'll have you know, that amount is double from the year before, where I probably wrote around 200k. Let us hope that rate of increase doesn't become a pattern or so help me god---

[misailurist]

State of the Fanfiction

Wanted to talk a bit about fanfics I wrote back in the day and plans for the future. tldr: it's (almost) all weird-ass Simeon Saint rarepairs

Eight years ago, I wrote Simon Says, a way-too-long story about Simon Blackquill's time in prison... which quickly became focused on him dating/breaking up with Simon Keyes. There had been some interest in that pairing, and I liked it myself, but keeping them together felt antithetical to the story's overall message of "Blackquill is OK now and has learned to stop martyring himself for others," and also I not-so-secretly think messy breakups are more fun than successful romances. So that's what I did. Despite that, I'd had a lot of notes at the time about what a sequel might look like, where Keyes got out of prison and had his own redemption arc and became the kind of boyfriend who wouldn't destroy Blackquill's life. But when it came to actually write it, I decided that redemption arcs were boring, scrapped it all, and started working on my bonkers Keyes/Phantom fic where literally the only reason behind the pairing choice was, "Phantom is about as emotionally functional as an animal, so I bet Keyes could train him into being his dog." I wrote two chapters and then wandered away from fandom entirely to try being a functional adult for a while. Now, a whole ass time skip later, being a functional adult sucks ass and AAI2 finally got localized, so here I am again. I ended up reading all my own fanfic -- do you know that if enough years pass, you'll forget enough of what you wrote that reading your own fics feels like finding a new favorite author who made a bunch of shit just for you? Do recommend. And in those fics, I found three stories where I were mad that they hadn't been finished. Did you know that if you're your own new favorite author, you are now burdened with the knowledge that unfinished fics won't be updated unless YOU, YOURSELF update them? Awful. Terrible. Do not recommend. The three fics were: 1. Just Fake it. My post-bad-end Blackbright fic. I should go to jail for not finishing that. (On the bright side, it's what made me hyper-vigilant about backing up my writing, which is why I have the remnants of all the stories on this list at all.) I would like to finish it but I am in the middle of replaying the games and don't want to touch it until I've replayed Dual Destinies. (I am currently on...... Turnabout Big Top. Sigh.) 2. Impostor Syndrome. The aforementioned Keyes/Phantom fic, which I have updated with the new localized names so it is now a Saint/Phantom fic. Although it is currently just "the meandering post-prison adventures of Simeon Saint" fic because I am completely, utterly making this shit up as I go and haven't gotten to the shipping part yet. Does anyone want to read this but me? Trick question, I don't care. I'm basically in a fugue state right now and I don't think I could stop if I wanted. Also we are T-minus-two-chapters to where there will, in fact, be some actual for real Saint/Phantom shipping, so idk hang in there. 3. Simon, Horace, and Miles. The "what if there were no IS-7" AU. This one sucks actually. But I still love the idea of it. There's meat there. But the whole thing needs to be scrapped and restarted from the ground up. Something to consider once Impostor Syndrome is out of my system. Also I would rewrite it to be properly soutamitsu. That's a pairing the world needs more of, damn it. Also I lied, there's a secret fourth one that I never posted anywhere publicly: 4. Fabulous! A Simeon Saint/Max Galactica smut fic I started and then remembered I don't like writing smut. But the setup was pretty good so maybe I'll try again to finish it???

[loregoddess]

For three houses, 5 and 30!

Hmm....I'm gonna do all three methinks.

5. Which route did you play through last? I saved Silver Snow for last, which worked out since the final map was the most difficult map for me to complete, even with my superstar New Game+ team of MVPs from previous runs. But it was also my favorite final boss theme from the ost, so...

8. What storyline threads should have had more development / been further explored? Hm, well every route has its strengths and weaknesses in the writing department. I think either Silver Snow or Crimson Flower could have used the most development.

SS feels like a rough draft, which meant that Verdant Wind, in following all the major story beats of SS but just like, better, felt like the finished draft, so if I had been in charge of writing I would have gone back and overhauled SS entirely, and made it completely unique (they could have made VW unique, but I feel it's strong as is, so SS needs to change).

I feel like the writers could have really leaned into the tragedy of Edelgard and Byleth falling out of trust, instead of the short and weird little scene we get at the start of the second arc after the timeskip, although this would require a lot more writing going into Edelgard for the first arc to make the player really care about her and feel the sting of betrayal more (for me, she came off as very cold in the first arc, which fits the general gist of her characterization, but when I'm losing approval points with her left and right I felt like, "girl what do you want from me" slight frustration rather than like, wondering about her mysterious secret bc even going in blind with my first run being Azure Moon, I figured out her role as Flame Emperor super quickly, so she wasn't mysterious so much as. Cold, and deeply untrusting--which is interesting characterization, but doesn't set up a betrayal plot twist very well).

Aside from really pushing for a more tragic overtone though, how I imagine potential rewrites varies bc there's a lot of room to do all sorts of things that I think could be interesting. What I personally think would be interesting and what like, a larger development team would think was feasible or interesting might be different. I would want to put more focus on Rhea and the history of Fodlan, maybe bring Sothis back into the picture and really dive into the world she knew before she had to heal it. I'd also want an entire arc talking about the demonic beasts and their history and the lore behind them, I am so curious about the monsters in 3H.

Alternatively if the writing didn't focus on the Nabatean characters, I think the writing should have really leaned in more to focus on the BE cast, since I feel like this is the most interesting potential arc for most of their character arcs, but they don't get to shine as much in SS due to having to share the narrative with the CoS characters.

As for Crimson Flower, I felt like the writers chickened out by trying to backpedal and make Edelgard morally grey instead of really leaning into her motives and ideologies that make her an interesting antagonist in all the other routes. Honestly aside from seeing all non-central characters undergo negative growth character arcs (watching the BL kids suffer in CF was SO fascinating for a lot of their characterizations), overall CF was the most boring route to me, ending with me wishing I could have defected to Rhea's side bc her spiral into madness seemed a hell of a lot more interesting than whatever Edelgard was doing.

I think the writers should have leaned in to making CF the "bad end" route, with lots of emphasis on all the bad things Edelgard was doing. I was prepared to play as a villain. Other games have made villain routes a thing, the fandom still would have been a toxic wasteland I'm sure, but at least the route would have been interesting. FE in general has a really hard time letting female villains be villains though, so I wasn't entirely surprised. Would love to see a FE female villain who's ruthless and unapologetically evil with no tragic backstory or mind control or justification, like how we see with Scarlet in FF7, but I know what FE is about so my hopes aren't high.

Also I feel like the Agarthans should have either been fully developed as villains, or cut entirely so Edelgard could have shone more brightly in her antagonist role. Especially since, as we see in Hopes, the writers really wanted to lean in more to making Edelgard morally grey, the Agarthans would have had to have so, so, so much more development to be the proper, potentially terrifying and horrific, villains they could have been.

30. What characters should have more support options and who should have been their support options? For Houses, I was actually pretty satisfied with the supports. Every character (sans Byleth) has about the same number of characters they can support with, give or take a few, so supports felt fairly balanced overall. I might have changed some of the supports to focus on different topics bc I feel there are some missed opportunities or vagueness that could have been written more precisely, but overall I'm happy w/ Houses.

Although if Rhea could've played a larger role, I think she should have had supports with various characters. Supports are where a lot of the characterization is stored, and we miss out on so much potential characterization for her as a result. I specifically think she would have gotten along famously with Mercedes and Annette, and I would pay money to see supports between her and Cyril.

Hopes on the other hand is another story, and this is mostly due to uh, many characters not being added into the playable roster (MY SON CYRIL I MISS YOU). If I had the full cast of characters I hoped would be playable (no pun intended), I would have wanted to see supports between Hanneman and Sylvain, since they took Sylvain's character in an interesting direction in Hopes, and I think the dynamic between the two would have also been fascinating. (Also imagine how chaotic supports between Hanneman and Monica could have been; guy who's been studying all his life, and girl with a genius memory).

Nadir and Judith should have been playable, and they should have gotten supports with each other too.

I also think Ignatz and Hubert should have had supports in the Scarlet Blaze route. Hubert compliments Ignatz's strategy the battle where you can recruit Ignatz, and that is just so rare for Hubert, that I was like huh, wonder what supports between these two would even look like. They also both want to ride pegasi so...yeah I've been thinking about the potential dynamics between those two ever since. They haunt me.

I also really, really wished Miklan lived through the events of Azure Gleam, bc his writing was so much more interesting in Hopes than in Houses, and I want to pull out a lawn chair and get a nice cup of tea so I can watch the Gautier skeleton closet get cleaned out in his hypothetical supports.

[maniacalchimera]

Kingdom Hearts Ask Meme: All questions. Roxas for the character asks

Doing the questions I haven't answered yet haha, this is going below a read more

My wife played them for me. I had tried to get into them beforehand when I was like, 14-15 but Cerberus kicked my ass.

hmmmmm I feel like saying KH2 is "mainstream" but I'll say KH2. I think it's got the best pacing, I like the worlds the best, and, uh, Demyx, I guess.

4. I despise Ansem the Wise. I already disliked him as DiZ but then KH3 pulled his reunion with Ienzo and I hated every minute of it. Go sit in the corner, Grandpa. And actually apologize to Namine.

5. Favorite world is Olympus Coliseum. It's almost a meme, honestly. I like 2's version the best because the Underworld is fantastic.

9. I'm assuming we'll be going after the Foretellers next and MoM as our main villain. At least, I really REALLY hope MoM is our main villain and we're not going to redeem him or say that what he's done is all for the greater good or whatever. Capital D Darkness as a concept is fine and all, but I'm really interested in seeing a villain aligned with the light.

10. I don't think I'd make any sweeping changes to canon, but I'd definitely make tweaks. The way authority figures are presented in general I greatly dislike, so you know I'd be coming after Ansem TW and Yen Sid with a newspaper roll. Wipe the Ienzo "apology" scene from the map, rewrite it (he was like NINE MAX when things went to shit he shouldn't need to apologize!!). And also write out all the bullying Sora experiences from his FRIENDS in KH3.

Uh actually amendment to this question: while I'd keep the story beats mostly the same I would ABSOLUTELY rewrite KH3 so that its pacing wasn't so awful. Love the game to death but Sora's interactions with the Organization before the Graveyard leave much to be desired and then the end of the game is jampacked with shit. Give me like three years, I'll fix it.

11. GUESS WHAT. I'M DOWN THE YMX/DEMYX CRACK SHIP HOLE AND Y'ALL ARE COMING WITH ME. The non crack answer would be AelDilEven, because Dads. (Sorry Braig, you're a weird uncle.)

13. I, uh...don't really read fics, actually. I read my wife's stuff and I read our rps. Our rps are really good.

Roxas

I felt really bad for him. I think I had some general idea of what was going on with him so it wasn't like, a mystery to me, but his story is tragic even when you know the details.

I love Roxas's dual-wielding style, and literally all his interactions with Sora are great. I don't know if I have any strong dislikes? I mean, he acts like a bratty teenager sometimes, but that's just teenagers.

Yeah, I think his story is handled really well.

I don't really interact with a lot of fandom, tbh, I've got my little corner. I do think that people tend to paint him as TOO angry sometimes? Idk

His return in KH3 is fantastic. And the MUSIC IS SO GOOD.

Anything with him and Seifer is funny to me. Man, when he got to be a normal kid...

Well, between his normal outfit and the darkness snuggie, I think I'll take the normal outfit.

.....I'm sorry, I don't think about Roxas outside of the games all that much. He's not really made it on the 'daydream about while jamming' list.

Hayner/Roxas makes me smile.

Roxas and Xion are BEST BUDS and I will KILL FOR THEM.

I don't think I have many specific headcanons? He likes weird foods, entirely because of Sora.

Roxas and Ven got that little interaction in Re:Mind so they don't count, but now I need to see him interact with the other Wayfinders.

I still don't read fic :(

[beevean]

https://youtu.be/fDKZJbOiEQ4?si=k_KZ2dI4EPU3FHyR

https://youtu.be/LSnbb8e7UY0?si=FbAPhkoSgToMQvIb

Behold! The Queen of all time!

(And somehow Lady Pussy Sun manages to be even more one dimensional)

What kills me about this whole monologue is the setup:

Lenore: Please, would Dracula have kept [Hector] around in his own castle if he were that dangerous? Carmilla: *sighs* I would have liked that castle.

They were just talking about Hector, about him stalling and Carmilla suspecting him of being devious (and I would love to know how Carmilla grew to see Hector as suspicious and capable of killing, when she hasn't interacted with him on screen since the beginning of S3 when he was a pathetic sack of flesh) and Lenore "protecting" him by calling him "too simple" (déjà vu), a pretty important conversation for Carmilla because it has been six weeks and this asshole is making a fool out of the entire Council by roaming around her home without doing what he was raped hired to do (and Striga had mentioned in S3 that they couldn't afford to waste time as they had to take advantage of the chaos in the region before the humans reconquered it)... then Lenore just happens to mention the castle when it wasn't even the main subject of her sentence, and Carmilla immediately forgets all about the Hector issue because she just has to rant about her desire to conquer all?

absolutely peak dialogue. flows just as smoothly as chunks of concrete through a tube. i can see why this show is so praised for its writing.

I remember a post I read ages ago, about how Carmilla's insanity speedrun arc devalues the other sisters. In S2, she was pretty much the only ruler of Styria: the others weren't created yet, and she was written as someone who had to burden her trauma all alone. Then S3 introduces this tight-knit group of besties, which genuinely respect and admire Carmilla for being the "spark". Then in S4 Carmilla somehow loses her mind in one fell swoop because the others were too busy to check on her, reverts back to the lonely traumatized woman who fell prey to her own hatred and thirst for power, and the other three decide to turn their back on her with barely any hesitation. You could honestly cut all three sisters and fuse Carmilla with Lenore, and the story would be organically better. I honestly don't know if it looks worse when you watch everything in one go or having to wait one year for this mess.

On top of this, it's yet another instance of show don't tell. Carmilla just tells us about her trauma. "The first part of my life was men taking things from me," this is a chilling line with all sorts of terrible implications, and it's just thrown there without any care or pathos. Because the focus is not on her motivations that are supposed to give her depth: it's to show how insane she is, to suddenly kick her back into main villain position after she twiddled her thumbs for a whole season, and to justify poor widdle Lenore being scared of her, because hey, she's the "good" vampire, and aww she was lied to just like Hector, aren't they true soulmates, isn't this poetic cinema?

When you boil the Styria subplot down, it really is all about that damn woman, and screw everyone else, isn't it.

I said in one post that if I were to rewrite Carmilla, I'd put more emphasis on the fear that pervades her and drives her to react to the world with rage, mistrust and desire to protect herself. I cannot take Carmilla seriously the way she was written. She has the blueprints to be a compelling antagonist and representation of a woman who reacts to her trauma in an "unappealing" way without being woobiefied (and I do seriously appreciate it), but with scenes like this, she really only comes off as the scornful parody of a radfem written by a man that is absolutely not feminist in the slightest.

Oh, and I'll just mention this here:

"Bloody women," they said. "Let them die," they said.

For a setting so inspired by Berserk, and that has long dialogues of low-class men talking about fucking animals, there is a distinct lack of misogyny on screen. Not only the only flashback we get of Carmilla's past shows the day she killed her master and we don't get to see her "nightmares", which means we are not privy to the details of what drove her to be so hateful, we never see any men actually look down on Carmilla for being a woman in power: even Godbrand may be a bit of a lecherous pig, but seems to respect her enough as a person. Again, this cheapens her misandry. I can't take her seriously. She's just ranting that MEN BAD and I'm supposed to think she's cool for it.