#OMG MY READERS ARE SOOOO CLEVER!

[thebestofoneshots]

I just got an ask from my babe @cometsghost and GIRRRRRL! You’re a sly little fox, aren’t you? You’re so clever!

Like no joke, it really is ALL in the details, all of it. Clearly I am a foreshadowing freak, because I LOOOVE leaving the little sprinkles of the future all over the place. Literally every single thing happens for a reason. And that’s the wonder of it all, I want things to slowly develop into something bigger and I feel like it’s working out just as I expected it to…

Little treat for you, the book cover I created for Gilded Constellations (this cover literally has as many clues as it gets, can you find them all as well?):

PS. For always being a loyal theorist, I’ve got a little price for you lovely. Say your wish, I will deliver (like an edit, a blurb, a mini fic, wanna be a character in the story? Literally anything you want sweetheart!)

[mossible]

Hellooo I have come from AO3 to say Many Things!!! About Cracked Snowglobes!!

But now i'm unsure where to even begin with the gushing because chapter 4 has left me CLIMBING the walls, hanging upside down from my ceiling, HOWLING because good cod !!!!! Intense argument after intense emotional moment after brief humorous, hopeful breath of air, thEN MORE INTENSE CONFLICT--

I was positively SHAKING in bed when i read it last night, it left me IN SHAMBLES (⁠╯⁠°⁠□⁠°⁠）⁠╯⁠︵⁠ ⁠┻⁠━⁠┻

I've been meaning to comment in more detail on every chapter, and just list up everything little detail and exchange i love, but after the current chapter i had TO COME HERE FIRST to send an Ask!!

I am SO HAPPY to see Off the Hook and the Squid sister and Splatoon hanging out, and knowing that sweet, brave Eight is in good, caring hands now 🥺 they deserve the world, and their genuine admiration and trust in Octavio had me 🥹 it was so cathartic to see Marina have the heart to heart she needed with her former leader as well, even if they don't agree with everything, Octavio's growth already showed a teeeny tiny bit in him, reluctantly, agonizingly, agreeing with Marina and making that promise to her (and by extension, to Eight and all of his people)

I don't know what you have planned for the next chapter, i know this one's gonna be tricky since it has to essentially fill in the void between game 2 and 3, but man!!! I really really really hope that, despite all of the baggage and anger and yelling, Octavio can find some solace, something to hold onto, in the genuine hope and trust that Eight, Callie, and Marina put in him, in spite (or because?) of everything 🙏 he's gonna have another tough road ahead of him, but i believe in this stubborn, clever, spiteful old man 🐙 he has fucked up many times before, but i believe he will try his best to keep his word, if only to not let the people down that put their trust in him (maybe that's hust me being delulu and naive tho agsjshdjfhgfd)

My god that ENDING tho!!! The leaky roof has CRASHED DOWN metaphorically, and it's really lucky that Octavio jumped the heck outta there because i would NOT want to be at the camp after all that!

There's poor Callie, probably having a small breakdown rn, and Cuttlefish, who let some /real nasty/ things slip out there (granted, that was mostly the result of being spurred on and goaded by Octavio to be his worst self, i think) that i can't rly see Marina and Eight just... overlook, tbh (especially after he also pulled that whole past identify reveal on Marina in the Metro, which could have potentially ended very, very poorly)... The mood there is probably. 😬😬😬 Rip to the planned party 🎉

There's soooo much more i would like to say, but yeah that's gonna be probably better said in individual chapter comments, but i just HAD to get this all out!

Thank you so much for your incredible work!! The long chapters are a delight to read personally, even if they seem a bit daunting at first; since the writing and pacing is so good, it's very easy to breeze through them :D

I wish you a belated Happy New Year and lots of inspiration, motivation, and free writing time for the chapter 5, I'm super looking forward to whatever you've planned next! 🙌🐙✨

WAUUAUGHH TYSM OMGGG!! i absolutely relate on the commenting thing LOL sometimes ill spend months keeping up with a fic, only to realize later on that oh. oops i havent commented at all. i really shouldve done that! very much a regular ao3 reader thing to overlook it, so i absolutely dont blame u at all LMAO (i do look forward to the comments though, ive said this like hundreds of times it feels like already but feedback rlly is such a strong motivator when it comes to writing! very funny how reading words makes you want to make more words)

but. again. WAHHH thank you !! im glad youve been enjoying so far, and ur kind words mean so so sososo much ;_; omg

i'm very excited to get chapter 5 out to yall, but im also super excited to just like. write it in general LOL it has a LOTTTTT of stuff that i cant exactly talk about just yet, considering that it would all be spoilers for what exactly goes down, but im super hyped for it. and im the one writing it!

the only thing i can say is that, yeah youre spot on about it being tricky and having to bridge that gap! i don't have any plans to change the actual plot points that happen in the games themselves, excluding whatevers gonna happen for the s3 dlc which we essentially know uh. nothing about! we're currently still on track to be following the story modes' outlines. (but as soon as we get off of that track? hooh boy ive got some silly ideas >:))

again tho, thank you so much ik i keep saying it but. it means so much to hear how yall are liking the fic !! <3

[finelinevogue]

stop your trope talk, i should be studying for my final but i’m not because i want to keep up with your trope talk pls.

anyway, i hope the secretly wealthy anon is okay with me talking about it with you two, so!!! harry would be very impressed if he ever asks reader about anything related to Pleasing and reader just breaks out of character and gets all professional. they know how to talk business, so they just comment on the tiniest details and start talking in numbers and stats and harry’s like “um???? how do you know that stuff???”

and omg i can see them getting into a fight because harry bought them this $$$ gucci shoes or a fucking headband and reader is just so insulted because they only thrift and all about sustainability so like “are you trying to impress me with money? what is that supposed to make me feel? you could literally donate that much money to somebody who needs it” and harry’s like “i just wanted to make you happy!” and reader is like “by buying me stuff? who do you think i am???” and harry’s like “you’re abusing this. i just thought it was a nice gesture”

and reader is like “and that’s the problem. it just says a lot about what you think of me” and it’s so fucking heated

okay don't blame me if you fail... but i am a good distraction soooo

OMG OF COURSE! that's such a clever add on. reader would be mentioning all of these business words and harry's there like "didn't you take a geography degree?". but he loves how involved the reader is with Pleasing and they are the reason the company works so hard on sustainability.

oh god the angst is making my toes tingle already!!!

r: harry this literally cost you £500

h: yeah and?

r: please tell me you're joking right now

h: i don't understand. i know you and i thought you'd like it?

r: yeah well, maybe you don't know me at all.

[sword-of-the-writer]

It's so great that you're getting more confident in your own writing!! Can I request “I kept every letter…” (72) with Yuri please? Maybe it had something to do with a reunion after the timeskip? Ooh, maybe include a letter or two (but only if you want)! Also if you haven't done the DLC then maybe Sylvain? Ily 💖💖💖🥺🥺🥺

I kinda hate how this ended up but at the same time I’m aware of the fact that I’m currently in a a mindset where I don’t like anything I do soooo yeah. But it was fun to write! So thats a plus! I just didn’t bother proof reading ngl...

Also omg am I ever bad at naming fics ugh don’t look at it

Disclaimer: The way I wrote the reader character implies a lot that they are experiencing depression due to the losing time, general melancholy, and so on. Please don’t push yourself to read this if that could be triggering to you! Its not worth it!

—

The Letters You Sent || Yuri Leclerc

Days seemed to turn to night every time you blinked, and months seem to pass with every breath.

It all seemed to blur together, those five years of many battles and little hope, except for the only thing that seemed to keep you tethered to reality.

Every so often, about 2-3 weeks apart, you would receive a letter from one of your old classmates.

The first had more than caught you by surprise. A traveling merchant had said something strange to you, strange yet oh so familiar... you quickly returned to him and his wares once you had pinpointed where you had first heard such a phrase, but the man only laughed and insisted you take a beautiful porcelain jar.

Later that night you had opened it up, finding a curious little letter inside.

You only knew of one person who would have the influence to get a merchant on board with such a clever plan, especially considering how heavily monitored mail and trade had been by the empire.

Thus your discreet correspondence with Yuri Leclerc had begun.

The two of you tended to talk about everything but the war. It was almost as if you were exchanging amorous notes back and forth like school children. Almost as if there was no war to speak of.

And truthfully, it’s all you had to hold on to the world around you.

Until the letters stopped

—

You swayed and stumbled through the next four and a half months, barely remembering any of it.

At one point, you were visited by another old classmate, Ashe, who helped pull you away from your melancholic routine. He had come to visit between battles, insisting that the two of you go back to the monastery for the promised reunion. You shrugged in indifference, to which Ashe pouted.

You gave in with little protest, as you didn’t have enough strength to fight against Ashe’s decisions. This only worried the freckled boy more and more as he saw just how hard the war had hit you. You were almost lifeless... nothing like what he remembered from your academy days.

You stopped to put up a makeshift camp when night fell, and thats when Ashe pulled an actual response from you. Finally, something more than a shrug!

“What happened, [Y/N]? Clearly, something happened.” Ashe asked softly, face downcast as he anticipated a reply

“I’ve never been much of a solitary person, being alone for so long has really gotten to me.” You admitted, though skipping the details about losing time as you thought it’d only worry the boy further

“I... I’m sorry. We all went our separate ways... but I...”

You knew now that Ashe was consumed with guilt by this. He looked to you not with pity in his eyes, but guilt and concern.

“Well I.. I was exchanging letters with Yuri for a time. Through an old merchant.”

“Oh?” He looked up, “Well, lead it to Yuri to find a clever loop hole. We barely have been able to send letters between the kingdom territories not controlled by the empire.”

“It’s that bad, huh? I suppose I really took the letters for granted.” You sigh

“When was the last time he wrote?”

“The last one I received was...” you paused to think. How many days had past? “Four... four and a half I think?”

“Weeks? Well—“

“Months”

“Oh, I see.” He nodded, “though that doesn’t mean—“

“Whatever it does mean, isn’t anything in my favor. He’s dead... He’s captured... He just doesn’t want to talk to me anymore... the options aren’t good.”

Ashe fell silent, unable to muster a counter argument that made any sense. Looking away, you sigh.

“You won’t be alone anymore, though.” Ashe spoke up

“What?” You turn back, eyes wide with curiosity

“You won’t be alone. I’ve heard that both Sylvain and Felix intend on making it to the reunion, and so I can only imagine who else will be there. You’ll be surrounded by people who care about you.”

“I—“ you pause, sighing “you sound like you’re trying to convince me to go, despite us being halfway there.”

Ashe chuckled “ah, you’re right.”

“Lets just get some rest.”

—

The next day also seemed to blur by, but that was more in the sense that Ashe’s horse was going so damn fast. And then, of course, there were the thieves.

You were the most excited you had been since you read the neat and loopy words scrawled across the parchment neatly placed in that porcelain pot. It really made you fight with more vigor than you had felt since you left.

In the aftermath, you a familiar mint haired silhouette.

“The professor is alive?” You gasped, pushing past your other classmates “oh professor! I’m so glad you’re alive!”

“I’m glad to find that all of you are alive as well,” they answered back “I’m sorry for being away for so long.”

Everyone’s spirits seemed high, including your own. You even seemed to forget about the letters sent by a certain someone! At this point, everyone started to crowd the previously dead professor to question them, and so you shirked away to the back of the crowd.

“Well now, you were quite concerned for the professor, but not me? Thats harsh.” A familiar sing-songy voice teased

You were paralyzed in your spot, unknowing what to do as your thoughts raced a mile a minute. So he was alive? You were overjoyed!

Except that meant... the letters...

You turned on your heal to face the man. He was still taller than you despite how you had grown, his hair had grown out somewhat, and by the goddess he was still stunning!

“Yuri?” You had to mumble, almost as if you were sure he was only your imagination

“Who else? You seriously didn’t forget such a pretty face, did you?”

Disbelief turned to anger the longer you looked at his teasing smile. Why had he stopped sending letters? And then why is he picking on you now? It didn’t make sense.

“Why are you saying such things when you were the one who cut contact with me! Did none of it matter to you.”

Yuri didn’t seem surprised by your words, though clearly they still rubbed him the wrong way.

To avoid causing a fuss, Yuri pulled you aside.

“They did. Do, I mean. I kept every letter.” He huffs

You felt a flutter in your heart from his response, but you still pressed him for answers, “Then what was with the last few months?”

“The last— right.” An exasperated sigh left the man’s lips as he held his head in his hands “the merchant demanded more and more money each time— I had to think about Abyss first.”

“Oh.”

“I wish I said something in my last letter, I do, but I didn’t think it would be the last.”

“I... I’m sorry for thinking the worst.” You admit, the anger now long gone “I just... thought you were... y’know?”

Yuri’s hands lifted to your shoulders and gave them a reassuring squeeze. You melted at his touch.

“You think I’d die that easily?” He laughed “while I was waiting this whole time for you to come back?”

[superherotiger]

Author Interview Tag

Thank you so much to the lovely @theoceanismyinkwell for tagging me in this awesome game!

Name: Aisling (or Ash for short!)

Fandoms: For ones I’ve written in, it would be Star Wars Rebels and Irondad, and with a very brief exploration into Trollhunters! I’ve also lurked in a lot of fandoms too like Miraculous Ladybug, the Mandalorian, Steven Universe etc.

Where you post: Ao3 and Tumblr!

Most popular one-shot: (Based on hits) Turn my Day From Good to Great

Most popular multi-chapter fic: (Based on hits and kudos) A Soul’s Best Friend

Favorite story you’ve written so far: A Soul’s Best Friend because I have a soft spot for animals and for the platonic soulmates trope, so it’s a win win hah

Fic you were nervous to post: I’ve Got You Little Bug because I’d been wanting to write a Villain Irondad AU for a while but wasn’t sure how people would respond to it, but thankfully it seemed that lots of readers enjoyed the new spin on their dynamic!

How you choose your titles: I always try to boil down the main elements of the story and think of a clever or fun way to put them into a single sentence. Example: A soulmate AU with animal companions, one of which is a dog. Souls + A man’s best friend = A Soul’s Best Friend

Do you outline: Definitely for larger or multi chapter fics, but otherwise I just wing it.

Complete: 7/10 fics based on my Ao3 list

In progress: 3/10 fics, those being my Whumptober fics, my Celestial Irondad AU, and Return to Me.

Coming soon/not yet started: SOOOO many omg. Next update for Return to Me, new stories for Whumptober, collab with the amazing @lbigreyhound13. The list goes on and on lol

Do you accept prompts: I do! Though I’m a very slow writer so I may not get to it for a while lol

Upcoming story you are most excited to write: Mostly I’m super hyped for my collab with Grey like I mentioned earlier, but since I don’t want to spoil that one, I’ll say it’s one of my next Whumptober fics involving an enhanced!mutation Peter!! It’s going to be a lot of fun!

...

Tagging: @midnightlunaandinnerfangirl @lbigreyhound13 @littlemissagrafina @an-odd-idea @kevyfanfics @joyful-soul-collector @i-am-irondad and any one else who would like to join!

[aqvarius]

[WALKTHROUGH + REVIEW + CG] Romance MD: Tetsuya Hosho

This review is coming in a whole month late because life got in the way of my happiness and general enjoyment lol. When I started writing this, there was still a heart sale on and there was no time limit for reading Hosho’s route PLUS the Collector’s Edition was available! So the value of this review is significantly less than it should have been but sadly life has just been so busy. Hopefully this is still helpful.

Expectations:

I was both more excited for, and afraid of, Hosho’s route. I was certainly more excited than I was for Takado’s route. But I was also afraid that Hosho was going to be So Dark like proper haraguro and this Dr. MC would just get sucked into his darkness and fall in love because of Stockholm Syndrome. I don’t really know if I have anyone that I would compare him to just based on first impression - Maybe Ryoichi from Seduced in the Sleepless City? In general I’m a bit wary of the super flirty and/or princely guys cause they’re always the type that don’t take love seriously and just mess around because they’re ToO aFrAiD tO tRuSt PeOpLe and they’ll treat you like garbage and you just have to deal with all their shit with unconditional tolerance because you’re in love. (Shinobu Narita… my nemesis… will I ever get to a point where I stop mentioning this…? Probably not.)

So basically I was eager to try Hosho but I also went into his route with a heap of trepidation.  If you’ve read my Takado review, you may also know that I’m not a huge fan of RMD’s Dr. MC. Was she any better in this route? Let’s see…

Click below to read the full review, plus walkthrough and CGs

Reality:

This route both exceeded my expectations in terms of plot but also let me down a little bit in terms of the relationship. Let’s start with Dr. MC. Hosho’s MC is fine… maybe I’m just being extra biased because I don’t like her sprite lmao #shallow. I do find her substantially more likeable than Takado’s MC who I personally don’t really like. I like that she actually acknowledges her feelings and actually… has… feelings lol, although something I don’t like about Dr. MC is that she’s not very introspective. I feel like other Voltage MCs tend to have a better grip on their emotions and what it is they’re feeling but Dr. MC is a bit like… omg WHAT??? I’m in LOVE???? They do refer to her as a robot at times which I kind of agree with lol, and I tend to prefer my MCs to be human. Also, I’m so confused by the reports that she writes. Aren’t they factual reports? When I write notes at conferences, I just write about people’s papers… I’ve never in my life written a report on my supervisors’ personal lives, nor would I show them to anyone if I did, and certainly not to the department head!!

Dr. MC is better about acknowledging her feelings and accepting her love for him in Hosho’s route though, I will admit, but it’s just my personal preference to like sweet MCs. If you like MCs which are a bit more snarky, you will probably like Dr. MC. However, because we read these routes from the perspective of the MC, I overall find it easier to actually fall in love with the love interest and the relationship when the MC falls in love. Which Hosho’s Dr. MC does… but just in a way that I don’t find very convincing? I wonder if it’s maybe that I can’t figure out why she falls in love – it feels more like general pity/comfort than love, although it does provoke an interesting thought exercise into what we might define as being in love. The strange thing is that plot-wise, I think them falling in love is smooth enough, but I honestly think it’s just the writing style that I find a bit too clinical (lol) maybe? So while the pacing is fine, it still somehow feels a bit abrupt. I haven’t quite figured out what exactly it is about RMD that I just find slightly off… (and I’m also too lazy to do a proper analysis and compare to some other titles).

I think it also depends on how you play otome games: do you treat the MC as a separate person? Do you tend to self-insert as the MC? Or is it sort of a mix of both?

Personally, I find for myself that it’s a mix of both. I like MCs that I can relate to, so in that sense there’s an element of self-insert, but I also do see her as a separate person (since they make a lot of choices that I wouldn’t and tend to have a form of strength and conviction that I absolutely do not have lol). Something I realised about myself is that when I read shoujo manga, I’m pretty indiscriminate about what types of guys I like… it’s more about the chemistry between the two characters. Speaking of playing otome games, I don’t really know how I feel about the Sekai inserts… I mean it’s fairly relatable to mentally interact with your favourite otoge characters but from a reader perspective, we know absolutely nothing about Sekai so I don’t feel any particular way about seeing him. Maybe it’s just a different way of communicating Dr. MC’s thoughts but yeah I don’t really know that the Sekai inserts are necessary…? Let me know what you think about him.

Also so maybe this is maybe a cultural thing but like what is the DEAL with the pheromones? I can tell you for sure that I’ve been attracted to people in my life but I’ve never felt them like leaking pheromones. (I think my boyfriend smells amazing and it makes me wanna be close to him but like… are those pheromones? I don’t know.) I find it funny that out of all of them, Hosho probably has the most ‘regular’/realistic(?) character design but we have to take their word for it that he’s the Sexiest Person Ever. I feel like it was a bit over the top but then again I really did become convinced that Hosho is just super sexy so… I guess it worked? But equally, I feel like it could have been toned down a little and I still would have believed that Hosho is sex on legs. He’s actually really likeable… but somehow I feel that the chemistry is lacking? There’s something about Dr. MC that I find just kind of bland.

My own doctor friends are totally normal people (by which I mean they have their own quirks and weirdness and hobbies/interests lol that’s what makes us friends) and even each individual love interest has their own personality and quirks so I’m not quite sure why Dr. MC just seems kind of dull to me. I mean I really like some of the newer Voltage MCs like the ones from Masquerade Kiss and Irresistible Mistakes, who are also career women and have a more concrete personality and yet can still fall in love, even when they may not want to. If we’re talking chemistry and sexual tension, look at Kazuomi and MK MC! Even though Hosho is supposed to be a walking sex machine, I didn’t really get much of a sense of actual chemistry between him and Dr. MC. So I think I like Hosho as a person (as in I, both from an observer’s perspective and my own personal tastes, like Hosho) but I don’t love his route. I feel like he would be better off with a different MC, like maybe My Sweet Bodyguard MC – someone who comes off a little sweeter – or even someone like IM or EITM MC who’s a mix of sexy and sweet.

I actually quite like Hosho, but I’m not sure if it’s just because he reminds me so much of Soma. He’s got that same kind of charisma and mystery (and popularity/smoothness with women) to him. I actually wrote in my notes while playing that Hosho is a sluttier version of Soma. While not as cold as Soma, Hosho can definitely be cool when he wants to be, doing the classic “pulling away because he’s scared to love” thing.  I do think there is an element of the “omg he’ll treat you poorly because he’s too afraid to trust people” but I actually like the way it’s done in Hosho’s route. So rather than treating you poorly because he’s too afraid to trust, it’s more like he pushes you away because he’s afraid of being loved because everyone who’s loved him has left him or forgotten him. I actually don’t find him to be too cold – some LIs can act up in really twisted ways (Shinobu…. Narita…..) because they have bad personalities lol but Hosho’s strategy is just to distance himself rather than be malicious about it. In a way, he’s once again similar to Soma who is kind and professional but distant/cold rather than intentionally cruel because of his own dead sister trauma.

All things considered, I think Hosho’s personality is actually quite regular – he’s just a flirty, pretty nice guy who uses physical intimacy to distract from his trauma. He comes across as both mature and composed but also stuck in his childhood and still quite vulnerable in some ways. He’s someone who has definitely found his own ways to deal with his issues, whether or not they’re actually healthy for him. We may have to wait a good while to see this (if RMD is still being continued beyond season 1) but I’m curious to see what he’ll be like as a love interest/boyfriend once his trauma has been dealt with.

(Cute rare blushing Hosho. As rare as cute rare blushing Soma)

I’m also kind of sad that Hosho doesn’t speak in Kansai dialect because I personally think Kansai ben is REALLY sexy and it would make his casual sexiness even better but ¯\_(���)_/¯ I was wondering if they just forgot about it but then you see him speaking in ‘translated Kansai ben’ (a.k.a. the bogan accent that Voltage likes to use as a replacement) as a kid and it’s soooo cute.

(SO!!!! ADORABLE!!!!! I LOVE BABY HOSHO)

(A bonus crying baby Tetsuya… pulls at the heartstrings…)

Something that I do like about all the Romance MD guys is that they all have their own different personality traits but they’re actually all so well-read and clever and demonstrably good at their jobs and individual specialties and they take their job seriously and work hard at it. This is certainly the case with Hosho too, who is a staggeringly talented neurosurgeon both in terms of practical skill and research. Perhaps even more than Takado, I developed a feeling of respect for Hosho as a doctor, although this may be because of the Dr. MC perspective in the storytelling – maybe this is another reason why I feel the chemistry is generally lacking in RMD because it sort of feels like there’s more of a professional relationship being built than a romantic one, and it doesn’t have the same sort of balance that we can see in other workplace romance titles such as Her Love in the Force, Our Two Bedroom Story and IM. I do feel like Hosho gets away with super unprofessional behaviour that Kasumi just kind of allows. I did want more explanation for the Kasumi-Hosho relationship a little bit more, although I am wondering if Kasumi just has a special relationship with every individual member of the ICU crew. 100koi+ has Takado’s MS from Kasumi’s perspective for some reason, so I’m assuming he has some significant relationship there too.

In general, there’s less banter amongst the doctors compared to Takado’s route which was kind of a shame, because their dynamic is part of what makes this game fun. I honestly think Takado is more fun outside of his own route. His grouchiness is kind of amusing. Hosho’s route also reveals a tiny little hint of what I think is Sen’s own true personality, as well as his obsession of Kasumi.

Reading Hosho’s route also piqued my interest in all of the other Lis too. All of these doctors have such trauma-filled lives!! I get that being an ICU doctor comes with a lot of mental pressure and having to deal with losing patients is terrible but they have so much shit going on in their personal lives too. It’s sort of like KOR levels of drama except they’re the affected ones rather than Dr. MC. Watch Ekuni actually have some sort of trauma-induced narcolepsy or insomnia and the theme of his ‘sky’ will be either sunrise or a dark vortex of a night sky. I bet Sen has some complex about being a child genius and his parents will be super demanding, which is maybe one of the reasons why he’s so obsessed with super young Chief of Medicine Kasumi. I’m also willing to put money on my guess that Matsunaga will have the most serious drama of them all.

By the way I forgot to mention this in my Takado review and I have no knowledge or whether or not it’s actually accurate so I wouldn’t trust my opinion on this but I appreciate the medical research the writers had to do. I like that they explain some things just enough for noobs like myself to understand what’s going on, but it doesn’t read like they’re dumbing it down. 

There are a few plot points which I feel are a bit cliched and maybe not as cleanly relevant as in Takado’s route, such as the nurses bullying you cause they miss being on Hosho’s sex rotation. (Also I was really prejudiced against Shirayuki I’M SO SORRY MISUMI FOR JUDGING YOU BASED ON YOUR SPRITE) and the whole thing about Hosho’s reputation as a demon because of his fanatical obsession with memory-based research. I think it’s quite normal in professional research communities to have a particular field of expertise and to focus most of your papers on that one subject and/or adjacent subjects. I’m not really sure why he might have a bad reputation or have people gossip about him because he focusses on one particular niche so I’m wondering if maybe it was a plot point that the writers thought would make Dr. MC begin to feel defensive of him. I had a similar view of that scene in the Pen when the nurses are slating him – I don’t feel like that was a particularly strong narrative point aside from drumming up a little more of that “he loves you but can’t be with you because he’s damaged” conflict. Overall, I would say that Hosho’s route plot is not as dramatic and is rather a little more subdued than Takado’s route, but I felt like Takado needed a route that dramatic to bring him and Dr. MC together while Hosho doesn’t. His route is surprisingly heartbreaking, the more you find out about him the more you just feel so terrible for him. When I went back and flashed through to do the walkthrough, I realised how awful some of the things that people, including Dr. MC, say to him are in light of his past and it definitely made me feel a lot more for him. I found Hosho’s backstory really unique and creative, and it explores some fairly mature themes and definitely adds dimension to the dead relative trope. Because his situation has not been fully resolved, the narrative definitely sets up well for a second season, and I imagine at some point he will have to come to terms with reintroducing himself to his mother.

Regarding pacing, I felt the same reading Takado’s route but I find the routes always start off quite slow. If I were reading them outside of the no wait period, I probably wouldn’t make it past episode 7. There’s also something kind of tiring about being at the early episodes (probably until about halfway?) and just wondering when the actual plot will start haha. But once the backstory starts coming in, then the pace really picks up. I don’t know that this route needed 30 episodes because I don’t think they were utilised as well as Takado’s 30 but 30 episodes = likely more money for Voltage if you spend hearts to avoid wait times lol.

Something I noticed about the game is that when I went back to replay to make the walkthrough, I could actually choose select chapters (rather than having to revert back to episode 1 and play through all the way). I didn’t test this before getting to SHE so maybe the ‘Collector’s Edition’ perks are unlocked once you get SHE! Speaking of getting SHE, you and Hosho don’t end up together in the Normal Ending so… there’s that… and the scene is literally like less than 10 screens long. I feel like it’s slightly unfair since Takado’s Normal Ending at least still has a confession from him.

Finally, I did also note some coding errors in the text boxes, something that I haven’t seen much in newer Voltage titles (we kind of got used to seeing typos and errors pop up here and there in some of the older titles haha).

To me, Hosho and Takado are both guys that I think I like that have compelling histories. My main issue is just feeling like there’s some chemistry lacking with regards to Dr. MC and the expense of the Love Choice system. That said, I’m even more curious to see what happens in Sen’s route, which I believe should be coming out next.

Hosho’s route costs 197 hearts in total. Less than Takado but still a HUGE amount. If you really wanted to buy all the heart scenes, I would suggest making the most of the heart sale that’s on right now and getting the 200+10 hearts deal for 19.99 although this is still atrociously expensive. (lol this is how long ago I started writing this review). As always with Love Choice, you miss out on key plot points if you don’t pick the heart scenes, or there will be contradictions between your choice and what happens next. I really wish there was a better way to still get the plot points and key elements and just miss out on some sweet scenes. Like with Takado’s route, a huge amount of hearts are concentrated in the last 10 chapters. Between chapter 20 and 29 of Takado’s route, the heart scenes cost 110 hearts; with Hosho’s the heart scenes in chapters 20 and 29 cost a whopping 133 hearts!!! This means that 67.5% of the required hearts are concentrated in the last third of the route with 16 points value, so I would save hearts for some of the later scenes rather than the earlier ones if you wanted the heart scenes and/or to get to SHE. If you ignore the ones that I said aren’t worth it, that should give you 26 points which brings you to SHE with all the CGs. Alternatively, scroll past the walkthrough to see the CGs.

Walkthrough below:

Ep 1: (by the way, these options didn’t have “A” or “B” which I think is an inconsistency)

“Let’s start in Pathology.”

“Nurses Station first.”

Ep 2: A: “Are you sure?”

B: “I don’t believe you.”

Ep 3:

A: “I’ll keep that in mind.”

B: “I can’t quit now.”

Ep 4:

A: “Wow. Ouch.”

B: “It’s so true.”

Ep 5:

A: “I don’t get it either.”

B: “It IS beautiful.”

Ep 6:

A: Keep watching. (Love Meter +1/CG) 5 hearts

B: Leave him alone.

Ep 7:

A: “Yes, please!”

B: “Don’t you want to visit your folks?”

Ep 8: (Plot point here)

A: Visit the temple. (Love Meter +2) 8 hearts

B: Turn back.

Ep 9:

A: “Like what sort of people?”

B: “Speaking from experience?”

Ep 10:

A: “Yeah.”

B: “Do you think I’m joking?”

Ep 11: (Absolutely useless. Don’t waste your hearts on this)

A: Start a consult. (Love Meter +2) 10 hearts

B: Admit to being stumped.

Ep 12:

A: “Snap out of it!”

B: “Heeelp!”

Ep 13?: (Not really sure this one is worth it)

A: Try to convince him (Love Meter +2) 10 hearts

B: Leave it alone.

Ep 14:

A: “He’s not like that!”

B: “Wanna bet?”

Ep 15: (A fairly nice scene and a decent heart to love meter value)

A: Go home with Tetsuya. (Love Meter +3) 13 hearts

B: Go to your place.

Ep 16:

A: “Just get some rest.”

B: “Do you want anything?”

Ep 17:

A: Talk to him. (Love Meter +2) 10 hearts

B: Watch him go.

Ep 18:

A: Suck it up.

B: “Should I go in looking like this?”

Ep 19:

A: “I want to be a neurosurgeon.” (Love Meter +2) 8 hearts

B: “I want to go to Ortho.”

Ep 20:

A: Stick up for him. (Love Meter +1/CG) 13 hearts

B: Feign ignorance.

Ep 21:

A: “I’m just his coworker.”

B: “I don’t have that power.”

Ep 22: (Don’t waste hearts on this. Basically nothing happens)

A: See him off. (Love Meter +1) 10 hearts

B: Go with him.

Ep 23: (Some plot here that will be missed without the heart scene but I don’t think it’s that necessary)

A: Talk about it. (Love Meter +3) 20 hearts

B: Do nothing.

Ep 24: (Important plot points and cute baby Hosho scenes)

A: “Tell me.” (Love Meter +1) 15 hearts

B: “I’d rather not.” (you get a second chance to select A if you select this option)

Ep 25: (gives you some love meter points but story-wise I don’t really think it’s worth it)

A: Offer comfort. (Love Meter +3) 19 hearts

B: What’s done is done.

Ep 26:

A: “I refuse.” (Love Meter +1/CG) 15 hearts

B: “All right.”

Ep 27: (Expensive but LOTS of story)

A: “Yes, please.” (Love Meter +3) 22(?!) hearts

B: “I’d rather not.” (you get a second chance to select A)

Ep 28:

A: “Sure.”

B: “I’ll go home with you too?”

Ep 29:

A: Squeeze his hand (Love Meter +3) 19 hearts

B: You can’t respond.

CGs:

[toozmanykids]

I'm Back by RedKitsune, a Sequel to Lilith

Oh, poor Tom. Poor poor Tom. 'Lilith' is a super super fun RPF (real person fiction) where someone accidentally summons Lilith, a succubus, with poor Tom as the victim or sacrifice. *sigh* Poor poor Tom. 'Lilith' has the warning tags for dubious consent, bc who in the right mind would actually believe that something like this would be happening in REAL LIFE! Of course Tom is going to resist the demon's seduction. But don't worry, because *Spoiler* the explicit smut that this story and its sequel are rated for is thoroughly enjoyed by both parties. Poor Tom is just so confused, because this couldn't have been REAL, could it have?

And THEN .... 'I'm Back'

Oh oh oh!!! @redfoxwritesstuff posted the long awaited sequel to Lilith this week. RedKitsune has been torturing me with anticipation all month!!!! I'm soooo happy!!! And it it sooooooooooooooo FUN!!!!!!

'I'm Back' is the sequel to 'Lilith' , and I'm betting that you have already figured out who is back. SQUEAL!!!! SOMEHOW...... someone summons Lilith again, and poor Tom falls victim again. OMG!!!! and author RedKitsune, wait.... I mean Lilith the succubus *wink* really takes poor Tom through the wringer this time!!!! Oh, poor poor poooooor Tom. Oh the torture is absolutely delicious!!! D.E.L.I.C.I.O.U.S! This is very good fun.

And remember y'all, this is just fiction!! Neither the author nor the very very excited and enthusiastic readers mean any harm at all toward the Actor Tom Hiddleston. This is a Real Person Fiction. THAT MEANS FICTION. About Real!Tom which is a fictional character loosely based on the actual person, with alternate universe type things changed, in addition to the fact that the actual Tom has never and will never be visited by a REAL LIVE SUCCUBUS. Nor has anything like any of the events of these stories actually happened to him. And you know they haven't. Lol

Even if you wonder "What if something like this DID happen?" THAT question is what spurs your /our imagination. THAT question is what RPF is all about. And THAT question is what spurred on the conversation that inspired this fiction in that kinky clever dirty little mind of the lovely and talented Kit RedKitsune on AO3, aka our own @redfoxwritesstuff on Tumblr. If you aren't already following Kit, do it! Check out her other stories.

Aside from 'Lilith' and 'I'm Back', my favorite story of Kit's is still Silent Song. I have fallen in love with her Loki and Hotaru, and they will live in my heart forever more. I first fell in love with RedKitsune when I read Of Mermaids and Fairy Tales, and I've lovingly stalked her ever since, bc after reading that story I swore that Kit must be a real mermaid. Or at least Kit has to be one of those mermaids working in the tanks in Las Vegas, because her details and imagery felt like so real in that story as well as in the two additional stories in her Mermaids Series. She swears she doesn't have real gills, but I'm still not totally convinced she's not at least part mermaid. *wink*

"Summary: She’s back and she’s hungry. This time however, she’s still riding on the sustenance from her last meal. Mothers always tell their children not to play with their food but Lilith never had a mother to teach her that and has every intention of playing with her food while he finishes his day of Convention events. Sequel to Lilith but reading part one isn't required for enjoyment."

@alexakeyloveloki @manager-of-mischief @winterisakiller @devikafernando @nuggsmum @tinchentitri @bambamwolf87 @theluckykittencalvin @theheartofpenelope @thewidowlaufeyson @skoulsinner @messy-insomniac-bookgirl @lettalady @lokispettigerr @the-haven-of-fiction @devilish--doll @emeraldrosequartz @omgviolette12 @wrathkitty @nildespirandum @dianamolloy @wolfsmom1 @saiansha @missdibley @moonfaery @fadingcoast @finney13s @silverink-goldenlies @ladyoftheteaandblood @latent-thoughts @cursedcursingviking @ladyfluff @ms-cellanies @a-sundry-bag @boredbrooder @maiden-of-asgard @caffiend-queen @missinstantgratification @avenger-nerd-mom @icybluepenguin @pedeka

[kfawkes]

Omg could you do an eggsy unwin x reader with the prompt “i had to carry you to bed last night, you were exhausted.” from the domestic list. Thanks you so much if you do, I love your writing!

[Okay! :D Sorry guys, been at con as you know, and then yesterday I was working on this and I was SOOO sucked into Stranger Things I couldn’t finish it lol ;.;  But I’m trying to get a few out this week before I gotta get to Blizzcon on Friday. Buuuut as always thanks for being incredible and patient with me :) 

I did so many different things with this, lol so I hope you like it anon ;.; I can’t tell anymore because I’ve been staring at it for so long hahah and the week has been long sooo I'm sorta mentally drained

And to you specifically, Anon- Thank YOU so much for your prompt and the compliment

Pairing: Eggsy X Reader

Words: 1.5k

Warnings: Mild smut, nothing graphic. Some cursing though as always!

—Read on Ao3!]

When you opened your eyes you’d expected to wake face down in a pile of paper like you had been every morning this week. Maybe you’d have reconsidered being a Kingsman if you knew how much paperwork was involved… 

Okay, you absolutely wouldn’t have. Being a Kingsman was the best thing that ever happened to you for more reasons than one. Your incredibly handsome best friend Eggsy was a lovely bonus, but even with a smile like that you could complain from time to time, right? 

Right. 

But instead of waking to Prince licking the fingertips with a cramp in your neck the size of a small country; you woke comfortably in your bed with absolutely no recollection on how you got there.

As you pulled your arms into a long stretch; the kind that you can feel in almost every muscle of your body- you eyed the room cautiously. On each glance around the space, the pieces began falling into place… 

Eggsy had shown up– late. 

One minute you were talking, having a few drinks and then the next thing you knew it he was pinning you against the wall; breathing in your ear, and whispering how badly he wanted you…

You slid your hand over the back of your shoulder feeling the raised flesh once more; and in that moment you could almost feel him there again. Those marks were proof that what you remembered wasn’t just some fantasy: it was real.

But considering he wasn’t beside you now, it was probably safe to say that last night hadn’t been nearly as important to him as it was to you… You knew that sometimes people did stuff they didn’t always mean. Hell, you’d done and said a great deal of things you wish you hadn’t in the heat of the moment. 

Only, this was Eggsy, your very best friend… The guy that brought you coffee every morning, and trained you into the super spy you were now– his words, not yours. 

It was hard to imagine that Eggsy would just… do that to you. But you knew it was a possibility.

You didn’t like the feeling those thoughts gave you though, and decided now was not the time to fixate on them. So you hugged your stomach with a small frown attempting to forget them as best you could; ready to close your eyes to the things you didn’t want to see and feel.

Except now that he’d been pressed against you in the dead of night with lips pushed to yours fervidly– you knew you’d never be able to forget it. You were having a hard time not thinking about it now, how could you be expected to do it every day? 

Perhaps if you couldn’t forget, you could at least pretend to… or even try ignoring it. Just go through the motions, and play the part of the best friend like you always have. As ‘nice’ as that sounded, something told you it wouldn’t be that easy and you remembered nothing ever was…

You actually loved that cheeky shit, didn’t you? 

It was a stupid question really, you knew that. Of course you loved him. Eggsy was kind, caring and far too charming. There was something in the way he looked at you that made you feel like you were the only person in the room and you’d never laughed harder than when you were with hi–

“You ain’t s’posed to be awake yet.” Eggsy spoke in a whisper as he pushed the door open with his foot, causing you to shoot up from bed with eyes wide.

He was shirtless with his hair shoved around lazily and he was wearing the sweetest smile you’d ever seen. When you looked to his hands they gripped two large mugs of coffee anxiously, and once you realized he hadn’t left you; you felt an explosion of relief spread low in your gut.

“You’re still here.” 

“That’s alright, innit?” When he replied this time, his brows raised self consciously and if he was being honest, he was so fucking nervous. 

Eggsy had been trying to find a way to tell you how he felt for months now. But what was the right way to tell your best mate that you were in love with em? Was there really a right way to say that you were the most wonderful person he’d ever met? That he thought about you whenever he wasn’t with you, and that he’d been wanting to kiss you like that since he first laid eyes on you…

Truthfully no words would ever be good enough, and ultimately it didn’t matter because before he even knew what he’d done– it didn’t matter and he kissed you. 

Now that he had crossed that line, he was scared shitless that he’d fuck it up like he did so many things… 

“D’you want–”

You began shaking your head almost fiercely when you realized what he must of thought at your greeting. The last thing you wanted was for him to leave or think you didn’t want him there.

“No, I just… I thought after everything downstairs. That you’d… maybe– I don’t really know what I thought to be honest, Eggsy…” 

“Thought I’d leave you? Nah… never.” He smiled at you again relaxing a bit as he closed the space between you. 

The smell of his skin surrounded you as he sat and you felt a wave of chills run through your body like it had every time before. As you look over his face you felt your heart begin to pound, and by the look in his eyes he felt it too. 

Instead of saying something clever or cute like you’d intended, you went for the more awkward approach of stammering like a fool. “How d-did I get up here? I don’t remember us… being here– during… that.”

You narrowed your eyes on his as you press your tongue to the corner of your mouth, watching as Eggsy’s lips parted slowly answering your question. “You was out cold, had to carry you up t’bed… Think I wore you out a bit, luv.” 

Eggsy’s lips curled into that cheeky smile you loved so damn much as he tossed you a wink; and in that moment you realized you couldn’t really deny how you felt anymore…

Even with the realization pressing at your chest burning for release, you couldn’t help but laugh; shoving him playfully as you turned a pale shade of red. You’d forgotten about the fresh cups of coffee he held until they dripped on your bed reminding you of their existence with a promised stain. 

Eggsy pulled his bottom lip between his teeth shaking his head at you teasingly; eyeing the mess you’d made with pursed lips. “Look what you done now.”

You laughed again quietly into your hand not caring at all, enjoying this– him far too much. A moment later Eggsy leaned over placing the mugs beside you on the night stand, stopping close to your face. He didn’t say anything at first, and neither did you… you just looked at each other, but after a moment he smiled sliding his hand to your neck. 

He traced your cheek softly with his thumb holding his eyes affectionately on yours. “You’re beautiful… you know that, yeah? Most beautiful thing I ever seen.”

For some reason you didn’t know what to say as a lump formed in your throat. There was something about the way he looked at you that was almost paralyzing, and having him only a few inches from your lips wasn’t helping. 

If words wouldn’t come out, then actions would have to suffice… So you lifted your leg over his lap, pulling him closer with your foot as he leaned into you with a soft smile. Eggsy slid between your thighs like he’d done it a million times before with breath soft and warm against your neck.

You pressed your hands up his chest ending on either side of his neck as you lean back into the mattress. With his free hand he slid the hair from your face, scanning you like a landscape.

“You can be pretty sweet when you want to be.” You finally managed to reply as his warmth spread over you like a wave. 

“I ain’t too bad,” Eggsy whispered moving closer to your lips… only seconds from tasting you again. “have my moments.”

You pushed into him lightly with your hips, wanting almost desperately to feel him again. He kissed you then just like you hoped he would, and you could swear in that moment you could see the fucking stars.

“Eggsy, I…” He kissed you as you trailed off, softer than before but just as ardently. 

“I know… me too, luv.”

For this being the first time you’d done– well, any of this. It sure didn’t feel that way. It felt perfect. Eggsy felt perfect. Right. And now as you stare into those azure eyes, gazing over those dimples… you knew this was it. He was it.

And on the off chance you were really downstairs, fast asleep imagining all of this… You could bet your ass this was one dream you didn’t want to leave. 

[frankierising-blog]

Lair Review for Fanartsy Part 1

@fanartsy-fr Sorry this took me so dang long... and sorry it IS so dang long... and sorry that it’s only part 1! I got too sleepy halfway through!

First Impressions:

Ahhhh, the Clan Lore is so sweet! I love the way it addresses the reader as if they, themselves are a dragon (following rules, don’t work and whatnot) it’s very creative and immersive! J

I like that you’ve mentioned that some of the dragons aren’t as friendly; it’s definitely cool to have that little sinister element, so it’s not all love and sunshine! I AM VERY EXCITED!

Nyx

Okay, before I get into the dragon... Google asked me if I wanted to translate the page, so I said yes because the text in the bio clearly wasn’t Lorem Ipsum (the made up language people use as filler text). And... whoa boy. Have you ever read what the bio is translated into English as? Some notable excerpts:

“this mistaken idea of denouncing pleasure and praising pain was born”

“Download information as a vCard E, which of us ever undertakes laborious physical exercise, except to obtain some advantage from it?”

It just repeats so I’m just assuming someone chose some random filler text. Unless this is your actual lore and it’s just been translated incorrectly? It just seemed a little darker than your Profile lore.

ANYWAY

HOLY KAU I have never seen anyone layer multiple Emblems together!? How freaking cool does that look, omg! And the accent looks SO dramatic against the Blacks & Blues!! And that bust is GORGEOUS! Did you do it??

I love the image you’ve chosen to show what the lair looks like, I already said this but your lore is super immersive! I can just picture wayward dragons stumbling across the lair, probably searching through the forest for days trying to find its location because it’s so well hidden!

Hephaestus

Oh my word, Hephaestus, you handsome mofo!! He’s so sophisticated!! OHHH AND THE RED TIGER WITH THE BLUE TINTS IN THE MIDNIGHT OVERCOAT MATCH NYX’S ACCENT AND PRIMARY! WAS THIS ON PURPOSE!? IF IT IS, IT’S GENIUS!!!

He seems really knowledgeable, his clothes are well matched and not too overdone... but that teensy cat and the rose make him seem like he’s also got a softer side? I picture him being smart, stern when he needs to be but otherwise gentle and somewhat romantic, maybe with a good sense of humour! This is just what I get from his customisation, am I way off track here?

Was Hephaestus your random progen!? If so, hot dayum, those are some lucky colours!!!

Rainbow

Ahhh Rainbow, rainbow is stunning!!! I love how well you’ve perfectly complimented Wisteria Iri with the purples while the silvers in the white silks tie it together with the blues! She’s so mystic!! I wonder what ways in which she advises Nyx? Is she like a seer or a mystic who helps Nyx find the answers she seeks?

The cards remind me of Tarot Cards so I get this image of her consulting the cards when Nyx needs guidance or something. I am just wildly speculating, of course, not trying to decide their personalities!!

She’s absolutely gorgeous, I love Circuit!!!

EDIT: I just freaking noticed there’s the word ‘’seer’’ I am a fool!

Jerretta 

Hnnnnng, HNNNNNNNG!!! Jerretta is so freaking gorgeous!!! The blues and purples are prominent in every dang section... even the companion, everything. I like that you’ve gone with the obvious Ice elements, but mixed them perfectly with the Shadow – wow, this is a very obvious lair review so far, I’m sorry!

AAAAHHH YOU’VE MATCHED THE FAMILIAR COLOURS SO PERFECTLY!!

A part of me is like “Witch trickster.... then where’s the witch’s hat, yo”. But I kind of like that you haven’t gone with the obvious choice and instead the magic and illusion is more prominent through the companion and the floating candles lol.

Bayou

Ah yes, Bayou. The Fisher, Waterbeast Keeper and, of course, perhaps the most important ROLE HERE.

And while I’m being a sarcastic pr**k, WOW, WHAT A BEAUTIFULLY COLOURED AND GENED COATL, WHAT A GORGEOUS ACCENT, WHAT A NICELY MATCHING OUTFIT... BETTER RUIN IT WITH A SWARM OF FREAKING FISH AND BUBBLES SO YOU CAN BARELY SEE ANYTHING!

But seriously.... no, seriously, FECK THOSE FISH!

Bayou is gorgeous though, a very fitting flight rep!

Chronos

WEIRD UNCLE! WEIRD UNCLE! WEIRD UNCLE! THAT IS THE BEST ROLE I’VE EVER SEEN!!!!

Shame it’s wasted on a massive ball of Purple and blue. It looks like two ghosts Sims got in a fistfight

But sass aside, he’s actually kind of gorgeous? I love the little cat that just sneaks in there under the distracting cards!

Holy crap “Time Traveller” DOES HE THINK HE TRAVELS THROUGH TIME BUT DOESN’T REALLY!? DOES HE JUST TELL TALL TALES!? I NEED TO KNOW MORE ABOUT HIM IMMEDIATELY!

The more I think about it, the more this outfit is kind of perfect! It’s a kooky clusterfeck which kind of seems perfect for the weird uncle “time traveller” sort of thing!

He’s definitely my favourite so far!

Holy crap and the Nightfall imp sort of reminds me of an excited old man with a big bushy beard so it works sooo well IMO!

Ceto

Captain – Water Priest – Diva

This is so apt! That is essentially a sophisticated breakdown of my initial reaction to her! She’s so official looking but overly decorated, this is absolutely perfect! AND HOW GORGEOUS IS THAT ACCENT!? OMG! LOVE IT! – so far you use a lot of blues and purples for a Nature lair... I LOVE THAT! You’re not limiting yourself to the Nature aesthetic! Good! YAS!

Persephone

Okay, first off, for some reason I read the name phonetically at first. So Persephone will forever be Purse Phone to me, ahaha.

Purse Phone is soo beautiful!! You’ve matched all the greens & Blues SO perfectly and the white totally dominates as a focal piece... but those butterflies. Why this? WHY THIS!? I feel like now you’re just messing with me! The Spring’s Breath compliments the Aqua SO PERFECTLY ... but the butterflies make me sad inside. Admittedly it’s likely just because I hate the butterflies as much as I hate the fish, so it’s probably just me, ha-ha.

Good ol’ Purse Phone

Penthus 

This is so freaking clever! The tormenter in a creepy mask, skulls, with jingly bells for extra effect and spirals on their hands and feet. Everything is like it’s designed to be strange and kind of unnerving!!

It looks like they could torment just by approaching people in that gear! Is that pretty much what they do? Or is there more to it? Is it like, a prank/jokester sort of torment or are they a little more sinister in their actions and motivation??

This one has me the most intrigued!!

Peitho 

Aaaahhhh! Stunning, stunning, stunning!!!! This is perhaps the nicest Bog I’ve ever seen! The colours are amazing, and the accent compliments it so perfectly! I love how much her little kitty familiar stands out against her, like she’s just taken on a common house pet as her mystic partner! I was surprised to see she wasn’t linked to Iris in her bio, they seem like they’d have a lot in common!

Hades

Soooo perfect!! Look at how well the gold silks work with the Solar Flame gear and the Teardrop Pearls!? This is absolutely beautiful! Your customisations are so varied, but I REALLY love what you do with purples!!!

Boreas

Okay, Boreas is actually kind of unsettling? Like, on one hand she reminds me of a scene/emo kid with stripy socks and gloves who has just started to dabble in the gothic (the jewellery and flower crown) but there’s something about the way the accent looks around the eyes with the monocle that’s kind of creepy? I can’t quite put my finger on it! I really love her, I kind of hate that I love her, but she’s really, really pretty!! (and SUCH a nonconformist)

[Okay, so I know this is already super duper long but I feel like i haven’t gone deep enough into your lair so i’ll be posting a Part 2 over the next couple of days, sorry about the delay!!]

[sqsupernova]

Rave Reviews for we’re nothing more than dust jackets!

This story - one where Regina watches Emma grow up and Emma grows up with Regina as this story-presence, where they are inextricably linked into each other - is all I have ever wanted and it is such a hard story to get right without being creepy and here you are hitting it out of the park, you gem… everything has such potency. and i love the range of feelings that they both feel - particularly the unabashed violence in regina's mind, and how it's tempered by the care that she's been harbouring for so many years. Gorgeous… ugh, the way Emma doesn't want to be Regina's enemy. And how she considers Regina to be a permanent part of her life, when nothing else in Emma's life has ever been permanent besides the knowledge that people abandon her. Excuse me while I go cry myself into a bowl of ice cream… I'm just. so EMOTIONAL. this is them. they both come back from such hard places and they connect in those ways and can't hate each other no matter how hard they try. THIS IS TOO MUCH… WHEN EMMA CAME TO [SPOILER] REGINA FROM [SPOILER] THE [SPOILER] I FUCKING YELLED. SUCH A GOOD PLOT TWIST. I rly enjoyed. Their dialogue was so on point oh my god… this concept is so clever. two magical books that unfold in real-time, revealing one's life to the other? it could be so messy, but it is such a great adventure to embark on with you at the helm. your writing has a way of making the reader feel safe and grounded even as you take us through alternating points of view, even as the setting jumps years at a time… This is soooo good. And that creepy guy is so creepy. As I was reading it something jingled on my xmas tree and I nearly threw my phone across the room… as much as regina hates the idea of emma and what emma represents and what emma is meant to do, she can't hate emma herself. it's such a complex mix of anger and resentment and care and it fits with who regina is so much… i love reading about them butting heads, coming together, fighting for each other, loving each other, it's beautiful, thank you for writing them, for loving them, i'm so grrateful for stories like these, that tell long, careening stories that always center on them coming back as a family. :;) thank you!!!... I am honestly never going to get over how in awe I am of the ways in which you create such amazing plots and twists and turns in your fics, and at the same time also keep the essence of these characters down so perfectly… The connection these two share even before they've met is already so profound, so subtle yet so powerful… the second i understood they [SPOILER] i said "holy fuck" twice as a mesmerized whisper, and then i started crying because wow. just wow… Amazing (plot) amazing (execution) amazing (characterisation)!! I fall in love with your Emma and Regina through your Regina and Emma and there is this inevitability and finality when they finally got together and fight the biggest fight of their lives. And Henry, oh my god, I don't think there is any universe that Henry doesn't bring his mothers together?!... Omg I'm a sobbing mess of happy fluffy rainbow feelings right now. This is a masterpiece, thank you for sharing it with us… What an incredible unwinding and rewinding of the story. A tour de force! Thank you for sharing!

[theauthorfiles-blog]

Beth Rhodes - Author Interview

I'm so very excited to have the lovely Beth Rhodes here with us as my first official author interview!  (In the interest of full disclosure, she is one of my nearest and dearest friends in the writing world and since she's been along the ride with me through so many firsts in this industry, it didn't seem right to kick off my pet project without her being my first interview.)

She is the author of eight currently published books, including one of my favorite series…The Hawk Elite series. Please join me as we get to know a little more about this fun author!

TAF: Let’s break the ice shall we? I happen to know that you are also a fan of The Goonies. So…if you were stuck trying to outrun a criminal family while seeking out pirate treasure in a last ditch attempt to save your hometown, and you had three people to help you, who would they be?

BR: I love Goonies! <3 Only three, huh? Okay, so I have this friend I just met when I moved to Georgia. And I would have to take her, because we work really well together…and she keeps me on this straight and narrow, reminding me of what’s at my core. Not only that, we always have a good time together. My husband—as unimaginative as that is!!—because he would fix anything for us or make things or be oh-so- clever like Data. [And as handsome as Josh Brolin!! With big muscles yet totally willing to ride a little bike] Finally, [excuse the brown-nosing] I would take you!! I need another creative mind on board. It would have to be an author who can plot her way out of a good old-fashioned Fae World on the brink of destruction…don’t you think? We have known each other over ten years! There. A few of my closest friends. There are so many to choose from: sisters, childhood friends, college friends, ministry friends,… oh shoot. I just realized these can be ANYONE. In that case: Jason Mamoa, I.mom.so.hard (for levity), and Indiana Jones (duh).

TAF: Brown-nose away....and Jason Mamoa? Yes please! I think that man could be a combination of each of the Goonies. Okay now that we know how you intend to make it through, capture the pirate’s gold, and save the homes of all your friends and family....tell us a little more about you for my readers that haven’t yet had the privileged to curl up in bed with you – I totally meant your books (head out of the gutter)!

BR: Speaking of my bed, though. I just bought this new mattress (Tuft and Needle, a memory foam-type) because the one I’ve been sleeping on was 11 years old, and OMG—no support!! The new mattress is absolutely amazing. Ha!

Okay, me. I’m a woman who is always looking for a better way to live her life. I’ve got a man, writing, family, ministry and church, and I work to balance all of it, a lot of times, failing miserably. And then, inside each of those elements, I question myself, doubt myself, read something to improve myself…and maybe, I think so…get a little better as the years pass. That’s me. In a nutshell.

TAF: First of all, you mattress sounds amazing. Second of all, your aren't failing miserably. I think we all have those moments where we feel like juggling is not our forte. Name one thing readers would be surprised to learn about you.

BR: I’m Catholic. I know. I haven’t decided if this is a good thing or a bad thing. But my stories aren’t tempered or toned down too much. My mom reads my books, and she reminds me—gently—that what happens in the bedroom is sacred. And I agree, but I also think it’s too important to leave out! My characters aren’t always Catholic…and maybe that will change in the future. I don’t know. There are elements of my stories where my Faith comes out… in some books more than others.

TAF: I admire you for your faith. It's one of many things I think I love about you. I also love that while your characters may have faith as well, it isn't the foundation of the story per se. It enhances the characters. Gives them depth. So now that we've brought up your characters, out of all the stories you’ve written, which is your favorite?

BR: So, referring back to the previous question, if you read Strike Force…that one, not so much of the faith elements. That book has lots of stuff not meant for the feint of heart. It’s gritty, dark[ish, nothing I write is ever truly dark], and bold. It’s my favorite book because I waited so long to write it. That’s external, though. And when it comes down to it, I just loved Malcolm and Marie. They really stole the page and my heart as they came alive and fell in love. And that, Kinsey, is the best kind of favorite book, don’t you think? <3

TAF: I agree. The ones where your characters really just come to life for you...that make you fall in love all over again with what you write are definitely favorite worthy. Time for some random questions...If you won the lottery tomorrow, what would you spend the money on?

BR: Easy. I’d buy a car. Yesterday my van broke down—again. Today I had to rent a vehicle. It’s a big, fat truck—six seats, so not big enough for my family, but it’s soooo much fun to drive! Unfortunately, my husband told me not to get used to it. I don’t know, but I think it sounded more like a threat than a warning. Haha. :D

TAF: Well...I guess I can see where the hubby is coming from, but a truck....my dream come true! Random question number two...which household chore do you abhor and why?

BR: Dusting. It’s sooo tedious! I can’t stand it. Second would be folding laundry, for the same reason. Tedious as hell. I can get through laundry though, by playing a movie or a couple shows.

TAF: I hate dusting...and dishes. But I agree, laundry is easily accomplished with television. If I were to buy you a book for your birthday or just because I am such total awesomeness, what genre would I need to scour?

BR: I’m sooo predictable. Romantic Suspense. Period. It needs to have the romance, the external conflict, danger. My daughter scoffs and is often disappointed. But I know what I like. Remember Catherine Boyd [Meg Ryan] in I.Q. when she’s having breakfast with James? And she sits and thinks about what she wants to eat…and then ends up ordering the same thing she always does. That’s me. I try!! Really I do. And I have more how-to type books in my library now in my life than I every have before, but when I get really serious about reading for entertainment, I go to my favorite.

TAF: When reading for your entertainment, why shouldn't you reach for your favorite genre? Not that you can't be entertained by another, but usually we want what we know we love. Are you a morning person or night owl?

BR: Night Owl, who does her best work in the morning. I’ve yet to start calling myself a morning person, though. It’s just…my brain does seem to work better at that time.

TAF: I like to think I'm a Night Owl, but I get up way too early on my days off to be anything but a morning person. I envy Night Owls. Is there anything else you'd like to share to your followers and readers?

BR: The stuff that keeps you reading is what keeps me writing. Hope. Love. Second Chances. Sometimes, we get down and need a pick-me- up. That’s okay. Just don’t lose hope. Find it! It’s in the books and in the people around us.

TAF: I love that, Beth! So tell us...where can your fans find you?

BR: I show my age, answering this question. Eeek! Mostly on Facebook, sometimes on Twitter. ALWAYS in an email. Please! Shoot me an email. Haha. Or, my newsletter, too.

TAF: This has been such a fun interview and I can’t believe our time has drawn to a close. Before we say goodbye, would you tell us a bit about your latest release (and share an excerpt for those who aren’t yet familiar with your work)

BR: This book is one of my best…feels weird to say that, feels braggy, yet I think we just need to admit, that in a subjective industry like publishing, it’s okay to like our own books. :D Released in November, Strike Force is book four of the Hawk Elite Security Series. But it’s a standalone! Like I said earlier, this book is gritty compared to my others. My hero has a relationship with the word f*ck and my heroine is a born thief—sort of. Neither of them want to admit they might be perfect for each other but eventually…through circumstances and work, they come to an impasse. They are forced to share and get to know one another and that little spark becomes a flame.

I’ll share a little excerpt and then you should go! Read it! It’s #KindleUnlimited or only $3.99, so still cheaper than that paperback at the checkout line. [Don’t be surprised. They do have a Happily-Ever- After, and this isn’t even it! But they’re getting there…]

Strike Force Excerpt

Chapter Twenty

Through the two-way mirror, Marie looked like crap.

Stringy hair that probably hadn’t been washed in two days.

Dark circles under glazed eyes.

A flush to her cheeks, which put Malcolm on edge. “What did you do to her?”

The officer standing next to him sent him a slow sidelong glance of wariness. “Nothing. She’s been processed and has been sitting in there for the past hour.” He cleared his throat and lifted his brow. “We don’t mistreat the criminals—”

“There’s something wrong with her,” Malcolm interrupted, turning to Hawk. “Get her out of there, right now. She has a bullet wound in her arm and needs a doctor.”

Hawk looked to the officer. “Has she been checked by a doctor?”

Officer James frowned. “No,” he answered slowly. “She refused anything—food, a lawyer, a phone call. She’s been sitting there.” He tilted his head to look more closely at her. “I guess she does look a little worse for wear.”

“A little!” Malcolm’s head about exploded, but Hawk waved him down, and Malcolm turned back to the mirror to watch.

“We had nothing to do but wait after the bureau called. Red tape. Paperwork. And an investigator who’s pretty pissed that his case got blown up.”

“May we see her?” Hawk said.

James hesitated.

“Please,” Hawk added.

Malcolm scowled. They could arrest him. He didn’t give a flying fuck right now.

James sighed and looked at his watch.

Fuck this. She wasn’t a flight risk in her condition—she could hardly sit up straight. Malcolm left the dark room, walked the three long strides to the interrogation room, and yanked the door open.

Marie jumped in the seat, but the movement seemed uncoordinated. Too slow for his quick-witted lady who had quick reflexes. Her brow furrowed. “Mal?”

The door shut behind him when he moved toward her, a slight flutter of panic originating at the point under his heart.

She stood, forgetting she was cuffed to the table, and jerked back into her seat. “Whoops.” She laughed nervously, grimacing in pain.

He pounded on the mirror. “Get these restraints off her and get me a doctor—no. Get John in here, Hawk.”

When he turned back, her head was on the table, as if she was taking a nap. Her eyes were closed, her breathing shallow.

The door opened, and a uniformed man released her from the restraints and then left the room.

Malcolm finally touched her with his hand on her forehead. “Jesus,” he whispered. She turned her face to his palm and cupped her cheek. She was burning up. “Malcolm?” she murmured, blinking. “They got me, but it’s okay. I’d already decided I couldn’t leave you with loose ends. I was going to talk to Hawk and call the cops. Then they came. Did they find you? I cooperated. Did everything they said.

“I gave up the armband, Malcolm, so they wouldn’t find you. Hawk Elite is clear of any wrongdoing. I know it. You know it…”

“Shh,” he whispered, lifting her up off the chair. “I’m proud of you, babe.”  

[margueritestjust-a]

1-5 !

Questions for Canons | Not Accepting!

1. What is the biggest headcanon deviation from the canon material that you have incorporated into the way you write your muse? Why did you come up with it?

I don’t know if it’s a headcanon deviation from the source, or if it’s merely the way I interpreted Marguerite’s character, but I believe that A) she was always in love with Percy, even when she was acting snarky about him and B) she wasn’t “testing” Percy’s love for her by not telling him the truth about St. Cyr - she was overcome with emotion and claims that it was a “test” to save face. In fact, I believe a lot of Marguerite’s actions that audiences use to vilify her are about saving face when overcome with emotions that she doesn’t know how to process. Let’s start with the snark towards Percy. 

The book starts after the honeymoon phase is over for the Blakeneys - literally months into their marriage. Despite being the most fashionable couple in London, you couldn’t find a stranger match. We have Marguerite who is clever and charming and talented and Percy... whose chief talents seem to be superfluous commentary, bad poetry, and a laugh with the power to irritate everyone in a two mile vicinity. Why on earth would the intelligent, charming, beautiful Marguerite St. Just marry this guy? In the book, she confides in her brother, Armand, that she’s sure people think she did it for the money, but that she really, truly loved Percy for his passionate nature. And that, after she told him about the St. Cyrs, that passion dried up and that she’s left with this buffoon of a husband who does not love her and who is not the man she loved in Paris. It is, however, clear to me that prior to their argument, Marguerite loved Percy a great deal - and perhaps continues to wistfully love him (or the memory of him) and that his change in behavior baffles her. Armand, being the reasonable, level-headed (lmao) big brother he is, gives Marguerite Actually Solid Advice that basically goes, “Well, maybe if you told him the whole truth about the St. Cyrs, you two would be okay!” and Marguerite is like, “He wouldn’t listen to me about it now; it’s too late. I messed up and I just have to deal.” And her way of dealing is by making sarcastic jibes at her husband to get him to pay attention to her because otherwise, he’s much more into his fatuous, foppish friends than her. It’s the only time Percy pays attention to Marguerite (as far as Marguerite knows) and it lets her get out some of her hurt and frustration. 

Fast forward to when she tells him “I betrayed St. Cyr at the tribunal because I thought he was just going to be punished for trying to murder my brother but APPARENTLY we just guillotine entire families these days in France for one man’s crime and now I have the blood of an entire family on my soul and have been living with the guilt since.” And Percy is like, “Babe, why didn’t you tell me?” and Marguerite - who told her brother pages and pages ago that she didn’t think Percy would believe her, that she was afraid of losing him and lost him anyways, goes, “... I wanted to test your love for me.” 

What.

The conversation gets EVEN WEIRDER because Percy is like “Well, I wanted you to keep explaining yourself and you didn’t” and Marguerite is like, “I just wanted you to ask me to elaborate” and it goes on for a bit and you’re sitting there as a reader trying to reconcile Marguerite-talking-to-Armand and Marguerite-talking-to-Percy. It’s a nightmare tbh because there’s so much inconsistency. So here’s what we have to bear in mind: A) Armand is the man who raised Marguerite, her brother and dearest confidant. He has never betrayed her trust and vice versa. B) Marguerite and Percy have marital issues like woah and at this moment in time, she’s justifying herself to her husband - while worried that she will lose what little of his love for her remains. (Surprise: there’s a whole lotta love there and she doesn’t lose any of it. She probably gains some because he has a SUPER EMOTIONAL moment in the garden once she’s gone to bed where he kisses all the places she’s walked and like Percy find your chill). 

So here’s what I think - and it may be a deviation from canon, it may not be, it’s so unclear that I just roll with it and smile. I think that Marguerite loves Percy but when she tells him “Hey, so I accidentally got an entire family murdered” she freaks out internally and shuts down because How do you explain that? Omg my husband is going to hate me - see look he hates me!  and then, by the time she’s recovered from her internal panic attack, she convinces herself that it’s too late to make things right with Percy. Doesn’t help that now Percy has chosen to freeze her out because of what she told him and has nothing else to go on. So, what’s she do? Lash out. When she’s finally forced to tell him the truth and he asks why she didn’t just tell him, she doesn’t want to admit weakness - she already looks so weak and emotional and vulnerable - so she says, “I was testing you.” As if it was some kind of intentional maneuver on her part. And with most guys, this would shame them because they failed the test. But Percy is smarter than that and he calls her bluff with “I was just waiting for an explanation.” And HERE IS MARGUERITE’S GOLDEN CHANCE to tell him how scared and repentant and guilty she’s felt but instead she continues to save face as much as she can. 

Yes, she’s still prideful. Yes, this pride still leads to miscommunication. But, no, she is not some unfeeling bitch. I will fight anyone who says otherwise. Meet me in the pit. 

2. Do you have any controversial headcanons that go against what is generally accepted by the fandom? Do you incorporate this into writing your muse or keep it to yourself?

Umm... I guess one HC that I have - which is actually canon, not headcanon - is that Marguerite was never a prostitute. I’ve been seeing a lot of things in the tags that indicate people believe otherwise even though there is no canon indication that Marguerite was ever a prostitute (she was the leading actress of the Comedie Francaise and her family was bourgeois). The thing that most frustrates me about this headcanon is that people who hold it tend to A) slut-shame Marguerite (and/or all prostitutes and sex workers) and/or B) hold Percy up as a paragon of virtue for not slut-shaming his wife? Like, guys. That is literally doing the minimum as your job as a husband (and as a human being). It’s not heroic and it’s definitely not more heroic than saving innocent people from the guillotine. 

Anyways, my adherence to canon crops up plenty in threads, but it’s not something I’m like... making a point of showcasing? It’s just the facts where my muse is concerned. 

3. What is something that was never addressed at all in the canon material that you have independently developed for your muse?

Canon - as far as I know - never addresses the St. Justs’ social status prior to their parents’ death. We just know there’s an eight year age gap between Armand and Marguerite, that their parents died when Armand was “a youth” and Marguerite was “a child” and Marguerite raised her, and that they aren’t nobility, but they’re doing well enough to be respected by all walks of society. Soooo... I’ve had to elaborate. 

I’ve HC’d that the St. Justs were upper-middle class business owners - perhaps Moniseur St. Just was a merchant - whose work brought them into contact with the nobility as well as common people and whose profit was enough to send both Armand and Marguerite to school. Furthermore, when their parents died, Armand and Marguerite would be left with a sizable inheritance and a business... which they could sell or run. It just makes sense to me.

As with the prostitution HC that’s so popular in the fandom, there’s a notion that Armand and Marguerite were born and raised in the gutter, which has no canonical basis and doesn’t really make sense with either of their characterizations. So... yeah. I had to develop that on my own.

4. Have you made any outright changes to the canon material in order to write your muse the way you wanted (entire scenes you chose to omit, chapters you say never existed, things you assume were never said, etc.)?

Probably, but I can’t think of any specifics. 

5. What is an aspect of your muse’s canon material or canon existence that you never had the opportunity to explore but really want to?

Marguerite’s relationships with other canon characters, Percy aside. We’re talking Armand, Chauvelin, Suzanne, Ffoulkes, Dewhurst, the whole damn League. It’s a little hard to do since... like... the fandom is a ghost town, but I’d love to explore some of these relationships somehow.