#Romance has a lot of fictional events

[niteshade925]

Perfect music for reading Records of the Three Kingdoms

[runariya]

The Auction (JJK) • Chapter 2

pairing: wolf hybrid!Jungkook x cat hybrid!female reader genre: mafia!AU, hybrid!AU, dystopian!AU, S2L, dark romance, slow burn, angst rating: 18+, MDNI warnings: angst, thoughts about past violence, trauma, mentions hybrid trafficking, JK is an Alpha, nightmares, being held hostage, a lot of fear, sniffing, obsession and possessiveness, mentions of branding, lmk if I forgot smth - THX word count: ~ 1.6K

a/n: Please make sure to turn on notifications to my blog if your tag doesn't work ☺️

a/n 2: This work is purely fictional. All characters and events are entirely imaginary and do not reflect reality. No translations are allowed without permission. Thank you for understanding! 💕

01 • masterlist • 03

You fight sleep with every ounce of strength you’ve got left, a desperate battle that’s been raging for four long hours now, despite the way your body trembles with bone-deep exhaustion. Since the branding, since the wolf hybrid had you cleaned and cared for again by the retrievers, you’ve been brought back to his penthouse and then ushered into a different room, apart from the others. It’s nothing like the dirty, grimy holes they’ve kept you in for the past few weeks—it actually looks like a proper guest room this time. Still, there’s no peace for you here. You don’t want peace here, you don’t want your thoughts to quiet down. You refuse to let them. So, there’s nothing left but for you to strain your ears to catch every sound from beyond the door, refuse to think, refuse to consider this place, this room, this life, as anything close to home.

But your body is failing you. No matter how hard you try to stay alert, your mind slips under, sleep overtakes you, pulling you into its abyss at last. Not for long though. You snap awake with a strangled scream, gasping, hissing, chest heaving as you push yourself back against the bed, trying to escape the claws of the nightmare. It plays again and again, on a loop, behind your eyes, every nerve in your body thrumming with terror. 

Your cat eyes, hazy and wide, finally make out the dark room around you, and with growing despair, you realise that waking up doesn’t mean the nightmare has ended. It’s still here and you’re still trapped in it. And it’s far from over when heavy footsteps thud outside your door, and before you can steady your breath or calm down at least a little, the door bursts open, slamming against the wall with a loud crash.

There he stands, the wolf hybrid, silhouetted in the doorway. He’s angry, you can see it in the tense lines of his face, his nostrils flaring, his gaze sharp and glowing in the dark. His only clothing is a pair of pyjama trousers, his muscular chest and tattoos visible, but it’s his eyes that do the damage—they rake over the room, scouring it for threats, his nose twitching as if scenting for intruders. You shrink back further into the headboard, instinctively pulling the blanket up high over your nose, desperate to muffle the sound of your fearful, ragged breaths.

His eyes lock onto yours, and there’s a dangerous glint there as he snaps, “What was it?”

Sheer terror grips you once more, your body trembling as he starts sniffing around again, yanking back the curtains, peering into the closet, searching for some phantom threat, missing that it’s him. His frustration grows as he finds nothing, and slowly, he turns his attention back to you, narrowing in with predatory instincts. “What scared you?” His voice is a fraction softer now, but it’s still laced with impatience.

You can’t answer. You’re frozen in place, breath quickening as he starts towards you, as panic flares hot in your chest. You try to scramble away, desperate to get further from him, but the blanket tangles around your foot, trapping you. There's nowhere to go. You whimper, barely a whisper, “Please… don’t hurt me.” A hiss of fear slips out, sharp but trembling, in a hopeless attempt to make him back away.

He catches your foot, but it’s not rough, it doesn’t hurt the slightest. His grip is almost gentle, and instead of dragging you down to the floor, he pulls you towards him with unsettling care, sitting down on the edge of the bed and drawing you onto his lap. Your body curls up instinctively, small and tight, fingers gripping the fabric of your shirt like a lifeline, as if making yourself as small as possible might keep you safe. He strokes your hair, his hand smoothing down your back over and over. It’s supposed to be comforting, you think, but you’re still overwhelmed too much to calm down. You can feel his eyes sweeping the room, on guard, even as he murmurs low against your hair, his voice soft with an eerie tenderness. “You’re safe here, kitten. Shh, shh… don’t worry, I’m here.”

His words don’t bring you any comfort. How could they? He’s part of the reason you feel anything but safe. This isn’t home and you’re definitely not safe, and as he scoops you up and carries you into his bedroom, your mind refuses to quiet. The fear doesn’t ebb away; your trembling continues, the nightmare clawing at your consciousness, flaring your instincts without a break. 

As he lays you down on his bed, the sheets are still warm from where he must have been sleeping moments ago. He lies silently behind you, his body radiating heat that seeps into your cold limbs, though it brings little relief. The penthouse is too cold, the air too biting for your kind to ever feel truly comfortable. Despite your resistance, silent tears slip down your cheeks and dampen the pillow beneath you. It’s strange, but somehow his alpha scent dulls some of the terror wracking your limbs, even if it does nothing for the ache in your chest.

“Why are you crying?” His deep voice cuts through the darkness, halting the sobs trapped in your throat.

You think for a moment, heart heavy with longing, and then, in a shaky voice, you try honesty, praying that it might stir some pity in him, some mercy that could set you free. “I… I want to go home.”

His reply is cruelly simple, “But you are home, kitten.” There’s no hesitation in his voice, just pure conviction in his own words.

You don’t have the strength nor courage to argue anyway. You just nod, letting the tears flow freely as they please. You wait until he’s fast asleep beside you, until his breathing turns deep and steady, but still, you don’t even close your eyes for the rest of the night. You’re wide awake, heart thrumming, still battling the nightmares that won’t leave you in peace.

Even when the first pale light of dawn filters through the curtains, you remain alert and awake. He leaves, pressing a kiss to your head while you feign sleep, your body stiff under his touch. Hours pass before another enters the room—a cat hybrid this time, with a tray of food and juice and a tentative smile.

“Hey there, may I come in?” he asks softly, his eyes kind, white ears perked as he stays by the door, careful not to startle you more than you already are. “I’ve brought you some food.”

You don’t reply, just lie still, biting back any noise that might betray how lost and utterly shattered you feel.

He takes your silence as an invitation of sorts and steps closer, placing the tray carefully on the bedside table. Then, slowly, gently, he shifts your blanket and sits near the edge of the bed, careful to still keep his distance. “I know you’re scared. I was too,” he says quietly, not looking at you, but at the floor instead. “But I promise, you’re safe now with Jungkook.”

Jungkook. That must be the wolf hybrid. You know it must be him—he’s the alpha, after all. His mark now burns on your skin, a reminder of who your body belongs to now. But you can’t bring yourself to respond, your wide, scared eyes fixed on the other hybrid, watching warily.

The cat hybrid sighs, breaking the silence again. “I know what it’s like,” he continues. “I was trafficked too. Jungkook found me just in time. I didn’t have anyone back then to tell me I was safe, but I’m here now, telling you—you don’t have to be afraid anymore. No one here wants to truly hurt you.”

His words twist something in you, a raw anger bubbling beneath the surface. You growl softly, involuntarily, a bitter sound that slips out without your consent. Safe? How could they call this safe? The one who ‘saved’ you had branded you without mercy like you were some possession and not a living being.

The cat hybrid only chuckles lightly at your reaction. “I know,” he responds, almost to himself, “he’s a bit… extra. But you’re different. He won’t hurt you again.”

After a moment of silence, he turns slightly, his soft eyes finding yours. “I’m Jimin, by the way. Would you like to tell me your name, or should we stick with kitten for now?”

There’s something in his gaze that reminds you of family, of something warm and familiar. Against your better judgement, you let your guard slip—just a little. You whisper your name, barely audible.

But he hears it. His expression softens as he takes your cold, stiff hand in his, drawing small circles on your skin, soothing. “Nice to meet you, ___,” he says with a gentle smile that creases his eyes into crescent moons. It’s a small thing, but enough to make your shoulders sag, just a fraction, and allow the tiniest hint of a tired smile to touch your lips.

01 • masterlist • 3

a/n 3: hope you enjoyed it👀 lmk what you think in any way you like!

a/n 4: please send me a message, ask or comment if you would like to be tagged for this fic 💕 also - character asks and drabble requests are open

Check out my other work here!

All Rights Reserved © @/runariya 2024

taglist: @jksusawife, @darkeneddiary, @dumbheadblog, @justjkkkkk, @staytinyville, @jaiuneamesolitaiire , @ericawantstoescape , @mjuser, @sp1derk0ok , @fluttershyvanilla, @lachimolalajeon , @holylonelyponyeatingmacaroni, @llallaaa , @m00njinnie , @passionandsuga , @scuzmunkie , @lerasi , @11thenightwemet11 , @bts-ruu , @metalheadfangirl2001 , @unadulteratedwitcher ,

[if-whats-new]

What's New In IF? Issue 12 (2024)

By Erika, Marjorie, Axelle, and Noi

Now Available!

Due to the early release of this issue, any release or update during June 28th unmentioned here will be included in next week's issue.

Itch.io. - Keep Reading below

Due to Internal things, the June and July issues will only update on events and games. We hope to resume regular activities and include more pages by August. Note: while Axelle is mentioned, they are currently on a break.

~ ENDED ~

The Rayuela (Spanish IFComp) released the ranking for this edition. Congratulations to the winners!

Both the Otome Jam and the Josei jam have ended this week, totaling almost 200 new VNs intended for female audiences.

Love/Violence also recently ended, with a dozen entries about love… and violence!

Eleven entries were submitted to the French jam Nouvim3000, with less then 3000 words!

Thanks to the record breaking submission count, the Neo-Twiny Jam managed to raise over $600 this year!

~ ONGOING (VOTING) ~

The 17 entries of the ParserComp are ready to be played and judged! Until the end of July, you can cast your votes!

~ ONGOING (SUBMITTING) ~

Like every July, the IFComp has opened once more their website for intent of submission, a required step to submit your game! You have until August 1st for the intent, then August 28th for the game! They are also looking for an artist to design their yearly logo! (paid)

While it is not IF-focused, the Anti-Romance Jam is once again looking for anti-romance submissions!

Did you submit an intent to the IntroComp? The deadline to submit your prototype is coming up! Don't forget, on July 31st!

The deadline for the Fix the Worst Visual Novels (Jam) has been extended until July 15th!

Are you a fan of Bluebeard? A jam focusing on the tale and its interpretations is ending this weekend!

Thinking of trying to make a Visual Novel? Try your hand at the O2A2 Jam, where you can only have one asset (of each type) and 1.000 words!

For the francophones, the French IF community is organizing a summer-long camp to create parsers. Join the Confiture de Parser if you're interested!

Until the end of July, a chill IF (text-only) game jam is happening on itch, from the Interactive Fiction Club.

~ OTHER ~

The Interactive Fiction Showcase is still running! If you have completed an IF piece this year, consider submitting it! It is happening only on itch!

~ NEW RELEASE ~

The Siren's Bet (Twine) is a short fantasy text game, where your path crosses a siren's. @kessielrg

Summer Night (Twine) is a short slice-of-life game about meeting friends. @lokeloski

Don't forget to check the events mentioned in previous pages! There were a lot of really cool entries!

~ NEW RELEASE (WIP) ~

Secunda Reforge (RenP’y) is a highly stylistic dark-fantasy and gothic visual novel. @secundareforged

Hubris (Twine) is a dark-fantasy project where you incarnate the Champion of the Gods. @hubris-the-if-game

Dragon Kin (CScript) is a high-fantasy project about struggled and power.

The Devils Privilege (CScript) is a young adult modern-fantasy project with twists.

Prismatic (CScript) is a personality-based death game with a focus on horror.

Wake to weep (CScript) is a mature mystery project with sci-fi tones.

Eschaton: The Rebirth (CScript) is a high-fantasy project with a battle for good and evil.

Phantasmagoria (CScript) is an extension project of a previous short game based on Greek Mythology.

~ GAMES UPDATES ~

A Shriek of Ash and Fire (CScript) has updated, doubling its word count, over 100k. @krogpile

Path of Martial Arts (CScript) has updated their Patreon's demo.

Drink Your Villain Juice (CScript) has made the last major update public. @drinkyourvillainjuice

Oh Mother, Where Art Thou? (CScript) has added extra content to the demo.

The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes (CScript)'s Patreon demo has been updated. @doriana-gray-games

Luuckey United F.C. (CScript) has doubled its wordcount.

Scarlet Sorceress (CScript) has updated the demo.

Citadel (CScript)'s last update is now available to everyone. @bouncyballcitadel

Agents of Lucifer (CScript)'s demo now includes chapter 8 and 9. @aprismaticodyssey

One Knight Stand (CScript) has added the second part of Chapter 2 to the demo. @oneknightstand-if

The Bar of the Abyss (CScript) has been updated with extra content. @thebarontheabyss

The Thousand of Us (CScript) updated both the Patreon and public demo. @ivanwm-05

Honor Bound (CScript) has released Chapter 7 for the public demo. @hpowellsmith

Attollo (Twine) has released the Pariah's route for the Patreon's demo. @attollogame

Honor Among Thieves (CScript) made a quick update to the demo. @leoneliterary

The Story of Sin (Twine) added two full chapters to the demo. @devilishmango

The Abyssal Song (Twine) added Chapter 3 to the demo. @ri-writes-if

A Sun Asunder (CScript) almost doubled the wordcount of the demo. @asapostapocalypseif

The Curse of Cassandra (Twine)'s demo has been updated with more content. @thecurseofcassandra-if

~ OTHER ~

The Queer Games Bundle (@queergamesbundle) is still available on itch.io for another week! Support a bunch of queer creators (including Interactive Fiction authors!) by purchasing the bundle!

The new issue of the Amare Fortnightly Bulletin is out! Check it out here! @amaregames

Tears of Tianchao (Twine) is looking for beta testers. @redbeanbunsworld-if

The Dragon's Flagon (CScript) is looking for beta testers.

Let's Make IF is back for a second season of tutorials on how to make Inform 7 games. @golmac

We apologize if we missed an update or a release. We are but volunteers trying to find as much info as possible, but sometimes news pass through the cracks.

Please, let us know if something should have been added to the zine, and we will shout it out next week!

ERIKA, MARJORIE, AXELLE, AND NOI

WHAT'S NEW IN IF? 2024-ISSUE 12

[harfanfare]

I like to think that romance with Idia widely differs depending on the time you’ve been in a romantic relationship.

1. “Just started dating” stage.

If you're reading Idia fanfiction, there is an 80% chance this is the stage your relationship is on.

Idia is… treating you like a very precious stranger. He's on his toes and seeks your approval in whatever he's doing. He is going to great lengths to understand the theory of dating and your hobbies - so you can maybe share even more interests - but won’t really act on anything.

He’s constantly surprised by every romantic move you make and you have numerous occasions to adore his cherry blush and various puckles of hair igniting with pink and red. He stutters a lot and can’t focus on anything in your presence.

Idia will outright reject any suggestions for bolder moves. He’s unprepared, and although guilt is eating him from the inside, he is not up to anything you two weren’t doing as friends. Well, maybe handholding, kissing, and cuddling get a (hard) pass, but you are the only one initiating these things.

He will try his best to reciprocate effort, though.

2. “Have been dating for a while” stage.

It’s an interphase between two very different stages, so he’s a funny mix: a very shy outsider and a cocky genius at the same time.

Gaming sessions will be the centre of your couple's time. Idia regularly invites you to his dorm, sometimes even on spontaneous sessions when a new event comes up or he has found a new game that looks very cool. You share snacks, drinks, and clothes (read: you have unwritten permission to claim his blouses).

This boy would be dead without you and Ortho, and with that knowledge, you make it your mission to (somehow) tidy up his room, buy some cosmetics, healthier food, etc. If you are up to organizing a “self-care evening”, he will be hesitant at first but will be looking forward to it after a while, with some older anime. (I like to think it would be a magical girl series like Sailor Moon, Tokyo Mew Mew or Chobits, or some shoujo).

In exchange, he might construct some little gadgets (maybe anime-themed?) for you, helps you get the merch you want, and supports you in your games.

At this point, he doesn’t weigh his words much. He’s still easy to fluster, but he comes with comebacks right away. The most flirty he gets on the phone when it’s late at night and you are using a chat to talk, especially when you are not in the same room. 3. Long-term relationship stage.

He knows you are doomed to him and shamelessly takes advantage of that.

He has no claims against calling you in the middle of the night to watch him sharing his screen when he pulls for a character he wants to get in the gacha system. He believes your presence brings him luck, so he must have you when he does crucial things!

Idia disses your taste in fictional men. Sometimes, he reads the dialogues out loud from the otome games you play. He may alter them, which can make you either huff or laugh. If you read or write fanfiction, he might read them too, giving you an out loud commentary on some fragments and asking you if you are that desperate for dates so you are sending fanfiction to inspire him. If you say yes, he will hum and return to whatever he was doing before, but he might plan something out that you will preferably be able to do in his room.

Chatroom with him and Ortho is quite calm, almost polite, but your private chatroom with Idia is the most chaotic one you’ve ever been. You learned to not leave your phone openly if you don’t want to explain some inside joke with a layered backstory. An app you use to chat with Idia is the one your screen time is counted on most, and writing with Idia is your guilty pleasure.

If you are interested in IT, he might program you an app or something to help you with it! He will give you the best feedback ever, and although it may be harsh, the last thing he wants is to discourage you from learning further.

On one anniversary of your dating, he will gift you this kind of couple bracelet which lights up if the other person touches it. He created them himself. When he receives signals throughout the day, he thinks of them as a promise from you, that no distance can sever your bond.

If you bring up some serious talk, you will be bullied with memes. It’s Idia’s coping mechanism. He will plan his future with you, don’t worry, but wait for him to muster up the courage to get on one knee and ask the question.

[coffeetank]

Easy Narrative Techniques That Spice Up your Works

Narrative Technique is, in simple words, the method a writer or author chooses to tell their story. It includes literary and fictional devices that assist greatly in writing literature or fiction.

In this post, I'm going to go into useful details about narrative techniques and how to play them out while writing your project. Here they are:

1. Setting:

You must've noticed that in genres like horror/mystery/crime the story is set in or restricted to just one place. This has an important impact on the protagonists and characters of your story. Settings play a huge role especially in the genre of crime/horror because the plot is carried out within those premises.

For example, in the movie Scream, the whole story is carried out in the town of Woodsboro, which is significant to note as it adds more thrill given that the killer is on the loose and within very close proximity.

Settings are also vital in genres like fantasy/adventure where the conflict is carried out in an unusual environment as it creates a sense of fight-or-flight hence gripping you into the story.

2. Cliffhanger:

Cliffhangers are common, and rightfully so because they are essential in a fair amount of stories. A cliffhanger is when the author ends a chapter or a book in suspense, often hinting at event that is due in the later part of the book or series.

Cliffhangers can either introduce the possibility of a newer event, or will create a gap before something is resolved, which makes your reader want more in order to find a solution. This encourages your reader to stick by and through, until a satisfactory answer is given.

Cliffhangers are also more effective in the genres of crime, horror, mystery, adventure, and fantasy. In genres like romance or slice of life, cliffhangers can be used, but it needs to be ensured that it doesn't deviate from the light-hearted mood of the story.

3. Multiperspectivity:

This one can be so interesting if used right. Multiperspectivity, as the name suggests, is when there are more than 1 or 2 perspectives in the story.

This pumps up the interest factor as different characters will see things differently. When you show the story being carried out in a variety of POVs, you give your readers the chance to read the story in a new light with every character.

This can also affect the plot, as different characters will have different goals by the end of the story. Multiperspectivity can also help you resolve conflict between different characters. In addition, you can use this to introduce a hidden villain/a hidden hero.

4. Sensory Detail:

Sensory details are the visual images you create for your readers while writing descriptions. This helps in the famous ‘show, don't tell’ and sensory details will visualise the scene for your readers.

This can also be paralleled with imagery (sight, touch, sound, taste, smell).

For example, imagine a hilltop. Instead of just writing about the fact that you see trees and the sun and some animals, you could put down your senses to make the description more visual. It would go like – “As she stood on the hilltop, her eyes took in the verdant swathes before her. The soft breeze tickled her skin while she basked in the warmth of the sun. Deer galloped across the lush, green grass, calling and prancing in carefree freedom. The scent of the earth hit her nose, and it was there that she felt she was home."

5. Foreshadowing:

It's common, it's effective, it's fun. Foreshadowing is when the author is implicitly trying to hint at a forthcoming event. It creates a suspicion in the reader's mind, which keeps the interest alive.

Foreshadowing and cliffhangers can be mixed to create a lot of questions in your reader's minds, which further keeps them hooked into your work.

6. Analepsis & Prolepsis:

Fancy words for plain terms. It's nothing but flashbacks and flash-forwards.

Analepsis (flashback) is when the author breaks the chronology of the story to bring light to an important event in the past. This either has an impact on the plot or the main character.

Prolepsis (flash-forward) is when the author breaks the chronology to go into the future. This can be used to highlight an important event (or events) that are likely to happen in the future.

It's important to note that these are not the same as time skips, which are just a leap from one time to another to not lose grip of the eventfulness of the story.

7. Chekhov's gun:

Chekhov's gun keeps your writing in check. Chekhov's gun is a principle that says any and every element in a narrative should have a purpose. If it doesn't, it get's removed.

Let's say you've introduced a character. Chekhov's gun requires you to assign a purpose to that character. Unless they are contributing to the story, they are useless. If they can have any sort of impact, then you keep them. If they don't, then they get executed from the plot. The same thing applies to objects as well. If your protagonist has found a box, something better come out of it or it's getting thrown in the trash.

8. Title Drops:

We love these, let's be honest. As the name suggests, title drops are when the author writes the name of the title in a line, or adds it in a dialogue, or uses it as a description to finish the story with a cherry on top.

Example: In the 90s romcom She's All That, there's a scene during their prom preparations where two guys are rapping and one of them says, "she's all that" as lyrics. This is a title drop.

9. Antithesis:

Antithesis uses two opposite ideas and puts them together to amplify the message you're trying to send. Antithesis can be done in two cases: contrast and parallelism.

With respect to CONTRAST, antithesis uses two polar opposites to highlight a certain point. For example: "In an instant, all the colour was gone. He was left with black. He was left with white." Here, you have ‘black’ and ‘white’ being used as opposite colours to signify the lack of vibrance.

With respect to PARALLELISM, antithesis puts forth a contradiction but in parallel structure. This means that the grammatical structures of your opposite phrases/sentences are the same. For example: "He was left with black. He was left with white." These two sentences have the same grammatical structure. Infact, the only difference between these two sentences is the colour, but then it amplifies the message.

I hope this helps those reading this. If you're a beginner or even stuck with your work, try implementing some of these to help yourself!

- ashlee

[cameronspecial]

Let Me Tell You Something, Angel

Pairing: Frat!Rafe Cameron x Reader

Warnings: N/A

Pronouns: She/Her

Word Count: 0.7K

Summary: Rafe is a fictional man written by a woman and he never fails to remind Y/N of that.

A/N: This has a slight Twisted series spoilers.

Masterlist

It is no secret that Y/N loves reading, especially romance books. Sometimes she just needs a break from the academic side of life and to dive into another world. People said the books would give her high standards; she argues Rafe is the one who did that. He treats her like a fictional man written by a woman. However, there are times when she needs a reminder that he really is a fantasy come true. She is rereading one of her favourite series and it gets her thinking about her own relationship. She rests the open book on her chest, looking up at Rafe. He is sitting with his back against the couch while she lies down with her legs across his lap. “Rafe, what would you do if we broke up?” she questions. His eyes flick toward the book on her chest and he easily pieces everything together. “I would tell my dad that I won’t take over Cameron Development and move across the world to beg for your forgiveness. I would learn hundreds of ways to kill a man and a hundred more where I can make it look like an accident. I would abandon my dream vacation to keep you company. And finally, I would write you millions of letters begging you to come back home.” He doesn’t even look away from the game on TV throughout the whole declaration, telling her he has this response memorized and ready to go.

Her brow arches, “Did you read the Twisted series, Rafe?” He smirks at her. “Maybe I have, maybe I haven’t,” he teases, running his hand up and down her calf. She sits up to look him dead in the eyes, “Seriously, tell me the truth. When did you read it?” “After you finished reading it and would not stop obsessing over it. I had to know what my angel loved so much and see if I could use it to make her happy in real life,” he apprises. Butterflies fill her stomach, “How come I didn’t notice you were reading my books?” He holds up her phone to her and gives it a little shake. “Because I would read it when you weren’t home. And I didn’t love it 'cause you know I like reading a physical book, but I would read the ebook I downloaded when you were around.” “You sneaky bastard,” she giggles, giving him a little shove. “You read porno magazines because you didn’t like digital stuff and you are telling me that you bought an ebook just for me.” 

Rafe turns her so that she is snuggled under her arm. His lips press to her temple, “I used to read porno magazines. Now, the only thing I need is you, Angel. I did do all of that. You mean the world to me and if you like something, I want to know why.” 

“You didn’t have to do that just for me.”

“Let me tell you something, Angel. You are my whole world and I will do everything within my power to learn more about you. Even if it’s not related to something I like or my hobbies.” 

“That’s really sweet. I feel bad that I don’t do the same thing for you,” she pouts, guilt filling her to the seams. His eyebrows form a wrinkle, “Don’t worry about it, Angel. You do it all the time without realizing it. You come with me to golf even though I know you aren’t at all interested in the game. You know all my favourite things and you come to all my events.” A small smile starts to form on her lips. “It’s not as much as you do though,” she worries. He rests his palm on her cheek, “It only seems that way because you don’t need to put as much effort into doing it. It happens flawlessly.” Y/N doesn’t know how Rafe always has a way of making her feel better, but she is so thankful for it. She nods and sets her book on the side. “Thank you for making me feel better. Can I watch the game with you?” He grins, “Of course, Angel.” There are a lot of things that they love about their relationship, except their effort in reciprocity has to be both of their favourite things. 

Taglist: @winterrrnight @loves0phelia @thelomlisrafecameron @wickedlovely121 @thepatriarchykeychain @drewsmusee @starkowswife @maybankslover @forstarkey @loving-and-dreaming

[tinyapplejuice]

LARRY DATING HEADCANONS

✧.*

•Larry will honestly be such a clueless guy when it comes to dating. He is a robot who originally works for ONLY THE LAW- meaning he has no idea or has a well-known understanding of romance. You could even say he is basically a baby bird and you need to steer this relationship for the first couple of months or maybe a year or so, guiding him.

•As much as he loves you, he will not put you over his job, maybe over Lawrie but that is very debatable. He loves Starr Park and its rules! He will sacrifice everything even his own brother and his life to keep it safe! It’s probably a no-brainer for him to choose which one is more important. But despite all of that, he holds you very very dear to his heart! He doesn’t hate you or think you’re nothing to him, no it’s quite the opposite! He cares for you a huge ton like the people he also loves; Lawrie and R-T! He adores and loves you so much!!! Though not as much as Starr Park and the rules!

•That additionally means he will absolutely NOT allow you to break the rules even if it’s minor. Every time when it seems like you are about to do something, he will immediately stop you and scold you. One time he tried to let you off but he was just glaring at you, gritting his teeth as his eyes followed you. He ultimately just cringed and denied you from doing it. He just can’t.

•I think that Larry simultaneously uses all types of love language to show how much he cares. Though he especially leans towards physical touch and spending time!

•Larry is someone who likes to be with his lover. I like to imagine ever since he figured out how relationships work, he wants to show them how much he cares about them so he’s physical with his way of showing affection! Sometimes it’s a bit corny like a kiss on the hand as he bows down or can be simple like handholding. But whatever it is, he enjoys it. It’s one of his ways of showing affection!

•Another reason why he’s so attached to his lover is the fact that he doesn’t have any time to spend with them. As a cop, it’s his duty to keep whatever he’s assigned to safe and oh boy, he’s very busy with his work. In Starr Park, there’s always something going wrong meaning he and his brother often have to spend a lot of time to fix and cool things down. Which causes him to spend less time with you and be more clingy. He wants to make it up with you!!!! So whenever he has the time to just be with you even if it’s for a second he cherishes it!

•As I mentioned before, Larry is inexperienced with the concept of love and so often times I would like to think he downloads a source; a movie or a book to get an idea of it. That could also be a part of how he figured out relationships!

•But since he had gathered that information from movies, books, and all of those things. He creates a certain expectation, something that can be somewhat achieved only in fiction because it’s impossible for couples to be lovey-dovey all the time, onto you. That causes way too much pressure as he wants to maintain that perfect couple look. He didn’t mean to do it on purpose, it was on his mindset because he was taught. However if you’re teaching him and building him up to be a better person in relationships, he will change sooner or later.

•Larry is a huge planner guy. He loves to be ahead of himself and be able to know what’s going to happen due to the schedule he has prepared. Yet even with him being excited and prepared for it, at the last minute it gets canceled. There’s something that goes completely wrong at Starr Park and they need Larry to come back and fix it. This is extremely disappointing and sad for Larry who looked forward to it probably a week beforehand.

•So with that in mind, yes, he does remember every single important event. Your birthday? He has it memorized probably even to the exact time you were born if you know it. Your anniversary with him? Got that! He’s prepared to give you the best gifts and celebrate a good day with you! Any holidays you like to spend? Has that inside of his memory so when you come to meet him, he always has something to do with you! He always has a huge special gift prepared for you! It’s usually flowers or things from the gift shop at the theme park. Maybe a romantic date if he has time too?

•Larry is a confident guy, he can make the first moves. He usually does if you’re not the one initiating contact however just in the first few weeks of dating. He would just watch your moves and wait patiently. He wasn’t sure if you would like it and so he would slowly creep his hand onto yours. Something small and something cute so he wouldn’t “scare” you off. Honestly, he was kinda afraid that your feelings for him were nothing.

•Larry doesn’t want to cry in front of his lover. He hates it even though he does it once in a while. Why? One, the oil splatters everywhere and it’s annoying to clean it up as it just smears. He doesn’t want his lover to do extra chores for him. Two, he’s a cop. He isn’t as strong or intimidating as Lawrie but sometimes he feels a bit weak when he shows a vulnerable side. Now he cries for a lot of different reasons; anger, sadness, he’s a robot. He doesn’t understand any of it and so often time it messes with his code, making him more emotional.

•Larry does get angry from time to time with you if you guys ever get in a fight. When he gets angry, it’s usually a shocker since many people perceive him as this happy, silly, optimistic guy. He usually snaps and explodes. He yells and screams before ending up in tears because he feels guilty. He will not hit you, he has great strength and is very cautious about it with you.

•Correlating to it, Larry is also not a violent guy. No, I’m not saying he will never have to use it. He will have to from time to time in Starr Park but he prefers to be docile. After all, it’s Lawrie's job to be the more aggressive one out of the two. So he prefers not to be physical.

•Larry is not afraid to yell out “I LOVE MY PARTNER” out loud.

•Larry isn’t easily flustered, shockers I know. He may seem like it but he actually just usually gives a small smile and laughs it off, thanking you generously for your appreciation. Even so, there are moments where you have him slightly blushing if you just play your cards right.

•Since he is a robot, he can either be the coldest or the hottest thing ever. His body is ice, shivering cold in the winter while it’s burning hot in the summer. The bad thing is that he likes to be with his lover so it gets very uncomfortable because of his body temperature. Sadly, he doesn’t feel how cold or hot it is to know the pain.

•Most of the time he’s smiling but the little face in his hat is not. That’s where you know he’s faking his smile. That face is an indicator of his real emotion. So he may seem all good and happy but inside he’s frustrated and mad.

•Larry tweaks when you give him any sort of affection. Whether it be physical touch, gifts, or any sort of that. He will go haywire, for the first few times he went short-circuiting and ended up overheating but now he has learned to control it.

•His siren, oh boy! If he’s really really happy then it blares up. It’s sweet but it’s actually so so so so dreadfully bad. It’s so loud and bright. It hurts your ears and eyes, it causes people to stare at him weirdly. Overall, the thought of it is nice of him but…

•Anyways! Larry is completely obsessive about you. He thinks about you every time at his job every single day! He’s always gushing to you to Lawrie when he has the chance, acting like a high school girl who had found her true love, giving his brother his thoughts and feelings to you- maybe even sprinkling a gesture for help. And trust me when I say this, Lawrie is far worse with the concept of romance than Larry is. He literally is absolutely so infatuated with you.

•Just like rules, he keeps your boundaries very dear to him. It’s sacred. He always reminds himself it’s like a mini law of Starr Park and if he breaks it accidentally, he will apologize furiously and so so much.

•Larry tries to look to impress his lover and maybe swoon them but it honestly ends up failing so badly and at that point, he just gets incredibly embarrassed for trying. He does that once in a while, you cannot stop him.

•Since he’s a cop, after all, his first instinct is to protect you. So everything that might seem dangerous or threatening to you, without hesitation he will jump in and save you like you were some sort of royal he needed to save. It’s all cute and silly before he jumps one of your friends and tries to arrest them claiming they were going to hurt you.

•That also means he is the literal fun police. No buts, whys, or anything like that, he will stop you if it goes against the rules or if it’s too dangerous. It’s for good intentions but the actions are not in the right place!

•Larry is easily a jealous man. Due to the fact that almost everybody in Starr Park hates him for shoving the rules up to their faces, he worries that you might have the same exact opinion as him. So he’s very clingy and often time gets fussy whenever he feels like your relationship is drifting apart. You have to comfort him that you won’t leave him.

•He would and WILL spend hours rambling about the rules of Starr Park to you. If you do listen and you’re interested in it, he will soar. He will immediately think you are the most important person to exist and he will want to marry you.

•Without a doubt, he’s the most cheesiest man to exist. He loves using corny pick-up lines. (He doesn’t know it’s cringy, he’s trying his best). He thinks he swoons you over with it.

•He will unironically correct you. Since he’s a cop and he corrects people from doing wrong, he would unintentionally point out. Oh, you used the wrong grammar? He will say what you missed. Your posture is not good? Yep, he’ll mention it. It’s not to make you feel bad, no, it’s just how he works.

•Larry is more competitive than his twin, Lawrie, so whenever you guys are doing something that’s some sort of rivalry. He will try hard to get the victory. It’s going to be so tense since he’s probably going to be the only one who takes it seriously. And if he doesn’t, he’s going to be so pouty. He will probably just ignore you for a few minutes because he didn’t get the win.

•Larry is also very clueless about emotions in general. He has much trouble understanding his own so do you really think he’s going to understand yours? No, he wouldn’t. That means he won’t be able to support you when you’re upset even if he has all the information he needs about it. He panics very very much and tries to comfort you.

•Speaking of comforting you. Usually when you’re feeling down, he will try to make you laugh by doing silly poses with his floating head or cracking up funny jokes. But if you really do need a friend to talk to, he will be there. He may just speak words based on facts from the computer but he truly means it when he says he cares and loves about you. He does but he doesn’t really know how to show it.

•Most of the conversations you would be having with this boy is so bland and straightforward. It sounds artificial because it is. He only bases the talk on real facts and doesn’t know anything about trends and such.

•Lawrie would be such a huge third wheel when Larry invites him to hang out with you guys. Larry will be so loving to you and Lawrie just has to watch as his brother clings onto you. It’s a bit awkward for him.

•He will point out random, cute pictures that have two characters and ask you, “Us?”

•Larry probably makes Lawrie act like you a couple of times, commonly used in the first couple of months of dating, so he wouldn’t be nervous to you face to face but it probably would work as well as he thought because Lawrie would just be too unenthusiastic and he didn’t act like you. Plus if he messed up, Lawrie would be super amused and tease him. He still does it from time to time but not as much as he did in the past.

•Larry will do everything in his power to make you feel the prettiest/handsome person ever. He doesn’t want you to be insecure ever despite his lack of confidence. Larry is the type of person to think that his partner is the most dashing person ever and if you ever think otherwise then he will be upset!

•If you’re someone who’s afraid of bugs, Larry would carefully let the bug go and scold them, thinking they understand the human language.

•Larry seems like a guy to be curious about everything so often times if he sees something he doesn’t know. He will come to the number one trustworthy source; you!!!

•He also loves to engage in a conversation! Whether it’ll be talking or listening, he’ll always be somewhat speaking to his love!

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR READING!!! AND YES I WILL BE DOING LAWRIE DATING HEADCANON!!! HAVE A GOOD DAY!!! ⸂⸂⸜(രᴗര๑)⸝⸃⸃

[agustdakasuga]

The Way Of A Criminal: Chapter 10

Genre: Mafia!AU, Criminal!AU, Angst, Romance

Pairing: OT7 x Reader

Characters: Normal!Reader, Gangster!Namjoon, Gangster!Seokjin, Gangster!Yoongi, Gangster!Hoseok, Gangster!Jimin, Gangster!Taehyung, Gangster!Jungkook

Summary: Your father was a stranger, you never knew who he was and what he did. But one day, someone knocks on your door, informing you of his passing. Now, you learn more about him, his life and the legacy you are expected to continue with the help of his 7 executives.

Story warning(s): This story will contain depictions of violence, blood shed/gore, death, mentions of abuse, smoking, alcohol drinking and gambling. This story is fictional and has nothing to do with real life events or the actual members of BTS. Please read at your own discretion.

The dinner went well, you managed to steer clear of Jimin. He seemed to do the same and avoid you. With each course of food that was served, you took time to savour the flavours of each bite. It was amazing, unlike any other type of food you have had before.

“Is it good?” Jin asked.

“Very good. I’ve been loving every dish.” You confessed shyly, making them laugh. Yoongi poured the red wine and handed out the glasses. With 8 glasses to pour, the bottle was finished quickly.

“Have a bite of that then take a sip.” Namjoon advised. You nodded and did as he instructed you. They looked at you expectantly.

“Wow. The flavour has changed entirely.” Your eyes widened in surprise. The tang of the wine was gone, replaced with an almost buttery taste and feel on your tongue.

“Do you drink often?” Taehyung asked.

“No. My mum never really drank much. I guess she was just too busy to drink. But when I was older and able to drink, we did enjoy an occasional beer or soju with our food. That’s about it.” You explained with a shrug.

“Your steak, Miss.” The waiter placed the plate in front of you, arranging the steak knife beside the plate. You looked at the piece of meat in front of you, still steaming from how hot it was. You waited for the other wait staff to put the other dishes down in front of the 7. When they picked up their cutlery, you followed suit to dig in.

They had a mix of meats, some opting for beef and the others opting for pork. But all were high end meats and cuts that were not typically found in other restaurants.

“I’ve never had dry aged meat before. But I’ve heard how good it is.” You told them as you cut a small piece of your steak.

“It condenses the beef flavour with a little bit of funk. I would say it is an acquired taste. Like Jin hyung and Hoseok don’t like it.” Yoongi said. He seemed the most well-versed with food knowledge.

“Really, the beef flavour is more intense. But melts nicely.” You noted as you took your first bite. You had not expected yourself to enjoy it so much.

“Hanwoo has a lot of marbling, which can be heavy. Having it with wine cuts it but I still prefer a leaner cut like filet mignon.” Jin explained.

“Are you guys secretly chefs? Or is this something you learn in school.” You chuckled.

“Yoongi hyung and Jin hyung are interested in food and cooking. For the rest of us... after eating at places like this, you kind of figure out what your preferences are so you know what to order in the future.” Hoseok said, sipping his wine. You guessed it was just a difference in environment.

“Jungkook ah, how are you going to finish that whole porterhouse?” You heard Jin laugh. You craned your neck slightly to see the huge steak that covered Jungkook’s entire plate.

“You know I need the protein, hyung.” Jungkook rolled his eyes.

“Watching you eat makes me feel full.” Yoongi chuckled, leaning his head on his hand. His words reminded you of what your mother used to say to you.

After the steak course, it was the carbohydrate course. With each course, you were feeling more and more full. Until finally, it was time to order the dessert. Now, you didn’t understand the dessert menu.

“What do you recommend for dessert?” You asked.

“Those who are not a fan of sweet things go for the cheese plate and a side of port wine. Their basque cheesecake is good but their Spanish torrija is good. It’s like a spanish style french toast with smoked ice cream.” Namjoon said.

“I’ll try that. The torrija. I love french toast.” You smiled. When the waiters came to clear the plates, the manager took the orders for dessert.

“The torrija for me.” You ordered.

“Excellent choice, miss.” The manager bowed his head, taking the small dessert menu from you before going around to take the order from the rest at the table.

“Just my usual whiskey.” Yoongi handed the menu back to the manager. Namjoon raised his hand as a sign to get him the same as well.

“Grappa for me. From the reserva.” Taehyung said. The manager bowed and left the private room. You were curious about what Yoongi and Namjoon’s ‘usual whiskey’ was. Until the manager came back with a tray. There was a big glass carafe with whiskey at the bottom and some sort of equipment with a rubber tubing attached.

“Your usual whiskey.” The manager lit the equipment and smoke began to emit. You watched intently at what he was doing. He used the rubber tubing to direct the smoke into the carafe with whiskey.

“That’s a smoke gun. It would be used to make the smoked ice cream in your dessert. It infuses a smokey aroma to food and liquids.” Jin whispered.

“Oh. I’ve never seen that before.” You were in awe at how the smoke sat on top of the golden liquid.

“Mr Kim, Mr Min.” The manager poured the smoke-infused whiskey into crystal glasses and handed them to Namjoon and Yoongi. They lifted it up, swirling it to take a sniff.

“Is it... wood in there?”

“Wood chips and dried thyme, the herb. It may be strong to drink but take a whiff.” Namjoon held the glass out to you. You cautiously leaned in to take a smell. It had a good smell to it, cutting the sharpness of the whiskey.

When your dessert came, you so badly wanted to take a photo. It was plated so beautifully that you couldn’t bare to crack into it to eat it. But you didn’t want to seem like even more of an amateur than you already were so you refrained from taking your phone out to snap a picture and just ate.

“The food here has been very good. Unlike anything I’ve had before. Thank you for the experience.” You said to them.

“You’re welcome. Glad you enjoyed it.” Namjoon smiled.

“Jimin? You’re done?” Hoseok noticed that the male had stood up, hands tucked into his pockets and was headed for the exit. He turned around and nodded his head.

“I’m going to the tables.” He said. You tilted your head, unsure of what he meant by the tables. Did he mean the other diners outside?

“There’s an exclusive casino here.” Taehyung explained.

“Jin hyung? You coming?” Jimin asked, ignoring you and looking at the oldest. Jin shared a look with Namjoon before nodding his head. He wiped his mouth and stood up.

“I’ll see you soon, (y/n).” Jin smiled at you. You nodded your head with a small wave before Jin took off with Jimin.

“Do you play cards?”

“No. I’ve never played before or never needed to play.” You said. There was never a need for you to learn how to play any sort of card game. Your mother never brought you or introduced you to the casino, and you never expressed interest in going to a casino. Your lives were so busy, you didn’t have time to go out and gamble.

“Most of us don’t really play, anyway. Only Jimin, Taehyung and Jin hyung.” Yoongi said. Namjoon paid for the meal and you were escorted out to the vans that you all came in.

“What about Jin and Jimin sshi?” You asked.

“They’re gonna be here for a while. They’ll find their own way back.” Jungkook informed. That was the first time he spoke to you that evening.

“O-Okay.” You were just shocked that he was even talking to you.

“We’ll drop you home first.” Yoongi said. You nodded. Before splitting up into their respective vans, you turned to the rest and bowed gratefully, expressing your thanks for them bringing you out for such an exquisite dinner.

“Anytime, (y/n). We’ll go somewhere else next time.” Taehyung grinned widely, patting your shoulder.

“I look forward to it.” You gave a small smile. Taehyung took Jimin’s seat, riding the van with Jungkook while Hoseok took Jin’s seat to ride with Yoongi. That left you to ride with Namjoon.

“Send the car for Jimin and Jin hyung when they’re done.” You heard Hoseok tell the doorman, who nodded and bowed.

“Bye. See you soon.” The others waved to you through the window as your van drove off first. You let out a soft sigh, head leaning back against the head rest. You hadn’t noticed the look of amusement Namjoon was giving you, watching your mannerisms.

“Stressed?”

“N-No.” You quickly denied with a shake of your head, clearing your throat.

“How was it? And I’m not talking about just the food.” Namjoon asked with a laugh at the end.

“It was nice. I’ve never experienced that sort of dining setting before and I feel like I’ve learnt a lot about food and fine dining etiquette. But I hope me being there didn’t make things awkward for everyone.” You sighed.

“Don’t worry about that, (y/n). We want to make sure you’re comfortable around us. And I spoke with Jimin, he won’t incite anymore fights but it will take some time for him to open up.” Namjoon assured.

“Ah, I was hoping he didn’t get in trouble because of me. He is entitled to his feelings after all.” You rubbed the back of your neck.

“He’s old enough that I don’t scold him like a parent. We all have to do things we may not like, it’s compromise. The two of you can just avoid one another until you’re comfortable to sit down and talk. The rest are fine. Jungkook is just... introverted. Once he’s used to you being around, he’ll be more open with his true self.” Namjoon said.

“Yeah, I get the feeling he doesn’t really like me around.” You said sheepishly.

“He feels bad that Jimin is on his own while the rest of us are ‘on the other side’. But of course, that’s not true. There are no sides. He just wants peace as the youngest of us.” He explained.

“You know a lot about them.”

“I have to. It’s my duty as the one with the leadership role of the family now that your father has passed away.” Namjoon shrugged.

“If you don’t mind me asking... Is it hard? Knowing so many people depend on you while you, yourself, are navigating through life? All this is just suddenly your responsibility.” You asked.

“Hmm. While I appreciate the leadership authority everyone gives me, it is definitely not smooth sailing. But I’m glad my brothers help me with that responsibility. It’s not like they dump everything on me and expect me to fix their messes all the time.” Namjoon chuckled.

“I see. You’re a good big brother.” You complimented. You wished you had someone to rely on.

“I was the first person your father brought into the company. Everyone else came after me so I guess I’m used to watching over everyone and showing them the ropes.”

“Can’t say I know what that feels like. I’ve always been on my own. Or rather, it’s always been my mum and myself. Never had to think about siblings or taking care of anyone other than myself.” You confessed.

“It must be hard having to do everything on your own.” Namjoon smiled softly. You let out another sigh.

“There’s independence in it. But there was never anyone to count on. If I want something done, I have to do it myself. There’s no one to help or do it for me.” You said.

“I understand.” Namjoon empathised.

“I guess that’s why I find it hard to rely on others or trust others.” You rubbed your arm.

“Take your time. You don’t have to trust us 100%. Do it at your own pace. But just know you can rely on us to be here. You don’t have to be alone anymore.” He said. You felt tears brim in your eyes but blinked them away, not wanting to cry in front of him. You didn’t say anything more, looking everywhere else except directly at Namjoon.

“We’re here.” The driver came out to open the door for you. You hesitated but decided to go for it, reaching over to wrap your arms around Namjoon. Under your hold, you felt him stiffen.

“Thank you.” You whispered.

“You’re welcome.” He replied, wrapping an arm around you. When you pulled away, he handed over your bag of clothes.

“Goodnight, (y/n).” Namjoon wished.

“Goodnight, Namjoon...” You wished him back and turned to walk towards your house. The driver stood there and waited for you to enter the house before closing the van door to drive Namjoon back home.

“Are you alright, young master Namjoon?” The driver asked when he noticed the forlorn look on Namjoon’s face.

“Yes. Just have a lot to think about.” Namjoon replied. When the driver dropped him off back home, the living room was empty. He heard the faint sound of Yoongi’s piano coming from his room. Taehyung shuffled down the stairs with his silk robe over his long pajamas.

“You’re home...” He yawned.

“Hmm.” Namjoon nodded, going to the bar to pour himself a drink. He downed it all in one go before pouring more to refill his glass.

“Hoseok hyung had to go out. He said there was a security breach at one of the big warehouses so he went to make sure nothing is missing. Jungkook followed him in case he needed back up.” Taehyung informed.

“Good. They can report it in tomorrow’s meeting.” Namjoon replied.

Taehyung leaned his arms on the bannister of the stairs as he watched Namjoon, tilting his head while studying the older’s posture. He looked down at the tarot card in his hand. Maybe now wasn’t the best time to speak to Namjoon about it.

“(y/n)’s okay?” Taehyung asked vaguely. He didn’t want to ask Namjoon directly what happened, knowing the leader won’t let him into his thoughts.

“Yes. We talked but things are well.” Namjoon replied. Taehyung hummed in reply, deciding to just give up.

“Don’t drown your sorrows, Namjoon hyung. The hangovers are not worth it.” Taehyung said, a slight teasing tone evident in his words, hiding his previous intentions of going to see the leader.

“There are no sorrows to drown, Taehyung ah.” Namjoon chuckled.

His head was filled with the conversation he had with you. How different your lives were. You grew up on your own, being taught to fight for yourself to survive while the 7 were taught to fight for each other and survive as a whole.

Jimin hummed as he stepped out of the casino, removing the cigarette from his lips and dropping it onto the gravel, crushing it under his boot. Patrons entering the casino fawned over his good looks.

“Ah...” Jin stretched his arms over his head with a yawn, walking out to stand beside Jimin. He tucked his cold hands back into the pockets of his pants.

“The car’s coming.” Jimin said, checking his phone. He had called the driver 15 minutes ago.

“Ugh, I need to sleep. But we played good tonight.” Jin declared, patting Jimin on the back. They had all their winnings from the night in their account so they didn’t need to worry about handling physical cash. Jimin looked at the words written on the small card the general manager had slipped into his pocket before he left.

“What’s that?” Jin asked.

“It’s the details for the next high stakes game. That’s why I wanted to play tonight. Win at the odd number tables and when you reach the end, you get the invite.” Jimin explained.

“Aren’t you always invited anyway?” Jin rolled his eyes. Jimin was known above ground and underground for his skills, the organisers would always send him a personal invitation to any of the high stake poker games.

“But it’s interesting to see how a normal would get in.” Jimin smirked. The driver came and opened the door for them to climb in.

“If there’s no reason for me to go, I won’t play.” Jimin said.

“The president contacting Taehyung will stir things for sure. He’s worried about the hit list on the other politicians. The one you retrieved. Can’t let his city go into war.” Jin noted.

“We’re just doing his dirty work for him then. Or rather, being the peacemaker.” Jimin rolled his eyes with a scoff.

“That or we have the Korean military storming our place.” Jin laughed.

“We can always escape... We have the resources to...” Jimin said bitterly. But he knew that they wouldn’t just up and leave because of their late boss’ legacy. They wouldn’t let the company die and they wouldn’t want to leave you alone to deal with possible repercussions of their crimes.

“We make them happy, they leave us alone to run our business. That’s why Namjoon let their military test at our lab. They won’t shut us down and it grants us access into their military projects.” Jin revealed.

“So that’s why he agreed to that.” Jimin finally understood the intention behind Namjoon’s actions.

“Our backing is strong. Everyone will be fighting for our help anyway so might as well use that to our advantage.” Jin shrugged.

Jimin stared out the window. He was glad throughout the night alone with him, Jin didn’t bring you up or ask him why he was so hostile towards you. After chatting with Namjoon, Jimin agreed it was best if he just avoided you as much as possible.

You put all your clothes in the washing machine to do laundry. You opted to just walk around in an old, oversized shirt and underwear. While the washing machine was running, you sat with your computer in the kitchen.

‘How to play poker?’

“Ah, this is too difficult.” You looked at how to play ‘Texas Hold’em’, which is the most played variant of poker.

You thought back to the conversation at the start of the dinner. Maybe they had just helped you choose your major. You weren’t choosing it for them but at least you now had a proper reason to choose linguistics.

~~

Series Masterlist

Ko-Fi

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[reflections-in-a-critical-eye]

10 Jikook Fanfictions Part 1

I said I'd make a list before the end of the year and I kept my promise. Now, it's difficult to choose, especially when I have more than 300 bookmarks and unfortunately I also started doing that some year and a half ago. Safe to say, there's probably plenty of good fics I read that are now lost. Anyway, enough with the boring chit chat, here's 10 random jikook fics in no particular order and most likely, several other parts will follow, probably next year 😉

1. Dead in the Water

It's been a couple of years since I read this and honestly, I barely remember much, but what I do know it's that it had an impact on me. Usually fics that have death as a central theme end up resonating with me, but perhaps it's because I've always been attracted to more darker fiction. This one is gritty and there's a lot of pain and I must have cried a lot (those tend to stick in my head)

2. we're holding hands beneath the silver screen

I think this story is taking place in the 90s (you'll see that a lot of the fics I recommend are taking place in the past). I think I ended up reading everything ChimneyCricket wrote, but this one remained a favorite. Coming of age during a summer in Jeju in the 90s. Apart from the theme, it's the writing that made me stick with it.

I'm not the biggest fan of young adult stories. Or better yet, it's not something that I'd go to as a preference. When I do, it's more of an indulgence and thankfully, I found some writers (like this one) who can do a really good job with the genre.

3. Stockwell

Another writer that I've become a big fan of after reading one fic of theirs. And I think it might have been Stockwell that did it for me. I like that it's fanfiction with adult themes for an adult audience. And I also resonate with a lot of the cultural references and themes. I will also admit that this fic leaning into the enemies to lovers trope was a selling point because I'm a sucker for it. I can't help myself.

4. Burn for You

This is a complete self indulgence for me and I embrace it. Just like watching Bridgerton is a guilty pleasure for which I don't actually feel guilty (and the inspo for this fic). This story has everything and I must say the combination of lust, fear of revealing feelings, rumors, proper behavior and hidden romance is a lethal combination!

5. Light of a century

I might have recommended this story before, but it being inspired by Up on Poppy Hill is not just due to the plot, but the writing is able to evoke that studio Ghibli mood. This fic is to be read on a hot weekend afternoon.

6. Map of the Soul

This might be one of the most complex fanfictions I read due to the amount of research needed, but also in the depiction of political contexts and identity politics. Most of all, I like it because as much as relationships are a vital part of the story, there is an entire world surrounding the main characters. Events and other people that have also room to develop and not just remain props that advance the story.

7. Proceed with Caution

I don't know what snatchim did with this fic, but it's the only one I ever reread multiple times and I'll probably do it again in the future. I don't even reread books from my library, let alone fanfics. But Proceed with Caution did it for me. Perhaps it's because of the process of Jungkook inevitably falling for Jimin and even though it's a bad thing considering the context, it's so good. Maybe it's the image of Jimin with a bellybutton ring or maybe because the picture of hot Californian days in the 70s is so vivid, it feels like a nostalgic Paul Thomas Anderson movie.

8. Dishwater World They Said Was Lemonade

The description does not do this story justice because it's so much more than that. It's a canon compliant thriller with really complicated and complex characters and once again, a story meant for adults who understand that it's fiction. Unfortunately, judging by the comment section, a lot of people cannot distinguish betweem real people and characters. For those of you who might be fans of Korean thrillers, this story might be the one for you. It's also one of my favorite jikook fics as well.

9. souvlaki

Need I say more, considering the description? This is a self indulgence as well, but of a different kind. If I happily read tropey fics, I also like the ones that can sound like a uni course. Set during the 1997 FMI crisis in SK, any reader will get familiar with a socioeconomic and political perspective of that time through the eyes of the main characters. If you're only looking for romance, this one is not for you.

10. you wouldn't remember

I think littleflumes might be currently my favorite writer of canon compliant jikook. I think the author really captured their dynamic in its essence and the room left for fiction perfectly fills in the holes left in the last 2 years and up until the present. But what did it for me, not only with this story, but the others in the series as well, is that it's concentrated almost entirely on the two main characters, almost living in a bubble of their own in which their relationship can be explored.

[fandom]

Stranger Things

In a busy, fantastical year of sci-fi television, one show rose above the rest, and we’re betting you know exactly the one we’re talking about. Stranger Things has always been super popular on Tumblr, so it's no surprise this season wasn’t any different. After waiting an entire three years, we were treated to not one but two volumes of horrific, heartbreaking goodness. 

From the moment we heard the opening notes of Journey's “Separate Ways (Worlds Apart)” in the first official trailer in mid-April, we knew this season would be on a bigger scale than we’ve ever seen for the series. That same week, Stranger Things made its first Fandometrics appearance of 2022. But the real excitement set in when Netflix released the first volume, a set of seven episodes, on May 27, 2022. The show has appeared on our weekly TV Shows list and remained in the top 20 ever since. Skeptical? Well, stranger things have happened!

The wild mid-season cliffhanger was enough to keep fans going through the month-long break between volumes. You used the interim to discuss theories and fears, share GIFs and edits, and post myriad fan works. Returning to Hawkins in July for the second volume, some of those theories and worries were confirmed. After the two final episodes, you came together once again to mourn your losses and discuss the ramifications of major events for the next (and final) season.

We all know the lifeblood of Stranger Things has always been its characters: We’ve rooted for them, shared their wins and losses, and watched them grow. This is especially true for the show’s ragtag group of teens who frequently find themselves looking for trouble in all the right places. This season, the Stranger Things fandom collectively fell in love with newcomer Eddie Munson: the long-haired, guitar-wielding dungeon master of our dreams. Eddie was the clear favorite by a mile, followed by Steve Harrington and Will Byers (fun fact: they are actually the top three fictional TV characters on Tumblr for the entire year). We’d also like to give honorable mentions to Argyle, Chrissy Cunningham, and Vecna, all of whom have made for major topics of conversation.

And, with everything these characters have endured, season after season, their bonds have become stronger than ever. Steve Harrington is still everyone’s favorite dad (Hopper is a close second), and Tumblr has dubbed Robin and Steve platonic soulmates. This new chapter brought seasoned and budding friendships, romances, and of course, a whole lot of ships. You picked apart every interaction and every lingering gaze and came to the conclusion that Steve and Eddie totally should’ve been together. And then there are the ever-diligent Byler, Ronance, and Jopper shippers. We see you, too.

If all of this wasn’t enough to demonstrate the impact of Stranger Things 4 on Tumblr, then maybe this will: Stranger Things was the #1 thing on all of Tumblr this year. Yes, of all the tags used this year, the sci-fi hit reigned supreme. 

It basically turned Tumblr upside down.

[solarspringg]

Random Marauders Headcanons :3

• Sirius has awful hearing. If you want to talk to him, you have either be super close to him or yell super fucking loud. His hearing is ruined from constantly blasting his music at such a high volume. James is always telling him to turn the volume down and that he needs some kind of hearing aid (half jokingingly). However, Sirius claims his hearing is perfect, but that’s the biggest lie ever.

• James runs hot. Like it’s actually insane how he’s always hot. It will be the middle of winter and he will be complaining that he’s warm while in a t-shirt and shorts. When he’s back at home he’s constantly adjusting the thermostat (his parents hate it) and brings a fan with him to school every year.

• Remus loves listening to people talk, especially Sirius. After a long day Sirius will rant to Remus and go into full on detail, and he will just sit there and listen until Sirius is done and then offer his commentary. He loves it when his friends will have full on conversations that’ll last hours and he’s just listening, smiling about how absurd their topic of discussion is, because you know it always is.

• Peter is an amazing cook and baker. When it came to the other Marauder’s birthdays, he was always in charge of making the cake, and the cake was always so damn good. He is an absolute genius in the kitchen and if you give him a recipe, he’ll make it ten times better.

• Lily hates contemporary romance novels. Absolutely loathes them. She complains that it’s always the same plot and most of the time, the writing is uninspired, lazy, and boring. She prefers classics, biographies, non-fiction, and poetry. Her favorite book of all time is Little Women.

• Mary is extremely passionate makeup. She has a blog about it and everything; from posting her makeup looks, to providing tips, to even writing essays about the history of makeup products and its usage. She does her makeup everyday because she thinks it’s so fun to get ready and try out new looks.

• Marlene can’t dance. Seriously, she’s has the worst rhythm in the world, but she will dance whenever she can. There’s nothing she loves more than to dance at parties and events because it makes her so ecstatic, and she could not give a single fuck as to what anyone thinks of her or her dancing.

• Dorcas is extremely allergic to animals, especially cats. Whenever there is a cat in the area she’s constantly sneezing and her eyes water a lot. One time Evan and Barty took a stray cat in and hid it in their dorm for months. Dorcas’ allergies went crazy and she finally hit her breaking point and screamed at the top of her lungs: “WHERE IS THE FUCKING CAT?!”

• Pandora loves arts and crafts. When it comes to gifts, they’re always homemade and made with an extreme amount of care. She will make cards, jewelry, sweaters, anything. You name it, she’ll make it. She loves scrapbooking as well— She’ll spend months creating books of memories for the people she cares about.

• Regulus is a restless sleeper. It used to be really bad when he was younger. He has an extensive routine he has to follow before bed in order to actually sleep throughout the night, which consists of sleepy time tea, reading, and even yoga (recommended by Pandora and they even do it together sometimes). If he doesn’t follow that routine, he’s up all night tossing and turning.

• Barty cheats at every game he plays. Cards? He either counting them or hiding them anywhere he can. Anything having to do with fake money? He’s stealing money when no one is looking. Literally any game he’s cheating. He’s not even that competitive, most of the time he doesn’t care if he wins, he just doesn’t want to lose.

• Evan is obsessed with anything that has to do with needles and sharp objects. He loves getting piercings and tattoos as well as watching others get them because he thinks the process is cool. He also really loves knives and has a huge collection of them, having knives from practically all over the world.

[iwriteandiamnosy]

Why Farcille isn't canon (and it is not a bad thing) part 1

CONTAINS SPOILER FROM THE MANGA AND ANIME

I love the ship so much, I want them to end up together ,but I don't think the ship is canon yet, at least in the main story that we see (is probably canon in the events post story). The lesbians have to work a lot before they can be together.

Let's start with Marcille; she is lovesick, we can see that she read a looong romance series, she is interested in Chilchuck's love life, but at the same time, she doesn't experience romance attraction.

What about her Succubus? I like to think that Succubus are likely to see not only sexual desires, but longing one (Itzusumi saw her mother).

Marcille saw a character from a story book, that she reminds her of herself, or maybe that's what she is aspiring to be, or it is just a silly teenage crush, and it's okay.

We can see that Chilchuck's Succubus kiss him on the lips (kids friendly, am I right?) but Marcille is kissed on the palm of her hand.

Yeah, romantic, but also kinda distant to Marcille, at least physically. I don't want bi erasure, but I don't think Marcille is attracted to him, but to the romantic idea of him, and what he represents. It is easier to be attracted to someone you never met, because you don't know their flaws, or what they are like truly (I also think that being attracted to fictional man is a very lesbian experience, but not my point). At the same time, it is okay to have a type but to be in love with a totally different kind of person :)

Her parents met and courted for 17 years, so she is in love with love, with a long courting and passion, she has a good example of it, but can't imagine herself in actual romance for her fear of death, and excapes in a fictional one because it meets her expectation (we can see how much she loves her dad and her mom, I think she loves their love too, their long story, and fiction meets Marcille's imagination).

At the same time, in 50 years she hasn't fall in love with anyone? We aren't mentioned a crush. I know that her life has been mostly a solitary one, because she is afraid of getting attached just to let go due the difference in lifespan, and because she has a growth spurt different from anyone. But in the last year before the events occur, she joins the party and has 0 attraction for anyone (at least that we are shown, and the Succubus confirm this). Why?

Because she can't let herself fall for anyone (at least consciously) because she is scared of eventually letting them go. It is easier to minding other business to something you can't have, and at the same time, longing for it, instead of working about your insecurities, and understanding that you have to let go at some point (I don't blame her, but she can't excape forever, if she wants to live a good life).

The offspring of mixed raced people, have a vital cicle completely different from one another, so Marcille doesn't know how many years she has, and it is scary for her. So she is not willing to let someone in, for many reasons, but her insecurity about her lifetime is one of them and the main one.

Now we pass to Marcille attraction to Falin (kinda gay).

First of all, we see how easily Marcille has let Falin in her inner circle, even if she is scared of intimacy (even a friendly one). In the academy, marcille is considered a prodigy, and left alone, admired but from far away (and this is Marcille's comfort zone, so she doesn't get attached). Falin enters in her life and gives her a new point of view, a refreshing one.

Marcille is so attracted and in love with Falin, but she doesn't recognize it. She "sees" or prefers to see Falin as a kid (and Falin is aware of this), because in that way you create distance between yourself and the person you love (self sabotaging at its peakest), and it is easier to rationalize her feelings. Notice how she belittles Falin's speech about her being a grown up, because in Marcille's mind, Falin being a kid is a comfort zone, she doesn't think of Falin as a grown up because she would be closer to death, and because she could be a person Marcille feels attraction to.

Also, noticed how Marcille says "You're still a little kid to me" and in the freaking next panel she looks at Falin as if she's the love of her life and they will grow old together.

Notice how in the anime they look even MORE in love.... dungeon yuri, aaaah dungeon yuri

I am going to write a part 2 :) sorry for any errors, English is not my first language. The images are not my own and are taken online, they are from the manga/anime or official books :)

Part 2

(Part 3)

[varpusvaras]

I've had a headcanon for a while that Breha and Fox are really into the romance genre - like, in a way that if the book/show/movie is good, they enjoy it as a good piece of media, and otherwise, they read or watch things together and have fun with it. Bail is...not so much into this, as much as he can also enjoy a good piece of media, but the second part of the experience is kind of lost to him.

He will listen to Breha and Fox talk about them and tries to guess what is going on in any given book/show based only on what they tell him.

(If he is actually a bit invested. Shh. No he isn't. No, he's not watching this- alright, fine, you menaces)

So, there's this relatively new show. It started a bit before the war, and gained a lot of popularity then, and when the show was put on hiatus because of the war, the fans were impatiently awaiting for more. The show is about mostly fictional planets and their high-society, royals and nobility.

Breha and Fox watch the part of the show that came out before the war, and make Bail watch with them as well (Bail watches, because they are asking and he wants to spend time with them, and, hey. He likes looking at them when they are happy and joking around). Then, some time after, the show announces that it will be coming back with new episodes!

The episodes start releasing. Breha and Fox watch them, and make Bail watch them as well (no, he isn't invested at all-). One week, there's a new character introduced. A Princess, who is going to become a Queen soon. She is from a very old and rich planet, that does arts and peace and nature. Breha says that it reminds her of Alderaan a bit, perhaps they have taken some inspiration.

One episode, the Princess meets a nobleman, who is very politically idealistic and believes in equity, and is striving for making the galaxy a more peaceful and unified place. The actor is very tall.

Fox jokes that they kinda remind him of Breha and Bail. Breha laughs. Bail squints his eyes at the screen.

The Princess becomes a Queen, while becoming increasingly close with the nobleman. Then, one week, they introduce another new character. A former soldier, who has now returned from the war, and the Queen and the nobleman meet him when they are in an event, discussing how to make more peaceful solutions.

Bail frowns at the screen. The actor is not a clone, but looks very much like one, with his tanned skin and dark, curly hair.

Fox looks at the character as well.

"Oh", he says.

"Oh", Breha says as well. "I do think...that they have taken inspiration from close by."

You don't say, Bail thinks.

He's not super stoked about this development, but at least the two other actors do not resemble him and Breha too much. He can...sort of understand the choice of casting someone who looks kind of like the clones into the role of the soldier. It's commentary. Easy to understand. It's....fine. They are just drawing inspiration from their overall dynamic, nothing more. There's nothing else that seems too recent.

Then Bail goes for work to Coruscant, and gives statements regarding his views on the clone rights, the war, and his relationship with the clones and how, even though he cannot claim himself to be a part of their culture, he and Breha and Alderaan as a whole have tied themselves into it and consider it to be a part of their culture as well.

It's a good statement. Bail is proud of it and the reaction it causes. The way Fox and Breha look at him after is the best reward he could possibly ask for.

Then, a few weeks later, a new episode comes out. The nobleman gives a speech about the war and cultures and how he relates to them. It's very much the statement Bail gave, but just reworded to fit the world of the show.

Oh, Bail thinks. Oh, it is on.

Bail decides to have his own fun. He starts to make very showy gestures to Breha and Fox in public. They know immediately what he is doing, and go along with it.

Some of the things he did end up in the show. Bail can deduce from what those things are when whoever it is who is gathering material is present.

Bail knows the press. He knows how they dress, he knows how they operate. Once he knows where to look, it is very easy to spot them.

It's a rare occasion that both Breha and Fox are accompanying him to Coruscant. Bail is playing it up, until he notices the person who is very much not press but who is very much recording and making notes, when Bail is not even saying anything to any of the people surrounding them.

Bail turns to look straight towards the camera.

He person holding it stiffens, but doesn't turn away instantly. Not so easily intimidated, then. Bail can respect that at least.

Bail continues to stare at the camera, not saying anything. Just staring. Fox and Breha have caught on to what he is doing by then, and they are trying their best not to burst out laughing.

Bail continues to stare at the camera. He has stared down bounty hunters, separatists, assassins, the sith. He can do this all day.

Finally, the camera turns away. Bail smiles, and clims into their speeder with Breha and Fox.

As soon as the doors are closed and the speeder starts moving, Breha and Fox lose it. They cannot stop laughing the whole way, and are barely able to contain it once they arrive to the Senate.

Unsurprisingly, at least for some, the plotline of the three characters in the show starts to steer to entirely new directions in the very next episode.

[if-whats-new]

What's New In IF? Issue 10 (2024)

By Erika, Marjorie, Axelle, and Noi

Now Available!

Itch.io. - Keep Reading below

Due to Internal things, the June and July issues will only update on events and games. We hope to resume regular activities and include more pages by August. Note: while Axelle is mentioned, they are currently on a break.

~ EVENT SPOTLIGHT : NEO-TWINY JAM ~

Happening every June, the Neo-Twiny Jam is a jam with a simple restriction: you are only allowed 500 words to create a game!

Even though the wordcount is tiny, it is still larger than the one given by Porpentine's original and pivotal 2015 jam, the Twiny Jam.

With 200 more words (still excl. code and non-story screens), and the possibility of using any program (not just Twine), the jam is meant as a commemoration of Porpentine's influence.

Not just looking to make people think creatively about the restriction, the Neo-Twiny Jam is using its platform to raise money for charity!

Every submitted entry (up to 3 per creator) is matched for a donation to TransEquality, an LBGTQ+ organisation.

If you have 500 words in your IF pocket, come and submit it for a good cause! From kinetic to parser, experimental to conventional, and even visual novels, the Neo-Twiny Jam accepts all IF! The organisers are also looking for donors (matching or set donation). @neo-twiny-jam/@neointeractives

Looking for inspiration? Check out last edition!

~ CONFERENCE ~

The registration for the Narrascope ended last week, as the talks are currently happening. If you didn't manage to snatch an ticket, don't worry, they will be uploaded on YouTube down the line.

~ ONGOING (VOTING) ~

The Rayuela (Spanish IFComp) is also still in their voting period. If you are Spanish speaking, come support the entries!

~ ONGOING (SUBMITTING) ~

Only a week left to submit to the ParserComp! Whether it's classic or more experimental, there is still time to submit a parser!

If you are looking to make a Visual Novel, the Otome Jam will be looking for entries until July 1st. There is also the Josei jam running parallel to it.

While it is not IF-focused, the Anti-Romance Jam is once again looking for anti-romance submissions!

Love/Violence is another unranked game jam looking for entries dealing with Love and Violence and all the things in between (also accepts non IF)

Only a week left to register an intent to participate in the IntroComp, a yearly competition where you can submit unreleased WIP and compete for cash prize… if you finish the game within a year!

From now until the start of July, you can participate in the Fix the Worst Visual Novels Jam.

Can you write something in French? Or use Google Translate? The annual Nouvim3000 is an unranked francophone IF jam where you need to write between 500 and 3k words. This year's theme is “INCOMBUSTIBLE”.

~ ENDED ~

The Narrascope Jam has also ended this week, with 6 entries. Check them out here! They will be played at the conference too!

While the RAFFLE FOR PALESTINE has closed their ticket submission (the winners being contacted shortly), you can still help donate and boost GSM!

~ OTHER ~

The Interactive Fiction Showcase is still running! If you have completed an IF piece this year, consider submitting it! It is happening only on itch!

~ NEW RELEASE ~

We didn't find new fully released game outside of jams and competitions. So you should check the events mentioned in previous pages!

There were a lot of really cool games!

~ NEW RELEASE (WIP) ~

Court of the Gilded Roses (CScript) is a harem court intrigue project inpired by the Sassanid dynasty and Persian mythology. @crazerk

Where We End (Twine) is a dark fantasy project, a prequel to To Death, I Embrace. @to-death-i-embrace

Brain Death - An Oracle’s End (CScript) is a sci-fi psychological horror project where you play as an Oracle.

Dark Justice (CScript) is superhero project where you play as a vigilante.

9.1.1. (Twine) is a romance medical drama.

~ GAMES UPDATES ~

As Gods Fall (CScript) has updated their Patreon demo build. @asgodsfall-if

The Night Market (Twine)'s last update is now available to all. @night-market-if

Drink Your Villain Juice (CScript) has completed Chapter 6 for the Patreon demo. @drinkyourvillainjuice

College Tennis: Origin Story (CScript) has updated the Ko-Fi demo again, as well as the Public one. @collegetennisoriginstory

The Operative (CScript) has updated the Public demo and looking for beta testers for the next update. @theoperativeif

Meteoric (CScript) has added Chapter 3 to the demo.

The Ultimate Magic Student (CScript) updated the demo on Patreon.

Thicker Than (CScript) updated the demo with new scenes for Chapter 10. @barbwritesstuff

Last Dream (CScript) is now complete. The game will be available until CoG approval.

Saturnine (CScript)'s demo received a short update.

Dawn of Heroes (CScript) added Chapter 24 to the demo.

~ OTHER ~

The Queer Games Bundle (@queergamesbundle) is live on itch.io. Support a bunch of queer creators (including Interactive Fiction authors!) by purchasing the bundle!

The new edition of the Choicebeat zine has been released this week. Check it out here!

Twine game makers beware: Twine updated for the new version of Chapbook.

We apologize if we missed an update or a release. We are but volunteers trying to find as much info as possible, but sometimes news pass through the cracks.

Please, let us know if something should have been added to the zine, and we will shout it out next week!

ERIKA, MARJORIE, AXELLE, AND NOI

WHAT'S NEW IN IF? 2024-ISSUE 10

[fixyourwritinghabits]

So I want to write a novel, and I outline my story and write out everything that happens in the outline and I get to the end and it's... Between 20,000 and 40,000 words, usually. Like I can tell a complete story but I have a hard time getting it to the length of a publishable novel, and it keeps happening with different stories I write. Do you have any advice for making a story longer without making it feel like I'm just adding stuff to make it longer?

While I think you have a workable length for a first draft, I can see where your problems lay. Let's tackle what your intended goal is first.

Industry standard (set by traditional publishing) for novels is the following:

Adult novels - 80,000 to 100,000 word count. Many will fall between that range. Sci-Fi and Fantasy novels tend to run higher, but you'll notice Romance, Mystery, and Crime tend to run tighter, closer to 80k. Literary novels (Contemporary and Historical Fiction) can swing up and down that word length. Door-stopper books of 200k can be found, of course, but that's the opposite of what we're dealing with.

YA Novels - Contemporary tends to stick to a tight 80k, but publishing tends to seek longer fantasy novels, sticking to the adult standard of 10k.

Middle Grade (8-11ish year old readers) - 30,000 to 60,000. Most publishers want something in the middle, as MG readers are constantly stretching their reading capabilities.

These are generalizations that are subject to change, of course, but they're good guides to follow when editing. Let's say you want to aim for an adult novel, which means you want to at least double your 40k length. While looking over your work, consider the following:

Does your main character have enough problems?

If your story can be resolved within the 40k mark, you may need to add more complications to their journey. Does their external problem (the outside issues they're dealing with, like losing a job or battling a sentient typhoon) adequately line up with resolving their internal problem (dealing with unresolved guilt, confronting a fatal flaw about themselves, apologizing to that sentient typhoon for leaving them at the altar, etc).

Save The Cat also talks about the Shard of Glass or Unresolved Wound, a deeply internal problem the protagonist has to confront about themselves in order to solve the main problem of the novel. Deepening your character's issues can buff up the need for more words to resolve them. (Not every story has the character 'fix' this issue - many novels are about characters failing to do just that, that unresolved flaw finally dooming them in the end.)

Subplots, Sidequests, and McGuffins

Subplots are their to enrich your novel with elements that contribute to the overall journey. Besides the main problem your protagonist is facing, what else is going on in their life? Do they need to confess a crush to a friend? Is their struggle to control their magical powers tied to a traumatic childhood? Does learning the truth about their family history force them to reflect on their own behavior? A subplot should weave back into strengthening the main story while adding more elements to make it more interesting. It's not as hard as it sounds - the more you think about your character's internal problem, the more you realize they'll need to confess their feelings, confront their mother, or more to resolve that final issue.

By sidequests, I'm leaning into the fantasy element of storytelling, but you'll find this pops up in a lot of stories. A chance encounter in a mystery can provide an essential clue, or stopping to aid someone could lead to a character-revealing moment. Remember, this isn't filler - you're expanding the overall plot by leaning into your world-building to establish essential knowledge about your world, introducing minor characters that can act as aids or obstacles to a problem, or starting an action scene that changes the trajectory of the novel.

A MacGiffin is an object, device, or event necessary to the plot and the motivation of the characters, but typically unimportant or irrelevant in itself. Usually, the MacGuffin is revealed early on, and becomes less important once the storyline is set in motion. You'll see a lot of despairing comments about them, because they often can be used poorly. But MacGiffins are often essential parts of storytelling, a quest that leads your characters astray from what they should actually be doing (and in turn learning about themselves and the problem they need to face instead).

Your character spends half the novel trying to find the missing crown, only to discover it's been fake the whole time. That whole first half of the novel was a waste of time... or was it? By having your characters fixate on the wrong solution, you're exploring what Save the Cat calls "Doing Things The Wrong Way" where the real answer is in digging deep down, confronting that internal problem, and setting down the right path at last. This is where the mid-novel twist of the king being the villain all along, the dragon they're meant to slay for killing the villagers turns out to be a card-carrying vegan. The easy answer isn't the solution, and it's taking the hard path that gets things done.

For Example...

In Jedediah Berry's genre-bending mystery novel The Manual of Detection, the main character is pulled into finding the missing detective he used to write the case files for. As with any good mystery, there's a lot of good side quests - going to a bar only to run into villains that need confronting later, a one-sided rivalry with another detective ends up solving a problem later, etc. A subplot starting the novel where the protagonist goes out of his way to encounter someone at a coffee shop turns out to be an essential character connection later, and the MacGiffin - the Manual of Detection itself - turns out to be more important because of what it lacks.

In Jeff Smith's graphic novel series Bone, in the beginning, the main characters remain blissfully unaware of the true danger hunting them or the secrets of those around them. But the villains too are unknowingly pursuing a MacGuffin, leading to a series of events that will bring about a massive clash - and a confrontation of truths that will lead to the final solution.

And Finally, Maybe It's Not a Novel

I do want to say this might all not be what you need, because your true calling could be to write novellas - a length that varies between 20k to 40k. A shorter story is just as good as a lengthier one. There's a steady market for novellas of multiple genres, so it could be a good thing to look into if this feels like where your writing should be.

[yanderes-galore]

Yan!Sansa Rom. Headcanons?

I must warn you, I have not seen all of GOT or read the books fully. As a result, Sansa's character may seem off. However, I researched certain events, so I have some ideas I'd like to write down for the poor woman- I might return to this later or rewrite it if I feel my thoughts have changed.

Yandere! Sansa Concept

(Focuses more on Show! Sansa)

Pairing: Romantic

Possible Trigger Warnings: Gender-Neutral Darling, Obsession, Heavy themes of abuse (Sansa's history, Darling is "fine" for the most part), Manipulation, Overprotective behavior, Soft yandere, Isolation, Delusional behavior, Dubious relationship.

Sansa, in both books and show from what I've seen, has gone through a lot.

She used to be privileged and seemed to lack empathy due to that.

However... Once she's been treated poorly, she doesn't want anyone else to go through the same.

This makes me think that Sansa, after everything she's been through, would not want to harm her obsession or push them too hard.

Let's think about the trauma she's gone through.

Several forced marriages, misogyny, manipulation, being held captive, family members killed, many other things I'd rather not say.

By the time she'd meet her obsession, she'd hate to put them through Hell.

She's gone through many abusive husbands.

She doesn't want to be an abusive partner to you.

By the time she meets you, she's already gone through the pits.

Sansa, no matter what version or how much power she gains, she may want to be softer to you.

She'd be friends with her obsession, someone who has been an ally where she's had none.

Sansa really does need someone who won't have ulterior motives.

Sansa is a character who is trying to survive.

She needs someone who can aid her through all the abuse, manipulation, and trauma.

You no doubt know what she's gone through due to being her friend.

Not in the same way (Hopefully), but you'd be the one she cries to every night.

Sansa would not want to be like her abusers to you.

Which, I feel, would make her a softer yandere to you.

She wouldn't kill people in front of you, she wouldn't force you into anything, she wouldn't want you to hate or fear her...

She wants you to love her... mutually.

She used to fall for fictional tales of love and romance... ones where love is soft...

She never got that with any betrothals she got.

So... while it may be childish... she wants that soft kind of love with you....

She'd never force you into marriage.

She'd wait for you to be ready... even if she feels jealousy towards other potential suitors.

Sansa, by the time she gains some freedom, wants to love only you.

Even when she becomes Queen of Winterfell (In the show), she doesn't really wish to control you... much.

The most I can see Sansa controlling her obsession is subtle.

She'd say small lies or manipulate a system for your benefit.

She'd never hit you, never make you bleed, never harm you...

She isn't Cersei, Joffery, Ramsay, Littlefinger... none of them.

She's her own person and she'll never harm the one she loves.

She tries not to, anyways.

But... Everyone fights for what they love at some point.

She'd never harm your family or those close to you unless pressed.

Unless you're hurt or they try to hurt her... she won't harm a soul.

Sansa would be very soft with affection.

Her touch is gentle, she often asks how you feel.

She'll stick to hugs or gentle touches if you wish... only ever kissing you if you ask and only trying something further when you're comfortable.

Sansa wants your love, yet she'd never take it.

If you love someone else, it hurts...

Yet Sansa will be patient.

She may not take your love by slaughtering those around you, but she's still capable of lies.

She tells herself this isn't hurting you.

Exposing dirt on those you're close to... won't hurt the bond between you.

As a victim of what she's gone through, she doesn't like the thought of putting you through what she went through.

She doesn't put you through what she went through... but you're still manipulated in some way.

Who isn't in the Game of Thrones?

Sansa knows you trust her.

She's had that trust before.

She cherishes your trust.

Which is why, when she has to do the dirty work, she does it out of sight.

She wants you to view her in a positive light.

She wants you to experience that fantasy type of love with her.

The one with soft kisses and sweet words.

The one where you feed one another and hold each other in your arms.

She's tired of all the hurt... which is why she can't let you go.

Surely you'll enjoy Winterfell with her, right?

It may be cold... but she'll keep you warm.

Sansa no doubt genuinely loves you.

She has no motives to harm you compared to others.

She doesn't own you.

You are your own person, just like her... she just tends to... influence your surroundings.

She gives you an illusion of freedom... unintentionally most of the time.

Those you talk to are those she approves of.

Anyone overly friendly or trying to court you is removed.

This is her fantasy...

No one can interfere.

What I'm trying to depict is Sansa is seemingly a "better" yandere than most, but still has her selfish flaws.

She's still not the best for you due to her jealousy and ambition to create a fantasy love life.

She wants the love life she lost.

While she tries not to force you into anything, she wants marriage.

Even if you are a fellow woman, she will only ever take your hand.

Sansa, due to all her trauma, wants a fantasy life to retreat to.

Anyone who falls by her hand is out of sight from you.

She'll get that fantasy life she's always wanted... and you'll be happy...

You must be happy... she could never hurt you... right...?