#SALverse love

[not-poignant]

7, 23, 25 for fae tales ash pls :)

7. What's one way your OC has changed since you first came up with them?

In some ways, not much, and in other ways, so much. He's been on some real journeys, hasn't he? Ash has gone through it. When I came up with him, I needed a character who would humanise Augus, because he possesses a lot of two-dimensional villainous aspects, and because Unseelie were supposed to have high loyalty to family, I really loved this idea of a very kind of loving Augus deep down, towards very selective people.

But I needed someone who could hold his own, in a way. Someone who was in some aspects the opposite of Augus. Extroverted where Augus is introverted. Wants to travel the world while Augus just wants to stay home. Wants to eat junk food and drink to his heart's content while Augus is vegan and prefers water or herbal teas. Wants to fuck around and make other people find out, and hates BDSM tools because it's too 'fussy' vs. Augus and domination.

And what Ash had in spades was this boundless, open love for humans, his brother, and well, just about everything. He was, for a long time, the true embodiment of radical acceptance.

But he met the Nightingale, and he met Gwyn specifically in relation to imprisoning Augus. He was cut off from the human realm and unable to eat, and he poisoned himself with self-hatred via rejecting his Glashtyn.

In a way, Ash grew nuanced within himself, and more capable of holding his dissonance. In that way, he changed a lot, but he'll still always be recognisable as Ash to me.

23. What emotion is the hardest for your OC to process? How about express?

Hm, I'm not sure what the emotion would be, but whatever is behind his bloodlust and drive to kill and enjoy torture and sadism. The emotions that the Glashtyn carries - a lifetime of feeling trapped while Ash travelled, a lifetime of being starved while Ash glutted himself.

I think Ash hates feeling helpless to his own needs, and he responded to that by deforming himself internally, to the point where the once-King of the Unseelie fae calls him out on it.

25. What is your favorite thing about your OC?

There's something about Ash that always feels soothing to me (when I'm not writing his perspective, and then it's the opposite and it feels chaotic and intense). But reading Ash and writing Ash from other people's perspectives, even when he's being the literal opposite of soothing, still makes me smile, and still makes me feel calm.

There's something about Ash which for a long time was like yeah, I can see why everyone looks forward to him visiting the party, and I can see why he was so necessary during The Ice Plague. While not a pacifist like Julvia, he was still more there in his capacity as support and soothing, than anything else.

Ash also gave me the key to unlocking a shred of sympathy towards Augus in many folks who didn't have any up until that point. And at the time, that felt incredible and was wonderful to kind of write out, from the Game Theory scenes of a tortured, bitter Ash, to Augus tendering care towards him in Into Shadows We Fall when he tells him to be careful, so that he won't slip. Ash just...offers something soft to the harshness of the fae realm, and especially to his brother, and I'm so glad he gets to exist.

~

From the Edgy OCs meme!

[not-poignant]

This is stunning

I’m drawing again :3

This time it’s for From the Darkness We Rise by @not-poignant

I love the story so much, so… meet Pitch “Is that embroidery on your robes, or are you just happy to see me?“ Black and beautiful nightmare Mora <3

[not-poignant]

Hi Pia

I blubbing love your stories. The way you build such 4 dimensional characters and riveting plots alongside really sexy smut that manages to never feel forced or empty is just... *chefiest of chef's kiss*

I've recently been re-reading you RotG fics. I know you don't write for that fandom anymore but I loved to fear play between Jack and Pitch. Particularly in the SALverse. It was so tantalisingly visceral

Would you ever write that sort of extreme fear play again?

Hi anon,

I don't think I'll probably write it the way you're thinking about.

I've written a lot of scenes since where a character is scared, for example, there's a few in The Beast that Chose its Own Bridle (especially around sounding and chemical play), I'd say a couple in Eversion, quite a lot in Smoke in Autumn, and definitely in The Wind that Cuts the Night (including one that leads to reluctant safeword use).

To me, those are all intense fear play scenes. These are characters that fear for their sanity, the safety of their body, and more. The terror is real. In fact in some cases it's more intense than what Pitch ever makes Jack feel, because what Pitch does is so intensely controlled and mental, and has nothing to do with what he's actually doing to Jack at the time, which is often pretty mild.

But in terms of it being caused by eye contact alone, not so much. That was not something I was drawn to repeating, because I preferred the fear/terror being caused by something actually tangibly happening to the character, and not a mind trick, which felt a little like cheating, lol.

[not-poignant]

Do you have a sense of what your readers tend to re-read the most? I would be fascinated by the results of that poll!

(For me, it's The Nascent Diplomat because I'm a sucker for different cultures colliding, and I love the exploration of communication and language.)

Hi anon!

It changes over time.

Back in the day it was the SALverse (From the Darkness We Rise & Into Shadows We Fall), and then it was probably Stuck on the Puzzle. In fact to this day I think Stuck on the Puzzle is easily my most reread fic.

Of my original works, I honestly think it will end up being Falling Falling Stars. It's the one people tell me they're rereading the most even now. Before that it was easily The Wildness Within. I definitely think The Nascent Diplomat is a comfort reread fic for quite a few people though! Which is really cool. :D It's one of the reasons why I've always liked running at least one kind of 'softer' fic (FFS / TWW / TND) etc. because I feel like...sometimes we just need more comforting fics - even with their heavy subject matter - alongside some of the more dramatic or dark stories I'm writing!

I might do it as a poll though, that sounds fun :D

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Hella, Pia. Hope you are having a nice day.

First, I wanted to say your writing is *chef’s kiss* just so good and satisfying.

I found your writing first through the fanfic “Stuck on the Puzzle”. Every now and then I go back and reread it, it’s so gooood. Then I read Game Theory, and the sequels, and THEN read Shadows and Light, completely out of order, I know. It was all so good!!

And then you’re writing about Anton and Flintmouse in “Underline the Rainbow”, and I was wondering how different they are from their first appearences In your RoTG fanfics. I love them so much, I’m happy to see them again.

Hi hi hi!

I'm having a pretty good day so far today! I did have to wake up super early to get a blood test (fasting blood test) and they took four vials so I should probably have breakfast at some point. :D I hope you're having a nice day (or evening) as well!

That's such a cool journey re: how you found Game Theory and then got to the SALverse and then presumably The Golden Age that Never Was for the Anton/Flitmouse experience. :D

As for differences, hmmmm

The main ones are really that Flitmouse is an omega, and Anton is an alpha, and they live in a dystopian society that favours alphas over omegas. But that parallels pretty nicely with Anton being a golden warrior and Flitmouse being a spy and lower class tailor in The Golden Age that Never Was.

The history with Flitmouse being abused by Vadim is still canon for those two, but in this story, instead of Anton being actively polyamorous, he's had a few omega companions before, which stlil fires up Flitmouse's jealousy.

In that sense, a lot of the dynamics are actually very similar! This is kind of the story I always wanted to write about them, just...set in a different world, in a way! :D

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When I was knee-deep in the SAL verse for the first time, I had a couple of weeks in which the only songs I listened to while reading were Take Me To Church and Gone, Gone, Gone. Five years later I'm still occasionally listening to those songs, and every time without fail they remind me of Jack and Pitch and I'm like "Must reread SAL right now or die trying." I've been fighting the urge for the last two months cause of uni, but now I just gave up and restarted it and I honestly regret nothing

Oooo awesome.

Tbh there’s songs from the multiple SAL playlists that still remind me of Jack and Pitch specifically. Born by Over the Rhine one of them (re: Jack Frost), and Winter Song by Ingrid Michaelson and Sara Bareilles. It’s kind of amazing how certain songs really stick that way. :D

I hope you enjoy your reread! *bounces*

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Ahhhh so im 11 chapters into re-reading the Shadows and Light series and i haven't read it in years BUT IT STILL SLAPS SO HARD👏👏👏 i love you're writing so much!!!!!!!😭😭😭😍😍😍

I’m so glad you’re enjoying it!

I often wonder how that one ages for the people who read it! But man, it was such a wild, fun time writing it and I’m so glad you’re still able to enjoy it anon!

[not-poignant]

I found your work when From Darkness We Rise was still in single digits and even now it and the sequel are still in my top 5 fics. I empathise a lot with Jack and his issues with loneliness+rejection it struck a cord with me, I don't know why I'm sending this I just want you to know how important it is to me even though it hit too close to home and made me cry, it's an intense catharsis I haven't found in other fics. I know it wasn't made for that but thank you. Your writing got me through.

Omg when FtDWR was still in the single digits that’s SO LONG AGO asdlkfjdsa man those early days were just crazy because I was still after chapter 1 like ‘should I even be doing this cuz I just killed Jamie in the first chapter and we all love Jamie including me.’

So you know.

I feel like Jack has this magical ability to reach people in a way a lot of other characters can’t. Even in the movie he’s so raw and relatable, and taking like honestly the greatness that we were given in terms of his characterisation and being able to spend several hundred thousand words with him was like, cathartic for me as well, and I’m glad I was able to share that with you as well anon. Thank you

[not-poignant]

This is like the 10th time I've read your Shadows and Light series (im on 18 of FtDwR) because I always had such a strong connection with Jack and his loneliness and right now, it's cathartic and seriously helping me channel some of these complicated ass emotions as im going through my divorce. So, seriously, thank you for writing and sharing it with all of us.

I’m so so sorry to hear about the divorce, they are painful and I hopethat as you move through this process it puts you in a stronger position to behappier in your future. I’m glad that fic is able to help you in the meantime,and I very much hope that there will be more and more things to help youprocess and move into a new stage in your life.

And thank you so much for reaching out and letting me know how much youlove SAL, during such a difficult time! It’s a very generous thing to do,sharing love when you’re in pain, and I’m really grateful

[not-poignant]

Sssooo I clicked on your shadows and light series even though I know nothing about the fandom, just wanting to see the origins of Gwyn/Augus. Then somehow I'd read the entire first story and it was 3 AM? you got me again Pia lol

So glad you’re enjoying it! :D

[not-poignant]

I am having very strong urge to reread TGANW, all of SALverse, but also COFT. I am in the middle of exams this is a terrible idea...... gonna start on SALverse tonight

You’re gonna need it, anon!

ALSO MAKE SURE YOU DON’T NEGLECT YOUR EXAMS!

[not-poignant]

Literally the only reason I watched RotG, and then later read the books, was because of your SALverse XD

Yes! :D

It’s such an awesome way of doing things. Tbh, I love when you read something (or see a piece of fanart) that has you kind of mentally bookmark the thing to get to later. I started watching Dragon Age: Inquisition playthroughs on Youtube because of fanfiction and fanart. Like, it’s just a fun way to discover new things. :D

[not-poignant]

I love the Shadows and Light series so, so much!

IT LOVES YOU TOO!

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me: I'm not going to read GT+COFT after finishing SAL-verse, I've read it not that long ago; gwyn: starts talking with jack about his past with augus; me, a weak being: shit, now I have to read everything again

Sometimes you just gotta reread the thing.

I’ve been going through a massive Kim Dare reread bingefest which has been great.

Also recently I reread What If? and had SO MANY SAD GWYN FEELS about it that like, I spent like about three solid days just imagining like Gwyn after Augus gets killed and he goes to Pitch and Jack but he knows he can’t be with them either and he gets really cut up about it and super self-destructive and Pitch wants to save him but doesn’t know if he can save him and it’s like

why do I do this to myself. Er, so yeah, I feel that, anon :D :D :D

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Just saw a post that said 'reblog if fanfiction has helped you' and I reblogged it bc just a year ago, I was in a rly low place. Then I reread SALverse and I rly sympathized with Jack. And its not like it cured my feelings of self worth, but it was nice to empathize with someone that felt similarly and see that character grow and get help. I got better bc I made changes to my life- but Jack was my biggest encouragement. Seeing him determined helped me work for my goals too. Thank you Pia. :)

I’m glad that SALverse was able to give you something during a really difficult time, and sorry to hear that you were in that difficult time. Low places are just the worst, and hard to navigate, and sometimes fanfiction (and fiction) can be such a balm through those moments.

I always kind of loved Jack’s capacity as a character overall to just...resonate with some people and be relatable in that way that allows folks to see how it might be possible to heal. He has been like that for me too, and I love that his character exists and that we get to write him and enjoy different versions of him.

[not-poignant]

Hi Pia! I just dug into an old email account and saw a ffnet notification for ch 13 of FtDWR back in 2013, and I’ve been following your stuff ever since into Fae Tales and most recently TGA!! I love love love your writing & I love Everything you do? I hope this is a good year for you & I hope you get to do things that make you happy!!

Homg that is a while! What an adventure! I can’t believe I’ve been doing this for so long and some of yall haven’t gotten bored yet like that is an accomplishment anon and I am here for it like *high fives*

I hope this is a good year too! I mean so far it’s kind of been the pits, but hey, there’s still some time left for it to redeem itself! Lol. (And actually, even with it being a shitty year, there’s been great folks in it and I’ve still been able to write and share that writing so very good things are happening too).