#This has been going through my head as I rethink HP with my friends
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Something weird about people in stories being like "you come from a secret long line of witches" and the protag being like OoO is cause my family, most of the woman on my mom's side, practice santería. So magic stories get just like a weird angle to me because it's something that barely occurs to me? I don't know how to describe it. I guess this is mostly applying to the urban fantasy type of magic cause they just never really bring up brujas o cuanderas o botanicas and I don't really know where i was going with this. But yeah. Weird.
#Magic#Idk if I should tag some books but eh#This has been going through my head as I rethink HP with my friends#“You have to go to school to learn magic”#No I can ask my abuela#Fuck it#Harry potter
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Chapter 27: The Great
Taking advantage of the fact that both human and skeleton were distracted with greasy breakfast, Flowey disappeared on the ground.
The last thing he wanted was to leave them alone with him, but after a week of nothing but jokes and not lethal pranks, he had to make a choice.
And there wouldn’t be much more time, if the determined hue of their eyes this morning was any indication.
~*~
Since he woke up on the true lab, Flowey had to make a lot of hard choices.
Abandoning his name or being guilty of all the events his previous life triggered.
Not meeting his father or being held expectant to what he used to be.
Never seeing his mother or being swallowed by her madness.
Give up on trying to help people or being merciless murdered.
Kill and live or hide and survive.
And after many and many failed resets, he had learned his lesson.
For a long time he had chosen to sneak around the cities, to help just enough so he wasn’t caught. To live just near enough to meet people and preach a more pacific way of life, but distant enough to flee at the first threat.
~*~
“Are You Ok?” the concerned voice had cut through his fear like the sharpened bone sword would cut his vines at any moment now.
It hadn’t yet, that had been last timeline, before he was captured and sent to the labs, this time he dodged the attacks in time. This time the guard looked at him with an expression he hadn’t seen in years.
“You Aren’t Dusting Are You?” The monster looked frantic, abandoning the fight instance, concern and guilt making him lower his guard “I Didn’t Lower Your HP That Much” not that Flowey could do anything to harm him, his pellets were too weak to harm a guard’s HP.
But if he lowered his guard, maybe a surprise attack now would dust him and allow Flowey to escape. He couldn’t go back to the labs, he would do anything to not go back at the labs! He thought about taking the easy betrayal kill, but he knew sooner or later he would regret the idea, and go back to his last save file.
“Your Soul” Flowey stopped, his body going colder than the snow below him “What Happened?” he looked at the new guard, really looked for the first time.
He was a skeleton, instead of eyes he had two holes on his hollow head, dim white lights trembling inside his skull. It was nothing he had seen before, it wasn’t nostalgic, it wasn’t relatable, it wasn’t recognizable in any way… But looking at those fearful eyes, something inside coiled at the genuine show of feeling, even if Flowey couldn’t feel it, he was compelled to say something to the monster in front of him “I’m fine”
“NO! YOU–/” He stopped himself and looked back to where he came from “YOU ARE NOT FINE, I CAN’T SENSE YOUR SOUL” Flowey never thought that shouting and whispering could go together, but the skeleton just proved him wrong.
“I don’t have one” There was no sense in lying, not when he could experience a reaction so genuine from a new monster, he was tired of the same faces.
“You Don’t…”
There it was, the moment of realization where every monster sported an horrified face, and gave him either pity or disgust, he wondered which one of the two his reaction would be.
“FEAR NOT” but the skeleton got on one knee, getting near his height, chest puffed with pride, like a real knight “THE GREAT PAPYRUS WILL FIND A WAY TO FIX THIS” and extending his hands he started to heal him.
A guard that was ordered to find him, dead or alive, actually healed him.
And on his magic he could feel, all the kindness and sincerity of his words, not a speck of malice, nor the lingering residue of disinterest of the paid healers, no, this monster wanted to heal him, not because he agreed on a price, but just because he wanted Flowey to be better!
Flowey was capable of healing, he had learned it from his parents. But being healed was so much better…
The feeling… that someone cared… that someone was there for him…
The new monster’s magic spoke more than he could ever describe with a straight face. He would cry, if he still had the ability.
“THE DOCTOR SHOULD KNOW WHAT TO DO” the sentence drowned all the warmth of his chest, or lack of it.
“No, please!” he tried to retreat, startling the monster before him “Not her, anyone but her!” but he was caught on his grip and couldn’t stop trashing “She will cut me open, please!” but he was trapped again, that’s what he got for dropping his guard “Please, don’t let her experiment on me again”
“AGAIN?”
“It’s her fault! I’m like this because of her!”
The lights in his head went out, he was terrifying like that “She… Took Your Soul?”
He wanted to say yes, but he was scared the skeleton could see through his lies, skeletons were powerful monsters, he remembered the stories his mother would tell before he slept.
“She… didn’t build me one”
The silence was palpable.
Neither of them moved.
He wanted to escape of the other’s grip, but it was useless.
His lights were still out.
He didn’t know what to think, and the environment was too charged for him try to say anything without being prompted.
“Cadet!” Came the strong yell, the monster went stiff, getting up abruptly, and Flowey saw himself free, but more trapped than before “What are you doing standing there?!?”
She approached, and he knew that at this distance, if he so much as tried to move she would see him, if he kept completely still the skeleton’s boot gave him the cover he needed.
“FORGIVE ME CAPTAIN!” yelled, body completely stiff “I WAS LOOKING FOR THE FUGITIVE”
“And did you find him?”
“I” that was the moment they sent him to the doctor “COULDN’T FIND A SOUL, CAPTAIN” was… was he covering for him?
She shouted aggressively, hitting the trees behind with spears “What are you waiting here for?! Move!”
“YES CAPTAIN!” he made a symbol with his finger… ‘up’, Flowey climbed his boot. Hiding inside.
~*~
The first person to try to help without knowing him… The first person to still treat him as a monster once he found out he didn’t have a soul.
This memory had been lost in time, many, many resets ago…
Papyrus didn’t need to remember that. No one need to know that. He escaped the lab before the scientist could know of his existence, made a point to avoid Undyne this timeline, and was sure that this timeline neither Papyrus or Sans had the chance of using the blue magic directly on him, and finding out his secret…
This timeline he did everything right… he tried, he really tried to make a difference… but it always got to the same point…
~*~
“But... Papyrus... You are my only friend...”
The lieutenant sighed, not looking at him “YOU ARE MY FRIEND TOO, FLOWEY, Just Not In Public, Ok?”
“But…” no matter what he did, it always came to this.
“NOT IN PUBLIC! I CAN’T BE SEEN HANGING OUT WITH A FREE-EXP!”
He took a brief moment to think, was there anything he hadn’t tried to say? “... No one is going to hurt you for it” he was sure he hadn’t said that one yet, but it seemed to be the wrong choice either way.
“ARE YOU SUGGESTING I AM SCARED?” He was scared of be seen as weak, of becoming a target, everyone in the underground was, and everyone would kill before admitting that.
“I can protect us!” but Flowey had to try.
“HA! YOU SHOULD GIVE MY BROTHER SOME LESSONS ON HUMOR!”
“It’s true!” He didn’t want to lose his best friend.
“YOU CAN’T.”
“I can! I can tell what is going to happen and–/”
“AND I WILL HAVE TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT. OR WILL YOU RETHINK YOUR FOOLISH IDEA OF MERCY?” He didn’t understand, Papyrus didn’t understand what he was asking.
“But no one has to die! If monsters can just–/”
“WOULD YOU KILL FOR ME FLOWEY?” He just didn’t understand… He had killed, and then he hadn’t.
“...” He always reseted after killing, it was just wrong, even Papyrus agreed that if something like this could be avoided, it should be.
“WOULD YOU KILL SOMEONE IF I ASKED YOU TO? IF I NEED YOU TO?” But he was insistent.
“I... could avoid us having to kill them...”
He gave an empty laugh, and Flowey knew he had lost him again.
Like all those other timelines.
“It’s Funny, Because Until Now I Would Kill Almost Anyone For You” Papyrus got up from the rock and walked slowly before turning to him “SEE WHO IS A TRUE FRIEND, AND WHO IS A FILTHY LIAR!”
“Wait, Papyrus!” He tried to follow when the skeleton started to walk, but a bone attack materialized in front of him
“IN THIS WORLD IS KILL OR BE KILLED, FLOWEY! I DON’T WANT TO SEE YOU AGAIN UNTIL YOU’VE LEARNED THAT, AND IF YOU STILL HAVEN’T, I WILL MAKE SURE YOU UNDERSTAND!” he threw a wave of bones in front of him, uncomfortably close, and disappeared on the snowy path.
So this time instead of resetting a few days and trying again, like he did so many times he could swear an entire year had passed. This time Flowey left his only friend at his own luck, and went to the Ruins, to talk with the flowers.
He knew no one was listening, but it had become a habit.
He was glad he did, because a human fell the next morning.
~*~
“WHAT IS THIS OBSESSION WITH THE HUMAN?” Papyrus always paced when he was conflicted “FIRST THE DAMNED DOGS CLAIM THEY ARE ONE OF THEM” It was a sign that there was still a chance “THEN MY USELESS BROTHER TAKES THEM TO THAT GREASY TRAP EVERY MORNING” The harsh movements and the agitation were scary, but gave him hope at the same time “THEN YOU COME BEFORE ME ASKING ME TO SPARE THEIR LIFE? HAVE YOU LEARN NOTHING ABOUT THIS WORLD FLOWEY?”
Apparently not, since he was standing in front of the Lieutenant of the Royal Guard, trying to convince him to commit treason and let a human reach Waterfalls.
“I WILL TELL THIS ONLY ONCE, DO YOU WANT THEM TO LIVE?”
He nodded profusely, his leaves were trembling, Papyrus last threat still hanging in the air, only now he couldn’t come back to life if he died.
“THEN DON’T LET THEM FACE ME” His right eye light flared red as he stared directly into Flowey “BECAUSE I WILL KILL THEM AND BRING THEIR SOUL TO THE KING”
“Papyrus...” he was so tall standing in front of him.
“OR BE KILLED TRYING, IN NAME OF ALL MONSTERKIND”
“Please...” standing still…
“I ALREADY WARNED YOU, SO CONVINCE THEM TO STAY IN SNOWDIN OR DECIDE WHICH ONE OF US YOU WANT TO SEE DYING”
“There is another way” Floyey pleaded, but he had seen this end too many times to hope.
“MAKE YOUR CHOICE FLOWEY” and with this the skeleton left.
~*~
Flowey couldn’t make a choice…
It was not his choice to make, not anymore…
And somehow he was glad.
One of the two would die… many, many times… until they gave up.
He just hoped they gave up from the fight, and came back to Snowdin.
He just hoped that they weren’t like him…
That when they got stuck in a challenge too big to surpass, that they didn’t got angry… and striked the enemy down.
They were human, and humans could deliver so much damage when they were angry…
He didn’t want to see it…
He didn’t want to see his sibling’s blood… over and over again staining the snow.
He didn’t want to see his – former, he forced himself to think – best friend’s dust… blowing on the wind, just like any other monster… not even a proper burial…
But even if they did kill him in the end, they would certainly be guilty and try again, right?
They wouldn’t go ahead if they killed, right?
They wouldn’t save over a monster’s death…
They couldn’t…
He…
His leaves were still trembling, even without the eminent danger, if he still had emotions he would think he was scared.
But he wasn’t.
He didn’t have emotions.
He didn’t have a soul.
And if he, who didn’t have a soul, still had the hearth to do the right thing, and not save after killing someone. Then they could do the same.
And if they didn’t?
Well…
He just had to make sure to remind them.
The easy or the hard way.
Luckily for him, he learned a thing or two with past resets.
______________________
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FIC: Some Sense of Normalcy ch.2 (baon)
Summary: It’s Edge’s first day back to work at the Embassy, but his job isn’t the only thing on his mind.
Tags: Spicyhoney, Kustard, Established Relationships, Angst, Hurt/Comfort, Mentions of Past Injury
Chapter 1 |
~~*~~
Part of the ‘by any other name’ series.
Read Chapter 2 on AO3
or
Read it here!
~~*~~
Stretch kept watch out the front window, waiting for Edge to drive off with Red at the wheel of his car and wasn’t that a question he didn’t have time to find out the answer. Then he went back upstairs to get dressed; he had places to be and of course today would be the morning that Edge decided to let his ridged adherence to his schedule slip.
It was pretty damned hard to nudge Edge out the door without making him suspicious, since all previous evidence pointed to Stretch trying to keep him in bed as long as possible and now that he was finally gone, Stretch needed to double-time it.
He hadn't lied about the video conference with his therapist, but that wasn't until this afternoon and there was something to look forward to. He had a love/hate thing going with Doc Lee, loved that she could help him collect all his thoughts back into the right baskets and get 'em back in order, hated that he had to actually talk about why they were scattered to begin with to get there.
In the meantime, he yanked on the first pair of pants and sweatshirt he found in his side of the closet. He was headed back downstairs, socks in hand, when the doorbell rang.
Stretch opened the door, leaning awkwardly on the jamb as he reached down to pull on his socks. "hey, andy."
“Morning,” Jeff said with a smile. He was dressed for work and Jeff’s style was a little less posh than Edge went for. No suit coat and his button-up shirt was a deep blue with a scattered floral pattern and a sort of long, gauzy white vest hanging open over the works. He looked good and Stretch didn’t mind telling him so.
“good thing i’m a math genius, your clothes are looking pretty acute there.”
Faint pink rose in Jeff’s cheeks. The kid didn’t take a compliment well, it was a work in progress. But he sure as heck proved his pun skills were up to par. “Thanks for going at the right angle so I don’t have to be obtuse about it. Are you ready to head out?”
“give me two minutes to feed the chickens and we can hit it.”
Stretch headed into the backyard, Jeff at his heels. Jeff stayed out of the coop in deference to his nice shoes and only watched as Stretch let the chickens out, scooping feed into their trough. Nugget came out of the coop last, not the normal order of things, gobbling her food with record speed. Probably wanted to book it back inside to her weird nest and that was another mystery on Stretch’s list. It’d keep for a day or two, and Stretch would take a dozen peculiar eggs, carton and all, to have her back home. He gave her a light pat, didn’t even mind when his affection was ignored in favor of the eats.
Meanwhile, Jeff wandered over to the freshly planted garden beds, peering down at the tiny points of green poking out. "So, do I get to hear why you didn't hitch a ride in with Edge?"
See, that was the problem with Jeff being pals with Edge; it made him concerned for Edge’s welfare and feelings and stuff. That was some double-sided sticky tape, ‘cause Stretch wanted Jeff to like Edge but not enough that he’d tattle. "that would be because he'd interrogate me about what i was doing."
"And you think I won't?"
"nah, you will, but you're more lucky to fall for the eyes." Stretch turned to him, feed bucket still in hand, and gave him the very best doe-eyed, pathetic look in his collection.
"okay, that is pretty effective,” Jeff admitted, “But, somehow, I don't think you're planning a surprise party. So, I have to ask, is what you're doing going to make Edge mad and that's why you're going behind his back?"
"nope." Probably not, anyway.
Jeff gave Stretch a scrutinizing look that would give Sans a run for his money. Well, maybe a leisurely stroll. “All right,” he said at last, “If I don’t take you to the Embassy, you’ll just take the bus, anyway. But if something is actually wrong or you need real help that isn’t solved by a quick lift, you tell me. Deal?”
“deal,” Stretch hesitated and added, “i promise.” Fuck it, Andy was his best friend, if he couldn’t confess to him at least a little, then he might as well start rethinking the title.
Stretch never really gave Jeff a rundown about how he felt about promises, but stood to reason that someone did. His expression softened into a lopsided smile and he jerked his head towards the house. “Then let’s get going before I’m late. Catty is a good boss but the last person in has to get coffee for everyone for the rest of the day.”
The ladies were still chowing down and Stretch left them to it, though he did double and then triple check that the gate was shut tight. Not that he’d ever accidentally left it open, but he was pretty resigned to being stupid about his chicks for a little while yet.
Jeff’s car was a sporty little compact with a surprising amount of legroom in the front seats and there was zero doubt in Stretch’s mind that Edge was the one who chose it with that feature in mind, along with every safety feature package that they could cram in without popping a seam. He didn’t wait for the seat belt speech, already buckling up, and they were off.
Crawling through the streets of New New Home to the security checkpoint and once they were through the gate, Jeff turned things up a notch. His cautious driving was only about a step down from Edge’s, but unlike Edge, Jeff didn’t say a peep when Stretch rolled down the window and let his arm dangle out, relishing the cool wind on his bony fingers.
Nice to be able to relax and enjoy the breeze. Edge would’ve bitched at him and he knew from experience that Blue would stop the car and refuse to move until he rolled the window back up, citing statistics about Humans losing limbs and heads all the while.
Yeah, okay, today wasn’t a good day to think about anyone losing their head. Stretch pulled his arm back in and let it sit more sedately on the window ledge. He could feel Jeff giving him a look, but he didn’t say anything, didn’t ask or probe or scold and that was why he was an awesome friend. Even if a couple times he’d asked about things Stretch didn’t like to think about, things from the past, from Underswap—
The sound of the wind through the opened window suddenly sounded a little too much like a brewing storm in Snowdin, the way they often swirled up across the narrow path that led to Waterfall. Dredged up memories that Stretch usually kept packed away, neat and tidy in a box of ‘past is past’. His head really wasn’t on straight today and—
Stop it, STOP IT—
“how’s things at the embassy?” Stretch asked abruptly. He yanked his arm inside and rolled the window up entirely, sealing out the blowing wind. Jeff didn’t seem perturbed about the sudden break in the silence.
“Great. Busy.” Jeff kept his eyes on the road, but his smile was honest and wide, “I know you’re going to put me off for saying this, but I seriously could never thank you guys enough for getting me this job.”
Stretch shrugged. “i didn’t have anything to do with it. i have less pull at the embassy than hussain, and i’ve heard what he did with the cafeteria.”
“The food is great,” Jeff agreed, “especially the falafel.” His quick side eye said a lot about how much he believed the rest of it.
It wasn’t that Stretch minded the gratitude, but it really wasn’t necessary. Yeah, sure, being his pal probably got Jeff’s foot through the door. That wouldn’t make Edge give Jeff a job that he couldn’t do or that he wouldn’t be suited for. Strategy was what Edge did, and if he thought Jeff would be great for Public Relations, Stretch was a hundred-and-nine percent sure he was right.
“anything i had to do with it was strictly by association,” Stretch told him, “you’re probably more lucky being my pal didn’t put them off, but eh, if they haven’t ditched edge, i doubt you’ll be in line.”
“I think if they fired Edge, half the Embassy would grab their staplers and follow him out the door,” Jeff snorted, “Speaking of lines, you want to stop for a coffee on our way?”
Seriously, best pals forever, “lead on, macduff, i’ll follow you anywhere.”
Jeff laughed even as he turned into the lot for the Beanery and headed for the drive-thru.
Jeff dropped Stretch off at the Embassy entrance before he went to park his car. Which was fine, he knew where he was going, and he didn’t need Jeff to hold his hand along the way.
The security guard only gave him a disinterested look as he swiped his rarely-used keycard and headed for the elevator. Not the normal elevators, the ones that led to the offices upstairs that Humans and Monsters used all day long, where you could press any button and be off.
No, the elevator to the labs was around the corner from those and needed a keycard just to open the doors, another swipe of the card with a password to activate it. Not all Monsters had access to all the labs, and their cards would only take them as far down as their security clearance allowed.
Stretch’s card would take him to any of the labs. All he had to do was swipe it.
He stood in front of the elevator, the card gripped too-tight in the clench of his fingers, staring at the closed doors.
When he’d texted Alphys yesterday, she’d been perfectly happy to meet with him, but said she couldn’t get away from the labs right now, so he’d have to come here. He’d assured her that it was fine and yesterday, it was. It’d been a relief, even.
Somehow while he’d been lying in bed the day before, lost in the tangle of his thoughts, the idea of his HP dropping again got hooked into his head. He couldn't stop thinking about it, none of his distraction techniques were working, his focus was fucking shot. All the clues that he might be having HP trouble were banging on the door, demanding to be let into his mind.
Like the fact that the lower his HP got, the wearier he was and just lately, he'd been feeling awfully damned tired. He'd gotten used to his HP being at five and the extra slice of energy that came with that. Falling asleep at random times in even more random places was becoming the exception rather than the norm and he fucking well liked it that way.
Last time Alphys checked him over, his HP was back on the rise, but it’d been a while. Lately, he'd been smoking way too much, using up a lot of magic healing, and he’d been so, so tired. He wasn’t the puzzle-fiend that his bro and Edge were, but even he could do one that only had a couple pieces.
Yesterday, Alphys’s assurances that he could stop in had been a relief, enough to make that worry back off a little and let him go back to his sour ball of grief over Nugget. Now that mourning was off the table, the reports of her death greatly exaggerated, here came his ghostly HP worries, trundling back in to for another go at haunting the inside of his skull.
After dinner, he’d gone upstairs to take a shower and stood there, looking at himself in the mirror. All it would’ve take was a quick Check, only a few seconds, and his stats would have spilled out right in front of his eye lights, letting him know exactly the state of his HP. Just a quick check and if everything looked good, he could tell Alphys never mind, he could stay home and take a day, not curled up on the bed but on the sofa, maybe, day-binging Netflix. Or outside, watching the chickens roam the yard, maybe see if Nugget would let him get a picture of that mystery egg she was so protective of.
Would’ve only taken a quick Check and Stretch just…couldn't. The magic was sitting there ready to be used and he couldn’t make himself pull the trigger on doing it. He couldn't do it and he sure as fuck wasn’t going to ask Edge. Like Edge needed any other problems on his radar? Not a chance.
So that cemented the plan right there. He was gonna go downtown and see what the deal was, and if it was bad, he would tell Edge. No secrets, not this time, no trying to hide this shit. Edge was going to have to deal with whatever fallout came down the line from his HP dropping, so may as well give him as much prep time as he could.
All he had to do was open the elevator door.
“Do you want me to come with you?”
Stretch startled so badly the world blurred around him in an aborted shortcut. The mostly empty coffee cup in his hands slipped though his fingers, spilling out a few creamy droplets when it hit the floor.
Jeff only went to the nearby cleaning station to grab a paper towel, crouching down to wipe up the mess while Stretch tried to remember how to breathe normally.
Finally, he blurted out, “you scared the shit out of me, andy!”
“I noticed and it’s extra impressive considering you don’t shit,” Jeff said. He tossed the cup and dirty paper towel into the trash can. “And you didn’t answer me. Do you want me to come with you?”
Stretch laughed unsteadily, “you don’t even know where i’m going.”
“I don’t,” Jeff agree. “What I do know is that leads to the labs downstairs. And I know you have trouble with labs sometimes, even your own. So. Do you need me to come with you?”
Jeff’s gaze was steady, calm, and beneath it was that warm gentleness, the compassion on his face as obvious as the soft green of his soul. It was hard to resist the urge to grab onto him and drag him downstairs, fuck all the security protocols, but that would be plowing over all kinds of boundaries and Stretch wouldn’t be the only one getting in trouble over it. He wasn’t about to damage anyone at the Embassy’s trust in Jeff over his own stupid issues.
“nah,” Stretch forced a smile, “you need to get upstairs before you’re the designated coffee runner for the day.” Then, when Jeff didn’t move, he said, more seriously, “but you can hit the button for me. if you want.”
Jeff stepped up but instead of pushing the button, he wrapped both arms around Stretch’s rib cage and hugged him tightly. All of Stretch’s good intentions snapped like the elastic in an old pair of undershorts; all he could do is lean down and hug Jeff back, his slim body giving in a way that bone simply couldn’t. Jeff was softer and squishy and so very Human, the best part of humanity.
If anyone came down towards the elevators, Stretch might’ve let go sooner. As it was, they stood there an embarrassingly long time for whatever security cameras were probably watching. Jeff didn’t let up an inch, held tight and let Stretch be the one to step back first.
Stretch shook his arms out, gave himself a full body shake. He could do this.
“okay, i’m heading down,” Stretch said firmly. He pushed his card into the key slot. “hit it.”
Jeff did and the elevator door slid open smoothly. Stretch stepped inside and the doors were closing almost before he could turn around.
“You can text me whenever you’re done!” Jeff called through the narrowing opening. The door closed completely before Stretch could reply but that was okay, Jeff would know his answer without him saying a thing.
He pushed his keycard into the control panel slot and tapped in his password; the calendar numbers of his wedding anniversary used in a linear equation. The elevator lurched hard enough to unsettle his non-existent stomach and started downward.
No big deal, Stretch told himself, struggling to pull his keycard back out with sweat-slick fingers. He rubbed them impatiently on his pants and tried again, and this time the card came free, just as the elevator doors opened into the gleaming stainless steel and glass of the labs, all clean sterile lines, nothing at all like his own cluttered workspace. But it was all fine, he wouldn’t even be in the lab long, Alphys always took him right to her office.
Right on in and she could do all her tests, let him know the state of his body and soul, that was it, yep.
No big deal at all.
tbc
#spicyhoney#papcest#keelywolfe#underfell#underswap#underfell papyrus#underswap papyrus#by any other name
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key: (✎) = ongoing ✧ (m) = mature themes, 18+
links: main m.list ✧ bts drabble m.list ✧ ao3
2seok
« crayons and love » ✧ uni au / fluff / 1k ✧ Hoseok's had a bad day, but Seokjin is there to make it better.
« you and me, we’re like kerosene » (m) ✧ slice of life / smut / fluff / 1k ✧ Beads. All seven of them connected on one string with a ring at the end, only one of them big enough to make Seokjin wary. Hoseok’s waiting for him though and Seokjin doesn’t feel like now is the time to tell Hoseok that he’s never used anal beads before.
« got any grapes? » ✧ slice of life / fluff / 1k ✧ “That wasn’t for you! These are for the ducks! Stop stealing their food!"
« let’s stop running from us » ✧ meeting the parents au / fake dating au / fluff / angst / 2k ✧ Seokjin has had plenty of bad experiences when it comes to meeting his friends’ parents, so he is more than nervous when Hoseok invites him to his hometown for the holidays. What he is most surprised about though is the fact that Hoseok’s parents seem to think the two are dating and Hoseok is more than willing to go along with it.
jihope
« jihope bingo 2016 » (m) ✧ assortment of aus / angst / fluff / smut ✧ A bingo centered around JiHope.
« trapped in the closet » (m) ✧ non au / pwp / smut / 2k ✧ Jimin can't keep it in his pants and Hoseok is more than willing.
« everything led to you » (m) ✧ strangers to friends to lovers au / fluff / mild smut / 6k ✧ When Hoseok finally gained the courage to ask for what he wanted.
« catch me (if you can) » (m) ✧ club au / fluff / mild smut / 1k ✧ Hoseok literally falls in love with the club’s new security guard.
« a swim in the dark » ✧ teenagers au / angst / fluff / 2k ✧ Jimin's always been there whenever Hoseok has needed him. This time around, it wasn't any different. It was them, together at three in the morning, with their feet dipped inside Hoseok's pool and that was really all that Jimin had ever known. Or, when Hoseok shoved Jimin into a pool then asked him to prom.
« jihope bingo 2017 » (m) (✎) ✧ assortment of aus / angst / fluff / smut ✧ The second round of JiHope Bingo.
« let’s take our time » (m) ✧ non au / fluff / pwp / smut / 1k ✧ Hoseok's still sensitive from the night before but nothing would ever stop him from riding Jimin early in the morning 'cause this is what Hoseok craves, what he absolutely lives for.
« jihope week 2017 » (m) ✧ assortment of aus / fluff / angst / smut ✧ A week dedicated to JiHope.
« the plan » ✧ non au / angst / fluff / 4k ✧ Jimin’s head over heels in love with Hoseok, but Hoseok only sees him as his cute dongsaeng.
« for us, you’ll stay » ✧ fake relationship au / fluff / 8k ✧ Namjoon is the mastermind behind Hoseok's life, but all Hoseok wants is to bring little Seokjin home. Park Jimin says he can help him with that.
« part of the world of the sun » ✧ mythology au / angst / 3k ✧ Park Jimin loves the sun. When his tribe chooses him, unwillingly, as the sun's future consort, Jimin begins to learn what loving the sun really means.
« jihope week 2018 » (m) ✧ assortment of aus / fluff / angst / smut ✧ The second round of JiHope Week.
« round and round » ✧ non au / angst / fluff / 1k ✧ It takes a while for Hoseok to realize that he and Jimin are circling one another - have been circling one another - for a while now, but at least it all comes to an end one way or another.
« do you believe in magic? » ✧ magic au / fluff / 1k ✧ Jimin’s the worst when it comes to control. Hoseok is an expert on it.
« skool luv affair » ✧ teachers au / fluff / 1k ✧ When his student, Kim Taehyung, lets loose that the calculus teacher may have a crush on him, Hoseok doesn't really know what he should think...or maybe he does.
« i’m coming home to you » ✧ magical realism au / witches au / fluff / 2k ✧ He doesn't want to do this anymore. He cannot keep pretending to be something he isn't.
« new wave » ✧ mermaid au / fluff / 1k ✧ "Yep," Jimin murmurs, fighting the urge to look down and meet Hoseok's gaze. "It got me thinking." Hoseok shuffles on his knees. "Oh? What about?" Jimin smiles. "Whether you're courting me or not."
« coming soon » ✧ uni au / fluff ✧ “Hold me back.”
« coming soon » ✧ android au / angst / fluff
jinkook
« love like you » ✧ fantasy au / angst / 3k ✧ Prince Seokjin has been cursed to be unable to love and it’s all Jeongguk’s fault.
« from summer to winter, i’ll be yours » ✧ mythology au / fluff / angst / 6k ✧ Seokjin had learned long ago that he and Jeongguk could never really be together, but his time as summer is almost over and he'll wait as long as he has to before winter comes to pass.
« cramped space » (m) ✧ mile high club au / pwp / smut / 1k ✧ Seokjin needs this to be quick. He really does, but he's also grateful to Jeongguk's libido for packing the travel-sized bottle of lube too.
jinmin
« touch me soft, love me hard » ✧ non au / fluff / 1k ✧ Jimin worries about how their performance at the AMAs will be received and Seokjin does his best to reassure him, glad when Jimin returns the favor.
junghope
« the first and, hopefully, the last » ✧ teenagers au / fluff / 2k ✧ Hoseok is seventeen years old, has known Jeongguk ever since the bunny-looking kid was born, and he has never been kissed. Luckily, his dongsaeng knows exactly what to do.
« i got my tongue between your teeth » (m) ✧ post-disbandment au / fluff / smut / 2k ✧ When they had all agreed to go their separate ways, Jeongguk never thought he would find himself here.
kim line
« if the heavens ever did speak » ✧ demon au / fluff / 2k ✧ Seokjin and Taehyung are lust demons who have their sights set on Namjoon, an unassuming college student who definitely knows there is more going on behind closed doors. Good thing Namjoon is absolutely smitten with them.
« when that moon falls asleep » (m) ✧ slice of life / established relationship au / fluff / 2k ✧ Aftercare, the fic.
minjoon
« to have and to hold » ✧ greek mythology au / angst / fluff / 4k ✧ Namjoon falls and falls and falls, but Jimin is there to help him get back on his feet and find the truth within himself.
« coming soon » (m) ✧ sub daddy/dom baby boy au / pwp / smut
minjoonseok
« you and me (+him) » (m) ✧ uni au / fluff / smut / angst ✧ How minjoonseok came to be.
multi
« delights of december » ✧ xmas and new year’s au / fluff / angst / 6k ✧ Three relationships create friction at a Christmas party and things fall apart only so they can be put back together again.
« love is quiet » (m) ✧ unrequited love au / angst / smut / 1k ✧ When Taehyung first met Jimin, the first thing that ran through his head was "fuck, he's so pretty." The second thought had been "this is your friend's boyfriend, shut up." His third thought was "you don't even like guys."
« now isn’t the time, nor the place » ✧ soulmate au / fluff / angst / 1k ✧ Seokjin isn’t Namjoon’s soulmate. Hoseok is.
« a love as strong as you » (✎) ✧ fae au / angst / fluff ✧ The trials and perils of fae!Jeongguk learning to love.
« build me a place i can call home » (m) ✧ abo au / fluff / angst / mild smut / 3k ✧ A collection of abo drabbles centered around nesting!
namgi
« coming soon » ✧ greek mythology au / angst / fluff
« coming soon » ✧ enemies to lovers au / angst / smut / fluff
namjin
« birthdays aren’t important, but you are » ✧ birthday au / fluff / 5k ✧ That time Seokjin thought Namjoon was cheating on him when he tried to keep a secret.
« houses divided (and then united) » ✧ hp au / angst / fluff / 3k ✧ Namjoon is pining after Head Boy Seokjin, but he might have to rethink his ideas about Houses first.
namkook
« kiss, kiss, fall in love » (m) ✧ uni au / angst / fluff / smut / 19k ✧ Kim Namjoon can admit he’s an idiot. He can also admit that he likes Jeon Jeongguk more than he should.
« first snow » ✧ long distance relationship au / fluff / 1k ✧ Jeongguk smiles at the smiley emoticon, the tiny feeling of nerves in his chest dissipating when he realizes that he's about to meet Namjoon! And then it comes back in tenfold when he realizes that he's about to meet Kim Namjoon!
« namkook week 2018 » (m) ✧ assortment of aus / fluff / smut / angst ✧ A week dedicated to NamKook.
« now you see me » ✧ non au / fluff / 1k ✧ Jeongguk’s always felt like he was hiding the real him from the rest of his members, the men who practically raised him when they were trying to raise themselves at the same time. Now he feels it’s time to show his true colors to them because they’ll always love their maknae. He is more than sure of that.
« every time i look into your eyes (i see it) » ✧ childhood friends to lovers au / uni au / fluff / 5k ✧ Jeongguk loves Namjoon, platonically and romantically and any other way that you can love a person, but would he ever admit that out loud?
namseok
« arranged to be » (✎) ✧ charbol au / arranged marriage au / angst ✧ Hoseok has only ever exchanged a few words with Kim Namjoon and now his parents have informed him that they're getting married. Hoseok doesn't know why, how or even what the hell is going on and best friend Yoongi is of no help either. Hoseok's pretty sure he's screwed any way you look at it.
« namseok week 2018 » ✧ assortment of aus / angst / fluff ✧ A week dedicated to NamSeok.
namyoonjin
« crafts and magic and flowers » ✧ flower shop au / fluff / 1k ✧ Yoonji hates Namjoon, it’s true, despite what her girlfriend, Jinah, may say about Yoonji actually thinking the glasses wearing blonde is cute. Yep, Yoonji hates him. Still, it’s better if he didn’t find out the two girls who own the flower shop are nature and love witches. Maybe.
« love and school days » ✧ teacher au / fluff / 1k ✧ Seokjin's students ask him how he's able to love two people at the same time and Seokjin explains that it isn't really that hard.
« for you, i’d give up my happiness » ✧ “for you” mv au / angst / 2k ✧ The boys all get together to help Jeongguk save up to go visit his girlfriend and Yoongi is the only reluctant one because he's actually in love with Jeongguk, but doesn't want to get in the way of his happiness.
ot7
« meet me under the mistletoe » (m) ✧ non au / fluff / mild smut / 2k ✧ Seokjin couldn't sleep, but after some kisses under the mistletoe, he felt whole again.
« flowers and chocolate » (m) ✧ valentine’s day au / fluff / smut / 3k ✧ Hoseok hadn't even known it was Valentine's Day, but when Mark oh-so-kindly reminded him, he rushed back home with flowers and chocolate and a proposal he wasn't really sure would be welcomed when he got back to his six boyfriends (but were they really his boyfriends? because he still didn't know and it'd been six years already so here goes).
« blow the candle, make a wish » ✧ non au / fluff / 1k ✧ Hoseok really, really loves his members. He may as well ask them out.
« around the rim » (m) ✧ sports au / fluff / smut / 4k ✧ Yoongi thought they'd forgotten, but they always seemed to surprise him in the most pleasant of ways.
« trippin’, stumblin’ » (m) ✧ forgotten birthday au / angst / fluff / 1k ✧ Namjoon should be used to being forgotten.
« wings are meant to fly » (m) ✧ soulmate au / fluff / angst / smut / 16k ✧ Jeongguk doesn’t know how many soulmates he will have in total, but by the end of it, at least he’ll get his wings.
« put on a show » (m) ✧ friends to lovers au / smut / fluff / 4k ✧ Seokjin loves his boys. Maybe not in the way that people generally love their friends since he frequently has threesomes with them, but he loves all six of his friends just the same.
« what we feel is the same » (m) ✧ reverse abo au / uni au / angst / fluff / 9k ✧ In a world where omegas are on top of the food chain and alphas are treated like scum, Namjoon and Jeongguk are doing their best to do right by each other and their pack.
« when tomorrow comes » ✧ the umbrella academy au / kids au / plaotnic / angst / 2k ✧ Today, Namjoon looks at his siblings beside him then at their brother lying in this hospital bed before them and thinks, I won’t let this happen again.
« arms, chest, thighs, and stubble » (m) newest ✧ established relationship au / smut / fluff / 1k ✧ It feels beyond strange having someone’s tongue lap at his chin but Namjoon deals with it. He has weirder kinks than this.
sunshine line
« falling (into you) » (m) ✧ fwb au / friends to lovers au / angst / fluff / smut / 9k ✧ Ignoring the knife that's been shoved into his heart is a feat Taehyung never knew he was capable of, but when he turns back to face the couple in front of him, Taehyung realizes just how lonely he really is.
taegi
« heaven is right here with you » (m) ✧ angel/demon au / angst / fluff / 3k ✧ Eventually, they realize that they don't need heaven to find peace.
« love blossoms in winter » (m) (✎) ✧ fwb au / developing relationship au / angst / smut / fluff ✧ TaeGi’s love during the season of winter.
« taegi week 2017 » (m) ✧ assortment of aus / fluff / angst ✧ A week dedicated to TaeGi.
« sailing for love (sailing for you) » ✧ mermaid au / pirate au / angst / 1k ✧ Taehyung has a way of making Yoongi do the things he definitely should not be doing and none of it is in Yoongi’s favor.
taegikook
« space for you » (m) ✧ slice of life / fluff / 1k ✧ Jeongguk latches onto him immediately, bringing Yoongi with him and it vividly reminds Taehyung of how they first came to be.
« tangled up » (m) ✧ childhood friends au / tentacles au / fluff / smut / 2k ✧ When Yoongi was eleven, he was forced to leave Taehyung and Jeongguk behind. Now, fourteen years later, he’s back and he is never going to let them go again.
taejin
« slow hands » (m) ✧ uni au / smut / 1k ✧ The gentle hands of a lover, the slow, mesmerizing touch of a man. Maybe that’s all Taehyung needs. Maybe that’s all he really wants.
« overcast and in love » ✧ weather au / angst / fluff / 1k ✧ “I'm scared,” Taehyung admits, his voice shaking. Seokjin takes him into his arms, holding him close as the tears start and the rain begins to fall upon them. “I know.”
« i jump on you » ✧ first date au / fluff / 1k ✧ Taehyung is glad he didn't jump Seokjin's bones earlier because their date is going pretty well as far as first dates go.
« the rainbow connection » ✧ uni au / established relationship au / 2k ✧ Who said that every wish would be heard and answered when wished on the morning star? Somebody thought of that and someone believed it. And look what it’s done so far.
taekook
« wings and wine » ✧ greek mythology au / angst / fluff / 1k ✧ He may have been the patron god of tricksters and thieves, but at least he was honest and Jeongguk found that to be the most important fact of all.
vmon
« double the trouble » ✧ double proposal au / fluff / 2k ✧ Taehee and Namjoo are ready to get married. Yoonji and Seokjin see to it that the two like-minded individuals mean it.
« it’s getting dark (but here comes the sun) » ✧ future au / space au / angst / fluff / 3k ✧ He has been gone three years now and most likely will be gone for three more.
« the scent of a promised change » ✧ werewolf au / fantasy au / fluff / 2k ✧ There is a boy in the woods.
« how do i get to you again? » ✧ soulmates au / fluff / 1k ✧ Namjoon doesn’t remember any of the time they have spent together, Taehyung’s appearance, or even his name when he is awake, but they always remember in their shared dream.
« be showered with all those stars » ✧ abo au / fluff / 2k ✧ Taehyung does not realize he’s in pre-heat until he comes home and immediately starts looking through the linens closet for extra sheets and pillows.
vmonkook
« strawberry kisses » (m) ✧ travel au / vampire au / bookshop au / fluff / smut / 5k ✧ When Namjoon and Jeongguk decide to travel to Transylvania, they end up staying long past the summer for one supernatural being with an obsession for strawberries.
yoon2seok
« to busan we go » (m) ✧ train to busan au / angst / horror / action / 6k / abandoned ✧ In the crazy of it all, Yoongi is just making sure the ones he loves make it through this.
yoonjin
« yoonjin week » (m) ✧ assortment of aus / angst / fluff / smut ✧ A week dedicated to YoonJin.
« what a spread » (m) (✎) ✧ idol actor au / photographer au / strangers to lovers au / smut / fluff ✧ Yoonjin and their morning routines.
« pumpkin pie » (m) ✧ uni au / mild smut / 1k ✧ "Fuck! My ex is here. Quick! Make out with me!"
« let’s share the weight of the world » ✧ parent au / angst / fluff / 1k ✧ Seokjin is nervous and excited and a little scared, but he's ready for this. He and Yoongi are both ready for this.
« let’s give it our all » (m) ✧ soulmate au / uni au / fluff / angst / 13k ✧ Dread fills Seokjin as he continues to watch the video, only daring to speak once Namjoon's screen has gone dark. "Did I confess to Yoongi last night?"
« yoonjin week 2019 » ✧ assortment of aus / fluff / angst ✧ Second round of YoonJin Week.
yoonjinkook
« minty fresh » (m) ✧ abo au / uni au / fluff / angst / smut / 11k ✧ Jeon Jeongguk has always had the worst of luck. Even when he met the two most wonderful men in the universe, it was under dire circumstances. Still, maybe his luck isn't so bad after all.
« tear me down (build me up) » (m) ✧ abo au / pwp / smut / fluff / 1k ✧ Jeongguk fucking hates IKEA furniture. Yoongi and Seokjin make it better.
yoonkook
« bitter » ✧ coffee shop au / angst / 1k ✧ The coffee shop is Yoongi’s entire life, which isn’t saying much. To Jeongguk though, it’s just a summer thing.
« home for christmas » ✧ xmas au / fluff / light angst / 1k ✧ Yoongi freaks out over how to make Jeongguk's first real Christmas memorable, but Jeongguk appreciates the little things and doesn't mind. He's quite at home with how things are. Still, the thought is kind and Jeongguk loves Yoongi lots.
« stardust » ✧ soulmate au / parent au / fluff / angst / 17k ✧ Soulmates are supposed to be your other half, your same bit of stardust, but when Yoongi meets his soulmate, he turns and runs with his tail between his legs. He has too much at stake to fall back in love again.
« my memories still go to that cafe » ✧ coffee shop au / fluff / angst / humor / 12k ✧ "Holy shit," Blondie whispers under his breath — almost quiet enough that Jeongguk could pretend he never even heard him — as his face slowly flushes a darker red by the second.
yoonminjoonseok
« honeycomb for a heart » ✧ hybrid au / fluff / 1k ✧ Yoongi never actually expected to build his own hive.
yoonminseok
« moonless marigold » (m) ✧ soulmate au / uni au / angst / fluff / smut / 40k ✧ "You see in black and white until you meet your soulmate." "Why? That sounds horrible, Mom." "Because nothing else should bring to you the beauty of a flurry of colors like your soulmate should, Hobi."
« they’re like ocean waves » (m) ✧ surfer au / angst / fluff / mild smut / 4k / abandoned ✧ Jung Hoseok is a hotshot surfer entering the biggest competition of his life and Park Jimin is a judge who just saved his life (but who also actually hates Hoseok?). Hoseok isn't very sure, all he knows is that Yoongi has been in love with him for years and now he wants to have a threesome with Jimin. Go figure. Seokjin just makes sure that Hoseok doesn't ruin all their hard work again.
« moonless marigold 2.0 » (✎) ✧ soulmate au / uni au / angst ✧ Hoseok has horrible luck and of course finding and attaining his soulmate wouldn’t be easy. On top of that, college fucking sucks.
« two in one » (m) ✧ slice of life / smut / fluff / 2k ✧ Yoongi’s barely walked through the door, but that won’t stop whatever Jimin and Hoseok have up their sleeves.
« moonlight in the day » ✧ slice of life / fluff / 1k ✧ All Hoseok wants to do when he finally gets home is sleep. For a few hours at least, or maybe an entire day, who knows actually. However much sleep will get his jet lag to take a hike is fine with him.
« if these sheets were the states » (m) ✧ online romance au / angst / smut / 2k ✧ The drive from Connecticut to Illinois is long. Not as long as the drive from Illinois to California will be, but at least Yoongi will have company for that leg of the journey.
« late night runs (late night love) » ✧ midnight grocery shopping au / fluff / 2k ✧ Yoongi doesn't generally hate the fact that he and his boyfriends are night people... But there are times like now when Yoongi wishes that his boyfriends were more of day people instead.
« the beginning of us (three) » (m) ✧ abo au / angst / smut / 2k ✧ Jimin thought that Hoseok was it for him, that he would only ever have him in his life, but then Yoongi goes into heat and shows Jimin that maybe he has always known there was something missing from their lives. Who could have guessed that it would be Yoongi though?
© hungline 2016-2020
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Author Interview Tag
Author Interview Game
Thank you sooooo much for the tag @tessiete this has actually made my day! I fucking love writing about writing (bit self-indulgent, I know) and reading other people’s writing about writing and oh, god, I’m so excited!!
Name: pebblysand
Fandoms: from beginning to end - Without A Trace, House, Spooks/MI:5, The Good Wife, Silk, Harry Potter (although, technically, that was probably the first one - my mum’s best friend said she had to read HP because from age 6 to age 10 it was all I ever consented to talk about).
Where you post: AO3 and FF.
Behind the cut cause this post is loooong.
Most popular oneshot:
So, the first thing I need to confess is: I geek over AO3 and FF analytics. I always cross-post simultaneously and find the difference (and similarities) between the websites and their audiences, and the way it reflects in the feedback on my work, absolutely fascinating. I mean, I’m doing the following based on kudos for AO3 and on favourites for ff and the first fic on AO3 is twelth in ranking on ff. The first fic on ff is ninth on AO3. They’re the same stories posted at the same time! Why the difference? Can someone please conduct a sociological study of both websites because I’m digging this.
However, even more interesting: the second most popular story is the same on both. It’s also one I really don’t like. Isn’t that mad?
Anyway, onto the nitty-gritty.
AO3: Truth (Peaky Blinders)
I like parts of this one. It was the first thing I wrote after years of not writing and I think it might have suffered a bit from that kind of stiffness in my writing muscles. Obviously, it was also so linked to the end of series 3 that it ended up being AU quickly after series 4 came out, which is a bit annoying. I think I also may have made Tommy a bit too intense in this one? I don’t know. There are parts of it that I really do like, though. I really, really love the structure, and the opening is probably my all time favourite in anything that I’ve written (a very close race with Once for TGW, tbh).
Anyway, I always think it’s a bit funny that this one became the most popular (by far by the way) out of everything I’ve ever written because it was such a flop when I posted it hahah. Got like three kudos and one comment, and because I hadn’t written in so long, I remember thinking: ‘ah, that’s it, then, I’m shite.’ Little did I know! Now, it’s just been steadily getting more and more love with every month that passes and that just makes me so, so happy. I suppose that people just watch Peaky on Netflix and find the fic when they dig through the archive, give it kudos - it’s so, so lovely. I also recently got one of my favourite comments I’ve ever gotten on it (on FF) and it’s really made my day :).
FF: Cannonballs (The Good Wife)
Again, one that was not very popular at the start (I seem to remember it had the lowest amount of favs for quite some time, actually) but has gradually grown to be popular-ish. I honestly haven’t read this is so long that I don’t really have an opinion on it but I do remember that it is the first thing I actually remember properly working on. I was eighteen when I wrote it and although I’d been writing for years prior to that, I’d always just kind of wrote stuff in one go, posted it and forgot about it. This one was the first one I really worked on, planned, edited, and I remember re-reading it a couple of years back and thinking it was probably the first one that makes me not cringe now. Overall, I do like that it’s popular now.
Most popular multichap:
(Full disclosure, I’ve only ever written two multichaps, both happen to be listed here)
AO3: Children (Silk)
My baby. My love. On and off, between writing, first posting, then editing and reposting - 2.5 years of work. It is a ridiculously niche fandom but sure look, I’m so proud of it. I’d always thought I was a one-shot kind of girl, that I was incapable of writing and framing a long-form story, and yet, here I am. I am madly proud of this.
FF: Castles (Harry Potter)
Sheer force of numbers, here, to be honest. It’s only two chapters in, and already two kudos short of overpowering Children on AO3, which I’m guessing will make it most popular across the board, just because the fandom itself is so large.
I will say this: I’ve had this story in my head for years and I think part of the reason why I’m only writing it now is that after years of writing in nice, niche fandoms where you could easily read all the fics available in a few days and make friends with readers because everyone kind of knew each other, I finally have the backbone to face the Potter fandom. Because fuck, as much as I love the books and have gotten absolutely lovely, thoughtful comments on this throughout the past few weeks, God can that fandom be brutal.
And, don’t get me wrong: I’ve had constructive criticism on a number of my fics in the past, including very niche ones. Even if it does sometimes hurt a bit, it’s always helped me better my writing. I remember for instance one chapter of Children where someone wrote in that they were confused and couldn’t follow the narrative. I was a bit annoyed at first but in the end, it made me rethink the chapter and rewrite it, and they were 100% correct. That’s the whole point of constructive criticism/debates in comments.
The Potter fandom has that, no doubt. I’ve had super interesting discussions in comments and overall the response and feedback has been incredible, like I’ve never even dreamt of before. This being said, I’ve also gotten more shit than I’ve had in any other fandom. For instance: the story picks up after the war (starts in May 1998). The summary reads: “To him, the spring of '98 is about sex and funerals.” - which is a line taken from the fic itself. When you labour over something for hours on end and the first comment you get is: “first learn when spring season starts and ends before writing a story about it. what a joke.” it’s a bit disheartening, to say the least.
And, I know. First of all, yes, that person is an idiot and clearly doesn’t know when spring ends and summer starts themselves because summer only technically starts on the 21st of June. Secondly, even if I’d gotten it wrong, I didn’t write a story about the seasons, you idiot. It’s clearly a line taken from the story. Lastly, learn how to punctuate and spell. Now, I’m 27. I know that. I can disregard that. But even then it still feels like shit. If I’d gotten that kind of trolling when I was younger, I’m not sure I’d still be writing today. I really admire younger writers who start out on Potter - I was very afraid until now, tbh.
Favorite story you’ve written:
This, I really don’t know. I was trying to pick one but I think my favourite one is almost always the one I’ve either just written or am writing now. For a long time, I really loved Once. I also really liked Daisies and Dreams. I obviously love Children although I think I’ve spent so much time writing and editing it that it’ll take a bit of time for me to really appreciate it without also self-editing in my head, if that makes sense.
Right now, though, I love Castles. I think it’s the best piece of writing I’ve ever written. When the next one comes around, I hope that’s the best piece of writing I’ve ever written. That means progress.
Fic you were nervous to post:
Castles for reasons explained above. I love HP but I don’t think big fandoms in general are my thing. I like decent-sized fandoms. Like, TGW-size, back in the day, was perfect. Even as a reader, it’s also fucking hard to find good fic due to the sheer mass of stuff out there. Where do you even start?
How you choose your titles:
Castles, Children, Daisies, Truth, Mistakes, Dreams, Before, Once, Cannonballs - hello, do you detect a pattern here :D?
Jokes aside, yeah, I like one-word titles. Believe it or not, though, it hadn’t occurred to me that I always seemed to gravitate towards them until @orbythesea on AO3 pointed it out to me. To be honest, even the fics that don’t materially have one-word titles have one-word titles in my head. Like, Horses Made of Sticks is actually just Horses, in my head. I should probably have called it Horses.
How do I choose? Depends. Sometimes, they come from songs (Castles, Children, Daisies). Sometimes, it’s quotes, concepts from the show/book, or sometimes it just fits. Like, Once, Dreams and Truth couldn’t really have been called anything else, they’re just what the fics are about.
Do you outline?
Yes, always. For one-shots, I usually have an outline on my phone or part of the word file I’m writing the fic in itself, just a list of scenes or quotes that come to me at random points during the day that I will forget if I don’t write them down. I am very forgetful of my own brilliance hahaha.
For longer stuff, I usually have the general plot in my head from beginning to end before I start writing. Then, chapter by chapter, I plan with a blank A4 sheet of papers that I fill with post-its describing different scenes, a little bit like a paper version of those boards they have in writers’ rooms. It helps me physically see where scenes fall, where holes are. I do the same thing for original fiction.
For reference, one for Children (chapter 9) would have looked like that. They’re definitely not set in stone, though. Lots of times I’ll change stuff on the spot, big or small. Scenes that pop up randomly or get deleted because they worked in my head but not on paper, sometimes moved (sometimes moved to other chapters even). Here, “Alice” later became “Charlotte” and that “eye-fucking” (LOL) scene never happened.
Complete:
I think they’re all complete? I never completed that alphabet-based collection of House one-shots but it was a collection and they were shite anyways. They’re not missed, lol.
Of course, Castles is incomplete, but that’s just my current WIP.
In progress:
As I said, Castles. Also a piece of original fiction that I’m not sure where to post. Like, what do people do with short stories? Where do you post that shit online? Can anyone help?
Coming soon/not yet started:
No idea. I’m a one-project-at-a-time kind of gal.
Prompts:
I love prompts. Send me all the prompts. Especially three-sentence-story prompts. God, I miss those.
Upcoming Work You’re Most Excited About:
I mean, again, Castles.
No pressure tags: I have no one to tag because I’m not really in fandom anymore but if anyone sees this and wants to do this, please be my guest. Again, I love reading about other people’s writing and writing processes because we’re all different and it’s fascinating.
Also, if anybody’s got theories about ff v. AO3 tastes and readership, hit me up, I could speculate for hours.
And thanks again @tessiete for tagging me
#writing#fanfiction#the good wife#Harry Potter#Harry Potter fic#ao3#ffnet#theories#writing about writing#stuff#very long pointless posts
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