#Wraithdance

[dragonnarrative-writes]

Hi I just wanted to say reading your work has been one of the biggest motivators I’ve had to be brave enough to tell my own stories! I yap about how much you inspire me often to anyone who will listen lol.

I was a long time lurker on this blog and in the cod fandom until I read Transferrable Skills. I’m not just saying this to be dramatic but I literally gasped and teared up when I realized the reader character was black and fat.

For some reason even after 14 years in fandom spaces it never occurred to me that you can just write a character that looks like you without it being world ending. The way you write is so clean and uniquely yours, it really brings me so much joy to read your work and I hope to hone my writing voice in such a way!!

I'm so sorry this took so long to reply to. I've been sobbing over it.

I've been in fandom for just about forever, and I was with you. I couldn't imagine reader characters or even OCs that looked like me. There are too many writers for me to name who have helped me to see diverse experiences and, eventually, myself in these stories, and I'm so honored to be able to pay that forward.

(Seriously, there are so many writers, and I'm so nervous about tagging and missing people, and I'm so emotional right now. I know I'm blanking out on a million names, but Early (@/391780), @sentientcave, @mikichko, @kechiwrites, @kyletogaz, @mortuarywriting, @gemmahale, and @charliemwrites have all been so encouraging. I know there are more, and if I haven't named you, please forgive me!)

Every time people tell me they love Transferrable Skills, I feel a million feet tall. I didn't think anyone was going to care about my silly little story. But it's inspired you! My writing! You gasped!

(I'm gonna go cry again now)

[rememberwren]

HELLO GORJUS!! Been thinking bout domestic life with ghoap because im so down bad. What do you think is a bad habit of theirs that would totally cause fights?

I’m thinking Ghost leaves the toilet seat up and Johnny likes to take three hour long showers while bellowing songs at the top of his lungs

Ghost will drop his clothes right next to the hamper (he’s just got a lot on his mind okay). Johnny touched up his hair and leaves the trimmings in the sink for you to find (criminal). Both are quick to use sex to distract you from arguments (it works 9 times out of 10).

[sentientcave]

Hello hello! I’m interested in hearing more about your Rugby fic! What’s it about and who does it feature?

Hey there, howdy, hi!

Rugby is a Ghoap x 2ndPOV FTM OC/Reader (He's got a name and a nickname (Ripley/Ripper), but it's not clear if it's a first or last name). Astonishingly little actual rugby happens. It's mostly just silly boys being boys in love (Ghost and Soap are actively trying to date Ripper and he is like, hahaa they're such good friends).

Here's a lil snippet (There's also a few lil snips in the list of WIP Wednesdays listed at the bottom of my masterlist if you'd like to know more). This is mostly a texting bit that I don't think I've posted before.

You text Johnny and Simon as soon as Liv gets off you, opening the group chat that Johnny set up, which is mostly just Johnny sending you tiktok links and Simon sending pictures of dogs and cats that he sees.

Ripper: hey lads. Asking a big favour, but could you put me up for a week? Roomies got family coming and their accommodations fell through. No problem if you can't/don't want to, won't be pressed about it.

Soap: !!!!!!!!!!!

Soap: r u fukkin kiddin me rn Rip? Course ye can stay

Ghost: Only got one bed though.

Soap: Rip's just a wee feller we can squeeze him in

You laugh. As if you’re going to be choosy about the sleeping arrangements when they’re doing you a big favour.

Ripper: Lads, I will gladly sleep on the couch. Or the floor tbh. Bathtub even.

Ghost: Nah just kidding.

Ghost: We have a guest room.

Soap: we've got a playroom 2 if yed like to see it

Ghost: Johnny

Soap: Yeh LT?

Ghost: Shut up.

Soap: Get yer arse over here n make me

Ghost: In a minute. When do you need to come over?

"Hey, Liv, what day are they coming?"

"Wednesday, they'll be here in the evening."

Ripper: Wednesday. Could come home with you after practice.

Ghost: We'll pick you up so you don't have to lug your bag to the pitch. Be there 6:30.

Ripper: Thanks, lads. You're lifesavers.

Soap: nythin 4 u Rip.

Soap: n I mean ANYTHIN

Soap: jcudheiks

You figure that's Simon making good on his promise to make Johnny shut up.

[gemmahale]

Hiii! For the writers ask my question for you is: what keeps you on track when working out a story? Especially a story with intricate details that will pan out way later in the game?

Talk Shop Tuesday!

Ooh. This is a convoluted answer.

I have a summary at the top of my working document. Sometimes this has 2-3 iterations in bullet points, sometimes it's a few paragraphs, it kind of depends on what mood I'm in while I'm drafting. Sometimes it's a scribbled 3 sentence clusterfuck I have to decode.

All my key info is kept in the summary/character profiles near the top of the document for easy reference.

If I have a conversation about it in Discord or DM's I'll try and screengrab/summarize the takes from there too (or I'll search them if I need to.)

I also probably rely far too much on my own memory too. 😅 Does that mean I've lost some things? Sure, but it also means that I have new ideas that integrate much more smoothly. (Tagging things on Tumblr with the specific WIP tag and #Insipration or #Reference helps too.)

Now, if I were writing by hand, and not digitally? A lot of post-it notes, a journal with too many highlighters, and a corkboard with a lot of yarn. 😅

Spoilers below the cut. Pass at your own risk. Includes Reference to:

Museum Muse + Righteous Fury

Feylands

Bury the Lede

Headers in Google Docs has been (and continues to be) the easiest way for me to navigate a story.

Take Museum Muse/Righteous Fury for Example. This is in my "Working Document" where I keep important information to reference later. V1 and V2 have two different POV's in it, for example.

And this is in the working document for Righteous Fury. Chapters, then scenes, and scraps at the end.

In Feylands, in contrast:

But I have key info about all of the characters (though this has now changed and needs to be revised - oops) under their names. I have a direct line to the setting to make sure I get my information straight if I need to make a reference. (Tbh, this is a shoddy example because I need to clean it up and streamline the thoughts - but that's neither here nor there. It's a mess in my head and on paper until I write lol.)

Now, when it comes to long-term planning? Ehhhh...there's a reason I don't publish work until I'm happy with the whole story for the most part. That gives me the chance to go back, nudge details, account for something that'll pay off in spades later, make sure that my clues are set in the right place, etc.

With some stories, I'm running on vibes alone and I don't really have a plot sorted out. I spend time exploring the characters (Feylands has little blurbs for every character that I tweak as I find things out about them, for example), until a story begins to develop. Or I'll write as far as I can and then noodle on it for a while. (Sorry, Bury the Lede, I just can't figure out how to get into the next part yet.)

Usually I have the general plot (What if x happens? Shenanigans. is my go to.) figured out though. Specific details don't pay off until I'm writing and then it's a matter of rereading what I have and relying on my (sometimes questionable) memory/notes.

I told you it was convoluted, lol.

[hahaifolded]

141 x POC!GN Intelligence Operative - Not Your Savior Author's Notes: This was supposed to be short but I just kept writing. Also thanks to @wraithdance for helping me with this. Not very angsty in my opinion Warnings: MDNI, Angst?, Microaggressions/Racism

Johnny is a lover at heart. Sure he may be in the military, but how couldn't he? The world has always been kind to him. The least he can do is be kind to others.

Even if it's Americans who are trying to take the love of his life.

“Sweetheart, aren’t you gonna eat?” Johnny was going to gag. He should be focusing on his own work, but couldn't help eavesdrop on yours and Russ' conversation.

“Sergeant Russ, what have I told you about calling me sweetheart?”

“And what have I told you about calling me Sergeant Russ… sweetheart?” Silence followed before laughter came. Johnny hated it. 

In another life, maybe him and Russ could have been friends. But as of right now, Johnny just wanted to punch his stupid face. Because how fucking dare he get close to you. How dare he love on you when Johnny couldn't or at least shouldn't.

“I have to finish a few more things before I can eat.” Johnny could hear the distinct sound of your fingers tapping on your keyboard. He hears that more than your voice these days. 

“You know you can eat whenever you want, whether your work is done or not.” Your fingers stopped tapping. “You know that, right?” 

Silence.

“Keegan, c-can you please leave?” Johnny was taken aback. He has never heard your voice break before.

Did Keegan touch a nerve? Did you really think you didn’t deserve to eat? 

Now looking back at it, Johnny didn’t see you much in the dining hall these days. You normally sat with the 141 but after walking in the rain, you started to eat in your office. Or at least, he assumed you ate lunch in your office. 

“Only if you come with me to get lunch.”

“Sergeant Russ, I already—“

“No.”

“No?”

“Yeah, no.” Johnny could hear some heavy footsteps. “Get up and let’s go.” The 141 sergeant distinctly heard the sound of your chair moving. 

“Keegan, let me go, you can’t just—“

“Stop fighting me and let’s go!” 

Even if Keegan has a point here, that doesn't mean he can just man-handle you. He shot out of his seat and rushed towards your office. However, before he could step inside, Keegan started to speak again in a much softer voice. 

“I don’t know what these fucking Brits told you but you deserve to be here.“ Johnny heard you take a deep breath. “They might not care about you, but I do, so please let’s just—“

“Keegan, respectfully, fuck off.” You cut him off. “You‘ll never get it, okay? You’re a white man. You've never needed to prove yourself. So don’t come in here on your high horse and try to be my hero. I don’t need saving, I just need teammates who’ll let me do my job.“

Johnny could hear you breathing heavily, but he couldn't understand why you were so worked up? Keegan was just trying to look out for you... what's so wrong with that? Also what do you mean he didn't have to work hard? Johnny had to work hard and he's a white man.

Johnny tries to peer inside your office but had to quickly pull back as Keegan walks out. His eyes followed the American out.  

“Sergeant MacTavish, do you need something?” Johnny jumps a bit after hearing your voice. He couldn't help but stare at you. It's been awhile since he's had you so close. Maybe this was his chance to show you he still cares.

"Y-y-ou should eat," he stutters out. Your eyes widen and you ask him to repeat himself. So he does. Johnny explains that despite Russ getting on his nerves, he's right. You should eat. And that you also should have been a little nicer to the guy, he was just looking out for you.

You weren't sure whether to scream or fight Johnny right now. Instead, like you always have, you take a deep breath and just leave. You didn’t have time for this anymore. You hear Johnny call out your name, but you ignore him. You just shut your door. Maybe this time, they’ll let you work. 

An hour goes by and to your joy, no one bothers you. A small part of you hoped Johnny would come in and ask more questions, but you quickly pushed it down. He hasn’t cared about you in over four months, why would he suddenly care now? Now with that report done, you rush to the restroom. 

As you walk back to your office, you fight the urge to look into the temporary office of the allied task force. They were an… interesting trio but you honestly didn’t want to entertain them. You were not going to make that mistake twice. 

You swing your office door open and stop in your tracks. Sitting on your desk was a plastic bag with take-away boxes clearly in it. You slowly approached it and grab the note stapled on the bag. 

It read: eat it now or later, totally up to you. The boxes are safe for the microwave.

Sorry, your teammate, Keegan. 

You really couldn't believe it. You pointed out this man's privilege and told him to go fuck himself. Any one else would have had a fit and probably reported you, but instead he bought you lunch and apologized.

This had to be a trick… right? No one is that mature. You grabbed the bags and marched to the makeshift office.

And as you fly past a certain Scotsman's office, Johnny couldn't help but peak outside his door. For a moment, he was ecstatic to see a bag of food in your hands. But when he realized you were headed towards the new guys office, he couldn't help but feel nervous. What were you going to do?

"Sergeant Russ?" Johnny floats close to make sure everything goes well.

"Everything okay, sweetheart?"

"What's this?" Johnny connects the dots and realizes that Russ must have bought you food. Fuck. Why didn't he think of that?

"Lunch... or dinner. Up to you."

Your scoff rings out the door. "Why?"

Johnny hears Russ take a deep breath. He's probably annoyed. Now Russ is going to lash out when this could have all been avoided if you just had accepted his --

"Because you were right." Johnny hears a chair scrapping the floor before Russ continues. "I won't ever get what it's like to be you. And I can say all that I want but it won't change the fact that the rules are different for you and I."

"Keegan, I--"

"Please let me finish here." A heavy silence fills the air before Keegan continues. "But that doesn't mean I don't want to try to help you. And no, that doesn't mean I'm going to try to save you, because I know you can do that yourself. You've been doing that. Just... just let me help my teammate in any way I can." Johnny hears a few heavy steps. "Is that okay with you sweetheart?"

Johnny couldn't understand what just happened. Keegan was just trying to be nice and you get annoyed. Keegan leaves, buys you lunch, and then apologizes. What was going on here? Did Johnny miss something here?

He must have, because he couldn't understand why you would just say,

"Well, Keegan, help a teammate out then. I'm feeling like an early dinner tonight."

Word Count: 1231

More Thoughts - Next Thought

[syoddeye]

cozy fic recs 🍁🎃

it's been 84 years since i've compiled a rec list, but with cooler weather incoming, here are some fics/drabbles/concepts to settle in and cozy up with. want something scarier? check the spooky list.

no longer updating

as usual:

beyond the cut, you are responsible for reading tags, warnings, and summaries. some fics are in progress, so keep in mind that warnings and tags may change.

organized by pairing if applicable.

i've checked all the links, but if they're broken, i blame tumblr. i've included enough info to find the fic if need be.

do not harass authors. i will find you.

price x reader

Invisible Red Line by @mikichko | transmasc!Reader

I Wonder How Many Days I'll Bled by thethingsthatimake | f!Reader

Already Spoken For by @stellewriites | trans!Price x f!Reader

Price Dressing You Up by @tojisun | f!Reader

The Prowl by @cordeliawhohung | f!Price

Ursa Major by @the-californicationist | f!Reader

Price and Your Terrible Family by @391780 | f!Reader

Hygiene Care with Price by @secretsynthetic | Reader

Fall from Grace by @tropes-and-tales | f!Reader

Not What Was Sought by @dozeydaisy

ghost x reader

Transferrable Skills by @dragonnarrative-writes | f!Reader

Autistic Burnout by @dutiful-wildcraft | m!OC Darren "Thumper" Martin

Mail Order Bride by @bi-writes | f!Reader

Through Me (The Flood) by @peachesofteal | f!Reader

Snowblind by @sprout-fics | f!OC Fix

Star of the Show by @inkbybambi | f!Reader

Synthetic by @pricegouge | transmasc!Reader

A Reminder by @waiting-so-long | f!Reader

Landslide by @knightjpg | f!Reader

gaz x reader

The Five Year Plan by @wraithdance | f!Reader

Blackbird, Fly by @eowynstwin | f!Reader

Piccadilly Circus by @/391780 | f!Reader

Attentive by @/391780 | f!Reader

Picture Day by @kyletogaz | f!Reader

The Uni Verse by @/kyletogaz | f!Reader

Hit Me With Your Best Shot by @sentientcave | f!OC Rory

Spoiling Kyle @/buttdumplin | transmasc!Reader

A Ride Home @/buttdumplin | Reader

No Hard Feelings by @groguspicklejar | f!Reader

Boyfriend Material by @/groguspicklejar | f!Reader

You're an Angel, I'm a Dog by @cordeliawhohung | f!Reader

Suck it and See by @pfhwrittes | transmasc!Reader

Delete Tinder by @/pricegouge | f!Reader

soap x reader

cowboy!Soap by @ghouljams | f!Reader

Personal Training by @spurbleu | f!Reader

(hunka hunka) burnin' love by @/pfhwrittes | f!Reader

paciencia y fe by @/mikichko | gn!Reader

141 x reader

Cherry Bomb by @swordsandholly | f!Reader

Pierced Ears by @buttdumplin | gn!Reader

The 141 Oiling Your Hair by @femalefemur | Reader

No Binder by @/pfhwrittes | transmasc!Reader

After The End by @waves-against-a-cliff | Reader

other pairings

Across the Way by @/swordsandholly | Ghoap x f!Reader

Chao Mi Niño by @/mikichko | Ghoap x Reader

Laird MacTavish by @auspicioustidings | Poly 141

Call of the Jurassic by @stuffireadandenjoy. | Ghoap, but also the 141 vs. dinosaurs!

The Wellyboot Incident Follow-Up by @pricegouge | PriceGaz x Reader

Get Her a Dog (She'll be Happier for It) by @/pricegouge | PriceSoap x f!Reader

Laswell's Little Assistant by @waves-against-a-cliff | Laswell x f!Reader

Aro!Ghost/Price/Reader by @secretsynthetic | Ghost/Price/Reader

Service Dog Johnny by @void-my-warranty | Ghoap x f!Reader

Asexual Reader by @sigh-tofm | 141 HCs

Branding (Kinktober) by @dragonnarrative-writes | Price x Ghost

general

Righteous Fury by @gemmahale

Citations Needed by @/pfhwrittes

The Daemon AU by @/pfhwrittes

Simon and That Mean Cat by @/stuffireadandenjoy

Driving Headcanons by @kaadaaan

Sunday Dinner Headcanons by @/kaadaaan

beautifall, feeling pretty gourd about this list 🍂 banner by @/cafekitsune

[mikichko]

paciencia y fe

cw: gn!reader, sexual acts with gn!reader, unedited

for my sister, @wraithdance , and my sister wife, @gardenthatneversleeps 💕 a thank you for the patience and love you’ve given me 🤍

Johnny swears your paths have crossed for the sole purpose of teaching him patience.

He doesn’t lack it. If anything, patience has saved his life multiple times.

But with you? It’s almost like Johnny’s never known what it’s like to be patient.

He’s never experienced the itch in his fingertips before. Fingers flexing continuously as he eyes you from across the room. His eyes trail over you, half listening to the conversation around him while he observes.

You laugh with Gaz. A full body motion that has you leaning up against him, shoulders pressed together as you grip your sides. Gaz leans into you just as much, face coming closer to yours as he chuckles before you both pull back.

Johnny can feel his face turn. Eyebrows creasing, eyes narrowing, the corners of his lips pitching downward as he observes you both. He doesn’t even get the chance to subdue his reaction when Gaz’s eyes flick towards him. Realization flashing across his face before it melts into a sly grin.

Johnny brings the drink up to his lips. He’ll need the strength to survive whatever Kyle’s cooking up.

Kyle tells him you’re skittish, with a tendency to run like a feral cat. A defense mechanism.

Johnny tries not to dwell too much on what could have driven you to need such defense. If he ever finds the cause, it’ll be Soap that’ll handle it. He’ll make sure Johnny isn’t ruined for you.

He treads lightly around you. Circling within your vicinity, ignoring the magnetic pull that taunts him whenever he’s close to you. If he were a more naive man he’d think this is what hell was like. Within vicinity of something so beautiful but unable to have it within his grasp.

He knows true hell would be not having you at all.

The thought makes his blood run cold. Drives fear through him so fast that his patience is always restored. So he takes his time. Watering, feeding, and shaping your relationship as it grows.

You circle each other for months. Completely unaware of the game Johnny’s playing at until you’re always at his side. Naturally gravitating towards him whenever your friends come together. He’s got you in a box.

You don’t hiss, it wouldn’t be appropriate he thinks, but your eyes are wary of him. Sizing him up to determine what threat he poses, or if you can trust him. Again, he takes his time. Not in a rush to have you skittering away.

His warm breath tickles the curve of your ear as he mutters low and soft to you, only you. No matter the setting, he treats every conversation with you with such delicacy. Keeping his voice leveled to a point only you can hear. He’s not concerned with the rest of them. As long as his words reach you, they’ve carried purpose.

It’s like this at any function and often you find yourselves tucked into a corner, locked in conversation. Even tucked away, Johnny talks softly into your ear. Invading your space just enough to push his scent towards you, but not enough to spook you.

He reaps the reward for his efforts when you lean into his space, unknowingly following his scent. At the same time Johnny pulls back just a bit and turns his face towards yours.

For a brief second your lips brush against each other, but it’s enough.

Johnny’s breath stutters, eyes dropping to your lips instinctually. You shudder, a low noise escaping your parted lips as your body reacts without your permission. His eyes flick towards yours, only to find them dilated and on his own lips.

Truthfully he doesn’t know what happens first. If you lean up, pressing your lips to his or if his hand curls around your hip to pull you to him. In the end, it doesn’t matter. Not when you press your body against his, pressing him into the wall while he pulls you to him, as your lips slot together for the first time.

It’s slow, he wants to savor what he’s been chasing for months.

He makes love to you like this too.

Slow and languid as he opens you up. Taking his time to cherish and care for you the way one does with something of delicacy. Handling you with care as he focuses on pulling delicious sounds from your body. Prideful as your body reacts to him. Opening yourself up to him in a way you’ve denied others.

You give him access to the most delicate parts of you. Gently parting yourself for him to sheath himself in you, joining you together at last. His hips roll into you at a slow pace.

Hand clutched in yours, he whispers breathlessly against your lips. The warmth you provide pulls his innermost thoughts and they spill against you.

He’s wanted this for so long. Since he’d seen you all those months ago. He’d dreamed about you. How your skin would feel against his. How your body would fit against his. The way your nails would feel raking across the skin of his back.

He loses himself more as you squeeze him, back arching off the bed. You pull him down onto you with your free arm as you orgasm, desperate for as much of his skin as he can give.

A dam breaks. And suddenly there are words of adoration spilling from his lips. He kisses you deeply after each confession, pushing his words into you the only way he knows how.

Though the passion overtakes him, he’s smart enough to hold his tongue, even if just a little. After all, there’s nothing patient about murmuring “I love you” so soon.

[cynicalrosebud]

@devil-in-hiding @glossysoap @sherriesherbet @gemmahale @wraithdance @dwarvenagenda @ghouljams @391780

(I’m fully aware that I’ve never seen pics of some of you but I feel it in my gut, ok?)

[wraithdance]

https://www.tumblr.com/wraithdance/765961917651140608/i-really-liked-your-explanation-of-the-whole?source=share

I am really bad at articulating my thoughts but I think about this a lot as someone who hopes to 1- major in neuroscience (i'm 18, going to uni next year) and 2- is trans. I know being trans is not the same thing at all as POC experiences with fic, very cognizant of that, but more to the point where I relate to the aspect of not being able to get over the like mental wall of seeing "neutral" readers as me? I don't know what my brain is doing when i read certain fics but sometimes i can't do it.

I feel like I should close read some of my favorite fic and least favorite fic to see if there are triggers I didn't notice on the first read. does that make sense or seem similar to what you experience? Again I know it's not the same thing, but like i am so curious as to what cis straight white people put in their fic that makes it so obvious that they're cis straight white.

I am sorry if this bothers you, really not my intentions, I am obviously a future brain nerd and i can't stop thinking about this

Congratulations fellow Nerd! You've activated my interest in Race theory and fandom writing from an academic perspective!

Writing reflects life and to answer this question properly, I have to talk about life shit to catch you up to speed, (this should help if you take a sociology or cultural anthropology class lmao) So, Welcome to:

Calvary yaps: Sociology & Intersectionality in fandom writing 101!

Disclaimer: I'm just a random bitch on the internet who loves English and the ridiculousness of social hierarchies, this will be referencing American social constructs and in groups only, with a focus on my experience as a Black American woman who reads a shit ton of books. Don't fight me if you hate my explanation, I will simply not respond.

Read my house rules before sending me an ask, I'm just being a dumb ass rn and word vomiting my interests, so pls i beg no follow up questions unless I say I'm open to em later.

Definitions to know:

Socialization: the act of preparing individuals to participate in society by learned social norms taught in ones family or social settings like school/friend groups. (one can be socialized in gender, race, cultural practices, etc.)

Social Hierarchies: systems of social organization in which some individuals enjoy a higher social status than others (in my opinion this is a lingering safety measure from lizard brain cavemen hunter/gatherer days)

Intersectionality: A term coined by Kimberlé Crenshaw; The process of acknowledging the unique parallels a marginalized person experiences when they have more than one marginalization (ie: race, class, gender, sexuality, ability, size, etc.)

Matriarchal society: Social groups/family structures that center female figures as representatives of authority.

Implicit Bias: Unintentional bias a person may have towards a group or individual based on learned stereotypes, prejudices, perceptions based on another's background or state of being.

first, yes anon you are making sense! So the main question:

'What cis straight white people put in their fic that makes it so obvious that they're cis straight white?'

I've been mulling this question around in my head for a few days and tried to figure out how to articulate this without going into depth in Sociological theory, but I can't! So here we are lmao, this is long as fuck so TLDR here.

I've talked to a LOT of Black and PoC people over the last months because I thought I was the only one who felt strange or could tell immediately when a writer was white, despite doing the best job they could to be neutral.

Every person I spoke to agreed they could tell right away even if we don't share similar racial backgrounds.

The answer I've come up with to why that is, is because white people are socialized (taught by society/their parents how to behave) in a way many black and PoC people are not, so their reader characters will often act in a way PoC people have learned not to, so it flags for many of us.

I plan to answer another question about this at a later date so an example is with shit like:

An over deference to hyper masculine male characters (for PoC cultures like certain Black/Latine groups that are often matriarchal in nature and don’t ascribe to as many traditional gender roles, this is a flag), lack of interpersonal/familial connection, over meekness, no challenging of external factors so things just HAPPEN to the reader and lack of awareness of surroundings to name a few. 

A lot of the language of the irl world places white cis people from Western countries as the default and everyone else as others. In which, PoC people have learned to navigate the world very carefully with a hyper-focus on what will potentially bring them harm/scrutiny/ostracism especially in white dominant spaces.

That extends to when we have down time while reading or partaking in media smfh.

I'm sure you've had to learn the same as a trans person navigating cis spaces and it's the same with any marginalization! If you are disabled you have an awareness of able bodied people and their expectations, same with being fat amongst skinny people, etc.

The more marginalizations you have, the louder the rules of social hierarchies become. Which is why many marginalized ppl stick close to those who 'get it' in their social groups as an act of safety in numbers. (Many of us attempt to have strong family connection/harmony because of this)

So referring to your comment about being trans is not the same thing at all as POC experiences with fic, it is when you are a Black or PoC trans person! My angel face @/buttdumplin has spoken a lot about that as a Mexican transman reading fics by cis people!

(Please for the love of God no one come to me explaining how marginalized they are so they shouldn't be lumped in with the white ppl PoC are cognizant of, I will check myself into a psych ward)

So what does that gotta do with reading fics?

No matter what anyone thinks, it is damn near impossible to not frame your writing from the perspective of your lived experiences. It's why even when I try my hardest to make my characters not sound Black, they will always read that way because I have been Black all of my life!

And it doesn't just happen with race, go on tiktok and search male authors writing women. (or here's another article lmao)

Also ask a Southerner how they know someone has never been to the South and don't know shit about our accents when they write Graves. There are linguistic tells that flag off and why we flame actors who pick up southern accents for their roles.

(They chew on that terrible goddamn Appalachian or Louisiana Accent not realizing Southern accents come in many fonts.)

So when I read a fic about Kyle Garrick from a non black person, I can tell the writer is non black by linguistic implications, the things they emphasize about him and what they don't. It doesn’t mean I don’t enjoy reading fics from non black people, I can just tell!

And sometimes that means I, and other PoC's associate the Reader as a white OC while reading fics.

For example, all black people are not monolithic because of our cultural and regional experiences, but many of us share common threads. That's usually family involvement, colloquialisms, that stupid fucking cookie tin our elders put sewing supplies in...

Other non Black PoC people might share similar cultural practices, so when I'm reading fics from say a latina, I will cock my head and go wait.... are you...? And surely enough, they are a person of color. 

But even while reading from a non black PoC, I have to tread carefully because anti black sentiment exists in many cultures, which is why you'll hear me say Black and PoC/Non black people interchangeably.

It’s how the conversation of Implicit bias comes up, because unknowingly non white characters can sometimes be written with a hyper focus that makes them seem inhumanly one characteristic or with little to no background while the other characters are fully fleshed out.

like the character of color is just a stand in to move the plot around white characters forward. 

So all that to say, without sometimes meaning to white writers will always sound off to me in a way that my brain can pick up on in the most minuscule ways because my awareness of my blackness/otherness has been drilled in from birth and reinforced by social norms.

I can even tell immediately if a white person has been around only white spaces their whole life with the jokes they tell lol.

In the grand scheme of things the race of the writer is most important to me when something jarring comes up that slaps me away from the experience, it explains so much of the disconnect.

Every marginalized person has a threshold for what they can ignore as a ‘trigger’ before they’re ejected from reader inserts, mine is usually the association with racial historical happenings, certain gender dynamics, etc.

It's why I mention crying like a little bitch when I read my friend Jess's (Kyletogaz) TF 141 Hair series, Dragon’s (Dragonnarative-writes) Transferrable Skills, and even Xavi's (Buttdumplin) Piercing fic.

Reading those fics felt like safety and familiarity. It was a moment where I realized I could drop the mental load I had no idea I was carrying, where I was trying to prepare myself for potential emotional damage and just READ.

It's also why as a Black person who fucks with kink and sex work it's been so touch and go when navigating dark fics/kink fics/fics about Sex workers.

Because there are different rules of engagement non white kinksters have to be aware of and that leads to a point on the collective vs. Individual experience as a PoC in kink, that I’ll eventually make a post about at some point or another. Maybe…

So yeah I’m tired of yapping. I hope this long shit was enough of an explanation!! Thanks to my friends Kiko, Jules, Xavi and Folded for yapping with me so I could articulate this better!!

[devil-in-hiding]

@wraithdance whatever you do, do not think about Price looming over you, arms crossed and head cocked as he listens to you sass him

and when you think you’ve finally won you’re backed into a corner, firm hands tilting your chin

“you done now? Gonna let me speak?”

that is all just don’t think about it

[glossysoap]

glossy’s writer rec!

user: @wraithdance/calvary/wraith!

pronouns: she/her

$: can’t find kofi or patreon but will update if i find one!

favorite works:

stray dogs series (future ghoap)

the librarian and the gigolo (soapgaz/reader)

priceghost/firefighter! reader

recent work:

kate laswell (and wife)/reader

highly recommend following her account and reading her works! her smuts are mouthwatering and her angst evokes such strong emotion! her stray dogs series makes me feel so seen with the avoidant behaviors 🥺 she’s so sweet and i can’t wait to get to know her more!

[rememberwren]

Sooo…. About this double penetration fic… who is taking part in this horny man’s Eiffel Tower 🫣📝

Ghoap all the way baby. Though now you’ve got me thinking of a Soap/Gaz Eiffel Tower…this Ghoap fic is going to be pretty soft but I also love the ‘good cop/bad cop’ dynamic in a threesome (especially when you think you know which is which but you’re not quite right), and I think Gaz and Soap would fit that dynamic so well.

[sentientcave]

Hm hello October Scorpio, how many Walmarts have you considered burning down… 👀🤭

For legal purposes, zero. But between you and me, I wouldn't be sad to see them all go up in flame.

[lewistoferrari]

look at what the loves of my life @wraithdance @mikichko @buttdumplin @gardenthatneversleeps got me 😭🥹💕

[makarovspussy]

tagged by @hampop ! made the post here rather than on my art main I'm too lazy to log in on my phone 🥴

tagging @ohlawdthebirds @rapturezoo @black-sasuke @huntinthedwellin98 @vaas @jascnbrody @eclipseinoctober @wraithdance @kyletogaz @eclipsecrowned and anyone else who wants to do this and sees this post I know I missed a lot of people!

[mikichko]

i think a lot about the sweet sense of relief that simon feels once you've cut off your toxic family.

saying that he hates your family is really an understatement. that man despises your family with every single atom in his body. he'd have cut them off if it had been up to him. but he knows you need time to process and come to terms with things on your own so he waits it out.

but it fucking sucks to sit there and watch the way these people, who are supposed to be your protectors and your champions, do everything in their power to cut you down. every word, action, even your appearance picked apart by them mercilessly. simon's never seen someone take a beating to the degree you have and still maintain kindness. it makes his blood boil when he thinks of how long you've been berated by your family. how you've had to endure this all by yourself.

he knows you try to tank it all by yourself. try to let the words and actions roll off your back, do your best to not let it affect you. but simon can see how you navigate conversations with strangers, a skill only learned after a lifetime of conflict. notices how you present a muted version of yourself to others so that nothing is too jarring to drive them away. even with him, the colorful person he's privy to now is nothing compared to the reserved, calculated version of yourself you present to the world.

he wants to break them with his bare hands. teach them how it feels to be surgically analyzed, beaten and degraded as they have you. wants to see if they'd be strong enough to become even a quarter of the person you are. he knows for a fact they won't.

@wraithdance girl om come look at this

@buttdumplin my brother look at this