#almost at 105k words

[cynicalmusings]

can’t wait to get down this wormhole for that eventual chiori fic!

[jcollinswrites]

New update 30/08/24

I added most of the greyed out choices to the noble origin ✨ You can't go into the city yet, but everything else is playable! I also added the noble to the first scene of Chapter 2.

What the update includes:

The word count now reaches 105k (I counted properly this time). That means the new content is around 20k words

Almost everything on the noble origin is playable! You can't go to the city yet, but you can see what happens if you don't follow the creepy priest into the alley, you can ditch your sister early on, and you can explore the palace and meet both new and old characters in different scenes 😊

I added the noble to the first scene of Chapter 2

I added tone indicators to the romantic choices

There are more NPC descriptions in the Relationships tab on your Stats screen

Fixed typos, incorrect pronouns, and small coding errors

I hope you all will have fun reading, and I'm waiting to hear feedback as usual ❤️

LINK is the same as before

JC

[twohearts-hs]

Defying The Odds: 6 - Michael Scofield x Reader Series

Words in Total: 3.4k

Pairings: Michael Scofield x Reader: afab x reader

Synopsis: Y/N was a victim of the mob since the age of fifteen, however, falling in love with the wrong guy and having an argument got her 25 years in prison for murder. She had a plan to get out in faith of her husband until she met Michael Scofield, who, despite his plan, fell in love with her. Now she has the mob and Michael Scofield's escape to worry about.

Warnings: Swearing, Prison, Intimacy, Murder, etc. you know the deal...

A/N: this is a complete series of ~105k words. Based on Season 1 & 2.

Hope you enjoy :)

Masterlist

Y/N sat outside, a book in front of her as she read the pages of the novel. She was focused on what was in front of her. The words were beautiful, an art form as she let herself escape from the reality she was stuck in.

��           Y/N licked her lips as she flipped the pages. She felt a figure sit next to her. Y/N didn’t need to look over to know who it was.

            “Michael, I’m busy.”

            However, this person clears their throat and she knew it was not Michael. Looking up, she spots one of the COs with a small smile. “You got a visitor, Y/L/N,” he announced.

            Y/N knew exactly who it would be however she shook her head. “I deny this visit,” she responded before looking back down to her book.

            “Y/N, if I was you, I would meet your husband,” the CO said. “He can be quite…threatening.”

            Y/N sighed and took her book, closing it before getting up. Michael, from across the field, saw the CO cuff Y/N and knew instantly that she was being escorted to see her husband and his heart dropped slightly.

            Y/N’s heart pounded as she was escorted down the dimly lit hallway, the guard’s heavy boots echoing against the concrete floor. She knew who was waiting for her in the conjugal room; there was only one person who held the power to summon her like this.

            Her husband…

            Sebastian.

            She swallowed hard, trying to steady her nerves. It had been a few weeks since they’d seen each other, and every fibre of her being had dreaded this moment. Yet, she was not the same woman who had been terrified of him on the outside. She was sharper now, hardened by the walls that surrounded her, by the alliances she had made – by Michael.

            As the guard opened the door, Y/N stepped inside, and there he was.

            Sebastian, dressed in a suit, sat in a chair at the centre of the room, legs crossed, a twisted smile curling his lips. He looked every bit the part of the man she once feared – sharp suit, slicked-back black hair, eyes gleaming with dangerous amusement. He exuded control, a predator toying with his prey.

            The door shut behind her, leaving them alone in the cold, sterile room.

            “Doll,” Sebastian greeted, getting up and pressing a kiss to her cheek as his hands slid down her arms to her hands which was still cuffed. His voice was smooth, almost syrupy. “You look…different. Prison life, I suppose.”

            Y/N remained silent, standing her ground, refusing to give him the satisfaction of a response. She could feel the tension in the air, the threat hanging unspoken between them.

            Sebastian circled her slowly, his presence suffocating as he examined her like a lion circling its prey. “It’s funny,” he started, his tone almost conversational, “I got word from one of my boys that my very married, very darling wife has been…fraternizing with another inmate. Michael Scofield, wasn’t it?”

            Y/N’s spine stiffened, but she kept her face calm, her eyes steely as she stared ahead. She knew Sebastian. Knew the games he played. He taught her every trick in the book. He thrived on fear, and she was not going to give him that.

            “You know,” he continued, his voice dropping to a near whisper as he stopped in front of her, “I don’t particularly care who you spread your legs for these days, but Scofield? That was unexpected.”

            Y/N’s stomach twisted, but she remained silent, refusing to react.

            Sebastian tilted is head, tsking mockingly. “You always were a little naïve, weren’t you? Thinking you could get away with this? That I wouldn’t find out?”

            His hand reached out, brushing a lock of hair from her face, but Y/N flinched away, glaring up at him.

            “I don’t care what you think,” she finally said, her voice steady, though her heart raced. “You’ll never hurt me.”

            Sebastian chuckled darkly, his eyes narrowing as he took a step closer, his presence towering over her. “Oh, sweetheart,” he drawled, “I don’t need to hurt you. Not physically at least. You’re right – you’re too valuable for that. But Scofield?” He smiled, a wick glint in his eyes. “Now he…well, he’s expendable.”

            Y/N’s blood ran cold. She had expected threats, taunts – but the idea of Sebastian going after Michael made her stomach churn with fear.

            “Touch him,” Y/N said, her voice low but firm, “and I’ll make sure you regret it.”

            Sebastian rose a brow, amused by her defiance. “You? Regret it? You’re nothing but a trapped little bunny in a wolf’s den, darling. Do you really think you can stop me? You’re in here, and I’m out there.”

            He leaned in closer, his breath hot against her ear. “You’ll never escape me, Y/N. No matter what fantasy you’ve concocted in that pretty little head of yours, you’ll always belong to me.”

            Her fists clenched at her sides, but she forced herself to stay calm, to think clearly. She couldn’t let him rattle her.

            “And the divorce?” Sebastian continued, his voice dripping with mockery. “Did you really think you could get away from me that easily? You’ll never be free, no matter how many papers you file. You’ll always be mine even if it isn’t legally.”

            Y/N took a deep breath, her confidence growing despite the venom in his words. She wasn’t the same scared woman who had once cowered before him.

            “I might be in here now,” she said, her voice strong, “but I won’t be forever. And when I get out, you won’t have any hold over me. Not me, not my life, and definitely not Michael.”

            Sebastian’s eyes darkened at the mention of Michael, his jaw tightening. He wasn’t used to being defined, especially not by her.

            “Michael?” he mocked. “First name basis. Remember when I was Mr. Marino then I was Marino then Sebastian then Seb then baby…” he mocked walking over to her. “You’re predictable.”

            His hand came up, clasping around her throat and she closed her eyes. Slowly, it got tighter and tighter.

            “You’ve always been entertaining, Y/N. I’ll give you that,” he said. Slowly, she could barely breathe. “But remember, if you keep playing this little game with Scofield, it won’t end well for him. Or for you.”

            Y/N was choking on nothing. She couldn’t get any air in, but she couldn’t show weakness. Eventually, he let go and she gasped for air.

            However, before she could say anything, Sebastian walked to the door and knocked against it. It opened and he disappeared. Y/N’s body finally relaxed, her hands trembling slightly. The encounter had rattled her more than she wanted to admit, but she refused to let him see her break.

            She was strong. Stronger than ever and she was going to get out this.

-

It was another part of the day when PI had to go to the storage room to work on rebuilding. Y/N was a little shaken up still by Sebastian but chose to ignore it. Michael kept glancing over her as he knew something was up. There were new bruises on her neck and she was more quiet than ever.

            They were walking past one of the new kids, Tweener as T-Bag called him. Michael had made it his mission to protect the young kid, but Y/N was ignoring that. She was focused on the fact that information about her and Michael got to Sebastian, and she knew exactly who.

            “What are you grinning about?” Michael asked.

            T-Bag glanced over at the young boy, smiling before looking ahead. Y/N stood behind him in her own world at the moment.

            “Just the fact that I’m gonna be out in the real world here in a little bit,” T-Bag replied with a smirk. Y/N rolled her eyes. “The fact that I’m gonna get me one fine piece of tail certainly don’t hurt either.” T-Bag walked up to Michael leaning in and saying, “Nothing like tail, eh, Scofield” He followed it up with a snicker and Michael knew exactly what he was talking about. Y/N glared from afar, feeling the blood boiling in her.

            The storage room was filled with the usual quiet buzz of tension. Dust and concrete residue coated the air as the group gathered to continue digging their way to freedom. The door clicked shut behind them, and they fell into their routine, each member of the crew knowing their role.

            Michael grabbed a tool from the box and was about to walk up to him, when Y/N entered. Her face was hardened, eyes narrowing as she fixated on T-Bag. She had something to settle. Therefore, without warning, she stormed across the room to him. Before anyone could react, Y/N grabbed T-Bag by his collar and slammed him against the nearest wall with force that echoed through the small, enclosed space.

            “What the hell?” T-Bag sputtered, his hand shooting up defensively, but Y/N was far from done.

            “You snitching piece of shit!” she hissed through gritted teeth, her eyes blazing with a dangerous intensity that no one had ever seen in her before. Not even Michael.

            “What’re you talkin’ about, sweetheart? I–“

            “Don’t play dumb with me!” Y/N snarled, slamming him against the wall again. T-Bag’s back hit the concrete with a dull thud. “You told Sebastian, didn’t you? You sold me out!”

            Michel, who had been standing nearby with a tool in hand, froze. He’d seen Y/N angry before, but this was different. This was something primal, something fuelled by a deep betrayal. She was completely unrecognisable.

            T-Bag’s smirk faltered for a moment as he realised how serious she was. But of course, he could not help himself. “Maybe Scofield should control his little girlfriend?” he bit back.

            Y/N didn’t care what he was saying. Her fist shot out, slamming into his gut, knocking the wind out of him. T-Bag doubled over, wheezing, but she grabbed him by the hair and yanked his head back against the wall.

            “You think I’m gonna let you get away with it?” she spat, her face inches from you. “You thought you’d tell my husband just to stir the pot, didn’t you? I know you, T-Bag. I know exactly what a pathetic worm you are. You don’t get to mess with my life. And for sure, you don’t get mess with his life,” she said, jerking her head toward Michael.

            Michael finally snapped out of his shock and rushed over, trying to pull her off. “Y/N, stop–“ he grabbed her arm, his voice low and steady, though he was completely rattled by what he was seeing. “Hey, it’s not worth it. We can handle this another way–“

            But Y/N was not having it. She whirled around, eyes blazing, shoving Michael back with enough force to make him stumble. “Just fuck off, Michael. I don’t need you to protect me.”

            The entire room had gone still. Sucre and Abruzzi exchanged uneasy glances, while Lincoln stayed on the sidelines, watching carefully. They’d all seen fights in prison, but this? This was something else entirely. It wasn’t just about survival – this was personal. And Y/N was ready to destroy anyone who crossed her.

            T-Bag coughed; his usual swagger long gone as he looked at Y/N with a new wariness. “I didn’t say nothin’,” he gasped, his voice rough from the assault. “Your husband’s got his own spies. I had nothin’ to do with it, I swear!”

            Y/N grabbed his shirt again, her knuckles white with the force of her grip. “I don’t believe you,” she whispered, her voice low and dangerous. “And if I find out you did? You won’t just have to deal with Scofield…you’ll have to deal with me and I am in here for murder.”

            Just as she raised her hand to strike again, Lincoln stepped in, grabbing Y/N by the shoulders and pulling her off T-Bag. “That’s enough,” he growled, holding her back with surprising gentleness. “You’re gonna get yourself locked up if you keep this up. We can’t afford that.”

            Y/N struggled against Lincoln’s grip for a moment, her chest heaving, eyes wild, but slowly, she stopped fighting. She stood there, breathing heavily, glaring at T-Bag, who wiped his mouth with the back of his hand, glaring right back. 

            She looked over everyone, all of them staring at her. She lowered her arm and then bit her lip. Michael began to walk up to her, but she began to walk out of the room. Then she halted, turning around.

            “Leave the fucking kid alone,” she spat again.

            “You got a hell of a temper, darlin’,” T-Bag muttered. “But I ain’t the one you should be worried about. You might wanna keep a tighter leash on your boy Scofield here, ‘cause once your husband’s done with him, there won’t be much left.”

            Y/N started to lunge at him, but Michael held her back, shaking his head. “Don’t,” he whispered in her ear. “He’s not worth it.”

            T-Bag smirked, taking a step back. “That’s right. Listen to your man. He knows what’s good for ya.”

            However, as soon as Y/N caught her breath. Michael pushed past her and took the tool he was holding. Instantly, he smashed it against T-Bag’s knees making him fall down.

            “Son of a bitch!” T-Bag yelled.

            “This ends right now,” Michael announced.

            “Oh, you and your little girlfriend…just screwed some major league pooch, Pretty. I’m gonna sing like a whole tree full of birds now.” Then he sent a wicked smile. “Badge!”

            Michael leaned down and spat, “You wanna sing, then sing. But you know what I think?” he mocked. “You don’t have the guts.” Michael’s face was in front of T-Bag as he crouched. “You want out of here just as much as the rest of us.”

            The door opened and a CO came in. “We got a problem here?”

            Begrudgingly, T-Bag said, “No. I…uh… I thought we were missing some tools here, my bad.” T-Bag got up and so did Michael.

            “Get back to work,” the CO said.

            “You and I may be stuck together in this little dance, but I call the shots. First shot, Y/N is my business. Not yours. Second, the kid out there, you don’t touch him, ever. Do we understand each other?” Michael stated, voice low and steady.

            “We do.”

            Bellick came and got Abruzzi, however, he walked over the hole which left everyone looking around surprised he didn’t fall through. However, Y/N was left with a Michael who was simply staring and shaking his head at her.

-

The late afternoon sun cast long shadows across the yard, but neither Michael nor Y/N paid much attention to the heat. After the tense incident in the storage room, Michael had been keeping a close eye on Y/N. He knew something was still simmering under the surface, something she hadn’t shared yet.

            As they walked side by side, Michael gently grabbed her arm, pulling her into a quieter corner, away from prying eyes. “Hey,” he said softly, his voice calm but laced with concern. “We need to talk.”

            Y/N looked up at him, her brow furrowing slightly. “About what?”

            “About earlier,” Michael replied, his blue eyes searching hers. “The way you went after T-Bag. I get why you’re angry, but that wasn’t just anger. That was something else. You really think he told Sebastian?”

            Y/N’s expression darkened, and she crossed her arm over her chest defensively. “I know he did. Or he told one of Sebastian’s guys because you and I are good at being private.”

            “Everyone in that storage shed knows about us now, Y/N,” he stated.

            “I know, but I let my anger get to me. You know how T-Bag is – he’s got his hands one everyone’s business. He probably did it just to get under my skin. Or worse, to make things harder for us.”

            Michael watched her carefully, trying to piece together her feelings. He knew there was more to this than just a vendetta against T-Bag. “What happened with Sebastian? I saw the guards take you.”

            Y/N’s jaw clenched, and for a moment, she seemed hesitant to answer. But she trusted Michael. She had to. “He’s…angry,” she admitted, her voice softening slightly. “One of his goons must’ve told him about us. He knew everything, Michael. He mocked me, threatened me. Said you were going to pay for it.” She paused, her eyes flickering with both fear and frustration. “He even brought up the divorce again. Called me his ‘trapped little bunny’, like I’ll never escape him.”

            Michael’s eyes hardened at the mention of Sebastian’s threats. “And the bruises?” he asked quietly, glancing at the faint marks on her neck and wrists. “Did he hurt you?”

            Y/N instinctively pulled her sleeves down, her expression becoming closed off. “It’s nothing. Don’t worry,” she said, brushing it off with a wave of her hand. “I’ve dealt with worse.”

            But Michael was not letting it go. He stepped closer to her, his voice low, but firm. “Y/N,” he said, his tone serious. “Don’t try to downplay this. If Sebastian hurt you, I need to know.”

            She looked away, biting her lip. “He didn’t hurt me, not like that,” she finally muttered. “He just…grabbed me. Hard. Tried to scare me, show me who’s in control. But I’m not afraid of him, Michael. I know he’ll never hurt me.”

            Michael’s fists clenched at his sides, his anger bubbling beneath the surface. The thought of anyone – especially Sebastian – laying a hand on Y/N made his blood boil. “But he’ll hurt me, right? That’s what he said?”

            Y/N nodded, her voice barely above a whisper. “Yeah. He said he’d come after you, that I’d pay for what we have together. Then he basically called me a slut, but that’s fine.”

            For a moment, Michael was silent, trying to steady his emotions. His jaw tightened, his mind racing with thoughts of revenge, of protecting Y/N at all costs. But he knew he couldn’t let his anger take over – not here, not now. They were in a prison, and everything they did had consequences.

            He reached out, gently cupping her face in his hands, forcing her to meet his gaze. “Listen to me,” he said softly, but his voice was filled with conviction. “He’s not going to touch me. And he’s not going to hurt you anymore. We’re going to get out of here, and when we do, you’ll never have to worry about him again.”

            Y/N’s eyes softened as she looked into his, seeing the determination and protectiveness there. But still, a part of her felt trapped, cornered by a man who had controlled her life for too long. “I just…I can’t stand the idea of him winning, Michael,” she said, her voice cracking slightly. “I hate feeling like I’m always one step behind, like no matter what I do, he’ll always have power over me.”

            “He won’t,” Michael assured her. “He thinks he has control, but he’s wrong. We’re in this together, ok?”

            Y/N took a deep breath, leaning into his touch as the tension in her body began to ease. “I just…I didn’t want to drag you into my mess,” she admitted softly. “You’ve got enough on your plate without having to worry about my psycho husband.”

            Michael shook his head, his eyes softening as he brushed a strand of hair from her face. “You’re not dragging me into anything. I’m here because I want to be. You don’t have to face this alone.” She nodded. “There’s a plan. We’re getting out of here and once we are out,” he whispered, cupping her cheek, “it’ll be you, me and Lincoln. Ok?”

            She nodded, wrapping her arms around him and pulling him into a hug. It was a quick one, but enough to make her feel better.

            Michael than stopped, leaning against the fence as he spotted T-Bag walking by Tweener. He glared and Y/N followed his look.

            “Leave the kid alone,” she whispered.

            And he did, he walked away which earned a smirk from Y/N and Michael. Who then turned to look at Lincoln.

            Then out of nowhere, there was a new group of PI heading to the shed.

            “Oh fuck,” Y/N whispered. “We’re screwed.”

-

I hope you enjoyed! I had so much fun writing this.

Let me know your thoughts, opinions and comments! :)

Lots of love,

Ava <3

-

Taglist:

(let me know if you want to be tagged)

@enha-stars @wonuskie @believeinthefireflies95

[drarryspecificrecs]

2023.04 ~ Top 10 longest fics posted on AO3

1. When Harry Sniffed Draco by CorvetteClaire [E, 137k]

►Once upon a time, wizard blood was mingled with that of wolves and a race of magical creatures known as Lycans was born. In the millennia since the race nearly died out, until Lycans have become little more than legends or fairytales. So imagine his surprise when, shortly after his 18th birthday, Draco Malfoy goes into heat! Draco now finds himself in the awkward position of being the only known Omega in the wizarding world. [...] The only saving grace for Draco is that Alphas are even rarer than Omegas, and the chances of him running afoul of one at Hogwarts are virtually nil. Until Harry Potter turns up, that is.

2. It Started With A Handshake by i_dont_read [E, 113k]

►One year after the war, Draco Malfoy is fresh out of a three-month term in Azkaban. As part of his parole, he's back at Hogwarts as an eighth year student to finish his studies. All Draco wants to do is lie low and make it out of Hogwarts in one piece, but when he finds that he's forced to room with none other than Harry Potter, that proves to be much more difficult than Draco anticipated. After a particularly eventful detention together, Harry and Draco must reconcile their relationship. What started as a volatile feud eventually becomes something much deeper than either of them could've imagined. The question is, will Draco ever come to terms with his feelings, or will he be left pining forever in secret?

3. Twenty-Two Cards series by peu_a_peu [E, 105k, 6 works]

►Aurors Potter and Malfoy crack the case.

4. A little bit confused but not at all surprised by indigospacehopper [M, 103k]

►When auror-in-training Harry Potter accidentally drinks a truth potion, he’s sent straight to St Mungo’s for their expert potions master to help him. The problem? Draco Malfoy is the expert potions master, and he’s having far too much fun taunting Harry about his problem. However, more sinister things are afoot and whilst Harry and Draco bicker and flirt, dark forces prepare to make their move…

5. What The Fuck Draco Malfoy! by Silverhood [M, 70k]

►After being almost killed by Harry Potter, Draco decided that being a death eater is most definitely not what he wants with his life. After lots of planning, and a bit of help from his Godfather, Draco finally comes up with a way to escape. Becoming an animagus and fake his death. /// Snape brings in a strange creature to the great hall with him. Harry finds it adorable. Dumbledore is not pleased.

6. A Game of Cat and Mouse by @steampunkserpent27 [E, 66k]

►It's best to not stand too close to the water's edge, lest something pulls you into the deep. Draco knows this well, but something keeps dragging him back to the elusive, green-eyed stranger waiting for him by the dock.

7. Your Soul Sat On My Lips by @m0srael [E, 61k]

►Sometimes, two broken men can love one another whole again, and sometimes they can’t. That doesn’t mean they don’t deserve to try.

8. along each garden wall by @oflights [E, 61k]

►Draco has to have a baby (or have one on the way) at the time of his fast-approaching 35th birthday, or he's going to lose his home to his vile cousin. Harry offers to help, but their complex past—even beyond Hogwarts—prompts Draco to set out on a long journey of friendship, kittens, gardens, motorbike rides, and more.

9. Under the Invisibility Cloak by bribri02 [E, 54k]

►Draco and Harry have been hanging out on top the Astronomy Tower. Only Draco doesn't know it's Harry he's starting to catch feeling, for the Gryffindor stays hidden from his love under his cloak.

10. Thunder in Our Hearts by Miss_and_the_Rope [E, 50k]

►Harry and Draco both turn to running to help them process their trauma after the war and they end up bonding over it. Will their newfound friendship turn to something more or will it crumble under the pressure of their pasts?

—

※ Word count: 1k ~ 10k

※ Word count: 10k ~ 40k

arranged love by @stvrlvghtwrites [M, 28k]

Come, To Say Thank You by @shewhomustnotbenamed [E, 10k]

I just wanted you to know (that this is me trying) by Kendra_Storm [T, 13k]

In Memoriam (S.B, J.P, R.L) by @unturbulent [M, 33k]

An Open Mind by NettaAmi [M, 14k]

Safe With You by @amillionregrets [M, 28k]

Slippery as a Snake by sweetasmaple [M, 12k]

Under the Confetti Mist by @azalealarae [E, 12k]

We are strangers again. by IcarusGWings [E, 14k]

—

Ongoing Fest/Exchange

※ Fics would be listed elsewhere.

Draco Tops Harry Fest 2021 | @dracotops-harry

HP Poetry Fest 2023 | @hp-poetry-fest

HP Trans Fest 2023 | @hptransfest

[firebatvillain]

20 questions for fic writers!

As seen on @givereadersahug (x)!

1. How many works do you have on AO3?

I currently have 59 works on AO3, though some of those are unrevealed or anonymous, so the visible work count is a bit lower.

2. What’s your total AO3 word count?

105k! Wow. Over half of that has been in the last two years, when I've been doing a lot more writing and taking part in exchanges.

3. What fandoms do you write for?

Naruto (7) Harry Potter - J. K. Rowling (7) Original Work (7) Warhammer 40.000 (3) Fate/stay night & Related Fandoms (2) Stellaris (Video Game) (2) From there we get into a lot of one-offs that I wrote for exchanges. House MD, Gundam Wing, Good Omens, The Order of the Stick, and many others. Most of the Original Work fics are for particular exchange prompts, some of which are quite fun.

4. What are your top 5 fics by kudos?

The Greatest Weasley [Harry Potter, Ron-Centric, incomplete] - this WIP is my white whale! Ron gets sorted into Slytherin. Only a couple chapters, I should return to it sometime...

Harry Potter and the Independent Path [Harry Potter, parody, one-shot] - This very short parody fic is fun and I'm glad people like it. I actually look back fondly on this genre even if I poke fun at it.

Five Times Sakura Heard the Voice, and One Time It Faded [Naruto, Sakura-centric, one-shot, 2.9k] - This was an fest fic for Fest No Jutsu 2022! I really enjoyed writing this one.

If You Won’t Wait for Me, I’ll Find My Own Path [Naruto, Sakura-centric, drabble] - Wrote this one based on the fandom opinions of my friend @xenosimp. Surprised at its popularity.

Liana and the Labyrinth’s Core [Original Work, Explicit, Het, 2.3k] - I wrote this very explicit fic for an exchange, and had a lot of fun with it! Minotaur/Sacrifice, make sure to read the tags/warnings.

5. Do you respond to comments? Why or why not?

For exchange fics, almost always. Otherwise, I do sometimes. It's fun to chat with other fandom people and let them know I appreciate their comments, or answer their questions.

6. What is the fic you wrote with the angstiest ending?

I don't usually write angsty endings, but The Rules of Reintegration [OW drabble, prompt: military android masquerading as a human] is angsty.

7. What’s the fic you wrote with the happiest ending?

I'd say Four Times Toph Beifong Triumphed [ATLA, Toph-centric, 2.5k words] would be it. It's generally fun! 

8. Do you get hate on fics?

Not often, though I got one very baffling comment on a fic where someone questioned the realism of it. I'm not in the big fandoms where there's lots of drama though.

9. Do you write smut? If so, what kind?

Yes, often for exchanges. It typically tends to be straightforward steamy sex. I've got some more kinky stuff posted to anon that I won't share here, heh.

10. Do you write crossovers? What’s the craziest one you’ve written?

I've written one, but it's not usually my style for writing, since it's a challenge for me. I love reading them though!

11. Have you ever had a fic stolen?

No, and I hope it never happens. I don't think anything I've written is popular enough for that 😅

12. Have you ever had a fic translated?

Nope!

13. Have you ever co-written a fic before?

My fandom friend and I co-wrote Mist and Shadow, a WH40k AU fic about Eldar escaping the fall of the Eldar empire. After about 12k words, we set it down, but we may return someday.

14. What’s your all time favourite ship?

This is a tough one! All-time, I'm not sure. But at the moment, I'm basically chewing on Durge/Enver Gortash (BG3) and having a great time with it.

15. What’s a WIP you want to finish but doubt you ever will?

Oof, this is a tough one! There's a very old Naruto fic that I don't think I'll ever get back to... Lost Root. I can't really recommend it in its current state, but it was one of my first plot bunnies.

16. What are your writing strengths?

I think I'm pretty decent at paragraph-to-paragraph rhythm, and I am unafraid to try new things.

17. What are your writing weaknesses?

Sometimes I repeat certain phrases without realizing it, and pacing scenes can be difficult for me. I also have a tendency to write excessively long sentences. Trying to improve on that last one!

18. Thoughts on writing dialogue in another language in fic?

Seems like a hard sell for both writer and reader.

19. First fandom you wrote for?

StarCraft pro gamer RPF. No, you won't find the fic on my AO3 profile.

20. Favourite fic you’ve written?

I'm still in love with Roonil Wazlib and the Goblet of Fire, a 2.8k word Harry Potter crackfic I wrote for Bad Bang V. Is it bad? Yes, oh yes. And it's fun, and so are the comments.

Tagging (no pressure): @xenosimp @vanyalanthirielofmana @chacusha @vampiremonday @uozlulu @miss-ingno @verecunda

[welcometololaland]

uno reverse, baby! your turn! 💖💖 you swept into rwrb fandom like the force of nature that you are way back in November 2021 with Speak for Yourself (I think, could be October but I'm too lazy to go check), but what inspired you to start writing it?

sorry for saving you up until (almost) last!!! it was october 2021! our love story began lmao.

the story behind speak for yourself is so stupid. basically, i was bored. my city was almost at the end of almost 300 days (in aggregate) of pretty hardcore lockdowns - you could only leave the house for 1 hour a day between the hours of 6am and 8pm and you couldn't go further than 5km from your house. don't get me wrong, it was worth it for the sake of the community, but it was HARD. anyway, i was bored. i was sitting at my desk on a random friday night. i decided to just type something and see where it went.

i had recently read rwrb (consumed it in like half a day) and felt inspired. where could this vision of alex claremont-diaz take me? i wrote like 3.5k in a few hours and put it up on archive of our own. no plan, no expectations, no nothing. i don't even remember where the unhinged idea to have alex and henry competing for an apartment came from. i actually thought maybe 5 people would read it and i had absolutely no intention to finish it.

WELL.

i woke up to heaps of lovely comments, a smattering of kudos, an invite to a discord server - people seemed...excited to read more? i was confused by this. i didn't know how to tell them i hadn't planned on there BEING any more it was just something that i randomly wrote. but anyway, i felt the loving peer pressure to continue and honestly i was so ecstatic that people wanted to read what i wrote. so i wrote more.

then, chapter 5 came around and you requested a doc link and @stardisnight jumped in as well and asked me how the apartment looked in my head and COULD SHE DRAW IT? and i was like wtf like people WANT to pre-read this? want to draw for it? like i couldn't quite wrap my head around how nice everyone was and how invested they were.

it was a life changing experience, truly. that invite to the discord server, the beta reading, the art, the comments. i get emotional thinking how different my life would be if people didn't take the time out of their day to read my stupid story i never intended to finish. never stopped to tell me that they liked it or wanted another part. i NEVER would have met half the people i know now and i never would have found this sense of purpose that i find in writing. my writing wouldn't have gotten better, i never would have gotten tumblr, i never would have started a nice ask day game. it's so wild to me.

speak for yourself ended up just over 105k. it was 11 chapters of spiralling word counts. my brand was born. i had a bunch of lovely friends, a ride or die beta reader and another seventeen billion ideas. i haven't stopped annoying people with my presence since!!!

thanks for the ask rae, my beloved <3

[themarydragon]

I got tagged by the fantastic @jenseits-der-sterne which is lovely, thank you. Nobody ever tags me, and I love these damn things. <3  <3  <3

Most hits: Calm Waters Run Deep, or CWRD, with 146,084 hits (as of today) which is just…? I don’t even know, guys. It’s one of the shortest multi-chapter works I’ve ever posted, so for it to be pushing 150k views across only 11 chapters (and its, you know, six years old) is just nuts to me. I keep hearing that people are finding it rec’d on reddit? Which, also, blows my poor mind. I love that it is so loved. Writing that probably saved my life.

Second most kudos: The Quiet River Rages, tQRR, which is part 3 of Trouble the Water (CWRD, part 1, has the most kudos). I feel like Trouble the Water is just what I’m going to be known for, as a fic writer, and I am totally down for that.

Third most comments: CWRD again, with my #3 spot for comment threads! tQRR has more comments, which makes sense (since a lot of people wait and comment at the end) but my #1 here is Keep to the Stars, which makes my heart glad. I’ve got over 200 comments on Chapter 11 of CWRD, and my favorites are where someone wanted to say SOMETHING ELSE but got short-circuited by the cruel way I ended the chapter. This is also why I have a “tears of my readers” mug.

Fourth most bookmarks: Remember the Spring, the middle installment of TtW and one of my only one-shots. TQRR (#3) and CWRD (#1) also show up here, with KttS as #2. I’m actually stupendously proud of Remember the Spring, and I’m going to be revisiting this style for the totk fics I’m writing I plan to write this winter. I have them outlined and they’re written in my HEAD doesn’t that count?

Fifth most words: Okay so I’m verbose. The #5 spot is Loved and Lost with 90k. I have 1.3 million words on AO3, I’m a wordy bitch. I almost went through and edited the hell out of Loved and Lost so it would be closer in length to Lost and Found (the other half of that fic) but @kathsilver helped talk me out of it. Thanks again for that, kath. <3  My top 4 all have 100K+ (Steel Your Heart at 105k, Higgins’ Song [my beloved][my favorite child][do me a favor and go read about Higgins] at 152k, and Will to Live [god I miss Twitch imma go read that this weekend] at 186k). But my monster is Keep to the Stars, at over a quarter-mil (290k). And honestly it should have been longer, Steel Your Heart should have just ran right along with it but I started writing before the DLC dropped so it is what it is.

Least words is in Promise Kept, which is my one shot of vignettes of a DA:I Inquisitor Cadash and her unrequited relationship with Varric Tethras. I love them and I regret nothing.

Almost all my mutuals are fic writers so if you can see this, I’m interested in your stats. Consider yourself tagged. <3  

[cattatonically]

How to Vex a Vampire - Alice Winters (VRC: Vampire Related Crimes, book 1)

Synopsis

Finn Getting into the vampire-only detective unit was the easy part; what’s going to be more difficult is dealing with my new partner, an ancient vampire who keeps threatening to eat me. The unit has never had a human in it, and Marcus—or as I like to call him, Fangy McFangface—would really prefer to keep it that way. He’s grumpy, short-tempered, and broody, but I have a way with words and I know he’s starting to like me, even if he swears he’s not. But what he doesn’t know is that I didn’t join the unit because I was tired of being a homicide detective, I joined because there is someone after me. They’ve already taken enough from me and I’m afraid they’re going to take all of me if I don’t find someone to help. That’s all Marcus was supposed to be, but now, he’s so much more and I can’t imagine my life without him.

Marcus The moment the pesky human walked through that door, I knew I had to get rid of him. He’s charming and almost everyone else instantly loves him, but he doesn’t understand how risky it is being part of this unit as a human. But as I get to know the stubborn man, I learn that perhaps he’s not as naive as I once thought. And maybe he’s what I needed to realize there is more to life than just work and my dog. A group arises who is threatening to disrupt the alliance between the humans and the vampires, but Finn is the one who shows me how strong that alliance can be and reminds me why it’s worth protecting. When threats hit closer to home, I realize I would do anything for Finn because he’s brought so much joy to my life—and because he’s mine.

This 105k word book A creative use for undergarments, unintentional splits, a wolfhound who just wants to be a part of things, a vertically challenged human who still manages to wrap every vampire he meets around his little finger, the best date ever, possessiveness, really awkward dancing, some workplace revenge, and just a bite or two. Or three.

My Thoughts

This book was grumpy/sunshine turned up to 11 and I absolutely loved it.

It’s pretty clear both Marcus and Finn have some trauma in their pasts – Finn more recently – which makes them both snippy, sarcastic, and guarded. But where Finn uses these powers to charm everyone around him, Marcus’ first instinct is growly violence. And honestly, I can’t blame either one of them.

Finn can be overwhelming, and, well, a lot. But he kind of grows on you, and you can’t help but root for him throughout the book. Especially when his teasing-flirting with Marcus turns more serious, and his feelings for Marcus grow. And he’s not alone, as Marcus kind of stumbles and trips head-first into his feelings for Finn.

They’re a bit of an odd pair, but they’re each quite well-suited for each other. And their banter may be some of the weirdest I’ve ever encountered, but it’s also hilarious, and heartwarming.

Whomever – or whatever, as the case may be – that is haunting Finn clearly isn’t done with him. And honestly, I’m rather impatient to find out our team at the VRC plan to help Finn take care of who – or what – it is.

And let’s be real, the grumpy, grumbly Russian Karsyn has already stolen most of my attention, and I’m rather eager to see more of him as the series continues!

[goatsandgangsters]

okay bELATED FOLLOW UP bc of all the Real Life Stuff Happening So Much(tm)

The winner is: author’s love of metafiction and identity porn pretending to be a plot

which is my slightly self-deprecating way of describing: THE DARKLINA AMNESIA AU YOU ALREADY KNOW ABOUT

what can I say, I like it when characters are lying to each other about their identities and when ~circumstances force them to get to know one another in a different way/in a different time in their lives, and I'm gonna drag that out as long as I reasonably can. while also arguing with canon. it's less about the "plot," so much as it is me raising my hand and going BUT WHAT IF THINGS WERE MORE NUANCED!! WHAT IF THERE'S NO RIGHT OR WRONG, IT'S JUST WHO'S TELLING THE STORY! we haven't even hit the ember island players chapter yet

I don't think a sprinto is quiiite what would help me with this one (I've posted 41k words of the 105k I've written, so I'm not exactly hurtin for word count). So instead! Its reward will be me sitting down to edit the next chapter at whatever state I last left it in

In second place: if I annoy you enough, will you let me out of these handcuffs? aka: KAZOLAI HANDCUFF LESSONS with a lot of (one-sided but not unwelcome) unresolved flirting. like an absurd amount. and just these two tete-a-tete-ing

And the tie for third place: (aka the Jack Alston POV rewrite bronze medal power hour)

area man grudgingly adopts lesbian……. on a BOAT is me writing some pre- and post-scenes from A Restless Truth from Jack's perspective, mostly focusing on Maud Blyth Chaos Moments and his suffering turning into dedicated fondness

mom said it's my turn to haunt the narrative is similarly a POV shift: that one chapter of Jack retreating to lick his wounds at Cheetham, but it's Alan's POV and the uncomfortable Absence of Jack

Other fics:

tender friends-to-lovers anal fingering: first time dominikolai (and also my first time writing totally vanilla smut)

Nikolai Lantsov is 12 identity crises in a teal coat: me throwing my hat into the "sun summoner nikolai" ring

two boys, one body 😏: that yurkling smut I've been sitting on for years, I'm so sorry

gay people christmas picnic: realistically the next fic I will post (I sure hope) because "from tender stem hath sprung" has ONE more chapter and it's ENTIRELY WRITTEN I just need to EDIT IT but it's ALMOST JUNE and I need to get this done jfc

nu-uh I was haunting the narrative first!!: this is an elsie fic. it doesn't tie into "mom said it's my turn to haunt the narrative" but I couldn't really describe it in a funny way, so I just let jack and elsie argue on the poll

knowing too much about 1920s organized crime & making it other ppl’s problem: surprisingly not a boardwalk empire fic. grishaverse 1920s au vignettes, where I'm not so much interested in "plot" as just "I have so much knowledge about this specific moment, might as well paint a words-picture with it"

Out of Context WIPs

Tagged by @itsnotunfinisheditsmystyle and I'm immediately obsessed with this concept, thank you

RULES: summarise your WIPs badly and let people vote on they'd most like to read!

AND as a reward, I will do a sprinto on the winning fic*

*not an official rule for the meme, I just wanna do it

tagging: @meyerlansky, @holy-muffins, @mercutiotakethewheel, @hosseinis, @bearholdingashark, @esssteee @daveyfvckingjacobs

[aparticularbandit]

FINISHED THE ROUGH DRAFT OF THE FIRST BOOK OF THE ROISA HP AU.

HAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA.

[hlficlibrary]

Hi admin! Can I ask for some larry fic recs? I want angsty ones that are a little over 100k words 😭😭😭 no classics, abo and mpreg fics please :))

Hi, anon! We have these fic recs here:

📚 Long Fics (pt 1)

📚 Long Fics (pt 2)

📚 Long Fics (pt 3)

And anytime you have a fic rec request for fic recs you can submit to our suggestion box here:

📚 Suggestion Box

If you're ever looking for the suggestion box, it's on the pinned post! And below you'll find a few fics that fit what you're looking for specifically. Hope you enjoy them!

📚 A New Midnight by amory [NR, 114k]

Harry is a homeless boy who has been running from his demons for the past five months, and doing a very good job of it if you ask him. Louis is a uni student set on becoming a drama teacher, a skilled actor with a penchant for alcohol and evading personal questions. On one snowy afternoon they stumble into each others lives.

📚 The Devil and the Deep Blue Sea by @kingsofeverything [E, 109k]

Louis’ life is steady and calm, moored by his marriage, and tied to his hometown, but after a chance encounter with another man, it’ll never be the same.

📚 For the Right Reasons by @juliusschmidt [E, 105k]

Harry doesn’t agree to be the Bachelor expecting to find love. He’s just hoping for an exciting jaunt around the world, half a dozen new friends, and, if he’s lucky, an amazing hj or two.

Louis may have signed up to be a contestant on the Bachelor, but he’s not interested a ring or a proposal, not from Harry, not from anyone. He wouldn’t turn down a few more Instagram followers, though.

📚 Stand By Me by MsHydeStylinson / @mizzhydes [E, 100k]

He was almost home when his eyes caught the text sprayed on the wall saying ”Treat People With Kindness”. Yeah, right. He couldn’t help but laugh bitterly. How naïve are some people? The world was too fucking unfair to even consider thinking like that. One day, sooner or later, they would learn their lesson just like everyone else and their own carefully built little Shangri-La would collapse in the blink of an eye. Just like Harry’s had. Poof, and everything had gone.

---

Or, In the wake of a tragic event, Harry left home at the age of nineteen, leaving behind everything he ever loved. The only thing that kept him going was his passion for music and his dream of making it big in the entertainment world.

What happens when Harry later encounters the man who once broke his heart? Is it possible to find forgiveness for the person who bitterly betrayed him? Could love really prevail despite the trauma he carries with him from his past?

[drconstellation]

Adaptive Innovations for Changing World was finished just yesterday. I recommend it as well.

I've got lots of WIPs on my list at the moment, I'll list a few that are a fair way through, but for finished ones I would go

Mussimm's Sandalford Flower Show (46K words) and the follow on in a parallel universe that even more breathtaking than the first story Tabula Rasa (78K words)

ilikeblue's and now all my garden is grown in lavender (73K words)

princip1914's The False and the Fair (173K words)

bendycello's Fifty-Two Blue (84K words)

neided's Sit tight, Take hold (150K) - I think this the Rainbow Road someone else has mentioned? Or is there more that I has missed?

Junkolt's Phersu (105K) set in Rome as they raise Nero as a boy.

MissUnderstoodLyric's The Shared Desk Dilemma (32 K) Have to admit some of this one is just hilarious. I'm not one for practical jokes but there's a classic in here.

HenriettaRHippo's Miracles on Ice. WIP up to Ch 22 and 87K so far. No chapter limit set yet, but I'm loving it so far.

Siobhans-world Telling Tall Tales (17/19 Ch, 91K) Almost there with this one, loving it as well.

Nmn's Angel-Centered Therapy Through A Multicultural Lens: An Integrative Approach (17/18 ch, 70K) This is the sequel to the famous Triphasic Approach to Demon Trauma fic that feature's Aziraphale's treatment with Davey and his drums, and more. It's almost all there. Its good in a totally different way to the first one.

mooneyinpisces' How Do We Turn On The Light (WIP, 16/22 Ch 185K so far) Haven't seen anything else like it. Even though its a WIP its worth it. And you'll need to read it more than once, anyway.

Phoenixrose314's Dont Fall Away from Me. (WIP 43/44 Ch, 209K) one chapter to go! We're almost there with this epic.

RiaTheDreamer's Are We Meant To Read The Footnotes? (WIP 53/86 Ch 314K so far) This one is huge! but well worth the effort.

I've got more I like, but some are in the early stage so might not be the best for downloading, so I might leave it there.

Hey yo everyone! My family's going on a long vacation soon, and I need fic recs!

I wanna start stockpiling them now so I can download them, since I may not have internet 😅 (btw if I disappear that's why!!)

I'm looking for longer fics, preferably E rated (though it's not a deal breaker if it's not!) probably AU but again that's not essential

I love them tender and sweet, but I'm not against angst, hurt/comfort, etc as long as there's a happy ending!

I've already read: Car Trouble, BNF (and everything else by Bilvy!), Pray For Us Icarus, Chemistry....uhh gosh I know there's more longer ones I've read, but those are the big ones

I'd ask @aziraphales-library (and I plan to scour their tags 😁 as should you!! They have some amazing recs!!) but I know they're loaded down with asks rn 😅

Any recs are appreciated!! Tysm!!

(I'm really hoping I do have internet, I don't wanna miss any of the amazing art and posts this fandom pumps out 🥲)

@goodomensafterdark it's perfectly fine if not but if you'd like to get your followers to help I'd be much appreciative!!

[vampyre-lesbian]

post fall hannigram fic recs?

I've had a couple people ask for post-fall hannigram fic recs, so here you go! The asterisk (*) indicates multi-chapter fics, btw!

The Bloodletting Series by damnslippyplanet

Word Count: 6k Rating: E Summary: Post-fall, Will and Hannibal's sparring sessions leave Will struggling to work through his feelings when it comes to sex and violence. Hannibal is very tender in this one!

you swallow my heart and flee (but i want it back now) by deadratz

Word Count: 65k* Rating: E Summary: After the fall, Will wakes up in the hospital with no sign of Hannibal, who seems to have left him behind. Will is desperate to prove to Hannibal that he can trust him; fortunately for Will, Hannibal can't bring himself to stay away from Will for long. The discovery of Hannibal's journal in his old cell forces Will to finally confront the feelings he's kept buried for so long.

Never In The House by drinkbloodlikewine and whiskeyandspite

Word Count: 4k Rating: E Summary: Post-fall, Will and Hannibal are living together in domestic bliss until Will gets angry at Hannibal for murdering someone in their kitchen. Short but very cute!

A Sea-Spell by gleamingandwholeanddeadly

Word Count: 4k* Rating: M Summary: Hannibal and Will are living happily together in the Maldives when Will suddenly has an allergic reaction and Hannibal is frantic! This author has a lot of other great fics on their page, including some more post-fall ones you should definitely check out!

The Very Secret Diary of Will Graham by MissDisoriental

Word Count: 55k* Rating: M Summary: Hilarious crack fic where Will keeps a diary of his life with Hannibal after the fall. It's laugh-out-loud funny and, incidentally, the only first-person fic I will ever read.

Time Waits for No One by Shotgun_sinner

Word Count: 105k* Rating: E Summary: Instead of turning himself in at the end of Digestivo, Hannibal goes on the run by himself, where he is determined to forget about Will; until two years later when he reads about Will and Molly's engagement online. *Not technically a post-fall fic, because the fall never happened in this one, but it has a similar tone because Will and Hannibal are on the run together, and Hannibal is very much in awe of the fact that he finally gets to be with Will (he's still Hannibal though, so he still does stupid shit and almost ruins everything lmao).

[lululawrence]

lululawrence’s May 2021 Fic List

Previous Fic Lists / Fic List Podcast Masterpost

May somehow managed to escape my grasp and here we are again! I got a weekend away from the kids this month, which allowed me the chance to finally read for hours on end, and I therefore have quite a few fics to talk about! They were truly amazing, I loved every single one, and I hope you appreciate them too!

If you’d like to hear me share my excitement about these fics verbally and in more detail, you can listen to this month’s podcast here.

As always, be sure to show your love and appreciation for all of the hard work our fandom authors have put into their fics with kudos, nice comments, and (when applicable) reblogging their fic posts!

Just for Tonight (I can be yours) by @sadaveniren / SadaVeniren (42k, E, Harry/Louis, Big Bang fic, A/B/O, Royalty AU, Alpha Louis, Omega Harry, Innocent Harry, Sheltered Harry, Arranged Marriage, Friends to Lovers, Angst with a Happy Ending, but HOW DO THEY GET THERE?? lol, Mpreg, Heat/Rut, Poor as shit sex education lmao, Okay but for real the world building in this was incredible, I can still see the pictures in my mind that I conjured up for certain parts of this fic, It is incredible and the PINING AND ANGST OMG)

reckless serenade by @thepolourryexpress /  thepolourryexpress (4k, E, Harry/Louis, Girl Direction, This one is a bit hard to explain lmao, ....Non-Established Relationship.... relationship, it makes sense in the fic lol, clueless idiots in love, there we go, friends to lovers, humor, fluff, This is beyond sweet and fucking sexy)

a little tenderness by @disgruntledkittenface / disgruntledkittenface (11k, NR, Harry/Niall, 1D A/B/O Fest fic, Alpha Harry, Omega Niall, Touch Deprivation, Nesting, Cuddling, Scenting, Ace Harry, Fluff, Okay listen this fic was so fucking soft I cannot express to you, It was HEALING, I cryyyyyy it was just so beautiful)

What if I'm someone you won't talk about? by @louloubabys1992 / louloubaby92 (58k, M, Harry/Louis, Fine Line Fest fic, Song Fic, Based on Falling, Famous/Non-Famous, Childhood Sweethearts, Exes to Lovers, Kind of but not really at the same time?, Angst, Angst with a Happy Ending but there’s fucking angst okay? lol, Hurt/Comfort, Sex Work, Exploitation, References to Rape, PTSD, There’s a lot of dark shit in here, please please please read the tags and keep yourself safe, But if you can handle it then fuck it was an fascinating story for sure!)

When Least Expected by @all-these-larrythings / Rearviewdreamer (22k, M, Harry/Louis, Quarantine Fic, Single Parent Louis, Teacher Harry, Mentions of Depression, Online Dating? Kind of?, Maybe it’s more like Long Distance dating, except they’re in the same city, anyway, Pining, Flirting, Oblivious boys, Soft, This fic was the epitome of soft, It was so incredibly healing to read it, So cathartic and beautiful and lovely, It just made me so happy and at peace reading this fic, and I really didn’t expect that from a quarantine fic tbh)

so c'mon c'mon (and dance with me baby) by @rockstarlouis / theweightofmywords (3k, NR, Harry/Louis, New Year’s Fic, Meet Cute, Louke are together at the beginning but it doesn’t last long, Work Party, but neither Louis or Harry work there lololol, Humor, Drinking, Dancing, This fic was just so short and sweet and fun I loved it)

Pound Cake by @kingsofeverything / kingsofeverything (2k, NR, Harry/Louis, Butthole Series fic, Hurt Louis, Sad Louis, Harry’s birthday, Friends to Lovers, Crack fic lmao, Misunderstandings, This fic was so funny but also somehow sweet, while still being about buttholes, Lauren is a magician what can I say lol)

Get Burned By the Fire by Anonymous (13k, NR, Shawn/Niall, Heartbreak Weather Fest fic, Song Fic, based on Small Talk, Bartender Niall, Mysterious Shawn, Casual Sex, I think that’s how you’d define their arrangement? lol, Pining, Harry and Louis are together and Niall’s besties and coworkers, They’re hilarious through all of this, Even though it’s casual sex or meant to be anyway, It defo is also like... a Breakup Fic, and also Exes to Lovers, Supernatural Elements, It’s all complicated and sooooo fucking gooooood)

The Shooting Star Of Promises And Fears by darkpoets (2k, NR, Harry/Louis, Soulmates, Wishes, This fic is incredibly hard to explain or describe, because the style and feel of it is incredibly unique, It feels almost floaty while you read it, if that makes sense)

Getting a Room by bluespring864 (2k, G, Lewis/Niall, Friends to Lovers, Mutual Pining, Idiots in Love, Banter, Listen this fic is short but packed to the brim with feels, omgggggg SO MANY FEELS, and so so lovely the way it comes together, but also hilarious too?, it’s just very THEM, I could also hear all the lines Lewis says in this fic in his accent, I heard his voice speaking them in my head, and I was trying so hard not to laugh out loud as I sat reading, surrounded by strangers lmao, It was so awkward but worth it)

Caves End by @jacaranda-bloom / jacaranda_bloom (40k, E, Harry/Louis, Big Bang fic, Famous/Non-Famous, Farmer Louis, Rancher Louis is maybe better?, I’ll put both cause Dee said farmer lmao, Footballer Harry, Australia fic, Horseback Riding, Angst, Miscommunication, Dee’s tags about that are hilarious please read them, Hurt/Comfort, This fic is just EVERYTHING, okay, It was so incredibly good)

and all I think about is you and safer by your side (parts 4 and 5 of where the lights are beautiful) by @polkadotlou / twoshipsdrifting (1k each, T, Harry/Louis, Alternate Universe, A/B/O, Alpha Harry, Omega Louis, Established Relationship, Mentions of Heat, Drabbles, Listen this whole series is amazing, and if you haven’t read it then these drabbles won’t have the same power they do otherwise, but they are SO DAMN GOOD OKAY)

Counterculture by @sadaveniren / SadaVeniren (6k, E, Harry/Louis, Omega Harry Fest, A/B/O, Omega Harry, Alpha Louis, Famous/Non-Famous, Underground Clubs, Pack Dynamics, Scenting, Public Sex, Orgies, Pregnancy and Lactation Kink, Like... this fic is FILTHY while still having super cool worldbuilding elements in it, and it’s kinky as shit cause Sada, In other words this is fantastic)

Say Something by @kingsofeverything / kingsofeverything (105k, E, Harry/Louis, Alternate Universe, A/B/O, Alpha Louis, Omega Harry, Older Harry, Age Difference, Heat/Rut Partners, Friends to Lovers, Kind of?, It’s Complicated lol, MPreg, Divorced Harry, Angst, Hurt/Comfort, Harry has a lot of shit to work through, It all works out and it’s so fucking good)

The Until Series by @allwaswell16 / allwaswell16 (62k total, Harry/Louis (parts 1 and 3), Niall/Shawn (Part 2), Big Bang fic and Heartbreak Weather Fest fic, Song Fic, Seriously the whole albums is basically the inspiration lol, Cowboy Harry, Child Actor Harry, Cowboy Shawn, Songwriter Louis, Singer Niall, Farm Fic, Enemies to Lovers, Misunderstanding, So good just all of it, Dumb boys in love lol)

That Smile and That Midnight Laugh by @uhoh-but-yeah-alright / yeah_alright (50k, T, Harry/Louis, but also Harry/Nick at the beginning, Big Bang fic, Girl Direction, Based on Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, It’s like an extension and starts where the movie ended, So cool in that way I loved it, Grimmy and Louis are step-siblings, Friends to Lovers, No Cheating if that’s a concern, Sexuality Crisis but it’s more of like a Gay Awakening, Coming of Age story in that way, So freaking soft like omg, I just really freaking loved this fic)

[poisonintopositivity]

(My Very Own) Top 20 Sterek Fics

Here is my very own Top 20 Sterek Fics (out of order)

For me, these fanfictions are a “MUST READ NOW!!!” kind of deal. These authors have so much talent, it’s incredible. These stories are just marvelous and deserve LOVE ! So, I decided to share them with you.

I’ve read most of these fics several times and some of them are even my bedside table books (with Harry Potter and the Prisonner of Azcaban and Jane Eyre)

So here we go!

1:  Enemy Lines by @qhuinn -  150k - Explicit - Dystopia - Enemies to friends to lovers - Action/adventure

This is the story of werewolf Derek Hale and human Stiles Stilinski: two people who grew up in the same town but completely different worlds, their realities split by the war between men and wolves.

Years later when Derek returns to Beacon Hills, he does it as Alpha of a military pack on a mission to capture those responsible for the region’s resistance. With his main objective, Sheriff Stilinski, out of sight, he settles for the next best thing: his son, Stiles.

Neither of them suspects they’ll need to trust each other if they want to make it out this alive.

2:  Actions Speak Louder than Words by @isthatbloodonhisshirt - 435k - Explicit - The BEST and slowest burn there is - Spark Stiles/Mute Derek - Friends to Lovers

“I apologize.” The cop finally looked back up at his face, seeming thrilled. “It’s just—it’s been so long. And we finally have you.”

That was a bad word. Not found.

Have.

Stiles wrenched his hand free and took a step back, but before he could even think up a gameplan, he felt a prick in his neck and jerked away, reaching up to slap one hand against it and twisting in the same moment.

One of the others had come up behind him while he hadn’t been paying attention, and his vision began to swim even as his eyes caught sight of the half-empty syringe the guy was holding.

3: Radio Tower by @hyperlittlenori - 130k - Explicit - Dystopia - Hope - Slow Burn/Build 

Everything was different. The world he knew was gone. It’d been a long time since he’d started thinking he was probably one of the last humans on earth, that out there the only sentient beings were those that would devour him whole. He wasn’t sure why he continued with the radio broadcasts, continued to talk into nothingness. The only explanation was that there was a spark of hope in him yet that he wasn’t alone. The lonely safety Stiles has built around an old radio tower in the middle of nowhere is about to be broken. Stiles isn’t sure if Derek is a harbinger of chaos or hope at the end of the world. 

4:  The Hollow Moon by @thepsychicclam - 180k - Explicit - Fix-It - Memory Loss - Slow Burn/Build

It's the summer after Stiles' first year of college, and he's working a crappy job and dealing with nightmares and anxiety - but he's okay, he swears. He makes it through most days without too much trouble. Then, a certain werewolf comes back into town. Which Stiles doesn't care about, nope, not at all.

After two and a half years, Derek returns to Beacon Hills with his small Pack. Though he tried to move on, something just kept drawing him back to Beacon Hills, he's just not sure what. Now, he figures he can start building something like a life - but he keeps getting distracted by Stiles Stilinski of all people.

5 :  Amor Fati by @alocalband  - 43k - Explicit - Consent is sexy - First Time - Fluff & Angst

When Stiles gets thrown into the bank vault about twenty minutes after him, Derek isn’t even surprised.As it turns out, neither is Stiles.

6 :  (not so) Pure Imagination by theroguesgambit - 33k - Explicit - Shared fantasies - Angst with a happy ending - hotdamn! 

"There is a world where whenever someone fantasizes about you, you can physically feel it, but you have no idea who is thinking it about you."

Stiles knows it's wrong, but he's been Fantasizing about Derek and he can't bring himself to stop. Derek doesn't know who's taken an interest in him, but he's enjoying it way more than he probably should.

7: What I Did On My Summer Vacation by grimm - 119k - Explicit - Wolf!Derek - Slow Burn/Build - Friends to Lovers

There's something weird about Beacon Hills that Stiles can't quite put his finger on. The way everyone in town knows his name the day he arrives. The way they insist the melancholic howling that echoes through the forest every night is just a dog. The way his dad denies getting a dog, even though Stiles comes home to find one sprawled across his bed, some big black thing whose eyes gleam red in the right light. The way that massive oak tree out in the woods vibrates under his touch, pulsing with sickly life.

There's something weird going on in this town, and Stiles is determined to get to the bottom of it.

8:  Stand Fast in Your Enchantments by @devildoll - 77k - Explicit - Captivity - Feral!Derek - Angst with a happy ending

"Stiles knew damn well what a pissed-off wolf sounded like, and every hair on the back of his neck was telling him that somewhere in this room was a very pissed-off werewolf." An AU in which Derek is feral, Stiles is magical, and they eat a lot of fast food.

9 :  What Fresh Twilight Bullshit Is This? by @isthatbloodonhisshirt - 196k - Explicit - Soulmate - Slow Burn - Misunderstandings 

“I am not Bella!” he insisted, shaking his fist angrily at Jackson, as if he’d been the one to suggest he was. “I am not Bella! I am, like, a Jacob, at least!”

Lydia made a noise of debate from his right and he whipped around to look at her.

“What?! What was that sound?!”

“You’re more of a Mike,” she insisted, shrugging neatly and flipping some curls over her shoulder.

“Wha—” Stiles had never been so offended in his life! “I am not! No way! I am a solid Jacob!”

“Mike,” she argued.

“Who’s Mike?” Scott asked.

“Shut up, Scott!” Stiles insisted, pointing a finger at him but still glaring at Lydia.

10 :  taste your beating heart by @cinematicnomad​ - 112k - Mature - Pack Dynamics - Slow Burn/Build - Stilinski Family Feels

Something was wrong in Beacon Hills. Derek was halfway across the country when he felt a call to return to his hometown, and somehow Stiles had been talked into letting the werewolf stay in his guest bedroom. This could lead to nothing good.

11 :  between the click of the light and the start of the dream by @thepsychicclam 105k - Explicit - Pack Dynamics - Getting Togheter - Fluff & Angst

A twig snaps, and then Stiles hears breathing and the rustle of leaves. He strains to get a better glimpse into the darkness, but it’s pointless. There’s nothing but a black void.

It's Stiles' senior year, and he's trying to concentrate on normal things - like the lacrosse championship, spring break, prom, graduation (and definitely not Derek) - when he starts having nightmares and waking up in the middle of nowhere. Oh yeah, and he's being haunted by a hag. Great.

12:  And You Say You're Alone by taelynhawker - 30k - Explicit - Pack Dynamincs - Bad Friend Scott - Romance

Between the kanima, the Argents, and Peter's untimely return from the dead, everything has fallen apart. Stiles and Derek try to put their lives back together once the crisis has passed. Stiles deals with the aftermath of being tortured, and the distance growing between he and Scott. Derek attempts to become a stronger alpha and keep his pack safe, and that includes Stiles.

13:  Trust Fall by Stoney - 144k - Explicit - Body Swap - Hurt/Confort - Slow Burn/Build

Stiles is fairly certain that a case could be made for every bad thing in his life coming back to Peter Hale. This time it's pissing off a powerful witch, who retaliated by swapping Stiles and Derek a la Freaky Friday, because sure. That makes sense. Um, there are GPAs on the line, not to mention the whole thing where his dad wants to shoot Derek on sight. Except who he sees as Derek is actually Stiles, and Stiles did not sign up for filicide.

Great. Wait...does this mean he's the Alpha until they figure this out? Holy. Shit.

****

Derek had stood in front of the bathroom mirror for a few minutes trying to control the panic as he saw himself as Stiles. As the loud mouthed human friend of the pack. He was going to kill Peter. He was going to kill the witch, then he was going to kill Peter. Maybe even resurrect him again just to kill him all over.

They were going to have to play this cool. They would have to stay calm and focused. Which is of course why the universe threw him into this situation with someone who physically couldn't be calm and focused.

Of course.

14:  Gravity's Got Nothing on You by @zosofi - 84k - Explicit - Fake/Pretend Boyfriends - Humor - Romance

“Three weeks,” Derek says.

“Still don’t want to,” Stiles says.

“I’ll pay you,” Derek says, and that… that has Stiles interested. Alf’s Antique’s may be a great job, but it’s not a high-paying job, and half of Stiles’s tuition is coming from financial aid, so…

“How much,” Stiles asks, “are we talking here? Because I know your family, dude. And it’ll be kind of awkward after.“

“My family thinks you’re some sort of fucking gift to the world,” Derek seethes, like he’s jealous, “they’ll probably be pissed at me when we break it off, so don’t worry about that. Five hundred bucks.”

“A thousand,” Stiles says, because screw ethics. Also, the Hale family is loaded. Derek can deal.

15:  Every Step You Take by @nokomiss - 49k - Mature - Magic - UST - Secret Feelings

Stiles accidentally ends up magically bound to Derek. It’s super.

16:  Baking My Way Into Your Heart by theSilence - 179k - Mature - College AU/Coffee Shop AU - Slow Burn/Build - Friends to Lovers

Derek is an uptight college student, all work and no play. His carefully scheduled life is thrown kilter when his regular barista is replaced with someone new.

17:  Windows by @drgrlfriend - 83k - Explicit - Blind!Stiles - Friends to Lovers - Found Families 

Derek has a new neighbor who won't stop looking.

Excerpt:

“You’re blind,” Derek said flatly, the anger draining from him so suddenly he felt almost woozy. His vision cleared, his claws sliding back into blunt fingernails.

“Thanks for the memo, genius,” the kid said acidly. “I can still fucking defend myself, so don’t take another damn step.”

“Fuck, I...I’m sorry,” Derek stuttered.

“What?!” The kid’s brow crinkled. “I mean — what?! You’re fucking sorry!?” His lips thinned into a harsh line. “What, is this some kinda Hallmark movie where you’re discovering the error of your ways because you don’t want to rob a blind person?! That’s fucking condescending, man. I’ll have you know that —”

“Just, wait.” Derek interrupted what was apparently the start of a convincing argument as to why he should rob the kid after all, feeling his head start to spin. “This is — it’s a misunderstanding. I’m — I’m not robbing you. You’re — you’re safe, okay? I’m taking three steps back. Just — just let me explain.”

“Explain why you came busting into my apartment? Yeah, go right ahead, man, I can’t wait to hear this epic tale.”

18 :  Just to See You Again by MellytheHun (@loserchildhotpants​) - 15k - Explicit - Love Letters - Getting Together - College AU 

A sterek college!AU where writing student Stiles specializes in love letters, runs a blog about it and can be commissioned to write love letters on behalf of lovers who are at a loss for words.

He makes some cash, he’s good at what he does (especially when he gets to be a little more explicit in his letters), it pays for his textbooks and that’s all he’s really looking for and life is fine. That is, until someone anonymously commissions him to write a love letter to mathematics student, Derek Hale.

19:  Chasing Slumber by @hyperlittlenori - 21k - Explicit - Post-Nogitsune - Porn With Feelings - Fix it

Stiles finds solitude and a glimpse at recovering from his ordeal with the Nogitsune in a dingy motel far from Beacon Hills. Inhuman blue eyes follow his silent struggles in the darkness of the room and he can no longer pretend to sleep, pretend he hasn’t been profoundly changed by all that has happened. He can only let his fingers stretch out across threadbare but clean sheets and clench around them, in a failed attempt at not reaching for Derek.

20 :  the thread is ripping by @thepsychicclam - 36k - Explicit - Pinning - Angst with a happy ending - Flashbacks

Stiles is 27 now, with a master’s degree and a career and a house and a serious boyfriend and a life in San Francisco that doesn't include Derek. But then Stiles unexpectedly shows back up in Beacon Hills, and Derek would recognize that scent anywhere.

If you are interested, feel free to check out my Sterek Fic Recs Collections on A03.

On this lovely note, happy reading guys!

[yelpfic]

2021 Writing (Year in Review)

This year, I posted 105k words on AO3. This is about half as much as I wrote in 2020, but still an incredible feat for me.

Overall, it was a good year for writing, and I had a lot of fun creating the stories I did. 300k+ words later, I'm still shocked that I'm allowed to write whatever absurd nonsense comes to mind and just... post it on the internet; that there's no fic police waiting to slap the keyboard out of my hands and send me to fic jail for my fic crimes.

I did a lot of exchanges this year, probably more than was healthy (more reflections on this in the meme answers below). I wrote my first DVD Commentary, which was a cool way to reflect on and document my own writing process, and participated in my first remix exchange, which let me create my take on someone else's work, and see someone else's take on mine.

I almost managed to keep myself to one WIP at a time, but I slipped up towards the end of the year. I'm finding that I enter a dangerous zone when I have the remainder of a story outlined in broad strokes. I lose some of the motivation to keep writing that comes from wanting to see for myself what happens (because I already know), but it’s also too much hard work to figure out the specifics of how we'll get there, so writing the next chapter is a struggle. Sigh, writers can be such ridiculous creatures.

One small, silly achievement: I noticed my AO3 account has been hovering near 100 subscribers for the past month or so, and I just managed to hit that milestone before the end of the year. Major thanks to everyone for reading what I put out, and for not calling the aforementioned fic police on me. I'm so honored to be allowed into your inboxes and your eyeballs.

AO3 stats and meme responses below the cut.

My AO3 stats at the end of the year:

Meme questions:

Best title: "The Substitute King"  In contrast to random poetry/song lyrics, this one is simple, direct, and tells you exactly what the story is about. It actually does the job of titling the contents of the story, which I rarely manage!

Worst title: "The Cold of Snow Refreshes the Soul" I wanted to match thematically with its prequel, "A Soft Tongue Can Break the Bone", which is from the book of Proverbs in the Bible. I tried to find something in a nearby verse, and ended up with this. I feel it's passable, but also feel a mild pang of embarrassment every time I scroll by.

Longest title: "The World Changes (And I Do Too Remix)" (38 characters), because I heard that's how you're supposed to title remixes.

Shortest title: "77" (2 characters)

Best first line: "In the fledgling start of a city not yet grown into its name, lies awake a tired yaksha recently divested of his. Sleeping soundly next to him is the Archon responsible, for the names and the insomnia both."

Worst first line: "I'd been waiting ever so long," says Mira out of nowhere, "to find players that were suited for it."

Best last line: "It only flies between them, light and inconsequential, shared as freely and as easily as the flow of laughter and conversation, while the timer ticks ever closer to the end."

Worst last line: "What can I say? You've given me so many gifts. I'm glad I could finally give you something in return."

Conclusion: I need to work on dialogue...

Looking back, did you write more fics than you thought you would this year, less than you thought, or about what you predicted? More!! I didn't write one down last time, but let me make a prediction for next year: I'll guess 60k words for 2022.

What pairing/genre/fandom did you write that you would never have predicted last year? I suppose "The Man from U.N.C.L.E."? I watched this on a whim because I saw a pinch hit requesting it. The pinch hit ended up getting done without me, but somehow a small idea had germinated, so I wrote it anyway.

What’s your favorite story this year? Not the most popular, but the one that makes you the happiest. Perhaps You Are Pain Pinned to Muscle. I've been requesting this prompt in several exchanges (futilely - I don't think much of anyone in the exchange scene is into this fandom), and it's almost a relief to take a stab at it myself. Now let's see if I can finish it...

Okay, NOW your most popular story. Solid as Stone! zhongguang shippers are incredible.

Story most underappreciated by the universe? The Substitute King. Feels a bit weird to complain about problematic porn being underappreciated, but IMO it is similar in content and length to my more popular works, but didn't appear to be well liked. My answer to this question last year was also my fill for Heart Attack Exchange - it's possible something about the exchange is not conducive to feedback. But it's also possible that the stories themselves are not good; writing a 10k story in two weeks doesn't produce the best results!

Story that could have been better? The story I put here last year was one that probably should have been longer, but I didn't feel comfortable continuing due to it being an exchange fic. I again feel this way, this year about Millions of Miles Under My Heels, so I'm definitely seeing a pattern.

Saddest story? Ginkgo, I think. Though the tone was lighter, the situation was sad.

Most fun? Linchpin. The canon was extremely fun, and having just consumed it a few days prior, I was still amped up on that vibe.

Most fucked-up story? On the Origin of Monsters (lack of link intentional).

Hardest story to write? The Cold of Snow Refreshes the Soul. I felt so much pressure writing for the same person again, and I didn't want to let them down.

Easiest/most fun story to write? Of Tricks and Treats. I saw some great, seasonal fanart and immediately jotted down an outline. Came back from running some errands, fleshed it out, and had it finished and posted it within hours!

Top five scenes you would like to see illustrated: Xiao in feathered leotard with Zhongli in coattails (The Flying Trapeze), original characters Nabonidus and Semiramis looking imposing in their robes and tattoos (The Substitute King), Hades!Hiruma pulling Cereberus off Heracles!Habashira (The Twelfth Labor of Habashira(cles)), Tsukasa and Senku eating ramen on a random rooftop (You Are Pain Pinned to Muscle).

Did you take any writing risks this year? What did you learn from them? I've done exchanges before, but this year was when I really went hardcore into them. It was inspiring to write to prompts and a like list; sometimes when you're just writing for yourself, you wonder if anyone will even care to read what you're putting down, so knowing you're tailoring your work to at least one person's interests can be helpful. Writing a bunch of stories to order also gave me a much better grasp on how "long" a potential story idea feels, both a rough wordcount and a sense of how long it would take me to write and polish.

On the other hand, I found myself really wrapped up in wondering if my recipient liked what I created for them, and I didn't like the anxiously nail-biting, inbox-refreshing person it turned me into, if, for any (totally valid) reason, I didn't hear back right away. I'd like to take away the positives (the fun atmosphere of shared creativity, the inspiration that can flow from other people's prompts), while cutting back the negatives. I'll definitely do fewer exchanges in the future, but look out for more opportunities to get inspired in similar ways.

What are your fic writing goals for next year? I have two ongoing projects, including one that I started over a year ago, which I feel rather guilty about not finishing. I’d like to wrap those up! I also want to work more on original things, but I did say that last year too. On the technical side, the main things I want to focus on are clarity and conciseness.