#and i do still find her stuff INTERESTING

[how-do-i-write-that]

I do feel like this post gives solid base adivce but lacks some context that is helpful to understand why certain choices work. I would recommend beginner writers to try to understand what effects certain choices have, or rather, what sounds good to them personally when reading! And once you've figured out what sounds good to you, replicate it in your own writing.

I'm just going to put some of the points in a bit of context (in regards of my own personal opinion!) to hopefully help with understanding how they work.

1. "the floor shifted beneath her feet" is not showing, it's idiomatic. it still works better than using "she was sick with shock" as it draws more of a picture for the reader to imagine in their head. If you truly want to show and draw a bigger, more detailed picture, you can combine idiomatic language with some telling elements i.g. "Her breath was stuck in her throat and though her feet were frozen in place, it felt as if the floor shifted beneath them." Makes it easier for the reader to imagine what exactly is happening without saying "yeah she's shocked"

2. I have no gripes with scene breaks but for the love of god, do not put several asterisks or other random ass symbols in a row. They are a nightmare for screen readers, so if your writing is supposed to be read from a screen just don't use them. Put only one single one if you absolutely must (or if whatever you're using to upload/publish allows you to use dividers that can be parsed by screenreaders use those instead). Also if you really have to use them, be mindful that you're not breaking up paragraphs and topics that belong together. I personally also believe you don't have to rely on extra visual cues to inform your readers about a pov or scene change. Use words. Use line breaks and paragraphs. That's more than sufficient.

5. Don't end every chapter on a cliffhanger but always give a glimpse of what's next. You can conclude an entire subplot at the end of a chapter, with no action that needs to be cut right there and simply letting your character say something like "I managed to do X, now the next step is Y." Getting a bit of a glimpse of what's happening next without detailing it will help raise your readers' curiosity.

6. and 7. Yeah, you should focus on the important stuff in a scene instead of every single detail that lead up to it, but GoT is a great example why always subverting expectations might not be the wisest choice. Adding to point 10 here: just write whatever is fun to write to you. If you have fun, it is likely going to reflect in your writing. And if that means writing your character going grocery shopping and all goes according to plan, then so be it. Your readers might find it boring, true, but not every single little scene has to be the most interesting and impactful scene if you're just starting out.

8. Epiphets are not the devil, but you should only really use them for characters that have not yet been introduced or whose names will never be revealed. You wouldn't talk to your friend about "the blonde man" if the blonde man was your mutual friend Max you've both known for years. You'd just talk about "Max". So if your character's name is known, use it. If not, epiphets that describe the new character's most prominent features are fine.

Overall, write whatever is fun to write for you, no matter how well received it is, particularly if you're just starting out. If you want to improve on a technical level, read books from different time periods, different genres, different authors, different cultures and see what you personally like about them. Read fanfiction. It doesn't matter. You don't even have to read the whole thing if you end up not liking it or not finding enough time. But figure out what you like and then try to replicate that. (Be it sentence structures, usage of many/few adjectives, certain phrases, how chapters are structured, narrative voice, dialogue, how characters are described or characterized, etc. etc.)

No matter how small it may be, if you find a certain something in a writing you find awesome, try to write in that something, too. And if it's about your cat making a big meow meow fuss because food!! then that's fine, too.

tldr; read shit + find out what makes it good to you -> try to write something with theGood -> own writing sounds good to you -> happy + fun (-> reader also happy and fun)

my 10 holy grail pieces of writing advice for beginners

from an indie author who's published 4 books and written 20+, as well as 400k in fanfiction (who is also a professional beta reader who encounters the same issues in my clients' books over and over)

show don't tell is every bit as important as they say it is, no matter how sick you are of hearing about it. "the floor shifted beneath her feet" hits harder than "she felt sick with shock."

no head hopping. if you want to change pov mid scene, put a scene break. you can change it multiple times in the same scene! just put a break so your readers know you've changed pov.

if you have to infodump, do it through dialogue instead of exposition. your reader will feel like they're learning alongside the character, and it will flow naturally into your story.

never open your book with an exposition dump. instead, your opening scene should drop into the heart of the action with little to no context. raise questions to the reader and sprinkle in the answers bit by bit. let your reader discover the context slowly instead of holding their hand from the start. trust your reader; donn't overexplain the details. this is how you create a perfect hook.

every chapter should end on a cliffhanger. doesn't have to be major, can be as simple as ending a chapter mid conversation and picking it up immediately on the next one. tease your reader and make them need to turn the page.

every scene should subvert the character's expectations, as big as a plot twist or as small as a conversation having a surprising outcome. scenes that meet the character's expectations, such as a boring supply run, should be summarized.

arrive late and leave early to every scene. if you're character's at a party, open with them mid conversation instead of describing how they got dressed, left their house, arrived at the party, (because those things don't subvert their expectations). and when you're done with the reason for the scene is there, i.e. an important conversation, end it. once you've shown what you needed to show, get out, instead of describing your character commuting home (because it doesn't subvert expectations!)

epithets are the devil. "the blond man smiled--" you've lost me. use their name. use it often. don't be afraid of it. the reader won't get tired of it. it will serve you far better than epithets, especially if you have two people of the same pronouns interacting.

your character should always be working towards a goal, internal or external (i.e learning to love themself/killing the villain.) try to establish that goal as soon as possible in the reader's mind. the goal can change, the goal can evolve. as long as the reader knows the character isn't floating aimlessly through the world around them with no agency and no desire. that gets boring fast.

plan scenes that you know you'll have fun writing, instead of scenes that might seem cool in your head but you know you'll loathe every second of. besides the fact that your top priority in writing should be writing for only yourself and having fun, if you're just dragging through a scene you really hate, the scene will suffer for it, and readers can tell. the scenes i get the most praise on are always the scenes i had the most fun writing. an ideal outline shouldn't have parts that make you groan to look at. you'll thank yourself later.

happy writing :)

[fixyourwritinghabits]

Hi, I used to write a lot as a teenager because I thought that I had all the "cool stuff" still to come in life and it was OK for me to just imagine it for now. However, as I got older I found that I couldn't write anymore because the more I tried to be authentic, the more I realised that I had no experience of any of the stuff I was writing about. I wanted to write about someone like me, and I wanted people to want to read it, but I felt like no one would be interested in reading something where there is no "happy ending" or lesson learned. Fast forward a decade and now I have an autism diagnosis and the disconnect from others finally makes sense, but my question is how do I write if I don't know how to fully resolve the problems I'm writing about? I understand that writing doesn't have to be 100% from experience, but I feel that I at least need to be able to imagine the scenario in which a person with similar limitations to me could make it to a satisfactory conclusion. I miss writing but I don't want to solve all my main characters problems by having her meet someone who understands her and then they partner up and hey everything is fine now. Would people be happy to read about the struggles someone has without needing a nice victorious conclusion? Maybe stories like this already exist but I just haven't found them yet, any recommendations? I don't want to wait until I've figured out life, the universe and everything to start writing again since I probably will never get there.

Chuck Tingle (yes, that Chuck Tingle) has written often and openly about having autism. The Autism Books by Autistic Authors Project works on tracking books by autistic authors specifically about autistic characters, and that might be a great place to start. They've got fiction, non-fiction, graphic novels - you name it!

Another thing I think you're struggling with is the opinion of a non-existent reader-base. It's so easy to worry that your stories won't make people happy ahead of time, but you're letting that get in the way of your writing. If you write for yourself, telling the stories you want to tell, there are going to be people out there who will want to read them.

Don't let fear hold you back - there's going to be people who want your work! They can't find you if you don't tell the stories you want to tell, in the way you want to tell them. You can do this!

[amberdiaries]

Title: Midnight Munchies (part II)

Synopsis: At a college dorm party, Liv meets Billie, and what starts as a casual invitation for fast food quickly spirals into an unforgettable night. From a midnight swim to a stolen kiss, their connection deepens in ways neither of them expected. As the night unfolds, they both find themselves caught between desire, vulnerability, and something more than just a fleeting moment.

CW: This story contains mature themes including intimate and romantic interactions between two characters. There are moments of suggestive language and physical intimacy that may not be suitable for all audiences. Reader discretion is advised.

WC: 1.5k

~

The air in the fast food joint was thick with the clatter of trays and the low hum of conversations. Billie leaned back in her seat, her gaze never leaving Liv. She was casual in a way that felt effortless, the loose, faded band tee hanging just right off her frame, dark jeans worn at the knees, and a pair of scuffed boots that somehow made everything about her look unintentional, but still meticulously curated. There was a certain intensity to her that didn’t scream for attention, but drew you in regardless, like a flame you couldn’t look away from, even if you wanted to.

Liv wasn’t sure when the silence had settled between them, but now it felt almost tangible. Not awkward—just heavy in a way she didn’t fully understand. Billie’s eyes lingered on her, steady, like she was trying to figure out every little thing beneath Liv’s surface. Liv shifted in her seat, trying not to feel the heat rising in her chest.

Billie broke the silence first, her voice low, deliberate. “So,” she started, her eyes flashing with a hint of curiosity, “tell me something real about you, Liv.”

Liv blinked, the question catching her off guard. She hadn’t expected this. It was easy to talk around things—small talk, the kind that didn’t go anywhere—but Billie had a way of getting straight to the point, like she could see through the distractions and wanted something deeper. It unsettled Liv, and at the same time, it made her feel exposed, vulnerable. But there was something compelling in the way Billie looked at her. Not judgmental, not probing, just… interested.

“I don’t know,” Liv said, unsure where to start. “I guess I’m just… average. I go to class, study, hang out with my roommate.” She realized how dull her life sounded, how she always kept herself at arm’s length from anything or anyone that might push her out of her routine.

Billie’s lips curled into a half-smile, her gaze shifting between Liv’s eyes and her lips, as if she were savoring the way Liv’s words hung in the air. “I don’t believe that,” Billie said, her voice so smooth it almost felt like a challenge. “You’re more than that. Everyone is. But I’m not interested in the small stuff.”

Liv’s heart thudded in her chest. “What do you mean?”

Billie leaned in just slightly, her eyes narrowing with that intensity that made Liv’s breath catch. “I mean, I can tell you’re holding something back. There’s a part of you that’s buried under all the ‘normal’ stuff. You know that, right?” Her words hung between them, charged with an energy Liv wasn’t sure how to handle.

The air felt thick now, almost oppressive. It wasn’t just the fact that Billie was looking at her like she was some sort of puzzle to be solved—it was the way she made Liv feel, as if everything she thought she knew about herself could be rewritten just by the weight of Billie’s gaze.

Liv fumbled for something to say, but her words came out too quickly, too unsure. “I’m not—” She stopped herself. Not what? Normal? Different? She didn’t even know anymore. All she knew was that being around Billie made her feel like she was simultaneously under a microscope and completely free, both exposed and somehow invisible.

Billie didn’t seem to mind the silence. She simply raised an eyebrow, her lips curling into that damnable, magnetic smile. “Don’t worry, Liv. I’m not asking for all your secrets at once. But I’ll get them out of you eventually. I’m persistent like that.”

The bluntness of her words, the confidence with which she said them, stirred something in Liv. A mixture of anxiety and curiosity churned in her stomach. She wasn’t used to people seeing her so clearly—especially not someone like Billie, who had an almost dangerous charm, an ability to weave through social situations like she belonged in any room without ever needing to try. It made Liv feel like she was standing on a thin line between wanting to pull back and wanting to lean forward.

She tried to laugh it off, but it came out softer than she’d intended. “I don’t know what you think you’ve figured out.”

Billie smiled, leaning back in her seat, but it wasn’t a retreat. It was more like a shift, as if she was deciding how to take Liv’s words, how much of Liv’s uncertainty she could wear down with her presence alone. “I think,” Billie said slowly, with purpose, “you’re used to being in control of everything. But there’s a part of you that’s just… waiting for someone to mess with that. You know?”

Liv stared at her, trying to decipher what Billie meant. Control? Was that what she was doing? Keeping everything tidy, within her own lines, so nothing could get too messy, too out of hand? But then again, Billie was right in a way. Liv wasn’t used to this kind of unpredictability. She wasn’t used to someone forcing her to feel like she was standing on the edge of something dangerous—and exciting.

“You’re talking like you know me,” Liv said, unable to stop herself from leaning in just a little, her voice quieter now. “But you don’t.”

Billie’s eyes never left hers. “I don’t need to know you, Liv. I just need to see you.”

The way she said it made Liv’s heart stop for a moment. She wasn’t sure what Billie meant by it, but the words resonated with something deep inside her. Liv had spent so long hiding behind her books, her routines, her predictable life. And Billie? Billie was chaos with a purpose. A force that didn’t apologize for the way she drew people in.

Liv swallowed, suddenly feeling very aware of how much closer they were now. The warmth of the fast food joint seemed to fade as Billie’s presence filled the space between them. She had a way of making everything else feel like background noise, as though Liv was the only thing worth paying attention to in the room.

“I’m not… I’m not used to this,” Liv admitted, her voice just above a whisper. “People don’t usually look at me like you do.”

Billie’s gaze softened slightly, but her smile didn’t fade. “I can’t help it,” she said, her voice almost teasing now, “You’ve got that ‘I’m hiding something’ thing going on. It’s impossible not to notice.”

The shift in Billie’s tone caught Liv off guard, making her realize how close they were. Billie’s presence, her energy—it was like she had a gravitational pull, and Liv was helpless against it. She felt it deep in her chest, a tingling at the edges of her skin, the undeniable urge to lean in, to get lost in whatever this was.

Billie watched her closely, waiting for a reaction. Liv could feel her heart pounding, could feel the words she wanted to say but didn’t know how to form. She wanted to tell Billie that she wasn’t ready for whatever this was—that she had never been the type to let people in so easily, especially not someone like Billie. But all she could manage was a small, unsure smile.

“You don’t make it easy, do you?” Liv said, her voice barely audible now, an edge of vulnerability creeping in.

Billie’s grin widened, and she shook her head slowly, leaning even closer until their shoulders brushed. “No, I don’t. But you’re welcome for the challenge.”

The words hung in the air, thick and unspoken, as Billie’s eyes lingered on Liv’s lips for just a beat too long. The world outside seemed to disappear, leaving just the two of them in this small corner of the night, the weight of their proximity filling the space between them.

Liv’s breath caught. She could feel the electricity between them, the magnetic pull that Billie exuded. It was real, undeniable, and it was pulling her in deeper than she was prepared for.

Billie watched her closely, waiting, her expression softer now but still holding that quiet intensity. “You know, you don’t have to pretend with me, Liv. Not tonight.”

Liv didn’t know what to say. Maybe she didn’t need to say anything at all. All she knew was that Billie’s presence was a storm, and she was standing right at the edge of it. And for the first time in her life, Liv wasn’t sure whether she wanted to step back or dive straight into the chaos.

The moment stretched on, taut and fragile. Neither of them spoke, but everything between them seemed to hang in the balance, a question neither of them were ready to answer, but both of them were already living.

Finally, Billie broke the tension, her voice low and playful again. “Food’s getting cold.”

Liv’s gaze flickered down to the half-eaten fries, but all she could think about was how much more complicated this night had gotten—and how much more complicated she was starting to feel around Billie.

~

heyy guys, let me know how you feel so far about this story and if you guys would like more parts!!

- c

[lemotmo]

Genuinely don't understand how these people get these ideas.

Q. Theorizing stuff when we have no idea if he's even still on the show is insane behavior because he's not filming.

A. How do you know he's not filming? You're basing that entirely off of the bts of the calls the show intentionally wanted people to see and be distracted by. Eddie is in El Paso for that episode, duh he wouldn't have been in those BTS videos. You know who else we've barely seen? Jennifer, and none of you are predicting her exit as a result of that. None of you predicted Peter's exit when Bobby retired. Eddie is the only one you do this over. And most of you are following the lead of people who want him to leave, and even they don't genuinely believe he's gone. If he was leaving we would know by now. The show would have allowed that information to have been leaked. Then the cliffhanger would be rather or not his exit would be open ended or if they would kill him off. That's where the speculation would be. Neither the show, or ABC, would allow the show's entire promotional campaign to be built around a duo if one half of that duo was leaving. No one has ever or will ever do that because that's asking your audience to invest in something they can no longer deliver. This show is not stupid. Also Tim basically told you he wasn't leaving. He said the Buck and Eddie story would show both sides of the story. Meaning we will see Buck's side of the story as well as Eddie's side of the story. If Ryan was leaving there would be no Eddie side to tell. The show wouldn't care because he wasn't on the show anymore therefore Buck's did of the story would be the only side that mattered. Be serious for one moment.

Theorizing is part of fandom. You develop theories until you get new information and then you adjust your theories. Guess what? After the TVLine write up, I no longer think my earlier speculation is correct. That's part of the fun. It's part of the point. You all don't see him in clips he should absolutely not be in because his character is in an entirely different city and you immediately conclude Eddie is permanently leaving and he and Buck will call themselves bros for life as he drives off into the oblivion. Your freakouts make absolutely no sense and are invented from absolutely nothing.

Thank you Nonny!

🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️

I cannot.

How many times do we have to repeat ourselves? This topic has been discussed over and over again.

NO! Ryan is NOT leaving! Eddie is not leaving!

Let it go already.

Oh... and you know what?

YES! Buddie is happening! 🤷‍♀️🤷‍♀️🤷‍♀️

Heads up! For anyone who is giving me the shifty eyes for reposting Ali's updates instead of reblogging. Read this.

Remember, no hate in comments, reblogs or inboxes. Let's keep it civil and respectful. Thank you.

If you are interested in more of Ali’s posts, you can find all of her posts so far under the tag: anonymous blog I love.

[dashiellqvverty]

everyone always wants to talk about jenny nicholsons video essays and i’m like does ANYONE want to talk about the art of the mattress aka the sleep song. bc it plays in my head every time i see anything about her.

[maliciousalice]

Hear me out (or don't... it's fine I'm just venting and mean) yeah um I don't believe Chakotay was saved in Prod*gy s2.

[agirlinthegalaxy]

I think that I'm always going to be irritated about the way that Supernatural handled Anna Milton. Genuinely, she was such a fascinating character and had so much potential that was just wasted. It doesn't help that her death was just another example of the way that Supernatural tortured, vilified, and murdered their female characters. I think that she held the potential to genuinely be one of the most fascinating characters on the show with one of the most interesting storylines (and dynamics with other characters), only for it to be wasted.

[tea-cat-arts]

I'm willing to at least hear out most of the "xyz plot point is heavily tied to abc cultural context" brands of posts but the "wwx isn't meant to be read as morally gray" and "the western fandom made up Sizhui being wangxian's son" brands of post make me feel like my cultural ignorance is being used to gaslight me

[stop-breaking-my-heart-telltale]

if dorian didn't show up, do you think louis would have shot minnie?

I do. I know some people think either he wouldn't have or he would've missed so that's why the writers had him shoot Dorian instead, but mmmmmm no, I don't personally think so. I like to think that if he had taken the shot, his shaky hands would've caused him to shoot her fatally.

Mostly because I'm already so normal about the fact that of the Ericson crew, Marlon and Louis are the only ones with a body count. Well, that we know of, but shown to us in the game, at least. Plus, we know it's Louis' first kill.

Like yeah, Clementine and AJ become part of the crew and they have bigger body counts, and if we're counting indirect kills caused by actions, then Tenn has a count... and I guess everyone has blood on their hands for blowing up the boat... but I'm talking about killed directly with a weapon like....... I lied, I'm not normal about that at all, Louis and Marlon are the ones who have killed someone in Louis' route. I'm also not normal about the fact that Louis kills Dorian and then even as he's clearly in shock, he tries to go with Clementine to get AJ, and then later on when they talk about it, he says it feels like bile but not quite and he's glad he has it in him to do it.... listen, listen, listen... I'm obsessed with that.

Anyway, so if Louis shot Minerva, I think he would've accidentally killed her and can you imagine? He's already enough of a mess after killing the woman who pinned him down and tried to cut his finger off [or succeeded] but he knew Minerva, they were friends before the twins were taken. Even Violet couldn't kill her even though that would've been the smarter thing to do, and we know thanks to meta knowledge that killing her would've saved lives, but Violet couldn't, and I don't think Louis would intentionally either.

Speaking of Violet, if Louis killed Minerva, I hate to think about what that would've done to Vi. I think she might've actually left at that point, like what was planned before it got changed to her being burned. I don't think she would've attacked Louis over it, though, like yeah she attacked Clementine in the cell but Louis? I don't know, but I don't think so just because it's Louis and he'd be a mess about it anyway.

Though if he did kill her, it would be a neat parallel to draw... y'know, because Louis forgave AJ for killing Marlon even though he was pissed and heartbroken, and Violet was annoyed with him the entire time... but could she ever forgive Louis for killing Minerva? Y'know? We already have a similar parallel with AJ shooting Tenn, but still.

If Clementine killed Minerva in that moment, though, then I could see Violet attacking her since in her eyes, Clem proved her right.

So yeah, I get why they added the Dorian kill to his route. It adds another compelling element to Louis as a character, but we also need Minerva alive for episode 4; Louis can't kill her, he can't miss, and he's not going to stay with her because we need Violet to stay on the boat and him to be on shore for all routes.

[caluupin]

Father!!! 🔥🔥🔥🔥

[linagram]

𝚗𝚊𝚘𝚖𝚒'𝚜 𝚝𝚛𝚒𝚊𝚕 𝟹 𝚛𝚎𝚜𝚞𝚕𝚝𝚜!

Prisoner 004, Chiba Naomi, is officially voted..

Guilty! (62.5%)

According to the verdict system, she should be able to come back home safely, but her being a murderer will become known to everyone and it will be up to the outside world to judge her.

Thank you for your participation.

-... --- - .... / ...- . .-. -.. .. -.-. - ... / .-- --- ..- .-.. -.. / -- .- -.- . / .... . .-. / ... ..- ..-. ..-. . .-. .-.-.-

[britneyshakespeare]

I am once again thinking about how the Rover dwarfs all of Aphra Behn's other plays in acknowledgment and how if people read only one Behn play it's always the Rover but it personally for me was not even close to the most interesting play I'd read by her very early on and it's kind of not a light thing I wanna reread because of the two near-rape scenes

[keeps-ache]

The OCs you posted recently look really cool- could you talk a bit about them? Maybe the antagonists as well?

!! oh thank you :D

suuure yea :>> it's a smaller, newer thing of mine so not a lot n some of it may change!! but here's some profiles lol,

✧ Tide (the square head; they/them) is some sort of creature thing who lives in a remnant of an old world that decayed a long time ago after finding themself trapped there (that changes after they meet the goddess). they're head over heels for the goddess that still remains in the corridors there and they're not very normal about it hbfhvs - they can't be killed by any regular shmegular means and i have fun with that loll

✧ Vernor (ponytail gal; she/her) i don't have a lot for her, but she ended up in the same place Tide did and is very upset about it, understandably. she's good a martial arts and cries easily, and is pretty suspicious of most strangers :) she has a small knife-thing that works like a witch's broom (you have to hold the little handle for dear life though lmao) but i haven't gotten around to drawing it so !

✧ Dire (red circle; he/him) was created by the aforementioned goddess to dump emotions/thoughts she didn't want into, and then just sent him on his way lmfvhsh - because of that he is confused most of the time and still pretends to know everything but is figuring things out for real lol :3👍he hates to change his clothing and is snappy, and the snappiness may get worse on personal proximity hbfshv

^ these three have a Thing goin on. mostly qpp cuz i think it's fun :33

✧ Sleepy (the antagonist, he/him) the elusive guy. elusive bc i haven't drawn him lmfsh - another budy trapped in this old chunk of a dead world, he is also upset about it but to a much more desperate extent lol - his name isn't actually Sleepy but Tide nicknamed him that when they first met and now he can't seem to shake it hfsh, he Does hate it :) he is violent but he can play nicies so he does that most time loll

✧ the goddess (only thing holding this world together, She/her/it (capitalization is optional :3)) has been here for ages, ages, ages. her world's been long dead but she just keeps living for the monotony of it hfsh; plus, it's like her job never ended if she just keeps doing the same regular things she always did. bc of that it's actually preserved her chunk of annihilation, and sucks other creatures in w/o her knowing. the chunk is like a maze that keeps changing shape, so unless you can see it from a god's eyes the place is iiiiiinfinite! and terrible; the place changes to her moods and wishes, which can be interpreted p strangely lol :3 she's talked to and kept Tide around bc she needed somebody to deal with all these weird people coming into her dang house, and it's worked out fairly well (dubious)! :D

the world-chunk is inspired by vaporwave, abandoned malls, and the distinct smell of chlorine my mother has sometimes loll :)

[rearranging-deck-chairs]

rewatching 13s era for me is not so much diminishing returns as it is something opposite and eviler...............increasing losses? increasing losses

[hsslilly-blog]

i know lisa is said to be 20 in canon but that is not true. she’s 18 by 2014, which is when she meets claire. which makes them 6 years apart. lisa sees claire as her older sister, and this is both good and not very good. because it’s claire

[sweetestdumpling]

Extend your arm forward, control your breathing, pull back, contain your emotions.

It was simple instructions, ones she used to only think about in the moment, but forget the second her attention was grabbed by something else.

Even with the growing noise around her, she never stopped her movements, keeping her focus and breathing even. That is, until she felt a light tap of a finger on her thigh.

"Excuse me, Jiějiě..." It was the voice of a young girl. Almost immediately, Xiaoyu opened her eyes and got into a standing position before looking down at her with a smile.

"Yes?"

The girl looked nervous, but there was no need for her to be. Xiaoyu gave her time to gather her thoughts, which didn't take very long, before she held her hands out towards her with a shy smile.

"I made you some bracelets! It's a present...as a thank you for everything you've done, a-and helping me."

"For me? Ah, Xièxiè! You're so sweet!" Xiaoyu gently took one of the bracelets, holding it up to the sun. It was stitched together with orange yarn, and what seemed to be glitter sparkling in the sunlight.

"I know it's not...exactly the best and it...might be a little tight since I didn't know your size but I wanted to share something with you..."

The girl shyly looked down, perhaps embarrassed by her stitching, but Xiaoyu easily placed it on her wrist.

"Fits like a glove!"

The girl seemed to beam at that, Xiaoyu quickly grabbing the other one and holding it out for her to place her hand through. Once the girl realized this, she eagerly placed her hand through.

"Hehe, see? We match!"

The girl laughed, something Xiaoyu hasn't heard in a while. It felt good to see her happy again.

"If...If I make you anything else, will you wear it?"

"Of course! I want to see how much your embroidery improves. Before long, you'll be teaching me something!"

"Me? Teaching you?" The girl sounded in disbelief.

"Yep! I was never good with my hands, at least with silk and a needle. It wasn't until Yéyé stepped in did I know what to do with them."

At the mention of him, the girl's mood seemed to dampen. It wasn't her intention but Xiaoyu couldn't blame her for it either. Jinrei knew how to make a name for himself, ever since he was young. Not having his spunk around anymore left an obvious hole, one that Xiaoyu didn't realize she missed until it was already too late.

"I miss him." The young girl's voice interrupted Xiaoyu's thoughts. She gave her a smile, and a gentle pat on the head.

"I do too. But it'll be okay, next time we meet up, I'll teach you a few things about stances while you keep teaching and showing me your sewing skills. Deal?"

"Deal!"

Xiaoyu held her pinky out, the young girl using her own pinky to complete the deal. After a few more exchanges, Xiaoyu waved the girl goodbye, watching her disappear in the distance before sighing.

She sat down on the grass, listening to everything around her this time. The wind, the laughter, the talking, the birds, the whistling.

She was spunky when she was young, childish too, maybe she got it from him. Xiaoyu didn't know anything about his life when he was younger, but she knew he got his wisdom from somewhere. She only learned about his connections to the Mishima family once she was older.

Maybe she would have turned out to be more traditional if he wasn't around, maybe she would have eventually gotten better with her sewing skills like her parents initially wanted.

Xiaoyu was loud, rambunctious, maybe even a troublemaker compared to her more relaxed parents. They didn't know what to do with her, so eventually, he would suggest her to put all that energy into fighting.

It was thanks to him that they changed their minds.

"I'm still learning, Yéyé. I've gotten better but...I still have a lot to learn. I won't let you down, I promise."

Her phone soon began to vibrate, the young girl glancing down to see a message from her father. She quickly took hold of it, seeing the time, and immediately letting out a yell.

"Ah, I'm late! They're gonna kill me!"

Metaphorically of course. Xiaoyu quickly gathered up her things, haphazardly placing her jacket into the bag as she stood to her feet, running off and away from the park. Eyes watched her curiously but she paid them no mind as she answered her phone.

"Yes, Bàba? No, I didn't oversleep, it's still..." She checked her watch. "...well, not morning anymore but it's not late! It's only after 12! I'm on my way right now! I'll pick up some jianbing on the way! Tell Māmā not to start without me!"

Maybe there were still quite a few things she needed to get better with.