#and well wips I have to finish other wips first I have one of Santa and one of Clover taking me forever to finish

[mortellanarts]

Hmm... Akane witch design courtesy of Umineko brainrot anyone? 😳

[thoushallnotfall]

Walkin' After Midnight

Masterlist

Pairing: Marko x Reader

Word Count: 1.8k

Note: *finger guns* Ehhhhh...so it’s been a minute. How ya’ll been? So completely ignoring that’s it’s been...a long time, here’s another of my ‘imagine the boys in a decade prior to the 80s’ fics--and we’re moving right along to the 50s!

I started this...a very long time ago, and then I didn’t like it so I just left it in my WIPs with like 15 other ideas/half-written fics/updates. I still don’t love it, but upon further reflection I don’t totally hate it--and it was already started so I didn’t have to work as hard to finish it, so there’s that.

That being said, I'm kind of interested in writing a part 2, so we'll see...taking babysteps here.

(I’m really having to dig deep for these gifs)

Every kid from Santa Carla grew up knowing two things: Don’t go out after dark if you ever want to make it home, and stay away from the greasers who hung around the boardwalk.

It never really occurred to you that those two things could be related.

Unlike a lot of the teenagers in Santa Carla, who’d run there with nowhere else to go, you’d lived there all your life. You’d never left the city, and the older you got the more you doubted you ever would. Your dad had been killed in Vietnam, and your mom was around so little you half expected one day she’d just stop coming back home at all. You may not be one of the runaways, but you were still alone in Santa Carla.

Still, you were young; and while you knew you’d have to find a way to live on your own sooner or later, you decided to try and enjoy what little youth you had left. One day you’d have to grow up and start providing for yourself somehow, but for now you just wanted to live your life to the fullest before that all got taken away.

With that in mind, you’d taken to going to plenty of the dances and social events in town. You didn’t have a curfew, and no one was around to care about where you were, but even so you tried not to be out too late after dark. That’s always when the people went missing--and they never came back.

That’s why it was the first rule of Santa Carla: Don’t go out after dark.

The official numbers were never right, given how many of the people who disappeared were runaways, but the amount of missing people in Santa Carla had always been unusually high. The only thing they knew for sure was that they always seemed to vanish at night.

The prevalent theory among many of the local teens was aliens. They came out with their flying saucers and abducted unsuspecting people in the night. Others were more practical--they just thought there was a really good serial killer in town.

It could be anyone! They’d say.

But people have always gone missing in Santa Carla--is he an old man, still killing people in his 70s? Someone else would question.

Okay, so a family of serial killers! They’d say back.

Personally, you had no idea who or what was making people disappear. You only cared about surviving it, and the best way to do that was stay in at night.

Then, there was the second rule of Santa Carla: Stay away from the greasers.

There was a particularly nasty group of punks who usually hung around the Boardwalk at night. No one knew who they were--probably just another group of runaways--but people had grown to know they were trouble. A gang of greasers who didn’t care about the law and would sooner gut a man than say hello. That’s what people said about them, anyway.

So imagine your surprise when you broke both rules in a single night.

--

The night in question started out well enough. You and a friend had gone to the beach in the afternoon, and spent most of the day there. At one point, the two of you had attracted the attention of some boys--who ended up spending the day with you.

So when the sun got low and it was time to leave, your friend decided to accept the invitation from the boys to go get some dinner at the local diner. You however, weren’t as excited about the prospect. Not only did you not want to be out too late, you frankly just weren’t that interested in any of them. Your friend tried to get you to change your mind, but you held firm.

And so it was that your friend headed off with the guys. At least she brought you into town so you wouldn’t have so far to walk to get home. And while you weren’t jazzed about walking home alone you figured you could make it back quick enough that it’d be okay. Unfortunately, it was nearly dark before you even made it back to town--and well into the night by the time you walked past the Boardwalk.

You tried to hurry your way through the crowded streets of tourists and late-night couples walking hand in hand without any trouble. But of course that's exactly what you find.

"Hey there pretty lady, going my way?" A big guy in a varsity sweater asks. He looked like a jock--maybe home from college? You didn't know him, and you certainly didn't want to.

"Sorry, I'm in a hurry." You say, hoping to sidestep him and continue on your way. He moves to stand in front of you.

"Aw, don't be like that doll." He says, looming over you. "I just want to get to know you."

"Well I'm not interested." You say, trying to push past him. He grabs your wrist, squeezing so tight it makes you wince in pain.

"Not so fast girlie--we ain't done talking yet." He says, pulling you back.

Oh God, this is it. He's a part of that serial killer family and you're about to get murdered.

Your frantic thoughts are interrupted as the creep let's you go. He screams as he looks to his other side. You follow his gaze and see a greaser with blonde, curly hair standing next to him--the jock's wrist in his hand. He squeezes it tighter and the jock falls to one knee, yelling in pain.

"Don't like it so much on the receiving end, do yah punk?" The boy says, squeezing even tighter. Despite being smaller than the other boy, the greaser was still clearly stronger.

"What the hell man? Let me go!" The jock begs.

"You want me to let you go?" The greaser smirks. "Alright." He lets the guy go, before quickly using his now free hand to punch him square in the face. The boy falls back, holding his bloody, broken face in his hands. The greaser grabs the bleeding boy by the collar and pulls him up, smiling at him. "Now beat it before I decide to get serious." He says, dropping his collar. The boy scrambles up and runs off, disappearing down an allyway.

You watch him run off, stunned by what had just happened.

"You okay?" The blonde asks, having turned his attention to you. You practically jump out of your shoes.

"What? Oh." You look down at your wrist. "Yeah, it's fine--I mean, um, I'm fine." You stumble through before looking back up at him. "Thank you."

"No problem. Punks like that deserve a good beating." He says, before he smirks. "And I couldn't let him hurt a pretty thing like you, now could I?"

Uh oh, you may have just gone out of the frying pan and into the fire.

"So what's your deal anyway? You know it's not safe walking around alone at night, right?" He asks, ignoring your apprehensive look.

"We'll um," You hesitated, unsure of how much you should say about yourself. "I was out with a friend, but she had other plans. She drove, so..."

"So now you're stuck walking back. I get you." He says. "Pretty uncool of your friend, ditching you like that. But hey, I'll make sure you get home safe."

"What?" You nearly shout. "Um, no really that's not necessary. I'm fine now, so--"

"No way. I already told you--you're way too cute to be out here on your own." He says, cutting off your attempt to protest. "My bike's nearby, let's go."

"I would really hate to put you out," you try once more to worm our way out of the situation, but he wasn't having it.

He smirks, "I offered didn't I? Don't worry about it." He grabs your hand and all but drags you down the block.

Soon enough, you arrive at a parking lot, and he leads you towards a row of four motorcycles lined up in the corner. He lets you go, moving to the bike at the end and throwing his leg over to sit. He looks at you, holding out his hand. You were pretty sure you couldn't get away from him even if you tried, so you took a deep breath and accepted his outstretched hand. He helps you onto the back of the bike, smirking as gravity slide you down towards him.

"So princess, were are we going?" he asks, tilting his head back to look at you sitting behind him. You hesitated giving him your address, but at this point if he wanted to do something nefarious he didn't need to take you home first.

You were in too deep now.

You tell him, and he nods, "Yeah, I know the place." He starts the bike, giving you one last smirk as he revves the engine, "Better hold on tight."

Your arms instinctively wrap around his waist as the bike shoots forward. You gripped him tightly, you head resting on his back. You squeezed your eyes shut, fear coursing through you as your heartbeat raced. As much as you knew you should watch where you were heading, you were too scared to open your eyes. He was going fast--very fast--and with each bump and turn, you were sure you would crash and that would be the end of it.

But the two of you didn't crash, and before you knew it the bike slowed to a stop. You dared to open an eye, and saw you sat in front of your house. A little run down and a bit worse for wear, but still yours. You sat up, shocked you had not only survived the ride, but that he had actually brought you home.

"This it?" he asked like he already knew the answer. You turned to him,

"Oh, um--yes, it is."

"Doesn't look like anyone's home," he commented absently, and you felt your shoulders tense.

"Oh, my parents are here--they just go to bed early," you lied. Something told you he knew you weren't telling him the truth, but he didn't say anything.

You hoped off the bike, smoothing the wrinkles from your skirt out of habit. You took a step towards your door, then stopped. You turned, looking back at the smirking, curly-haired boy sitting lazily on his bike.

"Thank you again. For bringing me home, and for helping me with that guy earlier, " you were still scared of him, but he had helped you. It would be bad manners not to at least thank him for his help.

He laughs, the moonlight catching his blue eyes as he stared back at you.

"Anytime, princess," he replies. He started his bike, glancing back up at you, "I'm Marko, by the way."

"Oh, I'm y/n." You had certainly not planned to tell him your name, but at this point could it really hurt?

"Well, I'll see you around, y/n," he says, his smile wide and mischievous. Before you could say anything more, he rode off down the quiet street, disappearing into the darkness.

[andorerso]

I’m curious about the orphans AU 👀

ahhh my beloved orphans au! originally came up with as a possibility for Secret Santa this last December but ultimately decided it would be too big a project to justice at the moment... I do wanna write it but only when I have finished a few ongoing WIPs and can focus on it!

so it's a canon-divergence different first meeting AU. it's gonna build on Cassian's Festian backstory because it's easier and makes more sense for this, and I can just come up with what I want. so basically he's orphaned around six and ends up in an orphanage where Jyn also eventually ends up as well a few years later. I imagined that she and Lyra may have escaped Lah'mu together so Saw was never in the picture, but then Lyra ends up unexpectedly passing away, and that's how Jyn ends up in the orphanage. and of course Jyn is small and a girl so the other older boys try to pick on her and Cassian comes to her defense (oh I also imagined them to be around the same age for this, maybe around 10?) only to be surprised when Jyn like... viciously bites one of the boys and ends up making him cry. so Jyn's immediately in trouble, and by extension Cassian too, but he's very impressed by her and they become fast friends and grow up together. so it's kind of like a slowburn friends to lovers set in the orphanage where they grow up, and then eventually end up in the rebellion.

[trickstarbrave]

WIP Whenever

I GOT TAGGED BY @thescrolls-haveforetold !!

we've got a serious picture of my little idiot ahkrinaak <;3 im also working on secret santa stuff but NO ONE can see those. not yet.

also i have some moon and star spoilers im really happy with >:) cw for blood

ALSO TAGGING: @boethiahspillowbook @soundwavefucker69 @orfeoarte @caliblorn and @mulberrycafe (if you guys wanna)

--

He hissed as the blade hit skin, slowly peeling away layers of gold to reveal deep, crimson red. 

“Good boy,” Nerevar cooed to him softly, praising him for his resolve. “You’re doing so well for me.” The praise was enough to make his mind feel hazy, gasping and groaning. It hurt—that was obvious. It stung and burned, every little breeze on the injury like fire. The ache though was a reminder of his dedication: proof of his devotion and love. Voryn would only allow Nerevar to hurt him in this way, and would gladly take the pain from his beloved’s hands. Hands that were all at once so violent and gentle, so loving and destructive. 

Finally, it was finished, and Voryn breathed in a sigh, healing spell in hand. He made sure to heal it slowly, stitching the wound shut carefully. He needed it to scar properly after all, leaving Nerevar’s brand on him for all to see. Voryn smiled fondly however as he traced his hand over it; it wasn’t Nerevar’s full name, just the first letter. N—Neht. What Voryn called him so fondly, engraved on his skin in a large enough symbol that it was impossible to deny.

“I thought it would be better like this.” Nerevar explained with a gentle kiss to his cheek. “I’m not that good at it after all, and my name has too many damn letters.”

“I love it.” Voryn whispered back, reverence in his voice. It would be more legible like this with Nerevar’s clumsy technique. He was not trained in it, after all, and anything more complicated would take an artist’s hand.

Luckily for Voryn, he was in fact an artist.

“Lay down on your stomach.” Voryn mumbled after a few soft, messy kisses. “It’s your turn.”

Obediently—if not excitedly—Nerevar moved off him to lay on his belly, practically buzzing with anticipation. 

Voryn remembered, knife in hand as he crawled on top of Nerevar once more, old Velothi stories and ways their people used to tell fortunes. A mark on your back was often interpreted as from the future, for you couldn’t see the future coming. A mark on the front of one’s body was, by extension, from the past. He wondered if the Three knew that when they placed the moon and star on his chest, if that Ashlander woman was to be believed. 

An injury to the back was at once sacred and profane for the chimer. Hidden attacks and stabs in someone’s back were the ways of Mephala and to some extension Boethiah. To stab someone in the back was an attempt to destroy or change their future, and usually an attempt to cut their life short. But here he didn’t want to take Nerevar’s life, though he knew the other would let him in all of his tender vulnerability at this moment. 

If Nerevar thought it was his future--his destiny--that Voryn would leave him, Voryn would change that. With the knife in hand, Voryn would carve away all the parts of his future that would keep them apart, and make his mark on Nerevar’s very flesh so that it could never be denied. Let the Good Daedra smite him for his hubris if they must, but there must be a reason they marked his chest and left his back bare. 

Nerevar hissed softly at the sting of the blade, fingers clenching and unclenching as Voryn wrote his own name in daedric script across Nerevar’s left shoulder. It would leave his sword arm still free to move with ease while it healed if he needed to fight, and also Voryn found himself drawn to the left side of his body at the moment, pulled to leave his mark there. 

As he carved, slicing skin off in a way that would be sure to scar as cleanly as possible, it became rhythmic and almost trance-like. Red bloomed under the knife, moving down his trapezius to pool along his spine, or slid down the deltoid muscle to the blankets. In the dark, the blood looked more and more black than it did red, mesmerizing as Voryn continued his careful work. The lustful, burning need gave way to something even more primal; a compulsion, an instinct, a drive. He had for so long had the urge to carve his name into Nerevar’s body and repressed it, fearing what kind of a violent, selfish lover that would make him. Yet now, blade in hand and on bloodied sheets, he felt at peace, as though such an act was written in fate. 

Finally, Voryn finished the last letter of his name, the same as the one on his thigh: neht. It was oddly fitting, as though the two of them came full circle, a closed loop. He cast a healing spell on Nerevar’s shoulder, smiling fondly as he stitched the wounds shut carefully so that they would scar as well, before turning his attention to the blood that pooled along his lover’s spine.

“Voryn~” Nerevar moaned sweetly as Voryn lapped it up. It tasted particularly metallic right now; perhaps it was the alcohol in his system or the heavy feeling that clung in the air he had no name for, but he savored the taste all the same. 

“We’re connected.” Voryn whispered with bloodied lips against the pale gold of Nerevar’s skin. Voryn then was hit with deja vu as he remembered saying almost the same when they first made love. Perhaps they really had come full circle; the first time they knew each other’s bodies was just the start of them shedding off everything they used to conceal their love and desires. Now, they had finally completed the cycle, fully open with one another, and fully bound. “Neht…” Voryn whispered with reverence as he continued lapping up the blood from his spine, before trailing his lips up the vertebrae he could feel through his skin, coaxing shiver after shiver from his lover, and placed one last, almost devout kiss between his shoulder blades, before Nerevar rolled over and took Voryn by the waist with him. 

[oonajaeadira]

State of the WIP Address

Nothing like a deadline to get a thing done, amirite? I'm just amazed that I got my Secret Santa fic done a whole 24+ hours ahead of posting time. I truly thought I'd be up all night sweating it. I guess all I needed was the SO to be gone for the evening so I could make it happen.

Think I might start cracking the whip on modern dom!Pero tonight too....

Tasty teasers under the cut.

STATE OF THE WIPS

I have one million projects happening, but these are the pieces I’m actively thinking about and working on at the moment.

SECRET SANTA Where it’s at: It's finished!!! I'mma post it tomorrow with all the other Secret Santas. I really hope my giftee likes it. I really hope anyone likes it. If not, I get it. It is a bit of a downer. Tasty teaser:

He only sat long enough to watch the churchgoers file out of mass, many of them with people they loved, humming, happy, cheeks glowing in that way when one steps into a fresh cold after being an hour or two in the warmth. And once the square was empty again, he stood, gave only a fleeting look to the river, and then walked resolutely down Yaëlle’s street. A little house with a red roof and a candle in the window. He stayed for supper and came back many nights after. And then one night he never left.

TROPE FIC: MODERN DOM!PERO Where it’s at: Playing the wip game this week and answering Leslie's ask about this really zinged me into full gear and I have to admit that I had to tear myself away from it to work on my Secret Santa piece. But. The feedback and comments actually helped a lot and I need to rework a couple of sections before I dive back in, but I think I'm ready to rock on it, so expect this one soon. Tasty teaser:

“Did I…Did I do something wrong?” You don’t know where it comes from, this sudden neediness for him to clarify what just happened. When he turns you notice first the way he looks you over, matter-of-factly. “No, of course not.” And then you notice something else…that he’s physically aroused. He doesn’t move to hide it, nor does he seem to let it otherwise affect him. “This is not the place. I won’t take advantage of you here. Another place and another time. When I can worship you properly.”

TROPE FIC: ALPHA!JAVI Where it’s at: Again, the wip game did wonders on my motivation on this! And knowing that Birdie is out there enthusiastic about it makes me want to get it going again. I'm focused on Pero at the moment, but I'll be back at this one soon enough. I have one little thing I really need to figure out, but other than that, I'm confident in bringing this one around. My favorite scene so far is reader's first heat, and my second favorite is the moment where everything goes terribly wrong. So get ready for more sweetness and angst I guess. Tasty teaser:

You’d sat smiling out of the car window on your way to another weekend at the Gutierrez compound, knowing full well that you’d return with a mark on your throat. You’d need to remind Javi to bite hard, to make it last. He was gentle enough that it might not take at first.

TROPE FIC: SEX POLLEN!OBERYN Where it’s at: I think I stepped away from this one too long. It's okay. The outline is solid. I just have to get Pero and Javi taken care of and then I can start working on this one again. Tasty teaser:

“Ellaria? Thank you. This is very kind.” Slowing in the courtyard and wearing the sunshine like a shimmering cloak, she returns to you once more. “It is you who are the kind one here, Pet.” “Me?” Her nod is slow, suddenly vulnerable. “You called me Lady. There are not many from outside these walls who would do that when they know who I am.” “But…you are very much a Lady.” She smiles, allowing this, turning to go. “And you are a guest. Even so, the Princes would want you taken care of. I am merely at their service. And yours.”

GOOD. THINGS. TAKE. TIME. Where it’s at: The asks are all sorted, and Shell is coming up next.... Tasty Teaser: I don't have anything written yet, but one of the asks I'm answering in the next installment is: "Does Preciosa ever get jealous thinking about Pats' other clients?"

LEAVE OFF YOUR WANDERING: WINTER Where it’s at: I've been daydreaming about it, so that's a good sign. I did slap down some dialog that came to me the other day. Ellie's gonna get mad. No teasers for you. Get ready for some darkness.

[onthewaytosomewhere]

20 questions for fic writers

alright i've been tagged on this a few times so guess it's time to do it....i mean i do luv tag games :)

thanks for the tags @taste-thewaste @agostobuwan @tailsbeth-writes

How many works do you have on ao3?

13- one of which is 25 fics i posted as chapters for a holiday/seasonal themed december thing - most my early work is elsewhere and i didn't do any writing for a good chunk of years lolz

What's your total ao3 word count?

76,771 (most of this was written since nov '23)

What fandoms do you write for?

RWRB currently may dip my toes into 911 at some point (my only non-rwrb fic on ao3 is marvel lol)

Top five fics by kudos:

Ring on His Finger, Putty in HIs Hands (firstprince)

Third Times a Charm? (Darcy Lewis/Clint Barton)

i've got you acting like you want more (firstprince)

- like the way you work it - (firstprince)

gotta sign 'em all (firstprince)

Do you respond to comments?

yes

What is the fic you wrote with the angstiest ending?

the only thing i can think of that would be angsty towards the end would be Santa Tell Me from my Holiday Bits and Bobs - it was pretty much 1800 words of angst

What's the fic you wrote with the happiest ending?

probably the second hand unwinds - it was one of my hey sweetheart fics and is pretty much just shy of 3700 words of alex being a sap (and the boys being cute girl!dads)

Do you get hate on fics?

um not hate - but recently a weird 'that couldn't have happened cuz of yada yada' kind of comment

Do you write smut?

LOLZ - that's like most of what i write *gigglesnorts*

Craziest crossover:

don't have any of these

Have you ever had a fic stolen?

i don't think so

Have you ever had a fic translated?

nope

Have you ever co-written a fic before?

not yet! but i'm super excited to work on the one with @agostobuwan💚

All time favorite ship?

omg - i don't know that's too hard - i can tell you current fave is firstprince but my all time fave might actually be HP/CharlieW - maybe? or if we're going off amount i've read for it hp/dm or kirk/mccoy oh or bagginshield

What's a wip you want to finish but doubt you ever will?

i had always planned go back and do more for my darcy/clint fic and make it into a series, but those ideas that got written down lamented away in a doc and are gone now lol

What are your writing strengths?

um....i don't know do i have these - i can write smut fairly well

What are your writing weaknesses?

i usually hafta go back and make sure i didn't just get uber prose-y and included enough dialogue - unless i'm doing it on purpose

Thoughts on dialogue in another language?

cool if it works for the character - i really like when there's a translation somewhere - unless it's obvious what it means

First fandom you wrote in?

wrote in and posted somewhere - HP - followed closely by Idol RPF - i dabbled in other things that never got posted tho b4 that (the usuals for any 'lil geeky girl - star wars, star trek, angel, buffy

Favorite fic you've written?

idk - maybe something in your mouth cuz it just came togther so quickly and was fun to write (even if i intially thought it was gonna be smuttier lolz) or maybe my silly lil fairytale baby just say yes that topped out over 20k it's my first RWRB actual AU posted that wasn't just a small ficlet

alright so few quick tags to: @typicalopposite @adreamareads @inexplicablymine @stellarm

@sophie1973 @suseagull04 @hgejfmw-hgejhsf @itsmaybitheway

[cyndraws]

Kaishin secret santa 2023 extras:

Basically wips - I'm still proud of them hahahh

Main ksss23 post: https://www.tumblr.com/cyndraws/737208464263266304/kaishin-secret-santa-2023?source=share

~

This one is for prompt 2+3 that I toyed around with before putting down. Kaito's civilian persona saves Shinichi using KID skills + a cute identity reveal. These were such good prompts but I couldn't muster up much content...

(very) rough sketch:

I was thinking maybe a comic even but well, it turned out I didn't have enough time for that unfortunately

The story is that Shinichi gets kidnapped by some remaining Black Org members. This is set post-Conan and BO takedown.

Kaito is alerted by a random BO member walking by, muttering about a hostage. He manages to sneak in their hideout (abandoned warehouse) and sits in the rafters, observing. He then takes them down with his trusty cardgun + extra bombs he had on himself.

Shinichi has been beat up and was being interrogated by the members. They didn't really have any plans though, and were mostly there on the basis of revenge than getting much info out of him. They were low ranking members who managed to escape by sheer coincidence.

As Shinichi is starting to pass out, he recognises the distinctive sound of a card being fired and smoke bombs going off. As the smoke starts to clear and a set of sneakers start running towards him, he hears a worried voice shouting "Meitantei! Meitantei!"

Then there's a cute hospital scene afterwards where Kaito introduces himself as Kuroba Kaito, and starts to scold Shinichi for recklessness after hearing the entire story (Shinichi once again, ran off after seeing suspicious men in black HAHAHA). Then he produces a bouquet of flowers and stays by Shinichi's side until his friends appear. Then they live happily ever after~

~

Ok back to the Kaishin roleswap!

I'm still sad that I didn't get to finish all the arts I planned, but I hope you enjoy my vision nevertheless. One was Shinichi and Kaito at the crime scene (in the main post), but it doesn't really show the main aspects of this au, so it's low priority.

This was supposed to be the 'main' piece of art but I had a lot of trouble with it aha...

Kaito and Shinichi facing off on Haido City hotel. It features Shinichi and his mask + Kaito spinning his card gun. They both give challenging looks to each other. Chronologically in the timeline, it's set before the art I ended up posting. I was thinking maybe this was their first meeting.

It's based off the classic Gosho spread of Conan vs Kaitou KID. It's absolutely gorgeous, and I'm lucky enough to have the physical art book >v<

[dcmk-exchange]

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Fill out the registration form and follow this blog.

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Sketches and doodles are the minimum amount of required work. It should be clear enough to understand what is going on in the picture. If you would like to add color or make a short comic, that's fine as well. The complexity is up to you.

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Drabbles (around 100 words minimum) or flash-fics (around 500 words minimum) are permitted. Feel free to write as much as you want as long as the word count isn't below either of these and the idea is somewhat fulfilled in the word count.

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Remember to always send the asks anonymously, and be sure to sign the asks with something like dcmk secret-santa so your gift-receiver knows it's you. Don't forget to answer your secret-santa's messages either!

You can write anything on the messages as long as it's polite! You can greet your gift-receiver in your first message and get to know them to get inspiration for your gift. Or, you can just talk about your interests and get to know each other!

(1) If you are unable to send asks or ask anonymously, send this blog a message so that I will inform your gift-receive (2) Any rude behavior will not be tolerated during this event. If I find that anyone has behaved rudely, I may have to remove them from this event.

Mini-gifts and how to post them:

Mini-gifts are 100% optional! They can be anything from WIPs, small hints about the gift, or even unrelated stuff, as long as you're not spoiling the actual gift!

You can post a mini-gift through either through your gift-receiver's or this blog's submission box (if your gift-receiver doesn't have submissions on). Make sure to mention (@) your gift-receiver if you choose to submit your mini-gift through this blog.

Make sure you are submitting your mini-gift anonymously!

Deadline:

The deadline will be from January 29th to February 4th.

Everyone will have one week to post their gifts and inform their gift-receivers. If you still need more time to work on your gift, then please be sure to inform your gift-reciever and me (by messaging this blog) so that I don't accidentally remove you from the event!

How to post the gift:

You will post your gift, during the deadline week, on your own blog.

Make a post.

Attach your gift.

Mention/tag your gift-receiver in the post.

Tag (#dcmk-exchange) and mention (@dcmk-exchange) so that I will reblog your post to this blog.

(Please message this blog if you will not be able to finish your gift on time!)

Pinch-hitters:

Pinch-hitters are people who will take the place of whoever needs to leave the event. If someone is unable to finish their gift at all for any reason, a pinch-hitter will take their place.

If a pinch-hitter is required, I will message them in advance and give them extra time to finish the gift. The gift-reciever will also be notified of this change.

Message this blog if:

You've filled in the registration form but you won't be able to participate anymore.

Don't receive any messages from your secret-santa.

Your gift-receiver hasn't answered any of your asks.

Your gift-receiver hasn't opened their ask box OR allowed anonymous asks.

Your gift-receiver or secret-santa has behaved rudely towards you.

You need more time to finish your gift. (Be sure to also inform your gift-receiver of this)

Feel free to send an ask if you have any other questions about this event!

*disclaimer: most of these rules have been adapted from the previous secret-santa (@dcmksecretsanta) event.

[sinisterexaggerator]

I know the answers to like 99.9% of these.

But. Here we go! 👀 ⛔️

⛔️ "Do you have a fic you started, but scrapped?"

Hmm, not exactly. I always have the intention of finishing something, even if it takes me a year or more.

Well, I guess there was this one for a young Trevor Philips and Michael De Santa in North Yankton for GTA V. Never got around to adding more to it, and probably never will:

---

“Jesus, T! Get us the fuck out of here!”

“I’m trying M, but if you’re not satisfied with my driving skills, why don’t you sit YOUR fat ass behind the wheel?”

“Why the hell did you have to kill that guy?! He’s probably got a wife and kids!”

“Hey! He triggered the alarm! That’s why we’re in this mess.”

“No, we’re in this mess because you’re TRIGGERhappy!”

“Nananana… That snitch got what he deserved!”

Flashing lights, red and blue, reflecting off the crisp, white snow; two robbers running from the cops. Always running, forever, until the end of time, or at least that’s how Michael Townley felt, locked in tight by his seatbelt, the getaway car little better than a piece of shit, found somewhere off the beaten path before the job. It was a small-time gig, just a liquor store, but plenty of people warmed themselves by getting drunk; the register loaded down with money while its patrons were loaded down with booze; a typical, cold winter’s night for the pair of two-bit crooks.

Michael turned around, his weapon drawn, a pair of police cruisers in hot pursuit. They were firing their own rounds, aiming for the tires, and Townley knew he had to do something soon or wind up behind bars. “Can’t this thing go any faster, T?!”

“You know what’s REALLY fast? Your God damn mouth. Quit flapping your lips and get those assholes off our tail!”

Michael took a shot simply to smash the rearview windshield, seeing the cruisers clear as day as they were gaining on them, M feeling that all too familiar rush of adrenaline permeate throughout his entire being; he would tell T that he hated it, but the rush he felt made him feel alive, something he rarely felt at all.

On a good day he was half a man, kept alive by petty theft and diner food, skirting from one town to the next, Trevor at his heels like an obedient, somewhat restless puppy that needed to be potty trained – M taking it upon himself to break him in. He was useful, beneficial, however unrestrained and somewhat uncontrollable; he had it in his mind it was an easy fix, but Trevor had other wild ideas.

Michael pulled the trigger, and one cop spun out in a flurry of ice and squealing rubber, the car being buried conveniently in a mountain of thick, white powder, but not cocaine; that would be saved for their celebration later if they made it out alive.

“Whooo! That’s my cowboy! That’s some rootin’ tootin’ damn good shootin’, Mikey!”

“I don’t ever want to hear those words come out of your mouth again.”

---

👀 Tell me about an up and coming wip please!

LOL, you know allllll about my WIPs. Probably before anyone else. I have too many to choose from, but I hope to do these three things first and foremost:

Chapter 15 of Stars Above. Bane is in the bacta tank, forced to endure flashbacks from his past in the form of nightmares, and Zulara is left alone with Todo until he wakes up, however long it takes. But will Cad be pleased to see her there? What will Kayson think about her disappearance over the next few days? What lie or cover story will Hondo make up, if any?

This Hondo x Reader fic, where the reader is a spoiled little rich girl who is the daughter of a weapon's manufacturer. Their fates are hilariously intertwined, and Hondo is going to wind up getting more than he bargained for when he had originally set out to simply steal a little something off her.

A Tech x Reader fic where the Marauder is left in Tech's care during a Separatist attack on the planet Bandomeer. He comes across the reader who is injured and trapped under some rubble. He must help you/her and then pilot you both to safety. An unexpected turn of events causes you and Tech to be stranded until he can repair the ship; you are at the mercy of nature and the elements over the course of the next few days, not to mention any droids who may find you, and the rest of Clone Force 99 is preoccupied and unable to help. Hurt/Comfort/Possible smut. >D

[machtaholic]

20 Questions for Fic Writers

Tagged by @cinematicnomad

How many works do you have on ao3? Erm … 241

What's your total ao3 word count? 1,072,985

What fandoms do you write for? At the moment? Stranger Things, previously The Witcher, The Magicians, Teen Wolf, Suits and some smaller fandoms as well

Top five fics by kudos

Rule 520.4 (Suits, Mike x Harvey)

Spontaneity's Reward (Suits, Mike x Harvey)

Ink (Suits, Mike x Harvey)

Speaking of Happiness (Suits, Mike x Harvey)

High Speed (Suits, Mike x Harvey)

Do you respond to comments? I do now, I didn't really before. And now I'd fee weird going back to all those comments I didn't reply to.

What is the fic you wrote with the angstiest ending? Probably Whittemore!, because it was Jackson with no happy ending working at Wolfram and Hart in the Angel universe … it was short but not happy.

What's the fic you wrote with the happiest ending? Oh all of the others except that one. I am a big fan of happy endings.

Do you get hate on fics? At one point I did. I multi-ship in the Teen Wolf fandom and had someone come onto my fic and leave epic amounts of hate. When I locked down my fics, they found me here on tumblr and started sending me anon hate here. But it didn't really make an impact. I'm too old and jaded for that bullshit lol

Do you write smut? Yep! Will happily write smut

Craziest crossover Teen Wolf and The Santa Clause

Have you ever had a fic stolen? To an extent, yes. I have a fic 'A King for Mike's Queen' where Mike goes out in drag and someone found a fic VERY similar to mine out on AO3 … I believe they even took the name I gave Mike and used it too

Have you ever had a fic translated? Yeah, I think I've had a couple translated to Russian before.

Have you ever cowritten a fic before? I have, on a couple of occasions.

All time favourite ship? To write or to read? Either way, I can't pick just one, so I'm just pass.

What's a wip you want to finish but doubt you ever will? I have one from the Criminal Minds fandom that I wish I could finish, but … I don't think I will. I still think about it, though. :)

What are your writing strengths? I think I'm really good at building a scene, building a world.

What are your writing weaknesses? There are words or phrases that I tend to overuse - and I repeat myself sometimes. And I like the elipsis a lot lol

Thoughts on dialogue in another language? I'm not totally against it, altbough scrolling between the noteswhere the translation might be and the fic could be daunting. If there's context, sure. But I'm also just fine with 'he said in [language]' in lieu of dialogue in another langauge.

First fandom you wrote in? Buffy: the Vampire Slayer. I wrote so much in that and posted it to sites that no longer exist LOL Thankfully, because they were horrid.

Favorite fic you've written? Favorite?? I don't know that I could pick one - I have a few that I can think of that have a really special place in my heart but they're all my faves because they all helped me grow as an author. Cheesy answer, but there you go LOL

tagging!! Anyone who wants to do this.

[afteriwake]

Fanfic asks for the new year -- 2, 3, 7, 9, 11

2. Will you participate in any fandom exchanges or fic challenges, etc? I will definitely be running another regular round of @wipbigbang this year (and I'm probably going to do art again for the unclaimed fics and actually stay on top of it this time...whether I try finishing any of my WIPs is another matter) and I am currently running the International Fanworks Day Mini-Bang at the aforementioned big bang. I may do a fic for that as well, since it's really laid back.

I will also be finishing up the five prompts I got in December for @mollyappreciationweek at some point in the early half of the year (and I'll be running a February week-long round for Valentine's Day/Galentine's Day/Singles Awareness Day as well as another prompt-a-thon in December), and if you do Christmas In July again I'll take prompts. I may do the Spook Me Ficathon instead of Fictober...not sure. But I do plan on doing Spook Me this year after missing the sign-ups the last few years. And if I get enough participants, I'll do another round of @sherlollysecretsanta and make mod gfts as well (which reminds me...got to email participants in this round about the fic covers).

3. Do you anticipate writing for a new fandom this year? Which one? I do! One of the WIPs I'm bouncing around finishing for WIPBB is the Knives Out Cablanca fic you are letting me finish, and I've never written Knives Out before. As for all mine fics? It's not entirely new, but I tossed out a Marvel's What If...? fix-it idea for Peggy/1602!Steve which I might write, which will be my first time writing specifically for that show.

7. Will you change anything about the way you interact with other writers? I'm going to try and read more fic written by people other than @dreaminonao3 (I have a backlog of @sobeautifullyobsessed's fic that I'm going to read when I have a good chunk of time to donate to reading some of her long WIPs, and I have a ton of bookmarked fics across a bunch of different fandoms on my Firefox account), and make damn sure I comment and comment often. I'm also going to try and reblog more fic recs over on @mousedetective, where I have a bigger audience.

9. Short term goals… what do you hope to complete this week or in January? Since I finally seem to be over my food poisoning, this week I hope to do the mod gifts for Sherlolly Secret Santa and write at least one or two things for @greenskyoverme, including the newest chapter of "What Stork Brings." As for January? I want to get as much art done for the 2023 round of WIPBB that I owe as I can. I also want to write something new for my birthday on the 23rd, since I'm not expecting a whole lot this year.

11. Would you like to try any new fanfic genres or tropes this year? Not really? There isn't much I haven't tried at least once in the 25 1/2 years I've been writing fic.

Now, new ships, on the other hand? That I'm game for...

[esperata]

WIPs

Rules:  list your wips with a brief description

I was tagged by @tj-dragonblade and I always enjoy airing some ideas that are waiting in the pipeline. It feels especially timely since I’m nearly done drafting one wip, although editing it will still take some time. Regardless, here’s a look at what else I might choose to work on.

First up, those which are at least started:

I’ll make a man out of you [riddlebird] - Arkhamverse and a continuation of my existing series. Building on a proposal made in an earlier fic.

Every Breath You Take [hattercrow] - Arkhamverse and detailing the start of their relationship in that universe.

In the air tonight [riddlebird] - A first foray into the Batwheels variation of the characters.

You Only Live Twice [riddlebird] - A continuation of my Telltale series and continuing to build the relationship.

Bathing the Duke [Resident Evil Village] - Exactly what it says. A second person pov and focusing on the sensual.

Secret Admirer [riddlebird] - A concept I’ve had in mind a while, not one but both secret admirers.

The King Is Dead [riddlebird] - Rather more angst than my usual fare but considers how Ed might react to Oswald’s sudden death.

Western AU [hattercrow] - Jonathan Crane should have a horse is the basic premise and I built a plot around that.

What Is Reality? [riddlebird] - This idea has been on the back burner ages. Looks at the aftermath of the episode of the same name.

Living Doll [riddlebird] - Burton-Schumacher and a hint of Coppélia.

The Hands on Approach [octogoblin] - TSSM. I guess this is porn with plot. A way for two difficult people to admit their feelings anyway.

Suit [octogoblin] - TSSM again and another way for guys who don’t know how to communicate to convey affection.

TSSM dynamic [octogoblin] - How I see them working together. I was wondering why these all ended up sidelined and remembered I never saw season 2.

Are We Friends? [riddlebird] - Gotham and I’m not entirely sure where I saw going with it. General confusion about their relationship status I guess.

Gotham Gazette [riddlebird] - Gotham five times plus one styled like a gossip column. I’d like to finish it but got uncomfortable with this area of fandom.

 Now on to some which are decidedly more nebulous:

Fate or something like it [octogoblin] - specifically following No Way Home and how events may play out in the altered timeline from when Norman got dropped back.

Nola Riddler does riddles [riddlebird] - prompted by a comment by the AU creator that he hadn’t delved into his penchance for riddles yet.

Phone Call/Past Midinght [riddlebird] - Two subsequent stories in my Arkhamverse series.

Wrap you round my finger [riddlebird] - A general idea about how Ed expects to deal with Penguin only to be surprised.

Gotta Shape Up [riddlebird] - Post season 2 Harley Quinn series but ignoring season 3.

Late Night, Fast Food [multiple ships] - a regular person’s pov on the late night antics of some of Gotham’s notable regulars.

Siren’s Call 3 [riddlebird] - how does one get along with a genuine siren on board?

Limo prompt [riddlebird] - a miscommunication situation arising in Gotham.

Hand kink [Resident Evil Village] - The Duke has very dextrous hands.

Olga my Queen [riddlebird, Egghead/Olga] - A crossover of sorts between Gotham and ‘66.

Trans Ed [riddlebird] - I’m curious how Arkhamverse Oz would deal with that but writing it requires a careful balance.

pre-criminal meeting [hattercrow] - self explanatory really but what if they knew each other before Arkham and all.

skyscraper [octogoblin] - porn. That’s it.

Batwoman [riddlebird] - I wanted to explore just what happened to our guys and how Enigma fit into that.

Batman vs Dracula [riddlebird] - It was suggested to me to rewrite this film as having Ed involved and I liked that idea.

kids museum meeting [riddlebird] - some comics have shown the young Penguin and Riddler so obviously I ask myself, well what if they met then?

Santa Clause 4 [riddlebird] - Based more on the Krampus. Will I or will I not write this come December.

Pecking Order 2 [riddlebird] - Picking up where part 1 left off and investigating how things proceed.

The Batman [none] - what if a trans Oswald had to give up a kid when he was younger? And what if that kid later found him.

Gamer Oz [riddlebird] - In order to impress Ed, Oswald pretends (badly) to be a gamer.

P.I. Riddler [riddlebird] - sort of turning the femme fatale trope around so Ed falls for the husband.

60s bookshop [riddlebird] - Penguin runs a bookshop and is pursued by Bookworm and Riddler.

Streamer Ed [riddlebird] - he habitually comments on Oswald’s Iceberg Lounge promotional videos.

Rumour Mill [hattercrow] - Jonathan comes to Jervis’ defence when rumours spread.

Pax Penguina 2 [riddlebird] - A continuation where I intended introducing Martin.

Angel!Ed/Demon!Oz [riddlebird] - Another continuation building on my first story.

Circus Crew [riddlebird] - An idea to do something with Nola Oswald’s circus crew.

Rogues go skiing [multiple ships] - Cute piece probably involving the lego version.

Arkham sitcom [multiple ships] - episodic story featuring their lives and antics in Arkham.

If you made it this far, thank you! My ask box is open if you want further info on any of these.

[kaantt]

@kabbal and @belphegor1982 tagged me in this years ago and since I'm finally kinda coming back on tumblr I'm finally doing it

How many works do you have on AO3?

I currently have 58 works on AO3 : 50 on my main account (all of them being fics for the Kaamelott fandom) and 8 on an other account that I use for non-Kaamelott fics. I might create a third account for my fics in written in english.

What's your total AO3 word count?

Boy oh boy 565 732 words in total.... Which is longer than Tolstoï's War and Peace... In just three years of writing... Terrifying

What fandoms do you write for?

I don't write a lot this days... But my main fandom is the french TV Show Kaamelott with 50 fics and I would say that my other big fandom is The Three Musketeers (book and 1961 movie versions)

What are your top 5 fics by kudos?

ἔραμαι : (Kaamelott) A collection of very short fics that I wrote in response to promts that were sent to me on tumblr.

ἀλέξω : (Kaamelott) My main fic for the Kaamelott fandom that I need to get beck to writing. It's a retelling of the events that happened between Livre VI and KV1.

καιρός : (Kaamelott) A fic written for 2022 Fictober. A collection of one shots with many pairings (romantic and platonic).

Ουλές : (Kaamelott) A fic written for the fandom's secret santa (2020) about the ship Arthur/Venec.

The ballad of the white lady : (Kaamelott) A fic written for the fandom's secret santa (2022) about the ship Arthur/Guenièvre.

Do you respond to comments? Why or why not?

Yes I always respond to comment, I find them motivating and if people took the time to leave me a sweet message, the least I can do is to respond.

What's the fic you wrote with the angstiest ending?

A child's evening prayer : (Kaamelott) yeah it's not a fun fic at all, it's just angst through and through

What's the fic you wrote with the happiest ending?

I'm more of a bittersweet ending type of writer, but the end of my fic Crimes Célèbres is quite happy.

Do you get hate on fics?

Never did and hope I never will...

Do you write smut? If so, what kind?

Yes, I do write smut, it's quite fun to write I think. I discovered recently that I was really into "erotic letters", it's a really fun and original way to write smut.

Do you write crossovers? What's the craziest one you've written?

I do write crossovers ! My girlfriend and I are writing about the Three Musketeers but we mix them with Angélique, Cyrano de Bergerac, Le Capitaine Fracasse and other works happening in the seventeenth century.

Have you ever had a fic stolen?

Not an entire fic but I found parts of my fics / some paragraphs in an other author's work... I asked them to remove them but they just blocked me so I don't really know the end of it.

Have you ever had a fic translated?

No ! I actually translate theater plays (professionaly) but I'be never translated a fic or had a fic translated.

Have you ever co-written a fic before?

Yes ! I'm writing a western inspired fic for the Kaamelott fandom Le Bon, la Brute et le Friand with my friend @kabbal but we kinda stoped working on it (maybe one day...) and my gf @aramielles and I are writing a series together

What's your all-time favorite ship?

I don't really have an all-time favorite, I have one for each fandom that I'm a part of but I can't chose between my top ships of every fandom.

What's the WIP you want to finish but doubt you ever will?

My fics ἀλέξω and Le second because I'm not really into the fandom anymore but I really like this fics and I do hope to finish them some day...

What are your writing strengths?

I like to think that I'm pretty good at character studies and descriptions

What are your writing weaknesses?

I'm not great at writing dialogues, it's not awful but it's not great, they are always too much "written" if that makes any sense...

Thoughts on writing dialogue in another language for a fic?

I think it can both serve the plot and the style but I think you need to be fluent in the languages you use for it to be done well enough.

First fandom you wrote for?

It was Doctor Who but I've delated the fic and no one will ever find it (I'm not even sure that I still have a copy on my computer)

Favorite fic you've ever written?

Crimes Célèbres (Les Trois mousquetaires), I'm very found of the epistolary novel genre and was very eager to write a fic in this style, I like the plot, the research I've made and it was a gift for my girlfriend so...

I'm also very proud of my fic Andrew's Tales (Philadelphia 1993) that I wrote for a very dear friend's birthday, it's inspired by operas and greek mythology lore

Tagging @aramielles

[andrea-lyn]

Happy new year! If the adage is that you spend today doing what you want to for the rest of the year, then I want to keep reading and reccing some fics I’ve loved in the last little while!

So, here’s a mish-mash of multi-fandoms. As always, you can find my master rec collection here. 

Ghosts (BBC)

And So On and So Forth by V_Evergreen

Dying is, of course, incredibly tragic. It is also the most wonderful opportunity.

Father of the Bride by EllianaDunla

Rachel Fawcett visits Button House to feel closer to her father.

Which happens, just not quite in the way she expects.

Project Chatterbox by SqutternutBosh

‘What’s this?’ Alison asks, looking down at the scrappy piece of note paper that Mike has just put down in front of her.

‘It’s a list of ways I can talk to them,’ Mike says, sitting down beside her at the kitchen table.

Raven Cycle

hold me tight, fear me not by audikatia for Northisnotup

When Adam stepped around, he found himself suddenly in an emerald glen of moss-covered trees. More blue roses scattered over the green ground like raindrops or tears.

And there, in the center, was a man pinned to a tree with an arrow through his heart. :: Tam Lin AU

Someone Worth Knowing by SprigsofViolets

Alex Claremont-Diaz and Adam Parrish meet on their first day at NYU. They do not hit it off—cue the academic rivalry. They hate each other until they learn to understand each other.

(I can’t tell you how many times I’ve re-read this one, esp as it hits two of my fave canons in all the right places)

since you've been home, see what you have become by Mici (noharlembeat)

Adam goes touring colleges, and Ronan comes along. And Opal, well. She stays with Declan.

***Greywaren spoilers for the below fics!***

There's No Place Like My Room by Lil_Redhead

Sometimes endings are endings, but sometimes they’re just middles and the real ending is very, very far away.

Or, the days between the last chapters and the epilogue of Greywaren

(This one is still a WIP with one chapter left to post, but it hits all the right notes of post-Greywaren + plot that I was craving after finishing the book)

god only knows (what i'd be without you) by RhymeReason

[Part of Gansey was starting to accept that two of his best friends were most likely dead.]

Or: gansey finds adam and ronan :)

and on the seventh day he rested by Prevalent_Masters

On the seventh day, the Lynch brothers discovered they were friends once more.

Or, the week following the (near) apocalypse.

Roswell New Mexico

Contigo me encontré by beautifulcheat (Katalyst), ladynox

The Lockhart House was once a home, although it was never a happy one. Steeped in tragedy, it still stands today, in the heart of Old Town Roswell, attracting ghost hunters and those seeking to catch a peak of something from beyond the veil.

Contrary to popular myth, it wasn’t currently haunted (except by one paranormally talented docent). It was Michael’s favorite job and the best part of his summer home from UNM. Or at least was until Alex Manes was hired to man the gift shop, complicating an otherwise fun and easy job.

With Love Overflowing by Nestra

"We both agree that this is not the place we belong, right? Please say yes."

Michael tossed his hat on the coffee table and dropped onto the couch. "If you mean that your dad's been dead since CrashCon and some kind of crazy shit is going on, then yeah, I agree."

(This one was for me for Secret Santa, it is just THAT GOOD that I want everyone in the world to read it)

Severance

r/severed by curtaincall for LearnedFoot

Welcome to r/severed! This is a subreddit to discuss the experience of severance and provide advice and support to fellow severed people (and friends and family).

Top Gun Maverick

we're fools to make war by whimsicule

In a Walmart at three am, between beef jerky and tortilla chips, with the lights flickering above them like it’s the fucking twilight zone, Bradley wants him more than he’s ever wanted anyone.

or: it's a hundred degrees in texas.

what doesn't kill me makes me want you more by ok_thanks

For Rooster to be his ex-boyfriend, that would require him to have been Jake’s boyfriend in the first place. Which he definitely wasn’t. He was – "Ex-something," Jake coughs. or, the intricate ritual of teasing the guy you've been hooking up with since college that you're definitely not in love with

Men Like Us by DancingDisaster

Seresin men love with reckless abandon. It’s put every man before him in the ground.

Jake refuses to be buried.

[toschestationserver]

FAQ

This FAQ is designed to answer some burning questions about the upcoming fic exchange.

What is the Tosche Station server?

It's a discord server created by the admin @mythicluke. It was created because he wanted to bring his friends together to have fun Star Wars conversations. Originally, it was made to champion Luke Skywalker analysis in a casual and fun environment, but it has since expanded to become a fully-fledged community in its own right.

Can I join the server?

The server works on an invite-only basis, and the admin only tends to invite those whom he knows well. However, this could change in the future, so keep your eyes peeled!

What is the Fic Exchange?

It's sort of like a Secret Santa. It's a way for Star Wars writers and artists to challenge themselves and allow for a casual but fun way to improve their craft.

How does it work?

On August 1st at 10:30am BST, prompting will begin and people can submit prompts in a Google Form and up to 2 prompts can be submitted.

On August 21st, claiming will open, where prospective writers and artists can claim a prompt. There will be one slot for writers and one for artists.

Writers and Artists will have 5 months to complete their work and regular check-ins will be carried out by the fic exchange team to make sure that people are on track for the deadline.

What is the theme?

The theme is New Beginnings.

Why have a theme?

Having a theme means that we can create a uniform collection of work all around a similar topic, and although the theme can be widely interpreted, it will allow the project to feel more coherent.

Where do I post my work?

Work should be posted on the New Beginnings Collection on AO3 after the Admin has given you a date to post them. Please don’t post them until you’ve been given a date to do so. There will be a 'big reveal' at a later point. Please do not self-promote until it is time to reveal your story. All works will be anonymous to start with. Thank you!

What happens if I'm not able to meet the deadline?

Please email toschestationexchange@gmail.com with your AO3 username, any other usernames we can use to get in touch with you, and the prompt you are working on. We will be able to work something out on a case-by-case basis.

Does it have to be my best work?

It doesn't! See the fic exchange as a way to grow and develop your skills, rather than a way to prove yourself to the community. You're more than welcome to submit your best work, but you're also welcome to push yourself or submit a first draft so long as the story is completed and doesn't already exist, or is not part of a work in progress (WIP).

All work should be a minimum of 3,000 words unless you are a pinch-hitter (this is where you pick up a prompt that was claimed by someone who dropped out). Pinch-hitter work should be at least 1,500 words. There is no maximum. Pinch-hitters can also claim the prompts that were left unclaimed after we have given them time to claim prompts.

How many prompts can I have?

You can submit a maximum of 2 prompts per person.

Can I do multiple prompts?

You must have finished your first piece of art or story. You can claim another prompt if you have done so.

What if I change my mind about my prompt?

You have until August 9th to submit a prompt. Please try not to have cold feet about the prompts you have chosen.

Do I need an AO3 account?

You do need an AO3 account to both post and receive work.

I'm currently on the waiting list for an AO3 account. What do I do?

Please fill out the below form and send it to toschestationexchange@gmail.com:

Username + associated social media platform(s):

Prompt you have submitted or claimed:

Estimated date for your AO3 invite:

Username (if not known, please email us as soon as you have your username):

Link to your AO3 profile (once created):

Does it have to be about Star Wars?

It does have to be about Star Wars. However, crossovers and AUs are perfectly fine.

What if I write or draw NSFW work?

You are welcome to participate! But please note that no person under the age of 18 can either request NSFW work or create NSFW work for this fic exchange. All NSFW work must be appropriately categorised and tagged on AO3.

All people on the fic exchange team are over the age of 18.

How long will we have to write?

You will have from August 2023 to the start of January 2024 to write. All work should be completed and posted anonymously on AO3 by January 3rd 2024. Please wait for your date before revealing your work. We aim to spotlight one work per day.

What are the general guidelines for someone who hasn’t done a fic exchange before?

Guidelines and rules will be available in the Google form that will be circulated for prompting on August 1st at 10:30am BST. They will also be laid out on a separate Tumblr post.

What if I decide I don't want to participate anymore?

Please email toschestationexchange@gmail.com or get in touch with the team member that is doing check-ins for you. You do not have to give a reason, just let us know that you no longer want to join in.

We will try and get someone to complete the prompt in your place, but we are not liable for those who decided to abandon their work.

Do you have any tips on coming up with prompts?

Try to think of a story you would love to read about the theme.

Could it be the first few weeks of marriage for your favourite ship? Or your favourite character becoming a parent for the first time. What about the first few days after Din Djarin became Grogu's father figure or Han Solo's first few days at the rebellion?

Don't worry about covering any of those prompts or interpreting the theme in a different way. I just made them up now so they're all up for grabs. The idea is that someone writes a story for you so try and pick something you're interested in and would love to read.

Try and keep the prompt small and around similar ideas rather than something huge, elaborate, and specific. You can have a look at how prompts have worked on Tumblr for fic writers over the years. Have a think about ideas you like, enjoy, or want to see put together.

In the prompting form, what are 'deal-breakers' and what do you mean by 'things I particularly enjoy'?

'Deal-breakers' are things that you cannot stand in fanfiction. For instance, if you can't stand angst, if you hate it when people characterise a character in a certain way, or if there are tropes that automatically turn you off fan art or fanfiction. For instance, first-person work, or Y/N stories.

'Things I particularly enjoy' is the opposite of a 'deal-breaker' and things that you would really like the writer or artist to work into their piece if possible.

Please note that there is already a designated question to understand if you are comfortable with NSFW themes.

I want to include something but I'm not sure if the prompter will like it. What do I do?

Please get in touch with the toschestationexchange@gmail.com and we can message the prompter on your behalf.

Do I need to submit a prompt to participate?

You don't have to submit a prompt. You can simply select another person's prompt and create art or a story for that prompt. You can also choose to only submit a prompt.

How do I claim a prompt?

Email toschestationexchange@gmail.com or message the admin @mythicluke. You can also reach the Admin on Twitter at @toscheserver or their personal Twitter account @farmboyluke.

Please note you must be a mutual follower to message the admin on their personal Twitter. Feel free to follow the admin, @ and say you'd like to request a prompt and they will follow you back and sort it out for you.

Prompts are claimed on a first-come, first-serve basis and there will be a tumblr post laying out the prompts available with a note as to whether or not they have been claimed.

There is one artist slot and one writer slot per prompt. The tumblr post will be updated to reflect this.

How can I get in touch?

Tumblr | Twitter | Email: toschestationexchange@gmail.com

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35 Questions for Fanfiction Writers! ✨

1. From one to five stars, how would you rate your writing? (No downplaying yourself!) Three and a half? Four on a good day. I've come a long way in 18 years, and I am always looking for ways to improve my craft. Seeing how much I've learned in that time, I can only imagine how much more there is left to learn.

2. Why do you write fanfiction? I love being able to share stories with others who are already invested in the people, places, and stories of canon. I get to feel like I have a say. I like that my audience already knows so much without me having to world-build, too. It's a great community.

3. What do you think makes your writing stand out from other works? I'm a lot older than your average fanfic author these days, so I just have more experience in general on how to tell a story and what elements work well in certain places. I also research the crap out of everything I do because I don't like to spread misinformation, even in fanfic.

4. Are there any writers that inspire you? @knickynoo, @writingwife-83, @alydiarackham, @florencia7 @perrydowning - to you all, while you don't know me, I adore your works, and they inspire me to provide a worthwhile experience with a quality story. Thank you for sharing all of your amazing works with your fandoms and helping me become a better writer for it.

5. What’s the fic you’re most proud of? I'm big proud of Where You Are (Time Circuits Series #2). That story took forever to sort out the logistics, but it so paid off. It's my favorite big story in the series. Also really proud of Principles of Compromise because I came back after eight years and finished it!

6. What element of writing do you find comes easily? Dialogue. I love writing dialogue. It's what keeps people engaged and the story moving. People don't skip the dialogue!

7. What element of writing do you struggle with most? Starting. Once I start, the words will just keep coming; I know that. But I get stuck on starting so much.

8. Which character(s) do you find easiest to write? I find my OC from the Time Circuits Series, Emma Brown, easy to write because I've literally been writing her for seventeen years. Marty and Doc also get a mention because they're with her in all the stories. I'm also super good at Tony Stark, I'm told. And Cutler Beckett and Buford Tannen, my bad boys. ❤️

9. Which character(s) do you find most difficult to write? Recently, Clara Clayton, but only because I had little experience in writing her before Part 3. I'm comfortable enough with my take on her, but I always hoped others might tell me it was enough.

10. What’s your favorite genre to write for? I like drama and comedies. Angst can get fun, too!

11. Who or what do you find yourself writing about most? These crazy people whose lives revolve a time-travelling DeLorean.

12. Tell us about a WIP you’re excited about. I am very excited about the Secret Santa I'm working on right now, and I'm planning notes on a sequel to Once Upon a Time in the West! It will likely be titled "Once Upon a Time in the East" and follow Marty and Buford toward the East Coast in pursuit of a mutual enemy.

13. First fandom you ever wrote for? I guess Harry Potter? First one published was Pirates of the Caribbean.

14. What’s your favorite fandom to write for? Right now, Back to the Future. I've known these movies for 33 years, and I feel confident enough to write about them.

15. What’s the weirdest fandom you’ve ever written for? Bewitched (2005), Stranger Than Fiction, Copying Beethoven, and Die Hard.

16. Any guilty pleasure trope(s)? Arranged marriage, time travel, unplanned pregnancy, silly miscommunication/ misinterpretation

17. A trope you’ll never, ever write for. Soulmate, A/B/O, coffee shop

18. Wildest fic you’ve ever written? FFHQ for sure: Nina Cue is the newest secretarial substitute at FFHQ, a fan fiction production company. Being a “sub” is quite a unique experience — floating from fandom to fandom each day to fill in for the characters’ secretaries. The charming, insufferable James Norrington sets the tone for her foreseeable work life. With fellow subs Reese and Josh to share in her wins and woes, Nina just might survive the parties, paperwork, flirts, rivals, and drama.

19. Do you prefer canon-compliant, AUs, or something in-between? I'm all for any, depending on the mood. I wrote an OC x canon with the utmost respect for canon in mind, so I guess in between?

20. Gen fic or shippy stuff? I do tend to get shippy, but I'm just a romantic and I can't help it. Not like a romance novel-level romantic, but a small-things-are-big-gestures romantic.

21. Favorite pairing to write for? (platonic or romantic!) I have spent ten years writing Marty McFly and my OC, Emma Brown, and I must say, they go well together! I actually also really enjoyed writing for Elizabeth Swann and James Norrington even though they weren't the ship in the story! People were rooting for them and they knew it wasn't the endgame lol. I also wrote a lot of Tony Stark and Pepper Potts (Pepperony)! Apparently I've just got a knack for these two!

22. Do you listen to anything while you write? I do have playlists cultivated to go with each specific story I'm working on (mostly film/ TV/ video game scores), but when music isn't helping, I'll listen to rain or thunderstorms!

23. Do you prefer prompts and challenges, or completely independent ideas? I think a lot of original ideas can come from prompts and challenges! I'm about to start a sequel on a little side story I wrote for Cowboyvember, and I'm taking it so seriously! But the ideas within the story are fairly original.

24. One-shots or multi-chaptered works? Usually one-shots because TIME. But if the work count isn't crazy, I'll do multichapter.

25. Have you ever daydreamed about side adventures/spin-offs from your fic? Tell us about them! I do! For Time Circuits Series, I think about Marty and Emma having those four daughters Marty joked about. I think about going back to write the 1985A version of their counterparts' stories. Maybe an origin story for Doc and Emma's mother. For "Once Upon a time in the West", I'm about to work on the sequel, "Once Upon a Time in the East".

26. Is there anything you’ve wanted to write, but you’ve been too scared to try? Yes, and I'm actually starting to try it for the first time in my "Once Upon a Time in the West Stories" — sexuality. I've written pretty vanilla stuff my whole life, but I want to give this stuff a shot because I know how to be respectful and tread lightly (but appreciate being told otherwise if that's not the case as I'm not experienced).

27. What’s the nicest comment you’ve ever received? This one has stuck with me since it was posted to Where You're Going (Time Circuits #1) on FFN in 2015, and it's the one that inspired me to maintain these expectations as I continued the trilogy: "I am completely head over heels for your story! Emma is a wonderful character and I think she has a good amount of Doc in her, which I've seen other variations of his daughter lack. Also I love how you've incorporated her into the story so smoothly, giving her a sub-plot that intertwines so well with the movie but doesn't feel forced at all. While reading I actually found myself forgetting that she wasn't actually IN the movie. Your writing style is wonderfully lively and I can't wait to read more!"

28. How well do you handle criticism regarding your writing? So, I was writing an excellent piece for a creative writing assignment in college. The next day, the professor hands out copies to the entire class, and they DESTROY it. And I was hurt and embarrassed at the time (yay, RSD), but it was THE BEST THING that EVER happened to me as a writer. I use the one class period EVERY SINGLE TIME I WRITE as a lesson, motivation, and key to putting my best out there. Thank you, Dr. Craig. After that, I can happily handle whatever criticism people want to throw at me.

29. Have you ever gone outside of your comfort zone for a fic? How did it turn out? I did that with "Once Upon a Time in the West". I made Marty bisexual, though he's kind of in denial about it and still leans more toward women. I've never touched anything like that before. And I wrote about depression a lot in the story. Also new-ish territory now that I'm writing with experience.

30. Tooth-rotting fluff or merciless angst? Both.

31. Do you have any OCs? Tell us about them! I never shut up about Emma Brown, the teenage daughter I gave Doc Brown in my rewrite of the Back to the Future film trilogy. She's a little brainy like her dad but not quite there yet, heavily sarcastic to the point it's a shield/ coping mechanism, loves peanut butter and old sitcoms, outgoing, outspoken, has terrible handwriting, and an unspoken romantic. Her mother died in childbirth on Aug 9, 1968. You can find out more about her — and see her — here!

32. Summarize a random fic of yours in 10 words or less. "Marty and Buford begrudgingly respect each other sort of"

33. Is there anything you wish your audience knew about your writing or writing process? I do it all between working motherhood. I write on my work computer, my phone, my couch, my bed, my desk, my dining room table. I have full-blown conversations with myself in my notebooks as a kind of Roundtable of Ericas discussion for figuring out big plot points and they never disappoint!

34. Copy and paste an excerpt you’re particularly fond of. This excerpt is from Where You're Going (Time Circuits #1), Chapter 14: Of the Essence, in which Emma has been tasked with writing the letter to warn her father about the Libyans and turns to Marty for help. That letter always has to come from Marty for me, and this was how I made that work (and snuck in some romance):

"I can't do it."

Marty looked up from the television as Emma fell into the couch next to him, defeated.

"Can't do what?"

"I can't write the letter!" she half-whispered in frustration. She grabbed the throw pillow at the far end of the couch and pushed it into her uneasy stomach as she tucked her feet up under herself. "I don't know what to say! What do I say? Should I tell him everything or be as vague as possible? Do I tell him who I am? Is that even relevant to the whole thing? I don't know if it should be short or long or scolding or sorry or just…euragh!"

Her overwhelmed nerves sent her forehead between his shoulder and the couch with a helpless, muffled grunt of resignation. Marty's eyebrows raised at her outburst.

"I need your help," she practically whimpered.

Marty sighed, calmly looking over at her crinkled mass of loose waves spilling over his shoulder. The television's light gave her rounded back and calves sharp contrast, but the firelight touched her wild tresses with all of the soft warmth of an oil painting.

He swallowed.

…What the hell, McFly?

Suddenly, her breath found that exposed part of skin where his shirt had ridden up against the cushions, and he blinked at the sensation, rolling his neck slowly to ward off the goose bumps travelling up his spine.

Now was not the time to be dwelling on such things - such things as Emma recently being able to desensitize him as easily as throwing a switch, for example. And when exactly had "recently" started?

He should not have even entertained acknowledging this stuff right now. Whatever "this stuff" was. Not when she was on the verge of legitimately wigging out. You'd think the girl had misplaced her organic nomenclature notes to the point of searching the freezer again.

The situation at hand, however, was way more serious. Doc didn't get shot by terrorists because Emma couldn't find Chemistry notes. And regardless of what involuntary thoughts, feelings, and reactions he had "recently" been having towards the girl stuffed into his shoulder blade, she was a friend that needed him above all else right now.

Carefully, Marty shifted his right side into the arm of the chair.

"Em."

Already emotionally numbed from her escapades at the writing desk, Emma hadn't the mind to do anything but bat her eyelashes as Marty laid back into the corner of the sofa, took the throw pillow from her, and dropped it to his lap. Emma hazily stared at Marty's arm outstretched beside her. He nodded to himself, the fingers of his left hand extending a quick, fluttering invitation to come closer. Her eyes met his in a wordless exchange, and he simply reached for her.

Before Emma could let herself overthink more things than she was already overthinking, she boredly told herself to shut up, stretched out on her right side, and let her head settle into the pillow. The curve of her neck relaxed as black and white flickers from the television danced along it. In some other state of mind, she would be incredibly proud of herself for not flinching as Marty's arm draped over her, fingertips barely touching the pleated waist of her silken nightdress.

Right now, his contact seemed a necessity, not a desire. She needed somebody, something to reassure her that all three of them were going to come out on the other end of this thing okay. It seemed to be all catching up to her after being bombarded with the questions posed while writing the letter to her father; one wrong move was all it took. Emma putting one word out of place, Marty pushing his father out from in front of a car, Doc miscalculating by a single decimal place – everything hung in the balance of the simplest things that shouldn't require any thought or no-never-mind.

Instead, she folded her knees up over her churning stomach. She sighed again as Marty's thumb grazed a small spot on her arm. Rin Tin Tin came back from commercial break.

"What do we do?" Emma asked at length.

Marty looked down at her, lowering his fist from the side of his face. Her rosy nightgown and Doc's oversized robe cascaded over her and off the couch, much as her hair had sprawled into his lap. He couldn't count how many times they'd hung out on the couch at the end of a long study session or because they simply didn't want to do anything for the rest of the day. And, yes, they'd sat shoulder-to-shoulder occasionally and dozed off that way, but having her laying at his side with his arm around her like this?

Friendly casualness, comforting, what have you; everything aside, this was a first.

And it felt like they'd done it a hundred times.

Wow.

Swallowing, Marty gently clutched the excess of robe at her waist. "We'll write it together tomorrow."

"Do you think we're going to be okay?"

Marty's heart sank. Emma, who had been barreling headlong through this week so very brave-faced, was finally beginning to show the hope wilting within her. He sat back into the couch. Of all the difficult questions she had ever asked him, this was one of the hardest.

"Of course we are," he whispered, trying to convince himself as much as her. He curled his hand over hers. "We're going home tomorrow night, Em. Where your dad is alive and waiting for us."

Emma's throat thickened. Her lips shook.

"I miss him, Marty."

He squeezed her hand and didn't let go.

"So do I."

35. Ramble about any fic-related thing you want! When I got back into writing last year, I planned to wrap up the fics I'd left unfinished and be at peace with fan fic, maybe be more of a reader than writer after that. Now, I'm putting out more than I ever have, thanks to finding the BttF community on Tumblr; they just want me to keep writing my crazy adventures and I want to share them! So maybe I'm not done writing just yet. :)