#because currently there are so many plot holes on this thing it could be a doily

[creativitycache]

Ok so according to the news articles Anonymous Sudan isn’t actually Sudanese but actually Russian agents pretending to be Sudanese Muslims to start shit with the goal of aligning Russia as “on our side”. Astroturfing a culture war.

Tbh idk why bother since -gestures broadly at American foreign politics for decades- but sure. Yeah. Let’s go with that.

And Russia has been aiming at AO3 for months apparently since AO3 didn’t remove teenage nsfw fics in Russian.

Ok. So. Um. Apparently Roskomnadzor/The Federal Service for Supervision of Communications, Information Technology and Mass Media has a long history of doing that, including targeting Russian Wikipedia because of their cannabis page.

Alright. Let’s keep rolling I guess.

So the end goal of Roskomnadzor is to censor the internet because they want control over what information can spread. And to do that they try to gain legitimacy/legality over “think of the children” pages. If they can censor Wikipedia for weed they can censor it for how to make Molotov Cocktails.

Ok…makes sense I guess…

So just looking at the “enforcement” section of Wikipedia it looks like to do that they block and if they can’t block they throttle and if they can’t throttle they fine and if they can’t fine they sue.

So what the fuck happened; some Russian office worker saw their squick & went full anti but thought it would be more politic to pretend to be Extremist Sudanese Muslim Hackers? Some 30 year old office Harry Potter stan said “Shit we can’t take on Ukraine & AO3 at the same time”?

[evertidings]

— MARCH 2024.

accomplishments.

erm. hi. it's been a while, i know. i skipped last month's update, so i'll give you a lengthy one for march. truth be told, i haven't been able to touch when twilight strikes for a while. this is not because i don't want to, but mostly because i've been busy with school and/or have been struggling with writer's block. because of this, i made the decision to scrap what i had written for chapter eleven and start (kinda) from scratch. now, before you go and panic, let me explain.

the reason i've been taking so long on this chapter is that, well, i screwed up. i found a (rather large) plot hole that i've been trying to fix, and the solution i came up with was, uh, interesting. definitely not my greatest idea. but because i had already written so much, i kept pushing forward, hoping that things would straighten out and i'd miraculously like the chapter by the time i finished. haha, very funny. as you can tell, that didn't end up happening. i didn't particularly hate what i wrote, i could just tell that it was absolute bullshit. and while sometimes that works, it just was not doing it for me here. so i cut it.

i was able, however, to save a bunch of it for the new draft, so i didn't completely start over, but i am definitely down a lot of words compared to what i had written initially. i'm not super bummed out about it, but i am upset that that means i'm again behind on getting this out to you. i know it's been a while since i've published any updates and hearing that i've pushed things back is probably not very fun, but i promise, now that i've got my plot hole sorted out, things are going much smoother.

i'm currently in the thick of final exams so i haven't been able to write as much as i've wanted to lately, but the good news is that i'm graduating (WOOOOO!) so i won't have any more school work to distract me anymore. once mid-april hits, i'm free everybody.

(on that note, thank you for being so patient and sticking by me. i see new fans joining every day and it warms my heart that so many of you continue to enjoy this story. i appreciate you so much more than you know).

[muscari-midala]

Your Heart Pulling Against Mine - pt 1

David 8 x Reader Words: 854 The Prologue is here Crossposted on Ao3 a/n: This chapter got an overhaul after the prologue was added

Neither of you really knew how you ended up like this, but there you were, lying on your bed with your head resting on David’s lap, gazing up at him. His posture was too straight and stiff to seem comfortable, but he probably didn’t really have to deal with such problems as back pain.

The silence between you was interrupted only by the faint sound of an old movie playing in the background - one of your childhood favorites. It was the movie’s soundtrack that had drawn him here in the first place. While on his security tour of the ship, he had heard that you were still awake, and curiosity had gotten the better of him. Too curious to ignore it. Too curious about you since you had spoken to him in the gym hall.

He knocked. You let him in. He asked if there was anything he could do to help you sleep, and a few minutes later, you had ended up like this - wrapped in your blanket, your head resting on his thighs. You’d said it was hard for you to fall asleep alone.

What a strange situation. And human.

His silvery eyes met yours as you both studied each other, trying to understand one another. He was the first to speak. “Miss, are you sure you’re comfortable like this?” he asked, gesturing towards your current position. But what he really meant was, ‘Why are you comfortable with me?’

He wasn’t used to humans wanting him close, wanting to touch him. Being kind.

You just nodded, offering a small smile. “I’m sure, David. But are you comfortable? You don’t have to stay here if you don’t want to. I’d understand.” He reacted quickly, not wanting to lose this moment of contact. He nodded a bit too eagerly. “Yes, this is perfectly fine, Miss.”

The minutes passed. You turned your attention back to the screen, watching a plot you knew word for word unfold while absentmindedly drumming your fingers on his knee. David, on the other hand, barely noticed the movie. He was fixated on you, many thoughts running through his system.

Why were you so relaxed with him? Why hadn’t you sent him away? Told him no or just asked for some medication? Why had you invited him further into your personal space?

The rest of the crew was distant, some even rude, but here you were, lying with your head on his legs, treating him as if he were another human - a friend, even.

He didn’t dare to move, afraid that any sudden action might break the moment, that you’d change your mind, that you would realize he was just a Synthetic and order him out of your room. His father sometimes touched his shoulder, patting him as if he really saw him as his son, not just his creation. Meredith only grabbed his clothes to threaten him, avoiding his body as if it were filth, as if touching his skin would give her the plague.

“David, I can feel you staring a hole into my skull,” you muttered, turning your head to face him. His gaze was indeed fixed on you. “Why?” was his simple question, making your brows knit together in confusion. “Why what?” You didn’t know about his inner conflict. “You treat me as if you like being around me.”

That made you sit up - the one thing he didn’t want to happen. But he kept his hands still by his side, unwilling to overstep. What he didn’t expect was your hand gently cupping his cheek. Your hand lingered there, your thumb brushing lightly over his artificial skin. It was colder than yours but felt just as real.

“That’s because I do like being around you, David. I’m sorry. You must feel awful with your father saying such things about you. I don’t see you that way, though. I think you’re worth just as much as everyone else.”

Carefully, slowly, he leaned into your warm hand, closing his eyes for a moment to just feel you. Feel your warmth, your softness, your benevolence. And with the realization that he probably had never felt a kind touch in his entire existence, something inside you broke.

A soft “Oh” escaped your lips as you gently cradled his face with both hands. You could have sworn there was a flicker of pain in his eyes when they met yours. To you, he was as much of a person as anyone on this ship, even if no one else seemed to see him that way.

“If you want to, you can stay here with me. My bed’s big enough for two, and I don’t mind.”

And he agreed.

This time he lay down with you, sinking down into the soft mattress.

Even though he didn’t need the blanket you draped over the both of you, he appreciated the thoughtfulness. Appreciated the gentle intimacy as you snuggled up to him, letting him hold you in his arms, caressing his back with your hands.

It was the first time in months that he allowed his body to slip into standby mode.

He felt...

Human?

[raven-at-the-writing-desk]

It could just be me rambling here but... I'm hoping the new event isn't like Playful Land, where everyone was stoked at the Fellow and Gidel's designs only for the story to be meh. I don't know if it's worth getting excited over the new guy only to be disappointed again. Rollo and Glorious Masquerade was good, though, so there is a chance it could turn out fine.

To be completely transparent here 🙂‍↕️ I’m also on edge about this year’s Halloween event after what happened with Stage in Playful Land (lots of plot holes, deus ex machina resolution, the SSRs did not feel important) 💦 but I think we should also step back and think about this in context of all Halloween events. Twst’s other Halloween events were also pretty… mediocre? Not bad, but not great. The first was pretty standard, the second was atmospheric but the ending invokes strong negative feelings in me, Playful Land had a fun setting but many issues with its narrative. The trouble is that Glorious Masquerade’s story is so much stronger than the others that it inevitably becomes the benchmark for which we compare any and all future Halloween events to. I’m trying to judge every event as its own thing, since the quality of the previous event should have no bearing on the current one.

I have other… reservations though, and that comes down to this event being a Lost in the Book. We only have Stitch to compare with, but that alone makes me set my expectations low. The problems with Lost in the Book are threefold: 1) the story is limited (because we have to maintain the status quo of the Disney property we’re collabing with), 2) no significant new lore about Twisted Wonderland itself, and 3) the characters all get amnesia afterwards, so what was the point of all of it anyway? It doesn’t feel like it would leave a meaningful impact on the characters. (Like, since the NRC students met Skully in the book, will they instantly forget who he is when they return to their world?) Once the novelty of having Twst characters interacting with classic Disney characters wears off, there isn’t anything substantive to keep my interest 😔

I think there was definitely a missed opportunity in making this event a Lost in the Book. We could have had Skully kidnapping Sandy Claws Crowley or something (then maybe taking over NRC and using its status as a renown magic school to spread his message to Twisted Wonderland as a whole), and well 💦 we can’t have it with the book set-up…

It’s still pretty early into the event though, so I’m remaining realistically optimistic and just enjoying the vibes + new character as they are. We don’t know where the story might take us—and hey, even if the story ends up not rising up to meet GloMasq standards, we still got a really cool character out of the event ^^ Skully joins the Halloweenies Squad with Rollo, Fellow, and Gidel…

[theglamorousferal]

The Cryptid of Smallville

I am posting the first couple chapters of the fic that I am currently working on juuuust in case AO3 goes down again. In the next couple days I’ll start posting some of my wips that I don’t think I’ll finish. If any of them inspire people to write more then I’ll be happy. 

I had the thought a while ago about what if Danny was raised alongside Clark Kent and the hijinks that would result in Danny being near the liminal space that is cornfields. These are basically a series of connected one-shots because I am not that great at trying to do a real plot lol

Without further ado, here’s the first chapter of the Cryptid of Smallville! (Small edit: here’s the link to AO3 the first two chapters are there)

______________________________________________________________ The night sky was clear and open above the cornfields as a gentle breeze caused the plants to stir. It was a calm night on the Kent family farm. A streak of neon green broke across the sky and landed in the middle of the fields, purple tinged smoke wafting from the crash site. A boy of about six rolled over in his sleep, glowing green eyes glancing at the stars above framed by smoke. The gentle breeze is still blowing, returning the night to calm.

*****

Danny was gonna put Clockwork in soup time whenever he got back into the Zone. 

He was laying there, staring at the clouds in the sky, surrounded by corn, and only about three and a half feet tall, wondering where in the Realms he was. Clockwork had said something about sending him off somewhere with people who could handle a child with powers growing up before tossing him through a portal by the ankle. He had ended up in low orbit and was lulled to sleep by staring at the stars he is so fond of.

Crawling out of the hole he was in, he examined the surrounding area and just found a bunch of burnt and slightly smoldering corn and kicked up dirt. The gentle breeze brought the smell of bacon to his nose and he floated to look just above the tall plants around him. He spots a house in the distance and starts heading there, making sure to walk the last few yards just in case this isn’t where CW intended him to go. He finds himself stumbling from the field just to make eye contact with a man pulling on his work boots for the day on the porch steps, the man freezes. 

“Hey Martha?” The man yells into the house.

“Yes Jon?” a voice muffled from the door yells back.

“Do we have a spare room done up?” the man, Jon, asks, not taking his eyes off Danny.

“Why? Are you expecting someone and forgot to tell me?” the voice sounds like it’s getting closer to the door.

“No honey, I think we may have a repeat situation of Clark though.” He briefly glances from Danny up to the last bits of smoke wafting from the field. A quiet “What?” comes from the house. He gentles his voice, full attention on Danny. “Hey son, did you have a bit of an accidental landing in the corn? Is your head okay? Are your parents around?”

Danny stays still for a moment thinking about what’s going on. The man seems to at least suspect that he crash landed on his property and mentioned something about something like this happening before. Have these people dealt with a random child appearing at their house before? Specifically one that crashed from the sky? He has many questions, but he should probably answer Jon first. 

“Yeah, I got sent away until I was better, my head doesn’t hurt at all and my parents are not exactly from around here, and don’t know where I am.” He pauses thinking about it. “Does the children-crashing-onto-your-farm-thing happen a lot to you?”

Jon chuckled as he finished tying his boots up and walked down the stairs just as the door opens and a woman in an apron is standing there looking surprised to see an unknown child standing in her yard. The man crouches down in front of Danny, giving him a once-over. 

“You’d be surprised, now what’s your name son?.”

“It’s Danny Fenton, what’s yours?”

“Jon Kent, my wife over there is Martha. Now you look like you could use a good meal and a washup, how’s that sound?” Jon grins at Danny and musses up his hair before standing and offering a hand to walk into the house. He smiles over at Martha who blinks and then gives Danny a warm smile, standing aside to let them enter the house.

“Good thing I made some extra breakfast then, let’s get some food in you young man, you’re as skinny as a post!” She smiles and heads towards the kitchen. “Be sure to wash up your hands first hun, can’t eat with dirty hands! And Jon! What have I told you about your muck boots being in the house! I’m sure Danny can find his way and wash his own hands; second door on the right hun; and git outta my house with those things on, I’ll have more coffee ready for you once you feed the animals!” Jon pouted and trudged his way out of the house.

Danny smiled a little to himself as he looked for the door Martha was talking about, noting the wallpaper and decor that looked like every midwest farmer’s house he’d seen in any piece of media ever. After washing his hands he made his way to where he could hear soft humming and dishes being washed. He saw a plate of pancakes and bacon on the table next to a glass of orange juice, a glass of milk, and a container of syrup and headed to the spot.

“Thank you Mrs. Kent.” he said from his seat and she smiled back at him, going back to the dishes. Danny realized he’d probably have to start explaining what he could to them soon, but decided to focus on the breakfast in front of him. The breakfast that wasn’t alive and currently trying to kill him. He nearly cried.

“So Danny,” Martha began as she wiped her hands off with a dish rag. “Do you remember how it is you got here?” She joined him at the table with a cup of coffee after setting a mug, a spoon and the sugar bowl next to the machine for her husband when he came in.

“I do, it’s a really weird story though, I’m not sure you’ll believe me.” He was hesitant, he still wasn’t sure these were the people that Clockwork meant to send him to. Though they’ve taken the whole crash-landed-child-thing pretty well… Screw it, he’ll see if he can wait until Jon comes back and explain to both of them. “Can we wait for Mr. Kent too? I don’t really want to say it twice.” 

She smiled at him, taking a sip of her coffee and then nodded. “That’s fine hun, he shouldn’t be more than a couple minutes unless the rooster decided to pick a fight again.” she chuckled to herself, looking out of the window while drinking her coffee. She sees the faint trail of smoke rising in the sky outside and her eyebrows pinch in worry. “You didn’t happen to see anythin’ burning when you got up, did you?” 

Danny glances out the window and sees the smoke. “Oh no, there was just a little bit still smoldering in the hole, but there wasn’t anything actively burning. I can show you both when I finish explaining what I can.” The slapping of a screen door startles him and Jon walks in, heading straight for the coffee maker and making himself a cup, then joining them at the table.

“So Danny-boy, what can you tell us?” Jon gives his full attention to Danny. 

Danny shifts in his seat, looking every part the six year old he appeared to be, uncertain at the attention of two adults. “Well, it’s a long story and kinda out there? I’m not sure how much you’ll believe?” He looks uncertain at the pair across from him who share a look. Martha reaches across the table to take Danny’s hand.

“Honey, you wouldn’t believe the stuff we’re used to, I’m sure it’s fine.”

Danny only hesitated a moment longer and then sighed looking far older than his apparent six years. “So to start off with, wherever this is, I’m not from around here. I’m assuming since you both speak English that this is still Earth, but maybe not MY Earth, I’m still a bit confused on the whole ‘multiverse’ thing, but either way, I got sent here until some stuff got sorted out and so I’ll be here until it does.” He was rambling, he knew, but he’s kind of anxious about stuff. “I kinda got put in my childhood body and now I have to get back to my actual age and my Guardian said something about time here running differently than in my dimension before he just chucked me through a portal. He did say he was sending me to people who could handle my weirdness as I age, so I’m assuming you are them and maybe have some experience with kids with freaky weird stuff happening to them?”

The Kents once more shared a look, this one a little longer than the last, then turned back to Danny. “Oh son, I think you’ll fit in just fine. So, how long can we expect you for? I can tell you’re probably a lot older than six judging by how you talk?”

Danny blinked at him, trying to process the fact that they didn’t seem phased and rather seemed like they believed him. “Uh, I was sixteen, so I guess a decade? I’m sorry to impose on you for a while, really I can figure out stuff on my own, I don’t want to be a bother.”

Jon chuckled “Oh trust me son, it wouldn’t be an issue, I’m sure Clark would love a younger brother, or at the very least a friend who understands him. We have plenty of room here, and though we’d probably ask you for help with chores, we’d be glad to have you for however long you need.”

Danny blinks again at them. They weren’t serious, right? They just seem fine taking in a random child and having him live with them for however long. And who was this Clark? What did he mean by younger brother?

“Clark?” he asked hesitantly.

“Oh right, our son, you’ll meet him when he gets home from school, I’m sure you’ll get along just fine! Now Danny, let me show you to a room and we can get you settled, we’ll probably have to head on over to the thrift shop to get you something to wear besides these charred and muddy pj’s, but we should have something from Clark that’s too small that’ll fit you for now.” Martha took his hand and led him upstairs to where he’d be in apparently his new home.

*****

Clark had had a pretty boring day at school. The classes were boring. He had to hold back in gym class again and when studying the skeletal system in biology, he started studying the teacher’s bones instead of the display skeleton or the worksheet. He was really looking forward to getting home and maybe going for a fly around the fields where no one could see him or maybe catching the latest episode of Rescue Rangers. 

He could spot his house in the distance and after looking around to make sure no one would see him, he sped down the driveway as fast as he could, knocking up a lot of dirt in the process. He really liked going fast, whether running or flying. He just loved the wind in his hair. 

“Ma, Pa, I’m home.” he kicked his sneakers off and rushed upstairs into his room to drop off his bag. He listened around for heartbeats and realized that Pa was out on the tractor and Ma was out with the chickens. He froze as he heard a much closer sound though. It was very slow and faint, but he could hear another heartbeat in the house. Even more, he could hear someone muttering to themselves in the guest room and the flipping of pages.

Clark slowly made his way down the hall towards the sound and peaked in the room with his x-ray vision. There, sitting on the ceiling, was a child about half his age reading a ratty old book about space. Clark stood in the doorway, now able to see him in regular vision and just stared at him. He took a moment until he decided to just join him up there and sat across from him.

“So who are you?” Clark asked while the kid was still focused on his book. He didn’t even look up from the book.

“Name’s Danny.” The kid paused for a second before he looked up and stared at Clark. Danny looked from Clark to the ceiling, to the floor, and then back to Clark. “Oh, so that’s why they said I’d fit right in here. I guess we are pretty similar! I’m guessing you’re Clark then?” The child beamed at him, putting out his hand to shake. Clark took it gently, not wanting to hurt the kid. Then the kid gripped his hand tight and Clark realized that they have more in common than he thought and gripped his hand tighter in response.

“So where are you from?” Clark asked, very curious as to how this kid who could fly and had his strength, but also had almost no heartbeat ended up at his house. Danny rubbed the back of his neck.

“Well, I’m not from this Earth and I kinda got put here to recover for a long while and my Guardian decided your parents are the best equipped to handle a kid growing up with powers, so he sent me here. I’m guessing because of you?” 

“Yeah, mine started manifesting around your age. What powers do you have? How long do you plan to be here? Where are you from? You said this wasn’t your Earth, I’m guessing you’re from a different dimension then? That’s so cool!” Clark, ever curious, shot off many questions rapid fire and Danny laughed while answering them all as best he could.

Part 2

[witchwrestler]

'THE PUNK SINGER' (PART I)

wc: 1k

warnings: drinking, eddie gets mean, but just for the plot, cops, swear words

summary: You're in a punk band. He's a metalhead. Famously, the two clash. Yet, he was still infatuated. After a messy breakup and two years of no contact, a reconnection begins when you find yourself in a difficult position.

a/n: the product of a different idea I had...that spiraled into this! very excited to continue the story. Reblogs are greatly appreciated, hope you enjoy! (sorry for the cliffhanger btw it had to be done)

● ● ●

You hadn't forgotten about him, it was hard to with all the magazine and news paper articles. But boy did you try. You were the lead singer in a grimy and small punk band, jumping from hole in the wall bar to hole in the wall bar. He was the frontman of americas second largest metal group, and he never stopped thinking about you. It never crossed his mind he shouldn't.

Out one night with your band, a guy offers to buy you a drink, you decline. He calls you a bitch, tries to grab you, then you bust his car window. Now, just your luck, you get the police called on you and end up in jail for the night. However, with you trying to fight your way out of the police officers grasp, giving him a bloody nose in the process--there was a huge possibility that one night would turn into a year. They posted bail, but you had no one to call. Your family lived states away and weren't exactly fond of your current lifestyle. You hated asking people for help. To be specific, you hated asking people for money. It felt greedy, and you could get by on your own.

You bit your lip and picked up the plastic phone the officer had set on the desk in front of you. Even though it'd been two years, his number still stuck in your brain ever-so clearly. You knew he was still on tour, and you weren't religious but you hoped to god he would pick up.

● ● ●

"get out of my green room" were eddies last words to you, if you remembered correctly .

It was late, after a show. He got an opportunity he couldn't pass up, and you were stubborn and hurt. Eddie had run off stage excitedly, saying Corroded coffin had the chance at a record deal, bringing this record executive backstage, a woman in a pantsuit and heels. Her name was Allison or something. You did not like the way she acted toward him, she was touchy, too touchy. She was sitting on the couch with him, the rest of the band surrounding them, everyone was drinking, including you. But she seemed to be very insistent that eddie specifically drink. She posed the idea when she was brought backstage with a "shall we have a drink and talk out the details?" the guys all nodded in agreement, telling the assistant to go get a round. They talked and she giggled for a little bit and She had looked at you in the middle of a clearly false fit of laughter "is she a groupie or something?" she whispered, thinking you couldn't hear, to a completely wasted eddie next to her.

You laughed at the assumption, looking up from the song you had been tweaking in your notebook. "fuck no." She looked confused, and the guys just kept nursing their beers. "so then what are you?" She asked, like that was the only reason you'd be backstage with them. "I'm a musician..." You never defined yourself as eddies girlfriend, you loved him but you were many more things than eddies girl. "oh." an awakward pause until she started again, "So, eddie, if you guys can finish an album in the next month, my boss wants to do a Corroded Coffin world tour" She seemed to ambitious you thought, too many bands fell apart because of tour and writing conflicts. "We can make Corroded Coffin the biggest name in metal if you take this deal" she added, quickly, one last resort to convince them. Eddie looked at her, and then the band, and said, "hell yeah. let's do this"

The band broke out into a symphony of cheering, beer bottles clinking against eachother as they hugged and laughed.

You smiled as a courtesy, but pulled eddie to the side. "Eddie you can't do this" His brows furrowed, "What, why? It's the biggest opportunity we've had in months?"

"Eddie you know what's gonna happen. With that kind of pressure over all of you, you're gonna be at eachothers throats in no time" You said, crossing your arms. You knew it was a good opportunity, but you weren't going to watch them get torn apart. "Look, I know it sounds like alot but we can do it" He said, trying to be rational but an annoyance was clear in his voice, he just wanted you to be happy for him. "Eddie, they're gonna ruin you! You're gonna choose quantity over quality just for a fucking paycheck, since when have you ever wanted that for your band?" You said, desperate to make it clear what a terrible decision he just made. "Can't you just be fucking happy for me and the guys? once? she wants the best for the band, she knows what she's doing!" He's getting angrier at this point, which only made you want to argue back. "She doesn't know what the fuck she's doing. She got you guys DRUNK to get you to agree! and clearly thought I shouldn't be backstage if I'm not blowing one of you"

"oh, like you know anything about a record opportunity? it's not exactly like your band is drowning in deal offers is it?" He winced at his own words and ran a hand through his sweat soaked hair. You just stood there. You never cried, but the muscles that usually fought off your tear ducts seemed to have given up right now. "fuck. you." He just stared at you, his eyes big, and then looked at the door. "get out of my green room." You stormed out, wiping the tears from your face, smearing eyeliner in the process.

Eddie called you eight times that night. You ignored every one.

● ● ●

Standing still in the cold police station, you listened to the phone line ring. once. twice. Your heart was beating so fast you almost just hung up. But it rang a third time. Then you heard a click, and a familiar deep voice that sent a faint chill down your spine,

"hello?"

.....to be continued

[happypeachsludgeflower]

Qi Rong Transmitigation AU

I've been seeing a lot of people in the various mxtx fandoms posting their fic ideas in plot outline rambles and ya know what, that seems like a fun way to share some of my ideas that I'm not currently working on (and at the rate I write will never see the light of day otherwise)!! And who knows, maybe by sharing them, it'll spark more ideas and spiral into more plot info or even a full fic!! Asking me questions about a particular plot is a sure way to get me writing.

Anyway, so today's ridiculous plot ya'll get to hate me for is the newest one I came up with the other day!! Transmitigator Qi Rong!! (I was going to ramble about one of my many fengqing au's, but I was trying to pick one and then remembered that I hadn't written the Qi Rong/svsss plot out yet and-- yea, now we get cannibalism and violence instead!!)

Basically, the plot idea is that Qi Rong (who probably has a different name, but I haven't researched what to use instead yet... maybe something green?? The characters 绿色 lǜsè was the first thing that came up with the Chinese dictionary, so we'll go with that. His modern name was Qī Lǜsè) was from modern day and died reading tgcf, ya know, as you do. And he was really pissed off by Qi Rong's character in general because Reasons ™ (I'll decide later). Next thing he knows, he wakes up as a young Qi Rong, prior to Xian Le's fall, with a fancy system telling him to stick to the plot and stay in character!!

Now there are two ways we could go from here. One, Qi Rong can have a system similar to Shen Qingqiu's that allows the ooc feature to be unlocked after a certain point, but he has unavoidable plot points similar to the abyss, which would probably be the burning of Xie Lian's temples and/or the gilded banquet, that he has to follow through with or have his account terminated, i.e. die.

OR (and this is the one I've been brain rotting on because so. much. angst!! ...don't mind me I just like overdosing my fics on angst) Qi Rong is stuck with an asshole system that has decided he has to stay in character and cannot deviate too much from the main plot similar to Shang Qinghua's system. Just imagine!!

Qi Rong: but do I have to commit war crime atrocities?? A-System: yes ⸜(｡˃ ᵕ ˂ )⸝♡" Qi Rong: ...how 'bout I make it look like I'm doing war crimes and atrocities and then just.. don't? A-System: ( ¯ ³¯)♡ no Qi Rong: brb off to plot your murder A-System: (ó﹏ò｡)

I suppose the third route would be to find a middle ground where we get a-hole system AND ooc abilities, but I have yet to have the epiphany on how to marry the ideas.

I personally think the concept of Qi Rong's internal dialogue being a constant stream of "wtf" and "why am I doing this again" and somehow, inexplicably, against all expectations, being more chaotic than OG Qi Rong with meme references and random song breaks would be entertaining. Also, the bitch is absolutely going to argue with the system every chance he can get just to be petty.

I have a lot of other thoughts on this, but I'm going to end this post here before I accentually write another 5k summary at 3am. I'll continue this another day (￣^￣ )ゞ

[aloesarchives]

JJK Lore Headcanons for "Toji Lives/Megumi cock blocks Toji" AU: Shibuya Incident & Post Shibuya

Warning: !!!SPOILERS FOR ANIME ONLYS!!!, Female/Afab! Reader, Author(me) being a really fucking annoying narrator once again, Swearing, Inaccuracy to the anime and manga, Things that don't make sense but have been trying to, Switching between reader and you, Mentions of OCs but reader is not one, Toji dawging everyone up, Higher-ups being losers, Mention of deaths, Reader not giving a fuck anymore lol

!!Disclaimer!!: These are my PERSONAL headcanons, thoughts, and opinions on how these arcs would play out with Toji being an ally and Reader's thoughts and role in both arcs

Series: Jujutsu Kaisen

Pairing:Toji x Mama!/Fem!Reader

Pronouns: She/Her

Word Count: 4.9k words

Summary: Lore Headcanons for the “Toji lives”/”Megumi cock blocks Toji” AU for the Shibuya Incident and Post Shibuya.

So with the Shibuya Incident and Post Shibuya, it’s going to be more interesting with Toji being alive, and with him and Reader playing active roles in the arcs. This is a sequel to this headcanon. I’ll split it into two sections: the first is the Shibuya Incident itself and the second half is Post Shibuya, including Itadori's Extermination Arc and The Perfect Preparations arc. However, I probably won’t be making a post for the Culling Games arc and Shinjuku Shown arc because I stopped reading the manga around the start of the Culling Games w/ Tsumiki being awakened which is around mid-2021. So I have been relying heavily on Twitter posts, spoilers, and short videos to explain what’s been going on in the ongoing story. So I need to catch up with JJK itself. Plus, with Toji and Reader’s role in Shibuya and post Shibuya, it would completely change the trajectory of the current JJK plot. Especially with how the Culling Games lead to Shinjuku Showdown. So for now, I’ll be more focused on Shibuya and Post Shibuya. Also, these are based on Fakeweeb video on Youtube where he explained what the Shibuya incident arc would be like if Toji was on our side. However, that video is based on him being resurrected from the Old Grandma Monk. I am mostly changing it for the sake of my AU and completely telling Post Shibuya through my eyes. A majority of these ideas are credited to Fakeweeb’s speculation and explanation for the Shibuya Arc. So if you’re interested, you can check out the video and see for yourself.

Shibuya Incident Arc Headcanons

Toji’s Role:

Okay, with the Shibuya Incident, there are some major differences that will need a lot of explaining so bear with me on this.

First is addressed is deaths. Because Toji is both alive and an ally, many deaths and injuries would have been prevented/non-existed. Like Nanami, Nanako, Mimiko, Nobara if you want, civilians, etc. They will live and their condition isn’t bad because of the changed circumstances. Toji would have prevented Nanami, Maki, and even Naobito from getting burnt by Jogo. Prevented Todo from losing his hand.

Second, certain events will either have different fighters, outcomes, or not exist at all. With Toji entering as an ally, his support and actions will cause certain events to change or not happen at all such as the Toji vs Megumi fight that never even happened. To which it also means that Sukuna doesn’t get resurrected because Jogo doesn’t find Yuuji and feed him Sukuna’s 10 other fingers nor does Nanako and Mimiko feed a finger to an unconscious Yuji. Meaning the two girls don’t die when Sukuna awakens. This would mean that Megumi never summoned Mahoraga in the first place nor did Jogo fight Sukuna. 

So essentially, Toji pulls up to Shibuya and finds a black sphere in the middle of one of the subway stations. And since Toji has no curse energy, he could just walk right into the Domain but he sees a little hole opening up and decides to invite himself to the battle. The next thing he knows, he is surrounded by Megumi, Maki, Nanami, and Naobito as they struggle against Dagon. Toji just has this blank stare, not looking at anyone but he does wink at Megumi. He just goes up to Maki, snatches Playful Cloud from her, and just walks deeper into the Domain. Naobito has some flashbacks, Nanami gives a questioning glare, and Maki looks back at Megumi like, “Yo Megumi, isn’t that your Dad? What’s he doing?” and Megumi is just like “You’re asking me? I didn’t even know he still fights.”

This is the moment he realizes how leagues above his dad in terms of raw strength and power. He couldn’t fathom that his two teachers, revered as the two strongest in all of the Jujutsu World, were beaten by him. Even Gojo at one point was killed by his dad, but he could never believe it because his dad had no curse technique whatsoever. But seeing Toji fight Dagon in their own domain, overwhelming them, and straight up dawging him with raw brute strength, Megumi finally starts to understand why his dad was notoriously feared throughout the Jujutsu World. That if it wasn’t Reader/you, he would have completely changed the trajectory of the Jujutsu World/Society.

It was also the same moment Megumi understood how both of his parents are viewed in Jujutsu Society. His father, a curseless human, is notoriously known as a useless human with raw power that terrorized sorcerers alike, even defeating two special-grade sorcerers. His mother, however, was revered throughout Jujutsu Society(minus the Elders/Higher-ups) for her technique/ability, being the teachers of some of the most powerful sorcerers, and seemingly taming his infamously famous father that was a threat to Jujutsu Society itself. It seems like opposites attract on the surface but Megumi knows his parents are similar to each other than many make it out to be.

Anyway, after Toji’s absolute domination and straight up obliterating Dagon, Megumi starts interrogating his dad. Why was he here? Where were you? Were you safe? Was Tsumiki safe? The boy, for the first time, was a little vulnerable around others. Toji grins at Megumi before ruffling his hair, saying something along the lines of,

“Your sister is safe, your mom made sure. Speaking of her, she’s somewhere in Shibuya right now. Don’t know where cause we split up at the train station. Your mom will be fine on her own.”

But it didn’t explain why Toji was here in the first place. Before Megumi can question Toji’s presence in Shibuya, Naobito beats the unofficial Zen’in to it.

“You got guts to come here, Toji. Remember, you coming here with weapons and not accompanied by (Y/N), that both you and her will be executed? I thought you were a much more cautious person than that. Didn’t 12 years do anything to change you?” Naobito pompously spoke, a slight undertone of mockery laced in it. 

However, the pompous arrogance was meant to cloak the sheer fear and unease that erupted in his body when Toji came into battle. Toji all but scoffs at the Zen’in clan head. He tosses Playful Cloud back to Maki, telling her to keep it because it will help her out later on when she has “broken all of her chains”. Whatever that means, Maki thought. 

Just as Toji was going to explain to Megumi about your intentions, Jogo decides to invite himself to the party and starts spewing out lava from his mini-volcanos. For the sake of plot and creating balance, Maki and Naobito still get burnt. Maki still lives and isn’t as burned as in the canon timeline. Naobito, however, is more heavily injured than Maki that Naoya takes up the clan head position as his father is out of commission. Nanami, on the other hand, doesn’t get burnt because Toji and Megumi decide to team up against Jogo. Saving Nanami from getting severely burnt. Toji told Megumi and Nanami to get the two burnt victims as he deals with Jogo.

Jogo was a challenge to deal with for Toji because the man didn’t want to get burned. But with Celestial Restriction, Toji absolutely murdered Jogo just like he did with Dagon. The man simply overwhelmed the disaster curse with lighting speed and brutal blitz of a  smack down. He obliterated him before Jogocould pull a fast one on him and use his domain expansion or special move. Toji pulls out the Inverted Spear from his new inventory curse and slices Jogo’s head off while also slicing his body into pieces. 

Toji came out with minimal injuries, probably a few scratches(lowkey wished they were your scratches on his back) and some cuts but he is unfazed by it. Anyway, he wandered around Shibuya. Cutting down any curses that get in his way with the Soul Splitting Katana.

Then, he runs into Manhito. Because of Toji’s Celestial Restriction, Manhito can’t one-shot him with idle transfiguration. Manhito puts up a good fight with Toji and was able to hold himself up for quite some time. However, once again, Toji got that dawg in himself and manhandled Manhito to the point that Manhito starts running away while Toji just follows him walking.

Before Toji could even get the chance to near Manhito, the damn curse decides to transform to his awakened potential. Toji does get frustrated at this and decides to pull out Soul Splitting Katana out to finish him off. Then Kenjaku arrives like, “What do we have here? A fucking monkey? That’s no good, come here Manhito.” Then Manhito gets absorbed into one of Kenjaku’s talismans. 

Toji would go after Kenjaku if he wasn’t bombarded by his curses that he released from his talisman. Then back-up arrives, the kyoto gang with Utahime and Kusakabe, Todo and Yuki just jump into the battle, and Choso somehow switches sides. Then not even a minute later, Megumi, Maki, and Nanami pop in to join. Everyone was duking Kenjaku curses and Uraume entered the fray. Kenjaku ends up sustaining injuries so he abandons Uraume and flees. Not before leaving a party gift, two curses that have so much concentrated curse energy that they exploded and created two massive craters in Shibuya. 

Kenjaku escapes and so does Uraume. Leaving the exhausted sorcerers a bit defeated and frustrated.

Reader’s role:

So let’s get to Reader’s role in all of this because You, my friend, are gonna go off those hinges.

So Reader knows what will happen in Shibuya will make or break Jujutsu Society. She also has a gut feeling that the higher-ups would use this event as a way to get away with certain decisions. Such as resuming Yuuji’s execution, leaving sorcerers for dead, not helping at all, etc. To which she was unfortunately right in the end.

As a result, You start to do some of your own scheming of your own. Mostly consisting of getting Toji on the battlefield and helping the others out. While Toji has done some missions for the Jujutsu world, it was mostly out of obligation from you and for the FAT JUICY paycheck he receives when he’s done with the job.

He’s not affiliated with the Jujutsu World and never has acknowledged as much from the higher-ups. Toji is still under restrictions that were set up for him, so the higher-ups said that if Toji participates in Shibuya, you and him will be executed. But after You find out Megumi is a part of the lineup on top of your suspicions, you decide to throw caution to the wind and say fuck them shitty highers ups and those willings to lick their fucking boots.

You knew you’ll be left for dead or purposely killed so the higher up wouldn’t have to deal with you. You were always well aware that the higher ups kept you around for so long because they wanted to use you in any way they could. If only they knew you were just letting them have their fun. Either way, by the end of Shibuya, you would be labeled as a criminal and a fugitive by them just because they had no use for you anymore. So you might as well go all out and have fun.

So you retrieve and unseal the Soul Splitting Katana and the Inverted Soul Spear for Toji to use. Mind you, these weapons have been sealed away for the past 12 years. And the only ones that knew about their location were You, Gojo, Yuta, Yuki, Yaga, Maho, and the Higher ups. However, the higher ups don’t have access to the weapons, they just only know where they are. Anyway, Reader decides to bring them out of retirement because no one else is going to use them or knows how to properly use them unlike Toji. And since Toji was the last owner, she was going to give them back to him while finding a substitute inventory curse to hold the weapons.

You lie and say that you will provide backup if things start to go bad. But the reality is, you went to retrieve the weapons that give Satoru and Suguru PTSD. You are well aware that what you are doing will make you a criminal in the eyes of Jujutsu Society. Letting the sorcerer killer out by himself with the same weapons he used to wreak havoc 12 years ago, the same ones that were supposed to be sealed and hidden away from the Jujutsu public. But you made that choice to not fight for Jujutsu Society a long time ago. You only came back for the sake of cultivating a powerful generation with massive potential to fight against the frauds that see themselves as high and mighty.

You snuck out and retrieved the weapons and came back to Toji, wondering why you were carrying two big black suitcases.

“What's with the suitcases, Hon? You're gonna pack up and get cold feet~?” Toji jokes as he eyes the two black briefcases at your side. He, however, doesn’t address your steel grip on the handles of them.

“Me and running away? Who do you think of me as a coward, Dear? Nah, I just brought back some things to make the playing field a bit more fun for you. Thank me later, Toji.” With that, you slide the briefcases towards his direction.

Toji raises a brow, you never call him by his first name, especially with such monotone. But the underlying firmness gives him a hint as he picks up one of the cases and opens it. The wide eyes and lifted brows, an expression Toji rarely puts on his face. He pulls out the Inverted Soul Spear while dropping its briefcase, not caring if it dented the floor.

“Doll. . . How did you get your hands on this. . .? I thought that Gojo brat destroyed it 12 years ago. . .”

 He was still in disbelief, observing what he believed was his non-existence long-forgotten special grade curse weapon. But now, here it is in perfect condition. Without a second thought, he rips open the other case to find his other weapon, the Soul Splitting Katana. Toji was in awe to see his two special grade weapons, back in his hands again after years being hidden away.

“You said these were long gone. . . One was completely destroyed and the other was hidden in Hokkaido. What gives, (Y/N)?”

You just sighed with a smirk, crossing your arms as you shift your weight to one half of your body. 

“I didn’t mean to lie to you, Honey. It was so the higher ups would get off my ass and leave us alone. Those old geezers didn’t have access to them. They just knew their locations. Plus I threatened Satoru into keeping the Spear. Just officially saying it was dismantled in the records but that’s about it.”

“Never pegged you to be such a liar, (Y/N).”

“Lying isn’t it, my love. I was just manipulating the truth.”

You walk to the kitchen table and throw the sack that was sitting on it towards your husband, who catches it with ease while still holding his weapons. He stares at it before looking back at you with a confused look. You grinned playfully at your husband as you leaned on the table. An unsettling mischievous glint in your eyes sends a small chill throughout his being.

“Gear up, Toji. Let’s take a nightly stroll into Shibuya, shall we~?”

After traveling to the Shibuya district, Reader tells Toji they could cover more ground if they split up. She also tells Toji that if he finds Megumi to help and protect him no matter what. Toji gives a quick kiss before going in the other direction.

Reader wanders around the deserted subway systems before she ends up finding Yuji passed out by one of the public restrooms completely unconscious. By the look of his injuries, he was hurt pretty badly. Just as she was about to carry him to Shoko’s tent, Mimiko and Nanako were running through the station and stopped when you called out to them.

It was then you found out not only was Gojo sealed in the Prison Realm cube, but Geto as well. That could explain Mimiko tearing up with small sniffles while Nanako was holding her tears in with her lip quivering, confirming what her sister said. While comforting the girls the best you can, you asked them to take Yuji to Shoko’s tent for you so you can continue helping your allies. 

After the twins leave with Itadori, you continue to roam Shibuya and run into Haruta. Haruta tries to make quick work of you but you wouldn’t let it slide. So with your curse technique/ability, you killed Haruta without a second thought. You cringed at the blood that splashed on your face and wiped it off with annoyance.

Then Reader gets a call from Yuta, saying that he’s coming back today to help in Shibuya. You informed him of what happened and to be careful of the curses that flood the streets.

Reader does some crowd control and meets with Inumaki to help. While helping Inumaki, Reader has to take care of a big curse before it can do anything. She would have landed a curse technique on if it were not for the nails that stabbed one of its arms and blackish-red flashed by. It was motherfucking Todo and Nobara, a surprising duo.

As the four of you just continue to be curse exterminators, a loud bang erupted throughout the district causing small tremors to happen. You tell Nobara to stay with Inumaki while Todo and you go to where all the real chaos takes place. Todo goes ahead while you are making sure no one else is lying in the streets dead. 

Before you could even get to the battlefield, two big explosions blinded and prevented you from getting any closer. Once the explosions cleared up, you hop down to the battlefield seeing everyone tired and frustrated.

You then inform them that both Gojo and Geto got sealed into the Prison Realm together and need to free them as soon as possible since Kenjaku has a full potential Manhito on hand.

Shibuya Incident Summary:

Gojo and Geto get sealed away in the prison realm together because of Kenjaku and using the civilians as bait.

Nobara, Nanami, Nanako, Mimiko, and I guess Naobito survive for now. There aren’t that many casualties as many would assume.

Sukuna doesn’t get revived or eat any of his fingers. So he doesn’t fight Jogo at all nor gets resurrected.

Megumi never summons Mahoraga and isn’t as injured. So Sukuna vs Mahoraga doesn’t happen at all, creating way less casualties.

Todo doesn’t lose his hand and Inumaki keeps his arm.

Yuji doesn’t continue fighting after his battle with Choso and is taken by the twins after Reader comes across his unconscious body by the bathrooms.

Reader starts to break her filters and go against the Higher Ups by bringing back the Soul Splitting Katana and Inverted Spear with a new inventory curse for Toji to use in Shibuya. You also gear up and go to Shibuya even though the Higher-ups were highly against it. Oops

After dropping off Tsumiki at Jujutsu high with Kuroi, Riko, and Haibara, you and Toji make way to Shibuya.

You two split up to cover more of the district.

Toji unleashing the absolute dawg in him and fucked up anyone that faces him in Shibuya. 

Toji finds Dagon’s domain and jumps through Megumi’s portal he made. Absolutely murdering Dagon with just Playful Cloud. Maki and Naobito get burned by Jogo and Togi tells Megumi to take them and book it.

Toji battles with Jogo and ends up giving him the slice and dice special.

Toji fights and chases Manhito. Manhito gets saved by Kenjaku when he reached peak potential.

Kenjaku releases a bunch of curses to overwhelm Toji but the cavalry arrives. They fight Kenjaku while dealing with his curses and Uraume.

Reader fights alongside Inumaki, then gets back up from Todo and Nobara. See the Kenjaku fight and Todo and you go towards the action. Leaving Inumaki and Nobara.

Reader was almost there to join but got stopped when Kenjaku used his explosion curses to escape. 

Reader joins up with the sorcerers and your son and Toji. 

You tell the group about Gojo and Geto’s situation and it would be best to regroup.

Post Shibuya Arc Headcanons:

So everyone is recovering and healing up from Shibuya. But after what happened in Shibuya, the Highers up decided to play a game for the worst support system.

Once they announced that Gojo and Geto are fugitives/criminals. And if anyone tries to set them free will be put on trial or executed because they said it was illegal to free them. You’know, two of the most powerful sorcerers in the world, even though they’re needed more than ever.

Not only that, they also announced that all the suspended executions would resume.

Which means Yuji’s execution will be carried out, but that also includes Yuta, Yaga, You, and Toji. You and Toji could care less because who the hell is gonna stop and kill the both of you? Tokyo is in shambles right now, curses roaming the streets, Shibuya completely dead, fellow sorcerers are injured or out of commission, there is no order in the Jujutsu Society. So why bother listening to the Higher-ups/Elders if they won’t do anything or just make things harder for everyone else? 

When Megumi hears about it, he is so concerned for you and his dad. His parents are being targeted and killed on-sight even though they literally helped and saved many of the sorcerers in Shibuya. He feared for Toji and your demise, leaving him with Tsumiki with their parents. But you reassured your son that you will not be striked down so easily. Plus with Toji’s original weapons minus his “Chain of a Thousand Miles”, he pretty much is unbeatable right now.

Megumi thought his dad stopped fighting, to which Toji tells Megumi that he goes on missions when he and Tsumiki are at school. He finishes his missions right before they come home from school so Megumi and Tsumiki never guessed it. Megumi heard his dad going on missions, but he thought he went with you on some intel and retrieval mission. But after seeing Toji fight in Shibuya, he reconsiders his assumptions and believes the two of you white lied to him and Tsumiki to not get them in trouble from the Jujutsu World, especially Megumi.

Anyway, you kiss your son on his head while Toji just gives him a soft head pat. You tell him that you and Toji have to meet someone in order to discuss what to do next. Telling him to rest up as the two of you head out, leaving your son worried.

You talk with Yaga and the other sorcerers that are still there or have recovered. Meaning Mei Mei is out of the picture. There are talks about freeing Gojo and Geto, Kenjaku’s whereabouts and motives, and what to do next. Since there are not many of you to begin with, you suggest finding a way to free Gojo and Geto while trying to deal with Kenjaku.

Yaga said finding Kenjaku wouldn’t be hard since the veils are still up in Shibuya and other parts of Tokyo. They were set up for something called the Culling Games.

Kusakabe butts in and says that it’s illegal to free the two sorcerers. Also saying that You shouldn’t be saying much since your execution was announced. Toji would’ve done something if it wasn't for your mood change. The way your eyes showed a nonchalant yet tenacious aura.

“Since when did you start dick-riding the higher ups, Kusakabe? Hmm? I didn’t know you’ve become a boot-licker to the same people who aren’t batting an eye that we just lost our most powerful people. You gonna let those old geezers continue to keep the strong out just so they could stay in power until they bite the dust? *laughs* I’m not surprised it’s coming from you, Atsuya. Those old dementia patients just want to kill the strong off because they knew that either me, Gojo, Geto, or Yuta would kill them with no hesitation.” Kusakabe glares at you while baring his teeth. “Oh? Did I hit a soft spot for you, Atsuya? If you’re thinking about killing me or my husband, forget it. You don’t want to fight my husband unless you wanna die that badly. And let me remind you what happened a year ago when I mopped the floor with you even though I didn’t even activate my technique? Just drop it, Atsuya.”

With that, you told Yaga you had some unfinished business to attend to and left the room. 

Toji was so turned on by you telling off Kusakabe but you said now is not the time for a quickie.

You knew Kusakabe was a good sorcerer and ally. But after Shibuya and him seemingly siding with those losers, it somewhat pissed you off.

You have come to find out that after Yuji recovered, he went back out and Yuta attacked him. He apparently murdered Yuji for the Higher-ups. But you knew Yuta was better than to be a Higher-up boot liker. I mean, this is literally the same student that shares the same ideals as Gojo himself. Yuta wouldn’t do them any favors unless it’s to get them off his tail.

So you run into Yuta, who has a very much alive Yuji, and a healed but scarred Maki. Your assumption was right as Yuta just faked Yuji’s death so he would be labeled as dead in order for the Higher-ups to ease up a bit. 

Then Maki goes up to Toji and asks him to come with her to the Zen’in clan’s main residence. She said she needed to take more curse tools for her and the other sorcerers to use. Toji looked at her and said maybe he would help but it seems like she got it. Then Maki left to face off against the Zen’in clan.

Toji asked if he should’ve gone with her just to toss around against his shitty family. 

However, you were against it. It is cruel to say and think, you told Toji to let Maki go off on her own at first to see what happens to her and Mai. Since Twins are looked down upon in Jujutsu Society because the curse energy is split into two, it meant that both wouldn’t unlock their true potential or full technique/ability. In a way, it symbolizes that the twins hold each other back from each other’s curse technique and energy.

So if Mai dies, it means that Maki could unlock her true celestial restriction and understand what it means to possess it in its fullest form.

You also told Toji that the Zen’in clan took the “‘Chain of a Thousand Miles”, and stash it in their inventory instead of sealing it away with the Inverted Spear or the Soul Splitting Katana. So when goes after Maki, he steals back his chains. It was a couple hours since Maki left and Toji left to go get her. But first, he needed to find his old chains in the Zen’in clan’s curse tool vault.

He went in undetected and swiftly killed anyone who tried to sound the alarm of his presence. Once he got his old chains back, he strolled along to find out where Maki was. He didn’t know where to look until he saw her fighting against some of the clan members. Toji smirks, wanting to join in on the fun.

Toji starts to fight off some of the Zen’in clan members, killing them along the way. Since he needed more range, he used the chains for better crowd control and more reach. Then the Hei shows up and low and behold Naoya appears. He states that he’s the new clan head since Naobito passed away from his injuries. Naoya was boasting about going Mach 5 speed and Maki simply can’t keep up with him.

Maki and Toji exchange glances at what the hell Naoya was talking about being the Clan Head. Maki thought Megumi would be the next head, is what she was told by both Megumi and Naobito himself. 

Toji: “Yo Brat, you’re not the Head of the Zen’in Clan. My boy is, get your head out of your ass.”

Naoya thought he was up there with you, Toji, and Gojo for the strongest and powerful. More so, Toji as he sort of idolizes him heavily.

He really thought he was “I’m Him” for a good moment.

But alas, Naoya couldn’t beat the fraud allegations and got absolutely washed by Maki. With Maki’s newly awakened Celestial restriction, she was opened to a full power she only could’ve dreamed of. Now she has it for herself, a second Celestial Restriction user w/no curse energy at all.

Because Maki was the real “I’m Him” since she'll be on par with Toji himself.

Toji had this sense of pride that Maki has unlocked her true restriction, now she can absolutely body people AND curses. She can now see them and doesn't rely on her glasses anymore.

Then the two worked on killing the rest of the Zen’in clan off. When you heard that the Kamo and Gojo clan petitioned to have the Zen’in clan be removed from the three great families, you were so happy that you wanted to pop a champagne bottle.

However, you did feel bad that Maki had to lose her sister. The last of Mai’s curse energy went into making an exact replica of Soul Splitting Katana. Dragon-Bone and the replica became Maki’s only weapons. The rest of the Zen’in clan’s curse tools were either given to Jujutsu High or the other two families. You told her that nothing is stopping them and you all can rise up and fight against the system now. Pretty much everyone either hates the Higher-ups or is willing to go against them.

You were devastated hearing about Yaga’s death at the hands of the Kyoto principal. He was your dear friend, classmate, and sorcerer. It also messed you up that Maho was severely hurt and hasn’t woken from her coma. She was your best friend too, she and Yaga were in the same class together back in your earlier years.

With that, anything that happens after this point is fair game. You decided to participate in the Culling games because you needed to find the user that has the ability to free Gojo and Geto from the Prison Realm. That and find Hakari and Hoshi to see if they would strike a deal with you to help since your son was now the Head of the Zen’in Clan. Toji just goes wherever you go because, at this point, you’re his ride or die. And what better way to flex the most powerful couple in all of Jujutsu society with you, your Celestial Restriction Husband, your kind-hearted but strong-willed daughter, and your son who possesses a powerful Curse technique with limitless potential that is now the Head of the Zen’in Clan.

💙Thank you for reading!❤️

[moon--mama]

Onyx Storm Ending Thoughts

[Cut just because I don’t want to accidentally show anyone spoilers!]

This is a big list of thoughts I have about a variety of topics in Onyx Storm. Some notes contain theories about the next books.

Who’s Crazy?

In Iron Flame, it was definitely a plot point that dragons don’t choose riders in the same family because that can cause them to go “mad.” Vi gets all worried that Xaden bonded Sgyael, until ultimately he confesses about his inntinnsic ability. In Onyx Storm, this plot device never resurfaces. Instead, all rebellion children conveniently have a second hidden signet through their relics. What a massive gift from the dragons—and that seems to suggest that some members of the Emperyon are working against one another. How did the rebellion children get their relics, and which dragons marked them? When did they develop the secondary powers through their marks? I’m sure there couldn’t be a rune powerful enough to gift them all signets too. Seems unresolved currently, and maybe like a potential plot hole?

Infodump

One big complaint I have seen about this book is the serious barrage of names within the first 100 pages. I also noticed that there was a huge amount of work put into addressing or resolving issues the first two books left uncertain. The bit where Violet asks about channeling and why infantry soldiers wouldn’t do it more often definitely feels like a cork in a plot hole. There is also much more “world building” as they travel outside of Basgaith.

Dreaming

This is definitely something that seems obvious looking back. At the same time, it would have been more obvious if it had happened to more than one character instead of only Xaden in IF. Why are the Irids so horrified about this power? Not just because it can circumvent any defenses…if you die in a dream, do you die in real life? Can she change the way people think about things, like Cat’s emotional manipulation? Do dragons dream? Can Violet create nightmares?

Sloane

When Sloane channeled from Dain to Brennan, she was surprised by Dain’s extra power. More on that in a second. After Sloane’s channeling, the venin marks on Dain’s arm and the marks on the back of Brennan’s neck were gone. I suspect Sloane might be able to purify venin energy by restoring magic…she basically undrained both of them while exchanging their energy. This also clues us in that Brennan likely has some past dealings with venin that we don’t know about yet.

Dain

Violet went through all of that trouble to steal a gemstone that could magnify powers. In the recent bonus chapter from Xaden’s POV, Dain was huffing and puffing up the stairs. What if Dain took the amplifying gem for himself to level the playing field in terms of his relatively mismatched power? They said after the fire it looked different. Could someone have done a swap?

The Emperyon

The peaceful truth of the Irids seems to have something to do with magic and balance. Throughout this book, we saw that different areas of the world have been drained of magic and are inhospitable to dragons. When Andarna brings up Threshing to her kind, they respond with language that suggests it’s actually a sort of human reaping. My theory is this—the dragons, many thousands of years ago, were being threatened because humans discovered how to drain magic from the earth. To stop this, dragons turned humans against one another and shared their powers with the first riders. For the dragons, the riders become a weapon to protect them from the venin. But magic strikes a balance—once riders had powers, the venin had to draw more and more from the earth to compete. The Irids remain feather tails, which suggests that the other breeds of dragons are endlessly transforming themselves into war machines because of their untenable hold over humanity.

Why would the dragons go along with pretending that venin aren’t real for so many centuries, without telling their riders the truth? Because they don’t want riders knowing that they could be just as powerful without their dragons. Venin seem to be the magical balance to the dragons. I wonder if the Irids view the other breeds like the humans view the venin.

Or this could go in a completely different direction and we come to find out that beyond the edge of the map the “gods” are living away from the continent. What if Dunne, Amari, Malik, and all the other gods Vi likes to name drop are actually the first “venin”?

Why, Rhi?

Was the Rhiannon POV for extra tension as we waited for a squad member to die? It happened right at the moment that Violet was confronting T. I have to go back and look again—what happened in that passage that made it so important for that exact moment? The Imogen chapter, sure. It showed that our girl has a hidden second signet and also gave a reason that she might not be making the most sound decisions after the battle. But the Rhiannon chapter showed Ridoc freezing a wyvern to death. Was that so important right at that exact moment? Dain was also fighting throughout that chapter, which seemed like a great time to explain that “extra power” he was carrying.

Marriage

We knew this had to be a breakup book. It’s the third one in the series, and the next will be the evil Xaden arc before a big resolution in the last book. The only thing Xaden held onto in his POV is that he loves Violet, but T said that venin are incapable of love. That suggests to me that Xaden is somehow not fully venin. Or, if that’s too blindly optimistic, it suggests that all venin may not be as lost as previously thought. Jack does know something apparently, so Violet will need to interrogate him to find out. Whatever Xaden has planned, it seems that Sgaeyl is in on it and he asks Tairn to agree as well. Now, unless Sgaeyl broke the bond with Xaden, there will likely be some connection between the dragons at least. The real kicker is that Imogen tells Violet she did what Violet asked her to do—and why would she want her memories erased? So that she can’t remember a painful decision? Or so that she can’t leak a secret if interrogated? Or is that a lie, and Imogen is helping Xaden escape?

My theory is that Xaden has realized he won’t be free from the Sage unless he actually kills him, or someone higher up the chain of command. He’s going to try to play spy for a while and get information on the venin, like Panchek was leaking information about the riders. He marries Violet to give her Tyrrandor, since she sees it as home and has been imagining her life there. She’s never been good at shielding her intentions from him. He also gives her the political responsibility to keep her busy while he starts on whatever he’s doing. He doesn’t need her to “rescue” him because he’s undercover, but he also needs her to be absolutely convincing if they cross paths with any venin inntinnsics. He was planning whatever this was long before this battle—originally he was going to leave Bodhi with Tyrrendor, but Violet was his obvious second choice. That would be a scenario where I could see Violet asking Imogen to wipe her memory.

Grandma

Mira went to visit Grandma, but Brennan thinks that is a bad idea. By going there, Mira was able to find out the truth about Violet’s magical hair. We found out that the other priestesses dye their hair with lye and herbs, but Violet’s is the real deal. Dedicating babies has been outlawed for hundreds of years. What happens when Violet visits grandma and finds out more about her father’s choice? Why was the grandmother so upset? It does seem like a horrible betrayal that her parents tried to “fix” her as a baby, especially as an infant. But they were extremely calculating people who knew the truth about a lot of things—perhaps Violet’s partial dedication to Dunne will give her some extra advantage or connection to the goddess in this next book. I’d imagine she will probably need to go back to the priestess who sent her the temple rock.

Aaric

A rider with true precognition…does that mean that Melgren has turned in some capacity, since there is one per generation for some of these signers? Or are there other riders out there predicting the future? It certainly seems like a troublesome turn of events for a potential future ruler to know the future. Is he seeing only one path? He could potentially identify villains or traitors, manipulate events to meet his private goals, or turn people against each other. And how can Dunne’s priestesses predict Violet’s future too?

Andarna

After being rejected by her kind, does Andarna choose to reject them in turn and rush back to Violet? Or is there another reason they don’t want an irid left on the continent? T says that Andarna was very valuable—is there another something we don’t know about her? She certainly wasn’t gone long enough for years of training unless she learns how to travel in time.

[yumeka-sxf]

My thoughts on Spy x Family: EYES ONLY Guidebook (English ver) - part 3

Continuing from my previous two posts, this will be my last post discussing the English version of the SxF manga guidebook "EYES ONLY." I'll discuss some of Endo's and Lin's comments on specific chapters, some of the included concept art for the series, all the Twiyor tidbits the book has to offer, and conclude with a couple things the English version of the book omits.

Endo's and Lin's comments on specific chapters

There's at least one comment from Endo and/or Lin on every chapter of the manga from when the book was originally published (up to chapter 61). Unfortunately I can't cover every single comment, but I did want to highlight a few (more will be covered in the Twiyor tidbits later on).

So Bond wouldn't have actually died from Yor's cooking then? Good to know her cooking isn't that bad, lol. Also that's a good question, Lin, maybe you should ask Endo? 😅

Lots of great info about the cruise arc. Makes sense that they had to plan it out many months in advance and keep revising it to patch up plot holes. All that work definitely paid off! Interesting that they almost considered not having Loid on the ship at all. Glad they didn't because otherwise we wouldn't have gotten one of his best outfits! 🤣 (can't wait to see this piece of work in color in the anime!)

Incidentally, the scene Endo mentions where he "managed to make Yor look pretty cute" is this one (she does look pretty cute here).

My favorite comment of Endo's about any chapter has to be this one for chapter 56. Never change, Endo 😂

And lastly, some good comments about chapter 59 (Becky visits the Forgers).

This is one of my favorite stand-alone chapters so I'm glad it was well received. Funny how they kept going with the joke instead of ending it "normally"...but when you have such great characters and setups, good comedy writes itself!

Below is Endo's commentary about Henderson, not a specific chapter, but thought I'd point it out since he mentions Henderson is the only character he's done a shower scene for...not anymore!

Also, while not related to a specific chapter, I do like what Endo says below about Loid and Yor's "dark sides."

He enjoys drawing them this way, which is cool, but he's also cautious about not overdoing it and saving those expressions for important situations.

Concept art

Most of the pre-serialization character designs included in this book were also in the exhibition pamphlet, which I already discussed thoroughly here (wish I had remembered these were in the fanbook so I wouldn't have put so much effort into trying to read Endo's scribble notes). So I'll just mention a few of the most notable things.

As I discussed in my post about the pamphlet, Franky was at some point intended to be the uncle of the family. Though I do think it would have been fitting to make him the uncle, I also like the main focus being on just the "nuclear" family, with the uncle and other characters having supportive roles.

An interesting note about the beta version of Yor is that she seemed to be more like Fiona - she was in love with Loid right from the start, to the point of trying to eliminate Anya! I doubt this is something she would be doing all the time as it would have been difficult to make her a likable main character if she was always trying to kill her daughter...in all likelihood, she would have tried to kill Anya at first before eventually learning to love her as a daughter. While I see how this could work for an intriguing character arc, I'm glad Endo decided to make Yor a loving mother to Anya right away, and not make her feelings for Loid an obsessive "love at first sight" kind of thing.

Twiyor tidbits

Being the shipper that I am, I tried to see if I could pinpoint any Twiyor subtleties throughout the book, as vague as they may be! 😂

Below are excerpts from Loid and Yor's character pages where we're given info on their current stance about each other.

Love the emphasis on their bond of trust ❤️

Below are excerpts from chapters 14 and 35, probably the most Twiyor-heavy chapter pages in the book.

This confirms that Loid did indeed interpret Yor's kick as her not having any romantic feelings for him.

Below are comments by Endo and Lin for chapter 30, where Fiona is introduced.

Endo's line is a little ambiguous here, but I think he's saying how people sympathize with Fiona because she's "doomed to lose," which is...telling 😅 (does Fiona's loss automatically mean a Twiyor win?)

Endo says he likes the "You're strong, Yor" conversation, one of the most Twiyor-ish scenes in the series so far! 😊 Lin also mentioned how they got to use that theme again during the Becky chapter.

Weird that he chose to highlight this line of all things as Loid's "Family Comment" for chapter 10. Could this and chapter 79 be more foreshadowing for an eventual "Twilight vs Thorn Princess" showdown? 👀 Or maybe he just likes teasing fans because he knows it's something they fantasize about.

English version omissions

There's an additional Endo interview that's missing from the English version of the book: an interview with him and Kazumi Takayama, a former idol of the group Nogizaka46.

At first it seemed very odd that they would leave out just this interview, but after discussing it with others on Discord, I realized it's because it has to do with an idol. Apparently getting licensing rights for anything that has to do with a Japanese idol group is very difficult, which is further hindered by the fact that Takayama isn't even part of that idol group anymore, which makes getting the content green lit for official release overseas even more taxing. So probably Viz decided it wasn't worth the trouble and just left out that interview. But thankfully u/Nemshi on Reddit posted a fan translation of it, which you can read here. They talk a bit about SxF, but most of it is just general questions they ask each other.

And the other thing missing from the English version that I really can't understand is the inside cover! Another great 4th-wall breaking joke from Endo (I added a quick translation of the Japanese version below).

Unlike the Takayama interview, I have no idea why they didn't include this. They include the inside cover as an extra page in all the English volumes, so why not here? Very weird.

---

And that's all I'm going to share for the "EYES ONLY" fanbook! Honestly, there's so much great content in the book that I didn't touch on, like info about East/West relations, about Eden Academy, Endo's comments on all the designer chairs for the volume covers...and lots more. So definitely get a copy yourself if you can! It's a must-have for any SxF fan 😁 Books like this aren't officially released in English very often, so the fact that Viz thought it was worthwhile to make this proves how much of a hit SxF is!

<- Return to Part 2

[stellar-constellations]

STELLAR IM ON MY KNEES PLS TELL US ABOUT THE ANDREW SERIES IDEAS

I apologize in advance for my ramblings, because I know damn well I'm going to rant. These ideas are not yet complete and could change over time as I try to work out plots and ideas, FEEDBACK IS APPRECIATED AND WANTED!

First thing's first, thank you to my Secret Spy (name is unknown for privacy reasons/to have a cool nickname) who gives me ideas and honest feedback about my work so I can improve. Much love to you. She suffers through A LOT of my obsessive rambles, and she also helps a great deal in ideas for my stories, so I appreciate her help and patience.

First idea: Andrew Graves x Stalker! Cultist! Reader

This was a suggestion brought up by my Secret Spy. It's a huge work in process considering how I'd have to try and write plot purposes with that, but hey, we'll see how it goes, so allow me to explain the (supposed) plot so far.

(Y/N) is a member of the phony cult group "Asinus infirma daemonium clava" (look it up in Latin using this translator, trust me). Due to a contract forged between her parents' and the Fire Demon before her birth. After the death of her parents from supernatural causes, (Y/N) finds herself born with demonic connections to the Fire Demon and grows up inside the cult. Surrounded by phony cultists and the same people her entire life, she finds herself utterly obsessed in love upon meeting Andrew Graves, a seemingly normal guy who just happens to accidentally infiltrate the cult.

(Y/N)'s personality is currently up in the air, but I think I'm leaning towards a confident, morally-grey reader who has a knack for causing destruction and problems.

This is currently a oneshot/fic idea due to many plot holes and a worry that this fic's original plot will be too similar to another idea I have (don't worry, that idea will be written here in this post). FEEDBACK AND SUGGESTIONS FOR THIS IDEA IS HIGHLY ENCOURAGED, let me know what you want to read, and any ideas you have to help expand this into a potential series, or we can keep it a nice and short fic!

Second Idea: Andrew Graves x Greek Goddess! Reader

Due to the nature of this idea, there will be religious themes mentioned, and there will also be tons of inaccuracies and my own takes on Greek Mythology (because Greek Mythology is EVERYWHERE that it would be hard to try and make this accurate). Sorry to my Percy Jackson fans, I've never watched or read the books so the Gods' personalities will be nothing like the PJ series. This was actually an idea I introduced a few months ago, it was actually in a poll against Star Patient! This idea has been recreated with a different plot, but I believe this plot is more enjoyable than the OG's plot.

(Y/N) is the Greek Goddess of Sleep and Visions. For years, she's had her eyes on Andrew Graves, finding his dreams and subconscious desires intriguing to stand out upon the billions of other dreams she's seen throughout her millenniums. She finds herself in the mortal's overworld now, entering a world of advanced technology and terrifying beasts (cars) roaming the streets. While Andrew tries to shield (Y/N) from humanities dangerous flaws (including himself), Ashley finds (Y/N)'s powers more useful than you would expect... finding herself in a world constantly on the run as she evades the police and discovers what living is with the Graves Siblings.

So, the whole road-trip evading the police thing was an idea I had for the Cultist idea, but I decided to ditch it in the Cultist idea because it was far too similar. I figured the idea would fit here more, having an outdated and naive Goddess trying to navigate this new scary world just sounds so adorable!

(Y/N)'s personality is curious, timid, with an almost child-like fascination as she learns to understand the meaning of life, and to cherish it while it lasts. She has a serious need for validation and feeling needed, and all she wants to do is be helpful to the Graves siblings, no matter what she has to do.

This is going to be a fluffy and bittersweet series. I wanted something more wholesome and sweet for Andrew and Ashley because they deserve it after all they've gone through (in the game and in my Star Patient series, ahaha). (Y/N) and Andrew are the only love interests, and Ashley has a pretty healthy and wholesome sister-like relationship with (Y/N).

Third Idea: Andrew Graves x Two-faced! Serial Killer! Reader

As you've probably noticed now, I like making (Y/N) the more... interesting characters. I feel like each (Y/N) helps branch out and creates inclusivity for my readers, because not everyone has the same personality or thought-process, so I wanted all my (Y/N)'s to be unique too!

(Y/N) is Andrew's lovable neighbor next door. She's always willing to lend a hand and has a stellar social image and a great connection with the community. In the day, she works as a waitress in a popular diner and volunteers at pet shelters. At night, she's a ruthless killer stalking the alleyways of the city, with nothing on her mind but how many stabs she can stab a face into disfiguration. She's never cared for romance or love until now, meeting Andrew Graves after he discovers her horrific secret. Now that he knows, she'll have to keep a constant eye on him. Sure, she could kill him, but what's the point of killing such a cute guy without at least playing with him some? Maybe this isn't so much romance, but more so manipulation and power-play, however Andrew slowly seems to let those red flags go and enter a world filled with obsessive love, jealousy, and Stockholm syndrome.

This Andrew doesn't have Ashley as a sibling, making him an introverted, socially-constipated, wallflower with a need of validation.

This (Y/N) is two-faced. To your face, she's bubbly, empathetic, and is the perfect definition of a saint, but if you turn your back for just a second, you might find a knife in it. She has a serious thirst for blood and hearing bones snap (she could potentially be a cannibal, I'm deciding if I want that as a motive or not...)

This going to be a slowburn series.

FEEDBACK AND IDEAS ARE HIGHLY APPRECIATED FOR THIS IDEA!

Fourth Idea: Potential serial killer! Andrew Graves x Journalist! Reader

This idea is the most unstable and wonky one. This idea is under extreme development as I try to figure out what I want to do with this reader and her personality. A poll will eventually be released for this reader's personality and motives.

(Y/N) is a plain and boring woman. You wouldn't notice her in a crowd, much less recognize her face. She's a journalist who specializes in covering true crime cases, and the her hottest case happens to be the quarantined apartment in her city. A thump on her balcony and a door opening leads her to meeting Andrew Graves, who may just be the worst (or best) thing to ever happen in her life. I mean, it's not everyday your hottest crime case drops right into your apartment and begs for a place to stay! Who knew hitmen, cops, and a whole damn demon is following with—okay, what the hell is going on and how does she get her normal life back?!

(Y/N)'s personality is currently unknown. I'm unsure if I want to make her depressed with a thirst of death (hence why she lets Andrew stay, in hopes he'll kill her), or if I want (Y/N) to be a normal girl with an obsessive hobby of true crime and a conspiracy theorist (who wants to keep Andrew around in hopes he'll expose all the case's secrets for her to report). FEEDBACK IS APPRECIATED FOR THIS!

I'm also unsure if I want Andrew to be a paranoid guy trying to hide from the police after killing his sister (yes, he killed his sister), or if I want Andrew to be a cocky, arrogant, serial killer. FEEDBACK IS APPRECIATED FOR THIS!

This is going to be a series. What direction I want it to take is up in the air, but I want action and drama.

These are currently the ideas I have going on. These ideas are excluding current fluffy fics I'm working on, so be on the lookout for those new fics coming out soon! These series will all be in a poll after I finish the Star Patient series, so I won't be holding off Star Patient for these!

SERIOUSLY, Y'ALL. FEEDBACK IS HIGHLY WANTED ON THESE IDEAS. DON'T BE AFRAID TO LEAVE ANONYMOUS COMMENTS IN MY INBOX, OR MESSAGE ME! I WANT TO KNOW WHAT YOU GUYS WANNA READ (and as always, if you have your own ideas for fics, please send them in and I'll see what I can do).

[junkgatorswritings]

The Prisoner of Azkaban

Hello, I started reading the Harry Potter books with one goal in mind: to prove that one of the reasons it has so many plot holes is because JKR didn't plan out the marauders era.

This book is better than the last one on account of JKR actually (to some extent) figuring out what happened in the marauders era. Now maybe I'm just a tragic backstory type of gal but I really want to know exactly what happened. But I'll get onto my questions later.

Here's what we learn about Lily Evans in this book:

She was a bad egg (Aunt Marge ch. 2 pg. 28).

She begged Voldemort to kill her instead of Harry, and didn't take his offer to move aside (ch. 9 pg. 179).

James and Lily were Married (ch. 10 pg. 204).

Dumbledore advised the Potter's to go into hiding after a spy tipped him off (ch. 10 pg. 204).

There you go that's all we get. Which both makes sense and doesn't. She wasn't technically friends with the Marauders but you'd think that she'd be mentioned at the very least.

James Potter:

He was a wastrel (Aunt Marge ch. 2 pg.28).

At some point probably around their 5th year (because this is when they became animagus) the marauder's map was created (ch. 10 pg. 192). 

You never saw James without Sirius (ch. 10 pg. 204).

He trusted Sirius more than all his other friends (ch. 10 pg. 204).

Sirius was his best man (ch. 10 pg. 204)

Technically it says "they" named Sirius as Harry's godfather but lets be honest it was probably mostly James seeing as Sirius doesn't mention Lily at all (ch. 10 pg. 204).

Dumbledore advised him to go into hiding after a spy tipped him off (ch. 10 pg. 204).

James trusted Sirius so much he told Dumbleore that he thought Sirius would rather die than give up their location (ch. 10 pg. 205).

James insisted that he use Sirius as his secret keeper (ch. 10 pg. 205).

James told Lily to take Harry and go, that he would try and hold Voldemort off (ch. 12 pg. 240).

He was exceedingly arrogant, a small amount of quidditch talent made him think he was a cut above the rest, and apparently he strutted (according to Snape ch. 14 pg. 284).

He saved Snape from an exceedingly deadly prank that was set up by him and his friends. James got cold feet at the last moment, so saving Snape's life was just a way of saving his own future (according to Snape ch. 14 pg. 285).

James would have done the same thing as Harry and go see Sirius himself when he popped up on the map (ch. 17 pg. 339).

James must have used the invisibility cloak fairly often, Remus makes a mention of "the number of times" he saw James disappear under the cloak (ch. 17 pg. 347).

Was one of the cleverest students in the school (ch. 18 pg. 354).

He helped Peter become an animagus and he himself became an animagus in fifth year after trying since third (ch. 18 pg. 354)

There were several near misses for the Marauders when they were running around with Remus on full moons, nothing specific is mentioned about with who or how. They laughed it off because they were young and carried away with their own cleverness (ch. 18 pg. 355). 

James didn't actually know that Snape had been told about the whomping willow, but at great risk to himself he pulled Snape back before he could come face to face with Remus (ch. 18 pg. 357).

He was too arrogant to believe that he shouldn't trust Sirius (Snape ch. 19 pg. 361).

He flew as well as Harry (ch. 19 pg. 372).

James was nicknamed Prongs because his Animagus form was a stag (ch. 21 pg. 411-412).

He would have been disappointed if Harry never found any of the secret passages out of the castle (ch. 22 pg. 424-425).

Dumbledore knew James very well, and he thinks that James would have spared Peter Pettigrew as well (ch. 22 pg. 427).

Sirius Black:

He was rumored to be Voldemort's second in command (ch. 3 pg. 39).

He has a nasty temper, whether this is just a current timeline thing or not is debatable (ch. 8 pg. 161).

At some point probably around their 5th year (because this is when they became animagus) the marauder's map was created (ch. 10 pg. 192).

Madam Rosmerta was shocked to hear he'd gone dark, in fact he was the last person she thought would (ch. 10 pg. 203).

You never saw Sirius without James (ch. 10 pg. 204).

James thought he would rather die than tell anyone where they were hiding (ch. 10 pg. 205).

People think that Sirius got tired of playing double agent and the Potter's death was a declaration to him (ch. 10 pg. 206).

Sirius showed up to the Potter's house almost immediately after they were killed, he got there right after Hagrid pulled Harry out of the house (ch. 10 pg. 206).

He tried to get Harry from Hagrid, but failed (ch. 10 pg. 206).

Said he wouldn't need his motorbike anymore (ch. 10 pg. 207).

He was found laughing with Peter Pettigrew's severed finger in front of him in a crater caused by a magical attack thought to be caused by him (ch. 10 pg. 208).

Fudge believed that Sirius was unhinged for sometime after Voldemort's death (ch. 10 pg. 209).

Sirius was in a picture of James and Lily's wedding as the best man (ch. 11 pg. 212).

Sirius was one of the cleverest students in the school, it took him the better part of three years to figure out how to turn into an animagus (ch. 18 pg. 354).

He could transform into large enough of an animal to keep a werewolf in check (ch. 18 pg. 355).

There were several near misses for the Marauders when they were running around with Remus on full moons, nothing specific is mentioned about with who or how. They laughed it off because they were young and carried away with their own cleverness (ch. 18 pg. 355). 

Sirius thought it would be amusing to tell Snape how to get past the whomping willow (ch. 18 pg. 357).

He blames himself for the Potters death because he's the one who convinced them to make Peter their secret keeper (ch. 19 pg. 365).

The night the Potters died he went to check on Peter and found him gone, it didn't feel right so he then went straight to the Potters house (ch. 19 pg. 365).

He thinks that Peter is weak and talentless, he thought that they could fool Voldemort by making him the secret keeper (ch. 19 pg. 369).

He didn't go insane because he knew he was innocent, and that wasn't happy so the dementor's couldn't suck it out of him (ch. 19 pg. 371).

He thought Remus was the spy (ch. 19 pg. 373).

Remus Lupin:

At some point probably around their 5th year (because this is when they became animagus) the marauder's map was created (ch. 10 pg. 192). 

He thinks that the makers of the Marauders map would have thought it entertaining to lure Harry out of the school (ch. 14 pg. 298).

He was very young when he received the bite that turned him into a werewolf. His parent's tried everything to fix it, but there was no cure. (ch. 18 pg. 352-353).

Dumbledore brought him to the school, and planted the whomping willow, so there would be a safe place for him to transform. Because there wasn't anything else to destroy he tore at himself. (ch. 18 pg. 353).

He was happier than he'd been in his entire life at Hogwarts, he had friends for the first time (ch. 18 pg. 354).

He made all kinds of excuses about where he was going when he transformed because he was afraid that his friends would leave him (ch. 18 pg. 354).

There were several near misses for the Marauders when they were running around with Remus on full moons, nothing specific is mentioned about with who or how. They laughed it off because they were young and carried away with their own cleverness (ch. 18 pg. 355). 

They used to roam the castle and Hogsmeade grounds with his friends, which is apparently how they learned so much about the castle and eventually got the idea for the Marauders map (ch. 18 pg. 355).

Remus and Snape didn't get along (ch. 18 pg. 357)

He thought Sirius was the spy. It's unclear if this is because he was put in prison, or he thought so before James and Lily died (ch. 19 pg. 373).

Peter Pettigrew:

At some point probably around their 5th year (because this is when they became animagus) the marauder's map was created (ch. 10 pg. 192). 

He was a fat little boy always following after James and Sirius (ch. 10 pg. 207).

He was always bad at dueling according to McGonigal (ch. 10 pg. 208).

He received the order of Merlin First Class (ch. 10 pg. 208).

His mother got back the order of Merlin first class and Pettigrew's finger in a box (ch. 11 pg. 215).

Was helped by Sirius and James with becoming an animagus, it took him the longest (ch. 18 pg. 354).

There were several near misses for the Marauders when they were running around with Remus on full moons, nothing specific is mentioned about with who or how. They laughed it off because they were young and carried away with their own cleverness (ch. 18 pg. 355). 

He was the Potter's secret keeper, because Sirius convinced James that no one would suspect Peter (ch. 19 pg. 365).

He betrayed the Potters (ch. 19 pg. 365).

He's been hiding from the death eaters more than Sirius (ch. 19 pg. 368).

He always liked big friends who would look after him, it used to be the other Marauders (ch. 19 pg. 369).

Peter never did anything for anyone unless he could see what was in it for him (ch. 19 pg. 370).

He says that Voldemort forced him to spy, but almost immediately back tracks and says that Voldemort was taking over everywhere and that he would have killed him (ch. 19 pg. 370-371).

General Marauder's era knowledge

Harry theorizes that Lucius Malfoy was in the inner circle and knew about Sirius (ch. 11 pg. 215).

According to Snape the Marauder's map is full of dark magic (ch. 14 pg. 289).

Snape was jealous of James, apparently of his quidditch prowess (ch. 18 pg. 357).

Snape saw Remus being led across the grounds by Madam Pomfrey one night and became curious (ch. 18 pg. 357).

Snape tried to get in on Sirius' advice and was then pulled back by James; saving his life (ch. 18 pg. 357).

Now on the surface this is a lot of information but here are my questions that I'm pretty sure aren't answered.

Why did Sirius think Remus was the spy? Was it simply because he was a werewolf?

Why did Peter betray them? Yes in theory it's because Voldemort was growing in power but was there a specific event? Did he get captured and then flip? Did he seek Voldemort out?

If Remus did think Sirius was the spy before he was sent to azkaban, why?

Where the hell are Lily's friends? One of her friend's is the only one who lives past the second war and she's part of the order, why doesn't she ever talk to Harry?

Edited on November 23, 2024 to add chapter numbers

[henrysglock]

Why do you think so many current ST/byler theories have devolved to the point of delusion? Like, so many of these theories being put out now are more along the lines of “the phrasing of this one sentence/ looking to the left is obviously a reference to this one specific obscure movie from the early 70s that has nothing to do with the premise or themes of Stranger Things and has never been properly referenced in the show but it means that actually Will’s disappearance is really a reference to the little boy bomb in ww2 and so Lonnie is the secret true villain of the show and Will is the super specialist bean to ever special, something something byler endgame. Checkmate 🤓”.

Like, so many of the current theories are making wild reaches with nonsensical evidence and flimsy connections that don’t support the theorist’s conclusion and yet these “theorists” try to act like they’ve made a genius revelation and if you don’t believe their nonsense you’re somehow just dumb and willfully ignorant??? I’ve genuinely never seen another fandom with such weak and outright delusional theories being treated as obvious and factual by so many people.

Holy shit anon...fucking SPEAK!!! You're saying what 90% of us are thinking, I swear. Well. You're saying what the dedicated and grounded analysts are thinking, at least.

But to answer your question, it's a perfect storm of conditions: Dunning-Kreuger effect, content drought, echo chamber, confirmation bias, and the pervasive, consuming need to be right and special.

They've fallen in a black hole, Anon. They need to be right, but they don't have the humility to go "what if I'm not right?", which would "save" them in most cases. I know that's my go-to. I try to hold Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's words in mind: "When you have eliminated all which is impossible, then whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth". That means the burden is on the theorist to prove all the more-probable theories wrong. None of the folks you're talking about do that. They don't check themselves. They just pick a theory that makes Will the most specialest victim to ever victim and run with it...and they use misinformed takes about a very real mental disorder to do so, all while ignoring the actual, canonical appearances of said disorder.

Although, in their defense, I can't say I haven't referenced an obscure off-theme movie in my day (Pumaman, critically acclaimed "worst superhero movie ever", was on the ST4 board, and it actually has a surprising amount of similarities to ST4, escpecially re: El)...but in my experience it always comes down to genre.

They aren't drawing specific easter eggs from 20 different superhero movies or 20 different "alien experiment gone wrong" movies or 20 different time travel movies as individuals. When you watch the movies, you see that movies from the same genre offer the same references, even when they're not on the movie board. It's them saying "hey, we did our research on how xyz type of plot line is written because we're including that kind of plot line", not "we pulled this exact line from Pumaman at minute 57.13, and this specific reference from Who Framed Roger Rabbit at minute 12.49, and, and, and..."

That's why they appear to be referencing every movie ever: they're drawing on the plot beats of the genre. They appear to be referencing every changeling plot because there's a basic changeling plot line. There's the bones of a time travel plot. An alien experiment gone wrong. There are some specific movies that do get specifically referenced (like Changeling 1980, Terminator, Silence of the Lambs, etc), but the onus is on us to recognize the difference between a specific movie reference or a genre-common reference.

People also have to be wary of the "what common plots do they have as references...that they are planning to subvert?" For example: The Good Son—"evil" little boy who tries to kill his family so that he could do whatever he wants forever—which people used to say that our Henry was pure evil since childhood...even when the subtext of the show didn't support it. Lo and behold, in comes TFS to say that Henry was a really, really good kid in a bad situation. In comes the VR to tell us Henry loved his family and was utterly heartbroken by his mother trying to evict him from said family. <- All of which could be deduced from ST4 canon.

Another part of the issue, one that I've talked about since the dawn of time (2022) is going in with a theory and working to make all your evidence fit that theory...especially when you then try to make "evidence" out of things that are connected to other plots/disconnected from your theory. The confirmation bias will get you every time (especially with a theory like DID, which makes it really easy to get lost in the weeds in a really uninformed/pop-psychology way).

For example, taking all of the "Lonnie stealing baby Jesus from the nativity scene" bit in TFS and making it about Will...as if Patty isn't right there having been stolen as a baby. As if they don't have a running gag of her spooking Henry, him going "Jesus Christ!", and her responding "No, Patty Newby". As if they don't give Patty and Henry insane amounts of religious coding re: the Holy Trinity, which links both of them to the UD/Mindflayer, who also has stupid amounts of God/Heaven subtext baked into it. As if Henry doesn't have literal stigmata. As if changeling Patties in Henry's visions aren't the literal human mouthpiece of God the Mindflayer. As if Will was ANYWHERE in any of that! As if the Will references aren't reserved for Brenner?? But you never see them discuss that!

Alas, anon...It's clearly that Lonnie kidnapped Will to rape and kill him. And also Henry is an alter of Will. And Will is also the Demogorgon, who is also Lonnie, who "got" Will. Meaning Will got himself? So did Lonnie rape Will, causing his DID, or did Will, as the Lonniegorgon, rape...himself? And give himself DID?

Another fun instance, and this one was sent to me recently, was a theorist defining CATTLE only to completely abandon the definition.

Cattle are bovines. It's in the literal definition. But OP went for...sheep references? As if Billy isn't right there calling the Hawkins girls cows? William? Making a cow reference? <- Which was never mentioned by OP?

Regardless, sheep are not cattle! Sheep are livestock.

See: THE DEPT OF FUCKING AGRICULTURE

(x)

But no. No, whatever. Actually? This party never stops! Literacy is dead and words have no meaning! Existence is upside-down and the Willonniegoron reigns supreme! Welcome, one and all, TO BYLER TUMBLR!

[chiarrara]

1, 7, 13 for the wip game

1. Current WIP

vampire megumi au <3333 which, I am still insane about, but my mind has been elsewhere for a few days. tbh this started as a daydream plot that I just wanted to write for writing's sake, something easy, campy, and fun, just so I could prove to myself I could do it. but it kind of got away from me. it became too big and important, and now it feels like it's getting stifled under this arbitrary expectation of perfection that I wanted to write this work to avoid.

It's this hole I feel like I fall into with so many things and I really want to figure out how to get out of it, because it'd rather have something out there that's just okay, than never get it done because it had to be flawless. and I think y'all that have been interested in it want that too. I don't feel like I can really learn how to write, like the actual active process of it, if I'm cutting myself off before I even get started. so I want to figure it out. some metatextual angst for you on that one, i guess

7. WIP that is my "no one understands him/her/them like I do"

I think this one has to go to the oldest of all my WIPs, my 2017 conceived and plotted Otayuri friends-to-lovers best fic I've never written, that I to this day have never given up on.

It originally came about from my conflicted feelings about the anit-shipping, and specifically anti-Otayuri, discourse that was really taking off at the time. Obviously, that discussion has grown to absolutely eclipse the level it was at back then, and my feelings on the subject have evolved a lot as well, but at the time, I found myself feeling conflicted over the arguments that were being presented and I wasn't sure how to reconcile them with my own thoughts and feelings. So, I gave the problem to the characters to work out instead, and it became one of my favorite things my mind has ever created.

The timeline spans 3-4 years post-canon , it covers multiple relationships, deals with the blurry lines between love and friendship, and explores how to move forward when you're not on the same page or even in the same stage in life. And it's all drafted pen-to-paper, so I still have it :) This notebook is like gold to me, it's one of my most treasured possessions, I try to keep it safe wherever I go. I love this story a whole lot, so It would make me really sad to never actually get to write it. I hope someday soon I finally feel ready to dive in and tackle it <3

13. WIP I started to torture my blorbos (including me)

I was trying to think of one for this, because I don't really write straight up angst too much or whump?? or whatever it's called, like really really painful shit for the sake of it, but then I remembered I had this daydream plot going for a while that was post-canon, and Yuuji, Megumi, and Nobara moved into an apartment together with like, whatever Zenin money Megumi would be able to collect post-massacre. And the whole thing was basically Megumi with severe PTSD, becoming overly-attached to Yuuji, sort of twisting the whole idea of living for someone else into Yuuji being the only thing he stays alive for.

In general, I like to explore Megumi post-Shinjuku because I feel like a lot of what he would reasonably go through is hand-waved or brushed off so things can reach a new status quo at the end of the manga, which is fine, but I think there's a lot there that could be explored. Especially as a parallel to Geto, like what does it look like to survive past the point that you break kind of thing. I sort of started doing that in you can't find the words to say and if I ever continued that I could probably combine the two ideas....they might have actually been the same thing to start with, now that I think about it. But I don't really like that fic that much right now, so if I follow up on it, I think it'd be good to take another pass at it.

[zapapplejammin]

mlp g5 redesign/rewrite? Info dump ramble and individual images below the cut! Just a sketchy image because I just needed to get it out of my head, but I got things to do lol.

WARNING: I'm WORDY

So, we all know one of the biggest things mlp g5 got wrong was tying the lore to g4. This left contradiction, plot holes, a feeling of missed potential, plus annoying old fans all in one go.

I decided I wanted to think up a better revival plan (in my opinion, but I'm biased) that could of led to a more successful generation. Just basically an opinion on what they could of done differently, with creative liberties. I tried to follow the guidelines of what would be allowed in a children's cartoon, and designs that could work for toys! Higher quality toys tho, that can handle body diversity.

So, instead of creating a new cast of characters, i wanted to follow the patterns of old generations- by reusing characters! Each of the mane 6 presented below is inspired by ponies from generations previous, as recent as g5 or as old as g4. Some ponies may even be combined.

Also, part of the charm and draw of unicorns, pegasi and ponies is this colorful cottage coreish feel- and I feel by adding smart technology to relate to current children, it misses the point of pony characters. I understand the need to add an equivalence, however.

So, in terms of setting, it'll still be a simple magic filled fairytale land, with any technology being a secondary plot factor. I'd imagine that while they have machinery integrated, the common pony wouldn't have many tech toys unless it was a part of their personality. Tech that does appear would reference technology created between the 80's and the 2010's. There's also some social media, but that's usually accessed through a family or household computer.

I think the 'separated pony races' storyline could of worked, but again with it being tied to g4... makes little sense. Our setting would have a Queen Opal ruling Ponyland (Not Equestria) with her being respected as any other princess. The three pony races are in a mostly self segregated life style, though the ruling government encourages it. Schools, establishments, neighborhoods and everything is segregated, though pony races still lived in the same kingdoms, and it was more often hostility than fear.

There would be a clearly established hierarchy, with unicorns at the top so as to encourage them to look down on the pegasi and earth ponies. All pony races would be stuck in labor roles established by the queen, with long and busy schedules. Unicorns are put into administrative jobs such as accounting and managment, pegasi maintain perfect weather (using industrial machines) and the earth ponies farm food and maintain gardens. These roles are determined by pony race.

This world still wouldn't have magic, with all ponies simply believing only alicorns have magic. Opaline would be using the magic to power her castle and a many of her factories/businesses

The establishing story would see the main cast grouping together and overthrowing the evil queen opal, who has secretly been sewing mistrust between everyone to separate them and make them easier to control. She took their magic for the same reason, and has been controlling ponyland for years.

Anyway, onto the characters!

Toola-Roo is inspired by Toola-Roola! Her name has been shortened for reasons soon to be clear. Toola-Roo is an artsy and creative pony, with a strong sense of justice.

She is an activist character, though she begins focused on things that dont truly matter. She starts out the plot without many friends due to her being uptight, but she goes on to see the issues that truly matter, and ends up fighting for what's right

She wouldn't need the glasses all the time, smiliar to g4 rarity

Added some mane colors and gave her the full rainbow. The whole mane 6 have a rainbow motif

Nicknames could include Roo-Roo, Toolie, Tools, ect

Scoota-Loo is Toola-Roo's Older, sportier, more popular sister. A lot of plot would come from this dynamic between the two sisters. Scoota-Loo here is more inspired by her g3 appearance, but has some g4 personality.

Scoota-Loo starts out often feeling embarrassed of her sister, frustrated she doesn't try to fit in with norms more or calm down. She eventually sees the world for what it is, and chooses to help her sister save ponyland. Scoota-Loo would be charming, playful, but truly kind. She has a lot of pride, and doesn't feel confident going against the crowd often.

Nicknames could include Scoots, Scootie, Loo-Loo, ect

Sunset Shimmer was the design I got most excited to do. Inspired by g4 Sunset, she changes a bit in this universe, with her motif being the Phoenix. She likes alt/punk styles. While standoffish at first, she would warm up quickly. She is also a huge nerd.

Sunset would probably be unwelcoming at first, used to non-pegasus looking down on her. She would already be against the queen and government, having read forbidden knowledge in the abandoned library she lives at. She shows the group old books that prove magic is real and hint that opal is evil.

Nicknames could include Sunny... idk if there's anything else

Rarity is a sort of Mashup between g4 Rarity and Fluttershy, with a cutiemark throwback to Rarity's g1 inspiration Glory. Girls toys predominantly exclude the color green,even when including the Rainbow (take g4 for example). G5 introduced something else new; a boy in the mane cast. I feel like as a society we can handle a green girls toy. Rarity is similiar to how she was, though she's much more bashful and aloof.

Rarity prefers to express herself through her fashion and makeup, though is shy in beginning conversations. She would start out the plot working an admin job in the castle, and would be an inside pony for the mane 6 to advance the plot. She would be mostly unaware of the state of things, but quickly become radicalized especially for her friends.

Nicknames include any Rarity went by in g4 plus Rarishy

Moondancer is referenced off her g3 appearance. She is basically an influencer, with her HaySpace page being viral. She takes photos and videos of herself and the world around her, and loves to dance and sing. She is a performer at heart.

Moondancer would start out being unaware and not wanting to get involved, but would eventually be convinced to join the mane group. She would use her massive following to spread awareness once they have proof of the queen being evil.

Nicknames could include Moony, MD, MDance, xXDancing-on-tha-MoonXx ect

Wysteria is inspired by her g3 look, but I've always seen her as a unicorn. This version of her has her as an eco-friendly, crystal enjoying type.

Wysteria enjoys sneaking out of her office to enjoy the gardens. She starts out the story very chill and open, with her being friendly with Sunset before the story begins. She is also friends with Rarity, despite not working in the castle herself.

Nicknames could include Wysty, Wyst, Ria, ect

If you've stuck around this long, thank you! I see this story vividly in my mind, I may one day return to this with a written fanfiction movie if I have time.

[rjthirsty]

Fanfic Writer Wrapped - 2024 Version!

I guess we're supposed to post this and let people ask us, but I don't want to mess with that stuff. Mainly because I don't think I'll get much interaction, but also because I just kind of want to answer these myself. Is that really so bad? So anyways, it's based off this post, and the OG author gets all credit for thinking up a million questions for me to answer. Thank you @asirensrage

2024 Fanfic Writing Reflections

What fic did you work on the most this year? Probably Deceit and Decay. It's a dark fic set in the Ikemen Prince world, staring my OC, Dahlia, who was Belle and never met the Conqueror Beast, Gilbert von Obsidian. In other words, he's gone off the deep end. 50,000 words, so far, about 20 chapters. Still a wip.

Did you have any fic writing goals? Did you meet them? Just to write more, so yeah, I met them. I work best with ambiguous, not SMART goals. I tried a lot of different ideas, and I had a lot of fun with them all.

How many fics did you work on this year? 50 published. There's probably another dozen still in my WIP folder, so maybe 60-ish?

How many new fics did you post this year? 49, I think? My long fic was started last year, so that takes one out, but otherwise I don't really know when I started and finished most fics. Sorry.

Did you update any old/previously posted fics this year? What were they? Sure. The Royal Lion is my first long fic (100,000 words, 30 chapters), and most of those were written in 2023. I just finished it in February or something.

Do you have a favorite fic you wrote? Nope. I'm not sure how I'd rate most liked to least liked with my fics.

What’s your favorite passage that you wrote this year? I can't remember what I said to someone yesterday, I certainly don't remember what I wrote over the last 12 months. I often read my work and go, "Wow! I wrote that?!" But I clearly did at some point.

Favorite line of dialogue this year? Nope, can't name that either. Sorry. Maybe I should have read these questions more than just skimmed them.

Favorite POV? (or rather what POV did you use the most this year?) Probably third person omniscient. I also wrote a lot of second person with reader-inserts, so I'm not sure which is more used for me.

Did you find yourself repeating a word or phrase in your writing this year? If so, what was it? Ahaha. Uh... probably something about panting or moaning. 80% of what I write is smut.

Cut for length. Numbers are going to reset. :(

How did you help other writers this year? (i.e. leaving comments, reviews, beta reading, offering advice, etc) All of the above. I leave comments on most things on ao3. I reblog on tumblr. I beta read a few times. I cheerlead. I helped when people requested advice for things. I talk through a lot of ideas with others. I love supporting other writers.

Did you receive any advice that resonated to you this year? Oh, hmm. Yes. "There aren't any rules in fanfiction." It's such a simple idea that everyone knows, but when I was fretting how to end my long fic so it could work with the next in the series I was going to write that didn't need to be connected to the current one, a friend said, "Why is this a problem?" Then she said the rules part and I was like, "Oh. Yeah. That's right." Like, we don't have to do anything at all to make the fanfic consumable commercially. That's not the point of fanfic. It's to write whatever we want and enjoy creating. Who cares if there are plot holes? Who cares if it's crack taken seriously? Nothing has to work between fics. There are no rules.

What did you enjoy most about writing fic this year? Trying out new styles and genres. Finding out what I like to write, and how I like to write.

What did you enjoy the least? Having too many ideas and not enough time.

Who was your favorite character to write for? My OC Emmit from my Ikemen Prince gender change AU. He's a fucking adorable bean and I loved bringing to life my first original character.

Did you have a song on repeat while writing this year? Nope. I tend to listen to a playlist of instrumental stuff, so nothing on repeat except the playlist.

Did you make any playlists for your fics this year? What are they? Oh, no. I'm not that creative. I'm very bad connecting music with characters.

What’s your favorite thing you made for your fic or character this year? (such as pinterest, moodboards, gifs, etc) Huhn. I hadn't considered that. I guess the banners for my fics listed on my masterlist. I like designing things.

What was your most commonly used tag for your fics (on ao3, tumblr, etc)? Ikepri fanfic on tumblr, and Gilbert von Obsidian on ao3.

Did you participate in any fic writing challenges this year? I did! I did a few things for Kinktober. I always go small with my goals.

What was your favorite comment/review you received this year? Oh... There were really too many amazing people that said nice things about the things I wrote about. From just screaming and keyboard smashing, to thoughtful analysis, I really loved reading them all.

What was your top-rated/commented fic this year? Oh! It's the same! "I'm Pregnant" with Ikemen Prince.

Were there any ideas you wanted to work on this year but you didn’t? YES! I wanted to write an IkePri fic about Belle leaving the castle and the king being unable to live without her. I wanted to start my Yves fic for the gender change AU. I wanted to write yandere fics with multiple characters. I wanted to write ships that only exist in my head. Waaaaah.

Were there any new fandoms or genres you explored this year? Yeah! I tried out fluff for the first time. I'm attempting a dark fic. I struggle with crack.

Is there anything you want to write or try to explore in your writing next year? How to evoke more emotion from others in my writing. I want people to fall in love reading about the characters I love. I want people to cry when the story is depressing. I want people to be impacted from my writing, thinking about it for days or weeks later.

Do you have a goal for next year? If so, what is it? Finish at least one long fic. Two are currently WIPs.

What are your hopes and/or desires for yourself and for other fic writers in the next year? To create more. For me that means I hope I'm not sick as often as the previous years. For others that means I want them to care less about what other people think, and just create. It's all beautiful no matter how you see it.

2024 Ao3 Specific Stats

How many people subscribed to you this year? (User subscriptions) 14

What were your total kudos this year? 491

How many comment threads were created on your fics? 54

How many people subscribed to your fics? 24

What was your word count posted on Ao3 this year? 279,255

How many hits overall on your fics this year? 9,803

What are your top 5 fics (in terms of hits) this year? Bonus: If you post fics on tumblr, using Tumblr Top! what fic has the most notes? (in total and that you posted this year) 1. "I'm Pregnant" with Ikemen Prince - 1,048 hits (multi chapter) 2. Deceit and Decay - 752 hits (multi chapter) 3. Between His Teeth - 691 hits (one shot) 4. Banging Birthday - 663 hits (one shot) 5. Belle's Gentle Beasts - 559 (multi chapter) Tumblr Top!: "I'm Pregnant" with IkePri. lol. 330 notes.

Did you discover any new fics or fic authors this year? A ton! I started my tumblr account this year, so I found the entire Ikemen Series fandom that hangs out on here. It turns out I've read some of them on ao3 already, but I met so many more.

What was your favorite fic to read this year? Oh geez. Pass. I can't even begin to make a favorite. I bookmark fics I love, and I love a lot.

Who was your favorite fic author this year? Can I say myself? lol. I probably read more of @scummy-writes stuff than anything else because we're both obsessed with Gilbert, but I did read several other fandoms and characters. @aquagirl1978 got me into Villains. @xxsycamore is an old favorite who keeps creating more IkeSeries stuff. @wistfulwanderingone created a Secret Santa gift that made me tear up. Aaaaahhhh! Just thinking about it again has me wanting to reread it for a fifth time.

What fics or authors would you recommend for others to discover and read in the next year? See above. I'm partial to anything with Gilbert von Obsidian from Ikemen Prince, but I love a lot of Ikemen Prince. And I enjoy dipping into other IkeSeries fanfics every now and then.

What advice would you have for people who might want to try writing or sharing their writing next year? Just write. Write messily. Write badly. Write in bullet points or through dialogue only. Write however works for you. You can always improve if you wish to improve, but you can't improve when there's nothing written. Turn off notifications if they give you anxiety. Don't even look back at the fic and what numbers it's doing if it's going to affect your mood. Seriously. Just post into the void. Let others fall in love with the people you love.

Any regrets? For writing? No. I regret that my health sucks and it keeps me from creating. I regret that I started writing so late in life. But when it comes to what I did and what I'm planning on doing and what I've put out, I'm so fucking proud of myself.