#biot writes

[driftward]

FFXIV Write 2024 Master Post

I wrote some words. Got a prompt in for every day, plus a bonus one that wouldn't leave me alone.

Steer: Is reality destiny?

Horizon: What lies beyond the future curves

Tempest: A short poem for Susano

Reticent: The annual reminder that Nyx Blackmoon is a walking war crime

Stamp: Desertwalkers AU. Reinhardt sure is having a day.

Halcyon: Karasawa Atraxae suspects she remembers Amaurot rather better than Emet-Selch

Morsel: Yotsuyu has a hunger she wishes to satisfy

Free Day 1 - Glasses: It always comes back to an artifact from a shared childhood moment...

Lend an Ear: Desertwalkers AU. The naturalist and the seer encounter each other for the first time. This will be a thread I come back to several times during this Write event

Stable: Dominants AU. Ozma has some problems

Surrogate: Aymeric leans on the Scions as babysitters

Quarry: Desertwalkers AU. Zoissette and Lavender get in some trouble

Butte: Desertwalkers AU. A continuation of the naturalist and seer thread. Thancred's been keeping an eye on things.

Telling: Desertwalkers AU. Chapter three of the naturalist and seer thread. The naturalist interrupts the seer's business

Free Day 2 - Contest: Zoissette fights for a reward from her beloved

Third Rate: Desertwalkers AU. Zoissette and Lavender get in more trouble

Sally: More of the naturalist and seer thread. Urianger calls out the seer on her blind spots

Hackneyed: Everyone's a critic, but especially Emet-Selch

Taken: What Zoissette takes with her, what she leaves behind

Duel: Desertwalkers AU. Lyse and Livia fight for a train on top of a train

Shade: Desertwalkers AU. Lavender has a way with new people

Free Day 3 - Caretaker: Y'shtola tends to Zoissette in the time after Ultima Thule

On Cloud Nine: Aetherwave AU. Riot has opinions about this gilded garden

Bar: Tony Hawk is not in this fic Bar (Another Take): Aymeric and Zoissette talk about Zoissette's new relationship

Perpetuity: Nyx watches on the journey to forever

Zip: Multiverse shenanigans. I will finish this one one day

Memory: Krile and Zoissette talk about the nature of people

Deleterious: Desertwalkers AU. The seer catches up to the naturalists' thread

Free Day 4 - Coda: Desertwalkers AU. And the thread with the naturalist and the seer comes full circle

Two Heads are Better Than One: Thancred is very punny.

And that is a wrap for this year, I hope to see everyone next year! I have enjoyed a great many of your stories.

[lynmars79]

Fun meta asks for writers! 1.Tell us about your current project(s) – what’s it about, how’s progress, what do you love most about it? 17.o you think readers perceive your work - or you - differently to you? What do you think would surprise your readers about your writing or your motivations? 20.Tell us the meta about your writing that you really want to ramble to people about (symbolism you’ve included, character or relationship development that you love, hidden references, callbacks, etc.)

Menace. Bully. Fiend. How dare you--

So in 2022 as we were awaiting the finished dark knight zine and prepping for FFXIV Write 2022, roommate found a submissions call for a zine called "I Spade You" that would be about Ace romances. I've had a pseudo-idea floating in the back of my head for a long while about a middle-aged pair in a fantasy setting who despite being from opposite sides of a conflict end up having a connection, and tried to form it into a 2500 word story for submission to this zine but it wouldn't gel.

Well, the problem really was that it was gelling...into something longer. I'd been thinking of it in the background long enough that it took on a life of its own. But things at work heated up, I already had fandom writing projects, so I shelved the idea and lost track of that zine. I didn't think of it seriously for months.

Then Bigolas Dickolas Wolfwood entered the chat with their sincere promotion of This is How You Lose the Time War, a novel I had heard about but hadn't read yet. So I read it, and while "people from opposite sides of a conflict form a connection" is the only similarity to my story, the visceral language in that novel really got to me.

I found myself opening the Spade folder again. And writing random scenes from various points in a 25ish year relationship between 2 people thrown together by outside machinations into a marriage neither wants, falling in love despite that, but the cracks form and irreconcilable differences arise due to duty and pride and a lifetime of nationalist education, a long separation and obsession, and then fate puts them together once more, relearning who they are now After All That.

It's arranged marriage friends to lovers to enemies to friends to lovers again. I keep forgetting to add straight people to the supporting cast. I have 3 distinct parts--early relationship, 15 years apart having life happen, then a disaster that makes one of them relearn all they thought they knew while the other hurtles toward their long-waited fate. I have world building and character profile documents. A family tree for one group for Reasons. Avatars for some characters thanks to BG3 and Picrews. So. It's...drafting. It's currently pretty indulgent and a lot of Vibes, little in depth research yet. There's probably over 100k words written but I dunno how many total and a lot of them will change.

It's still an ace romance between the leads. And between another ace character and her bi partner. Whether people think it "counts" or not will be where there's a perception schism, I guess. If I ever get any of it out. It won't be for everyone and there's probably things I'll get wrong and also some of the characters, even protagonists and heroic figures and loveable folks, aren't always the best people and have major flaws and issues.

There's also a teeny bit of "this aspect of this character's story in X other media annoyed me and also I see where there's some influence from this author of Y media I like so wonder if I could write something similar to be more satisfying for me" thrown against the general idea of "I have this one OC that's been bopping around in my head for years" and it became "but what if they kissed and that's all they do while being in love because they don't need more than that? And there's also a lot of familial and platonic loving relationships in there? And framed around an epic fated adventure?"

Still really developing recurring themes and callbacks, but there's a running joke with flicking balls of paper at someone's head, and a poignant bit about family home entryway markers and mourning rituals that may run throughout.

[autumnslance]

(@driftward) Oh, let's see, one per inbox item defeated per blog, correct? Of course I'm correct. Gimme dat Little Brother Thing; self-indulgent on my part going to ask after The Effects of Wine (Y'shtola); It Ends Where It Begins sounds ~interesting~; Hilda Ideas, for both me and a friend; X'rhun and F'lhamin (eyebrows eyebrows eyebrows); and a bonus just out of sheer curiosity, Biot's Antecedent Musings

Good job defeating the inbox boss. Why were you awake at hours only reasonable to me and our local Australian?? Anyway.

Little Brother Thing - Stormblood 4.3. As Alphinaud accompanies Maxima, Aeryn reflects back on key moments in their journey together, and how much he's grown and changed from the arrogant boy she shared a cart with but didn't properly meet until the Remembrance Ceremonies, to the confident young man he is at this point--and how she's still going to worry for him regardless of how capable he is, because that's how it goes.

I should revisit this actually, it's got some good bones. Hrm.

The Effects of Wine - ARR, Company of Heroes chain, Y'shtola POV. After the Feast, Y'shtola and Aeryn rest in a bungalow and have a late evening talk about Aeryn's growing reputation, why the Company did what they did, and how she just ever meant to be a common adventurer to help people--not a primal slaying hero. Aeryn says more here than usual at this point in the story; maybe the wine, maybe the growing trust in her comrade.

I should get around to cleaning it up and posting it somewhere, honestly. It was a noodle-thought from very early on as I was figuring out voices and relationships, but it's not too bad.

It Ends Where It Begins - is a post-5.0 Shadowbringers. Something that the Exarch said in the cliffside convo before Mt Gulg reminded Aeryn of Papalymo's words post-Ultima Weapon (it's a click text when everyone's gathered in the Waking Sands to congratulate you before you turn in the final 2.0 quest in to Minfilia). Given all that happens to WoL in 5.0, and the revelations in general, Aeryn ends up thinking of the words as she looks back on her journey, and ends up in Gridania. And it leads into what then became a seaswolchallenge prompt in 2020, Metamorphosis, where she tells Miounne and Bremondt stories of her adventures.

Hilda Notes - Literally just a list of notes about horny Hilda moments for some reason. There's a draft for a fic of her and a touch-starved Thancred I can check off. Ideas for a cop vs vigilante fic with Sidurgu (maybe something sexy there, maybe not). And an idea for a Hilda solo as she fantasizes about a hot Highland lass met while dealing with Ala Mhigo stuff. It's not even a real fic draft, it's just a list of random ideas written up while apparently hormonal.

X'rhun and F'lhaminn - Oh this is from back in I think Book Club days and a rarepair challenge month. Find a relationship that doesn't already exist on Ao3. Write something. Back then there were no tags joining these characters in any way. I was going to try to write the duelist and songstress in a light friendly adventure of their own, maybe get in some witty flirty banter for the fun of it, but the mystery never quite gelled and so I shelved it. Maybe someday. And add in Nashmeira.

Biot's Antecedent Musings - Discord convo on 12/28/22 where you were having thinky thoughts about Thancred and Minfilia and being the person she confided in about the Echo and I accused you of trying to bait me into writing something about that.

[rosemelodyshah]

glad this helped.

I have a few for valentines and I think I've a couple for Christmas time too but I couldn't find them. I kept them in the same place as a couple of creature and murder/death pranks but can't find any atm.

Also these are some of the more moderate ones (seriously wondering where the darkness in my mind came from. maybe the crime thrillers amd the lets see more blood biot of my mind?)

I also believe I had a few against Lily somewhere but I have a thousand places where i've written idea so don't have it

I went like Sirius gets tired of Lily doing something and then he makes her live in an alt dimension where she realises exactly how wrong she has been or something. It was for a PF fic a couple of months ago but I don't remember the plot of the fic so...

And I think there was one in which either/both make Snape admit really dark/secret thought aft he did something to them or something? Again if only I had started writing the fic in which it was supposed to be or even remembered the plot of said fic.

Also tag me once the fic is ready☻

writing a prongsfoot prank war au for my @marauderswithpalestineproject prompt.

lmk if theres any specific pranks you want to see

(creative juices are running low)

(@lostwriter--xx3)

[n7punk]

me: if i refresh twitter for the fifth time in a row maybe my fic will magically be done

[flashhwing]

magic fields are to ley lines and magnetic fields are to electric currents

strength of the field is proportional to 1/r^2

direction of the field can be found using the right hand rule

existence of the field is conditional on the existence of a current i.e. motion of source particles

if the current is steady, the motion is constant in time

[snarky-badger]

just saw venom, might fuck around and write fanfics 🤡👉🏻👈🏻

venom: bitchin

me: simpin; a simp-biote if you will

WAS IT GOOD?! I'm downloading a pirate copy as I type - Can't go see it cuz Covid and I live with someone that's high risk. But I'mma pirate the hell out of it!

(And I may be writing a one shot fic that's inspired by the rave scene *coughcough*)

[pompadourpink]

hi can you recommend French books that take place in the 20th-21st century?

Hello, here are a few:

20ème:

Aragon’s Aurélien, Proust’s A la recherche du temps perdu (super duper long, I suggest Le Temps retrouvé), Camus’ L’Etranger, Breton’s Nadja (pretty), Beauvoir’s Mémoires d’une jeune fille rangée, Céline’s Voyage au bout de la nuit, Cohen’s Belle du seigneur, Ernaux’ La Honte, Kundera’s L’Ignorance, Duras’ L’Amant, Pagnol’s La Gloire de mon Père, Sarraute’s Enfance, Le Clézio’s Procès-Verbal, Perec’s W ou le souvenir d’enfance, Boileau-Narcejac’s Celle qui n��était plus, Butor’s La Modification, Robbe-Grillet’s Les Gommes, Vian’s L’Ecume des jours, Colette’s Le Blé en Herbe, Malraux’s La Condition Humaine, Mauriac’s Thérèse Desqueyroux, Sartre’s La Nausée, Ionesco’s La Cantatrice Chauve, Cocteau’s Les Enfants terribles, Kessel’s Les Mains du Miracle, Nothomb’s Hygiène de L‘assassin (she’s belgian but come on), Cixous’ Dedans...

21ème:

Beigbeder’s 99 francs, Pancol’s Les yeux jaunes des crocodiles, Barbery’s L’Elegance du hérisson, Vigan’s No et moi, Louis’ Qui a tué mon père, Bellanger’s La Théorie de l’information, Bordage’s L’Evangile du serpent, Angot’s Le Marché des Amants, Thilliez’s L’Anneau de Moebius, Ono-dit-biot’s Plonger, Huston’s Lignes de faille, Houellebecq’s Sérotonine, Enard’s Zone, Orsenna’s Princesse Histamine, Winckler’s Le Choeur des femmes, Vargas’ Temps glaciaires…

And probably loads more but I’m not a fan of modern literature and much more knowledgeable about XVIII/XIXth lit. Feel free to check out more of Nothomb’s and Thilliez’s (crime) stuff for XXIth century action, as well as the winners of literary rewards (prix Renaudot, Goncourt, Fémina…) from time to time - I did myself and authors seem to prefer writing about the past. 

Hope this helps! x 

[aki-draws-things]

Okay, me again 😂 Hope you're having a good day 💜 So, can I ask for another prompt, let's say, homesickness for Tymeo?

Hello again, my dear!! Worry not, you can ask all the prompts you wish, really… It’s much easier when people asks me prompt for a ship or another… on my own I get stuck most of the times trying to decide who should I write on.

Now, about this one prompt, it became a biot of an abstract concept, the homesickness. Especially because home is not the place but the person. also, the ending is open, because I couldn’t chose how to end it, actually. What Romeo will find in the end is up to you.

(Also, Catarina is the sweetest woman. she cares so much…)

***

@badthingshappenbingo

Prompt: Homesickness

Fandom: Romeo et Juliette

Ship: Tymeo

Venice wasn’t that bad, Tybalt had to agree; it was a bit wet, and humid, yes, but not entirely bad. Except for the part where he did not chose to spend the rest of his life there, alone. Not that he was truly alone, just –

“Are you ready?” He raised the head from the letter he had spent the last two hours writing and looked behind himself at the red haired woman on the door, looking smiling at him. He sighed.

“Yes. I just need to sign it and it will be done.” She nodded and laughed softly, hair bouncing slightly at the movement.

“Must truly be someone special if they receive a letter from you every week, my dear.” He nodded again and stood up, letter in hand and walked to her.

“My apologize for making you wait, again. - He took her hand and kissed her lightly. - We may go.”

Catarina took his arm and led the way, never stopping smiling, they left the letter to a courier and walked away.

“You don’t make me wait, you save me from all those small talks women will make during the party. Not even one that could understand politics or, for the matter, beauty. They’re so boring, so if your precious friend is worth all that time for a letter, then it’s perfectly fine for me.”

She was nice, and understanding, Tybalt liked her. But he couldn’t love her, that was beyond his abilities. First, she was ten years older than him. Normally it would have been the man being older, normally his uncle would have looked for a young lady, in her fourteens or something. But Catarina was, in his uncle’s opinion, the perfect match. - Yes. Perfect because she was still unmarried despite her beauty, and daughter to the Prince of Venice. That union would bring so much power to the Capulet’s family, more than anyone else except for the Escalus’  family. -

Second, he simply couldn’t give her his love since that was already taken by someone else, in Verona. His mysterious friend. His Romeo. - Same Romeo who, in the past letter, accused him of cheating on him. It took all of his calm to explain in the letter that he never chose that life and union and would return to Verona, and probably run away with him, any time, if only he could. -

Third, but that was mostly a secret Tybalt wasn’t completely sure of and preferred to keep for himself for the time being, his wife was quite in love with her personal maid.

Now he could only hope Romeo would understand.

Romeo sighed and clutched the letter at his chest, how stupid he had been, thinking Tybalt actually cheated on him, thinking he would go and marry that woman out of love. How stupid and childish. He knew better, deep down he knew, and yet he had let jealousy take over his hand during his last letter. Now he wanted to take that paper and replace every single word he had written with something better, words of love and kindness.

“I feel so stupid…” He sighed again, and Juliet laughed lightly.

“You were, yes. Just a bit. But I know my cousin, and I know for sure that once he loves someone he gives them everything.”

“I miss him.” He sighed again and she hummed.

“You could come with me next time I go visit him.” She proposed absentmindedly.

“Yeah… Like my family would let me go to Venice just because I want to… I appreciate the thought, Juliet, really, but –”

“If you were to be my husband then you would have every right to accompany me.”

It was sudden, incredibly sudden. Romeo turned to her with his eyes wide open.

“It – It wouldn’t – I wouldn’t … couldn’t – I…”

“I’m not asking you to love me, Romeo. - She said kindly. And a little amused too. - You’re cute, and with time I’m sure I would learn to love you, but I can’t ask you the same. It would be a way for you to come with me to Venice, be with my Tybalt for a little.”

“And we should simply say that… we will marry? That I asked you and you said yes… or something?”

“Or something. Yes.”

The plan was easy, so easy nothing could go wrong. - Except maybe for her father trying to change her mind first, threatening Romeo later and, lastly, trying to speak to the Prince about this absurd turning of things. The Prince gave them his blessing instead and threatened Lord Capulet of exile if he did anything against them. Maybe that would’ve been the thing that would finally bring peace, he though hopefully. -

“I thought you loved –” Romeo almost jumped at Mercutio when he opened his mouth.

“I did – I do. I still do. It’s complicated but like this I will have a chance to spend time with him, somehow. It’s… Complicated.” He repeated, and it was, indeed. It took him and Juliet hours to properly write their plan in a letter and send it.

There was just one small problem. Lord Capulet wrote him too.

Tybalt felt sick, he felt a pang in his heart, he felt tears forming in his eyes. He crumbled up the letter and threw it in the fireplace. In truth there was no anger nor rage in him, he trembled slightly and fell on his knees.

“I miss home.” He said to Catarina just the day before, both sitting in the library, almost distracted. “I miss the people, the air in Verona and its streets. And I miss him. Like air.”

“The one you always write to, my dear?” Tybalt nodded.

“He’s like home. Feels like home, tastes like home. I feel so lost. - He looked up suddenly worried. - Not that I’m not happy here. Everyone is kind, you are kind and I like you, very much. But –”

“But you’re homesick, I understand. He must be truly amazing, maybe next time you should invite him here.”

“No one knows about us. Or I would’ve been already dead.”

“They don’t need to know. - She casted a quick look at a maid collecting some cups from a nearby table, Tybalt saw the way she looked back. - You’ll just invite a friend in our house, so that this will be home for you too, for a little.”

The day he arrived to Venice to marry Lady Catarina he thought he wouldn’t even like her, in any way. He had been wrong. There was no love between them, not the kind of love one expected from husband and wife, they simply were friends. And it was enough, for both of them.

He should’ve known better, he thought sadly, he should’ve known better than trusting a Montague.

And yet he did trusted him, he loved him, he gave him his heart, and what for? To have it crushed like this?

After all of his words about betrayal and cheating he went and married Juliet. How hypocrite of him. How –

Tybalt felt sick. Actually sick, physically sick.

The fire burned every single word his uncle wrote him, slowly he felt his body getting more and more tired and heavy, tears falling down his cheeks silently. He slid on the floor on his side and the world darkened upon him.

- Oh, the fear Catarina felt when she walked in the room only to find her husband lying unconscious on the floor! -

She eyed Romeo doubtfully when he appeared before her next to Juliet. That was him, then. That was the boy.

“Welcome to Venice.” She force a smile standing from her armchair by the large window and leaving the open book on the table. “It’s a pleasure to finally meet you in person.” She had to be kind, if not for him or herself than for her husband.

“Thank you Catarina.  But tell me, where is my dear cousin? I’m sure he’ll be so happy to have us here.” Romeo looked around, almost hoping Tybalt to suddenly appear. But he didn’t and Catarina’s eyes darkened just a little.

“My husband is very sick right now. - She confessed. - A strange sickness, something doctor’s can’t explain.” Romeo felt all color drain from his face. He couldn’t be sick… They were supposed to spend the whole week together, he –

She led them to the bedroom and Romeo followed almost automatically until she stopped in front of a closed door.

“He feels like his home had been destroyed leaving him with nowhere to go. Lost. - There was a light accusation in her voice but all Romeo could see was the door. He yearned to enter, to be with his Tybalt, to make things right. Whatever happened he must have not believed their letter. Or maybe he didn’t even receive it. He had to change that. He had to fix that. He had to explain. - Maybe you can cure him. I hope you can.”

She took Juliet’s arm and walked away as Romeo gently pushed the door, entered and closed it behind himself. He hoped he could do it too.

[justanotherdumpingground]

Kickstarter Visual Novels

Lately, I’ve been playing demos of four visual novels on Kickstarter. One of them has a successful campaign that’s already over while the other three have ongoing campaigns.

The Divine Speaker

Developer: Two and a Half Studios @thedivinespeakervn

The crowdfunding campaign for this visual novel is over, and it managed to raise AU$29,499 (about US$20,415), more than the set goal of AU$16,060 (about US$11,114).

It’s a BL game, meaning that the protagonist and all love interests are male, so I’d expect MLM players to get interested in this. The current demo hasn’t presented the third love interest, a blond guy named Cyne, yet.

The story’s about an orphan named Raen who just turned 18, encountered some secrets from the local leader with the power to determine every newborn’s fate, and gets kicked out of the city and into the woods in the process, leaving behind the only known civilization in the setting. Along the way, he encounters some guys around his journey around the woods and learns that there’s some thing out there and there’s more to the civilization than meets the eye.

One thing that got me intrigued about the story is the mystery behind Aurelia Cavella’s history and the mystery of the woods marking the end of civilization. That got me interested in how the story will unfold as Raen uncovers the mystery. Another thing I like is Fawn, whose adorkable nature towards Raen and love for animals has endeared to me so far.

Since funding for the game is over, that means there’s nothing else I can say about this other than the fact that I look forward to its release next year. In the meantime, the extended demo will be out soon.

Whiteheart Woods

Developer: NoBread Studio @nobreadstudio

The campaign for this visual novel has about slightly less than a day left to reach its goal of €15,000 (about $16,917), yet the amount pledge has reached about two-thirds of its goal as of this writing. The story’s a supernatural mystery, so anyone who likes that stuff are in for a treat.

The protagonist is male, and his name can’t be changed. Moreover, his personality, background, and characterization are set in stone. There are four love interests: three female and one male.

The story starts with the protagonist having a dream about being in the woods with two girls named Sylvia and Marie, only to wake up during class. He meets and reconnects with the two girls in his dreams and a boy (Noah) who shows up late to class. Afterwards, they fly to an old cabin in the woods, and the demo ends when they reached the cabin and opened up the mailbox.

I enjoy the demo and its setup. The first scene left me wanting to know about the mystery about the cabin in the woods. The primary characters shown so far (the protagonist, the three love interests shown, and two supporting characters) are interesting in their own right, and the interactions are good so far. Only one love interest hasn’t been shown, however. I like how Sylvia (the redhead) has an outgoing personality that contrasts neatly with Marie (the blonde) and Noah (the white haired guy), who are more reserved.

I feel a bit sad that this campaign most likely won’t reach its funding goal in time. I just hope they won’t give up regardless of outcome.

Silver:Line

Developer: CodeV

This one’s interesting. The artwork for the characters are 3D instead of 2D, we play as a supporting character of each of the love interests’ stories, we can play as a male or female, and there are six love interests (four of them are present in the demo, and all of them available for both genders). Funding has reached about 47% of its goal of S$23,000 (about US$16,907) as of this writing.

The beginning of the story reminds me of The Crown & The Flame, one of the stories from Choices: Stories You Play @playchoices. In this case, we play as a scholar who was framed for killing the king and queen. There are also classical tropes like your friend’s the long-lost son of the king, one of the love interests is the last surviving member of her kind, and whatnot. Nevertheless, I still enjoy what the demo has offered so far, and I look forward to more of it. My only concern is that the narrative should be mindful of the setting, because one scene is described as “something from a horror movie”. That turned me off a little because this is a setting where movies don’t exist, so I suggest fixing this to something more in-line with the setting. Still something I’m checking out, though.

Synthetic Lover

Developer: Irlana @knight–of–hearts

The campaign for this visual novel has slightly less than a week left, and it has reached about 71% from reaching its goal of CA$11,200 (about US$8,589) as of this writing. The story’s about some sort of robot called a biot who gains self-awareness after an altercation with a customer. Along the way, he tries to find answers for his predicament before his makers destroy him.

Like The Divine Speaker, Synthetic Lover is a BL game. Only this time, there are only two love interests: Bastian, a bartender and the customer who triggered the protagonist’s self-awareness, and Terrance, who works for the company who creates biots. This is going to be an interesting fuel for drama. The story kind of reminds me of Perfect Match, another story by Choices: Stories You Play @playchoices, except that the protagonist is a robot instead of a human.

Anyone interested in MLM romance is in for a treat with this one as well as The Divine Speaker.

If anyone is interested in any of the ongoing campaigns and can afford to back any of them, feel free to do so, and don’t hesitate to spread the word about them.

[driftward]

Title: FFXIV Write 2024 - 24. Bar Characters: Estinien Varlineau Rating: Teen Summary: Tony Hawk was in this fic? Notes: None

Landing lightly outside of the Seventh Heaven, Estinien dropped from the clouds, surprising a few people nearby.

He did not bother to acknowledge them. A sudden fit of nostalgia had come over him while he just happened to be in the area, and he was just here now to check out the old haunt. He walked inside, setting aside his spear.

The place had changed some, but also was much like how he had remembered. The wandering minstrel was in his corner, tuning his harp. He could have swore he saw the man over in Tuliyollal, but then again, he was pretty certain he saw that man practically everywhere. He didn't recognize too many other people, but it had been some time since the Scions had 'disbanded' and he had cause to drop in. And Revenant's Toll was not the kind of place one made a permanent home of. Come in, stay for a few seasons, then go where the adventure went.

Like he had.

He didn't recognize the barkeep, either, but that didn't have to mean anything either. He decided he'd sit down, grab a mug, enjoy the moment, and then go before he felt like he was overstaying his welcome. As he sat, he looked up, and was startled to see familiar faces looking back at him.

Painted pictures of all the Scions hung in the back wall. Where, he supposed there was no real reason to pretend at secrecy anymore. Even before he'd joined, their little organization was the worst kept secret on the star. He'd grown well used at Aymeric's excited near-breathless sharing of their tales of adventure and derring-do before he himself had even met them. The man could be like an overexcited spratling about topics that drew his interest.

None of that here, though. No sharing of stories tonight, unless the minstrel was plied to play a tune. Estinien himself was certainly no bard, and would be telling no tales.

He was admiring the details on the Warrior of Light's portrait in particular when the barkeep finally made their way to him.

"What'll it be?"

"Darkest stout you got and an Eft pie, if you still make those."

"Sure," said the barkeep, flipping a mug up in front of Estinien and beginning to pour. "Huh. You look just like that famous lancer guy we used to get through here, what was his name? Estinien? I wonder what he's up to these days?"

Estinien's eyes drifted to the right behind the barkeep as they poured his drink, and he locked eyes with the somewhat severe yet accurate recreation of his very own face that was hanging from the wall.

"This," he said.

The barkeep looked at him skeptically.

Well, no matter where you went, there you were, Estinien thought to himself as he decided to not clarify any further and just enjoy his drink.

When he left a half-bell later, his painting continued the watch in his stead.

[nicoolios]

The Power of the Dystopia

What do nanotechnology, young adult dystopias, and zombies learning to love again have in common? As the old meme says, the answer may surprise you. By nanotechnology I mean Michael Grant’s BZRK trilogy, by young adult dystopias I will focus mostly on The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins, and by zombies learning to love again I am referencing Isaac Marion’s Warm Bodies. Each of these books will be discussed in great depth in how they relate to the common theme of power in the following collection of literary criticisms. Power surfaces in BZRK through the obsessive lengths the characters go to to maintain it with superior technology and firepower. The Hunger Games refrains from the subject of actively maintaining power, but its story accurately depicts a society where power is exploited to keep its poorer citizens in line. The zombies in Warm Bodies regain power in a world that exists to destroy them by relearning language. Again, each of those topics will be explained at the introduction’s conclusion in their individual essays, but I will add a bit more clarity later on in these opening remarks.

This issue, which puts power front and center in the spotlight, tackles problems pertinent to the world we live in today by using a wide variety of popular books to reach the widest reader base possible. All of them can be considered young adult fiction, but each series pushes the boundaries of the genre. The Hunger Games specifically doubles as political commentary, BZRK is hardcore science fiction written for the eyes of teenagers, and Warm Bodies is technically a zombie romance.

As previously stated, The Hunger Games is political commentary, which only gets all the sweeter the more the political scene in the United States and around the world goes south. The main character Katniss lives in District 12, the poorest of the twelve districts, and is forced to hunt illegally to keep her mother and sister fed. District 1, the wealthiest district home to people so rich they take medicine to force themselves to throw up at parties so they can continue eating the fanciest, most expensive food, holds the Hunger Games every year to keep all the other districts in line. All three books in the series have the same background: the rich exist to stay rich, and the rich have all the power, so when District 13 starts the rebellion it sends them into a panic. The entirety of Mockingjay, the third book of the trilogy, is about that very topic. Money plus power equals bad guy, especially in this series. In regards to the essay on The Hunger Games, not only is there a common theme of power in all three books and all four movies, there are also real-life connotations for both the people spending money on the series and the young adult genre in general. While the essay specifically talks about the genre and what political books do for readers of young adult fiction, The Hunger Games just so happens to be the most popular representation.  

BZRK also deals with money and power and rich people trying to control the universe, but this time it is set in contemporary New York, rather than the fictional Panem. In this universe nanotechnology, which was originally developed to cure cancer, is instead weaponized and is used by both the good and the bad guys. The bad guys, the Armstrong twins and their lackeys Nexus Humanus, want to use nanotech to brainwash the planet into their cult through “sustainable happiness.” The good guys, BZRK, want to protect free will by using their own nanotechnology, biots individually linked to one user, to manipulate others. The whole concept is built on shady deals and backwards justification on both ends of the stick. Both sides think they are in the right, think they are the ones with access to the most power, both already have access to the money and resources that will get them that power. The Armstrong twins spend the series doing everything they possibly can to become rulers of the world, while their second in command Bernofsky goes mad with power and wants to destroy the world with nanobots that feed on carbon. Most of BZRK New York’s plotlines are about playing catch up to Nexus Humanus and holding on to what little power they have. By the trilogy’s conclusion the proper balance that everyone was fighting over has been restored, eliminating the need for technology-based power.

A book about zombies learning to love again seems like a stretch. How could power possibly be involved? Half the main characters are dead. And judging by the movie, there is no possible way for the former dead to regain the power they lost upon getting into their current predicament by reteaching themselves how to speak and act human again. But there it is. The movie is a better illustration of it, but the novel still details R, an incredibly articulate zombie, struggling through a language barrier to communicate with his human captive turned friend turned girlfriend Julie. At the beginning the most R can get out are a few grunts to the zombie he deems his best friend, M. When Julie finds herself the survivor of a zombie attack but the only member of her group still alive and unable to make it back home, she ends up at the airport R lives in. The two of them form a relationship different from the usual zombie eats human, even though R ate Julie’s boyfriend during the attack where they met. Julie teaches R English, pop culture, and how to be human again. The zombies must fight to prove they can become what they once were again, first and foremost by Julie demonstrating R is physically able to love her. As they become living again they go through their own revolution.

These essay’s order in this collection is due to their subject matter and relativity to the real world. The Hunger Games takes place in a fictional country similar enough to our own to make accurate political commentary. BZRK takes place in real life New York, and its plot is one that might happen with how quickly nanotechnology is developing. Warm Bodies’ setting is never specified, but the aftermath of the apocalypse is clear, and for all we know it could be right next door to where we grew up. They move from the clearly fake to the it might just be real, from this could never happen to me to holy crap, this might be happening right now. Please see the meanings these novels preach, what lurks between the lines. Right now this kind of commentary is more important than ever. With people being censored and completely silenced right and left, these books are clearly about power and its consequences, both by exploiting it and by regaining it.

"If Peeta and I were both to die, or they thought we were....My fingers fumble with the pouch on my belt, freeing it. Peeta sees it and his hand clamps on my wrist. ‘No, I won't let you.’ ‘Trust me,’ I whisper. He holds my gaze for a long moment then lets go. I loosen the top of the pouch and pour a few spoonfuls of berries into his palm. Then I fill my own. ‘On the count of three?’ Peeta leans down and kisses me once, very gently. ‘The count of three,’ he says. We stand, our backs pressed together, our empty hands locked tight. ‘Hold them out. I want everyone to see,’ he says. I spread out my fingers, and the dark berries glisten in the sun. I give Peeta's hand one last squeeze as a signal, as a good-bye, and we begin counting. ‘One.’ Maybe I'm wrong. ‘Two.’ Maybe they don't care if we both die. ‘Three!’ It's too late to change my mind. I lift my hand to my mouth taking one last look at the world. The berries have just passed my lips when the trumpets begin to blare. The frantic voice of Claudius Templesmith shouts above them. ‘Stop! Stop! Ladies and gentlemen, I am pleased to present the victors of the 74th Hunger Games, Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark! I give you - the tributes of District 12!’” (The Hunger Games, Suzanne Collins).

Young Adult dystopias have been an important part of American culture for so long it feels like they have always been there. As children we had The Hunger Games, which later spawned Divergent, The Maze Runner, Uglies, and countless others. In school we read 1984, Brave New World, Fahrenheit 451, A Clockwork Orange, and the list goes on and on. Their movie and television show adaptations are everywhere. Everyone has a favorite example. So when Moretti's data suggests the genre bubble will burst in the coming years, it is kind of hard to believe. The genre is still going strong, and for good reason. Young Adult dystopias have something the classics neglect: diversity. Katniss Everdeen is a physically and mentally disabled woman of color surrounded by other females, people of color, people with disabilities, people from every walk of life. When The Hunger Games shot up the best sellers list Katniss inspired Tris Pryor in Divergent, Teresa in The Maze Runner, and Tally Youngblood in Uglies. The sheer volume of books and characters guarantees there is something for everyone. Everyone turned out to be mostly adult women and teenage girls. It is the reading power of the latter that presents my point: so long as we live in the world we do, with the current political climate active, and with a steady stream of strong female characters willing to stand up to oppressors, there will be a need for the genre. Multiple people see that need and write books based upon what they think needs to be said. This bubble, much like the superhero movie one, will stay untouched until the world proves it has no need for that kind of fiction anymore. Therefore, I think the genre is here to stay for years to come.

Seeing yourself in a character on the big screen or on the page is so incredibly important. Some little girl with hearing issues read about Katniss' ear trauma and saw herself; if for whatever reason she was unable to get it fixed, related to Katniss refusing surgery to restore her hearing. Or someone living under an oppressive government learning first that they should fight back and then it is okay to do so. Or that people bullying you for something outside your control deserve to be called out on their behavior. Or any number of things prevalent in what makes it big in the genre these days. The books that make it big pave the way for even greater diversity to truly reach the entire reader base. Those might carry on as something no one has ever heard of, but reach the right audience and lives can be changed. I feel like the genre will be around for quite a while. Not just because it is one of my favorites to both read and write for, but also because it is important. We are faced with the possibility of the complete destruction of life as we know it. Someone must recognize what is going on and do something about it. At this point they might as well be fictional, but that is the only way to get the ball rolling.  

“Tell me something, Noah. Which is more important: freedom or happiness?' What was this, a game? But Nijinsky wasn't smiling. 'You can't be happy unless you’re free,' Noah said" (BZRK, Michael Grant).  

Michael Grant's BZRK trilogy depends upon nanotechnology to further its plot, give motivation for characters and their development, provide multiple bad guys, and generally make BZRK what they are. One of the main character's father invented biots, part human machines smaller than the head of a needle, capable of acting on the controller's behalf within a body. The good guys, BZRK, use biots reluctantly to fight the bad guys, Armstrong Fancy Gifts Corporation. AFGC is a cover for the cult Nexus Humanus which wants to take away free will to guarantee eternal happiness. This war is mostly fought at the nano level. Even during "macro" fights, with guns and fists, the focus is always on protecting the nano. Emphases placed on the nano and neglecting the macro, which is only protected by BZRK's enforcer Caligula, exists because of only looking at the available technology and how to improve it. When the original tech, designed to cure cancer, fails and is proven archaic, BZRK only wants to move forward with more advanced biots. Benjamin argues for only looking to the future, for using tech to get and maintain power. The Armstrong twins (founders of AFGC) only maintain their power through superior firepower and lots of unethical manipulation. Under the guise of innocent gift shops across the globe they plot to control world leaders and, therefore, everyone on the planet. That is an extension of Benjamin's philosophy. AFGC has money and manpower, giving them the ability to accomplish their goals. BZRK only has the money, but its members are determined to prevent doomsday. Their conflict over who's in control spans three novels.

There is a connection here with how the world is going today. We even touched upon it in class. For the longest time everyone was obsessed with the technology of tomorrow made today. Classic standbys like books or physical music or playing outside fell by the wayside as electronics fell in the hands of the youth. Why use what cavemen did when you can use what Marty McFly did? For the longest time my younger sister and I were the only kids on our street playing outside. We made fun of our neighbors three doors down for having a pool and never going in it. My parents still can't drag me out of ours. At restaurants we read books, my sister drew and I wrote or, heaven forbid, actually talked to each other. Then, out of nowhere, that changed. The many, many little kids living in the cul-de-sac behind us were outside screaming at all hours of the day. One time we saw our neighbors in their pool. Tables around us when we went out to eat started implementing a no phones rule. The shift was real and, according to the Internet, commonplace. Retro was becoming hip again. We aren't the only people who feel that way, but we're the ones making it happen.  

"In my mind I am eloquent; I can climb intricate scaffolds of words to reach the highest cathedral ceilings and paint my thoughts. But when I open my mouth, everything collapses” (Warm Bodies, Isaac Marion).  

Whoever controls language controls culture. Whoever controls the culture has all the power. Whoever has all the power writes all the rules, determines humanity's fate, and generally determines the ongoing nature of life. While a lot of stories tackle that concept, Warm Bodies by Isaac Marion handles it without beating around the bush. It's about the aftermath of the zombie apocalypse, sure, but it is told through the point of view of a very articulate zombie. The narrative hints rather heavily at the main character, R, being the only zombie outside of the Boneys capable of higher thought. It is only with the help of a human that he learns basic speech. The surviving humans are the only ones capable of speech, of making sure human culture does not die out. Them being able to talk makes them superior to zombies, even after zombies become human again at the novel's conclusion. The settlement the novel focuses on is run based on that fact. It is only poetic that the leader, Colonel Grigio, is the father of the woman R is in love with and the one who sparks the change from zombie to human. Colonel Grigio controls the whole narrative, both the book's and the city he runs. Zombies are to be shot on sight, anything dead must stay out of the walled city, and the language he uses to spread that information reflects how deeply rooted his control extends. On the other hand, R is the first zombie capable of replicating full human speech. By the end the other zombies learn speech as well. Them relearning speech perfectly coincides with them wrenching power from the Boneys in their twisted society and, a bit later, wrenching power from the humans when they rejoin the society they used to know. Language lets them write their own culture again, this time as rediscovered human beings.

I feel like not a lot of zombie books take advantage of exploring the concept of retaking a culture through language. It is a topic that is easily applicable to the genre. World War Z comes close, but that is the best example I can think of. What is happening right now with millennials and gen z is the closest real-life example. I tried tackling the concept in my own zombie novel Flowers Die specifically because I am unable to find anything quite like Warm Bodies or even World War Z on bookshelves. The main character comes back from the dead, but because she reanimated through the original radiation and not a classic bite, she is still fully mentally articulate and, later, verbally as well. As the apocalypse spreads zombies like her become increasingly rarer. She joins the military and fights to take back the culture she once knew by force. Her and her friends are superior by nature. Her husband, who eventually dies to prove the point, used to be a lawyer, defending traditional culture with evolving language. Later on, she meets a young woman trapped by isolation in the woods bound by her lack of language and loss of the culture that raised her. Reintroduction to what she used to know helps bring her back. This is all a work in progress, but as the old saying goes, if you want something specific you have to write it yourself.

[kevinscottgardens]

3 au 9 octobre 2022

Monday morning all the gardeners at l’Orangerie sat down with M. for a little meeting to plan winter jobs. Disappointingly Couli decided not to join us. It was polite. It was the closest I’ve been to the two groundskeepers in a very long time. We all know the olive harvest is looming as well...

Monday afternoon I met up with Emma, from CPG, in Antibes for a few hours; it was so great to see her. While we were walking around, we found several streets that had put a lot of effort to green them up, including an Euphorbia milii, that was a surprise.

That evening I watched a KMIS presentation on bonsais; oh how I miss those Monday gatherings in the Jodrell. After that was my monthly Quinta meeting.

I took a day of TOIL to join Dedereck on a Mediterranean Gardens France excursion to two gardens. I took the train to meet him and he drove. We visited Le Jardin du Réal in Puget Ville and Le Jardin exotique du Château Noir, a private garden, in Giens. I was asked to write a blurb about the visit which can be found here : https://mediterraneangardening.fr/october-octobre-2022visits-to-gardens-in-puget-ville-and-giens-var/

Ann and friend arrived at mine while we were driving back. Conveniently André and Denis were returning my car so Ann drove them home and then had a house key. Ann was super kind and came to collect me and my trottinnette at Carrefour. There are just too many steep hills between there and home for it. We had a nice catch up and I heard all about their week in Italy. Then we headed up to Biot for dinner. The food was great, as expected; however, the service was appalling. Thankfully some of the kitchen staff realised this and tried to make things go a bit smoother.

Wednesday I finished cutting down all the Iris unguicularis. Then I dug up an electrical cable that was only in a shallow trench connecting my garage to the mains. I had a good chat with Alek and he is sending a friend of his to see the garden next week. I also planted a dozen more white Cyclamen hederifolium around the sanglier statue. Hopefully these will survive. There were four flowers from last year’s planting. I had a good catch up with Ginny in the evening.

Thursday and Friday I started planting bulbs, lots of bulbs. I’m planting Tulipa, Narcissus, Galanthus and Silla to put on a spring show. I’m planting : Tulipa saxatilis, Tulipa sylvestris, Tulipa turkestanica and Tulipa urumiensis as well as Narcissus ‘Angel’s Breath, Narcissus ‘Cheerfulness’, Narcissus bulbocodium ‘Mary Poppins’, Narcissus ‘Sinopel’, Narcissus ‘Tête-à-Tête’. I also found a few spots for Galanthus elwesii, Galanthus woronowii, and Scilla mischtschenkoana one of the first bulb names I had to learn at Kew.

I also played chauffeur to M. to the golf course and to the airport. I always enjoy doing something different, to keep my days interesting. He gave me a bottle of Puligny-Montrachet Les Meix from Burgundy; it was amazing.

Friday evening I went over to see Ilze and Daniela’s new place and trimmed their olive tree. It was a fun evening.

Saturday morning I couldn’t sleep, so at 05.30 I started roasting aubergines to make baba ghanoush, then roasted a chicken for a barbecue in the afternoon and baked a cake. It rained a bit while I was finally catching up on all my outstanding blog posts. Any rain is very welcome. Then, Mandy, Denis, Andre, Kim, Sophie and her mum all came over for what was supposed to be a barbecue on the beach. We had a great evening at mine instead.

Sunday I headed up to see Beth and David for a really nice afternoon, even with all the rain. They are still working to create a botanic garden of plants from Alpes-Maritimes.

Plant of the week

Euphorbiaceae Euphorbia milii Des Moul.

common name(s) - crown of thorns, Christ plant, Christ thorn synonym(s) - Homotypic : Euphorbia breonii Nois., nom. illeg.; Euphorbia milii var. breonii (Nois.) Ursch & Leandri; Heterotypic : Euphorbia bojeri Hook.; Euphorbia bojeri var. mucronulata Ram.Goyena; Euphorbia milii f. lutea Leandri; Euphorbia milii var. milii; Euphorbia splendens var. bojeri (Hook.) Costantin & Gallaud; Euphorbia splendens subsp. bojeri (Hook.) Denis; Sterigmanthe bojeri (Hook.) Klotzsch & Garcke; Tumalis bojeri (Hook.) Raf. conservation rating - Least Concern native to - Madagascar location - vieille ville Antibes leaves - straight, slender, densely spiny, up to 30mm long, help it scramble over other plants; fleshy, green leaves are found mainly on new growth, and are up to 35mm long and 15mm broad flowers - small, subtended by a pair of conspicuous petal-like bracts, variably red, pink or white, up to 12 mm broad; all year fruit - capsule 3-lobed-ovoid, ca. 3.5 × 4 mm, smooth and glabrous; seeds ovoid-terete, ca. 2.5 × 2 mm, grey-brown, reticulate; caruncle absent; all year habit - evergreen woody succulent subshrub or shrub, loose in form, growing to 1.8m tall habitat - grows on a variety of bush and forest habitats, but always on rocks (usually granite formations) from center, southern and western Madagascar at an elevation of between 20–1609 m pests - generally pest-free disease - generally disease-free hardiness - to 10ºC (H1b) soil - dry to medium moisture, well-drained soils sun - full sun; in hot summer climates, provide the plant with midday shade and moderate moisture for better flower bloom propagation - seed as soon as ripe, annually in spring gives a better flowering display that year; also keeps growth in check and improves overall plant health pruning - dead, damaged, shaping nomenclature - Euphorbiaceae - Euphorbia - for Euphorbus, physician to the King of Mauritania, who used the latex of a spurge for medicinal purposes; milii - commemorates Baron Milius, once Governor of Réunion, who introduced the species to France in 1821

References :

Gledhill, David, (2008) “The Names of Plants”, fourth edition; Cambridge University Press; ISBN: 978-0-52168-553-5

IUCN [online] https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/44389/153299391 [13 Nov 22]

North Carolina State Extension [online] https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/euphorbia-milii/ [13 Nov 22]

Plants of the World [online] https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:347359-1 [13 Nov 22]

Royal Horticultural Society [online] https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/32739/euphorbia-milii/details [13 Nov 22]

Wikipedia [online] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Euphorbia_milii [13 Nov 22]

World Flora Online [online] http://www.worldfloraonline.org/taxon/wfo-0000963364 [13 Nov 22]

[autumnslance]

You get two: ⭐ for Bearing Sins of the Past while it's still fresh in your mind; and a fresh ⭐star⭐ for something you've been dying to talk about, well, here is the invitation to do so and a venue to boot! (@driftward)

Reblog this if you want readers to come into your ask box and ask for the “director’s commentary” on a particular story, section of a story, or set of lines.  Or, send in a ⭐star⭐  to have the author select a section they’ve been dying to talk about!

Who's the menace now, coming in here with 2 requests? But sure.

Also: this prompt was sent by my beta reader for the named fic, so they have seen the major parts of the revision in full!

Bearing Sins of the Past is something I have plonked at for the last 2+ years between other writing projects; sometimes editing and rewriting things there could help shake dust loose when another story had me stymied. But with Endwalker, This Home Wrested Forth for the DRKzine, and life in general, it just took awhile.

Part of that were some scenes I felt I wanted to add, and going back and forth on whether or not I wanted to keep the single sex scene in the Ao3 posted work. In the end, though it's not actually Aeryn's conception (I specifically made the timeline not match up even during the 24 hour prompts), I felt the scene did show not only some effects drinking Avengret's blood had on Corran, but how he felt about his wife, aspects of their relationship, and their conscious decision to have another child--without Corran knowing or thinking about the effect of his choices on said child.

Adding in a scouting scene with Heustienne took much longer to sort out, and it's still obviously a bridge chapter, but it gives her a little more time in the story when so much else is focused around Alberic and Corran, or from Estinien's POV. The scene with Tarresson and Gullinbursti from FFXIV Write is gone, but replaced with a new chapter after Aeryn learns the truth, one I'd already had half-written back during the 2021 challenge, actually, but found no room for in those prompts. I also wanted to keep Emelia's voice in there; Corran tends to put her on a pedestal in his POV chapters. Her chapter is heavily shuffled around, as it has to do with memories and what triggers them (and the later vignettes from Thavnair are gone).

I spent a good chunk of time moving sections of text around, recombining chapters; some were obvious, others were not. Some things shuffled around to many places before settling where they belong.

Also sorry, FCmates, but in interests of fairness and a tad less confusion, the cameos are gone. I may still tweak the climactic scene, actually, and remove my other OCs and stick to NPCs entirely. Haven't decided and I have time yet; I just posted chapter 1 yesterday and that's chapter 15, after all.

I really don't stop iterating and editing until I actually post. After that, it's generally just minor typo and wording fixes.

==

And I am making Biot send me separate prompts cuz there's always more to yell about but this is long enough!

[rose-icosahedron]

my dad told me that when its late and you are tired part of the brain that starts to tune out is the bit that lets you tell good ideas from bad(this was in the context of story ideas). i have to say on the other side when its late i loose the biot of anxiety that says to many things are a bad idea and then i can acctually write shit

[n7punk]

Does fanart ever inspire your writing?

Sometimes! Actually, I meant to do a post for this and forgot 😅 So I've never had a fanart inspire plot really, but I have had it inspire setting! Below is a list, as complete as I can make it.

Some pieces of art have helped motivate me when I was already working on a fic with a similar setting, but I see that more as me bending the art around the idea I have in my head rather than it inspiring me. Sometimes I wanna tag art I see with my preexisting AUs if it fits, but I worry that the artist might not like it, especially if it's for their own AU, so I usually only do that if it's the piece of art that kicked off me making the AU in the first place because then it's like "Hey, you arted so good it made me write a thing."

SLAS: As mentioned in the second author's note, I started thinking about an ex-assassin bodyguard AU primarily because of this art. Though bodyguards was a trope I had been eyeing beforehand, that art turned it into inescapable brainrot.

OTOS: The fic was completely my own, but one of the smut scenes in the final chapter was inspired by an art done by Jem. It's NSFW so I'm not sure about linking it directly here, but it's linked in the final chapter's author's note.

BIOTS: This is halfsie, but I'll include it. The smutfic of the Greys/Waiting For My Spaceship To Come Back For Me series includes glowdora (Glowing!Adora), which has been featured in art on NSFW SPOP Twitter. A friend and I were actually talking about glowdora in DMs literally two weeks before we saw the art for it start, though, so it's kinda handwavey, and no one particular piece of it is responsible. The art did inspire me, but the idea also wasn't unique to the art.

iHTWcyn: Only halfsies again. I had the idea already, saw a piece of art of farm girl Adora that I can't for the life of me find now, and just sighed and made a new word document LOL. The art is somewhere on my blog but I'm not going digging for it now considering it was just the push I needed to write the idea down. This was back in December and I'm not scrolling that far.

Three Makes Two: The kitten brainrot took me because of a mamacatradora that my friend @jem-jarrett (once again) did, but it's not posted and it's for another AU that isn't mine so I can't link it. However, it did feature Catra and Adora wearing babyslings and carrying their two kittens around, which gave me brainrot and led to me writing TMT. It shares no similarities with the AU the art was originally made for, but that's what kicked it off.

Lullaby of the Drowned: Another halfies inspiration. I had been thinking about various ways to do a mermaid AU since late 2020 and narrowed in on the idea of a Pirate Catra/Siren Adora AU in April of 2021. I even added the AU to my upcoming projects list on May 18th under the name “Carry Me To Unknown Shores” (which I only changed after I started writing the fic). There had been various pieces of mermaid art (some generic and some for She-ra) that made me go “damn, I gotta get back to that mermaid AU” but this one is the one that gave me the idea for Adora’s siren form looking like She-ra and the story beats started following after seeing the art. I outlined it very quickly.

Let Me Ride: I got the idea to first do a motorcycle AU from all the fanart with them, which eventually morphed into the idea for Let Me Ride.

On the Rocks is an unreleased AU inspired by a piece of art in a similar manner to SLAS, but I can't say more on that without spoiling it. I'll add it when I can.