#chapter 1 was like 1200 words

[particleseparationroom]

ough fuck these chapters keep getting longer

[writingquestionsanswered]

Hi, so I am a new novelist, and I recently finished my first novel. The problem is I didn't divide the story by chapters, meaning I have no chapters I just have the story written, my question is how to know when it should be a chapter? Is there a specific common word count? Or is it by storyline?

Thank you for your time🤍love your page xx

What Exactly is a Chapter?

Chapters in novels contain usually one to three related scenes that are grouped together. They often center around a single scene goal or reaction and have their own beginning, middle, and end. New chapters usually begin when there's a significant change of time, place, or a change in point-of-view.

So, let's say your first six scenes look like this:

Scene 1 - Maggie walks to school with her friend Brad Scene 2 - Maggie encounters strange new student in history class Scene 3 - Maggie tells Brad about new student at lunch Scene 4 - Brad calls during Saturday dinner having seen new student Scene 5 - Maggie meets Brad at the park to hear the story Scene 6 - Maggie encounters new student at the mall on Sunday

Scene 1 takes place on the way to school, and scenes 2 - 3 take place at school within the first half of the day, so if these scenes are told from Maggie's POV or a third-person omniscient POV, we know we can group these scenes together into one chapter. But scene 4 takes place at home on the weekend, scene 5 takes place at the neighborhood park a little while later, and scene 6 takes place the next day at the mall. Since the location has shifted from school to home and home adjacent (park, mall), and the time is the weekend rather than the school week, that's a significant enough change in place and time that we know scenes 4-6 can be a separate chapter from 1-3.

On the other hand, let's say scene 1 and 2 are Maggie's POV, but scenes 3 and 4 are from Brad's POV. In that case, we'll start a new chapter with scene 3 when we switch to Brad's POV. And, even though we have the big time and location shift from school during the week to home on Saturday, it could make sense for these two scenes to stay in one chapter, because both are related to Brad's experience with the new student... hearing about them from the first time at lunch when Maggie talks about them, then encoutering them himself and calling to tell Maggie about it.

Ultimately, just follow your gut, and remember that chapters aren't required to be any particular length. They can be as short as a few sentences or as long as twenty pages... all that matters is that the chapter works as a chapter. Also, remember that you also don't have to stick with the same convention throughout your story. For example, if your chapters tend to average about 1200 words, that doesn't mean you can't have a 600 word chapter or a 2400 word chapter. Again, the only criteria to length is that it's enough words to accomplish whatever the chapter needs to accomplish.

Happy writing!

•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

I’ve been writing seriously for over 30 years and love to share what I’ve learned. Have a writing question? My inbox is always open!

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[staygoldwriting]

💌 To the Steve I Loved Before: Part 4

A Steve Harrington TATBILB!AU fic

Links to Parts 1-3 on my masterlist!

Summary: Y/N has written love letters to get over her deepest crushes. What happens when Steve Harrington gets his hands on her letter to him?

Disclaimer: This is inspired by the To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before series by Jenny Han! I have used none of her characters, but have only used the premise of a love letter in the wrong hands.

Word count: ~1200

Warnings: None, just fluff! And someone gets kissed smack on the lips 🙈

A/N: AHH I’m ashamed it’s taken me this long to write and post this next chapter 😥 but I’m back and it’s GETTING GOOD FOLKS! Haha I hope you enjoy this next chapter, please let me know what you think, and, as always, please show love and support! ❤️✨

“Wow, Steve Harrington, huh?” Eddie said, laughing softly. It sounded slightly sad, but you brushed it aside in the midst of your panic about the massive lie you just blurted out.

“Yeah?” you said, half-sure. “Why?”

“It’s nothing, I just… I guess I didn’t expect it,” he said slowly, looking down. “But then again, what do I know?” he shrugged, laughing. 

“No worries, I mean, it took me by surprise too,” you said, being honest for the first time in a while. “But I guess you never know, right?” You glanced down at your watch, desperate to get out of the conversation. “Oh, look! My shift’s over. Well, Eddie it was nice to see you--”

“Can I walk with you? I’d like to give Steve my well wishes,” he said, smiling brightly. How could you say no to such a sweet face?

“Um, sure,” you said slowly, trying not to look suspicious. “But, um, if Steve acts weird or something, don’t hold it against him, okay? He’s… shy.”

“Steve? Shy?” Eddie laughed out loud, making you groan to yourself about the weak lie. “I’ve never known the Steve Harrington to ever be shy, especially about having a beautiful girlfriend.”

Your heart skipped a beat when Eddie called you beautiful. You blushed deeply, smiling softly at him as you walked away from the desk.

“Well, thank you, Eddie,” you said sweetly as you two started walking. “But yeah, I guess he’s not really into public displays of affection?”

“Well, he seems rather comfortable with those girls over there,” Eddie said, looking at you with concern. You looked over to see Steve leaning over the counter, flirting with a couple girls. You scoffed and grimaced at Steve’s smug face.

“I’m gonna kill him.”

Eddie looked at you in surprise, but stuck by your side as you approached Scoops Ahoy. Robin looked up, panicking when she saw Eddie was with you. She looked at you intently and made a what’s going on?! face, but you were lasered in on Steve. You pushed forward and past the girls, adrenaline racing again, pulled Steve in by the shoulders, and kissed him square on the lips. You felt his hands go up in shock, and as you pulled away, his eyes were wide, looking extremely confused.

“I’m sorry,” you said in as sweet a voice as you could muster, “I know I don’t usually kiss you at work, but I just couldn’t help myself! I missed you too much.”

Steve looked at you like he was witnessing an alien encounter. His mouth formed in various ways, trying to find words, and his brow furrowed as nothing came out. 

“Ugh! No wonder he wasn’t interested,” a snarky girl spat behind you. “Let’s go, girls--he’s clearly got bad taste if he’s dating her.” 

With a flourish of ponytails and curls, the girls turned around and left. Robin was looking on in shock, mouth hung open as she chuckled intermittently. She knew exactly what you were doing, but couldn’t actually believe it was happening.

“Y/N,” Steve said, speaking slowly and hoarsely, “what-what are you doing?”

You leaned in close to feign affection and whispered to Steve.

“I’m so sorry. I’ll explain later. In the meantime, can I kiss you one more time?”

“Yes-I mean, wait, why?”

“I’ll explain later, promise!” you whisper-yelled. “I’ll be waiting in front of the pretzel shop.” 

With that, you kissed him again, no shock from Steve this time, and smiled at him sweetly. 

“See you later, honey,” you said as you turned back to Eddie, who was grinning widely.

“Way to go, L/N!” he cheered. “You sure made sure those girls know he’s taken,” he smiled, giving you a high five.

“Thanks, Eddie,” you smiled softly. Eddie went on talking about more topics, but you found yourself distracted by the discovery that Steve Harrington isn’t a bad kisser.

-💌-

You were sitting in front of the pretzel shop with your feet resting on another chair when Steve walked up to you timidly. You moved your feet quickly as he sat down in front of you. His eyes darted each way, then he leaned on his knees to look at you.

“Hey Steve,” you said simply.

“Hey Steve? Y/N, what just happened?”

“Okay, let me explain!” you started, and Steve scoffed, giving you a you better look. “So, a while ago, I started writing… love letters… to guys I’d fallen for.”

“O-kay…” Steve said slowly.

“And I wrote a bunch of them with the intention to use them to get over each guy, they were never ever meant to get out! But then they did, and most of them had the wrong address, but… Eddie’s didn’t. And I couldn’t let him think that I feel the same way I felt in the letter.”

“Do you?”

“Do I what?”

“Do you still feel that way about Eddie?”

“... I don’t know.”

“Well, I guess you obviously don’t, I mean, why else would you go and kiss me in front of him?” he said, sitting back. Then, he looked at you skeptically and leaned back in. 

“So, why did you kiss me?” he asked.

“I’m getting to that,” you said impatiently, and he nodded. “So, regardless of my feelings, the letter was really embarrassing, and then he told me he doesn’t feel the same, so all the humiliation was for nothing, and-”

“That’s brutal,” Steve chuckled, and you glared at him. He looked at you apologetically and held his hands out for you to continue.

“... And I panicked, and I told him it didn’t matter because I was dating someone else,” you said quickly. Steve smirked and clicked his tongue, nodding.

“Alright, I get it now,” he said, smirking at you and raising his eyebrows. “So, clearly, I was on your mind,” he teased, and you rolled your eyes. 

“So, can you pretend to be my boyfriend for a little bit, just until all this Eddie stuff dies down?”

“Listen, Y/N, as much as I would love to do this for you,” he started sarcastically, “has it ever occurred to you that you could just tell Eddie the truth?”

“And embarrass myself more? No way!” you yelled.

“Alright, alright,” Steve said, throwing his hands up in surrender. “I get it. Somehow, I understand your twisted little mind.”

“Does that mean you’ll do it?”

Steve looked away and squinted. He pursed his lips, then looked back at you.

“Yeah, sure, I’m game,” he said decidedly, and you breathed a sigh of relief.

“Thank you, Steve, really!” you smiled, and he nodded back at you. “We’ll have to meet again sometime soon to discuss the terms, but we need a more private place for that,” you said, starting to think out loud. 

“Sure, sure,” Steve said passively, clearly thinking about something else. “Let’s meet at my place at eight tonight. My parents won’t be home, and I’ll order a pizza.”

“That sounds great, thanks again, Steve!” you said, standing to go. 

“Wait a sec, Y/N,” he said, looking at you. 

“What?” you asked nervously.

“I’m just thinking… I was the first person that came to your mind, yeah?”

“Yeah…” you said quietly, your heart pounding.

“And Robin had a love letter with her today…”

Your heart pounded even more, and you prayed he wouldn’t put it all together, but it was too late.

“Does that mean you wrote me a love letter?”

-💌-

Taglist: @tillkummer​ @mlle-ayka​ @sonicthehedgedoggo​ @klaine-92​ @aurumbelis​ @onlyangel-444​ @beep-beep-sherlock​ @morishitoshi​ @onceuponathreetwoone​ @toomanybandstocare​ @underthebatcape​ @zeldaknight​ @fieldofsecretss​ @prettyinpunk85​ @igotbasicdrag @gothicfaires​ @thatonecurlygirl​ @luvthatlovestolove​ @loliakeoghan23​ @dearelliewrites​ @mslunawinchester​ @aphex2winn @simonsbluee​ @inkedaztec​ @dumplinshee​ @pastel-abyss-x​ @frozenhuntress67​ @hawkins-hs @witheringawayagain​ @theshinyrock​ @hollandcomics @pinkgothiccprincess​ @persephone13​ @katsukis1wife​ @murnsondock​ @fictionlandslanddreams​ @srapalestina​ @babyghouly​ @madformunsonsstuff​ @harrys-tittie @middle--fingering​ @urmomgov​ @maybankstarkey​ @jbetches @stardustmunson @maltinonka​ @chaerfull​ @middle-of-the-earth​ @lilsunshine1092​ @thehairington86​ @the-weeping-author​ @bisexual-and-intellectual

[ao3feed-jaydami]

What am I even doing bro by Anonymous

by Anonymous Damian riding shotgun... Jk, he rides a pistol in the backseat. Words: 1200, Chapters: 1/1, Language: English Fandoms: Batman - All Media Types, Robin (Comics) Rating: Explicit Warnings: Underage Categories: M/M Characters: Jason Todd, Damian Wayne Relationships: Jason Todd/Damian Wayne Additional Tags: Damian Wayne-centric, Jason Todd-centric, Bottom Damian Wayne, Top Jason Todd, Inappropriate Use of Guns, Incest, Anal Sex, mild choking, Semi-Public Sex, Damian Wayne Has a Degradation Kink, Creampie, Plot What Plot/Porn Without Plot, Brotherly Bonding, Gun Kink, Jason Todd Has a Degradation Kink, Car Sex, no beta we die like men Read it on AO3 at https://archiveofourown.org/works/60626260

[oddmawd]

been doing that "write 200 words a day for a month" challenge and so far i've hit my goal each day

well...sort of...here's my words per day...

Day 1: 2200

Day 2: 1450

Day 3: 1200

Day 4: 400

Day 5: 450

Day 6: 6700

Day 7: Edited entire chapter of Rumbar, +250

Day 8: 300 (so far)

the main thing i'm realizing is that if i have a daily goal, even a tiny one, most days i'll get into a groove by the time i hit 200 and will just...keep...going...

i used to have a daily writing habit but i fell out of it and this is reminding me how beneficial that habit was...they say if you do something 7 times you'll build a habit so here's hoping this momentum sticks!

(also i've done nanowrimo like 12 times and i've doubled that goal before so i knew going in that i'm more than capable of meeting this challenge...but again i want to rebuild that habit so awayyyyyy we go!)

[prettyinlimegreenboots]

Taking Comfort (in Your Arms) - Chapter 13

November 1, 1943, 1200 Hours

Twenty-three days. 23 days without a word whether John, Gale, Benny, Brady, and the rest of the men were alive, sitting in a Stalag or killed in action. The longer the time went on, the hope Addie had felt those first few days slowly faded. She was constantly on the edge of her seat, waiting to hear something. At this point, she would have settled for word of their deaths, just to stop her mind from wandering, though that was exactly the last thing she wanted to hear. She couldn’t think about the what ifs. It had gotten to the point when she entered the command center, all she had to do was look at Croz and he would sadly shake his head. 

Placing her coffee cup down on the table, she pushed back from the table, letting her head fall back with a sigh. Josie looked at her friend with concern as she sat across from her. “I won’t ask how you’re doing because I think I have a pretty good idea. But is there anything you need?” 

“Word that he’s okay . . . is that too much to ask?” Pulling her head up, she looked over at Josie, biting her lip. “I mean the Germans have nothing better to do than to let us know who they’ve got in custody.” 

Josie cracked a smile at that. “Glad your sarcasm hasn’t disappeared completely.” 

“I am trying my best.” Addie smirked, shaking her head. 

Josie sighed, feeling exactly how she felt, and nodded. “That’s all we can do - one foot in front of the other. Have you heard from Lydia or Anna lately?” 

“Got a letter a few days ago from them. They were thinking of coming for Thanksgiving, just so we weren’t alone. I was thinking of writing them back and telling them to stay at their base - we’re going to be miserable so no use in bringing anyone else down with us.” Addie gave her best friend a look. 

She bit her lip, watching Addie cautiously, worried for her despite her own pain. “Might not be a bad idea for them to come here - it’ll be nice to see them.” 

“Did they put you up to this to gang up on me?” Addie shot her a wink, while her hand played with her napkin, avoiding Josie’s look. 

Josie shrugged, a little too innocently. “Maybe . . .we’re just looking out for you Addie. We’re all a bit worried about you. What can we do?” 

“Make the Germans give us the information on the boys would be a good start.” Addie bit her lip, another sigh escaping. “I just hate that we don’t have any information - I would think they would be screaming from the top of the mountains that they have our men in camps or even talking about prisoner exchanges. The silence is deafening and eerie.” 

Josie sighed, not disagreeing with her best friend. “C’mon, let’s head back to the tower. I’ve heard that we’ve got visitors coming later on today.” Josie mentioned, knowing Addie’s attention would peak at that information. 

Just like she predicted, after they left the table, Addie gave her a look. “What do you know about these visitors?” 

“Word is that we’re getting another four forts being delivered. Kidd mentioned that some higher ups were supposed to be making a surprise visit here too.” Josie mentioned, slipping her hands into her jacket as they walked back. 

Humming, Addie nodded, eyes scanned the airfield, smiling as she watched Meatball run around with Lemmons and his crew. Billy and Sammy, the two local boys, were eagerly throwing the tennis ball for Meatball to chase. “I’m going to go check with Ken to make sure he’s good with keeping Meatball for a bit longer. I’ll see you back up in the tower.” 

Pausing, she watched Josie make her way towards the tower before turning and heading towards the commotion with a grin on her face. “Lemmons!” 

“Hey Addie. Come to collect Meatball?” He grabbed a cloth, wiping the excess oil off his hands, grinning at her. 

Shaking her head, watching Meatball lay down in the grass, tongue hanging out as he panted loudly. “Quite the opposite. Checking to see if you wanted to keep him for a bit longer? Looks like the boys are having fun with him.” 

“You don’t know the half of it. I don’t know who is having more fun - Meatball or the boys?” Lemmons watched Meatball chase after the ball that Sammy had just thrown for him. 

Addie giggled. “Well at least someone will sleep well tonight.” 

Raising an eyebrow at her, Ken gave her a look. “You doing okay? Need someone to talk to?” 

“Sick of waiting for news. Just wish the Germans would tell us if they’re lying in a field somewhere or relatively safe in a Stalag.” She shrugged, running a hand over her face with a loud sigh. “Sorry, that was harsh. Just want to know where our boys are.” 

Ken pulled her into a side hug, as she laid her head on his shoulder. She took a deep breath, willing herself not to cry. “Thanks, Ken. I can’t imagine how you’re feeling - you fix the planes that take our boys up and when they don’t come back . . .” 

She left the sentence hanging as Ken nodded sadly. “I’m sure you and I have similar feelings on that. Definitely miss seeing the men around the base.” 

“As soon as I hear anything, I’ll let you know.” She whispered, eyes on Meatball getting cuddles and rubs from the two boys. “Thank you for keeping an eye on Meatball. I’ll come grab him a little bit, if that’s okay?”

“Sounds good Addie.” He started to head back to the shed. “Addie?” 

She paused, looking over her shoulder at him. “Yeah?”

“I’m here if you need anything. I know a lot of people have told you that but if you need anything, you just need to ask.” He said as she nodded and grinned, heading back to the Tower. 

Climbing the stairs, she tilted her head back, sun warming her skin and the wind blowing her hair gently. Feeling the cool metal on her hand, she took a deep breath, reminding herself to put one foot in front of the other and keep going.  

November 25, 1943, 1400 Hours - Thanksgiving 

The day was long, and it wasn’t even 1400 hours yet. Addie and Josie had spent a precious few hours with Anna and Lydia, who could only get a 24-hour pass to spend with them. The night before was spent dancing and drinking while the morning was subdued with the stark realization the boys wouldn’t be home anytime soon.  Many tears were shed by Addie and Josie, to the annoyance of them both, tired of shedding tears with no news to accompany them. 

Now she stood in line to get her Thanksgiving feast, wishing she was anywhere but there currently. Smiling weakly at the kitchen staff, she scanned the room looking for a vacant seat. A true smile crossed her lips when she spotted Rosie all alone. 

Taking a seat at the table across from Rosie, she sighed. Unwrapping her silverware, she stared at the food on her plate for a moment. She longed for a true Thanksgiving dinner, real turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, and gravy like her mom used to make, not what the Air Force was attempting to pass as Thanksgiving dinner. 

“Happy Thanksgiving, Addie.” Rosie nodded at her as she picked up her fork and started poking the food on her plate. 

Giving him a sad smile, she nodded. “Happy Thanksgiving, Rosie. What have you been doing with your day off?” 

“Played a bit of football with the boys earlier.” Rosie smiled. “We had a good game going. Probably will probably do another game after this if you want to come watch.” 

Nodding, Addie agreed, taking a bite of her food. Not like there was anything else to do around base. “Sounds fun. Meatball and I will be in the crowd. What would you be doing if you were back home in New York?” 

“Probably would’ve gone to the parade earlier then gone home and ma would’ve been cooking. The house would’ve smelt incredible. The entire family would’ve crowded into our apartment around all the mismatched tables and chairs.” Rosie’s grin didn’t disappear the entire time he was talking, obviously thinking about the previous Thanksgiving he had spent with family. “What about you?” 

Addie took a sip of her water sighing. “Not sure . . . haven’t been back in the States since 1941 so not sure what I would be doing. Probably in the kitchen cooking, joking with my cousins. When I was younger, we’d go to my grandmother’s house - dad was one of five so the entire family would come together on Thanksgiving. The house would be so loud, all my cousins and siblings running throughout the house, my grandmother, aunts, and mom would be hanging out in the kitchen while all the guys crowded around the TV with whatever football game on. It was loud and happy.” 

“Those are some good memories, Addie.” Rosie smiled brightly. “Sounds like a big family and lots of noise.” 

She laughed, shaking her head. “You don’t know the half of it Rosie.” 

Silence descended on the table as they both were lost in thought. “You know I never asked you, but do you have a sweetheart, Rosie?” 

“If I had a sweetheart, Addie, do you think I would have mentioned her in the two months that I’ve been here?” Rosie raised an eyebrow at her as she grinned widely back. 

Shrugging her shoulders, she had a glint in her eyes. “You’re a man of mystery, Rosie. It wouldn’t be hard for you to keep a girl quiet. Hell, half of the new recruits are scared to death of you . . .” 

“Gotta keep them on their toes, Addie.” He chuckled. “As for the new recruits, if you look at them, you’d scare them too!” 

Addie smirked, raising an eyebrow. “You haven’t heard the rumors?”

“No, what rumors?” 

“That I’m a dropped-out ATA girl.” She grinned wickedly. 

Rosie tilted his head, looking at her confused. “But you are a drop out ATA girl - why is that a rumor?” 

“The rumor is that I got kicked out for crashing and burning a fort on a run.” She gave him a smirk. “Little do they know the actual reason I was kicked out . . . much more scandalous than that.” 

Rosie chuckled. “That’s too funny. Have you talked or interacted with them much?” 

“No, I hesitate to do so. Don’t want to get close to any of them and they go down like Bucky and Buck. I know Bucky would want me to and I know it’s wrong, but I can’t do it, Rosie.” She sighed, shaking her head, biting her lip. “I can’t say goodbye anymore.”

Nodding sorrowfully, Rosie looked at his friend. There was nothing he could say. He laid his hand down on the table, palm up allowing her to put hers on top, giving it a squeeze. “Have you flown lately?” 

Shaking her head, she bit her lip. “No, haven’t been out old man Rivers’ in a bit. Need to get out there.” 

“What if we go out there this afternoon?” Rosie asked, raising an eyebrow. 

She perked up a bit, giving him a wearily look. “You want to go up with me? I would have thought you’d heard it from the boys that I scared them.” 

“It would be my honor to go up with you, if you want to go up.” Rosie offered, watching her mull it over for a second. 

Nodding, a grin slid across her lips. “Let’s go. I promise I won’t scare you like I did with Bucky and Buck.” 

Within 45 minutes, Addie was behind a jeep, driving them towards old man Rivers’ house. The old man waved at the jollily as they drove towards the barn. Parking the jeep, she walked with a pep in her step towards the barn, throwing open the door happily. “Ta da! Rosie, may I introduce you to Daffodil? Daffodil, this is my friend Rosie.” 

Rosie whistled as he walked around the brightly colored Tiger Moth. “You can go ahead and climb up into the co-pilot’s seat. I’ll be up as soon as I finish the checks.” 

Soon she joined him up in the pilot's seat with a grin. Placing the headset on her head, she finished her checks before speaking in the headset. “You ready Rosie?” 

“Ready as I’ll ever be.” She grinned, hearing the excitement in his voice. “Amazing that you came all the way to England and just happened to find someone who had a spare Tiger Moth that let you fly it whenever you wanted.” 

She laughed, starting the engine and starting to taxi it out of the barn. “It’s good to make friends in foreign allied countries, Rosie. Especially friends who just happen to have a spare plane we can joyride in.” 

His laugh was caught in the wind as they went airborne. She pushed the plane higher, leveling out at 5,000 feet, she excitedly yelled at the feeling of being back in the air.  “Anywhere in particular you want to go, Rosie?” 

“I’m just along for the ride, Addie. You’re the pilot.” He replied back, his head on a swivel as he looked out of the open skies in front of them. “It’s different up here.” 

“Yeah, you get to sit back and relax for once, Rosie. Just enjoy the flight and take in the sights.” She joked with him.

Settling back in her seat, Addie felt her shoulders relax as she pushed the Tiger Moth a bit more as she directed it towards Thorpes Abbott. As they flew, Addie pointed out points of interest to Rosie as they continued their flight. “We’re almost to Thorpes. Did you tell anyone we were going up?” 

“No, I thought you did?” She laughed hearing the confusion in his voice. “Nope, Rosie. I told Harding you and I were going for a joyride but he’s the only one. I think Maddie is on the wireless today, so she’ll see us flying around.” 

She saw the airfield in the distance and giggled to herself. “I know you’ve buzzed the tower in a fort before, but have you ever done it in a Tiger Moth?” 

“Can’t say I have. But I’m sure you’ve done it a time or two.” He quipped back. 

“Every single birthday since I was 13, most of them in a Tiger Moth. I buzzed this tower on my birthday with Bucky in the co-pilot’s seat, just before I scared Buck by stalling the engine.” She laughed, happy at thinking of the memories instead of being sad of them. “Get ready Rosie!” 

Lining up Daffodil, she flew over the airfield once, seeing Lemmons and his crew cheering loudly at seeing her. She flew back around, lining the plane up, a grin tugging at her lips. “Let’s do this Rosie.” 

And they buzzed the tower, both of them cheering, watching Harding, Josie, Crosby, and Kidd all hit the deck. Throwing her head back, Addie whooped and laughed at the feeling free for the first time since Bucky had gone down. 

2000 Hours

Running her fingers through Meatball’s fur, she reread the words that she had written to Bucky. She had taken up writing to him, even though she had nowhere to send them. Just writing to him made her feel like he was still here with her. 

My dearest John, 

Happy Thanksgiving. God, I wish you were here and sitting beside me complaining about the lack of real turkey and mashed potatoes. But mostly, I wish you were here so I could cuddle with you and be grateful that you were safe and sound in my arms. 

But alas, that’s not our current reality. I took Rosie up in Daffodil today and had a great time. It’s the first time I’ve been up since you went down and I think I needed it more than I thought I did.  Despite not being back in the US, we had a pretty good day - a couple of the replacements started a football game and got the base out in droves to watch. The food was lackluster, but spirits were up. As soon as I’m done writing, I’m heading to the officer’s club with Blakely, Douglass, Croz, and Rosie for a drink. 

I wish I had more to tell you, John, but I miss you. I miss your laugh and the little grins you’d shoot my way. I miss you randomly dropping by my desk in the mornings and the little kisses you’d give me. I miss the little notes you’d leave me, but those that I have I treasure more than you’d know. 

Jack gave me your jacket and I’m going to be really honest, you’re probably not getting it back when you return. It’s mine now . . . though I may need you to wear it, so it regains your scent. 

These last 47 days have been hard - I won’t lie. But I keep hope that you’re still alive, hopefully in a Stalag and relatively safe and warm. 

Write to me, soon? Let me know you’re alive? 

I love you, John. 

Addie

December 5, 1943, 0800 Hours

Walking into the office, she flipped the lights on, the harshness causing her to groan. Getting to work making a pot of coffee, it was another twenty minutes before she sat at her desk. Looking at her calendar, she sighed with the lack of meetings scheduled, knowing the day would drag by slowly. 

She felt like she was stuck and kept telling herself no news was good news. She still had hope that that particular day she would hear something, though the days had slipped by with no news of Bucky or Buck or DeMarco or any of the men that had gone down in October. 

Addie was doing the best she could, which wasn’t all that great. She prayed her days would go by quickly so she could slip off to bed, where she tossed and turned. The girls had stopped asking questions weeks ago, Josie and Addie both shells of their former selves. She knew Bucky would be pissed if he saw her like this, but he wasn’t around, so she didn’t care much. She was utterly alone, left to battle each day by herself. 

As she went to take a sip of the piping hot coffee, Harding threw open his door, causing her to jump in surprise, spilling coffee on her hand, causing her to cuss. “Addie, come with me.” 

Something in her voice caused her not to question it and quickly followed him. Hurrying after him, they rushed down the stairs of the tower, making a quick walk to the command center. Not delaying, Harding threw open the door, calling out to Crosby, “what’s the news Croz?” 

“You brought Addie?” Crosby called back, not seeing her standing behind him. 

Harding cleared his throat, giving Crosby a very pointed look, pointing behind him. “Crosby, she’s here. What’s the news?” 

“I just got a call from London with the new POW list.” Crosby grabbed the list he had hurriedly scrawled the names given. “Buck, Bucky, DeMarco, Brady, Murphy, Crank, and Hambone, along with all their crews, are all in the Stalag Luft III.”

For the first time since October 10, Addie felt like she could actually breathe. Her eyes went wide at that news. “They’re alive?” 

“As of a week ago, yes. I asked for a report of the health of the men but they weren’t able to give me that information.” Crosby looked apologetic as her face fell slightly. 

Sighing heavily, Addie felt the tears welled in her eyes. Feeling someone pull her into their side, she rested her head on their shoulder. Looking up, she smiled seeing Rosie and threw her arm around his side, giving it a gentle squeeze. “Crosby, is there any other news?” 

“You got mail.” He handed over two envelopes, and she stepped forward, accepting the envelopes. “One is for Josie, can you make sure she gets it?” 

Nodding, she flipped to the one addressed to her and couldn’t help the tears that escaped. A sob crept up, escaping her mouth. A steady stream of tears flowed down her face as she looked at the concerned faces around her. “It’s a letter from Bucky.” 

The men surrounding her nodded. She gave them looks, backing out of the center, stumbling towards the runway to where the closest fort was parked. She sighed, fifty-seven days, since she heard from Bucky and now she had an envelope addressed to her in his handwriting. Once she was close enough, she sat against the tire, giving the envelope a glance before tearing into it. 

Her eyes swept over the familiar scrawl, bits of it blacked out due to the sensors. Putting the paper to her nose, she breathed in the familiar scent that she had associated with Bucky - tobacco and sandalwood. 

October 19, 1943

My dearest Addie, 

I’m alive, Bluebird. I’m in —--------------- and I’m safe for the most part. I was a mess when I first arrived but after seeing the medic, I’m alright. Busted a rib and my eye socket is bruised but I’m alive, Bluebird. Buck’s here - met me at the gates with a “what the hell took you so long” and a grin. He’s in the next compound over but I see him daily - he sends his hellos and well wishes to you. 

Tell Josie that DeMarco is here and he’s fine. I think he’s writing a letter to her but maybe not say that just in case. Send my regards to Meatball - I hope he’s keeping you company in my absence. 

I know we didn’t leave on the best terms, and I’ll spend the rest of my life apologizing for that, but I love you, Addie. You’re the best thing that has ever happened to me and it’s killing me that I’m not by your side right now. 

I’m not quite sure where we are currently but I think we’re in —----------.  The camp we’re in has —-----, —--------, —-------, and —----------. Most of the men here are Americans and for the most part, they treat us humanly.  Could use an extra blanket or two but I’m doing alright. At least I’m with the rest of my men. 

I wish I could kiss you senselessly and give you a big hug. I love you lots, Addie. 

Yours,

John

Another sob escaped her mouth as she reread his words. She hoped he was that upbeat and not putting on a show in a letter just for her.

“Oh John.” Her heart broke all over again as she reread the letter, wishing more than anything that he was sitting beside her rather than 1,100 miles away from her. 

She read it three more times before she sighed, the tension leaving her at the happy news. Despite the fact he wasn’t there with her, he was alive, and that’s all she had asked for the last 57 days. 

December 15, 1943, 1700 Hours

“Addie, Harding wants you to go meet the group of pilots that are arriving on hard stand 4 in fifteen minutes.” Josie murmured to her, dropping a folder on her desk.

Picking up the folder, she flipped through it, looking wide-eyed at Josie. “I’ve never had to do it for any of the other pilots arriving here.” 

“You went and met Rosie, remember?” Josie raised an eyebrow, grinning. “It’ll be just like that.” 

Tossing the folder down on her desk, Addie wiped face. She wasn’t really in the mood to be the welcoming committee to anyone. “No, no it won’t be just like that. I won’t have Bucky teasing me.” 

Sighing, Josie walked over to the other side of her desk, leaning over to give her a hug. “I know you don’t want to be your bubbly self, but these pilots are coming to the base and many of them don’t know what to expect. Just go welcome them, give them the lay of the land then you can curl up with Meatball. I’ll bring you dinner afterwards.” 

Nodding, she sighed, pushing back from her desk to stand. “You okay keeping Meatball until I’m done?” 

Looking over at the dog, passed out in his dog bed, Josie half-smiled. “Sure. I think he might be mad if you attempt to move him now.” 

Slightly smiling, Addie nodded, grabbing the set of keys, pushing through the door, jogging down the stairs. Sighing, she climbed into the jeep, starting the engine, heading out to the hard stand. Parking, she watched the plane land, navigating to the hard stand, coming to a stop with the engine cutting off. She leaned against the jeep, watching the grounds crew, hurriedly put the chocks on the tires as a man dropped from the hatch. 

Addie narrowed her eyes, something familiar about the way the man stood, looking around the field. Picking up his bag, his gaze fell to hers and she knew. She knew why that man looked so familiar. 

Unable to do anything else, Addie bent at the waist, tears immediately welling up in her eyes as she cried. 

It was her brother. Charlie was home. Standing tall, her hand flew to her mouth as tears continued to fall.

“Adelaide Baker!” He hollered, making his way towards her. Dropping his bag, he opened up his arms, eagerly waiting for her to run into them. He kissed her cheek, picking her up and spinning her around, just as he did when they were younger. “Oh how I have missed you.” 

Waiting until her feet were back on the ground, she laughed happily, slapping his arm. “What are you doing here?” 

“I’m home, they finally granted my request for transfer.” Charlie grinned. “I’m going to be a trainer here, no missions of my own.” 

Giving him a look, she took in his words, a bright smile crossing her face. “You won’t be going up?” 

“No, I’ll be working in the command center, assisting with building the missions but I won’t be a pilot. This is a promotion, believe it or not.” Charlie chuckled, shaking his head. “They asked me what base I wanted to be stationed at and this was the only one that came to mind.”

Throwing her arms around his shoulder, she laughed. “Oh, this is the best news I have heard in the last ten days.” 

“Only in the last ten days? What was before that?” He asked, scratching his jaw, looking at his baby sister. 

“We got word ten days ago that Bucky and Buck are POWs at a Stalag.” She looked at him, watching his eyes go wide at that news. He had made inquiries about them but had been told that was above his clearance and no one was willing to talk about them. “I got a letter from Bucky the same day letting me know him and Buck were safe.” 

Charlie smiled. “Well ain’t that something. I’m glad you finally heard from him. I kept getting dead ends anytime I would inquire. If I had a nickel for every time I heard that was above my paygrade, I'd be rich and could retire.”

“I’m shocked you didn’t pick Anna’s base to go home to.” She smirked, finally happy that she could tease her brother about his not-so-secret girlfriend. 

He threw his head back and laughed, loudly. “I thought about it for a minute but figured you’d need some family here. Besides, Anna’s the preferred B-17 pilot now for Thorpes, so she’ll be here plenty.” 

“Hmm . . . you’re back in England for all of 48 hours and you’re already pulling strings.” Addie smirked at her brother as he started weakly protesting. “You know I’m right. Come on, I’ll give you the penny tour and show you where you’ll be staying.” 

Leading him over to the jeep, she got in the driver’s seat, watching him throw his bag in the back before joining her. Shifting the jeep into gear, she drove them back towards the barracks. “Over there that’s the mess hall and my barrack is just to the left of it.  Straight ahead is the barrack you’ll be in.” 

Pulling the jeep to a stop, she grinned seeing Rosie and Crosby standing outside, eyeing her curiously. “Boys!” 

“Addie.” They both called back, watching her hop out of the jeep and walk closer to them. “What brings you to our humble abode?” 

“Boys, this is my older brother Charlie.” She grinned, looking over her shoulder at her brother. “Charlie, this is Robert Rosenthal, or Rosie and Harry Crosby. Rosie is a pilot and Crosby is group navigator on base. They’re also bunking here and can show you where everything is.” 

The three of them exchanged handshakes in greeting as she grinned at the scene. “Josie mentioned there was a group of new pilots arriving today.” 

“Yeah there were. I didn’t count how many arrived today but Charlie will be an instructor on base - not going up.” She grinned brightly at them, happy to have a piece of her family back on base. 

Crosby whistled. “That’s great. Welcome to Thorpes, Charlie. I know this one is tampering her excitement down for the sake of looking cool.” 

Slugging Crosby, Addie gave him a look. “Thanks for that Croz.” 

“Just let us know if you want to know anything that’s happened over the last year since you’ve been gone, Charlie.” Crosby gave her brother a smirk. 

Addie muttered a cuss under her breath. “Jeez, and to think I thought our friendship meant something. Willing to spill all my secrets as soon as my big brother arrives on base. Just remember Croz, I know where you sleep, and I know a few secrets of your own.” 

“Damn, I forgot how scary you can be.” Rosie commented, looking between his two friends. “I’d watch what you say Croz.” 

Charlie laughed. “Ahh she’s all talk with very little bite. Addie has always been that way.” 

Addie looked between the three, shaking her head. She chuckled watching Crosby’s eyes go wide. “What’s wrong Crosby?” 

“Just remembered what you did to Douglass to scare him after he slipped that supply request in your pile.” Crosby shook his head, while Addie threw her head back and laughed. 

“Ahh, I forgot all about that.” She grinned. “That was my best revenge yet. That was legendary and kept the base on their toes for a few weeks.” 

Charlie chuckled. “Is that where you dropped a box of rubbers and twinkies along with some feminine products?” 

“Ahh so the boys already told you that story when they were in Africa, huh?” Addie smirked, shaking her head before looking between Rosie and Crosby. “Boys, can you show him an empty bunk? I’ll wait out here and we can head over to the mess together.” Rosie nodded, heading towards the barrack door with Charlie trailing behind him. 

Leaning against the jeep, Addie smiled to herself. Things were finally turning around and for the first time since Bucky and Buck went down, she started to feel the hope creep back in. 

December 25, 1943, 0900 hours

Groaning, she cracked open her eyes, seeing the bright light creep through the shades. Rolling over, she squinted, eyes wide when she realized it was 9am and she had slept in.  Sighing, she pushed herself up into a sitting position, seeing the barrack was quiet, everyone up already and out of the hut. 

Reaching over, she ran her hand through Meatball’s fur. “Merry Christmas, Meatball.” He groaned, rolling over onto his back so she could scratch his belly. She obliged him, both hands scratching as he hummed and groaned in happiness. 

Swinging her legs off the bed, she looked at the locker that sat between hers and Josie’s bed. She hadn’t opened it since it was deposited there back in October. Easing off the bed, she sat in front of it, leaning forward to unlock it, pushing the top open. A thin layer of dust had settled over everything. 

Reaching in, she moved his extra clothes to the side, seeing a stack of letters at the very bottom of the locker. Picking them up, she noticed most of them were addressed from Wisconsin, letters from his family. But at the very bottom was an envelope in his handwriting, with her name on it. 

Without hesitation, she ran her finger under the flap, pulling out the piece of paper. She realized it was dated back in May 1943, right around the time she had first met him. 

My dearest Addie, 

I feel pretty stupid writing you this letter but I need to get this off my chest. You’ve been on my mind all day, might have gotten into trouble during the briefing due to my thoughts being on you instead of the observation mission. Might be just a tad sorry about that but not really, don’t tell Huglin. 

It’s amazing that I’ve only known you for two weeks, yet I feel like I’ve known you all my life. And I don’t want you to stop being in my life. Never thought I’d come over to England and meet a girl that I want in my life for the rest of my life.

I probably will never give you this letter so I feel pretty comfortable writing this down - I think I’m in love with you. Yes, it’s only been two weeks but you’ve already knocked me on my ass and kept me on my toes at the same time. I’ve never met a girl like you before and I think that’s a good thing. Definitely cannot stop thinking about you, which could be a good or bad thing depending on the day. Also, you’re the first person (outside of Buck) that I want to rush to tell everything to. 

Should probably wrap this up. Maybe I’ll give you this on our wedding day (if we make it that far). 

Love you but not telling you quite yet. 

John

Tears streamed down her face as she finished reading the letter. She knew he fell much sooner than she did but it was good to read his thoughts.  Sighing, she leaned against her bed frame, letting her head fall back onto her bed. Meatball crawled over to her, his tongue licking away the tears that had fallen. Reaching behind her, she carted her fingers through his fur, patting his side in appreciation for being there for her. 

Folding up the letter, she stuffed it back into the envelope, placing it back in the locker.  Sighing, she shut the top of the locker, clicking the latches on it. 

Pushing herself off the floor, she quickly got dressed, slipping on Bucky’s jacket before lacing up her shoes. Patting her leg for Meatball’s attention, she walked down the aisle of the hut, pushing open the door, allowing the dog to go out ahead of her. Shivering, she watched Meatball do his business before quickly walking over to the mess hut. Pulling open the door, she smiled at the warmth that wrapped around her as she searched the area for her friends and Charlie. 

Making her way down the aisle, she stopped at a table that was in the middle of the hut. Charlie, Rosie, Crosby, Blakely, and Josie all sat around the table, each with a plate of food and a cup of coffee in front of them. Taking a seat in a chair, she greeted everyone with a cheerful “Merry Christmas.” 

“About time you join us Addie.” 

Sticking her tongue out at her older brother, Addie smirked. “I decided to sleep in this morning. Got the best Christmas present I could have asked for.” 

“And what’s that?” Josie raised an eyebrow at the cheerful tone in Addie’s voice. Josie grinned brightly, seeing a glimpse of her best friend that she hadn’t seen in over 2 months. 

Thanking the waiter for the cup of coffee, she smiled at the table. “Found a letter that Bucky had written me back in May. It was really sweet and made my day.” 

“Back in May?” Josie looked at her friend. “That was before you two started dating, right?” 

Picking up her coffee, she took a deep sip, nodding, smirking. “Yeah that was right after he arrived here on base. I still thought he was an arrogant flyboy - amazing how that has all changed.”  

December 25, 1943 

Dear John, 

Merry Christmas, fly boy. Wish you were here instead of the stalag but I’ll take the fact you’re still alive as a Christmas miracle. 

It was a pretty low key day today. Charlie, Josie, Crosby, Rosie, Blakely, Douglass and I hung out throughout the day and exchanged presents with one another. It was good not to be alone on an already tough day. 

I’m going to admit something - I found a letter you wrote me back in May at the bottom of your locker and read it. It made my day and made me smile. It was the perfect unintentional Christmas present I could have asked for. I’m still holding out on walking down an aisle in a white dress towards you, Egan. Don’t let me down. 

My Christmas wish for you is that you’re warm and safe and happy. Hopefully you and the boys found a bit of joy. 

Love you with all my heart. 

Addie. 

Thank you for reading! Any feedback would be greatly appreciated. Anything you want to see in the upcoming chapters? I've got a loose outline planned so if there's something you want to see, just let me know! Also, sorry, there wasn't any Bucky or Buck in this chapter, but Addie needed a chapter of angst and hurt. Both Bucky and Buck will be back in next chapter.

Chapter 14

[regulusblackfest]

Week 1 Round Up

The first week of posting ends with a fantastic selection of fics, art, and one podfic! You can find the works beneath the cut - leave our creators some love <3

Title: Savage Fields Rating: M Warnings: Referenced cannibalism, Mention of Beastiality Pairing/main characters: Regulus Black Medium/Word Count: 3,909

Summary:

Regulus Black accepts the Dark Mark with a celebratory hunt.

AO3 link: https://archiveofourown.org/collections/regulus_black_fest_24/works/54694351

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Title: Between The Lines Pairing/main characters: Regulus Black & Irma Pince Rating: General Audiences Warnings: No Warnings Apply Medium/Word Count: 1200

Summary: 

The story of how a little first year wormed his way into Irma Pince's stone cold heart.

AO3 link: https://archiveofourown.org/works/54911320

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Title: Whose Cat? Rating: T (language, one use of the word fuck/swearing) Pairing/Main Characters: Regulus Black, Lily Evans, Sirius Black, James Potter (Regulus Black & Sirius Black; Regulus Black & Lily Evans Potter; Sirius Black & Remus Lupin & James Potter) Medium: Fanfic, 2705 words

Summary:

Lily Potter liked her new cat. It's too bad it insists on spending time with James Potter of all people. (Regulus Black becomes an animagus to spend time with Sirius.)

AO3 Link: https://archiveofourown.org/works/55083205

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Title: history forgets the moderates Pairing/main characters: Regulus Black & Horace Slughorn  Rating: Teen And Up Audiences Warnings: No Warnings Medium/Word Count: 6,1K

Summary:

It is still early in the year of 1979, Regulus Black is active on the Quidditch team, relaxed around his friends, and participates in class. Professor Slughorn suspects something might be wrong.

AO3 link: https://archiveofourown.org/works/54972943

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Title: Shadows before the Dark Rating: General audiences Warnings: none Pairing/main characters: Regulus Black & Severus Snape Medium/Word Count: 5265

Summary:

Regulus Black is sorted into Slytherin. Soon, he becomes friends with Severus Snape. Follow their friendship through their years at Hogwarts.  

AO3 link: https://archiveofourown.org/works/55196983

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Title: The Last Supper Rating: Mature Warnings: Creator Chose not to use Archive Warnings / TW death, abusive family dynamics Pairing/main characters: Gen / Regulus Black & Sirius Black, Regulus Black, Sirius Black, Walburga Black, Orion Black Medium/Word Count:  Fic / 4410 words

Summary:

Sirius is the last to arrive, as usual. His footsteps echo as he descends the winding stairs down to the kitchen. He takes his seat at the small wooden table. OR Suddenly Regulus, Sirius, Walburga, and Orion are a family again.

AO3 Link: https://archiveofourown.org/works/55263373/chapters/140182834

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Title: I'll Rise (In Spite of the Ache) Pairing/main characters: Regulus Black/James Potter Rating: E Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Medium/Word Count: Fic, 29,398 words

Summary: 

Regulus has always thought that James's affection felt a bit like the sun: warm, empowering, restorative. Now it just feels dangerous the closer he gets to it, the more he looks at it straight on. The lies start piling up and Regulus begins to wonder if, as he always suspected, it was all too good to be true. Prompt: breakup/makeup.

AO3 link: https://archiveofourown.org/works/55400440/chapters/140564362

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Title: an omen of death Rating: general Warnings: major character death  Pairing/main characters: regulus & sirius Medium/Word Count: 6,114

Summary:

Regulus had always been able to see Thestrals. 

AO3 link: https://archiveofourown.org/works/55487173

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Title: if it is love, it doesn't matter Pairing/main characters: James/Regulus Rating: Explicit Warnings: none

Medium/Word Count: 1430

Summary: 

The only thing Regulus ever did without antagonizing James was get on his back and spread his legs.

AO3 link: https://archiveofourown.org/works/55424503

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Title: An Overly Considerate Friend Pairing/main characters: Regulus Black/James Potter, Sirius Black/Remus Lupin Rating: M Warnings: No warnings apply Medium/Word Count: Podfic, 47 minutes

Summary:

“Remus help! This is your fault!” James tried again. “I didn’t tell you to snog him, Prongs!” Moony snapped back. “TRUE. Technically, you didn’t. You didn’t say 'don’t snog Regulus,' you just said not to hit on him. WHICH I DIDN’T! So maybe protect me a little here please?” James floundered for excuses. Remus debated it for a moment - hopefully that please did itself justice and saved James’ life. “Snogging most definitely falls under flirting,” Remus decided educationally. All his friends were assholes, honestly. After tonight, James was going to start hanging out with Hufflepuffs.

AO3 link: https://archiveofourown.org/works/55390963

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Title: He’s definitely James’s son Pairing/main characters: regulus/james Rating: Gen Warnings: none Medium/Word Count: 2488

Summary:

Professor Lily Evans catches Harry in the middle of a prank and get Professor Regulus to help parent.

AO3 link: https://archiveofourown.org/collections/regulus_black_fest_24/works/55329418

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Title: The Fae Wilds (Don't Leave Me) Pairing/main characters: Regulus/Hermione Rating: Mature Warnings: None that apply Medium/Word Count: 4.182 and picture

Summary:

Hermione falls into an unknown world and is drawn to Fae Regulus, but is it all real or is it just happening inside her head?

AO3 link: https://archiveofourown.org/works/55371418

[thepeculiarbird]

Little Dgkotr update

So I added 450+ words to chapter 4 which had previously around 1200 words. I would like to add some things to it in the future but I'm glad I could include scenes from Draft 1 !

Taglist (ask to be +/-) : @athenaspeculiardaughter @kaylinalexanderbooks @raiden-makoto @sarandipitywrites

@jaelink @aalinaaaaaa @lyutenw @buffythevampirelover

@nettleandthorne @finxi-writes @arwenschepers @corruptedbread

@whimsical-blood-fairy @unrepentantcheeseaddict @kidukami @ryns-ramblings

@rowenas-my-fave-child @mysticstarlightduck

[thunderwetter]

TransforMay Days 7 - 9 "Dare to Live"

Part 1 of the Two-Chapter Fanfiction that will be relating to Theme 2 (Life and Death) Check this post for the full prompt list! Read the second part here!

WORD COUNT: ~1200

WARNINGS: CHARACTER DEATH (Not yet here but next chapter)

TAGS: Canon Rewrite, Assassination Plot, Moral Dilemma, Justifiable Homicide, First Aid and Ambulon fucking snap

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Delphi was not a welcoming place. It hadn’t been when it was built, it hadn’t been when it was staffed and even less so it was now, now that Ambulon, Pharma and First Aid were the only staff members that were still fully committed to their job. Especially Ambulon found trouble in adjusting himself to the merciless atmosphere of Messantine, but it was not just the planet that rejected him. It was not the threat of the DJD that caused his discomfort. It was the forced smile that Pharma had flashed him when he first arrived. The half-sparked handshake. The disdain in his voice whenever he ordered him around. Pharma tried to cover it with professionalism, but he hated Ambulon. Despised him and his past allegiance. Ambulon knew it and he ignored it. He had expected nothing less back when he joined the Autobots, he hadn’t expected open arms and warm words. But Pharma, on some days more than others, was colder than any snow outside of their shelter. Colder than the ice that surrounded them on this primus-forsaken planet and Ambulon couldn’t even do anything against it. They often had to work alongside each other, handing around instruments, tending to the same patients, fixing the same problems and enduring the unpleasant presence of the other. Ambulon had tried, really tried, to get into Pharma’s favor. He worked hard, sometimes harder than necessary, he was diligent and cooperative, followed his orders and here and there attempted some light conversation. But to no avail. First Aid he had befriended, he would even dare to claim that they were quite close, but Pharma was nothing but closed off.

“Something is going on here,” First Aid said as he was welding his patient shut. Ambulon was hesitant to reply, but after a few seconds he agreed, “Pharma stopped glaring and evolved into ignoring me altogether.” First Aid looked up, a hint of annoyance and confusion in his EM field, which he freely allowed to graze Ambulon to make sure the emotion came across even as his mask was on. “That’s not what I meant,” he said, “I was talking about how we’re not only losing faders; we suddenly have patients dying that were doing fine just a cycle ago.” Now it was Ambulon who looked up, letting his optics wander to the ceiling to think about the statement and eventually dismissing it with a shrug, “We’ve had that happen on the other side too. ‘Ghost hunt’ the others called it. You can’t save everyone, First Aid, you know that.” Ambulon nodded to the back of the room where a huge body had been comatose for a long while now. Fortress Maximus. He saw no hope for him and quite honestly, he found First Aid’s persistence to save the warden a bit wasteful. He was draining resources every day, resources that could be used on other patients with better chances. He tried to cushion his words to not feed into the fire that First Aid’s mood was slowly turning into. “Maybe some of them could have been saved if we had more resources— “ “Ambulon,” First Aid said, keeping his tone in check and pulling back his EM field to suppress the anger that accumulated in his throat from the topic being brought up again, “I wasn’t talking about the ones that needed saving. I’m talking about the ones that were recovering. Ones that we woke up from stasis and talked to already.” Ambulon thought about it again. “Cases like Cyber?” “His name was Cryo, Cyber left three Mega-cycles ago, but yes,” First Aid corrected him, slightly relieved by the fact that Ambulon was at least showing signs of understanding what he was hinting at. “I don’t think this is just a ‘ghost hunt’ or a ‘bad phase’, there’s something going on here and whenever I try to talk to Pharma about it he just dismisses me,” he added with a desperate sigh, “I was gonna ask you to talk to him but I guess that won’t work either…” They each resumed their work, silent, pondering. Ambulon looked at the T-Cog in his hands. The cables that connected it to the rest of the frame were damaged, but still possible to save, he would have to ask Pharma for assistance though. He looked at the patient’s datapad and back to the T-Cog. There were no injuries related to transforming noted when he was admitted to Delphi. Ambulon called First Aid over, who agreed on the assessment and had a closer look at the log, the documentation of previous procedures and, more importantly, who was responsible for the treatment. “Deterioration of internal cables,” First Aid read aloud, “that’s oddly unspecific, wouldn’t you agree?” Ambulon nodded, “Especially considering that it was Pharma who wrote that log. Isn’t he always the one nagging about how we should be specific in our descriptions?” First Aid groaned in annoyed agreement. Pharma was a perfectionist. And right now, he was being suspicious.

Luck was against them though, before First Aid and Ambulon could resume their discussion, said perfectionist entered the room. Seeing two of his medics converse instead of working, his optics narrowed. “I didn’t know we relocated the break room,” he said, passive aggression wrapping his words in sarcasm. First Aid closed the document and rushed back to his patient; the fresh welding scar still warm as he started checking its integrity. Silence again as Pharma strode across the room, checking the progress made on each of the cases until he stopped next to Ambulon, looking over his shoulder and watching closely. Ambulon tensed up from the presence behind him and carefully placed the T-Cog back where it belonged. “The T-Cog cables are almost fully corroded,” Ambulon said, attempting to hide the shakiness of his vocalizer, “but if we work together he can be fixed and leave in a Deca-cycle.” Pharma stepped to Ambulon’s side and inspected the situation, picking at the damaged cabling and slowly pushing Ambulon away with his body. It wasn’t the first time he had acted like this and surely enough, he said exactly what Ambulon expected him to say, “I won’t need your assistance, go make yourself useful somewhere else.” Pharma looked up at First Aid, who was updating the log to confirm the success of his task. “First Aid, go with Ambulon. You can write the report later, I need this room empty.” First Aid allowed himself to be shooed out, pulling Ambulon with him and rushing to the nearest room that held a collection of unconscious bots. Luckily, a twin pair with a branched spark was available and had procedures due today, so Ambulon and First Aid prepared the medical slabs right next to each other. This time, Pharma wouldn't be able separate them again. Branched sparks were delicate, their owners always had to be worked on simultaneously. The atmosphere was tense and dark as the duo was rummaging through tables for the correct equipment, checking the respective logs for further information that was relevant to their mission. “If that bot dies, First Aid—” Ambulon said, opening up the first twin. The end of his sentence hung in the air as he took a sharp invent. He looked at First Aid completely aghast as he pointed to the corroded cables surrounding his patient's T-Cog. First Aid took it upon himself to finish the statement, his usually gentle voice being possessed by a grim darkness, “Pharma will die too.”

Find this Fic on AO3: https://archiveofourown.org/works/55796878

Chapter 2 coming May 12th 👀

[friend-of-wisdom]

82/100 days of productivity

Wednesday, June 26th 2024

I did some academic stuff on Tuesday after class but maybe not enough to count as a productive day. I also played A LOT of minecraft tee-hee :D I started my final Metaphysics essay but managed to write 270 words only, just an introduction but that's okay cus Wednesday was mega productive! Here's my day:

gave english classes in the morning

back home, washed my hair :D

painted my nails as a way to FORCE MYSELF TO STAY STILL FOR 1 HOUR AND READ THE FUCKING TEXTS I WAS PROCRASTINATING TO READ. And so I did read them! I finished reading an article for my thesis and also read a few chapters of Aristotle's Rhetoric

studied a lot of japanese

in the evening I did a first writing session of my metaphysics essay which got me to 800 words, then at like 2am i did another one that got me to 1200 words yay!! teacher said maximum 3000 words. I still have a lot to write, I already know what I will talk about so i guess by the end I'll have around 2300~2500 words

Almost finished reading Dune before sleep. I have literally 15 pages left but I was so sleepy by that time!

I also went out to a bar with my friends last night, it was really fun. We watched a football game and played cards while drinking and eating and gossiping.

[hollyethecurious]

CS WIP Wednesday Challenge - Week One

Week 1

👻 The WIP haunting you most (you know which one it is - it's the first one that came to mind when you saw this challenge)

Thank you again, @captainswanwipwednesdays for putting this challenge together! The WIP currently haunting me is Pan Says...

I only managed to add about 1200 words to it this week, but progress is progress, right? With any luck, I'll be able to finish this chapter within the next week or two. Until then, here is a small snippet of what's to come.

Emma was dressed in the wench costume; a more upscale version of the cheap, slutty knock-off one might find at a Halloween store. The women were dismissed and she’d been instructed to follow the Lost One, her trepidations spiking again as she padded down the corridor behind him. There were many twists and turns before they finally rounded a corner, revealing Killian standing in front of a set of double doors. Emma’s heart leapt at the sight of him and relief flooded her body. Well, first relief, then… something else. He was decked out in head to toe leather, his jawline manicured with an alluring amount of scruff and his eyes lined in a deep, rich kohl. His hair had been artfully tousled and his skin bronzed. Beneath the layers of black leather, he wore a smoke-like linen shirt, unbuttoned down to the v of his waistcoat, exposing a tantalizing amount of chest hair. The leather trousers were tight, but not so much as to appear painted on, leaving just a hint to the imagination of what lay beneath their laces. “Swan?” he said, in an amused and sinfully deep tone. “See something you like, love?” Now aware that her mouth had been hanging open, Emma closed it a swallowed hard before answering, “You look…” “I know,” he quipped with a cheeky smirk and smugly lifted brow, earning him an eye roll before his gaze raked over her once more. “You cut quite the figure in that get up, I must say.” “Cutting is right,” Emma groused, struggling against the tight confines of her outfit. “I can only imagine the impression this corset is leaving on my spleen.” “Your discomfort is a cross I am more than willing to bear… especially after my earlier one.” Emma raised her brows in response to his cryptic words and put-out tone. Scratching behind his ear, the tip of which becoming quite red, he confessed under his breath in a low mumble, “I’ve been manscaped.” Her eyes widened, and although she knew better from her earlier perusal, they fell to his chest, ensuring herself that the thick blanket of hair remained untouched. “Not there,” he said, exasperatedly. “Lower.” Emma tucked her lips between her teeth to try and stifle her laugh. His disgruntled tone and expression absolutely priceless, despite the circumstances. “Well,” she said, placing her hand on his arm in commiseration. “That makes two of us.”

[firstelevens]

hi zainab!!!! 2, 3, 6, and 29 for the fic writer ask???

Hi Mak! Thank you for sending these in!

2. Do you read/reread your own fics?

Yes, because I am absolutely my own biggest fan!

On a much more practical note, sometimes I reread because it's part of a series and I'm checking a canonical detail (although if it's in the Bake Off AU I'm better off just asking @sesamestreep, who is the official lorekeeper and knows that universe's canon better than I do.) Other times, there's a fic where I just really like what I did with a character's voice or the general tone of a scene and I'll go back just to get a feel for what I did the last time.

3. What’s your favorite fic that you’ve written?

I mean, the Bake Off AU has my whole heart and there's so much of me in it that it will always be special to me BUT!!! I really love the Thunderbolts-era epistolary fic counted days, counted miles because I think it's an exercise in me managing to show writerly restraint, which is a skill I'm still working on. (And also I got to come up with so many fun spy tricks for hiding letters; it was great.)

6. Are there any fics from others you reread all the time?

How fortuitous that you picked this question when I have reread wish that i could wind (like a spiral stair through time) FIVE TIMES in the past month. That fic is a work of art. I am also never far from rereading and never ever watch the ten o'clock news, which is Emma's phenomenal Psych AU of Rogue One which is just so wonderful and funny and it continues to hold up. Oh also! There's don't read the last page, which is a Brooklyn Nine-Nine fic that is short and sweet and just so warm and cozy and I go back to that one a lot just for the mood of it.

29. Share a bit from a fic you’ll never post OR from a scene that was cut from an already posted fic.

Okay so this question reminded me that there's a 1200 word scene from the Formula 1 AU that was originally going to be the epilogue but got canned which SUBSEQUENTLY reminded me that there's a whole scene that I wrote for the Bake Off AU that got cut from Chapter 6 because things ended up going another way!

The beginning will looks familiar if you remember anything from that chapter, but then there's a sharp left turn that involves the lost plot point of Becca Barnes creeping on Joaquín's thirst trap and restaurant review filled Instagram in order to figure out where Bucky could go for dinner. I was sad to lose it tbh but the restaurant still made it into the fic as the place where Sam and Bucky go out on their definitely-not-a-date in Chapter 10.

A peek at the alternate timeline under the cut!

Bucky is starfished on his bed, trying to muster the energy to get up when his phone rings. His eyes are squeezed shut, but he opens one to peer at the screen. He only answers because it’s Becca, but he’s too tired to do more than grunt into the phone when he picks up.

“Good day, huh?” she asks, laughing when he just groans in response.

“Hope yours was better than mine,” Bucky says, when he finally manages to talk. “How’s day shift treating you?”

“I’m discovering that there’s this thing in the sky called the sun, and it provides light? And makes people happy? Do you think other people know about it? Should I be telling them?”

He laughs tiredly. “You can use all this newfound energy to make a TikTok about it.”

“I’ll get on that,” Becca says. “What about you? You okay?”

“Yeah,” says Bucky, bringing his hand up to his face. “I just need to lie down for a while.”

Not that lying down for the past half hour has helped, but he’s got high hopes for that sixty minute mark.

“No, what you need to do is eat something,” Becca says, sounding remarkably like their mother. “Tell me your head isn’t hurting right now.”

Bucky freezes, his fingers still pressed into his temples. “It’s creepy when you do that, you know.”

She laughs. “I know. Hey, why don’t you go to that place that you and Steve went to all the time, the one with the waffles?”

The last time Bucky had been there, four years ago, he’d spent the entire evening bickering companionably with Sam while Steve dealt with a work emergency. It had felt remarkably like flirting, and he’d even thought about asking Sam to get a drink sometime—and then Bucky had been eliminated after the next day’s Showstopper, and that put an end to that.

He shakes his head to clear it. “I’m tired, Bec, and they pick us up at like, six AM. I think I might just grab something from the convenience store.”

“Buck, I spend half my time listening to newborn babies cry and that is still the most pitiful thing I’ve heard this week. You are not eating yogurt for dinner alone in your hotel room.”

Bucky huffs. “Well, I’d grab a random stranger off the street to join me, but I’m not looking to get murdered today, Rebecca.”

He can hear the sound of Becca typing, doing the thing where she studiously ignores his asshole behavior until he comes around and starts acting a more like a person. It’s annoying how well it works. 

After a minute or two of typing and what he assumes is scrolling, she lets out a, “Huh.”

When he waits for her to elaborate and she doesn’t, Bucky sighs. “What is it?”

“Do you know a Joaquín Torres?”

It’s far from the question he was expecting but Bucky answers in the affirmative. “He’s a baking consultant on the show.”

More typing. “Does he have good taste?”

There’s a tiny, childish part of Bucky that wants to say no, because Torres is chirpy and bright-eyed and his unfailing enthusiasm is exhausting at times, but that would be a lie. “Yeah, he knows his stuff. Why?”

“He lives in Atlanta; he posts about a lot of local hidden gems. There’s a Tunisian restaurant a couple blocks from your hotel, apparently? Kind of looks like a hole in the wall but he says the food is amazing.”

“I don’t know, Bec. It’s late and eating out alone is depressing.” His limbs feel heavy, and his shoulder is starting to hurt from having the prosthetic on for so long, and he knows that food would make his headache go away, but he just can’t drag himself off the bed.

Like Becca knows what track his mind is on—and honestly, she probably does—, she chooses this moment to go for the knockout. “Come on, Buck; it’s my job to look out for you, and you’re too far away for me to drag you out to dinner and make sure you eat. Throw a girl a bone here.”

She’s too powerful for her own good.

Bucky drags a hand down his face, sighing again. “You know, I hear some people don’t let their baby sisters tell them what to do all the time.”

“Poor them,” says Becca.

“Poor them,” echoes Bucky, and asks her to text him the address.

When she does, he looks it up and realizes that it really is only two blocks away: completely walkable, even in Atlanta’s late spring heat, and only a little further than the convenience store where he’d planned to grab his apparently pathetic dinner.

It’s only when he gets to the door of the restaurant that he remembers it’s a Saturday night and he probably should have thought to make a reservation. The place only has a handful of tables to begin with, and they’ve all got people at them. The host already has an apologetic look on his face as Bucky walks in, but they both turn in surprise when they hear someone inside the restaurant call out to him.

“Bucky!” says Joaquín, as brightly as ever. “Come sit with us.”

Because the universe has a sense of humor, ‘us’ is of course Joaquín and Sam, who are having dinner together. Alone. On a Saturday night.

It can’t be a date, Bucky reasons. No one would invite a random acquaintance to third-wheel their date, right?

He realizes that he still hasn’t responded when the host assures him that of course they’ll be able to add another place setting to the table, and before he knows it, Bucky is being whisked over to their table.

Whatever mood had settled over Sam after the signature today seems to have dissipated, and he turns to Bucky with a grin on his face. “I hope you trust Torres over here, because he ordered way too much food for us and didn’t let me see the menu.”

Joaquín shrugs. “I come here a lot,” he says. “Not enough people know about it, but it’s amazing.”

“Which is why he’s on a mission to be their one-man marketing team,” says Sam. “We got here half an hour ago and he’s already posted on Instagram like, ten times.”

Bucky thinks of the sound of Becca on her computer as she’d talked to him earlier, how she’d pivoted from suggesting the diner he’d probably have ended up at to this specific restaurant, and suddenly, this coincidence feels markedly less like a coincidence.

He’d probably feel more annoyed about it if he didn’t spend the meal close enough to Sam for their shoulders to constantly be brushing. Torres is right; the food is great, but if anyone asks, Bucky’s pretty sure the only thing he’d be able to recount is how many times Sam touched his arm to ask him to pass things, or dished some more food onto his plate, or gently nudged him while telling Joaquín stories of their time filming season two.

When the check comes, Bucky insists on paying, to make up for crashing Sam and Joaquín’s dinner, and as they stand on the sidewalk outside the restaurant, Joaquín offers to drop them off at the hotel on his way home. He’s about to accept when Sam waves it off. 

“I think we’ll just walk back,” says Sam. “It’s so nice out, and the hotel’s probably closer than your car is.”

There’s a moment where all three of them silently commiserate over the trials of city parking, and then Joaquín says he’ll see them tomorrow and heads off.

Bucky glances sidelong at Sam, whose eyebrows are knitted together as he looks down the street towards their hotel. He can see the entrance from where they’re standing, but Sam gently touches his elbow and nods down the street to their left—the long way, Bucky realizes, a moment too late.

[staygoldwriting]

💌 To the Steve I Loved Before: Part 5

A Steve Harrington TATBILB!AU fic

Parts 1-4 on my masterlist!

Summary: Y/N has written love letters to get over her deepest crushes. What happens when Steve Harrington gets his hands on her letter to him?

Disclaimer: This is inspired by the To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before series by Jenny Han! I have used none of her characters, but have only used the premise of a love letter in the wrong hands.

Word count: ~1200

Warnings: None, just fluff!

A/N: I'M STILL HERE!!! 🎉 I have been gone for so long and I'm SO SORRY!! I started my new job, and it's taken all of my time 😢 But I'm finally back, and I hope you guys love this next chapter! I will try my best to get another part out soon 💕Also, I know I keep teasing the letter, but know that I wrote it before anything else, so it'll be out in a couple chapters 👀Please let me know what you think, and, as always, please show love and support! ❤️✨

“Y/N?”

You were staring blankly at Steve as he waved his hand in front of your face. You snapped back into reality and looked at him.

“Sorry, okay, you said seven for pizza at your place?” you said quickly.

“Eight, but Y/N, did you write me--”

“Gotta go, Steve, see you!” you said, then rushed away before he could finish his question. As you sped walked to the front of the mall, Robin was waiting for you, shaking her head. 

“What have you done?” she asked, chuckling.

“I don’t wanna talk about it, let’s just go,” you said, not stopping as you walked past her.

-💌-

You sat at your desk, bouncing your knee up and down, planning and panicking in your mind. Robin was laying on your bed, her head hanging off the edge as she scrunched her face up in concentration.

“So,” she started, “you’re going to pretend to date Steve Harrington.”

“...Yep,” you said, squinting at the wall.

“Well, you’re going to need some ground rules,” Robin said, looking at you.

“Ground rules?”

“Yeah, so you guys are clear on this little game you’re playing.”

“I don’t think we need rules, Rob. We’re not even actually dating.”

“Are you gonna kiss him?”

“What? No!” you said, your heart beating quickly.

“Okay, then how are you gonna make your relationship believable?” Robin asked, flipping herself onto her stomach. 

“I mean, I don’t know,” you said. 

“Well, you should definitely kiss him,” Robin said. “First of all, no one would ever believe you two are dating if you don't kiss at least once in public. Second of all, it looked like you both enjoyed it quite a bit,” she smirked. You threw a stuffed animal at her.

“Bite your tongue, Buckley!” you yelled, trying not to laugh. 

“You’re blushing!” she yelled victoriously.

“Am not! I mean, yeah, he’s cute or whatever, but that doesn’t subtract from the fact that he’s a class A jerk,” you pointed out.

“I don’t know, you might be surprised,” Robin said, sitting up. “I think all the rejections he’s gotten at Scoops have bruised his ego enough for him to actually have mappable humility.”

“Steve? Humble? I’ll believe it when I see it,” you chuckled. 

“Well, keep me posted. I think you guys should both visit each other at work, but make it look natural since you haven’t done that before. Ease into it. Second, you have to make him drive us all around.”

“Us?” you smirked.

“I have to benefit from this somehow,” Robin smiled. “Anyways, third, you guys have to go to the Fourth of July carnival together.”

“We won’t be together then. Eddie will forget about the letter far before that,” you objected.

“Just stick with me,” Robin said. “Lastly, and most importantly, do not fall for him.”

“Rob, we’re not in a John Hughes movie, I’m not going to-”

“Stick with me,” Robin repeated. “Don’t rule anything out. After all, you did write him a letter, right?”

“We’re not talking about that,” you said quickly.

“Well, the truth’s gonna come out someday,” Robin said. “In the meantime, it’s 7:45. Prince Charming awaits.”

-💌-

You knocked on Steve’s front door, and he opened it, smiling at you brightly.

“Hey, fake girlfriend,” he smirked. “Looking good tonight.” You scoffed at him, trying to hide your blush. 

“Can I come in?” you asked, trying to change the subject.

“Come on in,” Steve said, moving from the doorframe. “Go ahead and sit anywhere,” Steve said, motioning to the living room. 

“Sounds good to me,” you said, sitting on the couch. Steve sat down, facing you. You smiled at him awkwardly, then he opened the pizza box.

“Dig in,” he said. You nodded in thanks, then grabbed a slice.

“So,” he smiled, taking a bite.

“So,” you repeated, nodding. 

“You like Eddie, and now we have to date?” he asked.

“Yeah, I guess you could phrase it that way,” you chuckled. “I’m sorry I got you mixed up in this, Steve.” 

“Don’t worry about it,” he said, his mouth full of pizza. “What are friends for?”

“We’re still friends?” you asked weakly, making Steve look at you in disbelief.

“Of course we’re still friends, Y/N, why wouldn’t we be?” he said, looking at you confused, his mouth still full. 

“I don’t know,” you whispered. “You became so popular, and we stopped hanging out.”

That doesn’t mean I don’t want to be your friend anymore,” Steve said, wiping his mouth and looking at you in concern.

“It sure feels that way,” you whispered, making Steve look at you sadly. 

“I’m sorry,” he said softly. 

“Don’t be,” you replied. “Anyway, we have some planning to do,” you said, trying to move on. You looked up at Steve, who was gazing at you. 

“Um,” you said, trying to break eye contact, “Robin had some recommendations to help our relationship look believable,” you said, looking back at him. “She says we should kiss at least once a day in public.” 

“Are you sure you can survive with just one Harrington kiss a day?” he asked, wiggling his eyebrows. You rolled your eyes at him, fighting a laugh. 

“She also said we should visit each other at work, and that you should drive me around, and Robin too.”

“Hm. So now Robin gets a free ride to work every day and also sees her best friend every time she has a shift. Makes me wonder who this is really benefiting,” he smirked. 

“Well, do you have any rules in mind?” you asked, and Steve tapped his chin. 

“Will you come to family dinners with me? Maybe with you there I can actually get through a conversation with my father. And we should go to the movies and stuff, make our relationship really public. Stuff we used to do, you know? We’ll just kiss when we do it.”

“I guess that works for me,” you said. “Is there anything we shouldn't do?”

“Well, I'll stop flirting with the girls at work, and you'll have to stop drooling over Munson,” he shrugged. “Other than that, I don't think I have anything else.”

“I haven't been drooling over Eddie,” you defended. 

“Well, then start drooling over me,” Steve said, mocking your tone. “Oh, and we should go to the Fourth of July carnival together,” he said.

“Robin said the same thing, but I don't think we'll still be doing this plan then, will we?”

“Well, we don’t have to be together to go,” Steve pointed out. 

“I guess so,” you said. 

“Did Robin say anything else?” he asked. 

“Yeah, she said we shouldn’t fall in love with each other,” you chuckled.

“I’ll try my hardest,” he smirked, winking at you. 

“Alright then, I think that covers it. We’ll hang out after work, I’ll go to family dinners with you, we’ll kiss each other once a day-”

“But more is always welcome,” Steve winked, making you groan. “And I’ll take you and Robin to work, and, when the time comes, we’ll go to the carnival, all while not falling in love. Sounds simple enough,” he chuckled.

“Yeah, totally easy,” you joked. “Deal?” you asked, holding out your hand. 

“Hm,” Steve said, his smirk returning. “I'll do this all on one condition,” 

“Okay, what is that?” you asked tiredly. 

“You have to let me read my letter.”

-💌-

Taglist: @tillkummer @mlle-ayka @sonicthehedgedoggo @klaine-92 @aurumbelis @onlyangel-444 @beep-beep-sherlock @morishitoshi @onceuponathreetwoone @toomanybandstocare @underthebatcape @zeldaknight @fieldofsecretss @prettyinpunk85 @igotbasicdrag @gothicfaires @thatonecurlygirl @luvthatlovestolove @loliakeoghan23 @dearelliewrites @mslunawinchester @aphex2winn @simonsbluee @inkedaztec @dumplinshee @pastel-abyss-x @frozenhuntress67 @hawkins-hs @witheringawayagain @theshinyrock @hollandcomics @pinkgothiccprincess @persephone13 @katsukis1wife @murnsondock @fictionlandslanddreams @srapalestina @babyghouly @madformunsonsstuff @harrys-titties @middle--fingering @urmomgov @maybankstarkey @jbetches @stardustmunson @maltinonka @chaerfull @middle-of-the-earth @lilsunshine1092 @thehairington86 @the-weeping-author @bisexual-and-intellectual @loving-and-dreaming @dory-98 @carinacassiopeiae @munsonzgf @just-a-lost-princess @imvomitting @lalalyra

[tbookblurbs]

The Way of Kings - Brandon Sanderson (Stormlight Archive #1)

4.75/5 - Kaladin my beloved!!! Shallan my beloved!!! Jasnah my crazy weird older sister!! truly my love for this book knows no bounds; fewer pace issues than I remember; really solid start to the series

Minor spoilers for Words of Radiance!

Truly I forgot just how much happens in this book. 1200 pages of straight insanity.

Anyway, I do think this is a very intriguing entry into an epic fantasy. Everything that Mistborn does well in the introduction to its magic system, Stormlight does with more finesse and tWoK is truly a masterclass on character introduction.

I also appreciate how rich each of the side characters feel. Each of them clearly have conflicting motivations and independent goals and they never feel like they only exist to prop up our central POV characters. They challenge not only the characters' beliefs on what is right and wrong, but the beliefs that we, as audience members, absorb from reading in specific POVs.

More than the side characters, whom I love dearly, I just cannot heap enough praise on the characterization of both Kaladin and Shallan. To have two characters, both so clearly traumatized, and show them reacting to that in different ways and having that play on their strengths and weaknesses, flaws and skills, is something very rarely undertaken and even more rarely pulled off. The tension between a character who is so open about their feelings and their failures and another who seeks to hide her past and parts of herself is such a delightful payoff in WoR.

Furthermore, I do enjoy the little pictures and interludes that Sanderson includes. In my opinion, the addition of these small things really elevates the novel from his past work and makes it feel very lived in. Just because we're focusing on the Shattered Plains and Kharbranth because our main characters are there does not mean that those are the only places with things going on. I found it really refreshing to be reminded that this is a large world and our story takes place in only a small part of it.

Docked 0.25 of a point because I always find that Dalinar's sections drag on a bit. No shade to him, I just don't particularly care about his sections at the beginning, especially when they're sandwiched between Kaladin and Shallan POV chapters. However, they are necessary for understanding the plot/stakes and they help the plot marinate a little bit. An epic can't be an epic if it doesn't take a while to tell.

[quodo-wip-event]

Quo-do the Thing! - Check-in #1 (June 1-7)

Here it is -- our first check-in! This check-in is optional, for people who need external accountability in order to get things done. If you fit this category, then it is required. ;) For everyone else, though, you can skip it without issue.

📋 Check-in form 📋

The check-in form is open from now until the end of June 7th (whenever that is for you). Also, sign-ups are still open if you would like to join the event! The AO3 collection is also open for posting, if you have already finished a work that fits this event.

Helpful links: Sign-up form | AO3 collection | Event info

Below the cut is a reminder of what you said you'd like to have done by June, for those who have signed up. If you marked that you are using Tumblr to follow this event, I have @'ed you -- I hope it's okay.

chacusha:

Quodo UCII: Goal: The whole thing, basically. Can I do 2-3 chapters in April, and 3+ chapters in May? Is that feasible??

colorcoded:

Smutty Quodo art: Goal: Rough digital sketch

@mossmx:

QuodoCook: Goal: figuring out the storytelling, finished gathering references in a PureRef file (characters+proportions, DS9 room, DS9 cooking accessories, DS9/Ferengi food), decided which "props" to have in the scene and finalizeing the poses.

@rulesofacquisition:

Doctor Odo and the No Good Very Bad Physical: Goal: 1200 words

Weaver:

Earring: Goal: Maybe 1 chapter

@yvanka:

Anniversary date: (No June check-in goals written.)

Quark bi bi bi vid: Goal: Adding all the footage to the file

Feel free to check in using the form or by replying to/reblogging this post or just wherever works for you. If you haven't gotten started or you're not quite where you wanted to be, feel free to get a little work in before checking in!

[polizwrites]

PoliZ's WIP Update - 28 Aug 2024

Another productive writing week!  I touched four fics (1 new & 3 WIPs)  and wrote a total of  2930  words.   

On Ao3, I posted: 

 Chapter One of  Love is Like a Muscle (and you make me want to flex) - WinterIron mutual pining turns smutty.  

Operation Sun and Surf -  Tony & Avengers team-as-family one shot with touches of angst.  

On Tumblr I posted: 

A Symbol of Devotion - Stony one shot - friends to something more.     

I’m juggling  20+  active/semi-active WIPs with my current  deadline being the Tony Stark This or That event which runs til the end of August.  

See  below cut for what I’m working on/planning to work on - arranged more or less by bingos/challenges/etc.  As always, feel free to send me   prompts or plot bunnies as well as asks regarding  any of these projects  or any other WIPs I’ve got out there.   Interaction really helps feed the Muse and keep me motivated!

Hot Bucky Summer 2024 [HBS_R2] (Ends 31 Aug)

More fun from the @buckybarnesevents folks - this time weekly challenges to create (usually NSFW) Bucky-centric fanworks!   Thanks to plenty of cross-filling with other events  (I’m looking at you, July Break Bingo)  I’ve submitted something for the first eleven weeks and am working on one more with a vague idea for the final week - here’s hoping time & inspiration hold out!  

* Week 12 - August 17th - August 23rd  – “What should I wear?” + Nothing -  Posted Chapter One of  Love is Like a Muscle (and you make me want to flex) on Friday.    WinterIron massage therapy (Tony getting his hands on Bucky) leading to a  happy ending. It came in at 1200 words and  crossed over  with BaBB August: Body Worship, BBB K1 - Tony Stark's Workshop.  

* Week 13 (August 24th - 30th) -  FREE WEEK + Optional Prompts: Mutual Masturbation  –  Chapter Two of Love is Like a Muscle (and you make me want to flex)  is written and will post Friday.  It’s coming in at 1024 words and crosses over with my TSTOT Row 3: Lab Sex and  WIB N2 - Mutual Pining  squares.  

Tony Stark This or That  [TSTOT_24] (Ends 31 Aug 2024)

I signed up late and then promptly forgot I had a card - so am tackling this 8-row card with the hopes of getting it at least halfway done by the end of the month.  I’ve made that goal, and might try to squeeze in one more fill before Saturday ends! 

* Row 3: Lab Sex - see HBS Week 13 above

* Row 7: Beach Day - Posted  Operation Sun and Surf - a crossover with a previous Flash Fiction Friday prompt [#FFF266 Great Expectations]  & my TSB K2 - Miscommunication square.  Tony rents a beach house in hopes of getting the Avengers together for a bit of team bonding;  things don’t quite go as planned.  It came in at 835 words.

Build-A-Bucky Bingo [BaBB_R1] (Ends 31 Oct 2024)

Another fun year-long  event from the folks at  @buckybarnesevents!  Each month there’s a list of prompts and you choose (at least) one  each month for your card!  At thirty-two  fills and about two months to go, I seem to be going a bit overboard …. 😁

* May:  Bucky’s Trigger Words -  combined this with a previous  Flash Fiction Friday prompt [#FFF251 Out There] for Just To Live One Day Out There - a Winter Soldier self-reflective ficlet. It came in at 312 words and will get posted to Ao3 Real Soon. 

* August: Body Worship - see HBS: Week 12 above. 

WinterIron Bingo Round 2  [WIB_R2] (Ends 16 Dec 2024)

Signups are still open for pre-made cards for Round Two of this super-fun bingo event! I have seventeen  fills and zero WIPs at the moment - setting this aside for the moment, as I have other time-sensitive events going.  

* Iron Soldier (One Bingo, One Fill) - looking at combining my Column B prompts: Matchmaker, Bucky Riding Tony, Stark Gala, Inside Joke and Threesome.  Still working on a plot - if you have any suggestions/want-to-sees - let me know! 

* I3 - Car Sex -  Have a fun ficlet in mind for this - some of the dialogue & such already worked out in my head.  

*I4 - SHIELD HQ - Finally posted  Fathers Don’t Know Best  to Ao3 this morning.  A crossover with Flash Fiction Friday prompt [#FFF245 You Never Cared, it’s a No Powers AU with Bucky working as an analyst at SHIELD who stumbles across a late night visitor to the lobby.  It came in at 410 words. 

* N1 - Hair Pulling Kink -  thanks to a fun prompt from @scottxlogan  - I filled this square with Untangling Their Attraction - where Tony’s offer of assistance leads to mutual kink discovery (not as racy as it might sound).  It’s coming in at 544 words and will post to Ao3 before this event is over. 

* N2 - Mutual Pining - see HBS Week 13 above. 

* N5 - "I'm here for you."  - Possibly the next chapter of  Lady Natasha’s Consort and Lord Steve’s Companion ?  

* O3 - Love Confession - Circling back around to Chapter Seven of  A Little Bit Carried Away - where Pepper learns about the impulsive offer Tony made to Bucky after they spent the night together.   It’s drafted at  1029 words and will cross over with TSB K3 - Pepper Potts and my pJBB C1_A1 - "Promise me you won't get mad."  prompt.  Slated to post on 9 Sep. 

Bucky Barnes Bingo - Round Six [BBB - R6]  (Ends 31 Mar)

This amazing bingo event from the folks over at @buckybarnesbingo is back!  I have twelve  fills with one WIP at the moment, but a couple  more crossovers planned. 

* K1 - Tony Stark's Workshop - see HBS Week 12 above. 

* K4 - Last Times/Farewells - combined this with a previous  Flash Fiction Friday prompt [#FFF257 Count The Days ] for  Short-Timing It - a pre-war (just barely) Bucky & Steve (Stucky if you squint) ficlet. It came in at 313 words and will post to Ao3 before the event is over.   

Tony Stark Bingo - Mark VIII [TSB_R8]  (Ends 31 May)

This amazing bingo event from the folks over at @tonystarkbingo is back! Late signups will start next month if you want to join in on the fun!  I have  four  squares filled and one WIP - I need to plan out more crossovers! 

* T1 - Watching Helplessly -  Posted Stranded Among the Stars  to Tumblr on Friday as a crossover with the Flash Fiction Friday prompt [#FFF265 Galaxies Away]. It’s a Nebula & Tony ficlet set on the ship - it came in at 345 words and will get posted to Ao3 before the event ends. 

* R4 - Bartender - Got inspired by another song to start Some Other Beginning’s End - Tony’s a bartender dealing with an a-hole patron (Brock) and his just-broken-up-with boyfriend (Bucky).  It’s sitting at 1028  words and I plan to cross over with my  pJBB  C2_A2 - "You deserve someone who makes you happy."  square. I may try to squish a few other squares in before I’m done. 

* K2 - Miscommunication - see TSTOT Row 7: Beach Day above

* K3 - Pepper Potts -  see WIB O3 - Love Confession above

* K5 - Misunderstandings - see HBS Week 10 above. 

Hawkeyes Bingo [HB_R2] (Ends TBD) 

Working on this  Tumblr event - got a 3x3 card and am looking forward to creating more  Clint-centric content and trying my hand at a bit of  Kate Bishop fic as well!    

* A3 - Awkward Flirting – this might be a good entry into my first femslash fic with Kate/Yelena?    

* C1 - Magic -  Combined this with a previous Flash Fiction Friday prompt  [#FFF259 House of Cards]   for   Keep a Steady Hand.  Clint notices Bucky getting frustrated with a task and offers to help.  It came in at 632 words and will post to Ao3 possibly later this month.   

Post July Break Bingo 2024  [pJBB_24] (Ends 30 Jun 2025)

I requested two 2x3 cards for this  Discord-server only event from @julybreakbingo  – so if you want to join in the fun, let me know and I’ll try to get you an invite!  I have two fics in progress and need to figure out some more crossovers. 

* C1_A1 - "Promise me you won't get mad." - see WIB * O3 - Love Confession

* C2_A2 - "You deserve someone who makes you happy."  -  see TSB R4 - Bartender.  

Warm and Fluffy   Bingo  [WFB]   (no end date)

Eight fills on my card, courtesy of   @warmandfluffybingocards  - need to try for another crossover or two!

* I2 - Vulnerable Drunk - matched this up with a previous Flash Fiction Friday prompt of [#FFF258 Milky Way Dreams]  for Sweet Dreams and Flying Machines -  a MIT-era Tony & Rhodey ficlet, where a drunk Tony shares a childhood dream with his best friend.  It came in at 318 words and will get posted to Ao3 at some point.   

————

On  other creative fronts:  I am working on a brown bat  plush figure for a commission.       

If  you’re looking for one of a kind gifts for birthdays or other celebrations, check  out Stuffed With Character    over on Facebook for a full list of my designs (now over 150!).   These soft stuffed figures are  mostly Marvel and monsters, but I have some Star Wars, Star Trek, DC   and Disney figures as well. Plus I love to take custom design   requests  for any fandom!