#despite being perfectly sfw fics that maybe contain some chaste kisses at most

[empressofthelibrary]

I was venting about my morning to one of my friends at work, and mentioned losing a chunk of Takeoff. She followed up later:

"so what's this book you're writing about? Is it a children's story?"

And I froze for a second because how do I explain this?

"Uh, no," I replied. "I mean, it's definitely not a children's story. It's also a fanwork, meaning I'm using someone else's characters."

She seemed confused on this part, but let me go on.

"It's about this girl... She moves to a new city and then... Well, she finds out she's half space-alien" -- my coworker laughed in surprise at this -- "and then she gets stabbed, cursed by a ghost, the museum she works at burns down..." -- coworker's eyes are getting bigger and bigger with every new situation I am putting this character in -- "...and then the suit of armor the ghost lives in gets stolen, so she has to track it down to break the curse. This girl is just having a horrible week."

At this point my coworker looks absolutely bewildered. I guess I give the impression of someone who writes, like, coffeeshop AU syrupy fluff and literally nothing else, idk. I didn't even get to the fight with Weather Wizard or the giant robot laser dinosaur mecha Bailey's currently fighting, because those would take too much context to explain, and this coworker has nothing but like, some cultural osmosis for a baseline here. It's like the xkcd comic, you know the one.

And then the inevitable question: "...so are you gonna publish it? Make some money?"

I considered telling her I'm putting it up for free on the Internet. But then I realized she might want the link. And I remembered all the cussing. And Bailey having a small conniption over being rescued by an illegally gorgeous stranger who rides a motorcycle. And getting mad at herself for being kind of into it. And the fact that there is probably a lot about my psyche on display here. And that I was talking to a very traditional, very Christian, older lady. And ALL THE SHIT that happens later on.

"Nnnnnno," I half-lied. "It's a fanwork, so I can't monetize it. But I think I like keeping my writing as a hobby anyway! There's no pressure, and I can make stuff that's just for me!"

She seemed surprised by this answer, but satisfied, which was a relief. I do not need my Work Mom to see my secrets bleeding through onto the page, holy shit