#do I dare to tag the two crossover ideas

[darkflierazura]

Some misc Soren doodles while I brain rot and wait for his brave alt in Feh.

I finally have gotten to play bloodborne : ) : ) : )

[cinnamorollcrybaby]

Flakes of Crystals and Snow || JJK x ACOTAR crossover

Tags: Satoru Gojo x Original Female Character, SuguShoko, Past SatoSugo, ItaFushi, slow burn, forced proximity, Mates/Fated Mates, Fae/Faeries AU, Fantasy AU, HighLord!Satoru, Smut with plot, NSFW

Status: Ongoing. 13/? chapters. 30k words so far.

AN: I have been obsessed with the idea of Satoru Gojo as the High Lord of the Winter Court for so long now. So, this story is surrounding an ACOTAR esque universe. You do not have had to read ACOTAR before reading this. I just drew a lot of inspiration from its world building. Sneak peak below.

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His hair was snow white. It was messily splayed upon his head. A crown made of the finest crystals was sat upon his head. His skin was pale. It was as if he had never seen the sun a day in his life, but he didn't look sick. He emitted raw unadulterated power. His facial features were sharp, strong. His ears were the most peculiar. They curved upwards to a soft point. It reminded me of.. an elf or a fairy from old tales. I found myself feeling sad that I didn't get to see his eyes beneath the white wrappings around his head. His lips were turned upward into a feline grin. He was wearing a black suit. It contrasted beautifully with his bright presence.

He had his head casually propped up into his hand. Two fingers were on his high cheekbone, and the other three were tucked on his chin, partially covering his mouth. He didn't appear to have a care in the world as he was gazing upon us. I couldn't see his eyes, but I could feel them on me. His legs were crossed in a leisurely manner. He looked so... bored.

"Kneel while in the presence of a High Lord." His voice was smooth. It felt like velvet. I could feel it touching me everywhere. His word was law. I couldn't find it in me to refuse. The two guards... my captors also kneels down on the ground alongside me. "State your reasoning for pestering me."

"A human was found in the outskirts." The gruff one stated bluntly. He didn't dare look up at the high lord.

"We didn't know what to do, so we brought her to you, my lord." The other more nimbly one said.

Silence fell upon the room. I felt like he was waiting for me to speak, but what do I even say?

"I... I don't know where I am." Warm tears grazed the flesh of my cheeks. I didn't realize it until now, but I felt so scared and alone. "I was just picking blackberries, and..." My voice trailed. I couldn't remember what happened next

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Read it here:

[phospadparadscha]

Church dance + Gems au = accidental near-fusion???

And now, for the main event: Black Opal, the fusion of an Orange Pearl (Kim Kitsuragi) and mystery gem (Harry Du Bois). Below is a reference I made:

Black Opal, the fusion of Harry and Kim as part of my Disco Elysium / Steven Universe crossover AU. I really wanted to lean into the nostalgia and adrenaline junkie aspects of both characters. The conclusion I came to was a 70s biker. I think every time I've seen a picture of someone's american dad back when they were younger, it was a guy with insane facial hair and a homoerotic biker fit, which lead me to this as the aesthetic for a fusion of these two. These are black opals, for reference:

As a fusion, they both struggle to speak as a singular being. They are not a very stable fusion, mostly due to Harry's damaged gem and how quickly they both can diverge from each other in action and personality. When they do agree however and can maintain Black Opal, its the aspect of themselves that brings out the daring qualities of the other; the one that says "hold on!" and presses their foot on the accelerator, the one that revs their engine, the one that brings a boombox to a boat ride. After a while Black Opal is able to assimilate both aspects of Kim and Harry, as seen in the last panel where his enthusiastic and showboating personality (which both Harry and Kim posses individually in different ways) becomes more like a singular being, like other fusions in the show.

I arranged their limbs and eyes according to where I think they diverge in terms of personality and what they try to accomplish as a fusion / where their interests conflict. This seems to be the case for fusions in Steven Universe as well, where the less harmonious a fusion is, the less proportional the limbs and eyes are to a human body. Harry and Kim have divergences in their eyes and in their forearms. While physically they follow each other in a common goal, Harry and Kim have different ways of handling the world and diverge in their sense of interfacing. Kim has a delicate touch generally, while Harry tends to brute force his way through obstacles. They also have divergent eyes; They both see the world very differently and have different reactions to the same stimulus. Besides these two divergences, they are a fairly harmonious fusion physically.

This is Kim's first fusion, meanwhile Harry has fused before with multiple people from Precinct 41 and his ex, but due to his amnesia he doesn't remember that he has.

Harry and Kim are both basically in historical cosplay throughout the entire game, and I liked the idea of them both being a fusion that dresses in an outdated and charming way as well, like a person out of time. Black Opal as a gemstone I chose because the rainbow coloration of Harry's pale damage on his gem would intermingle with Kim's orange pearl, while the orange and green of the two of them mixed as colors would be a darker muddy color. Thus, this would equate to a dark gem with rainbow coloration inside. Opals tend to be porous as well, which I found fitting for Harry's eroded gemstone.

I love how Harry and Kim have whack-ass facial hair in game and I wanted to give them both an insane facial hair combo. The leather jacket is basically a combination of Harry's green disco blazer and Kim's orange bomber jacket. Kim's gloves become biker's gloves, the "tie" from Harry is the bandana they both wear around their mullet with buzzed sides. They're wearing these big biker's boots, which are drawn largely from Kim's boots in game. Kim has a ton of little compartments to his clothes, so I liked the idea of there being a bunch of zippers everywhere. I'd have put even more and drawn on some patches but my hand was starting to fall off from drawing so for now this is it.

I'll definitely be drawing more of this fusion and for this AU in the future but if you guys have suggestions, ideas, art requests for the crossover let me know. The tag for posts about this au is "disco universe".

Below are some of the clothing and aesthetics I referenced while drawing Black Opal:

[novaursa]

Of Gods and Men (destiny)

This is Dune/GOT/HOTD/FAB/ASOIAF crossover AU that you've voted for. If you always wanted to see House Targaryen in space, I got you. Please note how some of the lore of both universes is bent to blend in both worlds. This is my original idea that I've been cooking for at least two years. Be gentle with my work, and enjoy the ride.

- Summary: House Targaryen survives their ancient exile after being overthrown by House Corrino and the Bene Gesserit. Fleeing to the unknown planet Albiron, the Targaryens build a hidden civilization powered by drakaon crystals, reviving their dragons and creating advanced technology. Millennia later, whispers of their survival begin to surface as the Bene Gesserit confront a mysterious Red Woman on Arrakis, who warns of a coming Prince That Was Promised destined to challenge their control. The Targaryens secretly prepare to return, ready to reclaim their legacy.

- Pairing: reader!Daenys Targaryen/Leto Atredies

- Note: For more details about House Targaryen and their technology, please check out the masterlist.

- Rating: Mature 16+

- Previous part: the path

- Tag(s): @sachaa-ff @alyssa-dayne @oxymakestheworldgoround

- A/N: This is the last part of the book I: of gods and men. I'm not sure when I will start posting the book II: children of valyria (or if it will be posted here at all). I will be leaving this part of the schedule open for something else, for now.

Leto moved swiftly through the larger passageway, following the path Vexiae had taken. The walls were slick and uneven, but the sound of chaos ahead pushed him forward. He could hear the dragon’s deep growls and the terrified shouts of Harkonnen soldiers, followed by the unmistakable sounds of metal clashing and flesh being torn apart.

As he approached, the passage widened into a chamber where the remnants of a Harkonnen squad were scattered in pieces. Vexiae was a blur of red scales and fury, her claws slashing through the soldiers who dared to stand in her way. Blood sprayed across the rocky floor as she decimated the squad, her wrath unstoppable. Her massive form twisted and lashed out with terrifying precision, leaving none alive.

Leto stopped in his tracks, watching in awe and horror as Vexiae crawled up the walls of the chamber, disappearing into another passageway high above. Her roar echoed through the cavern, but Leto knew he couldn’t follow her any further. She was too far ahead now, and the path she had taken was one he couldn’t climb.

Breathing heavily, Leto crouched behind a large rock, listening intently. The soldiers were no longer a threat, but something caught his attention—the faint sound of voices from a nearby tunnel. His pulse quickened as he strained to hear, focusing on the muffled conversation.

"...keep the Targaryen girl down there," one soldier said, his voice anxious. "Baron’s orders. No one goes near her except Feyd-Rautha."

"She’s more trouble than she’s worth," another voice muttered. "Should’ve killed her when we had the chance."

Leto clenched his fists, anger surging through him. So, you were being held deeper in the caverns, under the watch of Feyd-Rautha himself. His teeth ground together as he thought of what they might be doing to you. The thought of you, bound and hurt, filled him with fury. He couldn’t allow this to continue any longer.

With a quiet determination, Leto moved toward the tunnel where the voices had come from. He had the information he needed now—he knew where you were. All that was left was to get to you before Feyd-Rautha carried out whatever twisted plans he had in mind.

You were close, and Leto swore to himself that he wouldn’t leave without you.

Feyd-Rautha stormed into your cell, his face twisted in fury. His footsteps echoed ominously against the cold stone floor, and the door slammed shut behind him with a metallic clang. His eyes blazed with anger, his frustration barely contained as he paced back and forth like a predator searching for a victim.

"You think this is funny?" he growled, turning to face you. "Your dragon is loose, tearing through my men, destroying everything we’ve built here."

You leaned against the rough stone wall, bruised and aching, but you couldn’t help the smirk that tugged at your lips. "I warned you. Dragons aren’t pets. They don’t take orders from lesser men like you."

His eyes narrowed at your words, and you saw the flash of hatred cross his face. In two quick strides, he was standing over you, his hand raised. The sting of his slap landed hard across your cheek, snapping your head to the side. You tasted blood in your mouth but didn’t flinch.

"You insolent bitch," Feyd hissed. "I could have killed you before. But the Baron... he still has use for you."

You slowly turned your head to face him, your gaze defiant. "Do your worst, Feyd. You’ll never control Vexiae. Dragons don’t bow to cowards who hide behind chains and whips."

Feyd’s lip curled into a snarl, and he grabbed a fistful of your hair, yanking your head back as he leaned down, his face inches from yours. "You think you’re untouchable, don’t you? You think just because that beast is out there, you’re safe?"

His voice dropped to a dangerous whisper. "I don’t need your dragon to break you. I’ll make you wish you’d never crossed me."

You stared into his eyes, refusing to show fear. "I’ll never obey you. And you’ll never break me."

His grip tightened painfully, and he slammed your head back against the wall. "We’ll see about that. If you don’t call off that dragon, I’ll make sure you watch as I torture her, as I burn your precious Vexiae alive, piece by piece."

You clenched your jaw, the pain sharp but nothing compared to the rage building inside you. "Vexiae will never bow to you. And neither will I."

Feyd’s face darkened with fury. He released your hair and slapped you again, harder this time, sending a sharp jolt of pain through your face. "You will learn, Daenys. One way or another, you will learn."

He stepped back, breathing heavily as he tried to regain control of himself. His hand twitched as if he was tempted to strike you again, but he held back, a cruel smile creeping onto his lips instead. "No matter. Soon enough, you’ll beg me to stop. And when you do, I’ll have everything I need."

You glared at him, hatred burning in your eyes. "You’ll never break me, Feyd. You’re a coward. Nothing more."

Feyd’s smile faded, and the cold, calculating look returned to his eyes. "We’ll see how brave you are when you have nothing left." He turned sharply and stormed out of the cell, leaving you bound and alone.

The door slammed shut behind him, the echo of his threats hanging in the air, but you weren’t afraid. Vexiae was still out there, and you could feel her presence, her rage mirroring your own. You wouldn’t give in to Feyd-Rautha’s cruelty. You would fight, just as your dragon was fighting for you. And somehow, you would survive this.

Leto was out there. You believed that. He would come for you. And together, you would make the Harkonnens pay.

Leto crouched in the shadows of a narrow passage, watching as Feyd-Rautha stormed out of one of the adjacent hallways, his face twisted in anger. The Harkonnen heir was furious, barking orders to the guards and soldiers who scrambled around him. His words were clear: recapture the dragon, by any means necessary.

"You idiots! I want that beast chained down now!" Feyd snarled, shoving one of his men aside. "Find it before it tears this place apart!"

Leto’s heart pounded in his chest as he listened. Vexiae was still out there, still causing chaos. But you were nowhere to be seen. His stomach clenched as he imagined what Feyd had done to you, what he was planning.

But there was no time to dwell on the possibilities. Leto knew that this was his moment. He needed to get closer, to find the holding cells where you were being kept. He could see the group of guards stationed near a side corridor, heavily armed and alert, likely guarding the cells Feyd had just left.

A plan quickly formed in his mind. If he wanted to get to you, he couldn’t sneak past them. He needed to cause a distraction, something that would throw them off completely. And there was only one thing that would leave these Harkonnen soldiers more stunned than anything else: the sight of the Atreides Duke walking into their base alone.

With a deep breath, Leto stepped out of the shadows, his posture casual but deliberate. His eyes flicked toward the guards, and a mocking smile tugged at his lips. He had to play this right. They needed to see him as vulnerable—alone and defeated.

"Well, well," Leto called out, his voice echoing through the corridor. "It seems I’ve wandered a bit too far, hasn’t it? Thought I’d come see what all the fuss was about."

The guards froze, their eyes widening in shock as they recognized him. One of them barked out a curse, immediately raising his weapon. "The Duke! How did you—"

Leto raised his hands in mock surrender, taking a few slow steps toward them. "Easy now. No need to get all excited. It’s just me, after all."

The confusion was clear on their faces, and that was exactly what Leto wanted. They hadn’t expected to see the Duke of Atreides here, alone, in the heart of their hidden base. They had no idea what to make of it.

"What are you doing here, Atreides?" one of the guards growled, his weapon still trained on Leto. "Where are your men?"

Leto smirked, maintaining his calm demeanor. "Oh, they’re around. But I figured I’d come alone to make things easier. You know, personal surrender and all that. Thought it’d be the polite thing to do."

The guards exchanged glances, uncertain. One of them reached for his comm device, clearly intending to call for reinforcements. Leto’s sharp gaze caught the movement, and he knew he had to act quickly before they realized this was no surrender at all.

"You want to know something interesting?" Leto said, stepping closer as if he was about to divulge a secret. "You might want to keep an eye on that comm device."

The guard paused, confused, as he glanced down at the device in his hand. That was the opening Leto needed.

In a flash, Leto lunged forward, grabbing the guard’s wrist and twisting it sharply. The weapon clattered to the ground as the guard yelped in pain. Before the others could react, Leto spun the guard around, using him as a shield, and swiftly disarmed another.

Chaos erupted as the remaining guards scrambled to respond, but Leto was faster. He took down the second guard with a swift punch to the throat, sending him crumpling to the ground.

Now armed, Leto aimed the stolen weapon at the remaining guards, his expression deadly serious. "I suggest you tell me where the holding cells are. Now."

The guards hesitated, clearly realizing they were outmatched. One of them, trembling, pointed toward the corridor Feyd had emerged from. "Down that hall... second left. That’s where she is."

Leto’s heart raced, and without another word, he knocked the guard unconscious and began his way down the corridor toward you. His mind was focused, sharp. 

Gurney adjusted the straps on his stillsuit as the desert winds kicked up the sand around him. His eyes scanned the horizon, narrowing as he noticed the sudden shift in the Harkonnen troops’ movements. They were becoming erratic, almost desperate. Something had changed.

His hand went to the comm link at his side, and he tuned it to Duncan’s frequency. "Idaho," Gurney called into the device, his voice steady despite the rising tension. "You seeing what I’m seeing?"

A crackle of static buzzed in his ear before Duncan’s voice came through. "Yeah, Gurney. Harkonnen attacks are getting sloppy, like they’re panicking. We haven’t seen this kind of behavior from them before."

Gurney nodded to himself, watching as Atreides forces managed to repel another disorganized assault from the Harkonnens. "They’re desperate. Whatever’s happening on their end, it’s big. You think it’s got something to do with Leto and the operation in the caverns?"

"Could be," Duncan replied after a moment, his tone thoughtful. "Or maybe they know something we don’t. Have you heard anything from the Duke?"

"Not yet." Gurney glanced down at his comm again, a wave of unease creeping up his spine. "I haven’t been able to raise him. He’s off comms for now."

The desert winds howled louder as another Harkonnen skirmish group charged toward them. Gurney’s hand instinctively went to the hilt of his weapon, but his mind remained focused on the bigger picture. "We need to push them back, Idaho. I’m thinking whatever’s got them so riled up, it’s connected to what’s happening in the caverns."

Duncan’s voice crackled back over the comm, decisive. "Agreed. We’ll hold our ground here, but we need to stay sharp. If they’re this frantic, they might try something reckless."

"Understood," Gurney replied, his gaze hardening. "Keep me posted. I’ll try to get through to the Duke again. Gurney out."

He cut the comm link and turned back to the Atreides troops under his command. "Form up!" he barked, his voice cutting through the desert noise. "Stay sharp and keep pushing them back! Something’s got these Harkonnens rattled, and we’re going to make sure they keep running."

The soldiers around him tightened their formation, readying themselves for the next wave. Gurney’s mind, however, remained on Leto and Daenys. Whatever was happening in the caverns was the key to this sudden change in the Harkonnen strategy, and until he knew more, he would fight like hell to protect the Duke’s interests and ensure their survival.

Leto hurried down the corridor, his pulse quickening with each step. The guard’s directions echoed in his mind—down the hall, second left. He could feel his heart pounding, not from the exertion, but from the thought of finding you, hoping you were still alive, hoping Feyd-Rautha hadn’t gone too far. His breath was ragged, the weight of his weapon steady in his hands as he rounded the corner.

The holding cells came into view, a heavy metal door reinforced with a locking mechanism controlled by a panel on the wall. Leto didn’t hesitate. His eyes quickly scanned the area for any remaining guards. There were none in sight, and the narrow hallway felt eerily quiet.

His gaze fell on the control panel beside the door. It was complicated, no doubt designed to prevent any unwanted visitors from freeing the prisoners inside. But Leto had no time for finesse. His hand reached for the hilt of his blade, and with a swift motion, he drove the weapon into the panel’s circuitry. Sparks flew as the panel sputtered, the lights flickering on the door’s control interface.

He slammed his fist against the damaged panel for good measure, and the door hissed as its internal mechanisms unlocked. The metal barrier slowly creaked open, revealing the small, dimly lit room beyond.

And there you were.

You were slumped against the wall, bound at the wrists, your head hanging low as if you were barely conscious. Bruises marred your skin, evidence of the torture Feyd-Rautha had inflicted on you, but your chest still rose and fell with shallow breaths. You were alive.

Relief washed over Leto like a tidal wave, and he rushed to your side. "Daenys..." he whispered, his voice thick with emotion.

At the sound of his voice, your head lifted weakly, and your eyes fluttered open. When you saw him, there was a flash of recognition, and something else—relief, hope.

"Leto..." you rasped, your voice barely audible.

Without wasting another moment, Leto knelt beside you, his hands moving to untie the bonds that held you captive. His touch was gentle but urgent, his eyes searching your face for any sign of how badly you’d been hurt.

"Hold on," he said, his voice low but filled with determination. "I’m getting you out of here."

The ropes fell away, and as soon as your hands were free, you slumped forward, but Leto caught you, pulling you close to him. He could feel how weak you were, your body trembling from the pain and exhaustion, but there was still a fire in your eyes—a stubborn refusal to give in, the same strength that had drawn him to you in the first place.

"You came for me," you whispered, your voice barely above a breath, but the gratitude in your tone was unmistakable.

Leto's grip tightened as he helped you to your feet, his arm steadying you as you swayed. "Of course I did. I told you I’d never let them take you from me."

He pulled back slightly, his gaze locking with yours for a moment, and in that shared look, a silent understanding passed between you. There would be time for more later, but now, you needed to get out of here.

"Can you walk?" Leto asked, his voice soft but urgent.

You nodded, though your legs were shaky, the weight of your injuries evident in every strained movement. "I’ll manage."

Leto looped his arm around your waist, helping you find your balance. "Good. We don’t have much time."

As the two of you moved toward the door, Leto cast one last glance around the small cell, making sure nothing had been left behind.

With you leaning on him for support, Leto led the way into the hallway, his weapon ready, his mind already calculating the best way out. He wasn’t leaving without you, and now that you were free, nothing—no one—would stop him from getting you both out of this hellhole.

Feyd-Rautha had made a grave mistake by taking you. Now, Leto would make sure he paid for it.

Leto guided you carefully through the narrow passageway, his hand firmly on your waist, supporting you as you moved through the dimly lit cavern. The adrenaline of the escape still pulsed through his veins, but now that he had found you, now that you were together again, a sense of relief washed over him. He led you into a secluded area between the cavern walls, a temporary safe space hidden from the Harkonnen troops still scouring the caves.

Once inside, he helped you sit down on a smooth rock formation, his gaze filled with concern as he crouched down next to you. The silence of the cavern surrounded you both, offering a momentary reprieve from the chaos outside.

"Are you alright?" Leto asked softly, his hand brushing a strand of hair away from your face. His touch was gentle, but his eyes searched your face for any sign of pain or discomfort. "They didn’t—hurt you too much?"

You managed a tired smile, even though your body still ached from the ordeal. "I’ve been through worse, believe me," you whispered, though the reassurance in your tone didn’t entirely mask the exhaustion in your voice.

Leto’s expression softened, and without thinking, he leaned in and kissed you gently. It was a kiss filled with relief, with the gratitude of having found you alive and whole. His lips lingered on yours for a moment longer than intended, as if savoring the fact that you were here, with him, after everything.

When he pulled back, his hand cupped your cheek, his thumb brushing against your skin. "I thought I’d lost you," he admitted, his voice raw with emotion. "When I heard what they’d done—when I couldn’t find you—I was ready to tear this whole place apart to get you back."

Your heart ached at his words, and you reached up to touch his hand, grounding him with your presence. "I knew you would come for me," you whispered, your voice laced with a quiet confidence. "I never doubted it."

The corners of Leto’s mouth lifted slightly, a trace of a smile forming. He leaned his forehead against yours, closing his eyes for a brief moment of peace in this madness. "I don’t deserve you," he murmured, his breath warm against your skin.

You shook your head, your fingers tightening around his hand. "Don’t say that. We’re in this together."

For a few stolen moments, the world outside the cavern didn’t exist. It was just the two of you, safe in each other’s arms, letting the affection and love you shared provide a balm to the horrors of the battle still raging on.

Leto’s arms encircled you, pulling you close as he buried his face in the crook of your neck. You felt the weight of his exhaustion too, the toll that this war and these battles had taken on him. You stroked his hair gently, allowing him this rare vulnerability in your presence.

But as much as you wanted to stay in this moment, you both knew it couldn’t last.

Leto reluctantly pulled back, his eyes locking with yours. "We need to keep moving," he said, though his voice was laced with hesitation, not wanting to leave this brief respite. "We have to get you out of here before Feyd-Rautha or his men find us."

You nodded in agreement, though your hand lingered in his. "I’m ready when you are," you replied softly, your eyes never leaving his.

For one last moment, Leto leaned in, kissing you again—this time with a fierce, protective passion. Then, he stood and offered you his hand, helping you to your feet.

"We’ll make it out of here," he promised, his voice resolute as he took your hand firmly in his. "I swear it."

Leto led you carefully through the winding tunnels, his grip firm on your hand as you both moved toward the cavern hangars. The sounds of engines echoed faintly, and Leto’s sharp eyes spotted the last of the Harkonnen Ornithopters preparing to take off. Relief was within reach—an escape. But before either of you could make a move, a cold, mocking voice echoed through the chamber.

“Well, well,” Feyd-Rautha’s voice slithered through the darkness as he stepped out from the shadows, flanked by his men. "Look who we have here. The noble Duke of Atreides himself."

Leto’s posture stiffened, and his grip on your hand tightened. He moved slightly in front of you, shielding you from Feyd-Rautha’s predatory gaze. His expression was calm, but the tension in his muscles told you he was ready for whatever was about to unfold.

"Here I am," Leto said, his voice steady, full of quiet resolve. "Here I remain."

Feyd-Rautha chuckled darkly, circling slightly as his men fanned out around you both, cutting off any potential escape routes. His eyes glinted with malicious glee, like a predator who had finally cornered his prey. "It seems you’ve made a habit of surviving things you shouldn’t have, Duke," he said, his lips curling into a sneer. "But this time, there’s no dragon to save you. Just you and me, and a lot of pain."

Leto stood tall, his eyes locked on Feyd’s. "I’ve faced worse than you, Harkonnen."

Feyd’s sneer deepened. "Then let’s see how well you fare with me." He raised his voice, loud enough for everyone in the cavern to hear. "Kanly!" Feyd declared, invoking the ancient feud between their Houses. He was issuing an official challenge—a duel, one that would determine the fate of both men. "It’s time for you to die, Duke. This ends now."

You felt your heart drop as Feyd-Rautha called for the duel. This wasn’t just a fight; it was a death sentence if Leto lost. But the look on Leto’s face was one of calm acceptance, as if he had been expecting this confrontation all along.

Leto turned slightly toward you, his hand brushing yours gently. His eyes softened for a brief moment, a silent exchange passing between you. You knew he wouldn’t back down. Not now. Not ever.

"I’ll handle this," he said quietly to you, his voice full of conviction. "Stay back. I won’t let him touch you."

You nodded, though the fear for him twisted in your stomach. You trusted him, but Feyd-Rautha was unpredictable, dangerous. Still, you took a step back, giving Leto the space he needed, but ready to act if things went wrong.

Feyd smirked, already moving to draw his blade. "Come then, Duke. Let’s finish this once and for all."

Leto’s expression remained stoic as he unsheathed his own blade, a curved, finely made weapon gifted to him by House Targaryen—a blade forged with Valyrian steel. He took a fighting stance, and you could see the measured determination in every movement.

The two men began circling each other, their eyes locked in a battle of wills before the first strike was even thrown.

Feyd-Rautha lunged forward, his blade flashing in the dim light, but Leto was faster, sidestepping the blow and delivering a counterstrike that caught Feyd off guard. The two clashed, steel meeting steel with a sharp ring, echoing through the cavern.

Feyd was quick, vicious, but Leto was precise. Every movement was calculated, controlled, while Feyd fought with fury and aggression. Their blades danced in a deadly rhythm, neither giving ground easily. You watched, heart pounding, as Leto fought with everything he had, never faltering, never backing down.

"You’re slower than I expected," Feyd taunted, his blade scraping against Leto’s. "All that time spent chasing dragons made you soft, Duke."

Leto didn’t respond, his focus entirely on the fight, every fiber of his being centered on bringing this to an end. Feyd lunged again, but this time Leto anticipated the move, sidestepping just enough to deliver a powerful strike that sent Feyd stumbling back.

Blood trickled from a cut on Feyd’s arm, and his sneer faded into a scowl of rage. He attacked again, more erratically this time, but Leto remained calm, deflecting each strike with measured precision.

You could see the tides turning, the careful strategy Leto had employed starting to wear down his opponent. Feyd was growing desperate, his attacks more reckless, while Leto continued to fight with a quiet, deadly grace.

And then, in a swift, fluid movement, Leto disarmed Feyd, sending the Harkonnen blade clattering to the ground. Feyd staggered back, eyes wide with shock and rage, but Leto didn’t hesitate. He held his blade to Feyd’s throat, the point pressing against the skin.

"It’s over," Leto said, his voice low and firm. "Yield."

Feyd’s chest heaved with fury, but he knew he had lost. There was no escape now.

For a brief moment, it seemed as though Feyd would concede, but then his eyes flickered with something darker, more dangerous. You saw it too, and your body shivered. Something wasn’t right.

But before either of you could react, Feyd-Rautha grinned, a sick, twisted grin. "It’s never over, Atreides," he spat, his hand darting toward something hidden in his sleeve.

"Leto!" you shouted, warning him just in time.

Leto saw the movement and reacted instinctively, twisting Feyd’s arm and knocking the hidden weapon—a small, poisoned blade—out of his grasp. With one final strike, Leto incapacitated him, sending Feyd crumpling to the ground, unconscious but alive.

Leto exhaled, stepping back, his chest rising and falling with the effort of the fight. He looked back at you, and you rushed forward, relief flooding your veins as you met his gaze.

"It’s over," he said again, this time to you, his voice softer.

You nodded, your hand reaching out to touch his arm. "For now," you replied quietly.

Feyd's men hesitated, uncertainty flickering across their faces as they took in the sight of their fallen leader. They exchanged nervous glances, their hands tightening on their weapons, but none made a move toward you or Leto. 

Then, with a deafening roar, Vexiae appeared.

The massive dragon burst into the chamber from the upper passage, her enormous wings folding back as she descended, her amber eyes glowing with fury. The ground shook beneath her weight as she landed, her sharp talons digging into the rock, and her head lowered, the primal growl rumbling deep from her throat. The Harkonnen soldiers scattered in terror, retreating from the sight of the enraged beast.

With one swift motion, Vexiae lashed out, her claws tearing through the ranks of the soldiers as if they were nothing more than paper. The men screamed in panic, scrambling to get away, but it was too late. Vexiae's powerful jaws clamped down on the remaining guards, her wrath swift and brutal. The ground trembled beneath her, the very air vibrating with the ferocity of her attack.

You stepped forward, raising a hand as Vexiae let out another roar, preparing to finish off the remaining enemies. "Vexiae!" your voice rang out clear and steady, cutting through the chaos. The dragon paused, her head swiveling toward you, her eyes softening at your command. "It’s over now."

Vexiae let out a low growl, her fiery eyes locking with yours for a moment. She knew you were safe, and her protective instincts began to ebb. You stepped closer, your hand gently resting on her snout as you calmed her. "You’ve done enough," you whispered, stroking the scales along her jaw. "Go now. Leave. We’ll be fine."

The dragon huffed softly, her breath warm against your skin, and for a moment, she lingered, reluctant to leave your side. But after another reassuring glance, she spread her wings and lifted off, her massive frame rising above the ground with a grace that belied her size. The wind from her wings buffeted the cavern, sending dust and debris flying as she flew off into the open desert sky.

Leto watched in awe as Vexiae disappeared from view, the dragon’s majestic form silhouetted against the stars. "I’m starting to understand more every day why they call you dragonlords," he muttered, a small smile playing at the corner of his lips.

You smiled, though the weight of the moment still hung between you. "We should go before more of them arrive.

Leto nodded, his hand finding yours as you both turned toward the waiting Ornithopter at the far end of the hangar. The bulky Harkonnen craft was your only way out of this labyrinth of caverns and danger. You moved quickly, slipping into the cockpit as Leto took the pilot’s seat, the controls lighting up under his hands.

As the Ornithopter lifted off the ground, you both looked back toward the cavern. Just as you gained altitude, a low rumble echoed from deep within the tunnels. The ground shook violently, and cracks snaked up the walls of the cavern. You exchanged a glance with Leto, your heart pounding in your chest.

Vexiae’s massive frame had triggered something, perhaps weakening the already unstable structure of the caverns. The ceiling began to crumble, large chunks of rock falling into the chamber below. Within seconds, the entire Harkonnen base was collapsing in on itself, consumed by the very earth it had sought to hide within.

Leto pushed the throttle forward, the Ornithopter speeding up just as the last of the caverns caved in, sealing the base in a tomb of rock and dust. You looked down through the window as the base was swallowed whole, the remnants of Feyd’s forces buried beneath the weight of their defeat.

"That was close," Leto muttered, his grip tightening on the controls.

You leaned back in your seat, your eyes lingering on the horizon as the desert stretched out before you. "Too close," you agreed softly, your mind already turning to what would come next. But for now, you had escape

As the Ornithopter cut through the desert winds, Leto’s tense posture began to ease. His hands relaxed slightly on the controls, though his eyes remained sharp, scanning the horizon for any remaining threats. After a long moment of silence, he allowed himself a small, exhausted smile.

“We deserve a vacation after this,” he jested, turning his gaze toward you. “I promised to take you somewhere special on Caladan. It’s a hidden cove, not far from the capital. The water is the purest blue you’ve ever seen, and the cliffs are dotted with these little caves where we can hide away from the world for a while. No armies. No enemies. Just us.”

You smiled, the idea of it sounding like a dream after all you had been through. The thought of standing with Leto by the sea, with nothing but the waves to worry about, filled you with warmth. “That sounds lovely,” you replied, your voice soft in the hum of the Ornithopter. “I’ve heard much about Caladan’s beauty. I’d love to see this cove of yours.”

Leto glanced at you, his smile widening as he imagined the two of you on the cliffs, the troubles of the galaxy far behind. “We’ll make it happen,” he said. “After this is over, we’ll go. A real escape, just for us.”

You leaned back in your seat, your eyes flicking to the stars outside. “And maybe after that,” you added, “we could visit Albiron. I could show you the place where my people survived, where we rebuilt from nothing. It’s not like anything in the known universe. The jungles are thick, the air rich with minerals… and the sky, Leto. The sky burns red with life. You’d love it.”

Leto’s gaze softened, intrigued by your words. He’d heard of Albiron, of the hidden world where your House had rebuilt itself from the ashes of Valyria, but the idea of seeing it through your eyes stirred something in him. “Albiron,” he mused. “I’d like that. To see where your people found their strength again. And maybe even meet the rest of your dragons.”

You laughed softly at that, imagining Leto surrounded by the beasts you’d grown up with, and for a moment, the future felt bright again, even amidst the turmoil surrounding you both.

As the Ornithopter sailed smoothly through the air, you and Leto exchanged quiet glances, the shared promise of something beyond war and politics hanging between you like a beacon of hope. Caladan. Albiron. A future where both of your worlds could exist together, away from the Emperor, the Sisterhood, and the endless conflicts that had defined your lives.

You turned your gaze back out toward the endless desert below, knowing there were still battles to fight, but for now, there was a promise. One of peace. One of love. A future, if you could claim it together.

And that was worth fighting for.

Gurney stood on the ridge, watching as the Harkonnen Ornithopter cut through the sky, its silhouette unmistakable against the horizon. His hand tightened on the trigger of the plasma cannon, his instincts honed from years of battle urging him to take the shot. "Another one," he muttered, his jaw clenched. "They just don’t give up."

His team stood ready beside him, weapons trained on the incoming Ornithopter, their movements tense and precise. The Harkonnen forces had been relentless, and Gurney had no intention of letting another enemy vanguard slip through their defenses.

"Steady," he called to his men, preparing to give the order to fire.

Just as his finger twitched on the trigger, a crackle came over the comms. At first, it was garbled, indistinct, but then Gurney heard a voice he knew all too well.

“Gurney, hold fire! It’s us!”

Gurney’s heart skipped a beat. He blinked, his hand freezing over the controls as the realization hit him. “Leto?”

The comms crackled again, clearer this time. “It’s Leto, Gurney! It’s me and Daenys. Don’t fire!”

Gurney let out a deep breath, his relief almost palpable as he pulled his hand back from the trigger. “Damn it, Duke. I almost shot you out of the sky.”

From inside the Ornithopter, Leto allowed himself a half-amused smile despite the tension. “I figured as much when I saw you lining up for a shot.”

“Just doing my job,” Gurney replied, his tone lighter now but still edged with the heaviness of the past hours of battle. “We’ve been swatting these Harkonnen flies left and right. Didn’t expect to see you piloting one of their crafts.”

“Long story,” Leto said, his voice steady as he expertly guided the Ornithopter in for a landing, the sand kicking up in small storms beneath the wings. “But we’re alive. Daenys and me.”

Beside him, you allowed yourself a small smile, though your mind was still racing from the narrow escape. Leto glanced at you, the weight of everything they had just gone through still hanging between you. "Gurney," Leto continued over the comms, "we’re coming in for a landing. Let’s regroup."

Gurney lowered his weapon, shaking his head with a mix of relief and exasperation. “You and that lass are going to be the death of me one of these days.”

The Ornithopter touched down with a soft thud on the desert sand, and Leto and you stepped out, both still feeling the adrenaline of the close call. Gurney jogged over, his weathered face stern but relieved as he clapped a hand on Leto’s shoulder.

"You gave me a heart attack, Duke. You too, lass," he said, glancing toward you.

You managed a smirk, still feeling the pulse of battle running through your veins. "Didn’t mean to," you replied, your voice steady but with an edge of fatigue.

Gurney turned his gaze between the two of you, his expression softening for a moment. “Glad you’re both all right.”

Leto nodded, his eyes meeting Gurney’s with a depth of gratitude that words couldn’t quite capture. "Thanks to you for holding the line, Gurney. But we’re not done yet. We’ve got work to finish."

Gurney, ever the loyal soldier, nodded sharply. “Then let’s get back to it.”

As Leto, you, and Gurney walked back toward the command post, the air was filled with the aftermath of battle. The desert sun hung low on the horizon, casting a soft light over the dunes. The winds carried the distant sounds of skirmishes still echoing in the distance, but the immediate area had quieted down significantly.

Gurney walked ahead, his face set in a determined grimace. He turned to Leto, reporting in a low voice, "Duke, something strange is happening. After those last frantic Harkonnen attacks, they’ve started retreating—rapidly. We’re just dealing with a few straggler forces now."

Leto’s brow furrowed as he looked up at the sky, a familiar shadow catching his eye. High above, Vexiae flew, her wings cutting through the desert winds as she soared toward the Targaryen base in the deep desert. Her powerful form seemed to command the very air itself as she disappeared into the distance.

“They’re falling back?” Leto asked, his voice thick with suspicion. “Why? That’s not like them.”

Gurney nodded. “Aye. It's like they’re pulling out suddenly. No real strategy. Just retreating. Maybe it’s the fear of what they’ve stirred up.” He gestured toward the direction where Vexiae had flown, his meaning clear.

You looked up at the sky, watching your dragon disappear toward the base, the weight of the battle and the uncertainty of the situation still hanging over you. But there was something else on your mind, something more personal.

“Leto,” you said, your voice quieter, your gaze shifting from the sky to him. “I need to contact my father. Let him and my brothers know that I’m all right.”

Leto turned to you, his eyes filled with understanding. He placed a hand gently on your arm, the warmth of his touch comforting after the ordeal you'd just gone through. “Of course. They’ll want to know you're safe.”

Gurney, ever watchful, glanced between the two of you, sensing the personal moment but keeping his focus on the task at hand. “I’ll make sure the comms are clear for you,” he offered, moving ahead toward the communications hub to ensure you could reach your family.

You turned back to Leto, your expression softening. "I don’t want them to worry," you added quietly.

Leto gave you a small smile, nodding. “We’ll get the message to them. And once we’ve regrouped, we’ll finish this.”

You nodded, feeling the weight of his words, knowing that the battles ahead would be fought side by side, with both of your Houses united. But for now, you focused on the immediate task—letting your family know that you were safe.

As the Atreides Ornithopter descended toward the stronghold in Arrakeen, the late afternoon sun cast long shadows over the desert landscape. The Atreides stronghold stood tall and imposing, a beacon of stability in the midst of the chaos that had gripped Arrakis. The moment the craft touched down, the ramp lowered, and you and Leto stepped onto the sand.

From the entrance of the stronghold, Aenys Targaryen, your father, appeared first. His usual regal demeanor was cast aside as he rushed forward, his silver hair catching the light as he moved with a surprising speed toward you. His eyes, normally calm and controlled, were filled with uncharacteristic concern.

“Daenys!” he called, his voice betraying the worry he had been holding back. The moment he reached you, he placed his hands on your shoulders, scanning you from head to toe as if reassuring himself that you were truly there, alive and well.

"Father," you greeted, your voice soft but strong, sensing the deep relief in his eyes. The stiffness you hadn't realized you were holding in your chest finally released at his touch.

Aenys exhaled, a small, rare smile tugging at the corner of his lips. "You had me worried, child. When the news reached me of your fall, I—" He stopped, unable to complete the sentence, but you knew what he meant.

"I'm fine, truly," you reassured him, though the weight of everything you'd been through was still fresh in your mind. "And Vexiae... she lives as well."

Aenys nodded, knowing the bond between you and your dragon was just as strong as his with Vexarion. “Good. I’ve already received word of her return to the base.”

Behind him, Hawat stood near the entrance to the stronghold, his keen eyes observing the reunion. The old Mentat gave a quick nod to Leto, a look of relief crossing his sharp features. “Duke,” he greeted Leto formally, though the tension in his shoulders eased. “I’m glad to see you’ve returned safely.”

Leto, still recovering from the weight of what had happened, returned the nod. “It wasn’t easy, but we’re here,” he said, his gaze briefly drifting back toward you.

Aenys, however, remained focused on you. “What do you need?” he asked, his voice firm but gentle.

You turned to him, your voice steady but with an unmistakable urgency. “I want to see my children,” you said, the weight of the battle and everything else momentarily replaced by a singular need—the need to hold your newborns.

Aenys nodded once, understanding completely. "They’re safe. We kept them close while you were gone. Come, I’ll take you to them."

Leto watched you as you walked alongside your father, his expression softening. He knew how much your children meant to you, and after everything you had been through, they were the only thing that could truly bring you peace.

As the three of you made your way inside, Hawat and Gurney followed closely behind, ever watchful. 

...

As you made your way toward the nursery, the long corridors of the Atreides stronghold felt strangely quieter than usual. The air still carried the weight of everything that had happened, but here, in this secluded part of the stronghold, there was an almost sacred stillness. Your heart raced in anticipation of seeing your twins—your children, who had been safe while you were away, but whom you longed to hold once again.

You reached the door to the nursery and entered softly, your steps almost silent. Inside, the room was filled with the soft, comforting sound of your children breathing peacefully in their cribs. The twins were swaddled in fine cloth, and the gentle light cast a warm glow over the room. As you approached their cribs, your heart swelled.

The boy, already showing signs of his father's strength, stirred slightly as if sensing your presence. The girl, with features that mirrored your own, remained calm, her tiny chest rising and falling in a steady rhythm. You knelt beside them, your hands brushing lightly over their delicate forms, and for the first time in what felt like an eternity, you allowed yourself a moment of true peace.

As you gently picked up your son and then your daughter, cradling them in your arms, the world outside seemed distant and irrelevant. This—this was what mattered. They were safe. You were together.

Meanwhile, back in the hall, Leto, Aenys, Gurney, and Hawat stood, the atmosphere between them tense but respectful. Aenys, standing tall and composed, cast a glance toward the door you had just disappeared through. His expression was unreadable for a moment, but then, he turned toward Leto.

“I owe you, Duke,” Aenys said quietly, his voice filled with sincerity but still carrying the weight of his authority. “You brought my daughter back to me safely, despite everything.” His eyes met Leto's, and though they were both men of great power and responsibility, in that moment, Aenys spoke not as the Dragonlord, but as a father.

Leto, still recovering from the ordeal himself, inclined his head, his voice low but steady. “It was a promise I intended to keep, no matter what. Your daughter means everything to me.”

Aenys nodded, appreciating the depth of Leto’s words. “She is Targaryen through and through—strong and stubborn. I see that much more clearly now.” There was a brief flicker of pride in his expression. “But to have a man like you by her side... I am beginning to see the wisdom in her choice.”

Hawat, ever the vigilant Mentat, studied the exchange carefully, noting the subtle shifts in tone and expression. The alliance between House Atreides and House Targaryen had always been a strategic one, but now, it had become something deeper—something more personal.

Gurney, standing nearby, broke the silence with his usual bluntness, though his tone was filled with respect. “She’s one hell of a woman, that’s for sure,” he remarked. “You’re lucky to have her, Duke.”

Leto couldn’t help but smile, his thoughts lingering on you and the children waiting for him in the nursery. “I know.”

Aenys allowed a small, rare smile to form. “As I said, I owe you, Duke. And I never leave a debt unpaid.”

Leto met Aenys’s gaze, the gravity of the situation settling over them once more. “We’ll settle that in time. But for now, I’m just grateful she’s here, and that we have a future to build together.”

Aenys nodded solemnly. “Yes, we do. And that future will be stronger than any empire built on sand.”

...

As you sat quietly in the nursery, the gentle rhythm of little Aenor and Rhaelys’s breaths filling the space, the door creaked open, and Paul stepped inside. His face, though calm as always, carried the weight of something deeper, something final. He moved toward you slowly, his eyes taking in the sight of the twins, his brother and sister, resting peacefully.

You glanced up at him, sensing the heaviness in his presence. “Paul,” you said softly, careful not to disturb the babies. “You’re leaving.”

Paul nodded, his gaze distant yet focused. “Yes... I have to go to Valyria,” he said quietly, the ancient name heavy on his tongue, as though it carried the gravity of his fate. “It’s where my path leads.”

You frowned slightly, your heart tightening at the thought of him embarking on such a journey. “Valyria,” you repeated, your voice filled with both curiosity and concern. “The Red Woman spoke of it, didn’t she?”

Paul gave a faint nod, his eyes not quite meeting yours, as though he were staring into a future only he could see. “Yes. She told me it’s where everything began... and where it must end.” He paused, glancing at the sleeping twins before finally meeting your gaze. “I have no choice. It’s my destiny.”

For a moment, silence hung between you, thick and unspoken, as you absorbed the weight of his words. Then, in a quieter voice, you said, “I’ll miss you, Paul. I’ve always wondered... in another life, on another path, who we might have been to each other.”

Paul’s expression softened, a faint smile tugging at the corner of his lips, but his eyes still carried that faraway look. “In another path... in another life, we would have been... different,” he said, his voice low and cryptic. “There would have been twins then too... but everyone else... everyone would have been gone. Dead. You... and I...” He trailed off, leaving the rest unsaid, but the weight of what he implied lingered between you like an invisible thread connecting your fates.

The faintest chill ran down your spine as you pondered his words, feeling the echoes of a life unlived, a destiny untaken. But Paul quickly stepped forward, reaching out to place a hand on your shoulder. “This path is different,” he added, his voice steadier. “We’re still here. The people we love... are still here.”

You nodded, offering a small smile, though the ache of saying goodbye tugged at your heart. “I will miss you.”

Paul smiled too, though his was tinged with the bittersweet acceptance of what lay ahead. “We’ll see each other again,” he said, his voice filled with quiet certainty. “Maybe not soon... but we will.”

He stepped back, his hand slowly slipping away, and with one final glance at Aenor and Rhaelys, Paul turned toward the door. Before he left, he stopped, his gaze meeting yours one last time.

“Goodbye,” he said softly, the word carrying more than just a farewell—it was a promise, a thread that stretched beyond this moment, this life.

You watched him go, the door closing softly behind him, and as the quiet returned, you couldn’t help but wonder, once again, about all the paths left untaken. But for now, this was your path—the life you had chosen, the one you had fought for. And no matter where Paul’s journey took him, you believed, deep down, that your fates would cross again.

...

As Paul approached the shuttle, its hull gleaming beneath the Arrakeen sky, the Red Woman stood silently waiting at its entrance. Her presence was as unsettling as ever, her eyes dark and knowing. Not far behind her stood Jessica, her expression stern but softened by an underlying sadness. She was preparing for a farewell she knew would change everything.

Paul’s steps were measured, as though he had already made peace with the path he had chosen. He glanced over his shoulder one last time, his eyes scanning the city he was leaving behind, the city he had grown up in, and the people he had come to know. And then, he heard his father’s voice.

“Paul!”

Leto, with Duncan and Gurney trailing behind him, was hurrying across the courtyard. His call carried with it an urgency and a grief he could barely contain. When he reached his son, he placed a firm hand on Paul’s shoulder, his grip stronger than usual, as if he were trying to hold onto something he knew he couldn’t keep.

“Take care of yourself out there,” Leto said, his voice low and thick with emotion.

Paul looked up at his father, the deep connection between them unspoken but understood. His gaze softened as he gave a small nod, the weight of the moment hanging between them like the desert’s silence.

“I will,” Paul said quietly, before offering a faint smile. “You… take care of her. Of Daenys.”

Leto’s grip on Paul’s shoulder tightened slightly at the mention of you. There was a flicker of something in his eyes—pride, love, and a deep sense of duty. He nodded, his voice softer now. “I will.”

Paul’s gaze lingered on his father for a moment longer, knowing that this goodbye wasn’t just about leaving a planet—it was about leaving behind the life he had known. The future was fluctuant, but Paul had already glimpsed fragments of it, and there was no turning back now.

With a final glance at Duncan and Gurney, Paul turned toward the shuttle, the weight of his destiny heavy on his shoulders. The Red Woman stepped aside to let him pass, her eyes following him with a knowing gaze.

Jessica, standing at the base of the ramp, gave Leto one last look, her eyes filled with a mixture of resignation and sorrow. The unspoken words between them were almost tangible, but neither said anything. Jessica knew that Leto’s heart had been irrevocably pulled toward you, and now, all that was left was the path Paul had to take. Her lips pressed into a thin line as she turned, following her son into the shuttle.

Leto stood rooted in place, watching as the shuttle door slowly closed, sealing Paul and Jessica inside. The hum of the engines grew louder, and the shuttle began to rise, lifting off from the surface of Arrakis with a smooth precision. The air around them shifted, hot and dry, as the ship took to the sky, disappearing into the horizon.

Duncan placed a hand on Leto’s shoulder. “He’ll be alright, my Lord,” he said quietly.

Leto’s gaze remained fixed on the now-empty sky where the shuttle had been moments ago. His thoughts, however, drifted back to you and the twins, and the promise he had just made to Paul.

“Daenys,” Leto murmured, almost to himself. “I’ll keep my promise.”

As the last trace of the shuttle vanished, Leto turned back toward his stronghold, his mind already on what lay ahead, not just for Paul—but for the future of your House and his.

...

In the years following Paul’s departure, the galaxy shifted. Slowly, like the sands of Arrakis under a relentless wind, the great powers that had once seemed so permanent began to wane. The Sisterhood, once whispering into the ears of emperors, began to lose their grip, as did Shaddam IV, the Emperor. They clung to power like dying stars, but the tides had changed. The Atreides-Targaryen alliance—what began as a simple partnership between two Houses, one burdened by prophecy and the other by exile—ignited a transformation no one could have predicted.

It wasn’t immediate. No revolution ever is. But over time, other Houses, ones once loyal to Corrino, started seeking favor from us. They came with veiled requests and open hands, desiring something new: Targaryen space theology. They wanted what we had discovered—our control of the Drakaon crystal that freed us from reliance on the Guild. The old ways were crumbling, and they knew it.

There was something about the way we had survived—the way we had rebuilt from ashes and thrived in the shadows of forgotten stars—that drew them in. Freedom. That was the promise. Freedom from the Guild’s stranglehold, from the reliance on spice that had enslaved the known universe for far too long. The secrets we held, born from exile and tempered by time, were now the currency of power. A power stronger than even the spice.

Leto... my Leto... He was always at my side, steadfast and unwavering. We built a future for our children together. Aenor and Rhaelys, their names born from our ancestors, carry within them both the strength of House Atreides and the fire of Valyria. One day, they will sit at the crossroads of two legacies, and they will wield the power we have cultivated over years of war and struggle.

I often watched them in the nursery, their curious eyes following the movements of their dragon eggs, cradled in warmth, waiting to hatch. Leto would smile at me, that knowing look in his eyes—he, too, understood the weight of our legacy. One day, the dragons will return what was once ours. One day, Valyria will rise again, not as it was, but reborn through us. Through our children. Through the future we’ve fought for.

But still… there are shadows on the horizon.

There was no word from Paul. The days turned into months, the months into years, and still, his absence hung over us like a storm not yet broken. Sometimes, I would close my eyes and see him—walking through a world reduced to ash and ruin, a world where both gods and men had died. I dream of him often, of the paths he may walk, of the choices he must make. And I wonder… what will he become? What will the galaxy become?

The winds of change have begun, but the storm had not yet arrived.

I stand at the precipice of what is to come, knowing full well that the dragons will lead the way. And though Paul is gone from Arrakis, though his path is uncertain, I know that we will meet again. In dreams or in reality, it does not matter. The future awaits us all.

For now, we remain vigilant. We are fire. We are blood. And the universe will know our name.

I am Daenys Targaryen, and this is only the beginning.

[shoopsthereitis]

writer interview game

thank youuu @microdamage @arviyya @messymoony @galaxostars @ultravioletbrit for the tags <3

how many works do you have on ao3?

26! 16 on shoopsthereitis and 10 on shoopsminis

what’s your total ao3 word count?

236,388 words

your top 5 stories by kudos?

'tis the damn season

slow hands

broken cars and cowboys

for real this time

truth, dare, spin bottles

do you respond to comments?

always, every single one! comments truly make me so happy, more than any other type of engagement with the fic

what’s the fic you’ve written with the angstiest ending?

I have two unfinished/unpublished fics im working on that both have really angsty endings (im so looking forward to posting them)

what’s the fic you’ve written with the happiest ending?

'tis the damn season and for real this time have such happy endings

do you write crossovers?

nope

have you ever received hate on a fic?

not much but a little, yeah

do you write smut?

smut my beloved <3 ofc I do

have you ever had a fic stolen?

no ??? bc I assume you mean word for word bc that's all I consider to be stolen or plagiarized or whatever

have you ever had a fic translated?

nope

have you ever co-written a fic before?

yep! and I have a couple ideas in the works with friends too :)

what’s your all-time favorite ship?

jegulus jegulus jegulus

what’s a wip that you want to finish but don’t think you ever will?

hmm, I have one idea with a friend that we made a whole plan for, and it's super silly and super fun but im not sure we'll ever get around to it.

what are your writing strengths?

dialogue! i've been told many times it's my dialogue and I find dialogue to be the thin that comes easiest to me and is the most fun

what are your writing weaknesses?

so many things I'm sure, I'm still fairly new to getting back into writing, it's only been about a year (holy shit a year already) so I know there are tons of things I need to work on.

what are your thoughts on writing dialogue in other languages in a fic?

I think its fun!

what’s a fandom/ship you haven’t written for yet but want to?

I'd love to write a ringsley fic for hp, as well as jeddy. for non hp timebomb or jayvik!

what’s your favorite fic you’ve ever written?

'tis the damn season is the one I'm most proud of. I love that fic so much. but for real this time will always hold a special place in my heart <3

np tags: @messrsrarchives @donotwishonme @rabidlittlestrawberry @klilyr @starsworth @thecouchsofa @the-invisibility-bloke

[kaylinalexanderbooks]

Find the word

Thanks to @mysticstarlightduck here and @finchwrites here for the tag!

My words: lovely, sheer, tiresome, manic, rain, mellow, deny, quietly

Your words: black, attract, pause, raise

Tagging @the-stray-storyteller @writernopal @songsofsomnia @stesierra @unrepentantcheeseaddict

@talesofsorrowandofruin @sarahlizziewrites @sleepyowlwrites @revenantlore @melpomene-grey

+ anyone else who'd like to join in!

TSP intro

TSP tag list (ask to be +/-): @thepeculiarbird @illarian-rambling @televisionjester @finchwrites @nebula--nix

Keep reading for:

Tyler and Carla book talk

Lexi and Ash in the Gateway

Couldn't find this in current WIPs so enjoy this bit from my creative writing midterm!

Ash listens to Lexi plan

I've shared the singular use of rain before so here's a short story I wrote for class in high school based on an idea for SOTL

Lexi in an Alii forest

Gang found the Gateway

Lexi is alright (:

Lovely - from The Secret Portal Part Two (Akash POV)

“I got around to reading The Crossover.” “Oh?” Tyler was instantly up, crossing to the couch closer to us to lean against the back. “How was it?” “Amazing. I had to look up a little bit about basketball to follow the concept. The poetry was so lovely. I almost cried at the end, but I cry at everything.” “That’s fair,” said Tyler. “It was a required reading in my sixth grade English class back on Ceteri. Made a lot of people learn to love reading.” He turned to me. “You read it?”

Sheer - from The Secret Portal Part One (Lexi POV)

“Maybe we’re dreaming?” “Isn’t that cliche?” “Then we’re hallucinating!” “More cliche!” “Well, you think of something!” We were both silent. I chewed on a chunk of my hair, trying to hold back the anxiety building inside me. My mind raced. The stale air against my skin, the tickle of the grass, and the sheer uncertainty I felt gave the whole situation a verisimilitude appearance.

Tiresome - from "Final Project Short Story"

The smacking was getting tiresome. Once she reached a red light, Mariah tore her eyes to her consultant in the passenger’s seat. “Can you eat that somewhere else?” Ben stopped chewing for a second and glanced up at Mariah innocently. “It’s lunchtime.” “Sounds like you have a problem.” Mariah turned her gaze back to the light. Ben muttered something about Mariah having a “stingy” problem.

Manic Crazy - from The Secret Portal Part One (Lexi POV)

“Not that this isn’t fun,” said Ash, “but why exactly am I here?” I looked up from my planner. “I just need someone to talk to while I plan this out.” Ash cupped her cheek in her hand, having her hair move slightly over her face. Her hair was noticeably past her chin, around her mid-neck, which was still very weird to me. Despite saying three weeks ago she’d cut it soon, she hadn’t gotten around to it. I wanted to ask about it, but that was the day Rose disappeared. Maybe it was her way of coping. “Alright,” said Ash, looking tired. “Shoot.” I turned back to the planner. “Okay, so this week is a little crazy. Thursday is Robbie’s play, and we’ve all decided to go to that.” “We did?” “Yes,” I said, barely glancing up.

Rain - from "Romance Short Story" aka SOTL (Úrsula POV) (SOTL was in first person??)

The rain poured down on the school later that evening. Lightning crashed, thunder rumbled. I made my way across the courtyard, keeping my head down, trying to get to my dorm. “Hey! Úrsula!” I cringed inwardly as I turned around to face Kitty, strutting toward me at rapid speed. “What do you want?” Kitty’s eyes were blazing with an uncharacteristic rage. She shoved me once she was close enough. “How dare you do that to my sister!” She pushed me again. “How dare you! We’re nothing but kind to you!” She shoved me again. “And what do you do?” She shoved me harder, and I slipped on the wet stone, crashing to the ground. “You can’t treat Billie like that! How dare you!”

I have changed Úrsula's character so much since so if I have an equivalent scene in SOTL it'll play out much differently

Mellow Soft - from The Secret Portal Part One (Lexi POV)

A piney scent hit my nose, but it was interlaced with some fruity smell. I now surveyed my surroundings and realized I now lay in the middle of a forest—a pleasant juxtaposition to being in the middle of nowhere. Well, maybe I was still “nowhere,” though the variety of plants was nice. Woah, a big variety. There were ferns of all sorts of colors with a wide variety of leaf shapes. I lay in a cluster of magenta flora I didn’t know the name of. I noticed the humidity was back, but the air was cool enough to where I didn’t remove my hoodie. A soft rustling of leaves above my head with interesting bird sounds gave the whole place a magical feel. It was… venerating. That was a good word.

Deny - from The Secret Portal Part One (Maddie POV)

Kelsey stepped back. “You’re saying we follow?” “Why not?” I asked. I stuck my hand out to the wall, watching it disappear. A tingling sensation ran up my arm. “It’s weird, but it doesn’t seem harmful.” I pulled out my hand to find it intact. I smiled. This was cool! “It could be harmful on the other side,” Kelsey said, twitching. “Rose may not be okay.” “We need to find Lexi and Ash,” Noelle pointed out. “I know I said she just didn’t answer her phone, but that was before—” She gestured to the wall. “It doesn’t make any sense, but I can’t deny what I saw.”

Quietly - from The Secret Portal Part Two (Gwen POV)

Lexi smiled. “You’re probably right.” She took another big sigh, then picked up her phone. “Sweet, Main Event has been scheduled.” I exhaled quietly through my nose. I decided not to comment on Lexi trying too hard to meet her obligations. Maybe this was a good thing. I did tell Ash earlier that Lexi needed to be around more people when she was stressed. Maybe more fun with Ceter friends would do her some good.

[wronglennon]

thank uuuu @menlove and @dykebeatles for tagging me mwah writing tag game lets go

how many works do you have on ao3?

cumulatively over both accounts i have 13, but there are a bunch ive deleted over the years so the actual number is unknown lmao

what’s your total word count?

on takomtrmou it’s 109,153 and on saffrontea its 46,451. my other account is primarily anime/podcast stuff and i havent used it in a while but it was a lot more short form. if you like jujutsu kaisen i have a satosugu fic on there i wrote nearly two years ago now which i still stand by i love you satosugu

top five fics by kudos?

something you can hold on to (satosugu)

stop calling (it’s time to let me be) (satosugu)

if you think you can save me, i dare you to try (satosugu)

there’s a kind of music that reminds me of you (oakworthy)

an improvised guide to co-parenting in the workplace (mythic quest, vaguely braddavid)

do you respond to comments? why/why not?

yeah definitely even if it takes me a bit to get round to them sometimes i try to reply to them. partially because i want to say thank you but partially because when they’re sitting in my inbox it doesn’t feel like i can mark them as seen till i reply lol

what’s the fic you’ve written with the angstiest ending?

it’s between stop calling and if you think you can save me, but i think probably stop calling, just because i think you can save me is a scene that’s also included in something you can hold onto from a different perspective, and that one ultimately has a happy ending. i was very concerned with making stop calling as despairing and hollow as possible.

what’s the fic you’ve written with the happiest ending?

thiss is hard because it’s sort of like what quantifies something being happier than something else if it’s just, they both end well. is it that despite the angst the ending is happy? because if that’s the case it’s definitely something you can hold onto. i like the ending to love is a finder as well because it’s just very sweet and i liked writing it a lot.

do you write crossovers?

no, got nothing against them i just have never found two properties that i would be interested in writing one for.

have you ever received hate on a fic?

nooo not as far as i’m aware

do you write smut, if so what kind?

sure if it fits and i want to. most kinds really. i think the smut ive enjoyed writing most has been the trixie katya stuff ive written over the course of this year, esp dead but delicious.

have you ever had a fic stolen?

noooope

have you ever had a fic translated?

noooope

have you ever co-written a fic before?

nah but i would be up for it if its a concept im really into and someone i enjoy co writing with. the concept of the daemon au was very much a split effort between me and james menlove tho so it definitely wouldn’t exist without him.

what’s your all-time favourite ship?

it changes so frequently but ill always have a special place in my heart for satosugu. tragic friends to enemies will always get me and with kenjaku there’s just another element of pain.

what’s a wip that you want to finish but don’t think you ever will?

ohhhh banana-split lady i fear. i mean never is a strong word but i worry its not in the foreseeable future just because my passion for it kind of petered out, but i do still really love the concept soo maybe someday. just not someday soon

what are your writing strengths?

i have been told that i evoke scenery and emotion pretty vividly which is always so great to hear. more recently with the beatles my favourite compliment is hearing that i get their voices/banter down accurately because its sooo important to me when im reading a fic and its one of my favourite parts to write.

what are your writing weaknesses?

the planning stage definitely. i have a habit of throwing myself into the bit i want to write and then kind of painting myself into a corner when i realise i dont have any ideas for the wider plot. i’m working on it but yeah im a bigggg offender of just making things up as i go which also can lead to losing interest in a piece lol

what are your thoughts on writing dialogue in other languages in a fic?

i suppose i’ve got no issue as long as it’s executed well, and yeah as prev said finding someone who speaks the language is always preferable to just google translating it lmao

what was the first fandom you wrote for?

wrote but not published was doctor who. i was writing self insert doctor who fanfiction from the age of nine. first that i published was voltron and i dont want to talk about that.

what’s a fandom/ship you havent written for yet but want to?

i have a dusty old poison ivy/harley quinn wip that probably i wouldn’t post but definitely piqued my interest in writing them because theyre a lottt of fun.

favourite fic you’ve written?

either something you can hold on to or love is a finder, always! love is a finder is recent but im very proud of how it turned out, and something you can hold onto still stands up remarkably well even tho i think ive changed as a writer quite a lot since i wrote it.

tagging: mmmmm @milfpaul @tritzie @jorkeryuri and whoever else wants to do this lol

[mirjam-writes]

20 questions for fic writers

Tagged by @suavissimapenna <3 Sorry it took so long!

How many works do you have on ao3?

7 for Sherlock and 23 Good Omens that are completely mine. 6 collaborative fics I have either partly written, or just made art for. So, 36.

What's your total ao3 word count?

380,863

What fandoms do you write for?

Good Omens! I used to write for Sherlock too, but that's now in the past.

Top five fics by kudos:

Truth Or Dare (E, 6.5K words), my first proper smut ever! Post s1 gettig together story.

Angel Of Justice (T, 9.5K), my first ever Good Omens fanfic. Post S1 from Michael POV, A/C as a background couple.

!False (It's funny because it's true) (E, 5.4k), an office romance human AU set in software company.

A Stable Relationship (E, 9.9k), horse rider AU with trans Aziraphale. Friends with benefits becoming a romantic relationship.

Girls Just Wanna Have Sun (G, 1.7k), outsider pov scene about Robin's day at the beach, where she meets two weird gentlemen who have never been to a beach before.

Do you respond to comments?

YES I DO! Slowly, possibly, but yes I do, and I read and reread them!

What is the fic you wrote with the angstiest ending?

Uhhh... angsty ending? What is that? Technically Be Still My Soul: The Rift, but does that count if it's a middle part of a trilogy? That's definitely my angstiest fic of all time BUT I tried to write the happiest ending possible to it. But also, yeah, people died in the war (just not A or C), so maybe I'll count that story.

Edit: WAIT NO! To Love Somebody, a story from Shadwell pov about how he fell in love both Aziraphale and Crowley, and how that changed him. That's sort of angsty and the ending is bittersweet!

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

Hmmmmmm. I have so many. I can't compare. Maybe Watching You (Watching Me), it's the porniest porn i have ever written, and it has...uh... several happy endings :D

Do you get hate on fics?

Not so far!

Do you write smut?

Yessss. I'm in my porn writer era at the moment :D

Craziest crossover:

I did some super weird anime crossovers as a teen (I hope those are long lost) but haven't dabbled on that since apart from very vague blink-and-you-miss-it references.

Have you ever had a fic stolen?

Not that I know of!

Have you ever had a fic translated?

One of my Sherlock fics was translated into french in 2018!

Have you ever co-written a fic before?

Only for one round robin event, which produced four stories! Not sure if that really counts as collaborating since we weren't allowed to talk about it when we did it, we just got the fic, read it, and added 600 words and gave it to the next one! It was super fun though.

All time favorite ship?

Aziraphale and Crowley. No competition there.

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

I don't usually start posting unless I'm 100% confident I'll finish the story, so I don't have public wips.

I had one pretty cool Sherlock post-apocalypse story idea, which I'd love to talk about if someone is interested, but writing it? Hmm probably not. But it's not really a wip, if I have only like two bullets in a doc?

What are your writing strengths?

I think I write pretty good bickerflirting and humour even in dark situations. And, uh... historical research.

What are your writing weaknesses?

LONG ASS SENTENCES. I need to cut them down. Chop chop chop. Also, I over-use commas and em-dashes.

Also, not being a native english speaker, but I think I've got a lot more fluent during the past years, so maybe that's not my biggest weakness anymore.

Thoughts on dialogue in another language?

I have done it myself, in a situation when my pov character wasn't supposed to understand what was being discussed, but I did only a couple of lines.

My languages (apart from english) are finnish, very rough swedish, and teeny tiny bit of german, but many fics I've read that have used another language in dialogue, use French or Spanish (which are popular languages for English speakers to learn in school!), and with those I'm woefully lost!

But honestly, i don't need to understand every fic under the sun! You do you, I bet there are people who can understand whichever languages you'd like to mix in your story, and that will be amazing for them!

First fandom you wrote in?

The Book Series That Must Not Be Named. I projected so much of my teenage angst into wizard school drama.

Favorite fic you've written?

You monster! Making me choose. Uh.

Okay, fair. It's easy. Be Still My Soul, hands down. @be-still-my-soul-fanfic

No pressure tagging: @hkblack, @ambrasue, @tawnyontumblr , @ack-emma and @zehwulf and anyone else who wants to answer!

[free-for-all-fics]

Crossover Fic ideas between Dominic Craven from The Dare and John from He’s Out There! Pls tag me if you’re inspired by any of these ideas and I’d love to read it! I just think a crossover between these two men would be so cool since their masks/character design, personalities, and movie settings are all pretty similar in my opinion! 🪵🤎🪓

I’m not sure what the plot would be exactly. It could be romantic where both of these masked men are in love with you and maybe a little obsessed. They might spend days or weeks stalking you from the woods, building up to them inevitably kidnapping you. They might leave non-poisoned cupcakes and other gifts for you in the woods to find. If you take any of their gifts home, it means you love them back! If you ignore their gifts, it just means they have to try harder at earning your love! Are you long lost childhood friends reunited? Their teenage sweetheart who decided to go with them and live in the woods together sometime after John was 18? A former victim of theirs that they fell in love with and released from captivity after you became loyal and proved yourself to them? Someone with an uncanny resemblance to their past love and their new obsession because they think you’re her and/or want you to be her replacement after she died tragically from accident or sickness (the woods isn’t exactly the safest or healthiest place to live in)? Or maybe you met and fell in love with both of these men in a different way. It’s all up to you! What do you think a romantic poly relationship with both John and Dominic would look like?

OR

Maybe something platonic where you’re their long lost baby sister whom they still remember and love even after 20 years of you being gone. Some time when he was 18, something happened that caused John to flee into the woods. Your other brother, Dominic, went missing in those same woods when he was 9. Neither of them were ever found, so you and your family eventually moved out of the house and started living in a trailer. You stayed outside all day to escape your abusive father and by the time you made the long walk back, the trailer was up in flames. Both your parents were dead. You were found by police/forest rangers and taken away, put into foster care or adopted into a new family. You were separated from your brothers for years, and the house was eventually sold to another family. The children found some of John and Dominic’s old stuff that they left behind, such as morbid children's books, weird stick figure drawings, and creepy handmade dolls.

Unbeknownst to the children, these dolls were meant as welcome home gifts for you. Your brothers are patient as they anticipate your return. They found each other and reunited sometime after Dominic murdered the farmer, so they’re hopeful you’ll find them again and come home. When that day finally comes, neither of your brothers will ever let you get away from them again. They lost you once, and they couldn’t bear to let it happen a second time. Neither of them would survive it. You’re their little sister and always will be. Now that they’re all grown up, they’ll take really good care of you. They’ll protect you from any threats or dangers that may cause you harm. They wished they could’ve done a better job of defending you when you were children, but now as big strong men they can be your shield! They may kidnap you and hold you captive, but it’s all done out of love and concern for your well-being! The outside world is a very scary and dangerous place, full of strangers and shady people who’d want to hurt or corrupt you! They love you more than anything or anyone and just want to keep you safe and make you happy! You’re not allowed to have friends, but who needs those when you have your big brothers! (Or maybe they’ll cave in and get you “pets” to play with so you don’t get too lonely or bored.)

Whether romantic or platonic, you’d be the only living person fortunate enough to see their faces. They trust you enough to unmask themselves in front of you. They’re willing to show vulnerability in front of you and only you. You’re the only one who can make them feel comfortable in their own skin, the only one who can make them feel loved. And they both love you in return.

[lathalea]

20 Questions for Writers

It took me a while, but here we go! Thank you for tagging me @fishing4stars and @i-did-not-mean-to 💚

1. How many works do you have on AO3? Let me see... 49 🙈

2. What's your total AO3 word count? 682,524 words.

3. What fandoms do you write for? Tolkien - mostly The Hobbit, LOTR and The Silmarillion.

4. What are your top 5 fics by kudos? Please check fic rating and tags before reading! 📖 The Writer's Month 2021 ficlet collection 📖 Springtime at the Lonely Mountain 📖 All Is Fair in Love and Trade 📖 Strong 📖 Third Time's the Charm

5. Do you respond to comments? Yes, I'm very happy to interact with my readers, and it doesn't matter if it's a long comment or a lovely bunch of chaotic keysmashes, I love to reply to them all!

6. What is the fic you wrote with the angstiest ending? The first chapter of The Weeping Willow. I was crying while writing it. it was meant as a standalone story but my amazing readers convinced me to write the second chapter to make the angst more bearable 😇

7. What’s the fic you wrote with the happiest ending? I think it's How to Kiss a Fairy, a fluffy and cute fic I wrote together with @avaria-revallier.

8. Do you get hate on fics? No, it has never happened so far. The closest to "hate" comments I got is reading loving messages like "how dare you treat these characters this way" (meant in a positive way) - I absolutely adore them!

9. Do you write smut? If so, what kind? Yes. Some tender vanilla, some is more kinky. I'm mostly into m/f and f/f.

10. Do you write crossovers? Rarely, mostly one-shots. My weirdest ones so far were The Hobbit crossovers with Three Musketeers, Snow White, and Star Wars.

11. Have you ever had a fic stolen? Not that I know.

12. Have you ever had a fic translated? Yes. It's The White Raven, not an easy thing to translate, I believe.

13. Have you ever co-written a fic before? Yes! It's so much fun! Here are two fics I can think of at the moment: How to Kiss a Fairy (see above) and Scattered Through Time co-written with @joyfullynervouscreator

14. What’s your all time favorite ship? Canon ship? Wait, only one? How am I supposed to choose? Let me give you three ships for the price of one: Eowyn x Faramir, Galadriel x Celeborn, Bofur x Bilbo.

15. What’s a WIP you want to finish but doubt you ever will? Listen, I want to finish all 398274238765723866782354768 of my WIPs, okay? Just please don't ask me when...

16. What are your writing strengths? I have no idea, I'm constantly doubting myself. Maybe... Storyline planning and worldbuilding?

17. What are your writing weaknesses? Do you have an hour? No? I thought so. My biggest one is laziness. And I'm not too good with dialogues. And descriptions of clothing worn by the characters. And... finishings the fics I started.

18. Thoughts on writing dialogue in another language in fic? As English is not my native language, I'm doing it every day :D Writing dialogue in elvish or dwarven languages is a great tool for a writer! Among other things, adds specific flavour to stories and I really like reading it. From time to time, I add some of it to my stories too.

19. First fandom you wrote for? Star Wars.

20. Favorite fic you’ve written? Every single fic I wrote is my favourite - although each of them for different reasons. What are your favourites?

Tagging (no pressure): @middleearthpixie @crazytxgradstudent @asgardianhobbit98 @evenstaredits @fizzyxcustard

@sotwk @joyfullynervouscreator @ettelene @heilith and everyone else who would like to join!

[kaleidodreams]

20 Questions for Writers

Thanks for the tag, @they-lived! I'm not going to tag anyone, but if you want to steal this, feel free.

How many works do you have on AO3?

223

What’s your total AO3 word count?

1,782,322

What fandoms do you write for?

Currently, my main fandoms are Yuri!!! on Ice and Sailor Moon, but I've written for Fruits Basket, Kaleido Star, Harry Potter, Card Captor Sakura, Someday's Dreamers, Princess Tutu, Fire Emblem, and Super GALS in the past.

What are your top 5 fics by kudos?

Midnight Magic (Card Captor Sakura) with 415

No Longer Alone (Kaleido Star) with 167

One Kiss (Sailor Moon) with 152

Realization (Sailor Moon) with 152

Distraction (Sailor Moon) with 138

Do you respond to comments?

Yes, usually!

What is the fic you wrote with the angstiest ending?

Probably "Do Not Cry For Me" (Sailor Moon)?

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

Gah, that's a tough one when you've written over two hundred fics. Um… Maybe "To Be By Your Side" since the rest of the fic is so angsty, the ending is especially happy?

Do you get hate on fics?

Occasionally. The most memorable was years ago when someone wrote literal PAGES of unhinged reviews on FF.net because I dared to write a Setsuna/Mamoru fic. I didn't even read them all because it was just…wow. (Apparently, the person behind it was an ex-friend of someone who had contacted me about the fic in the past? Like, they had hacked into their account and harassed the authors the person had sent private messages to for some reason? It was a weird situation. I've since deleted the reviews, of course.)

Do you write smut? If so, what kind?

Yes, I do, on occasion. I've written all kinds, mostly het, but some m/m and f/f, and even a couple of threesomes (f/f/m and m/m/f).

Do you write crossovers?

Once. I wrote a Sailor Moon/Super GALS fic. (I did have some ideas for others, most notably a Sailor Moon/Witch Hunter Robin fic and a Sailor Moon/Kaleido Star story, but I never got around to doing much with those ideas.)

Have you ever had a fic stolen?

Twice that I'm aware of. The first was in the days of A Sailor Moon Romance. I don't even remember which story it was (I'm thinking "Sweet Dreams"), but what was weird was that the summary they used had absolutely nothing to do with my fic, with a completely different pairing. I may have never even noticed they had stolen my story if not for the fact that they claimed it was a Minako/Yaten fic, and I happen to be a M/Y fan. In hindsight, I wonder if they actually did write a story fitting the summary and just uploaded my fic by mistake? That's the only explanation that makes sense. The other one is probably still up, since FF.net no longer moderates their site. They took my fic "Daddy's Little Girl" and just switched the names and descriptions to make it a Gundam Wing fic.

Have you ever had a fic translated?

Yes, a ficlet into Russian.

Have you ever co-written a fic before?

Not technically, but back in the day, SuperKateB did give me co-writing credits on her story "Love Chain", since it was based on my original idea and I helped her with some of the plot points. I didn't do any actual writing, though, just editing.

What is your all-time favorite ship?

Chibi-Usa/Helios from Sailor Moon will always be my number one, but Otayuri (Otabek/Yuri) from Yuri!!! on ice is a very, very close second!

What’s a WIP you want to finish but doubt you ever will?

"Metamorphosis", my fic exploring how Helios originally became priest of Elysion. I've been stuck on it for years and years, so I doubt it'll ever be finished.

What are your writing strengths?

Oh, I don't know…

What are your writing weaknesses?

Description, without a doubt. Oh, and writing kisses. I HATE, HATE, HATE writing kisses!!!!!!

Thoughts on writing dialogue in another language in fic?

I'm fine with it, as long as it's somehow made clear what the translation is, whether it's by context clues, an author's note, or whatever. I've done it many times myself.

First fandom you wrote for?

Sailor Moon

Favorite fic you’ve written?

I'd say it's a three-way tie between "To Be By Your Side" (Sailor Moon), "The Bonds We Choose" (Yuri!!! on Ice), and "Blood On His Hands" (Kaleido Star).

[janewayseven]

20 questions for fic writers, J7 edition

1. How many works do you have on Ao3? 15

2. What’s your total Ao3 word count? 90,585

3. What fandoms do you write for? Star Trek, mostly Voyager, some cross-over into Picard and TNG.

4. What are your top five fics by kudos?

Four times she denies you and the one time she doesn't. What happens if our ladies have their shit together and mutual attraction trumps stupid little issues, like Starships to run.

Slowly, then all at once a collection of moments, big and small, painting the picture of two women, learning and growing together, falling for each other slowly, then all at once.

Things that Fall What happens from the first time your heart feels full until you finally let yourself fall? An exploration in 12 vignettes.

The Space in Between  Seven is a precious baby-queer, Kathryn is in denial, B'Elanna is the friend we all need (and a fun play-mate to Kathryn).

I'm a little tied up right now My attempt at rectifying the severe lack of prehensile-plant fics in the J7 fandom...

5. Do you respond to comments? Sometimes, when I don't get too in my head about how to respond...

6. What is the fic you wrote with the angstiest ending? Hands down definitely They're In Love, Where Am I?

7. What’s the fic you wrote with the happiest ending? Most of my fics have a happy ending... For finished fics I think I'd go with autumn is a second spring, including WIPs I think home is a moment in time has the most momentous happy ending so far.

8. Do you get hate on fics? Nope!

9. Do you write smut? If so, what kind? Yes. Depends on the what the story needs - sometimes soft and emotional, but I also have some more kinky BDSM fics. And sometimes they mix, just like in real life...

10. Do you write crossovers? What’s the craziest one you’ve written? Within the Star Trek universe, yes (ask me about the polycule, I dare you!). Not crazy by any standards, but a fun little drabble has the biggest crossover: Come to Quarks, Quarks is Fun (...they said)

11. Have you ever had a fic stolen? Not that I know of...

12. Have you ever had a fic translated?  No, I don't think so.

13. Have you ever co-written a fic before? No, not yet.

14. What’s your all time favorite ship? NCC-1701 will always be my first love, but Voyager is hot af. (half-kidding. It's J7. Hands down.)

15. What’s a WIP you want to finish but doubt you ever will? The Janeway & Riker Chronicles. In my mind he hit on her once and got bitchslapped so hard he worships her to this day. They end up being thick as thieves and getting into all kinds of trouble with each other. There's traces of this in some of my fics, but I doubt I'll ever actually write it.

16. What are your writing strengths? Flow, emotionality, little details, switching POVs

17. What are your writing weaknesses? Brevity, Punctuation, getting lost in the characters' mental space too much

18. Thoughts on writing dialogue in another language in fic? Sure, why not. But not if you can't speak the language/have someone to help with translation.

19. First fandom you wrote for? Star Trek Voyager | Janeway/Seven

20. Favorite fic you’ve written? I think I'll always be especially fond of my first one (Things that Fall) and the most recent one - just because the idea wouldn't let me go for three years (home is a moment in time) - but I Will Follow Where You Lead has a special place in my heart - because of the challenge of it and the fact that it started a new relationship tag.

Tagging: Thank you for the tag, @curator-on-ao3! If you see this, consider yourself tagged - because I just know I probably forgot to tag someone. Also, to the amazing writers I got to meet here: @moonxshape @jennyandvastraflint @femslash-universe @notdeannatroi @queenology @katerinadeannika @waknatious @stardatextoday @problematick @captainkatie42 @angstbotfic @ussjellyfish @evilwickedme

[palfriendpatine66]

20 Question Fic Writer Tag

1.) How many works do you have on ao3?

19, soon to be 20! ( three are just little prompt fills/drabbles that I’ve considered removing but also – I want to be able to find them again just in case they ever turn into something more so.)

2.) What's your ao3 word count? 

306, 375

3.) What fandoms do you write for? 

Star Wars. That’s it, and probably all it will ever be (except for my crazy crossover aus). It’s a full time job over here.

4.) What are your top five fics by kudos?

DX:Lovesick (I had a really weird moment when this passed PIP in the kudos count. Like, I love it and was really proud of it, but also: how dare it). Anakin is an accident prone college student who winds up in the care of one very hot Dr. Obi-Wan Kenobi

Pining in Preschool: My first ever fic (started exactly one year ago!) Anakin is trying his best to be a good dad to his twins, and that probably means he shouldn’t be falling for their preschool teacher.

Hide Here Often: This is bottom Obi-Wan smutty one shot

Helicopter Dad: This is a continuation of Pining in Preschool: 4 times that Anakin was a Helicopter parent and one time Obi-Wan beat him to it. I’ve been intending to do a part two with Obi-Wan ever since, but it hasn’t happened yet.

With a Cherry on Top: This is a ridiculous continuation of Pining in Preschool – Obi-Wan and Anakin get in a fight about eating in bed that results in a sex ban until one of them backs down. Spoiler alert: it ends with a sexy food in bed scenario because *of course* if they break they have to prove a point about it

5.) Do you respond to comments? Why or why not?

I try to always yes. I used to have a 100% track record, and I really wish I was maintaining it. Comments are my lifeblood. I literally cannot tell you how important receiving comments is to me, it’s like, a problem honestly, and so it’s definitely something I want to encourage. I try to always respond to a comment at least as an acknowledgement of “I appreciate you were here and took the time to let me know you liked this”. BUT also I genuinely love engaging about my fics and am more than happy to go on my “Author’s Commentary” spiel at any given moment.

Life’s kind of been shit lately, and I’ve had a hard time if I don’t respond to comments right away as they come in they get lost in my inbox. Also. ADHD.

6.) What's the fic you wrote with the angstiest ending?

OoOoOo Window AU – to be revealed tomorrow. I don’t have the ending for Criminal Minds fully written, but even though it might be a “happy ending” it’s not going to be a happy ending, if you know what I mean. OH BUT if I ever write my post order 66 Obi-Wan on Tatooine vague idea for which the working title is “Obi-Wan Sads”. Yeah. That will probably be the worst.

7.) What's the fic you wrote with the happiest ending?

Hmm. Pining for Preschool probably. It ends on a very high note, although also it’s not really an ending because I continued it into a potentially never ending series that seems to be 90% fluff after the angst I put them through in the original fic.

Also Center Stage (dance au)was a happy ending for sure.

8.) Do you get hate on fics?

No, generally all my comments are very positive. There was a weird moment in DX:Lovesick where I wasn’t necessarily getting the hate but Obi-Wan was, and he was getting a lot of it. I wasn’t upset by the comments so much as I was worried that I didn’t write well/clear enough to convey the situation as I thought I was, but I settled on people are going to read their own situations into stories and interpret it differently than intended and that’s okay.

9.) Do you write smut? If so what kind?

Yes. The Obi-Wan and Anakin kind.

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

I had a fit of insanity and wrote an Obikin Titanic au.

11.) Have you ever had a fic stolen?

I hope not. That would be sad

12.) Have you ever had a fic translated?

I don’t think so no

13.) Have you ever cowritten a fic before?

Nope! I think I have too much anxiety to commit to doing this, even with the right people. Put expectations on things and I just…can’t.

14.) What's your all time favorite ship?

IDK man. Kovu and Kiara from Lion King II: Simba’s Pride

15.) What's a WIP you'd like to finish, but doubt you ever will?

Right at the time I started writing PiP I started a time travel (?) au that resulted in amnesiac Knight Skywalker as master to padawan Obi-Wan Kenobi right when he rejoins the order after returning from Melida/Daan, instead of rejoining Qui-Gon. I would be shocked if I ever get back to thin, I really jumped the gun and there’s so much of it I don’t have in me, but…there’s still something about it that calls to me.

16.) What are your writing strengths?

I always feel super awkward answering this, but I feel pretty good about capturing Obi-Wan and Anakin’s voices, especially their internal voices (if that makes sense) so that they still feel like them in other universes

17.) What are your writing weaknesses?

Oh gosh. I am learning as I go. Outlining/having a plan and sticking to it vs. just winging it as I go along. Knowing where paragraphs should start and end – which feels like you should just *know* but I don’t. Descriptions.

18.) Thoughts on writing dialogue in another language for a fic?

Great! But I’m not fluent enough in anything to do it

19.) First fandom you wrote for?

Star Wars – Hiiiii!

Also, though, the only other stuff I wrote was Star Wars but the year was 2005 and it was for an audience of one (me!). Your Pal was a nerd who carried around a little notebook and wrote down every piece of jedi wisdom and quotes I encountered while I wrote about Obi-Wan and his OC apprentice who was *definitely*not*me* (their name was literally an anagram of my name lol) on their long term undercover mission on Earth, among other things.

20.) Favorite fic you've ever written?

This varies by the mood. I genuinely love Pining in Preschool, and it will always have a really special place in my heart. Dx:Lovesick was a very fun ride, I really and truly enjoyed writing it  and I feel like it holds up. Right now I’m pretty attached to Criminal Minds, for a completely different dynamic and take on obikin.

No pressure tag to @renlyslittlerose and @grapenehifics

[nostalgia-tblr]

20 Questions For Writers

I got tagged by @thot-son-of-odin for this!

1. How many works do you have on AO3?

412 (plus some Anonymous works that aren’t counted in that number)

2. What’s your total AO3 word count?

777,634

3. What fandoms do you write for?

Doctor Who (old and new), various Star Treks, the MCU, and a few others including Elementary and M*A*S*H.

4. What are your top five fics by kudos?

1. Trust the Devil

2. Four Times the Doctor and Clara Shared a Bed and One Time They Didn't

3. Locks And Revelations

4. Responsibility

5. How To Walk On Eggshells

5. Do you respond to comments? Why or why not?

I didn’t used to but I try to now. It took me a while to get past “if I thank them for the kind words that means I agree and they can call me big-headed!” but now I think perhaps the commenter and I will become friends, as though this was still the LJ days or whatever.

6. What’s the fic you wrote with the angstiest ending?

7. What’s the fic you wrote with the happiest ending?

I am answering these together to say that with 412 works it’s rly hard to come up with an answer because I’m bound to forget something that’s either angstier or happier than the one I pick D:

8. Do you get hate on your fic?

No, despite writing occasionally Problematic stuff. Maybe I’m just lucky with that? I think on AO3 the worst I’ve ever got is a comment or two on Ten/Reinette fic about how it is a TERRIBLE pairing and how dare anyone write it. I think I deleted those, or if I haven’t then I meant to, because fuck it they’re properly tagged so the enraged anons must have deliberately chosen something that would offend them.

This sort of thing is why I still have an automatic flinch reaction when people tell me they like Rose Tyler.

9. Do you write smut?

Of course not! I write very thoughtful and insightful character studies in which the characters being studied fuck, that’s COMPLETELY different!

10. Do you write crossovers?

Not often, I’m more into the idea of crossovers than actually writing (or reading) them.

11. Have you ever had a fic stolen?

I don’t think so.

12. Have you ever had a fic translated?

Yeah, a few times.

13. Have you ever co-written a fic?

Yes but not for years.

14. What‘s your all-time favourite ship?

I’m going to say Doctor/TARDIS because that’s a safe answer to such questions.

15. What’s the WIP you want to finish but doubt you ever will?

Never say never – I’ve had ideas that did finally get written a decade later.

16. What’s your writing strengths?

I think it’s dialogue, which is also usually the easiest part to write. (I am a bit of a Fic Snob about how characters should sound like themselves in fic, including in AU fics where is even more important and also if they go OOC in those then that should be the point that’s being made.)

17. What’s your writing weaknesses?

The bits that aren’t dialogue. Urgh, why must things need to be described! Why must I tell the reader who is speaking!

18. Thoughts on writing dialogue in another language for a fic?

Well I usually see it in the context of “a phrase or word in the language we assume the characters are actually speaking” (mostly pet-names, for some reason) and that just makes me go “So what language are they speaking in the rest of this story? In the rest of this sentence, even?” Not a fan of this, nah.

19. First fandom you wrote for?

Star Wars! :O

20. Favourite fic you’ve ever written?

I dunno, there’s too many of them (same problem as before).

I tag anyone what wants to do this meme!

[dragonprincess18]

I've written fanfic for a while, across multiple fandoms, so I feel like I've gone through all the milestones. Stilted dialogue, Mary Sues, plotholes...What I haven't dealt with was having AUs for my own story.

The Dragon That Will Pierce The Heavens is the longest story I've written in a long while, and add in that One Piece is the largest sandbox I've ever played in, it kinda just...happened.

A few of those AUs and crossovers have been started but generally discarded, like Miraculous Dragon (basically a Miraculous Ladybug crossover), or one shots just to get the itch out, like in Moonbeams and Stardust, where I did chapters for Pokemon, Digimon Adventure, Harry Potter and even a modern chapter.

Lately, I've even been collaborating with ReynaAtTheEnd to do a collaboration with her amazing story Summit Apocalypse, which will hopefully see the light of day at some point.

But there are definitely divergent ideas I've had that are too big for me to write, and those are the ones that gnaw at me.

For example...

What if Hikari never escaped Estrella to the East Blue?

What if, when she was about to go over the coral, something happened with the other boat and she had to give up her chance in order to make sure they escaped? Leaving Hikari to be captured and shipped off to Dressrosa, where Doflamingo happily threw a lavish wedding to celebrate finally getting the queen he believed he deserved.

Over the course of two years, Doflamingo believing he broke Hikari down into the perfect doll, not knowing she was secretly coordinating the Tontatta and toys and gladiators to overthrow him.

Then Law and the Straw Hats show up with their own plans, throwing Dressrosa into chaos, and Law ends up chained to the Heart Seat, where he meets the infamous Ice Queen that acts as Doflamingo's most valuable council...Only to learn, much to his surprise, that Hikari has been undermining the Donquixote Pirates the entire time as she frees him from the Sea Prism Stone cuffs.

Having followed the Straw Hats since their assault on Enies Lobby, Hikari knows to just point Luffy in the right direction and let him rip, revealing her Celestial Dragon powers to tag-team Doflamingo with Law while Luffy deals personally with Bellamy before taking over.

In the end, once Doflamingo has been defeated and everyone bandaged up, Hikari is ready to leave on her own when Luffy obliviously offers for her to join his crew instead of be alone.

(Law may be a little jealous he didn't ask fast enough.)

Or...

What if, at the end, Hikari is mentally sent back in time to make things right?

If things ended badly, a la of pop greens and tangerines (which I started and never finished, seriously great but broke me), Hikari regretted leading her loved ones into such a bloody fate and is thus sent back to when she was eight years old.

With Lily to think of, and knowing that her crew and allies are currently suffering through their childhood trauma, Hikari pulls the trigger on her plan a decade early, escaping with the slaves to Fishman Island...Where she meets JInbei, and tells him she's looking for the man that her mother's locket names Eddy. Jinbei, recognizing said locket and seeing her resemblance to a lost friend, then takes her to Whitebeard, who is devastated to learn his love is dead but accepts her daughter with open arms.

Hikari tells him about Rosinante, that he had tried to help her but is in danger saving another child, and they need to go save both of them. So Whitebeard goes with Marco and a whole ship of his men to Minion Island, where he gladly stomps Doflamingo's face into the ground for daring to think he could just buy his precious daughter with favors, and taking in a very confused Rosinante and wary Law, who remembers his 'past' life once Hikari hugs him in tears over seeing him dying from Amber Lead.

Using her memories of stories told by her crew, Hikari carefully leads Whitebeard around to gather the entire gaggle of children that would one day become the Supernova Alliance and their various family and/or friends like Kaya and Nojiko, with Luffy, Zoro and Kid all getting their memories back after Hikari touches them.

No one else ever seems to remember, but Whitebeard and his commanders catch on and get Hikari to tell them the truth, including about Fairy Tail and Luffy's Fruit. That's when the training starts in earnest, only interrupted by visits from Shanks (who was worried about Luffy and then blubbering over meeting his 'baby sister') and Garp (who initially got into a knock-out, drag-out fight with Whitebeard until Hikari disabuses him of the notion his grandsons would be safe as Marines) and even Sengoku (who comes off-duty just to make sure Rosinante is okay and meet his 'grandson').

Luffy decides to set out from Dawn Island as originally planned, and everything is different.

[gothic-lottie]

Thank you for the tag @espressoristretto-patronum

1. How many work do you have on AO3?

Two but they're basically different parts of the same long fic.

2. What's your total AO3 word count?

79,783 and counting baby! I have so many unposted chapters lol

3. What fandom do you write for? Hogwarts Legacy. I fixate for a long time and I have so many plans so I'm not going anywhere.

4. Top five fics by kudos?

Well, I only have two but Beating Some Sense Into You has 29 and Making Some Sense of This has 6. I'm honestly kinda sad about that… it feels like no one is reading anymore sometimes. I know I joined the fandom late though so it's okay.

5. Do you respond to comment?

Yes. If I take longer than a couple days, I probably hit a little depressed patch or health issue so don't think you did anything wrong.

6. What is the fic you wrote with the angstiest ending?

I'm just going to leave the tags for Making Some Sense of This here…

7. What is the fic you wrote with the happiest ending?

Well… I haven't written one with a happy ending yet but my plan for part 3 of the series is pretty happy and so is the plan for the modern au I'm considering writing either between parts 2 and 3 or after 3.

8. Do you get hate on fics?

No but I do for my Etsy strangely

9. Do you write smut?

No, never. I'll do fade to black moments if relationships escalate to physical intimacy but I'm ace and also uncomfortable writing smut at this time.

10. Craziest crossover?

Haven't done any.

11. Have you ever had a fic stolen?

No, I don't know who would want to steal this anyway.

12. Have you ever had a fic translated?

No but I think that would be cool. If anyone wanted to do that, I'd prefer they reach out to me about it though.

13. Have you ever co-written a fic before?

No but my sister and I bounce ideas off each other all the time. I was helping with world building/story planning for her fics before a certain POS(fuck Wilbur Soot) burned her fandom down so now she can't finish either fic. She also helps beta for me and write combat scenes since I'm bad at that.

14. All time favourite ship?

How dare you ask me that (/joking)

Seriously, I could never pick.

15. What's a WIP you want to finish but doubt you ever will?

My original book. I'm kinda afraid no one will read it so for now, Caira stays living in my head. Here's an old drawing of her.

16. What are you writing strenghts?

I'm weird about grammar so the way it's posted is pretty close to what I originally typed. I don't take much editing to have decent grammar.

17. Thoughts on dialogue in another language?

I think it's cool but the only language other than English I've ever studied was Chinese and I don't speak much of it. Basically, I don't know enough of a second language to include it.

18. First fandom you wrote in?

Hogwarts legacy.

19. Favourite fic you've written?

I mean, the two I have are parts 1 and 2 of the same series so… both?

@ladyofsappho, I tag you! (If you haven't already that is)