#fanfic authors updates be like

[kumori-love]

Some of the notes fanfic authors leave before or after their chapter updates deserve their own CW/TW lmaoooo I just hope they're alright.

[dream-girls-dream-girl]

instead of bitching why don’t we all just be thankful ao3 doesn’t have ads xxx

[pisces-swirlix]

me: damn i’m so excited for the weekend

coworkers: me too! got any fun plans?

me, sweating nervously: haha i guess

coworkers: nice! what are you up to?

me, really just looking forward to reading the weekly updates of my favorite fanfics: um. sleeping. and walking. yeah

[ecstarry]

you should never ask a woman her age, a man his salary and a fanfic author when they are posting

[timdrakescoffeecup]

(Updated !!) Tim Drake Fanfic Masterlist

cw's will not be included, so make sure to check the tags. also might include some general batfics as well.

Bang, bang by Ididloveyou_once

Tim asks Jason to teach him how to use a gun. (One shot, funny)

The Long Way Home by itsnatalie

Tim and Jason get trapped in a labyrinth that shows their worst nightmares. (Multi, angst, hurt/comfort)

like falling water by naheka

Dick crashes at Jason's place, hopped up on fear gas. (One shot, funny)

Bet on it by Lysical

Damian needs Jason's help to hide something from Bruce. (One shot, funny)

Deliver Yourself by forestgreen

Jason adopts his younger self. (Multi, angst)

Banshee In A Well by liverobinreaction (bugbee)

Tim is five years old when he drowns in his parents' pool. He dies quietly, waiting for parents who love him, but will never be there, to realise that something is wrong. They never show up, and he sinks into oblivion.

When he wakes up and claws his way out of the water, the sun has set, and the lights of his house are on. He is cold and wet and his lungs burn.

But most of all, Tim is alone. (Multi, angst)

Home by sElkieNight60

Tim forgets who he is. (Multi, angst)

Late Night Langoustining by whaleofatime

Jason adopts a lobster. (One shot, funny)

two against the world by carolinaa

While following Batman and Robin, Tim finds a puppy. (Multi, hurt/comfort)

Like a Hinge, Like a Wing by Ultrageekatlarge

Tim blackmails Batman into helping him arrest his murderous uncle. (Multi, hurt/comfort)

See Life As a Worthy Opponent by TriviasGhost

Tim goes to a universe where he never existed. (Multi, incomplete)

The Return by lurkinglurkerwholurks

What the comics neglected to cover after Bruce returns from being lost in time. (Multi, hurt/comfort)

Obedience by Sohotthateveryonedied

Something is seriously wrong with Tim—Jason just knows it. Ever since the Mad Hatter incident, Tim has been acting completely different, and the worst part is that no one believes Jason when he tells them so.

But when the truth is eventually revealed, the whole family comes to realize that the situation is far worse than anyone could have ever predicted. (One shot, angst)

To an Athlete Dying Young by SonoSvegliato

A series detailing Tim’s ascension to Robinhood, with angsty Red Hood vigilantes in the background. (Multi, angst)

Matters of the Heart by DM (Nyerus), Nyerus

Kon need's Tim's help with an investigation in Metropolis. Feelings ensue. (Multi, Timkon)

It Wasn't Real (But We Were Happy) by lurkinglurkerwholurks

“Everyone’s fine. You don’t need me anymore. I told you, Bruce. I told you I’d stay until you didn’t need me anymore.”

“I’m sorry. I stayed too long. I should have... I shouldn’t have waited so long." (Multi, angst)

occam's razor by Beatrice eagle

An in-universe reddit thread about Jason's death. (One shot, funny)

To Try, To Err, To Try Again by theLiterator

Tim knits Damian a present. (One shot, wholesome?)

let's get mischievous by CreamofTomatoSoup

Tim's friend gets possessed by Dionysius. (One shot, angst)

Whoopsie by MichaBerry

Tim forgets to tell that he lost his spleen. Oops. (One shot, angst?)

Latchkey by goldkirk

Tim Drake is thirteen, runs the famous BatWatch blog that has spiraled hilariously out of control, has absentee parents that suit his purposes just fine, is training himself to run the streets at night, and is doing absolutely peachy, thank you.

Alfred and Jason disagree, and get Dick and Bruce involved in figuring out their weird nextdoor neighbor kid’s life. Everything goes uphill from there. (Multi, hurt/comfort, this is a MUST READ for timfics)

Trouble Magnet by strikeyoucolors

"It's like you've been synchronized into passively hostile acts against Tim. Did he do something? Were you brainwashed? Because I now have a son who has been crushed, had his face broken, and been shot. All incidences of friendly fire. " (One shot, funny)

Echoes of You by SilverSkiesAtMidnight

Milk white skin beneath the mud, black hair hanging in muddy clumps around his ears. Blue eyes staring back at him, animal-bright and dilated in the brief moment before he flinches back from the light with a cry of pain that stabs through Jason to the soul. (One shot, angst)

A Simple Life by RenaRoo

Tim Drake is living a simple life in one of the worst parts of Gotham. He makes the best of it, though. He makes for himself the only life he's ever known...

He thinks. (One shot, angst)

The Wound Begins to Bleed by audreycritter

Now that Tim’s moved back to the manor, he just wants a few afternoons a week without Damian around.

Funny how getting that was the catalyst for him becoming a better big brother. (One shot, brotherly bonding)

Hey, Lawman! by dinolaur

Tim goes MIA during lunch. (One shot, funny)

Gotham Banksy by LananiA3O

After finding out that he remains unavenged, Jason returns to Gotham, but instead of deciding to kill Bruce, he decides to channel his rage into a more creative endeavor: spray-painting Gotham until the message is loud and clear to everyone: fuck Batman. (Multi, angst)

Breaking News: Local Teen Given Intervention For Normal Behaviour by yellowrooster

Tim ends up in an alternate dimension where he's considered a drug addict. (One shot, funny)

Bay Through Hell by GordandV

Tim is mermaid. (Multi, AU)

Hot Dog, French Fries by eggmacguffin

Damian tries to hide that he's been hit with a truth serum. (One shot, hurt/comfort)

What happens in Vegas by Ididloveyou_once

Tim and Kon get married in Vegas, while drunk. (Multi, timkon)

Quarter past midnight by Aaren

Instead of being found by Talia after crawling out of his grave, Jason becomes a nurse. (Multi, canon divergence)

(Un)Wanted by Mika-chan (mikarin)

Tim gets kidnapped. (One shot, hurt/comfort)

A Midafternoon Beetdown by whaleofatime

Jason cosplays as a organic farmer. (One shot, funny)

Liminal Space by Calamityjim

Bruce's habit of collecting strays isn't limited by dimension. (Multi, hurt/comfort)

Can't Stay Down (a Documentary) by SonoSvegliato

Tim gets his tonsils removed. (Multi, funny)

Surveillance by smilebackwards

Tim is a civilian who contributes to crime fighting by taking surveillance photos and leaving them on the desktop of the Batcomputer. (Multi, found family)

Chemistry of a Car Crash by anthologia

Tim gets into a car crash. (One shot, hurt/comfort)

Bet It all On Red by centreoftheselights

Instead of becoming enemies, Robin and Red Hood form an alliance. (One shot series, canon divergence)

False Dichotomy by heartslogos

Red Hood calls Red Robin's bandoliers "super convenient idiot handles". (One shot)

don't take you guns to town by kreestar

batman comes home from a night patrolling to find a 10 year old jason todd waiting for him in his kitchen. across gotham, at the same time, red hood is stopped by a 25 year old bruce wayne. (One shot, angst)

Stubborn by audreycritter

When your butler mom calls and says, "Go check on your brother," you don't argue. You just do it. (Multi, sickfic)

I'm Just Fine by girlgeekjf

After rescuing a group of kidnapped children, Tim reflects on what he could’ve done better. (One shot, hurt/comfort)

A Christmas Miracle by Mithen

Damian and Dick go undercover to bust a child-kidnapping ring whose members dress up as Santa Claus. (One shot, funny)

Confidence Lost by C_R_Scott

Everything about Neal Caffrey’s past prior to his 18th birthday is a mystery, even to him. However, when someone unexpectedly recognizes him by a name that he has never used as an alias before, he learns that the biggest con of his life is literally his life. (or, tim is neal caffrey from white collar) (multi, crossover)

Exit Wounds by incogneat_oh

Did you hear this one? A vigilante walks into a warehouse and kills the joker. (One shot, angst)

If the Sky Comes Falling Down (For You) by lurkinglurkerwholurks

Five times Jason saved his siblings, and one time they saved him. (Multi, hurt/comfort)

Normally People Pass Out After by WriterfromGotham

Tim donates blood. (One shot, angst and fluff)

In Living Memory by DangerBeckett

Jason remembers why he stays out of other people's business. (One shot, angst)

Set My Mind To Wandering by Tabithian

Tim goes on a vacation. (One shot series, angst)

A Little Bit of Sunshine, A Little Bit of Rain by ohwhatevrewhatevr

For once, Tim is happy with his life. (One shot, fluff?)

American Ninja Worrier by DangerBeckett

Tim hires a ninja intern. Jason becomes concerned. (One shot, funny)

The Wrong Boy is Breathing by heartslogos

Tim visits Jason's grave all the time. (One shot, angst)

Jason Todd: The Not-So-Outlaw by GoAwayOlivia

Jason Todd isn't what Batman made him, he isn't what the Joker made him, he isn't what the League of Assassins made him, and he isn't what the Lazarus Pit made him. He's his own person and he's taking himself back, one home renovation at a time. Also he might just make friends with the people who are supposed to be his brothers while he's at it. (Multi, hurt/comfort)

The Art of Conversation by glassgoblin

Robin needs to talk to a friend, but everyone is a little busy. (One shot, angst)

Road Rage Robin by heartslogos

"I’d be doing humanity a favor.” Tim grinds out, “And I would get away with it. I could totally get away with it. I’ve done worse.“ (One shot, funny)

How to be a male Batgirl by Blackjay27

There are many ways to help Batman and Robin, but no matter which universe he's in, Tim's method will always end with him in a costume on Gotham's rooftops. (Multi, canon divergence)

I Saw Grayson Kissing Santa Claus by pupeez4eva

It’s Christmas time, and Damian is on a mission - to stop this ‘Santa Claus’ fellow from molesting his older brother. (Multi, funny) (this fic is so funny it made me cackle out loud)

Favourite Strangers by SpiritsFlame

It's been six months since Bruce's actions led to the death of Superman. (One shot, crossover with the movies?)

show me yesterday, for i can't find today by indent

Then: The year is 2013. Jason Todd is alive, fourteen years old, and about to follow Sheila Haywood, his birth mother, into the hands of the Joker. All he wants is to save her life.

Now: The year is 2018. Jason Todd was dead. But now he's a nineteen year old vigilante about to take down the latest C-Lister rogue. Unfortunately for him, its a rogue that specialises in time-travel technology. And what starts as an easy takedown...ends as a time travelling phenomenon.

The two Jasons swap places. (Multi, hurt/comfort)

Retrograde Motion by Lysical

All Jason wanted was a case that was simple, clean, and far away from the latest mess in Gotham. Magic wasn't the Outlaws' area of expertise, but they soon found themselves investigating a dark wizard with a penchant for organ harvesting.

When an accident on the case leaves Jason as a clueless seven year old with a memory that's spotty at best, what else can his team do but go to his family for help? (Multi, hurt/comfort?)

anglerfish by envysparkler

Robin was having a horrible night even before the Red Hood showed up. (One shot, angst)

Tso'ape Mumbichi by keeptogethernow

Tim is Talon. (Multi, AU)

Kodokuno Shoujo (A Lonely Girl) by C_R_Scott

A tale of two Robins wrapped up in an Asian-style horror story. Tim Drake goes to Japan for business, both for Wayne Enterprises and Batman Incorporated. However, when he returns to Gotham City, it's Damian Wayne who discovers he brought along more from his trip overseas than just his luggage and mission report. (Multi, horror)

at me, too, someone is looking by bacondoughnut

Dick Grayson knows he's got problems when the Red Hood's busted leg somehow becomes his concern. (Multi, hurt/comfort)

Help by Loxare

Jason never went to Gotham after he emerged from the Lazarus Pit. Instead, he went to Bludhaven to begin his reign of terror. (Or Jason adopts all the children of Bludhaven.) (Multi, fluff)

Lean on me by Musingsofthesky

Tim just wants to hang out with Bruce. Too bad his cold has other plans. (One shot, sickfic)

The Ol' Switcheroo by AutumnHobbit

Damian takes a bullet for Tim. (One shot, angst)

Meant to be by protagonistically

Tim takes a bullet for Bruce. (One shot, angst)

Juneberries by MichaBerry

When Tim is taken, Damian has to come to terms with his own insecurities, and how he really feels towards his older 'brother'. When he does, it might be too late. (Multi, angst)

though the sun continues to stand by metropolisjournal (TKodami)

Tim in the movie universe. (Multi, angst)

The Time We've Got by DawnsEternalLight

While on an emergency Redbull run, Tim tries to talk to his adopted father. (One shot, fluff)

Take It Back Now Y'all by TimTheToaster (tabletoptime)

Tim travels back in time, focusing on trying not to make too many changes. Too bad plans don't always work out too well. (Multi, AU?)

We're Not Driving (How did we get here?) by TimTheToaster (tabletoptime)

Tim stared at his phone, as if that would change what was on the screen. (One-shot, hurt/comfort)

cards on the table by wesslan

His reality did not involve riches and inheritance, galas and mansions, or even a sunny beach in the wonderful non-extradition country of Cuba. Instead it involved a drafty and somewhat crappy apartment, and a whole lot of hustling to make ends meet. (Multi, canon-divergence)

[just2bubbly]

does writing comments on every chapter of a fanfiction, so as to get the author motivated for them to post the updates faster act as a bribe or is it just me ?

[yutamayo]

[alittle-toosilly]

Hey guys.

We can pet cat followers now in the new update

Narinder is technically a cat follower

You...yknow what I'm suggesting?

[phoenixcatch7]

Unrelated to the last post but MAN I wish I could make a list of characters view the canon fics that do it so well across fandoms but I really don't want to risk opening them up to deletion. It's only recently that these sorts of stories have been allowed to stay up, as only a few years ago they were considered 'too close to canon' and could - would - get forcibly taken down from just about every site.

I've lost too many amazing cvtc fics to staff deciding they were bending the rules too much to just post a list of links but... I wish they were more popular because there's some absolute gems.

Here, I'll talk about a few things they did:

Killed the protagonist and everyone had to rewatch his memories to bring him back. This was very controversial in universe and it made it work so well.

The protagonist was oblivious to the reading, not part of it. This meant everyone could theorise and debate between themselves and actually REALLY solved the pacing and dramatisation issues common to these fics.

The protagonist actually replaced a villain in canon; the reading was done pre canon and the villain believed he had gone insane was the one acting like that. It was mortifying but seeing his body make friends and get a happy ending when he believed he was beyond hope and vicious about it was heart wrenching.

The young protagonist accidentally wished to be understood and a villain took advantage of it. It switched between the reading and reactions and the protag desperately trying to defeat the villain and make plans to run away to prevent his revealed secret getting him killed by the government.

The very large cast was split into groups, but could contact each other via texting. This enabled each group to have wildly varying reactions and theories without having to constantly argue and fight. It made it more fast paced, and added tension as the villains plotted unsupervised.

A very small cast were on a road trip and found the protags audio diaries of his adventures in the glove compartment. This was a Percy Jackson one, and it built off the books' first person format brilliantly.

The protags purposely wrote down their adventures in books and sold them on the market to fix their reputation and earn some money doing so. It involved people frantically trying to verify the books and evolved into a pr nightmare.

The orphan protag somehow time travelled back to when his family was in hiding with his books. His parents and uncles read the books and got to know their currently infant kid in the process. (This was a Harry Potter one, and both the series and author got permanently banned from ffn years ago and it had gotten all the way to deathly hallows 😭. It had been in progress for over a decade and was immaculately written, I miss it so much. Author if you're out there ily.)

Midway through canon a group of the protags friends combined all of their memories in a crystal ball and shipped it to a conference where just about every important figure was in attendance. They did not tell each other of the memories they included. They did not tell the exiled protag what they'd done. Many unexpected revelations and betrayals happened during the viewing. It also made it so the only scenes that appeared were ones where other people were there, which was so creative and well done.

The protag was a powerful psychic brought in for questioning and made it everyone else's problem. It was hilarious.

For a video game canon a handful of trusted allies (and villains before they went insane) were secretly delivered the games by THE TIME TRAVELLING GHOST OF THE PROTAGONIST IN DISGUISE and played them. The main focus was the main villain finding out a) how to even play video games (there was an ongoing joke about ridiculous video game logic) and b) the reasons he went insane, in excruciating detail, c) his victim's perspective including his own history that future him died not knowing about. One of his friends got a spinoff video game about how all his other friends died tragically. Many people saw their own traumatic deaths on screen with about twenty pixels.

A group of next gen kids accidentally fell into their parent's memories (of a war they'd been lied to about).

The protag was the 'child' of an omnipotent being who got sick of them being a self fulfilling prophecy (which ended horribly in canon) and locked them all in a fourth dimensional cave. In the same fic, the protag was using illusions to maintain the appearance of on-screen canon while fleshing out canon scenes and implications. Really well written and the character relationships were 👌.

The characters parents got the books, and had to reverse engineer the events that led up to canon and also which character was whose unborn kid.

A villain made a wish to publicly expose the main group's 'lies', accidentally exposed them as telling the truth and themselves as the corrupt liars. Whoops!

Traumatised side character time travelled back to pre canon from an apocalypse (that wasn't in canon), demanding the canon be viewed to understand and prevent the events that led to the apocalypse.

Characters broke after the events of canon publish their stories as fantasy books to the unknowing civilian public. The fantasy people accidentally get hold of it and everything goes to pot. I swear this is a totally different fandom to the other one.

Dead villain ghost secretly witnesses a viewing, time travels back to adopt the protagonist and change history to his image.

Crossover where one character was revealed to be a character from the other fandom in hiding with a fake identity.

Protag lost his memories and everyone uses a magical device/ritual to restore it, becoming witnesses themselves in the process.

Characters were forced to watch amvs of each other and had to try and extrapolate the order of events and the symbolism of the song. No one walked away with the full picture, but they got the main problems sorted.

Someone made an uncannily accurate play and the characters had to track the creator down to sue them (and figure out how they'd done it) without revealing that the portrayal was accurate.

A travelling seer took severe umbrage to the body stealing protag and exposed him with receipts. He spent basically the entire fic curled in a ball of mortification.

The protag on trial for many crimes got the magic viewing device used on him in front of everyone in the courtroom.

One fic was pretty normal but every time someone on screen got hurt or sick, so did their 'irl' counterpart. It sped up the fic a lot as no one wanted to linger on the worst bits. Also the author used canon implications, that the protag was oblivious to, to low key scare everyone who noticed them.

Crossover where the adults of one fandom fought over adoption rights of the other fandom's teen protag.

The author only used cherry picked moments of canon to massively streamline the fic, which worked! All the high moments you want a fic to cover - epic fights, dramatic reveals, important conversations, silly moments, developing relationships. And absolutely NOTHING else, there was very little context. Made for some excellent moments of people frantically trying to explain themselves lol.

Character stared too long into the void, broke the fourth wall to watch their own media. They spent most of the fic about to cry.

Protags patron deities hosted a viewing to try and get him a gf/bf from their other avatars. He wasn't looking for romance but did eventually end up in a poly relationship.

Prophet reluctantly revealed his own version of events with the help of his sentient house. This was about a movie so it was pretty fitting thematically lmao.

There is so much potential!! There's so many ways to do it, branch out, give these sorts of fics a try! Don't get stuck in the rut of the same methods as everyone else, even in this genre there's all sorts you can do with it! Use some of these examples if you want! Get creative and don't forget you're writing a story!!

Of course, if you recognise or are reminded of these please don't link or name them*, but you're more than welcome to guess which fandom each belongs to XD!

*Except that Harry Potter one, please I need closure, it's been a decade-

[not-poignant]

Baldur’s Gate 3 - 25/? - Palmarosa - Astarion/Raphael

Title: Palmarosa Rating: Explicit Pairing: Astarion/Raphael Tags: (Check AO3 for the full list) Angst, Hurt/Comfort, Deals with a devil, Contracted sexual slavery, Bad BDSM etiquette, PTSD, Communication issues, Flashbacks, Trauma recovery and Retraumatisation, Dark and disturbing themes, Blood consumption, Minor character death, Canon typical violence, Dominance/submission, Top Raphael, Bottom Astarion etc.

Summary: (Set post-game / end-game) The love of Astarion’s life has disappeared to go live in the daylight with the druids, and Astarion is stuck in the darkness once more, yearning for sunlight with every fibre of his being, while bitterly reflecting on all the things that were denied to him in the end - love, sunlight, the option to kill thousands of people and become a near-god…

Raphael knows Astarion’s desperate, and comes to him with not one, but two horrid contract offers that Astarion loathes and dreads in equal measure - but the prize at the end of both are too good to turn down, and he’s become too cynical to care about how much of a good idea it is to give his body to a devil for a month or two, because really, comparatively, how bad could it be?

Palmarosa (Baldur’s Gate 3) - Raphael/Astarion - 25 - Myrrh and Teak Oil

In which Astarion steps between Raphael and Karran, certain that one is about to be killed. Later, Raphael punishes Astarion for disrespecting a condition of their contract.

[atissi]

i’ll be real i did kinda forget how to draw him but im back in business now

[average-hyperfixator]

And just like that, it's over

The final chapter. There are some shout outs at the end, I hope I don't sound too sappy lol

Thanks for all the support! I know it doesn't even have 1000 hits, but 800+ is way more than I had thought, not to mention 73 kudos! (at the time of writing) so again, thank you all, this was a pleasure to write :]

[call-me-maggie13]

The first time Beatrice takes Diana to school with her, it’s a Wednesday morning, Ava is running so very late and Beatrice is terrified of missing her classes. So, with an approving text from Ava, she bundles Diana into a winter coat and beanie, her favorite rubber duck printed blanket, and secures her in the baby carrier that Beatrice struggles with the straps of long enough that she’s genuinely embarrassed.

Her first lecture of the day is with Dr. Superion, who makes Beatrice nervous on a good day — on a day when she’s not asking to bring a eighteen-month-old baby into class with her. Superion is surprised, to say the least, when Beatrice stumbles into the lecture hall with a bouncing baby strapped to her chest and homework in hand. She greets Beatrice with raised eyebrows and a tilted head, waiting for the rushed and desperate explanation from Beatrice.

More below the break or on AO3.

"Will it scream?" Is the only question Dr. Superion has, shrugging and motioning to Beatrice’s seat when Beatrice assures Diana’s silence.

The lecture goes by mostly uneventful, with a minor hiccup when Diana first wakes back up and hates not being able to see what’s going on around her. Beatrice steps into the hallway, accepting two tiny slaps to her cheeks before she flips Diana around in the carrier and she’s content again, kicking her legs and flapping her arms gleefully.

Her second lecture of the day is with Professor Salvius — please call me Jillian, my name is Jillian — and she is properly ecstatic to have a baby in her class.

"It’s never too early to learn electrical fundamentals, is it…?" Jillian looks at Beatrice for the answer to the unasked question.

"Diana, like the princess."

Diana grabs at Jillian’s hands, cooing and babbling until Beatrice makes her way to her seat. Ignoring the lingering stares from a few of her classmates, Beatrice settles Diana on her lap with a stuffed rabbit and attempts to take notes throughout.

She ends up fighting Diana to not scribble on her notebook more than she actively takes notes.

They’re halfway to the quad when Diana starts wailing, Beatrice fumbling with the carrier and the diaper bag while searching for her pacifier. Beatrice’s heart is pounding and her cheeks are flushed a deep red when a random student stops beside her and offers to help. Beatrice nods and blinks the tears out of her eyes because everyone is staring and she refuses to cry.

The boy digs through the front pouch of the diaper bag while Beatrice bounces and shushes Diana, desperately rubbing circles in her back in what she can only hope is a calming manner. By the time he manages to find the pacifier, Diana is halfway asleep in Beatrice’s arms but Beatrice still accepts it gratefully.

The second time Beatrice has to take Diana to school with her is exactly a week later, Ava’s coworker called in so she had to stay late and she couldn’t get out of it. Beatrice is less nervous this time, but still uneasy.

Dr. Superion greets the both of them with a tight smile and a nod, and Jillian waves and grins at Diana.

The third time Beatrice takes Diana to school with her, it’s a deliberate choice. Ava isn’t feeling well and Beatrice wants her to be able to sleep without worrying about the baby.

Everything is well until Diana decides she doesn’t want to be in the carrier and, instead, wants to sit at Dr. Superion’s desk and play with her pens. Dr. Superion is surprisingly calm about it and simply moves her letter opener out of Diana’s reach. Jillian is more than happy to move her lecture outdoors so Diana can run and try to climb on the statue of the school mascot.

The girl that sits behind her in the lecture hall offers Beatrice her notes after realizing Beatrice’s divided attention has severely impacted her ability to take consistent notes.

The fourth time Beatrice takes Diana to school with her, it becomes apparent that the entire student body now recognizes Diana and most greet her by name in the halls. Beatrice rarely gets any acknowledgment, she’s certain almost none of these students know her name, but she enjoys it regardless.

She does have one interaction with a girl on the football team that will linger with her for many, many years. A passing remark that makes Beatrice’s ears burn and her stomach flip.

"Your daughter is precious. She looks so much like you." Beatrice thanks the stranger, but doesn’t correct her.

Beatrice doesn’t correct her.

The fifth time Beatrice takes Diana to school with her, Diana has a meltdown in the middle of her first lecture. Beatrice takes her to the hall and tries to calm her, but she’s inconsolable. Beatrice is considering skipping the rest of her lectures and taking Diana home when Dr. Superion opens the door.

"Let me see her." Beatrice blinks at Dr. Superion with her arms outstretched, reaching for the crying baby.

“It’s okay, we’re going home." Beatrice offers weakly, shifting the diaper bag on her back. Dr. Superion glares at her, stepping closer to them and letting the door close behind her.

"Believe it or not, Ms. Beatrice, but I did raise one of these myself. We will be covering exam material in this lecture and, if you intend to pass the course, it is imperative that you are in attendance. The child is clearly unsatisfied with you at the moment, so I would appreciate if you would give her to me and retake your seat."

Beatrice frowns and looks between Diana and Dr. Superion before relenting, easing the baby off her hip and into Dr. Superion’s arms. Dr. Superion cradles her and begins rubbing the pad of her thumb between Diana’s furrowed eyebrows, following the ridge of her eyebrows to her temples intermittently. Diana quickly quiets and relaxes against Dr. Superion’s chest, Beatrice sighs, allowing her shoulders to drop.

"How’d you do that?" As far as Beatrice is concerned, her professor is some sort of magician.

"My son used to get these wretched sinus headaches. She probably has allergies. Bring it up to her pediatrician at her next checkup." Dr. Superion speaks gently, her voice reminiscent and distant like she’s remembering something she hasn’t in a while before she fixes Beatrice with a pointed look. "Back to your seat, Ms. Beatrice."

They make it nearly to the end of the lecture before Diana starts crying again, although much softer this time. Beatrice stands immediately, only making it two steps before Superion tells her to sit again.

"This is distracting. There shouldn’t be whiny babies in my college classes. I’m paying a lot of money to be here and I can't even sit through a lecture without it being interrupted by a screaming kid." It comes from the far corner.

"You can always leave, Mister Daniel." Superion’s words are cutting and demanding, and Beatrice was very glad not to be on the receiving end of her sharp glare. "However, I am failing to understand the difference between a brief disruption and you sleeping through the entire lecture, as you have all semester."

There is a chorus of gasps and Beatrice stands again, ignoring Dr. Superion’s prompt to retake her seat and taking Diana from her. She clicks Diana into the carrier — which has gotten significantly easier to use — and leaves. She takes Diana home and they spend the day stacking blocks and singing to various musicals with Ava.

The first Wednesday Beatrice doesn’t take Diana to school with her, she gets stopped by at least a dozen students asking if Diana is okay and Dr. Superion starts the class with a short anonymous vote. She passes out notecards and tells everyone to write the numbers one through three, skipping every other line.

"This is a quick classroom survey in response to the events that transpired last week. There are no repercussions for your answers. Please be honest." She waits until everyone is looking at her again before continuing.

"Question one: is Diana, Ms. Beatrice’s baby, a distraction to the class?"

Beatrice’s face flushes hot as she stares at Dr. Superion, contemplating walking out of class again, only for her professor to continue.

"Question two: does it bother you that I allow Diana to stay during lectures?"

A man across the aisle glances intermittently at Beatrice, and the urge to walk out is overwhelming, but the need to not be seen anchors her in place.

"Question three: would you prefer I didn’t allow Diana back to class after last week’s incident?"

There’s a shuffle behind Beatrice, a soft murmuring of conversation that ripples through the air and draws everyone’s attention.

"Do you have something you would like to say, Ms. Yasmine?" Beatrice first met Yasmine in class two years prior, an excruciating mathematics course that almost led them to switch majors, until they decided to study together and realized the other understood what they did not.

Right now, Yasmine meets her gaze and shakes her head before turning to Dr. Superion.

"Yes, actually. I think this is bullshit. Diana should be allowed to stay, Daniel is a misogynistic asshole and he deserves to be kicked out of the class." Yasmine stands and points to Daniel’s empty seat.

A chorus of agreement is heard, with everyone either nodding or verbally agreeing.

"Seeing Diana is the best part of my week," a voice calls from across the classroom.

"She’s sweet and not at all distracting."

"I don’t understand why anyone cares what Daniel thinks."

"Diana deserves to be here."

"Beatrice should be allowed to bring her baby to class."

Dr. Superion allows the classroom to erupt for exactly two minutes before she quiets them.

"Are there any students who feel Diana should not be in this class or can't focus with her around? Again, there are no repercussions right now. In this classroom, everyone should feel that they are being given the best learning experience. This is me ensuring that."

It’s silent, the air in the room Arctic cold and thick as an iceberg while they wait. Beatrice doesn’t dare look around, she doesn’t know if she can handle any more rejection.

"Then it’s settled. Ms. Beatrice?" Dr. Superion waits until Beatrice meets her eyes, which are softer than she’s ever seen them. "Diana is always welcome in my class."

Beatrice glances around the lecture hall, searching for even a single hand in the air. When she doesn’t find any, she settles on Daniel’s seat and her stomach turns sour.

"Mister Daniel has elected not to take the course this semester and instead will retake it next semester; you need not worry about him."

"She kicked him out after you left last week," the woman beside her whispers, leaning closer to Beatrice with a dimpled grin. "She basically told him he’s going to have to switch his major because he can’t graduate without this course and she’s the only one teaching it."

Jillian intercepts Beatrice when she’s halfway to her lecture, waving her off to the side of the hallway. Beatrice bites the inside of her cheek but follows her, leaning against the wall and waiting for Jillian to speak.

"My wi - my colleague Dr. Superion informed me of last week’s events. I wanted to personally assure you that Diana will always, always be welcome in my lecture hall. The two of you were greatly missed last week, and not just by me, multiple students asked me if the both of you were okay and if I knew anything."

Beatrice nods hollowly and steps around Jillian and into the lecture hall, taking her seat silently and arranging her study materials in a rehearsed manner. Her phone buzzes in her pocket, three messages back to back and she knows it’s Ava before she even lights up the screen.

Ava: i know u cant take her to class anymore but can we have lunch?

Ava: she hasnt stopped crying since u left this morning

Ava: every time i get her half calm she asks for u and starts crying all over again

Beatrice’s heart tugs in her chest as she types out her response.

Beatrice: Lunch sounds wonderful, I have a break in 90 minutes?

The reply is almost instantaneous, a series of smiley face emojis and a single pink heart. Beatrice slips her phone back into her pocket with a smile on her face as Jillian starts the lecture.

Ava: we r at the cafe w cam and lilith

Beatrice: Just left class, be there in seven minutes.

Ava: exactly 7? im starting a timer

Beatrice grins and speeds up, slipping in between groups and telling herself that her heart is racing from the rush and not the prospect of seeing Ava. She has to repress the urge to sprint when she catches a glimpse of Ava and Diana through the glass of the cafe, barely remembering to check for oncoming cars before darting across the street.

She’s breathless when she bursts into the cafe, smiling wide and bright. Lilith rolls her eyes and holds Diana out to Beatrice like she has just been informed the baby is a biohazard. Diana squeals and kicks her arms and legs out as she makes grabbing motions for Beatrice.

"Bea-Bea! Bea-Bea!" Diana squeals as Beatrice takes her from Lilith, holding her other arm out for the very obviously exhausted Ava to collapse into her chest. Ava tucks her nose into Beatrice’s neck while Beatrice holds her tightly by the hips, accepting the multitude of wet and sticky kisses Diana is pressing against her cheek.

"Hey," Beatrice traces the curve of Ava’s spine with the tips of her fingers slowly, smiling at the quiet hum of acknowledgement she receives in response. Lilith feigns a gag and Camila flicks her ear before tugging her behind the counter and forcing her back to work. Beatrice rests her cheek against the top of Ava’s head and smiles at Diana, teasing in her question. "Did you break your mum, Diana?"

"Sorry," Ava takes a deep breath and stands, obviously trying to stifle a yawn behind a shaky inhale before she slips back into the booth. Beatrice slides in across from her, holding Diana by the torso when she stands and slaps the table repeatedly. "I’m just so tired today, but I’m okay."

Beatrice tilts her head softly, laughing gently when Ava rolls her eyes. Diana laughs with her, the sound tugging Ava’s lips into a soft smile.

"I’m good, Bea. I promise." Ava assures, reaching across the table before retreating halfway through the action and dropping her hand back into her lap.

"You look exhausted, Ava. I can take her the rest of today so you - "

"No, you told me what happened last week. I’ve been expecting too much from you." Ava is steadfast in her dismissal, strong and committed even though Beatrice knows how desperately she needs a nap. Beatrice appreciates how she doesn’t want to take advantage of her generosity, but something has to give.

"You haven’t expected any more than I’m willing to give." Beatrice wraps a steadying hand around Diana’s stomach as she leans forward, reaching her hand across the table in the same motion Ava had just retracted. Ava sighs and takes Beatrice’s hand in her own, her fingers a live wire intwined with Beatrice’s. "I wouldn’t be offering if I wasn’t willing, Ava."

Ava sighs and presses her lips together, scrunching her nose up in a way that makes Beatrice forget to breathe. Diana bounces on Beatrice’s lap and Beatrice has to drop Ava’s hand to steady her before she does it again, giggling and shrieking all the while.

"She’s a lot today." Ava looks down, tucking her bottom lip between her teeth and rubbing her nose. Beatrice reaches across the table and tucks a strand of hair behind her ear, her hand lingering before brushing the pad of her thumb across Ava’s cheek.

"She’s a lot every day, Ava." She keeps her voice light and teasing, she knows how guilty Ava feels just for admitting she needs help, she doesn’t want to make it worse. The watch Diana take the sugar packet tray, tip it over, and spill the colorful packets across the tabletop. "How about this, I am going to keep her the rest of the day and you are going to go home and sleep. And, if you’re still feeling guilty tonight, you can make me that weird pasta that I love. Sound good?"

Ava shakes her head and opens her mouth in what Beatrice knows is going to be a rejection so she interjects.

"It was a rhetorical question, I wanted you to know the plan and feel like we decided it together. I’m keeping her and you’re going to sleep." Ava pouts, she honest to god pouts and Beatrice is suddenly extremely distracted with the thought of kissing her pout away.

Beatrice forces her attention back to Diana, who is pulling the sugar packets to the edge of the table. She knows she was staring at Ava’s lips, she just really hopes Ava isn’t aware of it too.

Beatrice cups her hands under the edge of the table and catches the sugar packets when Diana topples them over the edge, smiling when Diana giggles and kisses her cheek. When she looks back at Ava, the tips of her ears and nose are red and her smile is softer than it was before.

When they say goodbye an hour later, Ava lingers in her hug with Beatrice, her nose tucked into Beatrice’s neck.

"If I’m giving you a ride, you better hurry the fuck up." Camila flicks Lilith’s ear again and chastises her before pulling her to the other side of the car, their voices carry but their words don’t. Beatrice wonders briefly what they’re talking about before she’s distracted by Ava moving away.

"Thank you," she whispers before she lifts Diana off Beatrice’s hip and helps clasp her into the carrier, pressing a kiss against her forehead. "Be good, okay? I love you."

Ava leans forward again and brushes her lips over Beatrice’s cheek before she’s gone, slipping inside Lilith’s little car and slamming the door behind her. Beatrice takes a shaking inhale and blinks.

They’re gone by the time she’s recovered, cheeks burning and skin vibrating. She doesn’t have time to dwell on the moment when Diana swings her tiny hand back and smacks her in the face.

"Uh-oh." Diana tries to twist to see where she hit Beatrice, bottom lip stuck out and chin quivering and Beatrice’s heart aches.

"It’s okay, baby. Don’t cry." Beatrice bounces Diana, offering her own hands for Diana to hold, which Diana accepts ecstatically.

Beatrice is uncertain of a lot of things — whether Ava meant that kiss as a friendly gesture or as something more, whether Ava feels the same way as her, what would happen if she told Ava everything — but she is certain of one thing: she loves Diana and she would do anything to stay in her life and keep her happy, healthy, and safe.

Including not confessing her undeniable feelings for Ava.

[interdimensionalhellscapeportal]

i haven't actually linked my ongoing star wars ao3 fics to my star wars tumblr or vice versa before now, but y'know what, i like the weird niche au maul content i'm producing and i think some of y'all might enjoy it too.

write the fics you wanna read, right? i starting writing both of these alternate universes cos thus far, i have not stumbled on these concepts in my ao3 trawling. i really enjoy hearing from the handful of people that also like these extremely particular little worlds of mine, and i hope i find more of you to share them with crossposting here :)

THE FICS:

***Ka'ra Touched is a Smaul fic and currently in production hell, but has not been abandoned!***

Arla Fett is in the middle of her galaxy-spanning vengeance bloodbath, murdering all the Kyr'stad chakaare who ever abused her and living her best life after the Jai'galaare, a Mandalorian company of femme, queer, trans, nb & buir warriors, freed her from Tor Vizsla's abusive grasp and invited her to join their ranks.

When she finally goes after Meltch-karking-Krakko, the womp rat himself, she anticipates complications; he was, after all, the most sadistic of Vizsla's trainers. Killing Krakko is easier than she expects- but figuring out what to do with the tiny murder kitten of a zabrak she may have accidentally, impulsively, sort-of-maybe-just-a-little-bit kidnapped on her way out of Orsis Academy is much, much more difficult.

***Cleave (verb): to split or sever, to make a way through something forcefully; alternatively: to adhere strongly to (as in belief or pursuit), to become very strongly emotionally attached &/or involved with someone. Best described as 'porn with (too much) plot', this is the story of a writer constructing a series of increasingly outlandish scenarios intended to make pre-PTM Maul engaging in a tragic romance with a Jedi believable.***

Upon finishing his nearly disastrous mission to Cog Hive Seven, Darth Maul returns to his Master expecting criticism at the very least, punishment at worst. He does not expect to be told that his entire life has been a lie, that his Master is still a Sith Apprentice, and that he has been summoned to serve at the whim of the true Sith Master, Darth Plagueis.

Lord Plagueis, a monstrously powerful sadistic scientist, presents Maul with a test, and an ultimatum: prove himself worthy of the destiny that has been snatched from his grasp, a successor- perhaps even a replacement- for his Master, Lord Sidious... or be consigned to the bowels of the Sith laboratories at Aborah as an experimental subject. Maul has only one resource to aid him as he attempts to learn espionage, diplomacy, Sith alchemy and galactic etiquette in record time- Plagueis's captive Jedi Knight, experimental subject 1138, otherwise known as the infuriating togruta female Chaitali Zugasti.

He is not allowed to kill her. She wants nothing more than to die and stay dead, to be freed at last from Plagueis's nightmarish experiments, but if she is to die, she will die a true Jedi- attempting to save the boy raised in darkness that is enslaved alongside her and cannot see his chains.

[certain-ability]

The sweet relief of finally updating a fic that I'd abandoned for months on end 😌 There's truly no feeling quite like it, I stg

[revered-bitter]

I know barely any of my readers follow me here but for those that do; I’m taking a break from writing for a while!!

Health (mental and otherwise) is on the decline for me and I just don’t have it in me to write AYSOM? properly

Apologies again for how long this fic is taking me but it’s the biggest writing project I’ve ever worked on ;;

Hope to have the next chapter up before December but we’ll see…

Anywho! Thank you all for the continuous support and kudos, I really appreciate it :)