#fanfic is a lonely game

[andthekitchensinkao3]

Friday afternoon at work, thinking about 60 going deviant after Hank shoots the wrong Connor and completely loses it.

[andthekitchensinkao3]

🥹🥹🥹🥹🥹

this is a PSA for fic writers who haven't updated in a while :

there are fics out there I'm subscribed to that have gone double digit months without updating.

rest assured the moment those babies catapult an AO3 email my way i'm dropping from the face of the earth to sink my teeth into them

i'll wait, and so will your readers

[reasonandfaithinharmony]

2024 Gif Round-Up

Thank you for tagging me @heartstringsduet @thisbuildinghasfeelings @paperstorm @alrightbuckaroo

@carlos-in-glasses @guardian-angle22 and @reyesstrand!!

I’m very late to this because the holidays didn’t leave me any time to myself. But @herefortarlos tells me there’s no deadline for these things. So here we go.😅

This year was the first time I watched 911 Lone Star live, and it was actually the first time I’d ever made gifs for *any show* as we got new episodes. It's been a lot of fun, even if it makes me even more aware of just how long it takes me to finish a set. 🙈

Here’s to everyone who puts lovely content on my dash, whether it’s your own work, reblogs, or funny/heartfelt commentary and tags. I would be so lost without all of it.

Please consider this an open tag for anyone who would still like to do their own round-up!

January

Carlos smiling into kisses Parallel set with scenes from Yee-Haw (1x02)

“You asked me to feel safe with you.” Flashback set with scenes from Friends With Benefits (2x04) and Push (3x04)

When a new hyperfixation takes hold Dan Levy reaction gifs

February

TK and Carlos comforting each other Parallel set with scenes from Friends With Benefits (2x04) and A House Divided (4x16)

March

“I'll keep going with you.” An emotional entry for incorrect quotes/text post–gifs, with scenes from In the Unlikely Event of an Emergency (3x08) and In Sickness and in Health (4x18)

 “I am tryna be your home, your safe place, your go to person…” Back to the more humorous incorrect quotes/text post–gifs, with moments from Yee-Haw (1x02)

“there’s honestly a lot of things wrong with you but im kind of into it for some reason. Do you want to get married.” Incorrect quotes/text post–gifs, featuring the darts scene from Texas Proud (1x03)

April

Their last terrified moments in their first home. Their first brilliant and joyful moments in their new home. Parallel set with scenes from The Big Heat (2x12) and Push (3x04)

“Hey now those (your big brown eyes) are some dangerous weapons…” Incorrect quotes/text post–gif with a look at Carlos in Negative Space (3x12)

That lovely first tarlos scene in Riddle of the Sphynx (3x13), without the credits obstructing our view.

"just got diagnosed as your soulmate...". Incorrect quotes/text post–gif featuring scenes from Yee-Haw (1x02) and A House Divided (4x16)

Season 4: parallel statements of love and devotion Scenes from Abandoned (4x04), The New Hot Mess (4x02), Swipe Left (4x12), A House Divided (4x16), and In Sickness and in Health (4x18)

May through December are below the cut because things got very out of hand very quickly:

May

Husband, husband, husband Every instance of “husband” from In Sickness and in Health (4x18)

When there are clues that date night has been interrupted Adding some visual aids to the conversation about the state of Carlos' shirt at the end of This Is Not a Drill (4x06)

“I think that both of them like to be the little spoon and the big spoon” – Rafael Silva For @carlos-in-glasses who shared her amazing Cameo video with us

“I missed it so much, I took a stab at writing fanfiction.” A relatable moment from Modern Family

June

If that moment in the fire was Carlos' last chance to say anything, he was going to say everything. A flashback set inspired by @doublel27's post that lives in my head, rent-free. Features scenes from The Big Heat (2x12) and In Sickness and in Health (4x18)

“He might not understand TK's fixation with a lizard, but… Um, you know, Carlos loves TK. And if Carlos loves TK, then that's all that matters.” – Rafael Silva For @thisbuildinghasfeelings who generously shared not one, but two Cameo videos with us

Just taking the opportunity to look at the details of some intense moments from the fire in The Big Heat (2x12)

“It’s a meal, not a marriage proposal, TK. || “So, the wedding. It’s coming up.” A flashback set with TK and Carlos sitting across from each other at the dinner table in Yee-Haw (1x02) and This Is Not a Drill (4x06)

wedding planning → wedding ceremony Parallel set with scenes from Control Freaks (4x08) and In Sickness and in Health (4x18)

July

“And when did you figure that out?” / “The day I met you.” How long have you thought that?“ / “Since the first night I took you home.” A flashback *and* parallel set with scenes from the pilot (1x01), Yee-Haw (1x02), The New Hot Mess (4x02), and A House Divided (4x16). Made in collaboration with @paperstorm. (Check out the accompanying fic here.)

That sounds sexual. 😏 A Rafael Silva reaction gif for various situations here on tumblr dot com

Andrea with her husband and her son, both in their tuxes for the wedding. Parallel set featuring scenes from  Best of Men (4x17) and In Sickness and in Health deleted scene (4x18). (I blame this one on @goldenskykaysani 😭)

August

My best attempt at zooming in on the final shot of the proposal scene in A Bright and Cloudless Morning (3x18)

September

No more wasted moments. A collection of scenes from A Bright and Cloudless Morning (3x18), Swipe Left (4x12), Both Sides Now (5x01), and the promo for Thunderstruck (5x05). (I still need to update that last one to the version used in the episode. Oops.)

Carlos on the outside, looking in  ->  Carlos surrounded by the love of his friends, family, and husband Not sure if I should call this a parallel or a flashback set. Either way, we have scenes from the pilot (1x01) and In Sickness and in Health (4x18), and I'm so very normal about it.

Sweet moments where Carlos is grabbing TK’s sweater/jacket Parallel set of still images from Riddle of the Sphynx (3x13) and the Thunderstruck promo (5x05)

Reaching across the table Parallel set of still images from Austin, We Have a Problem (1x10) and Both Sides, Now (5x01, season 5 promo)

TK and Carlos:  "husband" A collection of scenes from A Bright and Cloudless Morning (3x18),  Swipe Left (4x12), In Sickness and in Health (4x18), and Both Sides Now (5x01)

The look on Carlos' face when his own love language is returned to him in kind Parallel set with scenes from Swipe Left (4x12) and Both Sides, Now (5x01)

October

“One of the most magical things about being in a committed relationship is learning to really open up your heart and hate one of your partner’s coworkers you’ve never met” Incorrect quotes/text post–gif  for Both Sides, Now (5x01)

The way Carlos walks into the 126 firehouse:  unwilling to move past the threshold -> strutting in with donuts for everyone, just because. A collection of scenes from Austin, We Have a Problem (1x10), Bad Call (2x08), Spring Cleaning (3x17), and Trainwrecks (5x02)

“You look like the night we met. Green t-shirt and short hair.” For @strandnreyes and @paperstorm, to accompany their coda for C12 (5x03), with parallel gifs from the pilot (1x01).  (Read the fic here.)

TK and Carlos are not on the same page Parallel set for Swipe Left (4x12) and the Thunderstruck promo (5x05)

kiss + hand + ✨ring✨ Parallel set of still images from In Sickness and in Health deleted scenes (4x18) and Thunderstruck promo photos (5x05)

I will never not be thinking about this kiss 🔥 Thunderstruck (5x05) sneak peek

Had to make a post with sexy scenes from three different episodes. As a treat. 🔥🔥🔥 Parallel set for Yee-Haw (1x02), The Big Heat (2x12), and Thunderstruck (5x05)

"…everybody has needs." Pairing moments from The Big Heat (2x12) and Thunderstruck (5x05) with Rafael Silva’s Cameo video (courtesy of @carlos-in-glasses)

November

TK, Carlos, and Jonah – with Gwyn and with Enzo Parallel set of still images from Push (3x04) and a Kiddos (5x07) promotional photo. A closer zoom of the Kiddos image can be found here.

“This is great. I’m going to get a good grade in therapy, something that is both normal to want and possible to achieve” Incorrect quotes/text post–gif for Carlos in Thunderstruck (5x05)

TK and Carlos moving in sync during couples therapy Thunderstruck (5x05)

Carlos in his troublemaker era, egging on Owen and Enzo Kiddos (5x07)

TK, Carlos, and Jonah at the firehouse Parallel set with scenes from  Push (3x04) and Kiddos (5x07)

“Hi, big brother.” / “Hi, little brother.” TK and Jonah reunited in Kiddos (5x07) A longer version of this gif set can be found here

Just the tiniest bit of slightly different footage from TK's birthday party Kiddos (5x07)

“Who’s gonna take him to dim sum?” || “Who’s gonna hug him?” Parallel set with scenes from In the Unlikely Event of an Emergency (3x08) and The Quiet Ones (5x08)

A microsecond of behind-the-scenes footage from TK's party Kiddos (5x07)

December

TK and Carlos reaching for each other in their sleep Parallel set with scenes from Riddle of the Sphynx (3x13), In Sickness and in Health (4x18), and The Quiet Ones (5x08).

Our loved ones live on through us Parallel set with scenes from In the Unlikely Event of an Emergency (3x08) and Fall From Grace (5x09)

“You were my dad." Flashback set with scenes from Best of Men (4x17), In Sickness and in Health (4x18), and Fall From Grace (5x09)

[lemonlyman-dotcom]

This Infinite Love

Once he’s closed the dishwasher door and hit start, TK leans against the opposite counter, mirroring Carlos’s position.

“Hi,” TK says with a cute little smile.

“Hi, baby.”

“What are you thinking?”

Carlos crosses the kitchen in two large steps, boxing TK in by placing a hand on the counter on either side of him. He presses a chaste kiss to his husband’s soft lips.

“I’m thinking… we make a pretty great team.”

A brilliant smile takes over TK’s face, crinkling the corners of his eyes and putting almost every tooth in his mouth on display. It’s how Carlos knows he’s truly, spectacularly happy.

Just like his brother.

“That’s my line,” TK whispers, pulling Carlos in for a deeper kiss. He smiles into it, working his tongue into TK’s warm, sweet mouth.

TK sighs, going pliant in Carlos’s strong and steady embrace.

There’s a sound of tiny feet pattering across the floor. “Are you KISSING?!”

They pull apart with a laugh, TK drops his forehead to Carlos’s chest and Carlos gently cradles the back of his head in one large hand.

“Yes, mijo, we’re kissing. But we need to get ready for Nochebuena tonight, why don’t you go up to your room and I’ll be up there soon to help you, okay?”

“Oh-kay,” Jonah says with a skeptical tone. Waiting a beat before running off across the living room and making his way up the steps. Slowly. Hand on the railing, two feet per step.

“Hey,” TK says once they’re alone again, rubbing a hand over Carlos’s heart. “Do you remember our wedding night?”

“How could I ever forget?”

He remembers barely making it through the loft’s front door before they were tearing each other’s clothes off. They made love on the living room rug and split a piece of leftover wedding cake afterwards, eating it straight out of the tupperware with their bare hands. Not even bothering to get dressed.

“Back then, did you ever think it would be like this?” TK asks, gesturing to the home around them. The beautiful, cozy, slightly chaotic home that they built together out of love, sacrifice and dedication.

“I didn’t,” Carlos answers honestly. He’d thought it would be years before they ever even talked about having kids. Thought they’d be in the loft for at least a decade. “But I knew it would be unexpected. I knew it would be an adventure,” He pauses to lean in and nip at TK’s earlobe “It’s always an adventure with you. You always make everything fun.”

TK bites his lip and giggles. “With my wild heart?”

“Yes. Your wild, generous, beautiful, incomparable heart,” he murmurs, feeling his affection welling up inside him, his heart beating out the rhythm of his love for Tyler Kennedy Strand.

Carlos leans in to kiss his husband one more time. “But, baby, I knew I could do it all with you by my side. And look, I was right. We don’t know what life is gonna throw at us next. But I do know I’m excited to find out… with you.”

Thanks for the tags @carlos-in-glasses @heartstringsduet @annoyingcloudearthquake @herefortarlos @alrightbuckaroo @carlossreaders @bonheur-cafe @tellmegoodbye @whatsintheboxmh @thisbuildinghasfeelings @henrygrass @everlastingday @goldenskykaysani 💕

Assuming most people who wanted to go already went, but tagging @laelipoo @chicgeekgirl89 @ladytessa74 @ironheartwriter @literateowl @nisbanisba @the-126-family @firstprince-history-huh @eclectic-sassycoweyes @emsprovisions @captain-gillian @paperstorm @welcometololaland @basilsunrise @lightningboltreader @liminalmemories21 @freneticfloetry @sapphic--kiwi @tinyluminaryzombie @kiwichaeng @guardian-angle22 @rmd-writes @reyesstrand @never-blooms @decafdino @certifiedflower @irispurpurea & OPEN TAG 🏷️

[carlossreaders]

MOOD BOARD

something worth waiting for

RELEASING JANUARY 21ST

I am using this little mood board game as a way to announce the release date of this fic and the title!!! I’m so beyond excited to let this enter the world and I hope you guys will all love it just as much as I do!

thank you for creating the game @carlos-in-glasses, and @heartstringsduet for tagging me!!

no pressure tags! @goodways @paperstorm @lightningboltreader @strandnreyes @reyesstrand @bonheur-cafe @alrightbuckaroo @welcometololaland @rmd-writes @liminalmemories21 @orchidscript @three-drink-amy @honeybee-taskforce @theghostofashton @pimento-playing-hopscotch @herefortarlos @sapphic--kiwi @emsprovisions @ironheartwriter @tellmegoodbye @the-126-family @captain-gillian @butchreyes @whatsintheboxmh @chicgeekgirl89 @eclectic-sassycoweyes @lemonlyman-dotcom @freneticfloetry @never-blooms @bonheur-cafe @decafdingo @corsage @nisbanisba @henrygrass @nancys-braids @irispurpurea @everlastingday @carlos-tk @pameluke @orchidscript @literateowl

[drarry-reccage]

before a fall by @eleadore (65k, E)

tags: slow burn, eighth year, everyone is allergic to apologies and that's how we like it

The stubborn chill of winter finally gives way to spring. The days get longer, packed to the brim with activity, but everything becomes indistinct next to Draco Malfoy, blurry and not quite there while he stands in stark relief, the long, long line of his neck and his proud back. The fragile curve of his skull. Harry likes to cradle it when they kiss, take the impact of the hard stone against his knuckles when he shoves Draco up against the wall.  "Stop that," Draco says, while Harry's palming the fine hair at the back of his head, kneading at the divot where it meets his neck. His eyes are closed, but Harry likes to look at him. "Stop doing that."  "What?"  "Holding me," Draco says nonsensically, and jerks his head back to prove his point. Harry keeps his crushed hand just there, between his head and the wall, and Draco's eyes snap open. Then narrow. "Stop it, Potter."  Another jerk. Harry's knuckles are going to bruise.  Draco bites when Harry kisses him and then, quite abruptly, softens and moulds into him like a lover, hands under his shirt and tracing over the sensitive skin of his back, scratching just so, gentle. After, when they've ended up on the floor catching their breath, he will reach over to take Harry's hand and examine the bruises, curious. He'll press on them and when Harry winces, look rather pleased.  He remains capricious, even in this—especially in this. The more Harry learns of him the less he knows. 

(rec by @garagepaperback)

[shiraishi--kanade]

I am not saying this should have been explored in canon nor that this is like, an Important topic, but one of the most interesting aspects of An Shiraishi that I think a lot of people miss out on is how vulnerable she was to toxic relationships pre-VBS. The Potential

[simonsrosebud]

Neil watched him up through his eyelashes, keeping his head still and his hands on the counter behind him. His freckles were even more prominent like that, less than a foot from Andrew’s face. Tan splatters across even tanner skin- scattered on his nose and cheeks, one that sat half on his upper lip and another on his eyelid that Andrew had to look away from.

stuff is going to start moving faster in this next chapter don’t worry, i’m quite excited about it😈😈

[ghostinthegallery]

10: Do you read your own fics for fun? & 21: Do you have an abandoned WIP?

10) Yup! And I will until there are enough fics of all the space robots in situations to keep me satisfied (this is unlikely, I have a mighty occasionallu specific appetites 😅)

11) Not really but I do have way more ideas than I know what to do with. I have only so much time guys!!! Stop dropping plot bunnies at my door!

[aureliusofphoenix]

Now I just need to finally continue & finish FO3--

[andthekitchensinkao3]

Writing fanfic these days is like playing a game nobody wants to participate in, while everyone flocks to the cool kids, ie fanartists.

I love fanart. I do. But I spend at least the same amount of time and care to write stories about the characters we love, and get practically nothing for it.

No matter how excited I get about my fic, no one really engages with me. No one goes feral over my ideas (that I know), or rush to read the next chapter, or leave unhinged comments.

It's like nobody cares. Nobody wants to include fic writers in the community anymore.

Someone told me on here "you are your own fandom" and that's like... If that's how people feel these days, I may as well quit writing altogether.

Go gush over your favourite fan artist. Forget the fic writers.

[noxsoulmate]

💞⚾ Noxy’s Tarlos Baseball Fic ⚾💞

💞⚾ now complete ⚾💞

Ship: Tarlos | Fandom: 911 Lone Star | Author: noxsoulmate | Read on ao3

Chapter: 2/2 | Word Count: 10940 | Complete: 16330 | Rating: Explicit | Warnings/Tags: baseball, valentine's day, different first meeting, meet-cute, running into each other, coffee shops, farmers market, night clubs, hook-up, baseball player TK, baseball player Carlos, rivals, Red vs Blue (but not the episode), banter, sexual innuendos, flirting, teasing, basically Tarlos uses the baseball game as foreplay, and they don't hide it, implied sexual content, but TK has a dirty mind so the rating is explicit, making out, strangers to lovers, love at first sight | Art made by me

Summary:

The moment he spots him, he freezes. For just a tiny second, he wonders if all his thoughts of Carlos have summoned him. And then he takes in the man as a whole, attire and all – and his mind goes blank. Because Carlos is wearing a jersey as well. And it’s blue. Carlos is wearing the blue jersey… of APD.

~*~

Meet cutes are only meant for rom coms, right? So why is it that TK has a total of four of them with the same stranger in just one day? Besides, Valentine’s weekend is certainly not the right time for him to have his head in cloud nine – not when the annual Baseball game between Fire and Police is on the line. Apparently, Police hasn't lost in years thanks to their pitcher. But now Fire has TK on their team – a paramedic who had a chance to play in the major leagues...

💞⚾ Chapter 1 ⚾💞

💞⚾ Read Chapter 2 on ao3 ⚾💞

Sneak peek under the cut:

“TK, can you tone down that grin a little bit?”

“Why?” TK asks, his grin turning cheeky instead. “Isn’t this supposed to be a fun day anyway?”

“Ah, hell na?” he hears Judd as he comes up right next to them. “This ain’t no fun. This is serious business.”

“Besides,” Paul throws in, baseball bat across his shoulders as if he’s stretching his arms. “We all know that grin isn’t because of the game ahead of us. It’s about that mystery man you disappeared with last night. Don’t deny it.”

“Not denying it at all,” TK replies, smile stretching even wider. “So I had a great night – wasn’t that exactly why you took me out?”

“Yeah, we just didn’t expect it to go that well,” Marjan says, pointing at what he guesses is his sunny smile. 

Even though Marjan’s not on the team, she’s still dressed in the red-and-black combo of the fire department and sitting on the bench with them. She’s their unofficial social media expert, meaning she’ll film the game and then put some great highlights of it online later. Hopefully she’ll be able to post about a win for Fire.

According to Judd – and the rest of the team – they really need this win because their losing streak is a disgrace to their department. TK didn’t pay it much mind before but now that he’s seeing the stands fill with a large crowd, he starts to understand that it’s not just about Police versus Fire. It’s about community. He was skeptical when Judd said the annual match between Fire and Police is a highlight in Travis County, rallying crowds of hundreds, but now he’s a witness. Hell, there’s even a news van and people with homemade signs. Fire definitely needs to bring home the trophy this year.

“Yes, TK,” Nancy thankfully pulls TK out of his thoughts before he can overthink this. He’ll simply play his best game, no need to worry. “Tell us how it went? We didn’t see much of the guy but from what we saw, he was hot as fuck.”

“Oh, he definitely is,” TK agrees, his smile instantly back and all the worries in the world gone.

“Anyone else worried we’ll have to see that grin for a whole while longer?” Paul asks the group, who all agree.

TK rolls his eyes. “So what, I met a dude that might just be the absolute jackpot. Aren’t you happy for me?”

“TK,” Judd starts in his slow southern drawl, one of his big hands landing on his shoulder. “From what I hear, you just met the guy and what? Had one good night with him? You’re running around like you’re on cloud nine. Brother, don’t get me wrong, I’m happy for you, I just think you should be careful too. Do we need to check him out?”

While TK’s truly touched by Judd’s genuine desire to protect him, he still gives him an impish grin. “Well, for one, how long did it take you to know that Grace might be the one and definitely worth chasing?”

“Ahh, but I knew her from months on the phone.”

TK gives him a mock-shocked look. “So you’re saying, if you had just met her at the honky tonk without your history, you wouldn’t have thought her worth your time?”

Judd looks almost comically shocked and pained before he lifts his hands in surrender and quickly amends, “Touché.”

“And besides,” TK starts, finally feeling ready to drop the bomb. “Last night wasn’t the first I saw of him…”

💞⚾ Continue on ao3 ⚾💞

Written for the @tarlosweeklyprompts Valentine's Fic Exchange and my giftee @sugdenlovesdingle. The prompt was: TK and Carlos meeting via the police vs fire baseball game when they’re on opposing teams (bonus points for a grey’s anatomy-like thing where they hook up the night before without knowing who the other is and then seeing them at the game).

The biggest, biggest thanks goes out to the amazing @lightningboltreader and @bonheur-cafe. These two spent the past few weeks explaining an American game that seems to have no rules to a European who had zero knowledge about it - and they did it in a way that said European was able to write a fic about it. I bow to you two! They also helped plot out every step of the game - Char, Dalawa, this fic truly wouldn't exist without your help, and for once, that's not just a phrase 😂

Noxy’s Tagging List: @chaotictarlos, @detective-giggles, @sgirl18,  @sapphire11, @bubblesandroses8, @firstprince-history-huh, @beautifulhigh, @rangergurlgleek1211, @shadesofdeviant, @otter-love-asl, @ramblingdisaster73, @first-kanaphan, @xtltokio, @lightningboltreader, @buckybarnesalways, @meditating-honey-badger, @mangacat201, @tarlossource

[reasonandfaithinharmony]

Fan Art Celebration!

Thank you for the tags, @thisbuildinghasfeelings and @lemonlyman-dotcom!

Share one(1) piece of fan art that you love and helped keep you excited about the show. It can be anything, art, doodles, cross stitch, metas, gifs, funny posts. Anything!!

Just ONE?? I get decision paralysis on much easier questions. 🙈 This has been such a long hiatus. And there are far too many phenomenal pieces to choose from.

But the past couple of months have been really rough, so I'm going go with a fic that has been an incredibly bright spot for me, exactly when I needed it:

these fatal fantasies by @strandnreyes

What a lovely, vivid au. Such a good read. And such an amazing story to get lost in week after week.

I would be very surprised if I were not one of the last people to get to this game, so if you see this, please consider yourself tagged! I give you the daunting (but fun!) task of choosing one piece of fan art to share. 😊

[lemonlyman-dotcom]

20 Questions for Fic Writers

I was not tagged but I saw this and I wanna do it so I’m TAGGING MYSELF

1. How many works do you have an AO3? 23

2. What's your total AO3 word count? 191,481

3. What fandoms do you write for? 911 Lone Star!

4. What are your top 5 fics by kudos?

Make Me Laugh 'till I Die, I Stand Beside You With Pride - Tarlos | 2k | 4x06 coda where TK and Carlos discuss TK’s unusually close relationship with Owen, and Carlos confesses he’s a little jealous of it 💛

getting past the wounds of love - Catan Crew + Judd & Grace; Tarlos | 5k | Early s1; Paul, Marjan & TK explore their new city; Carlos attends his first 126 hang; Paul hosts a listening party for a rare record he’s acquired

The Greatest Gift I’ve Found, The Sweetest Thing I’ve Known - Tarlos + Reyes Family | 7k | Nochebuena at the Reyes house. It's Tarlos's first Christmas as husbands, and the family's first without Gabriel.

TK Strand’s Sweet 16 (times 2) (minus 2) - Tarlos + Catan Crew + Reyes Family | 7k | TK 30th Birthday Fic!!! The extended Reyes family gathers to throw TK a blowout “surprise” party. [Contains what I’ve been told by several people is one of the best opening scenes to a fic ever 🤭]

Chain of Fools - Tarlos + Paul | 4k | Carlos and TK try handcuffs in the bedroom and they end up in an awkward position. [This is a crack fic!!]

5. Do you respond to comments? Yes! Always! Always always always!!!

6. What is the fic you wrote with the angstiest ending? I don’t have any with angsty endings 😇

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

I think they are all pretty happy, but I’m going to go with love in a series of bursts & inches because it ends with this really beautiful and cathartic moment between Marjan and her parents, and when she goes to get in her car to drive home and process the day she just had, and how a lot of the assumptions she’s been making about what her parents think about the decisions she’s been making with her life have really been turned on their heads in the last several hours, the first thing she does is call TK and Carlos. Her chosen family, and that’s really the heart of this whole fic 💛

8. Do you get hate on fics?

I’ve never gotten any hate in comments or directly to my face, but there were a few people in the fandom who made it pretty clear they were mad that I included Iris in my Tarlos bachelor party fic All The Stars Are Closer But the feedback I got from folks who actually did read it was really lovely.

9. Do you write smut? Hehe yeah, sometimes!

10. Do you write crossovers? No

11. Have you ever had a fic stolen? I have never had anything straight up plagerized

12. Have you ever had a fic translated? No! That would be kind of neat.

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

Yes!! A couple! For Lire with Love and Lots of Whump; a series of Carlos getting hurt in (mostly) ridiculous ways and being a terrible patient for TK & The Wonder of It with @carlos-in-glasses and @ladytessa74; this one follows TK and Carlos from the moment where Carlos starts wondering if maybe he’s ready to revisit the kids conversation through them adopting a little boy 🙂

16. What are your writing strengths? Dialogue, humor, portraying platonic friendship as equally important to romantic love

17. What are your writing weaknesses? Umm plot? Haha. My stuff is very character driven!

18. Thoughts on writing dialogue in another language in fic? I love writing in Spanish as much as the story will allow!

19. First fandom you wrote for? 911 Lone Star 😇

20. Favorite fics you've written?

Como Te Quiero Yo (how I love you) - Tarlos honeymoon fic (epilogue coming soon :))

love in a series of bursts & inches - follows TK & Marjan, Marjan & Carlos, Marjan & Paul through building their found family from their first year in ATX through present

getting past the wounds of love - see #2 above

All The Stars Are Closer - Tarlos bachelor party fic

Tagging @heartstringsduet @nisbanisba @carlos-in-glasses @fifthrideroftheapocalypse @bonheur-cafe @ironheartwriter @eclectic-sassycoweyes @emsprovisions @alrightbuckaroo @orchidscript @captain-gillian @tellmegoodbye @honeybee-taskforce @chicgeekgirl89 @literateowl @ladytessa74 @welcometololaland @basilsunrise @lightningboltreader @liminalmemories21 @freneticfloetry @herefortarlos @filet-o-feelings @fallout-mars @kiwichaeng @tinyluminaryzombie @corsage @rmd-writes @paperstorm @reyesstrand @never-blooms @decafdino @certifiedflower @irispurpurea and OPEN TAG 🏷️

[taralaurel]

Thank you @decafdino, @sanjuwrites, & @cold-blooded-jelly-doughnut for the tags!

"Nothing stays the same, Carlos."

There's no deadline. No ultimatum. Carlos feels like he's always holding his breath around his boyfriend, waiting for the pendulum to start swinging over them.

He is so busy keeping his head on a swivel, looking for it, that he's caught off guard when his own mother clicks on the countdown.

"It's just a dinner, Carlitos."

She hands over his order of tacos al pastor across the table with that little sigh that almost always precedes Andrea Reyes getting her way. Still, Carlos clings to the little dignity he has, shaking his head.

"Mamá, I'm not going on another date with some daughter of some friend of Tía Lucy's or a second cousin of the woman who sits behind you in church."

"Those were all wonderful women, mijo," Andrea tuts, "pay them respect."

"I did," Carlos nods, "by showing up and smiling through my teeth."

"Ay mijo," she slaps at his hand when he reaches for her quesabirria, "be nice."

Carlos chuckles, licking the contraband melted cheese off his finger.

"I have a feeling you're really going to like this one, Carlitos," Andrea pats his other - innocent - hand.

"You said that about the others," Carlos rolls his eyes.

"The others were while you were in high school," Andrea laughs, "and those were more out of respect to your tía, and abuela, and the church choir director."

"And the mother across the street," Carlos points his taco at her before taking a bite.

"Well, they had just moved in," Andrea waves a hand, "and we wanted to be good neighbors."

"You realize that sounds like you were selling me off, right?" Carlos smirks.

He doesn't say "pimping him out" because he doesn't actually want his mother to choke to death right there in front of him.

"It wasn't just about finding you a relationship, mijo," Andrea leans forward, "it was about finding you any relationship."

"Wow," Carlos deadpans, "gee, thanks."

"I mean," his mother throws her head back, "as in friends, Carlos. If the date went well, then," she shrugs, smiling, "but we also just wanted you to meet people your own age. You were so closed off. Such a nice, friendly boy. But so shy." She sighs, rubbing her son's wrist. "And to appease your tía and abuela and the rest."

Andrea laughs, and Carlos is a little surprised to find that he is joining her.

"So," Carlos rolls his neck, bracing himself for the inevitable, "who is this one?"

"Well, telling wouldn't make it much of a blind date, now would it?"

"¡Ay, ya, Mamá!" Carlos exclaims, goodnaturedly.

"Just go on this last one," Andrea smiles, knowing full well she's already won, "por favor, hazlo por mí."

"¿Uno más?" Carlos quirks an eyebrow. "And that's it?"

"Sí, sí," she nods, sliding her hand from his wrist to his own, gripping it tight.

Carlos agrees. Because of course he does. Because he can never disappoint his mother.

He's terrified he's gone and done just that to TK.

This from one of my current WIPs titled "Mother Knows (Best)", and is being written for one of the @tarlosweeklyprompts 2023 Pride prompts where Andrea and Gwyn set their boys up on a date, not realizing TK and Carlos are already together.

The day is over so I tag...whoever else wants to participate 😂

[possum-quesadilla]

🎁

Hello Bunny! Thank you for the ask!!

Hmm. I have quite a few! Here’s some Time’s Arrow sneak-peeks I’ve shared with my besties on discord!

THE siblings ever. I am insane about them.

Another song lyric I snuck in that I’m proud of

A strange creature noise, which I love writing him doing

Aaaand Beej about to lean on bad habits again!

And I know you probably don’t read Lonely Remnants, but here’s some Barbara and Lydia interactions from the chapter I’m working on for that one! (Spoilers for CorpseJuice’s latest chapter under cut)

I LOVE writing for Larry. I love his stupid accent. It’s so fun

Also, some older snippets from TDWH, because why not? I love my queer cowboys.