#ficcy sticks

[silver-flame-alchemist]

Really really excited to announce I have a RedBubble shop! Come check out my stickers!

They're inspired by my AO3 fics, and the Fandoms I love; give em a look!

[iamamythologicalcreature]

An Ask Game for Writers to Procrastinate Working on Your WIP(s)

(Not like I need the assistance, but I'm so thrilled to be thought of as a writer that I'm totally doing this.)

Thank you so much for the invites @aristocratic-otter, @bookish-bogwitch, @shrekgogurt, @ic3-que3n, @ivelovedhimthroughworse, @drowninginships, @best--dress, @you-remind-me-of-the-babe, @monbons, @thewholelemon, @whatevertheweather, and @youarenevertooold! (I think I might be the last one in the 'verse doing this, but that won't stop me from tagging more people at the end.) I've loved reading everyone's answers!

Okay. Here we go. I am absolutely using my flimsy claim to authorhood to answer these. >.>

1. 🦈Tell us the name of your/ one of your WIP(s):

The Haunting of Simon Snow

2. 🍄Describe your WIP/one of your WIP(s) in the format of “___ + ___ =___”

Construction Worker!Simon + haunted manor house = a most interesting summer job

3. 🌍What tags or warnings will your / one of your WIP(s) need if you intend to share it?

Well, it's a ghost story. You can draw some conclusions from that.

4. 🧭An alternative title to your/ one of your WIP(s)?

A Victorian's Gothic

5. ⚠️Which WIP your most likely to finish or update next?

It sure as hell better be Haunting. I mean, my goodness, it's looped around my brain like a too-patient boa constrictor, just sloooowly squeezing.

6. 💾What is your document of your WIP/ a WIP called? (not the stories actual title but what you’ve saved it as)

snowbaz.scriv is my catch-all Scrivener file for all ficcy things

7. 🖍Post Any sentence(s) from your WIP.

There’s a person that I used to be. Magic I used to hold, magic that held me. I have done everything I can to forget that feeling, because it was never supposed to be mine. I was never magic. He’s magic. He’s magic, and I can almost touch him. He’s magic, and he can almost hold me. I live on the edge of almost all the time, so that’s enough. (It’s never enough.)

8. ♻️A scrapped idea for your current WIP.

This was originally planned as a story written in letters. (Doing that with something else, now, and it works way better in a different story.)

9. 🤔What’s a story you’d love to write but haven’t even started yet?

I'm going to stick to snowbaz fanfic for this, because if I broaden it any further, this list will instantly become quite long. (I have a lot of original story ideas.) For snowbaz, though? Well, there's the one I'm planning for COTTA. There are a couple AU's that I've written way too many notes on. And then a Fangirl crossover fic that I sincerely hope to someday write. (Technically I started it, but only a few hundred words at this point.)

10. 🤡How many WIPS are you actively working on?

Actively? One. Maybe two. Kinda thinking two, but the second one is new and more of a game at this point, so we'll see. (Not quite so actively I also have my Baz fic, my "Silence" fic where Baz successfully steals Simon's voice. It's roughly (super roughly) outlined, and I've written several scenes, but it's on the back-burner for Haunting. And COTTA. No more new fics after that, though! I really want to tell that story!)

11. 🛠Is there a scene or anything in the WIP you are struggling with right now?

That's funny. What a question. XD YES. Yes, there are scenes. I'm designing Pitch Manor to get through this damned scene LOL

12. ❤️Not a question, just a second Kudos to send.

Thankee kindly!

On the off chance there are any fic writers left out there who haven't yet done this... Tags! @mooncello, @cutestkilla, @blackberrysummerblog, @hushed-chorus, @fatalfangirl, @onepintobean, @j-nipper-95, @facewithoutheart, @angelsfalling16, @noblecorgi, @alexalexinii, anyone else who wants to. Cheers!

[dont-offend-the-bees]

Your writing is really good, so... 33 and 34?

🥺you're so sweet, thank you anon! 💛💛💛

33. Do you want to be published some day?

Hm. Yes and no. If I ever get to the point where I have an original idea I love enough to write it in full, it would be pretty sweet to get it published, but I don't really want to deal with the pressure of book deals/deadlines and having to market myself on twitter or whatever! I'd say that's a soft maybe. I technically am published already but for like, tiny snippets in local-ish publications! I struggle with formulating ideas big and original enough to like, make an actual Book out of them.

34. Five years from now, where do you see yourself as a writer?

Hopefully, still having lots of fun with it! Whatever happens, whether I start writing stuff I can get paid for or whether I stick to the fanfic, I just wanna be enjoying myself, really. So few things in my life atm that I actively enjoy doing and you've gotta hold onto 'em, y'know? But I dunno, maybe striking out a bit more into like, local communities/publications; getting some validation from places other than the internet would probably be good for me! (Although I do LOVE my ficcy internet circles. Hopefully five years will be long enough for us to finish the bloody 20s AU xD)

Get to know your fic writer!

[chaifootsteps]

I love how Vivzie is "reclaiming" Hell by portraying every single gay ship as toxic and abusive. Meanwhile the male/female ship is the only healthy one. And the only trans character as like 2 lines.

At this point I'd rather go to regular old Christian hell. It's probably less homophobic lmao

Given the choice between demons sticking pitchforks into my butt for being gay and another Stolas whitewashing, I'm taking the pitchforks.

(I actually don't think Fizz and Ozzie are toxic and abusive. Just very Yaoi Wattpad Fluff Ficcy.)

[user-needs-new-hyperfixation]

Do you have any headcanon for mycroft and sherlock parents?

My brain's a little fried tonight so just gonna link an old post. Sorry for not being more creative this time!

Headcanon-y/ficcy thing about the Holmes parents and Sherlock and Sherliam.

I've headcanoned and ficced "Sherlock's dead Disney mom" on multiple occasions. (In fact, I'm only just now writing a fic where she IS alive.) Their father gets the short end of the stick in my headcanons for no particular reason, and I've had him range from "caring but distant" to "verbally abusive" depending on the fic. Literally all of my headcanons are based on tttttteeeeennnnnnyyy tiny scraps of canon info. Sherlock keeps his accent because it came from his mother's side, so he must be fond of her and maybe she's dead. Sherlock is outright annoyed by Mycroft poshing himself up, but presumably their father also served the queen in a similar role and was likely pretty formal himself, so it suggests Sherlock didn't like his father. Entirely conjecture, of course. But, y'know, it's just for fun lol.

Thank you for the ask!

[mortifying-macaroni]

im really starting to like your ship! can I just say that I love the old man x brat trope a little too much that's going on there Andrei and Gretchen are so different from each other yet they are kinda the same in a way? Though at the same time they do balance each other out nicely like we can see that Andrei starts to loosen up around her at least a little while Gretchen starts taking things more seriously when she joins the Sabbat. Always love it when they're straight up taking the piss out of each other those are usually my favourite parts! it's giving married couple vibes haha I just love the chemistry they both have in the fanfic as well as in your artwork. You truly are talented at everything you do and i hope to see more of them. Cheers!

Anon you better get the fuck over here so I can cuddle with you and your humongous galaxy brain right on the meat couch cause I'm just- SQUEEEEE!!!! THANK YOU FOR THE WONDERFUL AMAZING WORDS AND THANK YOU TO THE MOON AND BEYOND FOR READING MY BABY!!! 🖤💝💖🩷 DUDE, you absolutely get it! I'm telling you! I'll forever preach about the excellency of that trope!

You see, they do need each other. Andrei is someone who's not used to facing defiance from his subordinates and he most def doesn't let that go unpunished when he does face it in those rare instances, HOWEVER he lets Gretchen remain unscathed, not because she was "The Camarilla's newly lost, most prized possession with so much intel" but for the reason that her lack of fear fascinated him. Her fire is unlike anything he has ever seen or experienced in another, her young spirit and moxie entertain him. There's never really a dull moment with her. He gets a certain thrill when they argue, but on the other hand, sitting down and talking cordially about their love for the grotesque also serves as relaxation. It's their common ground. She doesn't try to "fix him" in the slightest; that's one of the many things he appreciates about her. He loves her not only for the way that she makes his beast roar, but the way she tames it when her own one comes into play. After centuries upon centuries of solitude, Andrei finally found the perfect half who can handle his worst while also recognizing his best, all while showing him that it's alright to put his guard down every now and then- that cracking a warm smile doesn't diminish his sinister nature.

As for Gretchen, she's found the perfect mentor in Andrei, despite all their squabbles, she does look up to him and tries her best to accept that the path to gaining respect is treacherous with little to no shortcuts in her situation. Her turning over to the Sabbat toughened her, hardened her heart while simultaneously teaching her how to work harmoniously with her pack. The whole trial was a catalyst to her being reshaped into a weapon of destruction that was on a quest for power, validation and freedom. With great patience Andrei helped forge Gretchen into the weapon that she wanted to be. Though she did shed pretty much most layers of her "human side", her rather lighthearted nature couldn't be purged (not that Andrei would actually want to get rid of it anyway). She achieved tremendous growth and maturity as a vampire thanks to him and his centuries worth of experience. And exactly through him, she found the liberty she was looking for and so much more: love, respect, self-improvement, partnership and she couldn't ask for anything else.

Anyway! Thank you again for reading my ficcie & admiring my art 🫶🖤 So glad you're enjoying those two grumpy bastards. I have a whole lot planned for them, don't you worry, my sweet. Hope you'll stick around to find out 😘 Bless you, love you and I hope you're having a fantastic day/evening! 🩷💘💝💖💗💓💞💕

[b2bmarketingclans]

Suppliers & Exporters find Indian Buyers

In this blog, we will stick to the discussion about how to find suppliers & Exporters in India

Online Marketplaces: You can look for Indian buyers on online marketplaces such as Alibaba, IndiaMart, and Dial42. These platforms have a wide range of buyers and sellers, making it easy to find potential buyers.

Trade Shows and Exhibitions: Participating in trade shows and exhibitions related to your industry is a great way to meet potential buyers from India. You can showcase your products and services to interested buyers and establish business connections.

Business Directories: You can find potential buyers in India through business directories such as the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI), and the Indian Chamber of Commerce (ICC). These directories have a list of registered Indian businesses that are interested in importing products from other countries.

Social Media: You can use social media platforms such as LinkedIn, Twitter, and Facebook to connect with potential buyers in India. You can search for relevant hashtags, join groups related to your industry, and reach out to potential buyers through direct messages.

Government Agencies: You can seek the assistance of government agencies such as the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, the Export Promotion Councils, and the Indian Trade Promotion Organization. These agencies offer various programs and services to help exporters find potential buyers in India and other countries.

By using these methods, you can find potential buyers in India and establish profitable business relationships. It is important to research and vet potential buyers to ensure they are trustworthy and legitimate before engaging in business transactions.

[ezzydean]

Trick or treat - AsaSugaDai

come trick-or-treat in my inbox requesting ficcies and I’ll either treat you to some fluff or humor or trick you with a horribly twisted sad AU (I’ll use a random generator to pick trick or treat) send me “trick or treat” and a character(s) or ship in my inbox and I’ll write you a short little thing (I’ll be doing these all of October so send away!)

treat

“Maybe self-improvement isn’t the answer,” Daichi says as he drops his backpack onto the floor and kicks it a few times for good measure.

“Self-destruction it is,” Koushi calls from the bedroom.

“How about not?” Asahi asks.  “I feel like that is kind of an extreme.” 

Daichi shuffles over and flops onto the couch next to him, curling up tight against Asahi’s side with a pout.  A few seconds later Koushi joins them.

“I don’t think it’s that much of an extreme,” Koushi grumbles.

“You also think that applesauce should have actual chunks of apples in it and mages and wizards are the same thing.”  Asahi sticks his tongue out at the face Koushi makes at him.

“My opinions are not invalid, Asahi.”

“Nope.  Just slightly skewed and more than a little questionable at times.”

“You’re the one who doesn’t like to step on—”

“Can we get back to my personal crisis now?” Daichi wiggles around until he’s fully tucked between the two of them.  “And get back to the bickering slash foreplay between you two later?”

“Just because you asked so nicely,” Koushi teases.  He kisses Daichi’s forehead.  “What’s got you so out of sorts today?”

“Shitty day in class.  Shitty day at the gym.  Shitty day all around.”

Asahi tugs Daichi closer and plants his own kiss on Daichi’s temple.  Daichi sinks into the couch cushions with a sigh.  Asahi shares a look with Koushi; it’s not a content sigh, not yet, but they can fix that.

“Are we combating the shittiness with scary movies, overly sugary expensive coffee from Yui’s shop, too much candy, or junk food?” Koushi asks.

“Or do we need to take a quick trip out of town and hit up the woods behind Chikara’s place?  Go frolicking in the woods and stomp on some crunchy leaves and find some shiny rocks?” Asahi offers.

“Yes,” Daichi says.

—

They grab coffees to-go from Yui’s shop, along with two bags of sugary pastries and a couple pocketfuls of candy, and head for Chikara’s house.  After a few hours spent wandering through the trees and stepping on every crunchy leaf on the path they shuffle into Chikara’s house and take over his spare bedroom, collapsing together in a pile of limbs buried under a pile of blankets.  Asahi buries his face in Koushi’s neck and hides behind Daichi’s broad shoulders when the jump scares get to be too much.

When Chikara pokes his head in just after midnight Daichi gives him a sleepy smile, Koushi and Asahi curled around him fast asleep.

“Want to watch the last movie with me?” Daichi asks.  

Chikara glances at the tv and shrugs.

“Why not?  I haven’t seen this one in a long time.”  He flops himself across the foot of the bed.

—

Daichi wakes up warm.  Asahi’s breath is warm and damp against his throat.  Koushi’s breath is that odd mix of warm and cool against his stomach.

He takes a breath and smiles.

Today will be a good day.

[skyward-floored]

Also if you don't mind... maybe i could request a little ficcy or something? I don't really have any specific prompts... you know what I like after all XD

I sat down and just straight up wrote this so here you go Tellie, no editing no nothing just some skyward sword zelink <3

————————————————————

“Link? Sleepyhead, wake up.”

Link hummed tiredly, opening an eye and looking up at his wife.

Zelda was smiling down at him, looking a little exasperated as he tried to wake his brain up enough to figure out why she wanted him to stop sleeping.

“Hmzuh..?” he mumbled, and Zelda huffed out a laugh.

“Link, wake up, we need to go to bed. You can’t stay here and sleep.”

Link stared at her tiredly, then looked at their surroundings with half-lidded eyes.

It looked like they were outside somewhere, fabric tickling his cheek as a stick or something dug into his back. It was dark, a couple stars twinkling above him, and Link felt a wave of confusion go over him. Why was he out here again..?

Oh right... he and Zelda has decided to eat outside after a tiring day of work on the Surface, and he... had fallen asleep. Apparently.

He looked up at Zelda, who’s lap he had obviously fallen asleep on, and gave her a tired smile.

“Are you sure we can’t just stay here?” he murmured, and Zelda shook her head, leaning over and pressing a kiss to his forehead.

“Sorry sleephead, but it’s going to be cold tonight and the last thing you need is a cold,” she said softly, and Link groaned as he sat up, immediately leaning back over and resting his head on his wife’s. “If nothing else do it for my sake so I don’t have to share the bed with a sniffling nightmare,” she teased, and Link hummed as he nuzzled into her hair a bit.

“I guess if it matters that much to you...” he murmured, and Zelda turned her head and gave him a soft kiss.

“It does. I don’t want you sick,” she said softly, voice warm. “Now come on, it’ll be more comfortable inside anyways,” she cajoled, and Link sighed as he dragged himself to his feet.

“Alright, I’m coming,” he mumbled, and Zelda steered his head onto her shoulder as they walked down the hill they’d been sitting upon, Link dozing against her.

He didn’t really notice when they reached the house, nor did he really pay attention to Zelda helping him slip off his boots and outer tunic. In fact, the only thing he was really aware of was when he was finally steered into bed, Zelda’s arms soft and warm as she curled up next to him with a sigh.

His wife gently pressed another kiss to his forehead, and he fell back asleep in her arms.

[toushindai]

3 and 4!

3: five things that are absolutely not going to happen next

Charon is not going to step into the argument between Persephone and Demeter; Hades and Nyx are not going to rush to Persephone's side; I don't think the fic would be well-served by arriving at Iasion's mid-argument; Demeter isn't just going to back down and admit she's been a terrible mother and unpleasant to be around; Persephone isn't going to just flounce out of the argument though I tell you for free that she is sorely tempted to. bonus sixth thing: under NO circumstances is the resolution of this fic going to be "connection and reconciliation is inherently a positive goal."

4: name five things that COULD happen next, logically

a. They could reach Iasion's in Asphodel, I suppose. But quite frankly this fic is not about their relationship with him. The trip out to see him is barely about him. It's just to get their argument out of the festive atmosphere of the feast.

b. Persephone could admit, to her mother alone, that she spent a while on the surface. This would have the disadvantage of contradicting at least one other fic I've written which I'm quite fond of, but the advantage of rubbing Demeter's nose in I hated you so much that I spent decades hiding utterly alone instead of going back to you quite thoroughly. Moreover, this is something I want to rub Demeter's nose in eventually, and I don't know that any other opportunities are going to present themselves given that I'm mostly out of ficcy things to say about Hades. lies down on the floor. makes muffled noises into a pillow.

c. Persephone could claim that her father was a better parent. See point A above, I don't think that's quite the purpose of this.

d. Persephone could channel Zagreus's vibe in some way or another. She already does this a little bit--earlier she was struck by a vicious desire to just exit the argument but she remembered Zagreus's tenacity and decided to stick with it. So conceivably she could keep using him as a reference point.

e. Persephone could reveal not just her anger at her mother's whole thing but a bit more of her sadness, her disappointment at looking at all of this with adult eyes and seeing a glimpse of her mother's very human sadness and frailty and how that has caused her to be insufficient. Admits her own wrongdoing in abandoning the spring, etc.

[lhs3020b]

Axiom’s End, by Lindsay Ellis

I finished this book last night, and it’s very likely the most interesting book I’ve read so far in 2021.

This is a book that’s hard to discuss without spoilers, so please be aware that the Spoiler Light is on for all commentary below the cut...

SYNOPSIS

Cora Sabino’s life is a bit of a mess. She’s dropped out from college, is currently living with her mother Demi (a situation that neither of them like) and is working in a soul-destroying temp job at a crap company. To make it worse, her estranged father Nils is a Julian Assange-type figure whose continual leaks of classified documents have made Cora’s family a surveillance target for various three-letter agencies. The year is 2007, Bush is the President and it’s the era of peak War on Terror hysteria.

Then a meteor comes down just outside Los Angeles. In the aftermath of this event, Nils releases documents alledging that the US government has secretly held a group of aliens - the so-called “Fremda group” - prisoner for years, and that the public is being misled about the occurence of this First Contact.

Cora wants nothing to do with Nils or his schemes - the man is a toxic narcissist who abandoned his wife and children, after all, and has been a source of nothing but trouble in their lives. Then, one night, Demi’s house gets burgled.

The burgler turns out to be Ampersand, an actual literal alien, who recently arrived on Earth. The meteor that smashed windows across Los Angeles was actually his spacecraft (the fact that the descent seems to have been uncontrolled is a detail that’s never elaborated on in the story, interestingly). Ampersand is very much on Earth for his own reasons, and they may not align with any human concerns. Ampersand wants data on where the Fremda group may have been kept - as Cora’s family are relatives of Nils, he assumes they may know something, hence the burglary. Once it becomes apparent they don’t, he resorts to a Plan B. And Cora finds herself ensnared in an escalating mess of both human and alien schemes.

DISCUSSION

Ampersand is a character who is hard to work out in some ways. On the one hand, it’s arguable whether “he” is really anyone’s friend. (A small side-note on the gendering: Cora notes in-universe that assigning “him” a male gender is probably misleading - it’s doubtful that Ampersand sees himself as being either male or female in the human sense - but his translated voice sounds male, so in the end she just decided to roll with it. Ampersand him - or itself/themself - doesn’t seem to care one way or the other about this particular issue.)

Ampersand’s behaviour is quite amoral. He’s happy to deceive people, lie by omission and - as we learn later on - has some quite grim things in his backstory. His evident dislike of humans becomes particularly ironic when you learn what he did to learn how human language works. (Yes, Superorganism, we have moral flaws. But honestly? You’re not any better.) He also has no problem abducting Cora and sticking a chip in her - but, that said, he also passes on a few opportunities to Kick the Proverbial Dog. Once he makes his agreement with Cora, he actually sticks to it and keeps up his end of the bargain.

Also, his underlying motivation - trying to help a group of refugees who have fled an alien genocide - is sympathetic.

Lastly, there are the events of the ending. He could easily have abandoned Cora while she was severely injured after the final encounter with Obelus - in fact it probably would have made his escape easier, and he might even have been able to save the Genome if he had - but instead he stops the bleeding, repairs the worst of her injuries and then takes her straight to the nearest hospital. (Whether he also settled her hospital bills is never addressed...)

But on the other hand, Ampersand is frankly the architect of many of his own problems. It’s clear he’s lied to everyone about everything, including his own people in the Fremda group. As the book goes on it becomes less and less clear whose side he’s actually on - honestly it’s not entirely clear if he even knows himself. (He stops Cora from killing Obelus, when she very nearly did.) It’s also notable that had Cora actually followed Ampersand’s directions late in the book - roughly, “leave this place and never come back, no matter how you feel”  - then what remained of the Fremda group would almost certainly have been exterminated by Obelus. There are only any survivors at all basically because Cora decides to take matters into her own hands and sneaks back to the barn when Ampersand isn’t looking.

There is a definite theme in this book about narcism; Nils is the most obvious example, but I think it can also be applied to Ampersand and the Superorganism more generally. Ampersand has trouble wrapping his alien head around the idea that humans have agency or indeed any “skin in the game”. He also has a low opinion of our species as a whole - but the more you find out about the Superorganism, it cannot be argued that they’re any better than us, just older and more advanced. Lastly, the Superorganism itself seems to have the same problem - they seem to be baffled that the transients are so hostile, but it’s no surprise given that the Superorganism never misses a chance to try to kill them whenever it meets them. Meanwhile the Autocrat’s plan to solve a political problem through internal genocide has clearly backfired - whatever you think of the situation, dragging a third species (us!) into the Superorganism/transient mess has not worked out to the Autocrat’s advantage. (If nothing else, the Autocrat is now having to expend resources on a situation that does not directly-relate to containing the transients and while the Superorganism’s capabilities are clearly large, they’re also ultimately-finite.)

People think they know better, but each clever scheme just escalates the mess they’re already in. If you’re in a hole you should stop digging, but instead this lot go and fetch themselves a Channel Tunnel-style boring machine!

As for Cora, she’s in the “ordinary person in extraordinary circumstances” role. Honestly, she does pretty well, all considered. You couldn’t really blame her if she’d ended up sat in a darkened corner rocking backwards and forwards, but she doesn’t. She stays on her feet throughout, manages to react effectively to changing circumstances, and more-or-less threads the needle on a whole mess of competing factions (Obelus/Ampersand/the Fremdas/the US government). Her relationship with Ampersand also evolves over the book, from intense mutual suspicion to something a bit more nuanced. There’s also a hilariously fan-ficcy bit near the very end, though I won’t spoil it if you haven’t read the book :)

One thing I couldn’t quite work out was, when exactly did Ampersand fusion-bond Cora? It was apparently subtle - she didn’t seem to specifically-notice anything when it happened, though the aftereffects became increasingly obvious. (Apparently it also didn’t play out in quite the way Ampersand expected either, though given that Cora’s central nervous system is completely different from his, it’s a bit surprising that he thought it would behave predictably. Though, this arguably does bring us back to the point about the narcissm issue - do something without any thought to the consequences is a very narcisstic way to act.)

Lastly, the ending does leave quite a few things open. What did Luciana actually know? What are the Fremda group survivors going to do now? Who or what is the third species? Are the transients really here on Earth and if so, why? But there are going to be sequels, so I’m sure we’ll find out :)

[sortasirius]

I’m sorry this is random but do you think Bucky made that cake he had in the last scene? It looked homemade and now I can’t stop thinking about him baking a cake for them and I’m.... so soft

I-

Sorry now you’re getting ficcy stuff because I cannot control myself:

Imagine him wandering around a grocery store in Louisiana, trying to figure out the layout of the store.  He smiles at the people who recognize him, answers questions from a little boy who follows him down three different aisles.

“Do you really know Captain America?”

“Sure do.”

“Does he help you fly?”

“I like to keep my feet on the ground.”

“Is he your best friend?”

Bucky hesitates at that, because he’s not sure, at first.  He was best friends with Captain America once...is he now?

“Yeah, yeah he is.”

The little boy’s mom helps him find vanilla and baking flour, and gives him a wide smile as he high fives the little boy with his vibranium arm.

He’s staying at a hotel tonight, even though Sam and Sarah insisted he stay with them.  Look, this was going to be a disaster, and he wanted the whole thing to be a surprise anyway.  No reason to destroy Sarah’s kitchen and ruin the surprise in one fell swoop.  He had looked for two days to find a long-term hotel so he could have an oven for the night.  He buys cookware and measuring cups and everything (he just ends up giving it all to one of Sam’s neighbors before he goes back to Brooklyn), almost burns the place down twice, but ends up with a chocolate cake that doesn’t look half bad.

The frosting is the fun part, even though it looks like he’s in that Scarface movie on Steve’s list he watched last summer by the time he’s finished.  He even sticks little Oreos on the top to really finish it off.

He carries the cake to the cookout carefully, afraid to knock it against the sides of the little container the old lady who helped him find the eggs at the grocery store suggested he buy when she found out he was traveling somewhere with it.

Sarah’s boys run up to greet him when he arrives, Sarah kisses him on the cheek, Sam gives him a genial hug, and they all poke fun at his frosting skills when they get a look at his masterpiece.

Finally, for the first time since Steve disappeared in time, Bucky knows peace.  He knows family.  He knows love.

[fictropes]

Soooo my favorite moments in your fics that i remember at hand:

- the whole Spoilers, that young Dan and their talk, just ahhh made me cry,

- in Inherent Love, i really liked that Dan is a lawyer and his place with those gay mags is stuck in my head, also when they visit animals 🥺 and ending was so good,

- Elastic for the metaphor, i remember reading the sentences over and over again to fully understand and decompose it in my head,

- Still Not Calling It Fate my beloved, ahhh the slowburn so good, and I love Dan's friend and overall mood of the story, and it's hilarious,

- and of course, Electronics, idk the smut there is burn into my mind, i can't escape it or explain it but yeah, and i liked how stupid they were and how u can fit whole ass story in so little words.

Idk i probably remember weird things but I really enjoy your writing. Sending those ✨creative juices✨ to you!

Ahhhhh!!!!!! <3 thankyou so much! it's very nice when people remember little specifics and they stick? idk like... it's just like oh! that part made an impact so yes.... this was very nice ;_; thankyou so much for taking the time out to say it!!!! i appreciate it lots! <3 elastic especially cos that was v personal to me and the most scared i've ever felt about a ficcy

[incoherentbabblings]

What are your favourite comics anyway?

Oh! Oh! Oh! Okay. Full disclaimer. We’re going for what comics I re-read over and over again. Are these comics...good? Eh. Are they bad? No, I don’t think so. Some were meh to wow! when first released that time has either been kinder or harsher to, but I don’t think I have a series or a run or a title which is I like which is like... hot guilty garbage. Though, of course, feel free to disagree. There are some authors on here which people will not want to touch with a barge pole, and I totally understand and encourage not touching them if you don’t want to.

Having said that, here are my favourite popcorn comics (largely Titans and Batfam because I am... basic): 

The Flash (2016) issues 39-45 + Annual #1

Having said that, Flash time first. People think Williamson is a real hit or miss writer and I do agree, but I think this whole arc is one big hit. It’s frantic in its energy, I love Gorilla Grodd as a villain, I love the modern Flashfam trying to help, I love how Wally coming in to help totally turns the tide and the mood. I love how everyone looks at Wally like… this guys is powerful, more powerful than any other speedster… but also noting there’s something very fragile about him. I didn’t include Flash War in this because I’m still waiting for the payoff for that angst regarding Wally, but this arc… mwah. Wallace Rudolph West being vindicated as the greatest Flash (whilst allowing Barry to be flawed and to lead his family)? Yes please. Also I love Carmine’s art. I gather it’s hit and miss for some folk but I love the line work. Also Carlos D’Anda’s issue (come baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaack draw Dick and Roy again your work has gotten so much cuter this past decade) is a beauty too. Big ol’ eyes.

 (Under the cut ‘cause this is LONG)

Batman Dark Victory

One of two Loeb stories for me. And yeah sure Long Halloween is objectively better but…jelly bean

Also, angry traumatised Dick smacking a dying man with a stick. What a legend.

Gates of Gotham

Cass! Damian! Dick!Bats! Tim! A mystery villain! World building for Gotham! Stuff exploding! Batfam banter! Trevor McCarthy art! This bizarre panel of Jim Gordon holding Tim’s hand like he’s checking the time?

It’s one of the last ‘pure’ Batman stories before the reboot – Bat Inc aside – so it’s how I like to read the Batfam’s relationship by the end of that universe. Everyone’s a lot more content, proud Dad Bruce, happy and settled Dick and Damian, Cassandra returning home, Tim chopping off the emo hair… it’s all good.

Grayson (particularly #5)

I know why people can’t stand it. The circumstances leading up to it are bog awful. Opinions on Tom King’s writing has only grown more spliced with time. The (sex) jokes are too on the nose and hit too close to home for many. The cheesecake art is too stilted for some. But! Issue #5 is my favourite single issue story. Ever. You never have thought boxes in this series, because everyone is lying, but you aren’t told when. You never know how genuine Dick is being at any given moment, until it is just him and the baby. I love how single-minded it allows him to be. I love how he flat out lies and manipulates to protect that little girl, whilst also caring for Helena. About how seriously he takes his job of protecting Bruce and his family (and that’s why he’s even doing the stupid spy thing in the first place). And maaaaybe it’s unrealistic that Dick could outlast Midnighter crossing the desert, but screw it. Bruce can be better than metahumans all the time. Let Dick get an issue to be so to. Saving a little girl who is probably going to grow up to be akin to Superwoman. Just because he’s given himself that responsibility. He’s going to double cross twenty groups at the same time and come out clean as a whistle. And he’ll cross a desert with a newborn to do it.

Light of my fricking life.

Infinite Crisis

I…I like that things go boom. John’s is very good for that. Also, the Nightwing and Batman moments howowheheheheheheeeeeeee. Almost wish Bruce had shot Alexander. I wonder what would have happened?

(Brief side note: Graphic Audio’s adaptation of this is great fun. I dropped a bowl of cereal at the part of Superboy Prime versus the Titans. Cassie’s scream when Pantha’s head got punched off was a bit…intense. The No Man’s Land one is very good too if you have cash to burn - the voice actors are the same in both and Nightwing’s voice actor has this lisp and I don’t know man... I love it. He’s now the voice in my head for Dick).

Titans/JLA and The Titans (1999) issues 1-25

The Titans are now known I think for not being a very proactive hero group. Books struggle with balancing team dynamics versus plot, and this one is no exception. I know people don’t want to touch Devin Grayson’s stuff with a barge pole. My justification for this is flimsy I accept that, however, the JLA/Titans comic was the very first comic I read when I was like six or seven. I was rummaging through my brother’s room as a nosy kid does and this was at the top of his pile. Thank god for the little info boxes as each Titan was captured/referenced. I fell in love with Kory, I fell in love with Dick, I fell in love with Donna (oh Donna…) and then I tumbled down a hole and pretended I hadn’t until about six years ago. So that’s nice. So yes, this one is one hundred percent nostalgia based. 

But honestly, Linkara did a retrospective on this event comic and series years ago, and his reasons for loving it are the same as mine really, so go watch those if you have like five hours to kill. When Devin leaves the comic remains strong for just a moment then... absolutely plummets off a cliff. So I really wouldn’t bother with the second half of the series but hey. You do you.

Teen Titans/Outsiders: The Insiders

More Geoff John’s explosions. My first comic that got bought for me. My brother walked in to the shop and said: “I need a comic for my sister where Starfire gets a good showing” and the men went… ah yes.

Eleven-year old me was like EXPLOSIONSSSSS but also was intrigued by Kory and Dick’s bedtime convos (perhaps…I was a bit under the age bracket for this book - Kory gets a good showing huh?) but uh. Anyway. Also this is when I was thoroughly enamoured with Roy. This crossover is typical Winnick and John’s angsty angst with overly poetic narration and tropey tropes which, combined with what came before and what was to come for the Outsiders, can make both series such a slog to get through, but in isolation, I think it’s a real fun crossover which gave everyone a bit of time to shine and some real fan-ficcy moments (very self-indulgent, and I love that in a comic).

Teen Titans: Year One

I love Amy Wolfram and I love Karl Kerschel. It’s a good intro to those five characters with cute stories. Does exactly what it says on the tin. Batman is demonstrably a major prick in this, even after de-brainwashing, so it’s obviously going with the ‘Dick is only half as functioning as he is thanks to Roy, Wally, Garth and Donna’, which I can get behind 100% depending on what story they are trying to tell, but it’s just… it’s still sad to read. I just think the art is brilliant at giving each of the five very clear characteristics just from their body language, and you know immediately what each character dynamic is like with another.

Batman Hush

The other Loeb story. Again, it has what I like in a Batman story. A mystery, the family, appearances of villains, flashbacks and brooding, fighting, Jim Lee’s Nightwing being hunky… Ahem. It’s a fun read I think. Also, I really like Loeb’s Bruce? I don’t think people talk about it much. But he’s really chatty in his own head. And he’s witty and dry and funny. I like that! Also, Babs is such a backbone of this story. I adore that. She’s treated well here, I think.

Black Mirror

I flipping love this arc. I love it. I love the two contrasting but deeply disturbing in different manner art styles, I love the mystery, I love Babs role in the story, I love Tim’s little appearances and the banter with Dick, I love the weird villains and the terrifying ones, and how you think one is one of the two only to be revealed to be the other or both. I love Dick’s investigation and how he goes about it differently to Bruce. I love Dick’s relationship with Jim, I love the flipping reference to the vultures and owls seemingly following Dick (a whole reboot before Snyder got to tell that story), I love the monologue about how James thinks Dick is weird and weak for his compassion and love, when really that’s his greatest strength, I love Jim wanting so hard to believe James is trying against Babs’s cynicism, but also does try to get an unbiased opinion of someone who is proven good at reading people (Dick) and does what he needs to when his son is actively harming people, I love that ambiguous ending and the questionable science, I even love the Joker’s one (1) scene with Dick. I love this line,

I love Snyder at his best. When he’s good…mwah. Great.

…And yeah. That’s my story.

[phoenixfeatherquillwriting]

Happy STS! How did you come up with the title for your favorite WIP? Was it ever something different? Have you ever thought of changing it? -tabbykatwrites

Hey there! I have two main WIPs and one ficcy thing at the moment.

The Equexia-verse is called that because uh...a proper title Will Not Stick. The continent on which the story takes place is called Equexia, and I consider it a “verse” in that it has a bunch of interconnected short stories rather than a single big, overarching plot.

Four at the Gates is called that because it’s about the Four Horsewomen of the Apocalypse, and the first real burst of inspiration I had for it was the Riders approaching the Gates of Heaven through an ominous fog as the angels watched from behind.

My fic doesn’t have a title right now, I usually just refer to it as the “Seven of Nine fic” or “the Voyager fic.” It has my OCs in it. (Seven is portrayed by Aris.)

Can you tell I’m not very good at titles?

[mickeymagpie]

another immortal husbands thought. have they ever accidentally acquired a child.

oh ho ho ho ho. actually technically no, but also technically yes.

“Are you lost?” He asks the little girl standing on his doorstep, because she’s staring up at him with a disconcerting intensity, and doesn’t seem to be selling or asking for anything, or accompanied by an adult. She can’t be more than ten, and her high-quality perfectly-clean coat is at odds with her unruly black curls, which look like they’ve never seen a brush. “Where are your parents?”

“Dead,” the child replies simply. “Are you Henry Morgan?”

He stiffens, because no one knows that name anymore, except his husband. They’re centuries and centuries and planets away from the life of Henry Morgan, and now this girl– not quite a girl, then, he realizes, because she’s nodding with a sage and professional kind of solemnity.

“I’ve been trying to track you down for a while.” She smiles, the innocent smile of a child, and reaches up to shake his hand. “Morna Linwood.”

Henry shakes her hand just as Adam comes to the door.

“Who’s this?” Adam asks.

“Morna Linwood,” Morna repeats, offering a handshake to Adam, but not seeming too bothered when he doesn’t accept it.

“She’s like us,” Henry says, watching Adam’s face for his reaction. Adam looks briefly surprised, but recovers quickly, gazing down at Morna with apparent disinterest and obvious distrust.

“I can jump off the trackway if you don’t believe me,” she offers.  

“How old are you?” Adam asks.

“Just over three hundred,” Morna replies. Six hundred years younger than Henry, and stuck at a much more unfortunate age.

“Why did you come to find us?” Henry asks. Morna shrugs, looking at her feet for a moment, finally appearing vulnerable in the way expected of a child her size.

“Lonely, I guess,” she says finally. Henry looks at Adam, thoughtful. Adam looks at Henry, disapproving. They stare at each other for a few moments before Adam concedes with a small huff, heading back inside.

“Well, you’re welcome to stay for a while,” Henry steps aside, victorious, to allow Morna into the house.