#final thoughts on my fanfic i thinks

[wintercloudburst]

well, it's been a week since i posted the final chapter so...

What I’ve Done chapter sixteen thoughts, for those interested (but mainly for myself)

*SPOILERS*

So we finally finish the story... I have been working on this fic since 2021 on and off and finally finishing it brought up so many feelings but overall im really happy with what i've done (accidental pun).

(Side note: the fic title is in fact just based on What I've Done by Linkin Park, because I felt like it perfectly encapsulated Catra's journey throughout the story).

We open up with adora's anxiety relating to a event that has passed, I had been wanting to explore Adora's own feelings of anxiety after writing Catra's feelings towards their newly developed relationship. I feel like Adora was a big anchor to Catra's own struggles but i felt it was important to also show the other side of the coin. Throughout the story we had seen bits and pieces of Adora's struggle with anxiety and her impulsivity when it came to decision making, so I thought it important to show "ok we are together but we are both still struggling to understand one another and struggling to find our footing in this relationship.

I also wanted Adora to find out about Catra's old phone in an organic way (my initial outline had the reveal after their first time having sex last chapter but that felt waay too loaded) and I wanted the knowledge of the phone to kinda hang over them.

ANother thing i wanted was for Adora to switch majors, in a few chapters we kinda get a glimpse of this terrible anxiety she gets from her major, and the way it seems like it doesn't really align with her. I thought finishing her character arc by allowing her to take agency of what she really feels passionate about was really necessary for her as a character. Also I kept picturing her in lil scrubs just exhausted but so happy.

Throughout all the outlines of this story i have written they were always going to throw the phone away together. However, initially i had planned for them to throw it out and THEN get together. which would have been interesting but definitely might have felt a little rushed in my opinion.

I cried lots of times writing this chapter and one of them was in fact, the scene where they are driving toward the camping site. I kept thinking about how Catra would feel, preparing herself to give up on something so monumental and i couldn't help tearing up shdkhfkghdf.

The camp scene: I wanted to illustrate the domisticity that they built and Adora just generally feeling a lot better about her life than the last time we had seen her pov.

As for Catra's letters: when i wrote the second chapter i had written about some letters Catra had written and never sent and i thought... what if the way she lets go isnt just by throwing an old phone out but also by letting go of all those feelings she had held onto for so long.

I couldn't stop crying while writing the letters, specifically the one that says she saw Scorpia's nine year old nephew playing and was filled with sadness.. Catra is finally old enough to view her abuse as senseless, as she watches a kid around the same age as when it had started playing in a party. realizing you weren't the one to blame, no matter how much of a troublemaker you might have been.

And yes... Idk how anybody felt about this chapter but i thought this scene was impactful to ME and that's probably all that matters shdfkhdglf.

The wedding: I wanted to show them being happy years in the future, even if they probably are both still dealing with their individual issues, they are a team. I also just wanted to showcase their friends and family being so accepting of them and celebrating their love

I genuinely had to rewrite the ending multiple times but i feel like it's a good note to end on and I'm happy i was able to work on this story for so long. It just means the world to me!

Anyways thanks if anybody actually reads this for taking the time to read and i hope you guys liked my silly little fanfic !!!

[torchstelechos]

I do think its really important to remember that SY was suppose to be the villain character but its only because of his kindness and newly gained life that he didn’t end as one. In the very beginning of the story we learn that Peerless Cucumber Bro often left comments on how SJ didn’t get his dues and needed to be punished more, and only after he transmigrated did he acknowledge how awful of a death SJ had. He also made point to explain that he only read the book for LBH, which he noted to enjoy his decisive actions and deft ability to kill. Markedly, he liked his brutality and personality over the erotica that the majority of PIDW fans enjoyed. Peerless Cucumber Bro is someone who loves action and the ability to cut right to the chase, something that he does not do and most likely has difficulty with in his world.

Speaking of, it is something to note that Peerless Cucumber bro is rich. He had head chefs, he could pay for a 6k+ chapter book of erotica in 20 days, he noted that he could not understand SJs envy and ambition for power since he lives well, and he even noted to himself that his family was well off. He is incredibly wealthy, and it shows. Which is important to note because he, not once, showed any guilt or remorse on dying and leaving his family behind. Yes, he sometimes refers to people as being similar to his family but he never showed any pain for losing that life like he did when he lost LBH. This is important because I genuinely think SY was depressed and self destructive to himself, which goes against popular HC that he was chronically/terminally ill (I do like this HC and like how its portrayed in fanfiction). It would explain how he ended up dying all alone by himself, and how blase he was to his own life and death.

SQQ is a self destructive force who ended up dying three times, and didn’t feel anything about death itself. He was worried about others and the effect it had on them, but for himself it was up and on again like it never happened. He does not care for his health, had self isolated as SY to the point he died alone, and has a horrible self esteem to the point that he continuously agrees when other people put him down and often calls himself the villain. Even though we have seen the evidence of someone who is always being thrust into new situations and awful plots, he calls himself lazy and easy going. He hides his thoughts and feelings behind his fan and has a remarkably thin face. At the very base of his actions and his thoughts, he is self destructive, powerful, and smart. This is the set up for a villain.

However, when shown the actual people in front of him and forced to act as SJ did towards LBH and his disciples, he flinches from it. He notes that it happening in front of him was different. His entire self soothing comedy monologue went quiet when he had to enforce the Endless Abyss scene, and grieved for the childish innocence he killed from one of his favourite people. SY was set up to be the villain and obviously thinks of himself as one, but can not act as one. If he had the choice LBH would have been his sticky sweet white lotus disciple for as long as LBH wished to be.

His kindness, as seen in the book, is what turned him from being “the scumbag villain” to the protagonist we see in the novels. Which, yes, he is a protagonist! He even has the protag halo that LBH has and its very funny in the meta way for SQQ not to realize this, but thats for another post. But he loves his disciples, he loves his peak lord siblings, he loves his Binghe, he loves his new life, and he is kind. That is what kept him from being the villain he sees himself as, his kindness and love for others. Whether that be romantic, platonic, or familial, he loves the people he has met and he treats them kindly. That is why it is important to remember that he was set up as the villain by everything in the story we do not see, but what we do see is him continuously changing the story to fit a new genre that lets as many people as he can save live. Sorry sorry, I just think about SY being set up as a villain so much. It changes a lot of views I have on the series when I remember the duality of SYs story and character development.

[demonbarberofbeepbeep]

morning toddheads

[thebookofbill]

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

HE’S FUCKING BACK

I CALLWD MY BEST FRIEND IMMEDIATELY TO SCREWM AND TELL HIM ABOUT IT. WE YAVE COLLECTIVELT PREORDERED ALL THREE AVAILABLE BERSIONS. I AM SO SOSP SO FUCKIMG EXCITED

[just-call-mefr1es]

“see the sun, i see the sun, it’s over.”

song: Workers by Hop Along

fic: Taking What’s Not Yours by @staggersz

[blizzardfluffykpop]

Start Anew

Summary: Your best friend, Eric, wants you to meet his brother from another mother, Juyeon. 

Oneshot

Exes to lovers, Non-idol au

Word Count: 1,039

Juyeon X Reader 

[Features: Best friend! Eric]

[A/n: I got this thought while watching Moonrock yesterday… And I wrote it up in like two hours, so enjoy.]

------

You’ve been walking through Gwangju for a while with Eric. To say you weren’t familiar with these roads would be silly. You know these roads like the back of your hand. Your last meaningful boyfriend lived here. You were lost in thought until Eric turned to you excitedly, “I think you would love to meet him!” You blink, trying to remember him saying a name, and he continues, “He's my brother when I'm away from home. His family always welcomes me.” When he turns around, you gulp, hoping you’re wrong because this path is the same path you used to walk hand in hand with Juyeon to his home. It’s not that you didn’t want to meet him. You just knew you’d fall for him again if you saw him again. 

You settle your nerves until he stops at the one house you dread he would. Eric enters the code as if he was entering his own home. He excitedly walks in, and you follow behind him. “Ju! I'm here!” And after a moment or two, you hear someone coming down the stairs. You turn your head to see this fabled brother from another mother, hoping it’s anyone else, to see Lee Juyeon, your old boyfriend. Your heart skips a beat, but you hold yourself together. It wasn't that it ended on bad terms. It ended because you both were going your separate ways. And although it broke you, you both knew long distance. No matter how hard you tried, it wouldn't work out. From behind Eric, you look at Juyeon and see how he's changed, yet all the ways he's stayed the same. Juyeon catches sight of you, and stops at the bottom of the stairs, and puts his hand behind his neck, rubbing it reflexively. Eric grins as he goes up to him and gives him a giant hug, “I've missed you, man!” He cheers, and Juyeon wraps his arms around him. And for a moment, you imagine what it'd be like meeting him with no prior knowledge. From how you'd tell Eric that you think his friend is handsome. And how Eric would let it slip to him by accident. Yet, that's not how you're meeting Juyeon. You already know him inside and out, but that was then. Do you even know anything about him anymore? Does he still like basketball? Is he still slow to react to things? Does he have that same cute giggle? You gulp as you hold back any feelings that threaten to bubble up. 

Eric pulls away with a joyful smile with his arm wrapped around Juyeon's shoulder. He says, “(Y/n), I want you to meet my dearest friend and practically my brother, Juyeon.” Juyeon gives a small smile, and you reciprocate as Eric introduces you, “Juyeon, this is my best friend I met abroad, (Y/n). They saved my ass so many times.” The three of you let out a laugh. But you can't help but stare at Juyeon as you whisper, “Eric...” And Eric cocks his head to the side, “Yeah?” You look at the ground, “Juyeon and I already know each other.” Eric pulls his arm from Juyeon and gasps, looking between you both, “What?!” Juyeon nods, and Eric asks, “How?!” You look at the ground and say, “We used to date.” Eric blinks and looks at Juyeon, confused, “So why was it whenever I mentioned (Y/n) you never said anything?” Juyeon looks at the ground, “Um, I always… I always hoped it was my (Y/n). But I assumed it wasn't.” And Eric turns to you, “And whenever I mentioned Juyeon to you?!” You sigh, “I uh was hoping it wasn't him because knowing he could be in your life, but we couldn't be in each other's… hurt. I loved him a lot, Eric…” Eric gulps and looks between you two again, “Well… um, this is awkward... I'm gonna go and let you two solve this tension…” He heads away somewhere in the house. 

You can't pay attention even if you wanted to. You both start, “So um…” He gestures for you to go first, “I've heard from Eric what you've been up to over the years, but… are you seeing anyone?” He shakes his head ‘no’ as he rubs the back of his neck, “I dated before, but uh… I've always kind of hoped to see you again.” You look down, “I always hoped we'd run into each other again… and that we could start anew.” You fiddle with your fingers, and he asks bluntly, “Well, what if we do?” You look up at him, stunned. And ask, “Really?” “Yeah.” He smiles as you stare at each other and says, “We both miss each other and have wanted each other… so?” You smile, “I'd love to.” And that's when you hear a cheer from the top of the stairs. You both roll your eyes as if catching a child sneaking around noisily to find out what his presents are before Christmas. You both say in unison, “Eric, you can come down now.” You hear him drag his feet, “I just wanted my friends to be happy together…” You laugh before you ask, “Did you figure it out before?” 

Eric rolls his eyes and nods, “There’s only so many Juyeons and (Y/n)s in the world, and even fewer that know each other.” You gasp, “You little brat…” And Juyeon blinks at him before finally saying, “Eric…” Eric laughs before shrugging, “Hey, if it wasn't for me putting two and two together, you two wouldn’t have reunited…” You shake your head, “You’re right, but… You would have introduced us even if you didn't figure it out.” Eric laughs, “You have me there.” He walks between you two before clapping you both on the back, “So, where's our first date, love birds? I'm quite hungry.” You both roll your eyes, and Eric continues, “I'm thinking ramen. What about you two?” Juyeon grabs your hand, “What do you say we eat with kiddo here and ignore him as we catch up?” You laugh, interlocking your fingers, “I'd love to.” Eric pouts, “But I helped get you guys together... You're going to ignore me?!” You both laugh at his expense, and say, “Exactly.” 

[moonchild-in-blue]

Wishing I was Cecil, the weiner-dog 🌭🐶

[camelots-daffodil]

HELP IM BACK IN THE TRENCHES (Merlin brainrot)

[patchodraws]

Ya see, Mac Coyle was supposed to die at 16.

The cancer had rendered her nearly immobile, done such a massive fucking number on her brain that she could hardly count to ten anymore. Half the time, her veins were pumping painkillers instead of blood through her body. She’d been made a husk of the fiery, fierce girl she’d so bravely decided to be for the past five years.

A week later, when KJ went in to check up on her, she was gone. Her heart had plummeted in that instant, any semblance of warmth in her body disintegrated by the painfully unsudden shock of Max finally being gone — and it had all been undone, replaced, moments later when the nurse told her she’d been sent him after a literally miraculous recovery.

Mac had kept quiet about the whole affair when she met her for milkshakes the next afternoon. Completely barring KJ’s hurt that her supposed best friend — the girl she’d spent the last three years pining after all while knowing more and more that she could never have — couldn’t even phone her up to tell her she’d been released, Mac seemed distracted. Distant. Unfocused. KJ had to remind her to even drink her shake every now and then, as opposed to every other time when she’d have to playfully reprimand her for stealing sips when she’d though KJ wasn’t looking.

“I wish I could tell you,” Mac had said as if her seemingly magical recovery wasn’t beyond all reason, “but I’m back now. I’m better. Cancer’s gone.”

“And you never said anything because…?”

KJ’s question had gone unanswered all night. Mac deflected her inquiries, or got notably short with the prodding, and managed to entirely silence KJ into confused and bitter acceptance that her best friend was alive, and she was never going to know why.

The silent they’d stewed in lasted until sundown, and it had done its work grinding KJ’s patience down to dust. Mac hadn’t even half finished her shake by the time KJ stood up and, with a betrayed scowl damming any scathing, choice words, strode back to her car—

And that was when it attacked.

It, because KJ had absolutely no clue what to call that thing, other than definitively not human. Some part of her mind, quiet and distant, seemed to want to ping in recognition of it, but a second glance at the twisted mockery of a young woman with burning yellow eyes tamped down on that thought in an instant. Whatever she was facing, she’d never seen anything like it, and as it approached with bared fangs and a bestial snarl, she feared it might actually be the last thing she saw.

Instead, what she saw was the woman go stiff, accompanied by the sound of flesh being pierced and bone being split; a second later, and she was gone, blown into the evening wind as dust, revealing in her place Mac.

KJ panted in panic, in shock, in disbelief, as Mac flipped a pointed wooden stick in her palm before hastily shoving it into her jacket pocket. “You alright, Kaje?”

“What was that?” KJ asked, her voice wobbling, before her wide stare trained back to Mac. “What are you?”

Mac shrugged. “Cats out of the bag, I guess. I’m the fucking Slayer.”

[the-bi-space-ace]

Another thing that I can’t really get behind in season 3 (aside from the things I’ve already said I disagree with) is how the end rescue from Tantiss actually works out.

Hunter, Crosshair, and Wrecker end up causing more problems than anything else. Everyone else was on their way out when they had to go back to recuse those three and my major issue with this stems from a few things.

1) it made their role in the finale feel… kind of pointless. If they hadn’t gone back for them the stand off on the bridge wouldn’t have happened and Echo, the rest of the clones, and Omega would’ve gotten out without all the extra bloodshed. You could say that ‘Hemlock wouldn’t have died then’ but eh I’m still not really convinced about that. Tarkin still would’ve shown up and probably taken away the funding and imprisoned or killed Hemlock. So. Idk. I certainly wanted them all in the finale but these three didn’t really do much other than get themselves captured and have to have a stand off on a bridge. (Quick side note that the shot of Crosshair and Hunter on the bridge is one of my favorite shots in the entire show and while I wish Wrecker had a bigger role in the show overall and the finale I do love when him and Echo get to team up. Just putting that out there.)

2) Hunter, Wrecker, and Crosshair never actually complete the arc that they have to not only go back to Tantiss just for Omega but for all of the clones. Sure, Hunter mentions rescuing the clones once somewhere in the last few episodes but it never actually feels like a completed arc where the batch learns to stop separating themselves from the ‘regs’. Actually, the clones imprisoned and tortured and experimented on save the batch and many of them die in the process. This doesn’t actually feel satisfying to me. It makes ‘The Calvary Has Arrived’ fall a little flat. The clones, who we already know are loyal and brave and willing to fight for each other, do just that! They do one of the things I love them for and I think it’s always commendable when it happens. But. I really think the batch’s overall arc and growth would’ve hit more effectively if they’d actually went in to save the clones and succeeded in freeing them instead of essentially mentioning caring about the other clones once and then needing to be saved by them.

I think it still could’ve worked if Wrecker, Crosshair, and Hunter were captured and the rest of the group came to rescue them! But only after those three stuck it out and truly cared about rescuing the other clones. That would’ve hit so. Hard. The mutual aid and rescue of each other to solidify that they are now all part of the same team, same community, and repair what was broken through this action. Without the action coming from the three people who have never showed loyalty to other clones it just kind of feels…. Fine? I guess?

Echo still ends up being the one to truly care about the fate of the clones and the batch still ends up really only focusing on each other. There’s no growth in this area other than a single line and that’s just not really enough in my book.

[stopthatfool]

stop-that-fool's ICEMAV timeline for Your jeep. Your Teeth. The coffee that you bought me.

AKA where my icemav's story sticks to canon and where it diverges/changes-- all while trying to make it align with real military/historical events.

Also, thank you @sliderkerner for indulging me and saying that you wanted my timeline posted here!

DISCLAIMER! I am in no way an expert of the US Military. This whole 'timeline' should not be taken as fact or canon regarding TOP GUN. I am making this for my own understanding of my icemav story and to help myself and anyone reading keep track of the timeline. This is just for fun and mostly for me.

Quick note about the time off US Military members get. According to this website, people accumulate leave-- 2.5 days per month of work. I don't think that either Mav or Ice are eager to take time off. I can only see them wanting to take time off to visit Carole and Bradley (as Val Kilmer stated, I also believe that Ice does not have the ideal family). That's why a lot of their work seems back-to-back/never ending.

1986-

-The movie stays the same (Goose dies, intense amounts of sexual tension between Ice and Mav, "You can be my wingman anytime" etc., etc.)

-The FIRST change in canon is when Mav states that he's going to try teaching at TOP GUN. In TGM, Mav said he barely lasted one class. Within my story, Mav lasts until 1988.

Between '87 and '88-

-Ice comes to teach at TOP GUN (entirely for the purpose of his career/'resume' for working his way up for promotions etc., etc.)

-While Ice is there (for around 2 TOP GUN classes) that is when Ice and Mav start getting involved romantically.

-But Ice hates teaching. He leaves mid '88 and joins the Iran-Iraq War aboard USS Enterprise.

Late 1988-

-Mav completes one last TOP GUN class after Ice leaves and follows Ice to the USS Enterprise (a happy accident that they were stationed on the same ship). This then allows them to continue their 'involvement' and allow them to fly together again ("Bullshit, you can be mine" blah blah blah).

1990-

-The Gulf War. According to Fandom Wiki both Mav and Ice have the Kuwait Liberation Medal-- meaning they both fought in the Gulf War around this time. (Btw they are no longer on the USS Enterprise as she was no longer involved in the Gulf War past 1989 (I think))

-In my TOP GUN universe, Mav gets another 'kill' during the Gulf War (I have no idea if any naval aviators did this in 1990 (Mav didn't do this canonically) but it happens within the stop-that-fool fanfic universe). Merlin is also Mav's RIO throughout the the Gulf War.

1991-

-BUT Ice has the Kuwait Liberation Medal (Saudi Arabia) while Mav does not. Mav has the Southwest Asia Service Medal. So, for my story this time in between 1991-92 is when Mav pisses someone off and is moved squadrons/carriers to somewhere in Southwest Asia.

-Both of them, according to these medals, participated in Operation Desert Storm. (Mav also could have participated in Operation Desert Shield due to his Southwest Asia Service Medal.)

-Throughout 1991 they are able to see each other a couple times, but the fact that Mav keeps pissing people off makes it difficult. This is also because Navy deployments on average last between 6-7 months (according to a quick Google search) and for the sake of the story, their deployments and time off in between rarely overlap.

1992-

-This difficulty continues into 1992 where it all comes to a head on Dec. 31st 1992 (Ice's birthday! (Ice does not have a 'canon' birthday, but Dec. 31st is Val Kilmer's and I thought that bday also made sense for Ice)). Que the car scene in ch.4 and the aftermath the next morning.

-Throughout '92, Mav was in Iraq participating in the Iraqi no-fly zones. (I think. I find this UN mandate difficult to understand, especially whether or not the US Navy was involved or not.)

1993-

-Mav and Ice do not see each other in person at all in '93. But as said in ch.4 they-- "...talk about nothing on the phone. Ice never picks him up from the airport again."

-The US Navy also provided air cover for cargo planes that were bringing relief supplies during the Bosnian War. This is where Mav was placed in '93 (pissed off some captain or higher up or something).

-Ice and Mav don't see each other (in person) until '94.

The UNITED NATIONS MEDAL- In the TOP GUN fandom wiki page, both Ice and Mav are listed to have a United Nations Medal. What it does not state, and what I cannot find anywhere online, is what conflict they were a part specifically of for them to receive this medal. There are multiple options throughout the 1990's and 2000's that could have led to this award. BUT for the sake of my story, I will only be considering/applying conflicts that took place between 1994-98.

Between 1994 and '96-

-I think Ice received the UNPROFOR United Nations Medal for his service during the Yugoslav Wars. This is where he was between 1994-95. As I stated in ch.3 he was stationed somewhere in Europe after he and Mav 'break up' (I can't figure out what United Nations Medal Mav could have received-- it's difficult to figure out US Navy specific peacekeeping missions he could been involved in besides UNPROFOR.))

1997-

-It's around this year that Mav uses some of his accumulated vacation days to spend a longer period with Carole and Bradley. Ice is still stationed in Europe (workaholic).

1998-

-After Mav's time off, he's deployed again to Iraq.

As I mentioned in a previous post, not a lot of things happen in early to mid 1998 in regards to military conflicts, BUT Operation Desert Fox happens in December of 1998. I think the military would need to have people around before the operation before completing something of that scale. AKA that's why Mav is there in June.

-Then on an undisclosed date in early June, Mav crashes as stated in ch.1 (“You dodged some crazy bastards up there, then hit a bird. The plane crashed into the ground, and you ejected and landed on some rocks...").

-Mav is transferred to a hospital in California as he needs special surgery for his shattered knee cap.

-Ice has been in California for a couple days when Mav gets there because his paternal grandfather is dying (another happy accident that his grandfather is in the same hospital as Mav (god i love plot armour)). Ice had previously been permanently stationed somewhere in Europe (to get away from his family, Mav, and to work up to a promotion).

-Carole dies a couple days after Mav is released from the hospital. Bradley is now under Mav's legal guardianship. They move into military provided family housing on the Lemoore Naval Air Station with Mav teaching at the SFWSPAC (Strike Fighter Weapons School Pacific) once his injuries heal.

-Ice then reveals that he has requested to be stationed in California with Mav (the request was approved, Ice is now near both his family AND Mav... he's so silly).

-On June 21st 1998, Mav, Ice and Bradley drive out to West California to the beach cottage Mav rented (courtesy of Viper) with the plans of celebrating Bradley's birthday on June 27th (finally someone with a canon bday thank u Bradley).

Anyway, that's all we got so far! I would just like to say again that I am in no way claiming that this is accurate or canon. I also can't guarantee that I understand all of the wars, conflicts, operations, and details of the US military that I stated previously. So if I got something wrong; any of the language I used, details of the wars and conflicts stated, I apologize! Very deeply. From the depths of my soul.

[msmacabre310]

Are there any Encanto projects you're working on right now?

Hi! This message is really sweet and honestly kind of made my day to come across in my inbox, so thank you for that anon!

I do actually have some Encanto projects in progress - I've been working on them for a long time (actually, years at this point) and honestly the biggest one has more than 300k words already written and mostly just needs editing at this point. I got really derailed in my fanfic writing over the last 1.5-2 years between a really rough job, spine surgery, and some mental health stuff unfortunately, which is why I never got around to finishing it.

I've been meaning to pick it back up again soon, but probably won't be able to tackle it for a month or two, because I just took a new job and am about to move across the country next month.

For that particular fic I even got as far as coming up with a title (Children of Wax) and writing a little draft AO3 summary for it:

The materials needed to rebuild a house and a family from the ground up are the same: patience and a willingness to do the work. What distinguishes the two is that there's a natural order to building a house. No walls can go up without a foundation. But putting a family back together? Well, Bruno was never good at doing things in order anyway. ***** Love is an action, forgiveness a choice. As Alma confronts actions of her own, each day is a reminder: many things may be given, but nothing is owed. ***** Ask anybody why Casita came crashing down and they'd say: they couldn't fill in all the cracks. Ask Luz, the woman tasked with restoring Pedro's portrait after it's rescued from the wreckage of Casita, and she'd say: duh, they tried to fill in all the cracks. After all, any idiot could fill a crack. But deciding whether a crack needed to be filled in the first place? That required an artistic eye, an appreciation for the beauty of ugly things, and an understanding that in imperfection there is truth. And what is art about, if not the truth? ***** An exploration of the many ways in which we can hurt, apologize to, love, and forgive the people most important to us.

Anyway, I'm hopeful that it will be able to see the light of day someday soon. It's a really special story that I've enjoyed working on.

[assassinhomecreedstuck]

i cant believe ive played world of warcraft for 20 years

[letapollojusticesayfuck]

smile for the camera (and keep your fingers crossed) Chapter 2: Interrogations, Interviews, and Impromptu Not-A-Dates

So instead of the food trucks, he’d bought a sandwich and a soda from the convenience store (and maybe a magazine too, shut up, he needs the physical proof that yes, he had in fact kissed Klavier Gavin). He’d also bought a pair of nondescript sunglasses and a baseball hat, in the hopes that he’d have a good enough disguise to head back to the office without being recognized. What Apollo Justice had failed to account for, however, was the fact that unlike in the movies, paparazzi aren’t stupid.

Well. Whoops! Didn't mean to take so long to post this chapter, but...here we are, more than a whole year later. Hopefully the chapter's interesting enough to make up for it?

In all seriousness, thank you so much to everyone who's read, commented, and reminded me that there are people out there waiting for the continuation of the story. Somehow I thought I'd already posted the start of this chapter?? Maybe I just thought about doing it so much that I thought it had happened already.

But anyway...I'm going to make sure the gap between this chapter and the next is significantly shorter--you guys deserve to not have to wait for annual fic updates, lmao

As ever, huge thanks to @cubedmango for providing some incredible spot art! And for understanding the "oops, what do you mean i didn't post that?" moment I went through like two weeks ago.

[catastrxblues]

good morning it is now 4 am and i have just finished watching atonement good night

[mishy-mashy]

I was looking at the groovy gumlet tag and saw that there's less than ten posts or so

And my brain, in its resist-the-sleep, thought: well, just write x fanfiction about him

And I immediately had to swat it because to me, Groovy is like. A child. In the terrible age phases of like, thirteen. He is physically so small. NO.