#go read this amazing story I had the honour to create art for

[nonsensefromtheabyss]

Hello! I am OK1610 from ao3. I loved Riddle V.I.Z.ion so much! Such an amazing story with great characters! I loved the aliens especially! Your story inspired me to weave my own tale for these characters as well as a design element for Diz (the support beams) for my refs of the aliens (credited in the post)! I cannot wait to read more about them and their pasts!

Any chance we can get a little sneak peak of what is to come?

('Riddle Classified' sounds like a great name btw!)

Hello!! Lovely to see you again!

Literally had to spin in circles at work when you said my story inspired you, was not prepared; I’m honoured <3 and I hope you have fun creating! You art is so perfect!!! I love how the style is still reminiscent of the game art but far more detailed and much more fun to look at—it’s so vibrant! They’re all super adorable (rotating Quiz in my mind rn) and it looks like such a sweet AU—I’m an absolute sucker for stories where things end well (which I don’t think anyone would guess from my own works XD.) Would be super intrigued to know more when you’re ready to share!

(Definite spoilers for my future Riddle School fic below the cut!)

Dutifully adding a tally to Riddle Classified’s column! I swear the title is going to be the bit I decide last with this thing, it’s certainly giving me the most trouble XD

As for sneak peaks, hmmm; it’s a little early in the process for me to feel like I’ve got much that’s actually interesting to share, but I could tell you about the first chapter? It’s post defection, a few years into the V.I.Z.ion Project, and involves Quiz being kidnapped by bounty hunters/pirates. He has to stall for time, turning them against each other as a distraction, while Viz and Diz sneak around and kill off the people stationed at other outposts before picking him up. 

It’s told from the perspective of the pirates, who really have no idea who or what Quiz is, and is set in a snowstorm to really play up a theme of isolation/being trapped. Horror movie vibes. They know something is going on outside, and they know their contacts are going cold one by one, but they can’t figure out why—maybe it’s just the storm like their leader says, maybe it’s something else. They’re stuck with this unknown alien who’s sounding way too plausible when he says the roof might cave in, or there’s something outside, who talks them into telling him the scary stories they’ve heard about rogue soldiers in the area. If they go outside and try to run, they’ll definitely die of exposure, but if they stay? Unclear. And surely nothing out there could be alive. The noises are the wind, just the wind, they’re not in danger, nothing’s getting closer, everything’s fine.

It’s a good opportunity to play with Quiz’s unique skill set of appearing very harmless to manipulate people, gives me the chance to do some exposition on the alien’s species lore, and—most vitally—sets a pretty sinister tone for the V.I.Z.ion crew actually in action! A good jumping off point for what’s to come!

Another chapter I’ve got planned as a definite inclusion (though I don’t know where it’ll go yet; probably late in the collection) is them kidnapping Phil. It’s from Phil’s perspective, and I’ve honestly just been galaxy braining over it for a few nights now; he just barely escapes them when they see him first (runs through populated places they can’t follow, gets on a bus, his dog attacks Quiz when he gets home) and then spends the next few days as Dib from Invader Zim trying to convince his family that Aliens Are Definitely Real And Also After Him. They don’t believe him. One night he wakes up to find that everyone else is knocked out, and the aliens are in the house searching for him. He doesn’t get away this time. Very stressful times for Phil—I don’t think I’ve ever written a non-stressful time for Phil. I don’t think I’ve written a non-stressful time for any of these characters.

With this chapter, I’m hoping to do something with the perspective shift, which is another reason I think it should come late in the formatting. While the aliens are very much villain protagonists in this, having everything be through their eyes will eventually make them familiar—maybe not exactly relatable, but certainly comfortable. The jarring dissonance of exchanging that highly militarised, desensitised perspective to an actually human one—the P.O.V of someone we, the audience, know—when he’s terrified and being hunted by them appeals to me. Particularly as, at that point, I will have written scenes of the V.I.Z.ion aliens interacting with humans from their own perspective, and the difference between what they think and what people think can be thrown into even sharper relief.

I realise I’ve told you about the only two chapters that aren’t from the alien’s direct perspectives, so sorry about that! But I hope they made for a satisfying sneak peak <3 maybe this isn’t what you meant at all… I’ve never actually done a sneak peak before!

[hardlypartying]

Sooo I just binge read silver spoons and I cannot express how grateful I am that you exist <3 Call me dramatic but I literally CRIED out in relief when I stumbled across your fic. There aren't many Riara fics to begin with especially ones with more than 2 chapters lol so let me tell you that I rejoiced when I saw your lengthy one. Thank you so much for creating this work of art. I couldn't stop reading it. Every chapter was a treat. It's so well written and the dynamic between Kiara and Rafe is just ahhh *chefs kiss*. I live for the slow burn between them you have no idea and you're doing an amazing job at building that tension. I love the pacing of this story too- it doesn't feel rushed at all and your characters are well fleshed out. I also find Sofia's part in this very interesting and am curious to know more about her relationship w Rafe. Whether you'll be leaning towards the platonic side for them or something more. Hopefully if it's the latter then it'll be completely one-sided on Sofia's end cause I selfishly just want Rafe all for Kie hehe. Whatever happens I am here for this story! It's so delicious. Thank u thank u thank u for quite literally keeping that Riara dream alive and I can't wait for the next update <3

Wtf this is so sweet 😭 now I’m crying!

I would never call you dramatic because I feel you!! Finding a fic that just resonates with you is heaven sent, a blessing, and I’m so honoured you feel that way about silver spoons 🥹💗 You just hit on a lot of my concerns in this message and it’s filled me with so much gratitude that you reached out to tell me that— these kinds of messages are the reason I write because I love being able to talk to you guys about this random ass idea that I had in my head and now you get to join along for this ride.

As for Sofia, chapter 12 is going to get into her relationship with Rafe a little more. It’s a bit elusive so far and because at its core it isn’t much lol. It isn’t one sided but it also isn’t going to transpire into anything meaningful in this fic!

Thank you so much for sending me this message, I’m grateful that you exist 💗

[garoumylove]

hi! would you tell about your drawing and writing journeys? how you started, what inspires you, if there were any obstacles etc - everything that you'd like to share! ive seen some of your old arts and can say that you've made a great progress, also some color scemes that you choose for your arts, like red/pink/white are very beautiful ヽ(*・ω・)ﾉ

Ah thank you so much for such a kind ask!! (I'm writing this on my PC so I can't use emojis but just imagine a lot of hearts inserted here!! ^.^)

I'll try to keep this as brief as I can as I don't want to go through my life story and sound self important!

But basically I've been writing since I was pretty young, like middle school. I was lucky to have some amazing English teachers who always encouraged me and praised me! I wrote for English class and just for myself since I was like 12. At first they were just fantasy stories and then as I got into high school it became romance stories and fanfiction (that I never published). I have hundreds of pages worth of writing from my high school years omg! I'd stay up late instead of sleeping writing this stuff haha!

I also wrote some crack LOTR fanfic with a friend in high school and we published it but it got taken down eventually and has been lost to time.

I stopped writing for a while because I got older and life got in the way. Then in 2017 I got very sick with some mysterious neurological thing (and i'm sick again now unfortunately) and to cope I got into anime and manga because it was the only thing that held my attention enough to distract me from a pretty horrible health crisis.

I watched OPM as one of my first animes and then read the manga. I ended up just falling in love with Garou's character. As someone who was bullied by other kids and adults in my life pretty constantly I saw A LOT of myself in him and understood his anger and secret insecurity. I felt so much for him that it pushed me to start writing little romantic drabbles again in my diary. Eventually, someone showed me AO3 and I saw people writing xReader fanfiction which I had not heard of before but I was instantly hooked and decided to try write a silly little smut just for fun, just to try it out. I posted it on AO3 in 2019 and got an overnight very positive response and a couple of people asking me to write more. I was very pleasantly surprised, so I did! And then after a couple of fun smutty xReaders I started to write things that were more emotional, a bit deeper and I became very passionate about it.

We get so little of Garou's life and thoughts and feelings about things outside of his hero hatred and his bullying and insecurity that I wanted to fill in those blanks. I wanted to explore the depths of his mind and character beyond the desire to be a monster. Because of course he is very human and very insecure inside just like many of us. I also wanted to explore that romantic/sexual side of him and his thoughts and feelings about that since that's also a basic and huge human need for most people. So that's where my writing inspiration comes from! I feel very lucky and honoured that so many people have read my fanfics and enjoy this characterisation of Garou I have created.

As for the drawing, well I really loved drawing as a kid but I wasn't very good and it's not something I took too seriously even though I loved doing it. It wasn't until I got into One Punch Man and Garou that I became really passionate about learning how to draw. I wanted to dive into the OPM universe and create, create, create. I wanted to make Garou and other characters come to life through my art (and writing).

The ship I draw (Garou and Eiko) is based on my xReader fanfic "Love/Hate". I just fell in love with my own story so much that I wanted to draw it as well as write! So the two things have come together nicely in that way :)

For my colour schemes...I just really love warm colours, that's all I can say really haha! No matter what I draw I always end up gravitating towards the warm reds. It's like a habit/addiction I guess lol!

My ideas for drawings are a mix of completely my own original ideas and using memes or photos etc as reference when I'm feeling the art block. But I do love drawing Garou, light of my life, my love. I've probably done it over 500 times now =^.^=

I hope I managed to answer your questions! Please let me know if there's anything else and thank you again for your kind words!

[natigail]

Phil Lester is someone who makes me feel safe in a lot of ways. In honour of his birthday, I want to put some of them onto the page. 

I can turn to his videos when I want a laugh or a smile. I still pause to properly read all the blink-and-you’ll-miss-it text he likes to put in his videos. I go back and watch my favourite videos, sometimes just putting them on in the background while I’m doing something else. His voice is soothing to me, his laugh is utterly infectious (somehow even more when he’s laughing at his own silliness) and he is such an excellent storyteller. 

I started watching he was publicly out but even before that he’d created this lovely and comforting community of (overwhelmingly) queer people and I could never have predicted how many friends and how much comfort I’d find here. When I tentatively dipped my toe into his fandom, I was a newly maybe queer person. Now I’ve learned a lot more about myself and I’m proud to be who I am, in part because of Phil, Dan and the people I met through watching them.

I had only just started dabbling in writing fanfiction when I got really into (Dan and) Phil’s videos, and it was the most natural thing to start writing about the two of them. The fact that such creativity and art was always accepted, even encouraged by the boys themselves, is something I will never take for granted. I was scared about writing rpf at first, but it has brought me so much joy and made me grow so much as a writer to be allowed to borrow inspiration from these two wonderful men. I have told so many stories that are dear to my heart even now.

Videos these days are more of a rarer treat, since the gaming channel shut down and Phil started to relax his video schedule a little. I wholeheartedly support that and honestly I think it means that we get higher quality videos because you can tell that he has so much fun with what he chooses to make. He is creative, uncompromising and he’s secure with himself. I might start to miss him when we hit the two weeks mark but I know a video will come, sometimes when I least expect it - and often when I most need it.

Happy birthday to Mister Amazing himself and thank you for always creating such a safe space for so many people like myself. You are an inspiration and a wonderful lad and we are lucky you decided to pick up that camera and make your first video blog. 

[creativeashproductions]

Welcome to Our Hell // Charlie Gillespie

IN WHICH: Charlie asks the reader a simple question that leads the man to fall down a rabbit hole of reading. Despite the panic you felt along with your fellow writers you still introduced and helped him navigate the pool of fanfiction.

Warnings: None (it’s actually possible with me??)

Words: 1k

A/N: I couldn’t resist making a tiny blurb about the revelation that Charlie has read fanfiction, that he enjoyed reading it. I actually talked about how Owen and Charlie would react to jatp fanfiction so sorry for manifesting 😬

ALL FICS MENTIONED ARE TAGGED.

TO BE TAGGED SEND AN INBOX/ASK PLEASE!

Masterlist

Your eyes slightly glanced up from your computer to where a certain someone was humming along to an Eagles song. His hips swayed as he slipped the egg in the pan, unaware of your eyes following him. He was entirely in his own world while he left you to finish up what he was led to believe was just school work.

The innate cheerful aura the male gave off regardless of the landscape had always been one of your favourite things about him. He saw the joy and good in things most people tended to overlook. It didn’t matter if he had his guitar in his hands or a cooking tool; he’d shoot that smile that melted your heart.

“Whatcha doin’?” Charlie questioned, peering over the island in the apartment you had rented in the city.

“Just doing some work.” You replied, beginning to type once more with a sudden burst of inspiration. You barely noticed he had slid the egg onto the plate before he was at your side.

“Are you writing for Tumblr?”

That one sentence froze you. Fingers stiffened above the well-loved keyboard of your computer you’d invested a fair amount of money on. Goosebumps swarmed every inch of your skin that suddenly lost a few shades.

Your skittish gaze found purchase in the warm ocean of hazel that bore no judgment, “Did you just say Tumblr? H-how do you know Tumblr Charlie?”

The Canadian hummed in response with a thoughtful expression, “I saw this really cool artwork, and it had a link. I followed it to Tumblr. It’s such a cool site.”

“It’s a hell site.” You deadpanned at the young actor who held no contempt for the different creativity methods unleashed in the fandom. Your e/c irises stayed stuck in a battle of colour with his own eyes.

“If it’s a hell site, why do you go on it?”

“It’s like a car crash or a burning building. It’s horrifying, but you stay to see which outcome ends up winning.” You had to carefully find the words to eloquently describe why you kept returning to a site that was frustrating at times.

“There’s so much diversity from songs, traditional art, poems, dances, covers and now writing. It’s insane.” Charlie chucked as he nudged the plate of breakfast he’d cooked for you, “I’m really digging the ‘90s Lalex books-”

“Fanfics. Fics for short.” You offered the man who held a slight expression of confusion that quickly cleared up, “And the writing has been going on since the series dropped. I’d be rich for every fic that referenced Luke’s aversion to sleeves.”

The boisterous laugh filled the room as Charlie hunched over. His arms wrapped around his midsection.

“Don’t you find it weird that there are fics about you?”

“Weird?” Charlie spoke, scrunching up his nose adorably. His hazel eyes lightened further, “Y/N, I’m not weirded out. I’m honoured that I made enough impact to have people writing about me.”

A small smile broke across your face, “You totally have a secret account, don’t you?”

“No. NO.” The whisper come in the dark of the bedroom where both sides of the couple should be sleeping. You had been before Charlie whined with his phone attached to his hand.

“Baby?” You groaned, turning to find him still invested in the world of fanfiction. His hazel eyes, tear-filled, raised to meet yours, “What are you doing up at-3am?”

“I just finished reading this adorable fic about Willex. The euphoria had me reading the next fic without reading the summary.” Charlie cried to the bedside light you’d turned when his sniffles woke you up. The near distraught man didn’t fight as you gently took his face out of his hand.

“Oh, Char.” You hummed, bringing the brunette into your arms as he mourned whatever was in the fic.

“Luke died with his girlfriend waiting in the Orpheum. She lived and began a life with Bobby..er Trevor.” Charlie whispered against the soft comforter you’d only recently bought, “They never got to say goodbye. As Luke’s portrayer, I just know the double betrayal took him to his knees.”

“Ah, you found @losttinwritings​ ‘See you Again’. That one is a doozy.” You winced, remembering the heartbreaker, “You, however, need sleep.”

Charlie’s eyes quickly met the phone sitting in between you two, “But-”

“Here.” You handed over your own phone after clicking your secondary account, “It’s one of my all-time comfort fics when I’m feeling sad. @dream-a-little-bigger-x​ always nails it out of the park but ‘Love Shack’? Immaculate.”

Charlie’s eyes flickered between the phone in his hand to your eyes twinkling in the albeit shitty lighting the cheap lamp offered. The vulnerability in your eyes at offering your blog took his breath away. This was a place where you were safe in your thoughts with no judgment.

“Oh! And @cherrymaybank​ created ‘A Romantic’. A beautiful story in the eyes of a hopeless romantic Luke and the stoic, independent reader.” You offered with a grin and sigh of happiness, “I’ll have to start tagging you in the ones I adore. Definitely gonna introduce you to @merceret​’s work; it’s always amazing regardless of how long the fic is or the distance between work. I’d wait a thousand years for her.”

Charlie’s lips spread to reveal that smile that always had you falling back in love over and over again. It even eased the panic you felt viewing Charlie’s rather honest confession he put on his Insta story. He’d caused panic within the writing community as he boldly announced his pride, awe, joy and love for all the fandom provided creatively. 

Next thing you knew, you’d started sending each other fics you’d think the other would enjoy; it often ended up with the same fic being sent. Charlie didn’t address the topic publicly to allow the buzz of panic to die down. He also never discovered your personal writing blog either, well, that you knew about.

Sometimes you’d find him sniffling over a story where Luke discovers his girlfriend was unknowingly pregnant and never got to see him child grow up. That one also tore your heart apart and you’d been the one to write it. Just a secret you’d be taking to your grave.

Tag List (PLEASE SEND AN INBOX TO BE ADDED! I CANNOT GUARANTEE YOU WILL BE ON THE LIST VIA POST COMMENTS!)

@safehavenmuse @siennanoelle01 @whiterose291 @mell-bell @blackhood5sos @ficrecsideblog @ifilwtmfc @deadpoolgirl23 @crappy-unicorn @sunsetcurve-h @elioelioeli0 @lovesanimals @popcrone818 @lolychu @deepsleepnat @tenaciousperfectionunknown @aunicornmademedoit @just-a-writer-here @simp4reggie @faithiebrock01 @overlyhypedup @differentsoulrascalsalad @aesthetic-lyss @versaceapa @carleywhittaker @lostgirl219 @itsalexx21 @elllaoo4 @merxxleighann @mediocremunge @fantomlovesjuke4ever @dpaccione @oswin05 @kaylinfayezink @aberette13 @faithie-brock-gillespie01 @eharvey0218 @overlyhypedup @benstormy @auriandthepussicats @sarcasticsagittarius1998 @whothefuckstolemykeds  @siriuswvrld @princessvader15 @xoxbloodreinaxox @heimdoodle @joshy-obx @lovesanimals @oopsiedoopsie23 @am3l1a-24 @flying-solo-without-you @jaskiers-sweetkiss @lostrandomfangirln @must-be-a-weasley-92 @jatp-holland @ilikealotofpeople-younotsomuch @dxlanhxlland @dasexydevitt13 @ifilwtmfc @arianagrandes-things @kinda-really-lost @marinettepotterandplagg @ssprayberrythings @morgandamrose @thedarkqueenofavalon @zukoshonourr @crybabyddl @spooky-season-bitch @kcd15 @morganayennefertyrell @magnet-girl @all-in-fangirl @kinda-really-lost @tenaciousperfectionunknown @badwolf00593 @blowakissbabe @talksoprettyjjx @thesweetestsinner @kaitieskidmore1 @writerinlearning @aiofheavenandhell @sageellsworth05 @link-102 @thesweetestsinner @merceret​ @imsydneywalker​ @sunsetcurvej @nicoledawson5604 @merceret​ @kexrtiz​ @biqherosix @lukewearingbeanies​ @dangersolns @soverignparker

[gumnut-logic]

Thunderfam Appreciation Post

I’m giving this a new post to prevent scroll city, but the original and several reblogs can be found by clicking the above link. Also, it’s an excuse to post a piccy of Virg cos any excuse, really :D

Many thanks to @willow-salix for writing this question list :D

Before I start, I just want to say that I value every member of this fandom. I’m often hopeless at communicating in group settings so I don’t speak to many peeps, but that is my failing, not anyone else’s. You are an amazing group and you have supported me and each other just brilliantly over the last nearly three years that I have been hanging with you guys. Thank you ever so much for all your wonderful support and encouragement. I’ve had so much fun and created so much stuff…you guys are amazing. Thunderfam rock!

Please note that my memory is pathetic and I will fail to mention everyone. Please do not take any offence if you aren’t listed below. That does not mean I don’t value you, I do, it just means I have swiss cheese between my ears.

-o-o-o-

Your favourite writer of your favourite boy.

@i-am-chidorixblossom  You are a whumper and comforter after my soul. You speak the Virg :D @vegetacide I adore your turn of phrase and your description is to die for.

The person who's stories you will always read.

I try to read most fics that come across my dash, but there are a few that have me jumping up and down. @i-am-chidorixblossom , @vegetacide , @tsarinatorment , @scribbles97 , @the-lady-razorsharp , @janetm74 Of course, I regularly fail at this as some of you write a huge amount of fic and I am often playing catch up, but fic!

Who wrote the first fic you read in this fandom.

I landed on FF.net back in May 2018. I immediately ran into @the-lady-razorsharp who I knew from another fandom ten years prior and she was absolutely wonderful, drawing me in and introducing me around. I gobbled up several of her fics in the process.

Person you can talk to for the longest without a break.

I am hard to get started, persistence is required, but once started, it is usually hard to shut me up. @scribbles97 @vegetacide and @tsarinatorment have all discovered that. Dangle a Virg, a plotline and stand back.

Person you can't be trusted to be left alone with.

Um, @vegetacide and I have plotted out the entirety of Warm Rain together…poor Virg. Add @the-lady-razorsharp into the equation and Virgil ends up with a beard, dressed in leather and riding a Harley – that was a hilarious evening.  Between @tsarinatorment and @janetm74 Virgil gets grey hairs and has to go rescue Scott – because Scott inevitably ends up in the story :D  @scribbles97 gets the blame for Gentle Rain – expand your horizons she said ::headdesk:: But then there was the time I left one random line about Eos visiting Virgil in the shower and went to bed. I woke up to hilarity and chaos as Thunderfam took the idea and ran with it! Love you guys :D

Person whose fic made you cry the most.

I know there were at least two fics that made me cry, but for the life of me I can’t identify them. I did cry writing my own fic – Flannel – and don’t tend to reread it for that reason. Purupuss traumatised me with A Quiet Day to the point I had to put it down and walk away for a bit ::wails::

Person whose fic made you laugh the most.

I have no idea. I know there are fic out there and I know I’ve read it, but without a complete list of everything I’ve read, I don’t have a clue.

Person whose fic made you think the most.

Aaaargh, I don’t have a master list so can’t remember everything. Staring at my paltry favourites list on FF.net (which was mostly gathered three years ago and never maintained), Purupuss’ ‘Brothers in Arms’ and her whole Quiet series has me wanting to write a Scott-Virgil telepathic fic (and she has given me permission to run with the idea, I just haven’t actioned it yet). Counterpoint by Swallow and Amazon is amazing and likely contributed to Sotto Voce.

Person you have laughed with the most.

I’m really not liking this ultimate one person idea. I’ve laughed with a lot of people in this fandom. I’ve candy cannoned a bunch of you as well :P There has been mad plot cackling, evil conspiring, fic written to stir pots and delight on purpose. Hell, I’ve even written fic that was purposefully a giant virtual hug because I’m so far away that even if half the world wasn’t in isolation, I couldn’t hug most of you. Sure, I talk with some of you more than others, and there is laughter in those chats…oh, god, so much cackling, poor, poor Tracy boys. But then there are also so many smiles both vocalised and not. Thunderfam is one of my happy places. Bring on the belly laughs :D

Your comfort fic that you'll go back and read again on a bad day.

I will often resort to my own fic when I’m really down simply because it helps me get to sleep :D and it is kinda tailored to me ::grins::  (and my memory is that bad I often forget what I wrote anyway – yes, it is that bad) But there are also a few on my FF.net favourites list. Mostly hurt/comfort in a Virg flavour. Cheesycheese, nhsweetcherry, A Small Rescue by Nalina, Breathe Easy and Under the Weather by @loopstagirl – several of hers, in fact – the Virg ones :D Pretty much anything that has Virg fainting and being looked after apparently :D Chiddi and Veggie fic, of course.

Favourite piece of fan art.

I have never been so honoured by artists before. This fandom has some amazing skills and I have been gifted some beautiful works. You guys are amazing (I keep saying it like a broken record, but you are).

Again, I’m stuck on having to list one and I can’t. I think Fanart Appreciation Month in January pretty much summed up my opinion.

Who have you known the longest in the fandom.

@the-lady-razorsharp followed by @vegetacide both wonderful peeps. I can’t miss out on @weirdburketeer either for her amazing support almost from day one.

Favourite OC.

I have to say that I really enjoy reading about Ray from @i-am-chidorixblossom ‘s fics :D He is so gentle and kind and just ::sigh:: Virg likes him lots :D Selene by @willow-salix is, of course, a major presence in the fandom and amazingly written. @hedwigstalons ‘ Claire is lovely.

Person who supports your work the most.

The Thunderfam? There have been some wonderful people who support all the time. @hedwigstalons  @cg29 @janetm74 @weirdburketeer in particular have been amazing support liking and commenting on just about everything I write. I honestly don’t know how they do it. Plus several peeps over on FF.net and Ao3 who support me over there.

And then there are the poor souls who put up with me in chat and listen to my wibblies and whining and character checks and field random chunks of writing that get thrown their way. @scribbles97 @vegetacide @the-lady-razorsharp  @tsarinatorment @i-am-chidorixblossom @onereyofstarlight @godsliltippy  @willow-salix @janetm74 all have had random passages thrown at them at all times of the day and night by a crazy me begging for feedback. Does this work? Is this in character? Am I insane? What the hell is Scott doing? Is this John??? I give up, tell me what to do? Virgil is driving me insane! So, um, yeah

Person who's progress you are the most proud of.

I love those peeps who appear in fandom who start off poking around commenting and generally being lovely and then all of a sudden get out their own pens and start writing and they are frickin’ amazing! Both @janetm74 and @hedwigstalons come to mind in this department. Like holy cow – ‘here is my first fic and I’m not sure’ ::reads it:: Omigod! Where did you come from? That was amazing. Sit down here now, keep doing that writing thing, bloody hell! I think being brave enough to pick up a pen and join in is a major thing :D

Person who's story you think is underrated and should be read by more people.

If I find fic I like, I reblog it and shout about it. What I like is definitely skewed in a Virgil direction and this dictates often what I’m going to read first. I can’t reblog what I haven’t read. So, this equation will always be skewed by ‘reasons I haven’t read a fic’ which mostly involves either Virgil or the fact I’m juggling RL. So, my answer to this is if I think a fic needs to be shouted about, I shout about it.

Something you think people would say about you.

She’s nutty.

Silliest 'thing' you do with someone.

I’ve been known to write fic on the fly directly into chat windows to try and distract peeps going through shitty times.

Favourite pairing you now Stan because of someone's fic.

Virgil/Kayo because of @vegetacide for reasons I have blamed her for multiple times. @the-lady-razorsharp and @weirdburketeer were accessories to the fact.

Favourite headcanon from someone's fic.

Um, Virgil and coffee? I got that from somewhere and it has infiltrated my fic…a lot.

Ultimately, though, I feel most people I interact with contribute to my fic and how I’m feeling. This has been a wonderful experience. I try to return the support as much as I can, but sometimes it is a juggle between writing more, my stupid fluctuating mood, the demands of RL and my own creative drive. I hope I’ve helped a few peeps, because you guys have certainly helped me ::major group hug::

And yes, I hug a lot, because to be honest, I have no other descriptor to communicate how I feel, so you get buckets of hugs :D

Tagging the Thunderfam. Feel free to grab these questions and run with them. You’re all part of the gang whether you write, read, art, gif, screenshot, chat, babble, stare at Virgil all day...I know I do a lot of staring.

Nutty

(Thunderfam rocks!)

[rason-rodd]

Opinions and Reviews

My opinion on ... The Rebirth Arc of Red Hood (aka why I’ve been rather absent from the Fandom for almost a year)

More than a year ago or so, I started losing interest in the Red Hood Comics. Between disappointment and frustration, I decided to leave the fandom or at least take some distance for a little while, a decision which, sadly, almost came naturally.

But the disappointment I felt was not caused by my followers. On the contrary, I’ve always been thankful and honoured to have them, to have you. The Red Hood fandom and more largely, the DC comics fandom, allowed me to meet so many amazing persons, persons who have always supported me and my work as a fanfic writer and I hope they’re doing okay wherever they are right now.

No, my disappointment was caused by the directions the Red Hood Comics were taking, directions that, as a huge fan of Jason Todd, couldn’t tolerate.

Red Hood and The Outlaws Rebirth started in 2016. And whether you liked the New 52 or not, you had to admit that the Rebirth arc started very well and the very first issues were very promising, offering the Jason Todd fans always wanted to read and that was in continuity with his predecessor from the New 52. Jason was this troubled leader fighting psychologically with a trauma he couldn’t leave behind and trying to win the trust of a father who never really trusted him while doing his best to help the city of Gotham and his new friends, putting aside all his personal problems mentioned above. Truly an amazing character with an incredible character development and an outstanding potential.

Lobdell, along with Dexter Soy’s magnificent artwork, brilliantly brought this Jason Todd to life and Red Hood and The Outlaws became, to me, one of the best DC Comics of its time. The story with Black Mask was coherent and realistic and creating this Dark Trinity was a genius idea. The members of the Outlaws completed each other and bonded in ways the previous Outlaws never did. No stupid love triangle. No unnecessary love story. Just lonely people finding a family in each other.  Separating the team was a big mistake and in my opinion the series started to go downhill because of it. 

After issue 26, nothing was the same. Soy and his art was gone. Jason’s iconic costume changed drastically and the writing as well as the storyline started losing quality. But I remained faithful and kept on reading. I was hopeful. I was wrong. The arc in Appleton was pointless and completely unmemorable. Trying to bring back Willis Todd was a good idea but the attempt led nowhere. Jason willing to be the “Prince of Gotham” and led the criminal world by dethroning Penguin could have been great but the story was messy again. 

And then Issue 37 happened and I was done. New Outlaws ? Seriously? Who are theses kids anyway? Jason as teacher hired by Lex Luthor? Are you kidding me?  I literally HATED that arc. The characters were not likeable or endearing. The story was terrible and completely WTF. I couldn’t see where Lobdell wanted to go with it. And Jason was not the Jason I used to love. The way he used to be portrayed - which I adored so much - was completely gone. And so I stop reading and I “left” the fandom, bitter, disappointed and truly frustrated because of what they had done to my beloved character. And as if that wasn’t enough, DC started doing sh*t with Nightwing as well (Ric Grayson was a joke right?)

I stopped reading for months but I tried to stay informed and finally when I learned that Artemis and Bizarro were back I gave RHATO an other shot only to be offered what? A useless (yet cute I have to admit) Jaytemis romance that didn’t go anywhere and another goodbye to Bizarro (Btw, what the hell is Trigon doing here?) and to the Outlaws.

So in a nutshell, RHATO Rebirth started with a bang with an amazing art, a good storyline and endearing characters. But, DC and Lobdell didn’t use its potential and it started losing quality after issue 27 until it reached a point around issue 37 where it became lame. Lobdell’s Jason Todd and his story ends far below the expectations I had placed in this series at its beginning with unresolved mysteries (Artemis full past + Willis Todd) and a few messy last issues that didn’t bring anything to Jason’s character development. 

Let’s see what the new team has in store now. 

Oh and yes, I’m back !! ;-)

[tasteofsmut]

Tasteof Smut Fest Masterlist!

It’s September, and we’ve now come to the end of the Taste of Smut Fest! Us mods @eva-eleanore​, @tasteofshapes​ and @veelawings​​ would like to thank everyone who participated in the fest by creating such gorgeous works or who left kudos and comments for our amazing content creators - THANK YOU for this precious August gift! We hope that you’ve enjoyed this fest as much as we have! Here’s the MASTERLIST OF ALL WORKS sorted alphabetically by ship.

Albus Potter/Scorpius Malfoy

It starts with an inkpot by @penguinanimagus​ / vivi1138 (FIC) Albus Potter/Scorpius Malfoy

Senses: taste, smell, hearing, touch

When you have a crush on your best friend, sometimes all you need is a little push in the right direction. Being locked in your dorm, unable to see or be seen, might just be the perfect opportunity to confess.

Blaise Zabini/Ron Weasley

Down Into My Sensory

by

TheUltimateUndesirable

/ @ultimateundesirable (FIC) Blaise Zabini / Ron Weasley

Senses: hearing, sight, touch

A boring tasteless marriage with Hermione leads to Ron being enraptured by his sense when he finally feels something more again. That something is shagging Blaise Zabini. What's Ron going to do about being married to his high school sweetheart and finding himself without her? Go with it all like he has been and or finally move on from what was clearly a mistake.

 Charlie Weasley/Hermione Granger

Bared Before Him by articcat621 / @articcat621​ (FIC) Charlie Weasley/Hermione Granger

Senses: Touch,  Hearing 

One Saturday afternoon, Charlie offers a suggested activity that she just can’t turn down.

Draco Malfoy /Harry Potter

Long in the Baking, Never Quite Done by @p1013 / p1013 (FIC) Draco Malfoy/Harry Potter 

Senses: Taste, touch 

“Hi, Luna.” Harry toasts her with his glass. “That looks lovely.”

She curtseys back. “Thank you, Harry. It’s to keep the wrackspurts away. How’ve you been?”

“Good. I brought cakes.”

“Wonderful. I’m assuming Ginny sent you in here?”

He smiles. “She did.”

“Warned you about Draco?”

“Yes.” He takes another drink. “Though I don’t know why she felt the need. We’ve been civil for years.”

“Does she know you fancy him?”

Harry chokes. 

Centric Dreams by SensibleRen (FIC) Draco Malfoy/Harry Potter

Senses: Sight, Hearing

Draco keeps having dreams about no one else other than Harry Potter. Each dream continues to come true the following day, until Draco has a particularly interesting one. 

Woodsmoke by @underscoresally​​ / underscore_sally (FIC) Draco Malfoy/Harry Potter, Harry Potter/Hermione Granger/Ron Weasley

Senses: smell, touch

After the war, Harry questions Draco and Draco demands answers he isn’t quite prepared for. But the warmth of a late-autumn fire and the smell of woodsmoke have a magic of their own, and as the answers come, so does an understanding.

Prepare the Brush for Me (I’m Craving With This Need) by @clemandben​ / Ladderofyears (FIC) Draco Malfoy/Harry Potter

Senses: Sight, touch and scent.

Harry Potter is feeling artistic. Draco is his canvas.

Arôme d'Amour (Aroma of Love) by @slytherholic​ / slytherholic (FIC) Draco Malfoy/Harry Potter

Senses: Smell

Harry's in for a surprise when he's hit with a perfume that attracts only the true soulmate.

With You, Always by acupforslytherin / @acupforslytherin​ (FIC) Draco Malfoy/Harry Potter

Senses: hearing

All his life, Harry repeatedly hears one same calming tune in his dreams. No one seems to recognize the mysterious song, until one day, Harry catches Malfoy humming it when he thinks he's alone.

all the feelings that you're making me feel by M0stlyVoid / @bonesliketambourines​ (FIC) Draco Malfoy/Harry Potter

Senses: Touch

Harry should have known that ‘clean bill of health’ he got after a spell rebounded off him in a raid was too good to be true, especially with Draco Malfoy involved. He never expected this, though, but he finds to his utter shame that he could bloody well get used to it.

esto quod es, fortis et liber by @drgngrl87 / DragonGirl87 (FIC) Draco Malfoy/Harry Potter

Senses: Smell, Taste

One fateful late-night run ruined Harry Potter's life...or did it? When the wolf in him threatens to turn life as he knows it upside down, he's left with no choice but turn to Draco Malfoy for help. Can his former Hogwarts nemesis fix his problem? And more importantly, will they be able to keep their hands and paws off each other?

 Tracing Body Lines Unexplored by Veelawings / @veelawings​ (FIC) Draco Malfoy/Harry Potter

Senses: Touch, Sight

Harry had teased him a few days ago, made a crude joke about Draco’s Slytherin scarf that he couldn’t even remember at the moment, but it had led to this. To Harry naked on his crisp white sheets, green eyes masked by a green tie and waiting for Draco to follow up on his promise. That he could make this scarf Harry’s favourite thing in the world.

(Or — gentle body worship, but kinky)

 Even the Night by tackytiger / @tackytigerfic​ (FIC) Draco Malfoy/Harry Potter

Senses:  Taste Touch Sight

I'm so bad at this

Two boys meet on a rooftop

Read and find out more

Featuring lots of cigarettes, a Midsummer sky, close encounters in a bath, and plenty of fireworks.

 the first language by saltwatergarden / @talkingtravesties​ (FIC) Draco Malfoy/Harry Potter

Senses: Touch

There are some things that Draco just knows about Potter. For instance, he hates the press. He loves his friends deeply and would die for them. He's terrible at fending way his simpering fans and the stories about how powerful his magic is are more than just stories. He also hates being touched. Or does he?

  Honey Just Put Your Sweet Lips On My Lips by angrywitchpolice / @angrywitchpolice​ (FIC) Draco Malfoy/Harry Potter

Senses: Taste Smell Touch Sight Hearing

Harry and Draco’s first time together, lost in the sensations of each other.

  A Light for Another's Dark by p1013 / @p1013 (FIC) Draco Malfoy/Harry Potter

Senses: Touch

Every touch leaves a memory. For Unspeakable Draco Malfoy, this is literal. When Harry Potter goes missing, Draco is asked to use his ability to Read the memories embedded in the objects he touches to help find Potter. While following his trail, Draco's only certain of one thing: what he learns about Harry Potter affects Draco's life more than he wants to admit, and, more worryingly, not just his life, his heart.

They Glow (Bright) Under the Moon's Light by @zandragorin​ / ZandraGorin (FIC) Draco Malfoy/Harry Potter Senses: Sight, Touch It took some time but now Harry's finally realized that Potions isn't as bad as it once seemed. Of course, this realization has nothing to do with a particularly gifted (and good-looking, fit, gorgeous) Potions Professor. None whatsoever.

 Don't Waste Your Eyes on Jealous Guys by EvAEleanor / @eva-eleanore​ (FIC) Draco Malfoy/Harry Potter

Senses: Hearing, Touch

For two years now, Harry’s life has been different. Not only does he work in New York City as the Auror liaison to MACUSA on and international murder case, but he’s seen more of Draco Malfoy than he’d ever thought possible. Working with him, and spending time with him after work. During all of this time, Harry has watched him going back to his shitty boyfriend over and over again. The worst thing about all of this, he’d fallen in love with him. Maybe there’s hope for him though. Maybe for just one night...

 Pottering with Potter by keyflight790 / @keyflight790​ (FIC) Draco Malfoy/Harry Potter

Senses: Hearing

Harry doesn't know why he has a wireless show either, but he's going to make the best of it.

  Here’s To You by Drarrymadhatter / @drarrymadhatterstuff (FIC) Draco Malfoy/Harry 

Senses: Sight and Taste

Harry’s in a muggle bar drinking to Sirius’ honour on what would have been his birthday. Draco comes into the bar after a horrific blind date in need of a strong drink. Together they take on the cocktail menu and experiment with taste and sight.

 Crimson Neon by xanthippe74 / @xanthippe74​ (FIC) Draco Malfoy/Harry Potter

Senses: Smell

Winter, 1999. Harry thought going to New York would help him get his head on straight, but all he has to show for it are sore feet and a fridge full of takeaway containers. And now he’s homesick on top of everything else. It doesn’t help that his mysterious neighbour in 2C keeps cooking dishes that remind Harry of home and all the people he lost or left behind.

The familiar face behind the door of 2C is only the first surprise. As the bleak winter eases into spring, Harry discovers that happiness isn’t as out of reach as he thought… as long as he can find a way to hold onto it.

  another heart whispers back by slytherco / @slytherco (FIC & ART) Draco Malfoy/Harry Potter

Senses: Taste, touch, smell, sight, hearing

At twenty-five, Harry Potter is still a virgin and sorely lacking in options to change that state anytime soon. To help him find a plus one for Ron and Hermione’s wedding, and maybe kill two birds with one stone, Harry’s friends set him up on a series of blind dates. The only problem is, there’s something not quite right with each of their candidates.

“Every heart sings a song, incomplete, until another heart whispers back. Those who wish to sing always find a song. At the touch of a lover, everyone becomes a poet.” ― Plato

In which Harry learns that some things are worth waiting for, that looking and seeing are two very different things, and that his heart’s song has been heard a long time ago.

  Sun Stroke by peachpety / @peachpety​ (FIC) Draco Malfoy/Harry Potter

Senses: Touch

Draco, Harry, and a handful of friends take a summer holiday at the beach. With the help of a sultry sea setting, encouraging friends, and a fisherman's jumper, Harry and Draco's mutual attraction swells and things get hot on a salty summer night.

Every Inch Of You by Ladderofyears / @clemandben​ (FIC) Draco Malfoy/Harry Potter

Senses: Touch, Sight

When Draco returns after a year at the Koldovstoretz School in Russia he has gained some weight and now has quite a prominent belly. He feels shy about his new physique, but Harry thinks that his lover looks just as gorgeous as ever.

Cooling Down by prolix (shal) / @prolix- (FIC) Draco Malfoy/Harry Potter

Senses: Touch, Taste

Harry needs to relax. Draco needs to cool off. Together, with a little bit of ice, they manage to do just that.

 Your Music To Create by GayAFSlytherin  / @gayafslytherin (FIC) Draco Malfoy/Harry Potter

Senses: Touch and Hearing

Harry has taken up piano as a coping mechanism. However, he really wants to be part of a bigger group so he signs up to be the solo Pianist for an orchestra. What he doesn't know is that Draco is going to be the solo Cellist for the orchestra as well. They're both fascinated while watching the other play and, unexpectedly, by each other.

The Scent of You by tsundanire / @tsundanire​ (FIC) Draco Malfoy/Harry Potter

Senses: Smell

After a chance encounter leaves his new sense of smell reeling, Harry discovers that being a werewolf has more to offer than he'd ever imagined.

Espresso Patronum by tasteofshapes / @tasteofshapes​ (FIC) Draco Malfoy/Harry potter

Senses: Taste, Smell

When Draco reappears five years after the war and opens a wildly popular coffee shop, Harry’s pretty sure that Draco’s Up to Something. He just has to prove it.

Draco Malfoy/Hermione Granger

Royal Purple Polish by littymcgritty / @littymcgrittywrites​​ (FIC) Draco Malfoy/Hermione Granger

Senses: Hearing

Tell me, have I lost my mind again?

I get the feeling you might feel the same

Tell me you can feel that love, feel that love again

In which Draco and Hermione try love for a second time. Sort of.

All Tied Up by sunflower_swan / @sunflower-swan​ (FIC) Draco Malfoy/Hermione Granger

Senses: taste, touch, hearing, smell

It is Draco's birthday. Hermione has a (sexy) surprise planned, but he will have to wait to find out what it is.

nobody wants to hear you sing about tragedy by MissELY / @misselylux​ (FIC) Draco Malfoy/Hermione Granger

Senses: Hearing

Draco Malfoy and Hermione Granger have a series of unpleasant, confusing, and electric encounters during the Death Eater trials after the war.

"And once again, for better or for worse, the sound of that voice is enough to fell her."

Limbic System by dirtymudblood / @dirty-mudblood​ (FIC) Draco Malfoy/Hermione Granger

Senses: Sight (and also smell)

There are very few things that are unexplainable. Quantum entanglement, antimatter, the Fermi Paradox to name a few.

Add to the list; Hermione Granger’s inability to orgasm.

Love is Blind by Aneiria / @aneiria-writes​ (FIC) Draco Malfoy/Hermione Granger

Senses: Sight

‘Draco, we need to talk about what happened,’ Hermione said now, placing a cup of tea next to her partner as he sat hunched over her kitchen table. She gently laid her hand over his, guiding him towards the handle so he could drink. ‘I have to complete our report for the DMLE.

Draco Malfoy grimaced and shook his head. ‘There’s really no need, Granger,’ he said, but she pushed on anyway. Draco had acted as bravely as any Gryffindor today, and she wanted to know why.

‘For all we knew, that curse could have been an Avada. You could have died, but you jumped in front of me without hesitation.’

‘Of course I bloody did; I’m your partner!’ he snapped back, looking in her direction with his sightless silver eyes. ‘That’s the first thing we were taught in Auror training, remember? Always have your partner’s back.’

Because Six Ate Seven by VexLonely / @vexlonely​ (FIC) Draco Malfoy/Hermione Granger

Senses: Sight

"Draco Malfoy had started gardening for stress relief, but looking down at his delicate failures, he seethed.

He had never seen Number Seven out in the garden, had never crossed their path in the posh St. Mungo’s housing where they lived. He blamed the wizarding world for enabling his antisocial tendencies. With a floo inside most apartment units and apparition at one’s fingertips, who needed to linger in a hallway?"

 sandalwood and gardenias by secondbutton / @kissingturians (FIC) Draco Malfoy/Hermione Granger

Senses: Smell

A balanced fragrance of sandalwood and something musky and earthy followed him like a shroud. Draco Malfoy smelled like a magical forest’s best kept secret. Like the moment following a storm when the sun peeks back over the clouds and living beings stop what they’re doing and pause to marvel at being able to roam outside again. It was a crisp top note with more robust undertones, and just a hint of sweetness. She thought she might love the scent if it lived on anyone else other than him.

Ginny Weasley/Luna Lovegood 

Fingers in her hair by Hypallepse / @hypallepse​ (FIC) Ginny Weasley/Luna Lovegood

Senses: Touch

Whenever Luna is having a nightmare, Ginny is here to take her in her arms and distract her by brushing and braiding her hair. But while Luna is reminded of her mother, Ginny thinks of something else entirely.

 Take a trip into my garden by sassybipotter / @sassybipotter (ART) Ginny Weasley/Luna Lovegood 

Senses: Touch, Sight

How do you announce your engagement to the world? By capturing the ethereal beauty of your fiancée and sharing it with the world.

Ginny Weasley/Pansy Parkinson

How to Pull a Publicity Stunt, and Everything in Between by @triggerlil​​ / triggerlil (ART/FIC) Ginny Weasley/Pansy Parkinson

Senses: Touch, sight, hearing, a bit of smell and taste

Ginny and Pansy live on the edge of the spotlight—constantly straddling the line between living private lives and being bonafide celebrity sensations—when they finally step into the spotlight, they decide to take full advantage of the attention.

a little chocolate now and then by Pineau_noir / @pineau-noir​​ (FIC) Ginny Weasley/Pansy Parkinson 

Senses: Taste, Touch

There are few things Pansy Parkinson holds dear, but first and foremost is her girlfriend, Ginny.

Harry Potter/Ronald Weasley

Sun Kissed by @static-abyss​ / static_abyss (FIC) Harry Potter/Ronald Weasley

Senses: touch, sight

Harry notices the freckles the first time they meet, the light dusting across Ron's face as he stands there in his maroon knitted jumper with the yellow R in the centre. If Harry didn't know any better, he'd swear he could trace the tendrils of a lightning bolt from Ron's nose down to his cheek. Something warm settles in Harry's chest at the knowledge that, perhaps, Ron carries a piece of Harry, no matter how unknowingly. It's proof of a connection between them, the first real tangible relationship Harry's ever had that is good and whole and wanted.

Harry Potter/Scorpius Malfoy

Underneath Your Clothes by Ladderofyears / @clemandben​ (FIC) Harry Potter/Scorpius Malfoy

Senses: Sight

When Scorpius wears a pair of very small, very lacy and very revealing pair of purple satin knickers to work, Head Auror Harry Potter is driven to near distraction.

Harry Potter/Severus Snape

These Scars We Bare by MiriMora / @mirimora (FIC) Harry Potter/Severus Snape 

Senses: Sight

Harry is a photographer by profession, and he's working on a new series to be revealed in the fall. He has one last subject that he'd love to capture for his series highlighting the brave individuals who bear scars from the Wizarding World's two wars with Voldemort, but he's pretty sure he's going to have some convincing to do if Severus Snape is ever going to agree to step in front of his camera, even if they are friends now. Further complicating matters, he's also harboring some unrequited feelings for the prickly Potions Master. Or so he thinks…

 Hermione Granger/Severus Snape

Vanishing Inside Us by @dwell-on-dreams / HogwartsToAlexandria (FIC) Hermione Granger/Severus Snape

Senses: Sight, Hearing, Touch, Taste

Sometimes, the only thing that matters is how the other feels. And this time, Severus knows he has to show how he feels too, or it won’t work anymore than it did the first time around.

Hermione Granger/Sirius Black 

Lucky Dog by realjane / @thesuperjane​ (FIC) Hermione Granger/Sirius Black

Senses: Taste, Smell, Touch

Thanks to a new marriage initiative for the betterment of wizard-kind, SIrius Black finds himself wed to the woman of his dreams. He has no idea that she's been dreaming of him, too. Maybe this arranged marriage thing isn't so bad...

Lily Evans/Sirius Black

French Braid by heirblack (FIC) Lily Evans/Sirius Black

Senses: Touch and smell

A nice, relaxing, and lazy day in the Gryffindor dormitory leads into a bonding session over hair.

Narcissa Malfoy/Rabastan Lestrange

Memories That We Made Will Never Change by @malfoylestrange​ / Houseofmalfoy (FIC) Narcissa Malfoy/Rabastan Lestrange

Senses: Sight and touch

They fell in love in the midst of the first wizarding war, and when he went to Azkaban she moved on with her life and her family. Now he’s back,and the memories and regret that Rabastan Lestrange brings up in her are stronger than ever.

Remus Lupin/Sirius Black

would you just look at me by HogwartsToAlexandria / @dwell-on-dreams​ (FIC) Remus Lupin/Sirius Black

Senses: Sight, Touch 

Moony's been in a mood, and therefore isn't the best version of himself either lately, which is code for, 'Sirius is a mess when Remus won't talk to him' really.

Severus Snape/Sirius Black

your arms, around my lungs by HogwartsToAlexandria / @dwell-on-dreams​​ (FIC) Severus Snape/Sirius Black

Senses: Hearing, Touch

Even when they hate each other, even when they argue more than they talk, the sound of Sirius' regular breathing still brings Severus solace when the nightmares don't want to go away.

[succubusphan]

Le Roi -Chapter 1 (August 1780)

Summary: Daniel James Howell looked at himself in the lavish mirror in front of him. The intricately embroidered flowers in his clothes were mesmerizing. He wished he could stay in his suite and paint them, but he had been invited to Chateau Versailles for the celebration to honour the second birthday of Princess Marie Thérèse.

So far he had become popular among the french for his portraits of barely dressed women with mildly scandalous undertones. Lovers all across Paris had hired his services to immortalize the object of their desire for posterity, but Daniel wanted more.

Rating: M

Tags: Phil is Louis XVI, Strangers to Lovers, no heterosexuality to be seen, Artist Dan Howell, Versailles AU, Scandalous Court affairs, Some historical facts were alterated to fit the story but will hopefully be mentioned in the notes, Happy Ending meaning this do not end like they did historically. The rating is for the cheeky dash of smut I added.          

Word Count for this chapter: 2549 (Total 11374)

A/n: Written for the @phandomficfests christmas exchange for  @allthephils, one of my favourite authors and an amazing person. I hope you have enjoyed this story and it was what you were expecting. I realize this could have been so much longer but I couldn't possibly write all the intricacies the story deserves so I stuck to the main characters.

A Million thanks to my amazing Beta @thoughtathought who really tackled this fic and really brought it to life (especially for suggesting I add that scene).

Read on ao3

Daniel James Howell looked at himself in the lavish mirror in front of him. The intricately embroidered flowers in his clothes were mesmerizing. He wished he could stay in his suite and paint them, to immortalize their beauty, but he had been invited to Chateau Versailles for the celebration to honour the second birthday of Princess Marie Thérèse. It was a singular opportunity to mingle with the people of the king’s court and potentially gain a sponsorship. So far he had become popular among the french for his portraits of barely dressed women with mildly scandalous undertones, emphasising their gentle beauty. Lovers all across Paris had hired his services to immortalize the object of their desire for posterity, but Daniel wanted more. He wanted to evolve with his art and a sponsorship would give him such liberties.

  The sound of the horses outside his home announced the arrival of his carriage. One of his clients had offered to take him there since it was a long ride and he didn’t own a carriage or horses himself. How he was going to return home was a matter of luck, but luck had been on his side since he’d decided to leave his home land for a brighter future away from his family - from his obligations. It wouldn’t be hard to chat his way into someone’s carriage if the need arose. He shook his head and headed to the door, grabbing a small art piece he had created for the princess rooms if the King and Queen so wished it. 

  Daniel got in the carriage and kissed the hand of madame d'Harcourt. The trip was amicable albeit a bit boring since it took five hours to get to the Château de Versailles through a muddy road deep into the woods. The afternoon was spent discussing the history of the place they were going to. According to madame, Louis XIII had received the lands from a noble family as a gift since he loved to go hunting there and it had all started with a small hunting lodge, and three generations after, it kept growing and growing to accommodate the necessities of the royal family and the court. 

  Upon noticing his nervous state the closer they got to the destination, madame d'Harcourt asked him what was wrong and Daniel stumbled over his words to explain that he was unsure of the court manners. Thankfully, he received a lesson on the basics and madame assured him that she would stay close by to help, if needed. 

  Daniel got out of the carriage with as much grace as he could muster and extended his hand to assist his companion, who readily took it with a gentle smile. “Mercie,” she nodded at him, her posture changing completely. It was time to put on a show.

  They entered the Palace and followed the rest of the guests into what madame informed him was the “Hall of Mirrors.” Daniel nodded and did his best to control his expression. The sheer amount of gold in every corner, the chandeliers, the exquisite decorations, and all the art pieces adorning the ceiling made his heart beat faster; he felt his soul ascend, maybe he was entering a special King of heaven on earth. 

  The night was going splendidly. Daniel managed to converse with various people, mostly ladies, who were very interested in his art pieces. It seemed that compliments from satisfied noble ladies had been heard all around France. It was a hushed murmur of course, given the nature of his most popular works, but it was something nonetheless. 

  “Excuse me, monsieur Howell?” Daniel heard someone say behind him as he saw the eyes of madame d'Harcourt go very wide before she bowed and took a step back. He turned around only to be met by the Queen herself, already extending her hand to be kissed, with a small smile upon her lips. He nodded, before bowing and placing what he hoped was a respectful kiss on her hand. “Oui, your majesty. It is an honour to finally meet you.”

  Marie Antoinette’s smile widened and gestured to the lady standing not quite beside her - given the width of the queen’s dress. “This is my lady in waiting, mademoiselle Campan.”

  “My lady,” Daniel said with a small bow. He looked between the two women unsure of how to continue without making a fool of himself.

  “It’s wonderful to finally meet you, monsieur Howell,” mademoiselle Campan said with a smile that did very little to hide what was going through her mind.

  “She’s quite a fan of your work and has spoken very highly of you and the way you depict the female form, so I had to request you come and ask you to do a portrait of me. Would you be interested?”

  Daniel blushed furiously, knowing that the Queen herself had seen or at least heard of how he tended to paint women in various states of undress and wished to be potentially immortalized in such conditions. Briefly gaping at her, he answered: “I would be honoured, your majesty.” 

  The Queen smiled widely and looked at Mademoiselle Campan, who merely smirked at her. Daniel tried not to visibly frown but he could sense that he was missing something in the silent conversation of the ladies. 

  A voice pulled Daniel from his musings. “Will you introduce me to your friend, my dear?” 

  Daniel turned to his right and almost felt his knees go weak as his eyes met with the bluest eyes he had ever seen, even those of the queen. The King had an unprecedented beauty, his high cheekbones, strong jaw and arched eyebrows gave him an angelic aura. Of course the layers upon layers of lace and silks and the puffy wig made him stand out even more, but if Daniel’s calculations were correct, they were of similar height and built. 

  “Of course. This is monsieur Howell, the artist I mentioned recently.”

  Realizing he was staring, he bowed. “Your majesty.”

  “Oh wonderful, wonderful. Will you be making a portrait of me for my bed chamber?” The king asked.

  Daniel’s eyes widened. “I- I- her majesty the Queen has requested a portrait of herself, would you like one of you as well?”

  “Of course! It would be easier if you just joined the court and moved here, wouldn’t you think so? I’m afraid the ladies have been talking and we would keep you quite occupied.”

  “That’s - I’m honoured. I…”

  “Philippe! You have scared the young man! He came to enjoy a party and you ask him to move in!” The Queen laughed.

  The King laughed. “Perhaps you are right, my apologies monsieur Howell.” 

  “No, please - there’s nothing to forgive. I apologize.” Daniel felt himself blushing. 

  Philippe smiled. “Very well. Would you walk with me?”

  “Of course, your majesty.”

  King Philippe bowed to Marie Antoinette and mademoiselle Campan before turning on his heels and walking away; Daniel bowed to the ladies as well and followed him, his eyes lingering in awe at the various paintings and statues displayed in the two following rooms.

  Once they were alone, Philippe slowed his pace, waiting for him to catch up. “My apologies, I really needed to find some peace and quiet.” 

  Daniel was shocked that the royals knew his art, that they had dared speak to him, and above all, that they behaved like normal people. The night had not gone as expected. “Of course, I assume having so many people around all the time must be hard.”

  “It is, but I do love Versailles. I can usually have some private time after I’m done with my state affairs and I walk through the gardens or read a book in my rooms. That’s why the Queen and I spend so much time and energy in decorating and making our rooms more suited to us than those who used them before us; it is our own little world away from everything and everyone.” 

  Daniel nodded. “I think I understand.” 

  “Wouldn’t you like to join the great artists who have created pieces for our home? Look around you, monsieur Howell, the kind of beauty you put into the world would fit right in.”

  “I would gladly create for you, but may I ask, is it really necessary that I move into the Palace?”

  “Well, I understand that you came from Paris, so unless you wish to travel ten hours a day and sleep in the carriage, it would be the most convenient. The amount and size of works we require would take you many months, possibly years to complete.”

  “Years?” Daniel’s eyes felt near to falling out of his skull.

  “They would be highly regarded and well paid, of course. We know that we are asking for quite a bit of work.”

  “I’m afraid that I can’t even consider it as an option, the amount of money that is required to abide by Versailles etiquette… I could never afford to live here. The cost of the fabrics alone would be my ruin.”

  The King stepped forward and held onto Daniel’s hands, his piercing eyes rooting him on the spot. “Monsieur Howell, I do not invite just anyone into my court. We know perfectly well what your situation is, but worry not about such small matters, only focus on what your heart desires, anything else will be taken care of.”

  Daniel lost himself in the eyes of the king, but before he could say something he would regret, he took a deep breath and answered. “I - I will think about it… if that’s acceptable, mon Roi.”

  Philippe smirked before squeezing Daniel’s hands lightly. “You amuse me, monsieur Howell. Not everyone has enough courage to keep the King waiting.” 

  “I -”

  Philippe raised his hand. “No, no. It’s perfectly fine. I will wait for your reply, which I hope will be satisfactory.” Philippe’s smirk widened and Daniel thought he saw the King of France staring at his lips as he licked his own but a second later Philippe let go of his hands and stepped back. “I trust that you can find your way back to the Hall of Mirrors by yourself, if you don’t mind, I would like to stay here for a while.”

  “Of course. Thank you, Sire.” Daniel bowed before making his way back.

  The rest of the night was spent dancing with madame d'Harcourt, eating and drinking copious amounts of champagne. By the time the sun was rising above the palace, Daniel and his friend were on their way back to her estate in Paris, deeply asleep in the carriage. 

  --

  The following weeks had Daniel lost deep in thought as he painted the first sight he had caught of Versailles, its golden gates and beautiful gardens leading to the Palace itself. He had a one time opportunity to change his life, to reach new heights but it would depend on the will of the King and his generosity. Would it be worth it? Or would it cost him everything? 

  He sighed and ran his brush on the leftover oil paints on his palette, gently mixing three colours into the perfect shade to add more highlights. It was not uncommon for Daniel to paint when he needed to make big decisions, it helped him clear his mind and relieve some of the tension.

  Out of the corner of his eye, he caught sight of his favourite work, a portrait of a beautiful young girl who had once been important in his life. It was during the creation of that piece that Daniel decided to renounce his family and move to France with little to no warning. For such a radical decision with incredibly important consequences, once his mind had been made up, there was no turning back. He’d needed a change, to turn his life around and make it his own, and by god, he had done it. He didn’t regret it, not a single day. 

   Perhaps it was time for another change.

  --

  When Daniel had to pack his belongings and leave his house behind, it was madame d'Harcourt who provided transportation once again. The queen had suggested this and invited the madame to spend a few days at Versailles with her and her friends. 

  Before they entered Versailles, madame d'Harcourt checked Daniel’s lace tie and straightened his robes. Satisfied with her work, she nodded. “You’ll fit right in. They’ll love you.”

  “Thank you,” Daniel said. Madame d'Harcourt had been a good friend, his only friend in fact, since he’d arrived at Paris, despite her occasionally overbearing maternal instincts. 

  --

  Daniel accompanied madame d'Harcourt to the Queen’s rooms and was invited in briefly so that Marie Antoinette and mademoiselle Campan could greet him and welcome him to Versailles. “We will give you a day’s rest to settle in, monsieur. Today I want to enjoy the afternoon with the ladies, but tomorrow we hope to start on my first portrait,” the Queen said with a smile. 

  No less than twenty ladies were listening to their conversation and murmuring. Some discretely admiring him from behind their white lace fans.

  “It will be an honour to capture your beauty and grace on canvas. I hope you deem my work worthy to be displayed.”

  “I am confident that I will. Good day.”

  Understanding that he was being dismissed, Daniel bowed. “Good day, your majesty.”

  --

  The following day, his first important commission started. The piece would be quite big, to be hung in one of the main halls of Versailles. Marie Antoinette would be depicted sitting with the princess on her lap. Given that portraying a very rambunctious two year old would take time, Daniel suggested that Marie Térèse would be in the room, getting used to their dynamic while he painted her mother and the background. 

  The princess enjoyed spending her afternoons with them, often sitting close to Daniel with her dolls and watching him paint. It was not unusual for the king to stop by every few days to check on the progress and occasionally stay a few minutes in between meetings. He gave Daniel quite a bit of his attention, which the Queen didn’t seem to care about except when he distracted Daniel. She would roll her eyes when he wasn’t looking and mention she was tired of holding the pose. The King would excuse himself shortly after and let them continue.

  Once the entire portrait was finished and dry, it was time to add Marie Térèse. Daniel had told her all about what they were about to do and she had seen the process with her eyes so she didn’t complain at all. She sat all her dolls beside Daniel so they could watch her being painted and went to her mother’s lap. 

  “You are so good, my darling. If you stay very still, maman will give you cake later for looking beautiful in the picture.”

  “Ohh! Beautiful like maman?”

  “Even more so, my love.”

  Completing the last bit of the portrait took several weeks; Daniel's work often interrupted by pretty birds and wandering puppies. The time they could keep the child sitting was limited and they didn’t want to push her. After all, Marie Térèse would spend many hours of her life posing for paintings. 

 Next Chapter

[encrucijada]

self-appreciation tag.

tagged by my babes @alicewestwater !

rules: it’s time to love yourselves! choose a few of your favorite works you created in the past year (fics, art, edits, etc.) and link them below to reflect on the amazing things you brought into the world in 2020.

it’s no lie i am just awful at finishing things. as of posting this i have once again decided to rework my previously main wip and have started a new wip. i tried to do nanowrimo and failed. have like 3 short stories that are just... halfway done. and who knows at what point in the future i will actually finish writing a book. Anyways.

¿QUÉ PASA, CALABAZA?

i can’t believe a story about a talking cat means so much to me. wait no. actually i can believe it. i hadn’t planned for media noche to be much but then i got way too attached to her character and so proceeded to write a prequel after i wrote this short story, which wasn’t as good but still. i can consider this the first honest-to-god short story i actually finished, which makes me extremely happy. what it really did for me was basically map out my writing process for me, helped me break it down to use later. i can write from a vague feeling, imagery and aesthetic and make it work!!! which for the way my brain works creatively is amazing. can’t believe thinking “story with black cats and pumpkins like over the garden wall??” turned into something. [ READ HERE ]

UNDERSIDE OF MY TONGUE

so much happened in 2020 i had completely forgotten i did escapril at all. and once it was over i compiled my flash fics/poems into a collection i titled “underside of my tongue” from a line in the first flash fic about hemera and eos. i explored creative formatting with escapril which is something i really enjoy and it really helped me write all 30 entries. i also wrote self-indulgently and (once again like with ¿qué pasa, calabaza?) from imagery instead of plot and it worked wonders for most flash fics. i say most because i definitely rushed some to be up to date. i used escapril to expand on the modern greek mythology universe that lives rent free in my brain, wrote apocalyptic new testament that caters specifically for me, and also made me realise how much i like fantasy body horror. more specifically botanic body horror. and now that escapril 2021 is coming i’m gonna use that opportunity to write another 30 flash fics and/or poems because... because i want to make chapbooks with them! [ READ HERE | TAG ]

SUNFLOWER

as i write this i haven’t finished writing this short story, but i’m going to, because it’s a gift for my cousin whose birthday is on the 17th. i have a thing for taking old stories or concepts or characters and reworking them to mold into my current writing style and that is Just what i did with this short story. the characters were barely characters and the story barely a story because it’s based on a game of pretend my cousin and i played when we were like 6yo. now i’ve turned it into a story on deniability. and of course sprinkled some fantasy body horror on top of it. depending on how it turns out i even want to try and submit it to lit magazines!! [ INTRO POST COMING SOON ]

MARIPAZ & THEO

character appreciation post! and writing partner appreciation. @lorybean and i created these characters last year which feels unreal. and they have turned into my comfort sandbox characters that went through an entire development arc in less than a year, and good for them! it’s hard to choose between my babies because i do love all the ships in my wips. but mari and theo are truly versatile and dynamic characters that can be put into nearly any scenario and not lose their attributes, and that’s amazing. in love with how they play off each other, also that they are a queer m/f couple of colour!! they are like real people in the way they interact with the world, with each other, and how their psyche works. they showed me the truth and now when people ask me if i perefer friends-to-lovers ot enemies-to-lovers i’m gonna say lovers-to-ex-to-lovers. [ A ONE-SHOT | TAG ]

HONOURABLE MENTIONS

my revamp of my first serious book attempt, fantasybane, finally has experiments i like for each character so i can actually write it (in theory)! i decided to rewrite the first “book” i wrote with my cousins at 11yo and now i have three girls who cried wolf, and the ship of iris x argyle which makes me oh so happy. the concept of somewhere in limbo that i share with @chaoticdecember . the his dark materials podcast i share with @maragraphs

tagging: @chayscribbles @cabuyas @magnoliaash @harehearts  @shapeshiftersandfire @mackerelgray @rossafabula @lasbrumas @semblanche - and idk who else but if anyone wants to do it consider yourself tagged!

[elderflowergin]

2020 Creator Wrap: Favorite Works

Rules: It’s time to love yourselves! Choose your 5 (or so) favorite works you created in the past year (fics, art, edits, etc.) and link them below to reflect on the amazing things you brought into the world in 2020. Tag as many writers/artists/etc. as you want (fan or original) so we can spread the love and link each other to awesome works!

Thanks for tagging me, @rain-hat! I am honoured. 

This has been a year. 

Before 2020 I’d never so much as gone beyond a paragraph of writing. I read a lot, lurked in fandoms, wrote bits and pieces that never coalesced, and tried my hand at poetry (I still cringe!) but I’d never finished a story. 

I posted a Hyena meta in April, which was just my way of getting something off my chest. From there, @thefeastandthefast, @my-randominterests, @nothingremainsunsaid and I had a great discussion about the show and things just exploded from there. @nothingremainsunsaid asked in a DM if I had a story lined up, and I was like, do I? I did not think I did. 

As it turns out, I did. I hunkered down and wrote my first story in June, and just...kept going. It’s been a throughline in a difficult, tumultuous year, made more tumultuous by the pandemic. 

This would not have been possible without the very lovely @thefeastandthefast. I couldn’t have asked for a better hype woman or cheerleader, and I would not have been anywhere near brave enough to hit the post button if not for her. 

I wrote like, 7 things in a microscopically tiny fandom, so picking 5 seems extreme. 

1. fingers laced together, T, 3634 words,  SBS Hyena

This is not the first thing I wrote, but it’s the one that flowed out the easiest. I also had the most fun with it, so regardless of its objective quality, I will always have a special place in my heart for it. I set myself little goals with the stories I write - consciously and otherwise - and in this one it was “how couple-y can I make these two look without them ever acting like a couple?” I live for that dynamic. It’s also the story that prompted the ongoing series I’m writing. 

2. but I linger on, dear, E, 8616 words,  SBS Hyena

I never planned to write a series, let alone a long-drawn out one about Geum-ja and Hee-jae splitting up and finding their way back together. I wanted a single story that was not supposed to exceed 3,000 words. Reader, she lied. She kept expanding, growing tentacles and insisting there was more story to tell. thefeast even christened her Squiddaughter. 

This was not the easiest story to write. I panicked at the idea of writing Hee-jae’s voice, which I’d never done before (despite writing an entire story about just him). I panicked about writing such a sad story. I panicked SO MUCH about the porn. There was just a lot of panic, but the breakthrough of settling on a voice and a mood felt so good. There was so much satisfaction in turning this one over to thefeast. 

3. low in the weeds, E, 4641, SBS Hyena

Oh, my eldest child! I knew nothing when I first wrote it. It’s my least favourite; looking back, I’m not entirely pleased with the voice and it seems uncertain to me. But if there’s anything I’ve learnt from this year, it’s to appreciate that I had to start somewhere. So I’m embracing her. And I feel grateful that I got the idea, that I wrote it, and that it resonated with some people. 

Tagging: @thefeastandthefast (on tumblr break, but I must!) @nothingremainsunsaid, @my-randominterests, @ryn-s, @beingjanee and any other creators who are reading this. No pressure! 

[lavender-lotion]

I was tagged by @lindstrom2020 for this! thank you <3

Rules: it’s time to love yourselves! choose your 5 (or so) favourite works you created in the past year (fics, art, edits, etc.) and link them below to reflect on the amazing things you brought to the world in 2020. tag as many writers/artists/etc. as you want (fan or original) so we can spread the love and link each other to awesome works!

this was really hard. i’ve posted quuuuuite a bit this year and... a lot of it i don’t totally remember?? to figure out what i wanted to showcase here, i looked through my 2020 posting schedule and... wow. it’s been a long year, huh?

1. (baby) maybe that matters more - Teen Wolf | Steter | Mature | 16,610 words

the reaction to this fic (the comments, the kudos, the acceptance) single-handedly ignited a drive for writing teen wolf content that i thought was going to be dead forever after a serious of bad experiences. there are still some work i know i’ll never work on again, but i am so exciting to fall back into a world that i loved for so long. i can’t wait to see where this specific fic takes me :)

2. and all i know now is without you i could never find my way - X-Men | Various | General - Explicit | 55,310 words

this series is kind of cheating because 1. it’s a series and 2. i technically started it december 26th, 2019 BUT the other 54k was all written this year! lonk verse is on this list because this is the first thing that i have EVER written that has... transcended myself. i have birth to this four person, crack family, and i’ve seen it grow it something bigger than that. like, not only have i written 55k of this family, other people have written variations of this family, too. that has been one of the most amazing things in the world. i have so, so many plans for the four main family members of this universe that i can’t wait to work on! 

3. to love and be loved by you | MCU | Bruce/Peter | Explicit | 62,688 words

this is a wip, which... is one of the reasons why i wasn’t sure if i wanted to include on this list. another reason was i wasn’t sure if i wanted to include this on this list is because the rough draft for this work was completed in 2019. the reason it’s on here is because i am massively impressed with myself for having a work this long - a work that isn’t even finished! before i posted the first chapter i decided to edit this work. well, that “edit” turned into an incredibly thorough rewrite, and now the first 6 chapters are longer than the entire work used to be.it is the longest thing on my ao3. i know it is going to surpass 100k. it is. the biggest work i have and im so excited to get back to it in 2021!

4. patience is a virtue (i'll reap what i've sewn) - Push (2009) | Nick/Cassie | Explicit | 3,573

as im writing this fic currently has 22 hits and a single comment but... i don’t really care, because it’s one of the first things i’ve written in months that i’ve loved. i loved writing this. i love the story and the concept and the characters i got to play with, and i truly love the finished piece. it made me want to write more, and since usually writing is such a frustrating process itching to be done, that was amazing.

5. take us, together, like the stroke of a bow - Glee | Hummelcest | Explicit | 13,365

i love this fic. it is undoubtedly one of the longest smut fics i have EVER written but beyond that... it grew into a sprawling verse (that i just haven’t written it). i got to thirst of Burt Hummel, by first fatherly crush, and i got to write all the dirty father/son feels i hadn’t had an outlet for since leaving teen wolf. it was really nice to brain storm, really nice to read, and it’s a universe i really like to think about! 

honourable mentions (listen, i post A LOT): Lav's Original Fiction - some of my first ever original fiction what is the self amid this blaze? - really sweet trans gal loving its waters hold the dark of death - do i need say anything more than thunder rangerscest? i’d gladly break my own heart if it meant being loved by you - a really fun project i worked on alongside a close friend whom i adore Date me? - very fun fic to write of a sweet rare pair a single lie discovered is enough to create doubt in every truth expressed - my first ever team tony fic!!!

I AM TAGGING: @midrashic, @flightinflame, @stronglyobsessed, @elledelajoie, @ireneadonovan, @tinaxpow, @leviice458, @wolfgeralt, 

[elesianne]

Favourite works of 2020

I was tagged by @houndsofvalinor-art and @alystraea, thank you!

Rules: It’s time to love yourselves! Choose your favourite works you created in the past year (fics, art, edits, etc.) and link them below to reflect on the amazing things you brought into the world in 2020. Tag as many writers/artists/etc. as you want (fan or original) so we can spread the love and link each other to awesome works!

I wrote and posted more in 2020 than during any year before and I do love pretty much all of the fics I finished (unloved works also tend to remain unposted, lol) so choosing works for this was difficult but here are 6+2 of my favourites from the 24 fics I finished in 2020.

1. is Ever-beloved, my exploration of Eldalótë/Edhellos's life from childhood to death, with a focus on her marriage to Angrod. It's a romance story, definitely, but in it I finally managed to cover in one fic all the tumultuous events that the members of the house of Finwë go through. Well, up to Dagor Bragollach, because [spoilers]. I enjoyed getting to know the house of Finarfin much better both through research into everything that HoME says about them and by developing Edhellos, Angrod, Aegnor and Orodreth's characterisations beyond quick mentions for the first time. I also enjoyed writing another quiet, gentle protagonist, showing the inner strength that such a character can have.

2. Of Míriel's line is the 'baby sequel' about Caranthir and Tuilindien having their first child. Romance, a bit of angst (courtesy of Caranthir's inherited fears about the dangers of child-bearing), tons of fluff, and family interactions – all my favourite things to write in one fic! Bits of this fic are from 2017, including the child's name, but most I wrote last year, and stitched all the little bits together – this fic is another one of my (many, many) Frankenstein's monsters…

3. Out of all the fics I wrote last year, I probably had the most pure fun writing Pink dress and high heels, suit and tie (AO3, Tumblr). I initially wrote it in bullet-points because 1) I was afraid I wouldn't be able to capture it in words fast enough (it was one of those fics that arrived in my brain fully formed and demanded, screaming, to be written down) and 2) because it felt so indulgent – being an AU of my own fic – that I didn't know if I'd find the nerve to post it. I found the nerve to make the changes to turn it into a proper little fic and post it, several people loved it which made me very happy, and I've been fighting the urge to write a sequel. Writing a modern AU for a change was fun, and I could finally use as many modern swearwords as I felt the characters' emotional state warranted!

4. In the sun, you (AO3; Tumblr) was my first attempt at writing about the Edain, and my second femslash. I'm proud that I managed to find a 'voice' for Haleth, and I enjoyed writing a… quiet story about strong emotions. I loved crafting the few, short, but very meaningful sentences that Haleth and Aeres say to each other.

5. In another world (AO3, Tumblr) was inspired by @houndsofvalinor-art's lovely art for the TRSB and is my attempt to give Aredhel a slightly kinder fate, at least for a little while. I liked exploring Aredhel and Celegorm's characters at this point in time and how they are together, and the nebulous borders of friendship and attraction and love, and the exceptions that people make for those they love.

6. Inspired by the line 'But it is said that released soon from Mandos, he went to Valinor and there dwells with Amárië' (HoME 11, Grey Annals) and by Rhapsody's digimanip for the TRSB, The faithful is the fic about Amárië and Finrod that I've been trying to write for years. It did not turn out quite as I expected or hoped but I like it anyway. I wanted to explore and build up Amárië – what did she do during the centuries that Finrod was gone? Surely not just sit and pine? – and Finrod after his death and re-embodiment – what does he now want, having lost much but also regained the chance for other things? – and how they renegotiate their relationship on new, perhaps more equal footing.

+1 About 95% of Your spirit calling out to mine was written during 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019 (sigh) but that crucial last 5% I wrote in the first week of 2020 so I'll mention it here. It remains and will likely remain for a long time the fic I'm the proudest of. My novel-length elf romance! With many warts and weaknesses, but also a lot of good stuff and nice lines and even some worldbuilding (which I hate doing, lol).

+2 is a fic I've finished but haven't posted because there's a part missing in the Lothíriel/Éomer series before it: A queen's honour, about Lothíriel and Éomer's first serious argument. It has a different tone and attitudes than my fics usually do, and it's a small, neat little fic, and I look forward to posting it one day. A snippet can be read here.

I don't know if they've been tagged already but off the top of my head, I'll tag @arofili @absynthe--minded @cosmicgong @katarrinskey @alkarinqque @busymagpie @aamuusva @forth-eorlinga

Tumblr seems to be making some mentions and links invisible no matter what I try, grr! I hope they work anyway.

[zannithinks]

FIVE FAVES of 2020 - ZANNI

Atlas, Reborn | January I watched 1917 in theatres and raced home, head full of this ambiguous war fic. It tumbled out of my one working hand as the very first One Direction fic I wrote. With a return to vivid imagery and a focus on the senses, this was the creative spark that engulfed me for the rest of the year! 

Daydreamer | May Writing this fic was a test to see how well I could pull off non-linear plot and a major twist. Very different from my usual character and description driven fics. It also has some of the sweetest moments between HL I’ve ever written. Do you think I aced it? (No surprise, this was actually inspired by a film as well - mainly in structure and not in content/genre)

Things I Used to Feel | October Fun! That’s the first word that comes to mind when I think of this fic. It brought writing back into a fun and silly light for me, somewhere I don’t usually go as I’m horrid at writing anything of comedic value. This haunted mansion and ghost tale is on the edge (haaa) of camp, with purple pros absolutely dripping lilac and an exaggerated air about everything. 

Sugar Cube | August The response to this piece always blows me away, and to be honest, is intimidating as I try to create content that can match up to my past self. It is undoubtedly the best smut I’ve written to date, when I write similar scenes now I often look at this to see if I can recapture the magic. I was just really in the zone when I wrote it, and I hope to re-find that mental headspace so I can write like this again. 

Spoonful of Sugar | November The shining diamond of this year! I delved into writing this story for several months and I adored every second of it (minus those falling asleep as I did revisions) When people tell you ‘write the fic you want to read’ this is that for me! I love reading fics like this, strong-willed characters and exciting action plots that suck you in, so to write one was my true accomplishment of 2020! As a newer writer in the fandom, it’s warm reception has been immensely encouraging ♡

honourable mention:

V | March ah yes. Here it is. While the rest of the world was shutting down and losing their minds, I was already in the middle of my very own life-altering event. This fic was written post-long-awaited-surgery (ORIF) with only one hand! I was a bit pathetic in the recovery stage and writing this was one of the few things I could do. I mentally think of it as the ‘test run’ for Spoonful of Sugar. For the state I was in while writing, I’m pretty proud it’s even coherent.

Thank you @mercurial-madhouse and @soldouthaz for the tag! It’s a day late, but I had a good time reflecting on my year of writing. It was nice to highlight the achievements I’m proud of and very inspiring as I think of what I want to accomplish in the coming year! ♡

RULES: it’s time to love yourselves! choose your 5 (ish) favourite works you created in the past year (fics, art, edits, etc.) and link them below to reflect on the amazing things you brought into the world in 2020. tag as many writers/artists/etc. as you want so we can spread the love and link each other to awesome work.

I’m sure everyone has done this, as the ball has already been dropped (whoops) but if you have not and you see this, I’ve tagged you! 

[i-am-just-a-kiddo]

favourite male fictional characters

Thank you @vishcount​ for tagging me, this was a lot of fun! 💞 I originally planned to follow your example and put ten characters here but suddenly it became a lot more oops. also i hope you forgive me for following your format, it’s neat 

I am tagging @isabellaofparma​ , @the-cloud-whisperer​ and @sassyassassy​!

I chose the characters that impacted me deeply on a personal level throughout my life (often shown by how long my love lasts over the years and if i was inspired to write for them). 

In no specific order under the cut: 

Legolas

The Lord of The Rings, J.R.R. Tolkien. 

I think it’s only fitting I start off with this magnificent guy. Maybe I gotta admit, i’ve just had a crush on him ever since I was like, nine years old? He’s the character I will fight tooth and claw for (though I guess he doesn’t need me to do that). I love Orlando Bloom’s portrayal of him, eventhough he is vastly different from the books. Book Legolas is such a delight as well, he feels so whimsical and playful and his banter with Gimli is just gold. I was sad when The Hobbit trilogy came out and I was so disappointed by how they butchered his character, it just did not feel authentic anymore (maybe I am also just bitter about the forced hetero storyline for him. makes no cents, this elf is GayTM your honour. and he will meet his soulmate Gimli in a few decades).  Either way, Legolas is the love of my life, thanks for coming to my tedtalk,

Peter Pan 

Peter Pan, J. M. Barrie

Another childhood crush of mine. The gif I chose if from the 2005 movie because we always used to watch it and it is to this day one of my favourite movies. It’s so dreamy, so magical, yet also incredibly sad and sweet.  I have this very strange fascination with Peter Pan. There is something incredibly unsettling about him, especially in the book. He represents something every child wants - who doesn’t want to escape their bedroom and fly away to experience magical adventured far from the adult world? And yet he also represents the impossibility of it, the curse he carries around with himself because he will forever stay alone, no matter how many lost boys he gathers around himself. And Wendy - it’s a love that was never meant to grow and mature, it’s a fleeting dream for the both of them.  I have seen many different adaptations of Peter Pan and I have my favourites, though I want to give a special mention to the book Peter Darling by Austin Chant. It’s a retelling of the story how we know it, in which Peter returns to Neverland after having finally grown up BUT the main points I want to highlight is trans Peter? Heck yes. Gripping and compelling gay love story with our favourite original lost boy Captain Hook? YES. 

Snufkin

Moomins, Tove Jansson.

I have discovered Snufkin for myself only last year, and yet I know he will stay with me forever. In short - I vibe with him, he vibes with me. His anxieties about being with people and longing for solitude? His fear of being loved and being important to someone to a point he doesn’t know what to do with himself? This man just wants to roam freely with his own mind and yet he always returns for something that captures him. Mum, I love him because I have rarely felt this seen before. Also, Snufkin said ACAB. 

Prince Jing - Xiao Jingyan

Nirvana in Fire (2015)

This too is a darling I have only discovered recently. I watched Nirvana in Fire this year and let me tell you, it’s the best show I have seen in a long while. It’s absolutely amazing and it also ripped my heart out. All the characters are absolutely amazing and I am still not over it.

To be honest, I contemplated between Xiao JIngyan and Mei Changsu, because character-wise I think the latter is a lot more interesting and compelling. He makes for a fantastic heartbreaking and flawed protagonist.

However I have to admit - it was love at first sight with Prince Jing for me and I’m still lowkey mad abt it rip. Seems like I am not immune to Pretty Prince Propaganda. But apart from that, I adore him for his genuine

goodness,

his almost naive drive to be better and seek justice. He lost everything, and for the longest time did not have anything to fight for. So alone and lost and bitter, it makes me sad how much it hardened him. He is heartbreak and clumsy kindness hidden under a skin of scars that was inflicted by his father and many others. I see his sad cat-eyes and I cry, that’s just how it is.

Edmund Pevensie

The Chronicles of Narnia, C. S. Lewis

I grew up with these books and movies - they have always been part of my life and it will probably always stay that way (only last night I rewatched the first movie and sobbed).  Imagine my surprised when I finally watched the last movie about five years ago and was incredibly impressed by how they adapted the book; also imagine my brain suddenly going CASMUND in bold letters at Skandar Keynes’ and Ben Barnes’  performance in that movie.  From there, I rediscovered this story completely anew for myself. My favourite Pevensie sibling has always been Lucy (and still is, because I identify with her so much and she feels like home to me); however this new discovery of Edmund’s character was overwhelming. It’s interesting to see characters you’ve grown up with from a more grown up point of view. I don’t want to lay out all my thoughts here, just know I am so heartbroken for him, and so so proud as well. His character arc is amazing and maybe that’s how the last movie makes me even more emotional. Seeing Edmund and Lucy still holding on to Narnia but knowing that that door was closing for them? Not to mention what happens in the later books (we don’t talk about that).  Also did I mention Casmund. Here, have my incredibly emo and depressing take on Edmund’s character that I started writing four years ago and which will forever stay a WIP. 

Nie Huaisang

The Untamed (2019)

My son. My soul. My bane of existence. The tragic thing about him is, that he does not really exist in canon as I have created him for myself. He’s a secondary character in the show, always so relatable yet still brings the ultimate twist of the story, yet he still remains this incomplete shadow. The movie

Fatal Journey

gave him a lot more and I cried tears of joy and devastation. I don’t know why I latched on to him so much, but apparently he is the one that I project on, the one that feels like he sits somewhere inside my chest. I don’t know what else to say - this year he has been everything to me. I spend a lot of time in his head while writing, and maybe that’s how he’s there forever now. Nie Huaisang saw my brain and went it’s free real estate. All my love for you, you dramatic art hoe.

Sherlock Holmes

Sherlock Holmes, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

Ah, another lifelong companion. There are many adapations that I adore - starting from the origin of it all, the books and stories which I have all devoured; the 80s adaptation with Jeremy Brett which was incredibly wonderful; to BBC Sherlock which shaped and traumatised me (I still like the first three seaons but I am too hurt to think about it); to the numerous movies -  but by far my most favourite performance is Basil Rathbone as Sherlock Holmes. Somehow he manages to capture the Holmes I see in my head when I read the books, the sharp yet polite eccentric detective, who loves his companion so much and who has desire to help others.  Sherlock Holmes will always stay special to me, in so many different ways. He shaped my youth and I know he will stay with me. (also what would you say when I told you he helped me discover that I can, in fact, be queer AND ace at the same time? thanks pal).  What else is there to say? Sherlock Holmes is a universe that you can dive into and find many amazing treasures. 

Isak Valtersen 

SKAM (2015)

There he is, the boy that changed my life. SKAM changed my life. All of the characters did. However, Isak is special for many, as I imagine. I remember winter 2016, when tumblr was flooded by these norwegian white boys kissing in a pool and cuddling and I was like ‘nah’, this doesn’t look convincing.  I don’t know what changed my mind but I remember sitting down at last and watching all that was released of season three and it was only downhill from there. I remember starting to follow the real life updates religiously while watching the other previous seasons in between. The one clip that completely wrecked me was when Isak went to the school nurse about his struggles with sleep - it felt like for the first time I saw someone on screen that could understand me on so many different levels. The entierty of seaons three is so personal, I would tell you to go watch it if you don’t know what I mean. The entire show in fact. It’s a masterpiece and it feels so real. This show impacted my life in a way that no show has managed to do before. I miss it so much. I miss Isak too sigh. 

Shang Xirui

Winter Begonia (2020)

Technically, for me personally, Shang Xirui is the nonbinary, gay and ace representation I need in my life (or at least that’s my own personal take on him), but since that is not official, he’s still here on this list. Of course he is because wow, it’s been a long while since I’ve seen such a compelling character on screen. I went from disliking him to being absolutely heartbroken over him. I don’t think any other character in this show captured me as much as he did. There are so many layers to him and discovering all of his sides is a wonderful, heartbreaking, painful and also beautiful journey. I’m not sure I understand all of him yet, but I am willing to try and dig and just ponder his existence. This too, is a perfect example for a flawed yet authentic protagonist. Also he is the most beautiful thing on this planet, or at least that’s how I have been feeling ever since I watched this. I wish to write more of him in the future. 

Aang

Avatar: The Last Airbender (2005)

I grew up watching ATLA and my favourite characters have always been Toph, Zuko and Uncle Iroh. In recent years however, I completely fell in love with Aang all anew. 

I think especially in the past, I had these prejudices against main characters and found them all the most boring personalities ever. In recent years this changed a lot and especially Aang is a prime example for that. Watching him from the perspective of older me, I find so much wisdom in this young boy. Somehow he represents all I wish to be in my life but at the same time he shows his flaws, he carries this sadness with him that will accompany him all his life. This inner battle and chaos that he has to face day to day and in the end - he is just a young boy. So much has been taken from him and yet he learns how to not let it overtake him, that anger and hurt. He tries his hardest to be better than the day before, even if sometimes the world crashes down on him and he gets overwhelmed. He is a child recruited by adults to manage their mistakes and play into the hands of predestined fate and in this essay I will -

Harry Potter 

Harry Potter, J.K. Rowling

I am surprised myself. I thought I would put Fred and George here, or Remus and Sirius, however I realised that none of them quite capture this feeling of lifelong change, of personal, deep impact that Harry had on me. 

As with Aang above, I used to think Harry was the most boring protagonist, yet my opinion took a 180° turn in the past years. Many of the things I wrote for Aang apply to him too - the fact that he was a child, that lost so much, and was always faced with challenges that a child should never have needed to face. Something I want to address is how my favourite book, The Order of the Phoenix, lays all of this out. Harry is just as flawed, just as vulnerable and angry as anyone else. I know some people did not like his ‘emo behaviour’ in the fifth book but for me it just showed how human he is, how he was just a teen like myself at that time. As for many, this boy shaped my entire life, shaped a generation, and I will forever be grateful. I’m sad and angry at how J*R behaves, and how she puts us in the position of doubting our love for these stories. I know I will always love them, but I will not turn a blind eye on all the problematic shit is carries with itself and what the author piles upon us. 

Lan Wangji & Wei Wuxian 

The Untamed (2019)

I will try and keep this short, because if you want to read my thoughts about Wangxian just go to my ao3 and find the  over 70k i wrote for them.  I decided to put them here together because I can’t seperate them and I can’t choose between them. Each of them carries something I recognise in myself, and each of them is the opposite of me. They each own my heart and soul and I know there will never be a fictional couple like this for me ever again. They’ve snuck their way into my heart and have never left. They deserve to be here, together, because my love for them is indescribable. Bless them.  + Bonus:

The Doctor

Doctor Who (1963/2005)

Technically, the Doctor doesn’t count as a “male” character, but since he has been presenting as male up until recently, I needed to include him. I chose the Tenth Doctor because he is the one that broke my heart the most. I adored Nine but he was there too short, and I do love Eleven and Twelve a lot, and Thirteen absolutely owns my heart, Ten has just always been the one that made me cry the most. I loved this era of Doctor Who, I loved how sad and hopeful he was, how heartbroken and yet determined to help wherever it was needed. Doctor Who is always that show, when I return to it, I am reminded that maybe, humanity and the universe isn’t all that bad. 

phew, this took ages damn. but i had so much fun! i decided to leave out honorable mentiones because we would be sitting here until tomorrow lol. 

[breaniebree]

Hey bree!! So I have a really silly request. I have seen many posts where tonks morphs into dumbledore and scares the shit out of other students. Also sometines dumbledore himself joins in and there are 2 dumbledores talking to a student. So could you maybe write a oneshot or something. ( Pleeeeease × infinity) The point is that whatever you write it always turns out amazing. You just write so well. So could you try please when you have time??

Hi, siriusblack15!  Thank you for ask, but I’m not one to take prompts because a) it takes away from what I’m writing and b) it sets me way off track from what I’m writing.

I’m that honoured you’d make a request though and I promise to think about it.  I did already write her turning her into Snape and she’s told stories of how she morphed into different professors over the years.  I will never say never, but right now we’ll say not now, does that work?

Flashback Chapter 21

“Mum mentions it whenever she gets a letter from Professor Sprout,” Tonks told him honestly.  “Nymphadora, you better not be following in your cousin’s footsteps — that boy was always in detention!”  she mimicked in a well done impression of Andromeda.

Remus laughed, drying his hair with the towel and wringing out his wet shirt.  “Are you a mischief maker, Nymphadora?”

She smiled mischievously.  “Only if I get caught.”  When Remus laughed she grinned widely.  “At the end of the year, I morphed into Professor Sprout and told our house that even though we had lost the House Cup to Slytherin, we were still having a party to celebrate our accomplishments.  Then I went to the kitchens and got food and drink and we had a grand old time.”

Remus’ eyes widened.  “You morphed into one of your professors?”

Tonks nodded, grinning widely.  “Only once or twice.  Let me tell you, Snape does not find it amusing at all when he catches you.”

“Snape?”  Remus asked in surprise, recognizing the name.

“Yeah, Professor Snape?  Was he not a teacher when you were there?  I guess he is pretty young actually, only finished school a few years back."

He remembered who Snape had once hung around with, and he suddenly had an image of him teaching Defence Against the Dark Arts (and it wasn’t a good one).  What was Dumbledore doing even employing him at Hogwarts?  Remus had suspected him to be a Death Eater before they had even left school; all of his friends had turned out to be.  But he had never heard anything or seen anything on any of his missions with the Order about Snape actually working for Voldemort.

“I do know, Snape.  Sirius and I went to school with him.  He was a greasy-haired git back then too, but we were never very nice to him.  What does he teach?”  Remus asked in interest.

"He teaches Potions and he’s Head of Slytherin House too.”  Tonks said, grabbing the peach juice that Remus had brought out with him earlier and passing two of the bottles to Remus and Harry.

“Hmm, well I find that very interesting,” Remus told her.  

Potions had always been a special subject of Snape’s.  It wasn’t the worst choice, he thought as Slughorn must have retired.

"He's crabby, but maybe that’s only to me because I sent him hair care products anonymously every week for a whole semester until he caught me packing up the basket in the Owlery one day.”

“Oh, that’s priceless!"  Remus busted into laughter.  He could picture Severus Snape opening a package of hair care products, a look of pure disdain upon his face and his greasy hair falling forward.

Tonks grinned widely, moving to help Harry dry his legs better and squeezed out the water from his trouser legs. 

“Definitely the same git.  I tripped over someone’s bag and knocked a textbook off one of the desks and he looked at me and said: ‘Ten points from Hufflepuff since Miss Tonks isn’t capable of walking into a classroom.’  Git.”

Flashback Chapter 57

(jealous Remus)

He offered her a small smile.  “Where’s your boyfriend these days?”

“Jon?  He’s visiting his grandparents in Paris this week.  But next week I’m going to stay with him and his parents for a bit,” she told him with a smile.  “I’ve missed having him around every day.”

Remus nodded; staying with her boyfriend, there was a thought he immensely didn’t like.  When Harry came back downstairs, Tonks spent the next thirty minutes regaling Harry and Remus with some of the pranks she had gotten away with at Hogwarts that year; including transforming into Filch and giving a few of her classmates detentions.  

Flashback Chapter 88

Remus ran his fingers through her hair.  The last thing he wanted to do was touch her that way after a dream like that.  The fear of hurting was still much too close to the surface.  “Tell me about some of the pranks that you got up to at school.”

She smiled against his chest.  “That could take hours.”

“Perfect then,” he said with a smile as he kissed the top of her head.

Tonks stretched her legs out, tossing one over his legs as she moved closer.  “Well, let’s start with I did to Filch.  Did I ever tell you that in my first year I kept changing my appearance to look like McGonagall and lecture Filch on proper respect towards the students?”

Remus chuckled, entwining his leg with hers.  “No, I don’t believe you did.”

Flashback Chapter 122

“Now what is this map you guys have been speaking of?”  Tonks asked, accepting the blank parchment from Harry.

“I’ll explain after, Tonks, try to get it to reveal itself first,” Sirius said with a grin.

Tonks rolled her eyes and tugged her wand out, tapping the parchment.  “Revelio!”

Cursive writing began to fill the parchment.

“Read it aloud,” Remus instructed.

“Mr Moony congratulates you on your attempt, but thinks someone as sexy as you could do better.”  She turned to grin at Remus who blushed.

“Guess it’s still connected to our magic.”

“Keep reading,” Sirius instructed.

“Mr Wormtail wonders why you bother even trying if you’re going to use ‘revelio’ to find your answer.  Mr Padfoot thanks you for your attempt but insists a smart-arse like you should prank better.  Mr Prongs offers you his smile and says: Neener neener neener.”  Tonks smirked at them.  “What is this?”

Remus tapped his wand on the parchment.  “I solemnly swear I am up to no good.”  The maroon coloured lines flowed across the parchment and Tonks’ eyes widened.

“This is Hogwarts!”

Harry grinned at her.  “It’s a map of the entire school and it’s completely brilliant!  They created it when they were at school.”

“See, it says so right here, Messers Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot, and Prongs,” Remus said with a smile.  “Filch confiscated it in our last month of seventh year and Fred and George Weasley stumbled across it.”

Tonks grinned widely at Remus.  “I wish I would have had this at school.  Do you know how much fun I could have had?”

Remus rolled his eyes.  “You had enough fun impersonating Snape and other professors!”

She grinned.  “Did I ever tell you about the time I morphed into Snape and made out with a statue on a dare?”

Sirius busted into laughter.  “No, did anyone see you?”

“Oh, yes, I made sure it was quite public.  There were some interesting rumours after that.”

Harry smirked at her.  “That’s brilliant!”

Remus handed the map back to Harry after closing it again.  “Anyway, Snape does know it was us and he’s well aware that he’s being watched.  Dumbledore and McGonagall have both spoken to him about his behaviour to the students.  I’m glad to see that he’s following through.”

“If he doesn’t, Prongslet, you tell me.  I want to know and I will have words with him.”

Harry nodded at his godfather.  “Okay.”  He smiled at Tonks as he helped himself to some more of the pot roast.  “Did you ever morph into Dumbledore?”

Tonks grinned at him.  “Once.  Dumbledore told me I did a good job, but next time he was going to put me to work.  He was chill about it.”

“Who else?”

Tonks laughed.  “Professor Sprout once and I gave Hufflepuff permission to throw a massive party.”

“Did it work?”

“For a while, until Sprout showed up and shut it down and found out ‘she’ had given permission.  I spent a full month in detention, but it was worth it.”

Remus smirked and squeezed her hand.  “Troublemaker.”

Tonks merely looked at him.  “Me?  Mr I Made My Own Map of Hogwarts to Prank and Cause Mischief?”

He blushed and kissed her cheek.  “I have no idea what you’re implying.  So, Harry, what are having for dessert?”  he asked, grinning from ear to ear.  

Tonks only smirked at him.

Flashback Chapter 186

Remus woke up the next morning to the soft graze of his wife’s fingertips dancing along his spine.  He sighed in contentment, a big smile on his face as he rolled over to look at her and jolted in alarm, rolling off the bed and onto the floor as Tonks busted into hysterical laughter.

“Uncalled for!”  he declared, glowering at her.Tonks, who had decided to alter her face and hair to resemble a certain hook-nosed, greasy-haired git, slowly changed herself back as she roared in laughter.  

“Get back up here.”

Remus knelt on the floor by their bed.  “Promise me that you will never do that again.”

She grinned and leaned across the bed, kissing his lips.  “Admit it, you thought it was hilarious.”

Remus fisted his hand in her curls and kissed her deeply.  “No,” he growled.  “It sure as hell killed my morning erection.”

Tonks giggled.  “But your face, Rem!  Oh Merlin, it was priceless!”

“How long have you been plotting this, Dora?”

“Months… eons…” she said, still giggling.  “But you always wake up first and distract me.”

Remus stood up.  “First day of our marriage and you’re already giving me trust issues.”

Tonks grinned and leaned forward to kiss his limp cock, licking it softly as it trembled under her tongue.  “Let me make it up to you,” she murmured as he began to harden under her ministrations.

Remus held her in place for a moment, letting her work him over and then he tugged her away and to her feet on the bed.  He wrapped his arms around her, tugging her forward into his arms and wrapping her legs around his waist.  He kissed her deeply before he headed into the kitchen, holding her in his arms and then he sat her on the barstool by the island.

“First we need sustenance.  What do you want for breakfast, Mrs Lupin?”

Tonks grinned, stretching her arms up over her head.  “Pancakes.”

Remus nipped at her bottom lip and grinned.  “I love you, Nymphadora.”

Tonks tugged him close for a long kiss.  “You’re not really mad at me, are you?”

His hand moved to cup a naked breast and he grinned.  “You are a mischief maker and I love you, but please, for the love of Zeus never make yourself look like Snape again, especially in our bed!”

She grinned.  “I promise, my husband.”

He grinned widely at her words.  “I’m going to make my sexy wife chocolate pancakes with fresh strawberries and powdered sugar for breakfast.”

“That sounds brilliant,” she told him.  “I’m going to sit right here at the counter and watch you make me breakfast.”

Remus bent his head to lick her breast.  “As long as you stay naked.”

Tonks grinned as she checked out his own naked bum as he headed to the cupboard.  “I just have a few last minute things to pack, but then I’m ready to go.  Will you tell me where we’re going yet?”

He grinned at her from over his shoulder.  “No.  It’s a surprise.  Our portkey leaves at one.”

Tonks brought her legs up and sat cross-legged on the counter.  “But it’s our honeymoon, I want to know.”

Remus only shrugged, a soft smile on his face.  “You will, at one-oh-one.”

She sighed as she watched him putter around their kitchen naked.  As far as she was concerned, they could spend the next seven days right here.  She didn’t care.  She just wanted to spend the whole time making love with her husband in every way imaginable.  Her eyes stayed on his bum, watching the sway of it, the way it clenched and moved as he bent and stretched and she licked her lips, her eyes falling to the long swaying cock between his legs.  And she definitely wanted him to stay naked, she thought.

So far this being married thing definitely had its perks.

Flashback Chapter 187

The moment that he was out of earshot, Tonks grabbed Harry’s hand in hers.  “I finally did the prank on him!”

“The one where you make yourself look like Snape?”

She nodded, snorting in laughter.  “He jumped out of the bed so fast, it was hilarious!  I’m still laughing about it and it’s been over a week.”

Harry grinned widely.  “I wish I could’ve seen it!”

“Oh, Harry, he was so traumatized!  It was brilliant!  Worth every second!”

Harry grinned and couldn’t help but laugh as Tonks doubled over in laughter herself.  The two of them were still laughing when Sirius and Remus came in almost five minutes later.

“What did we miss?”  Sirius asked, wiping his greasy hands on the grease rag he had hanging from his back jean pocket.  He was shirtless and glistening from the heat outside, his hair pulled back in a short stubby tail at his neck, the front pieces still dangling in his face.  He drank cold water from a tall glass before looking at Harry and Tonks again.

Harry grinned.  “Tonks was just telling me how she woke Uncle Moony up one morning looking like Snape and how he fell right out of bed!”

Sirius busted into laughter.  “Like how much like Snape?”

“Just her face,” Remus said in annoyance.  “But it sure as hell wasn’t the wakeup call I wanted from my new wife.”

Harry busted into laughter again as Tonks and Sirius joined in and Remus glared at them.

“It wasn’t funny!”

Tonks stood up, clutching her side as she moved to kiss her husband.  “It was hysterical, but I love you.”

Remus flicked her in the forehead.  “Minx.”