#hollowed minds progress update

[shai-manahan]

Hollowed Minds Progress Update 1/21/2024

Hi! It's probably odd to start this with a question, but how do you all feel about the way content/trigger warnings are implemented in IFs? I'm asking this because I'm doing bits of additional coding for accessibility. In the next update, for example, you'll get to choose if you want lore-related text to be displayed on the stats page or for it to simply display stat changes + relationship trackers.

Would you want the content warnings to have the same treatment (i.e. having the choice to have it displayed before every chapter)? Or is there something else you prefer? And do you find it better if warnings for the unreleased content are also displayed? I didn't make a poll because I'd like to get actual responses for this that's more than just numbers.

While I won't be writing anything that's too explicitly violent, HM can still get very heavy and I wish to take into account the thoughts of everyone who would read the entire thing. So do feel free to send an ask :)

Anyway, fixing game-breaking bugs was mostly what I did the last few weeks lmfao. I did write a few thousand words but nothing I can share yet, except maybe for a fact that MC's personality traits (depending on your config -- though the current setup isn't applied in the current demo yet) have a lot more flavor texts involved, and characters will be showing more reactions related to them. And I don't know if I've already mentioned this yet, but I made it so you could refer to Wesley using their surname 👀 (I probably mentioned that already but eh.)

Meanwhile on Ch 2's Part 2: Alonzo's driving skills vs MC's level of patience :'))))

See you next weekend!

[elvirable]

Ambrosia (Act 1)

[ Astarion x f!Reader ] | ao3 link

rating: explicit | word count: 2k | status: ongoing themes/tags: vaginal sex, feelings realization, denial of feelings, light smut.. for now, and a whole lotta angst, will add more smut tho in the next chapters, soulmates, fluff, written as a glimpse into his mind during each act ———–

Astarion would never tell you, though - it was his little secret, one he hid away just for himself.

In other words: A delve into Astarion's thoughts, starting with the day he met you. *will update description at some point. ———– A/N: i wrote this as a peek into Astarion's mind throughout Act 1. plan to continue as i progress throughout the game. lmk what you think and if you like this style!

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Grief had a penchant for wearing different masks.

Phantom faces that slithered through shadows, white-hot wrath that clawed at the throat, an endless gnawing that swallowed one whole: all faces of a primordial monster that had existed before time itself.

Astarion knew all this. 

He had met them all – intimate with its simplest form, a cold polarizing solitude; a loyal companion for two centuries, teaching him to lick his wounds with malice. Others had taken everything from him, or they were too weak to lift a meaningful finger. It took several lifetimes to finally mend his precious pride back together. Why should he practice mercy when no one had shown him any?

And by some stroke of luck, he was free – at least for now. Opportunity had fallen before his feet; he could chase after power, clutch revenge in his pale fingers, walk amongst the sun. Red eyes clung to the light glimmering across the water and wavering leaves. A desperate urge pulsed up his spine, insisting he memorize each saturated detail before it faded away like the most ethereal dream. The exhilaration rose wildly before plummeting to the pits of his stomach.

Huh, that was odd. It had never dawned on him that grief could also bloom in the slow, golden sunlight.

Languid beams washed against his flesh and through the faint hem of his shirt. Every fiber of his skin ached, dull and shallow, at the sacred warmth that had been a stranger for so long. He felt this haunted and holy gift – the vigor of life from each ray of light running over his fair face. Reunited once again, like long-lost lovers.

It was the sound of boots thudding against dirt that pulled him back into the world, on the ravaged beachfront. 

With straight posture, a hollow smile painted itself across his lips. ==

“You have your mother’s eyes, you know.”

No, he didn’t know.

Quiet was this small voice that, for some odd reason, had grasped onto his conscience the night he died. It had sung loud in the beginning, but now it was just a whisper. Everything else had reduced to dust, long-buried beneath the cold earth. 

But if he could conjure the ghost of his mother, he couldn’t be bothered to. Astarion envisioned a sharp tsk , a scowl dripping with disgust if she could see the creature he was today: a thrall to his own hedonistic desires, wielding manipulation and seduction as an instrument. A vampire , taking solace amongst the shadows and draining the life around him.

Maybe he was the same, just calloused and rearranged by the fate spun for him. 

However, there was no need to exhume the past. It proved futile anyway; he couldn’t even recall the previous hue of his eyes, much less run his hands over his reflection. The only thing worthy of concern was survival. Memories had been shrouded by the same pivotal virtue, the one that carved the habit to become shapeless – to cater to every impulse and whim of those who could serve useful. Those who could protect him, at least for the time being.

And that was exactly what he tried with you, as his breath was inches from your slender neck and your eyes widened in hazy alarm, catching him by surprise. 

“Shit.”

You scuttered to your feet in the frantic silence, dozens of excuses fluttering to Astarion’s tongue. The fatigue of bloodthirst hindered his wit, but he raised his palms in reservation.

He had already taken note of your misleading presence – you were small, but heavens , would you put up a fight. Other companions had already turned towards you for guidance the past few days, and you were carved with a beauty that could intimidate. Though, there were cracks underneath that facade – ones with darkness in between. 

Peering into these cracks was his only outlet to earn your trust; after all, it was paramount for survival.

“I – I wasn’t going to hurt you,” exasperated breaths pushed from his throat. “I just needed, well.. blood.”

Basked in the dim firelight, your wary gaze studied him for what he really was: a vampire, a slave to sanguine hunger. He caught the stutter in your furrowed brows before they eased. Smug delight settled in his nerves when you, although with apprehension, allowed him to taste you.

Astarion eagerly obliged, immediately losing himself in the euphoria– the sweet vigor of your blood, how silky and rich. A low hum vibrated in his throat, and he barely registered when your palms pushed his broad weight off of you. Lush satisfaction that quenched his blood-thirst still coursed through him like a stimulant, but he still caught the tail-end of your groan.

“I don’t care that you’re a vampire. Just –,” you paused briefly to reel from your daze. “We’re all a team now, so I have to have some trust in you. Just ask next time.”

He felt happy, more alive – not only from the fresh blood still lingering on his tongue, but that you trusted him. Maybe not entirely, but the anchor had already been dropped; one step closer to wrapping you around his finger, even if you weren’t entirely flexible. He could feel it in your gaze, in the little quivers that rolled through you while his fangs sunk into your soft skin.

Once you had returned to sleep and his frenzied nerves quelled, he mulled over your parting words. You weren’t phased’ that he was a vampire, instead placing emphasis on trust. You were full of surprises – especially when the entire world met him with repulse.

Something that had been fossilized inside him tremored, as if it began to thaw. ==

There was a thin chill in the evening air, in the way nature prepares for a new season. And he hated you. 

Well, he didn’t hate you – frankly, he couldn’t get enough of you; that was the issue. 

You plagued his thoughts like a helpless addiction, better yet like a mirror; one he had repeatedly peered into, struggling to find the right angle and when he did – he was left staring at you.

Those careful eyes – a mocking reminder of everything he could have been. So different, so resilient, so disgustingly kind.

Since the day he laid eyes on you, he was the first to glimpse at your secret hidden in plain sight. Your habit of hiding yourself from everyone you came across, retreating behind stone-bared walls and tailoring a facade just enough to avoid drawing attention. Reserved lips were a mere confirmation you sealed away a vault of grief that you didn’t want – or need – clumsy, temporary hands to pry open. 

That discreet resolve particularly made you the sour dagger twisting between his ribs. Grief had been your companion as well, but its mark never trickled from anywhere else – not a warbled voice or frustrated bout. It was only noticeable through a fleeting glint in your eyes. Meanwhile, he had made this medley of rage and anguish his armor. It had fused to skin, and he no longer knew how to scrape it off. Astarion dedicated decades to cursing the Gods. You ignored them.

He knew he should despise you and eagerly await the day he could shatter this mirror you were – but all bitterness dissolved in your presence. You had become his wonderfully terrible affliction; withdrawals could damn near kill him if they were to happen.

Ribbons unraveled from his chest with each conversation, whether it pertained to the graveness of the journey or a simple ‘good morning’ from your lips. Strange yet blissful, he could feel himself surrendering every bitter pang for the peculiar sensation of… comfort .

Once laced with such harshness, his mind eased with familiarity. An interesting chord of harmony, he thought, the two of you. From the start of the journey until now, you shared an enriching balance. He would encourage you to be more outspoken, while you stirred him to be authentic and soft – even if you weren’t aware. 

You were stable like bedrock; never once expecting to be selfless or pious, instead only demanded transparency – at least to the extent he was willing to concede. Aside from the occasional brow-raise or retort, judgment never twisted your face. Respect was a new sensation to him, as you gave him yours.

This dynamic, this balance ; it was irresistibly and invariably warm. 

==

The rendezvous sort of just fell into habit. 

Every night he would savor the ambrosia from your neck, and one evening tension gave way to carnal desire. Whether it was a simple cathartic release or not, he didn’t care; tender moments bathed in amber firelight or the hush of the night had always left him craving more.

“You’re such a tease .”

You’d whisper those words every so often those sacred nights, and a rakish grin would slide across his face without fail. Lust gripped him, but never once weaved with routine; the way your legs parted to invite him in left Astarion with an insatiable urge to indulge in everything you were willing to give him. He could spend the entire evening with his head between your thighs, cold hands steadying your quivering legs as his tongue lured you to new heights of pleasure – giving you exactly what you needed. 

When he was with you – skin pressed together, desperate hums like honey – he began to relish in taking things slow. 

He preferred the nights where your bare body writhed beneath him and melted against his, while he eagerly coaxed wispy whines from your lips. No matter how wet and ready you were, his girth always met resistance as he parted your warm, sensitive walls. Your skin buzzed at the sensation of his cock splitting you open, like every time was the first you’ve been touched.

Desire laced every word he whispered into the curve of your neck, each encouraging and soft. His pace was slow, pushing into the depth of your core, buried deep enough to kiss your cervix with each thrust. Low, guttural grunts left his throat as your body’s natural instinct clenched around his throbbing cock. 

Despite his centuries of experience, he found himself struggling to restrain from succumbing to the all-consuming euphoria of it all: your lashes wet from your tears, precious gasps warm against his skin, the desirous ache to fuck you the way that pretty face beckoned to be fucked. 

The unbridled intimacy – which felt so real and tender was enough to send him over the edge. His veins hummed with yearning as he drank in the vision beneath him; your skin flushed, shaky whines that sung his name as he pushed you to pleasure. And when you wrapped your legs to press him deeper – he surrendered to the white-hot bliss. 

Although Astarion would never tell a soul, his most treasured moments were spent after desperate breaths calmed and the entire world stilled.

It was never long before you lulled into sleep, and your weight slacked against his broad chest. He lingered over each detail with softer eyes; the gentle curl of your lashes, a freckle he had missed the last time. Peace graced such beautiful features, ones that were usually still with resolve. There had never been another face quite like yours in the two centuries he had lurked amongst the earth.

Your chest rose and fell slowly before you would eventually fidget, still deep in slumber, to slink an arm over his waist. His gentle hand grasped the one that rested against his chest, careful not to stir you, as he ran his fingers over your silk skin. Such delicate hands, he mused, that had to grapple their way through life.

He pressed a silent kiss against the back of your palm before laying it back on his chest. 

In the silence, something washed over him – that rousing feeling that he never knew quite what to make of. 

His eyes swept once more to watch the shuffle of your face, buried now against his side. Your hazy sighs warmed his bare skin. Astarion could almost laugh, imagining your face reddening if he ever shared how affectionate you were in your sleep.

Though he would never tell you – it was his little secret, one he hid away just for himself.

[dbnightingale24]

React

A Stepcest love story about Jim

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Because why not? I have a million other stories to update, so why not add another one to the list? I've been working on this story for a while, but I've been anxious to upload it. I've decided to go back to my old ways (for this story only) and not give you guys a novel. We're gonna do this bit by bit. I have more than enough to post the full story, but I know a good amount of people haven't seen it. As always, thank you to @fuckingbye for an amazing moodboard! I think the world of you, and I can't wait to hug you again, and cry entirely too much over life. ANYWHO, let's get started, shall we?

P.S. The playlist is going to be the same for this entire story. K, lets go!

Word Count: 3,514

Warnings: Swearing, Family Drama, Stepdaughter/Step Father interest, Drinking, Drinking Relapse, MINORS DNI, Emotional Cheating...I think that's it for now?

Song(s) That Inspired This Chapter: You're Turning Me Cruel Cause I'm Just Wanting You To React

Summary: You and and your Mother have never had the best relationship, but the both of you have always tried. However, when she invites you to stay, and you're met with the last surprise you were expecting, will any progress be made? Or will it just get worse? Catastrophically worse.

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I do not give permission/consent for my stories/works to get posted elsewhere. I do not condone this type of behavior/relationship, this is for entertainment purposes only.

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Chapter 1

It wasn’t exactly exciting, going home for Summer Holiday, but the thought of getting your own place just feels too daunting . Yes, graduation is coming up soon, but with the cost of everything as it is, you’d much rather wait until you actually have to rent one. Yes, you’re Mother is the last person you want to spend any time with, but who knows? Maybe she finally got a handle on her drinking?

Yeah, that’s likely.

As you knock on her door, you shift nervously from foot to foot, and you don’t know why. It doesn’t matter that you two rarely talk, or rarely see each other, she’s still your Mother.

Whether she likes it or not.

“Hello,” a man greets with a soft smile once he opens the door.

Well, hello to you too.

“Hi, I’m looking for Y/M/N? Last I was told, she still lives here.”

“She does,” he laughs softly, standing aside to let you in, “she ran off to the store. She wanted to be back by the time you got here. She’s been anxious,” he confesses softly, closing the door. 

You give him a look over as you place your bags down, and you can’t help but marvel at how handsome he is. He has beautiful ocean blue eyes, a slender physique (but you can tell there’s some muscle there), black hair that’s starting to gray a bit that you just wanna run your hands through and, lastly, a gold band on his finger.

Pause. There’s no way...oh, fuck no.

“What’s your name?” you ask with a kind smile, though your mind is racing a million miles a minute. 

“Jim. I’ve heard a lot about you.”

“That wouldn’t be because you’re married to my lovely Mother, is it?” you question, and he softly shakes his head.

“She wanted you to be here.”

“Oh, I bet she did,” you scoff, shaking your head. “I bet she fucking did. Do you want a drink? I want a drink.”

“She doesn’t keep booze-” “Oh yes she does, you just have to know where to look,” you smirk, making your way into the kitchen. “How long have you two been married?”

“About a year.”

“Well, God bless you,” you mutter, stomping around on the kitchen floor. “Oh, don’t tell me you’ve gone all saintlike on me now,” you scowl, before finally stomping on the hollow tile. “If there’s one person I know, it’s my Mother,” you scowl with a nod, before crouching down and picking at the at the worn tile. “So, how did you two lovebirds meet?”

“Maybe it would be best if she told you,” he mumbles as you pull up the tile on the floor. 

“I’m gonna level with ya, Jim. My Mother and I? Not the best relationship. So, whatever she says, I’m not gonna believe her. Hell, she’s been married a year and I’m just finding out about it. So,” you huff, standing on your feet once you’ve dug out the bottle of whiskey from the floor, and recovering the hole with the tile, “how’d you two meet?”

“At a bar,” he tells you, seemingly shocked that you actually did find a bottle. “Someone I used to see worked there. Her and I broke up and soon enough I started seeing your Mother.”

“I’m guessing things went well if you married her,” you mutter, grabbing two glasses.

Do you mean to turn her world upside down? No. However, it doesn’t change the fact that your world has been turned upside down, and you can’t help but be a little irritated by it.

Irritated by her.

“Do you have a drinking problem too?” you ask, pouring you both a drink, “don’t wanna mess up anyone’s progress or lack of,” you scoff.

You really don’t mean to be rude to the handsome man, this is just the last thing you expected.

“No, but-”

“Well, lets work on that,” you laugh humorlessly as you raise your glass to cheers him. 

Once again, it’s not the handsome stranger’s fault, but you’re also caught completely off guard.

“Has she cut down on drinking?” you ask, after taking a sip.

“She really hasn’t started drinking since she told me you were coming home for Holiday.”

“That makes an awful lot of sense. I handle her about as well as she handles me. She didn’t give you a warning?”

“She just said that things will be tense for a few days, but things will smooth out.”

“ ‘Things will smooth out’. Well, that’s one way of putting it. Well, Jim..Dad,” you scoff humorlessly, “I’m sorry you’re in the middle of this,” you mumble as the front door unlocks. 

“Honey, is she...oh,” your Mother sighs as he closes the door.

She’s more than likely seen the bags by the door. 

“I wanted to be here when you first got here, but I realized I forgot a few things at the market and had to...ah,” she mutters, taking note of both you and Jim drinking whiskey.

How the hell else did she think this was gonna go?

“I know what it looks like, but it’s not-”

“If you’d have told me, I would’ve gotten you a wedding gift,” you laugh as you raise a glass to her. 

“I didn’t want you to be mad.”

“You got married and this is the first time I’m hearing about it. What reaction did you think you were going to get?”

“I just knew you wouldn’t get it. I know we’ve been through a lot, but once you get to know him-”

“I don’t need a Father, Mum,” you shrug before finishing off your drink. “I’m not even trying to be a cunt. I’ve just gone all these years without one, and I’m a full grown adult now. I just would’ve appreciated a heads up,” you shrug before pouring yourself another glass. “I’ll be in my room if anyone needs me.”

You’re quick to grab your bags in the entry way, and finally make your way upstairs. You only make it three up three steps before an argument breaks out. You take a deep breath before continuing your way up the stairs. You know what’s coming, and you know it’s gonna last for the entirety of the Summer. God, if only you knew how much damage you’d truly done.

You would’ve never come home for the Summer.

**

“I don’t want to argue,” Jim sighs, clearly exasperated, “I just wish you would’ve told me! I’m coming into this looking like the bad guy.”

“Of course, make it all about you,” your Mother slurs and you roll your eyes.

They’ve been arguing since you’ve retreated to your old bedroom. You truly didn’t mean to start an argument between the two of them. Despite what your Mother believes, you do want her to be happy, but you’re just tired of her shit. At this point, it truly feels like she goes out of her way to make things complicated, and there’s no fucking reason for it. She always needs to paint someone else as the bad guy and, for as much as she may love Jim right now, she will make him the bad guy if she thinks it’ll workout better for her in the end. 

“Honey-”

“I’m meeting up with Rose. Don’t wait up,” she slurs as she storms out, slamming the door shut behind her.

Somewhere deep, deep, down inside, you do feel bad. However, it’s not bad enough for you to actually apologize to her. Yes, you’re used to her bullshit, but this? This is a new level of audacity, even for her. Not to mention, you do feel bad for Jim. You know absolutely nothing about the man, so he may be complete and total scum, but you do know she won him over with a personality built on lies. However, you truly didn’t mean to drag him into you and your Mother’s years and years of drama.

Which is why you’re now picking up your empty glass and making your way downstairs, taking a deep breath as you reach the last step.

Can’t hurt to get to know the man that’s apparently your new stepfather. 

“I’m sorry about that,” you greet as you make your way into the kitchen, taking a seat at the small table.

“It’s not your fault she kept things from me.”

“While that is true, I didn’t have to burst your bubble like that. You two had a life, and I just came in and made a mess of it. When it comes to my Mother, no one ever seems to make me as angry as she does.”

“Yeah, I don’t think I’ve ever seen her that angry before,” he laughs halfheartedly.

There’s an awkward silence, so you take the moment to pour the both of you a drink.

“She told me that you’re in your last year of Uni?”

“Yeah, so it’s about time for me to find my own place. The price of everything is just so damn high right now,” you sigh, finally looking over at him.

No, you’re not exactly a fan of your Mother going out and getting married without a word to you, but you have to commend her on her taste in men.

The man is gorgeous.

“You’re not wrong, I don’t know how your Mum was able to afford this place before I moved in.”

“Her parents. My grandparents kind of always took care of us, because shes always been a wild child and they never really trusted her to be able to make a stable living. When they died, they left her everything. Including this house,” you mumble, swirling the dark brown liquid around in your glass. “Lets table the talk about the crazy lady for a bit though,” you smirk and he chuckles, “tell me about yourself.”

“What do you want to know?”

“Is this your first go at marriage? What do you do for a living? Any kids? Fill me in on all the basic information I should know,” you shrug, cocking an eyebrow.

“I’ve got two kids, this is my second time being married, and I’m a writer.”

“Your second time getting married, and you chose my Mum? I’d really love to know how she won you over.”

“She loves does love you, Y/N.”

“In her own way, yes she does. However, you’ll come to find this Summer that, that love will drive you mad. You’ll find out just how strong your love is for her.”

“Well, what’s so wrong with you?”

“God, if I knew, I would tell you,” you laugh before taking another sip of your drink. “I think I just remind her of failure, which is fine by me, honestly. I learned to accept it early on, and we’ve both been better for it. I call her on Christmas and her birthday, and that’s enough. She calls when she remembers or when she’s drunk and sad, but I barely heard from her this past year and I assume that’s because of you. Thanks for that.”

“I’m sorry-”

“No, I genuinely mean that. You’ve made her happy and I appreciate that. I’ll try not to stay long-”

“She does want you here,” he interjects sincerely before taking a sip of his drink.

“Not as much as you’d think she would. You are her do-over, and I could easily ruin that for her. My best friend lives close by and I wasn’t gonna ask to stay with her, cause she has a daughter so space is limited, but I will. I know she’ll be more than happy to have me, and I miss her like crazy anyway.”

“I feel like I’ve done something wrong.”

You stand up and grab your glass and slowly make your way to the counter, “well, you shouldn’t because you’ve done nothin’ wrong. You can’t break or cause more damage to something you had no knowledge of. Have you eaten today?”

“Y/N-”

“It’s alright, Jim. You’re not breaking up some happy Mother/Daughter relationship,” you laugh softly. “Now, have you eaten?”

“I had a light lunch, your Mother said she wanted us all to have dinner together.”

“She has these ideas, and then she gets drunk. Lets see what we have,” you mutter, opening the fridge and bending over to see what your Mother picked up from the store.

You and Jim spend the next hour or getting to know each other as you bake some salmon, make some mashed potatoes, and steam a bit of broccoli. You make sure to make enough for your Mother, because you know by the time she gets back, she’ll be shitfaced and will need something in her stomach as soon as she wakes up tomorrow. 

“You and your Mother have two very different cooking styles,” Jim notices as he leans against the counter, his third glass of whiskey in his hand.

“My grandmother taught me how to cook,” you smile at the memory while taking the salmon out of the oven, opening the foil just a bit to check on it. “My Mother learned how to cook from me and then put her own twist on it.”

“What did your Mother teach you how to do?”

“Umm, I’m really good on skates because of her. That would be our thing on the weekend. She taught me that getting hurt is okay and apart of life, and that I shouldn’t ever fear pain from anything or anyone. That she was right about.”

“She truly was excited about you coming, Y/N.” “I don’t doubt it, but she and I...we’ve always had a difficult relationship. She never wanted to be a parent, and she got to play “big sis” until my grandparents died. I was 12 and she never grew into the roll of being a parent. I used to hate her for it, but I learned to accept it. She kept a roof over my head, food on the table, and attempted to show up to school events. She wants a friend, not a daughter. There’s a reason she never told me about you, can you pass me two plates?” you ask, turning the oven and the stove off. “You seem like a nice guy though, and that’s what she needs. She’s never had a good guy before.”

“What about your Dad?”

“I’ve seen him twice, and both times, he was a complete and total cock. Pardon my language,” you smirk as he laughs. “No, my Mum wasn’t all that great, but at least she stuck around and tried. He only came around for money, both times my grandparents told him no and Mum threatened to break his knee with that fire poker in the other room.”

“Fuck.”

“Yeah, he wasn’t a good man,” you shrug, starting to plate the food. 

“I feel like I should’ve helped.”

“You kept me company, and that’s just as good as helping,” you smile up at him.

“I should at least set up the table,” he offers, clearing his throat as he stands up right, taking the silverware out of the drawers.

“If you insist.”

“Can’t have you thinking too little of me so soon,” he teases and you scoff. 

“You get a pass for today, it’s been a rough one for you.”

You don’t notice the way his eyes travel over your body, and even if you had, you wouldn’t have thought anything of it. He’d had a few drinks and his day went from good to a headache. He wasn’t the first guy to look you over and he wouldn’t be the last.

While he poured more drinks, you grabbed two water bottles out of the fridge, before finally taking a seat across from him at the table. Once again, the conversation flowed effortlessly and, the more you both drank, the harder it got to remember that this man was married to your Mother.

He’s your stepfather. 

When dinner is done, he insists on doing the dishes.

“It’s no big deal-”

“I derailed your day a bit, it’s the least I can do,” he laughs softly as he starts washing off the plates.

“Alright, you have a job, you’re a good Father, you’re good looking...why didn’t your first marriage work out?” you question, leaning against the counter.

You don’t miss the heavy sigh or the way his movements faltered a bit before answering.

“I cheated on my wife with a family friend. She never found out that it was a friend, but it wasn’t hard for her to figure out that I’d been up to something I shouldn’t have been.”

“Ah, so you are capable of making a mistake.”

“You’re not mad at me?” he laughs softly.

“It’s not like you cheated on my Mum, besides, it’s not like her record is perfect.”

“No stern talking to?” he smirks towards you.

“I’m just getting to know you,” you laugh. “She clearly saw something in you and didn’t feel the need to consult me on it. If she trusts you, I’m gonna have to trust that she knows what she’s doing.”

“You are somethin’ else.”

“I get that a lot.”

For just a moment, as both gaze at each other, you forget that there’s a line you shouldn’t be crossing with this man. It was literally just discussed that he’s married to your Mother. That doesn’t seem to matter right now , though. Not when he’s fun, handsome, and looking at you like he wants to get to know every little thing about you.

Well, that is until your Mother comes stumbling through the front door. 

“Fuck!” she exclaims, crashing into the wall.

“I’ll handle it,” you mutter, quickly pushing yourself up from the counter.

You need to get away from him anyway.

“I hope you’re happy,” she slurs as you collect her. “He hates me and it’s your fault. Men always hate me because of you!”

“So happy to be staying here,” you mutter, kicking the door close as you help her stand upright.

“You ran your Father off, my other boyfriends-”

“Did ya eat tonight?”

“As if you give a fuck,” she scowls barely bothering to help you get her up the steps. “Jim is good man-”

“He’s done nothing but sing your praises all bloody night, he’s not goin’ anywhere. Now, stop being difficult and walk with me.”

“I can do it m’damn self!”

“As tempted as I am to let that happen, you’d break ya neck and I’d feel bad. Now, lets go.”

“Bitch.”

“I know,” you sigh.

Lacking both style and grace, you get her up the stairs and unceremoniously into the bed, helping her to get her shoes off as well as her shirt. By the time you pull the covers up over her, she’s snoring. You’re quick to get to the bathroom and fill up one of the disposable cups in there and grab two aspirin, before quickly and quietly making your way back into the bedroom and putting them down on her nightstand. Giving your small kiss on her temple, you quietly make your way out of the room and let out a deep breath. 

There’s no way you can stay here for the entire Summer.

With a look of pure pity written across his face, Jim asks, “are you okay?” once you’re back in the kitchen.

“Nothing I haven’t handled before,” you respond with a defeated smile. “I’ll be out of here by the time both of you are up.”

“Y/N-”

“She’ll be like this for the entire Summer if I stay, which will make the both of us miserable in return.”

“I can talk to her.”

“You’re sweet. I can see why she worked her magic on you.”

“Please-” “Thank you for doing the dishes and putting the food away. Don’t stay up too late,” you smile at him before getting on your tiptoes and giving him a small kiss on the cheek. “Good night, Jim. It was nice meeting you.”

You grab your phone off the table and make your way upstairs, laughing softly and shaking your head at your Mother’s snores which have grown much louder in the short amount of time it took you to get back upstairs. 

Plopping down on your bed with a heavy sigh, you unlock your phone and text the one person you can always count on.

Y/N: I’m sorry it’s so damn late, but would you be okay with me stayin’ with you for the Summer?

Cherry Bomb: Just put your goddaughter down. You know you’re always welcome here! Y/M/N being a cunt?

Y/N: I’ll tell you all about it in the mornin’. Love you and thank you.

Cherry Bomb: I should’ve been ya first stop ;) 

You laugh softly, placing your phone down on your nightstand and turning over to your side, doing your best to ignore the events of the day. You’re half asleep when you hear Jim make his up the stairs and join your Mother in the bedroom. 

‘Soon enough, all of this will be a distant memory,’ you think to yourself as you drift off to sleep.

If only that were true.

~~

[cb-writes-stuff]

〜★ Intro Post! ★〜

Howdy! Welcome to my blog!

I’m CB, short for C. Brookes. I am 18 and in college pursuing a degree in English, with the hope of one day being an author! I use she/her. I also have ADD (attention deficit disorder), and possibly several other things, including social anxiety!

This is mainly a personal blog, but I also post about my writing! Mostly, I like to read and write fantasy. My main project is called Project Opal! To summarize: “Man flees assassination attempts. Friends pursue. Other friend flees unrelated assassination attempt. Hijinks ensue.”

My dearest, most beautiful Milabelle (@trash-bin-ary) is my QPP, and the light of my life :3

And the ever-adorable Ace (@ace-of-loop) is my other QPP, and the sweetness of my life :3

I use lots of colored text, depending on my mood and energy levels.

This is a no-swearing blog. You do you, but I don’t post or reblog anything with swearing. I find it triggering (it really screws with me), and this is my blog, so I can do what I want. If you send an ask, submit a post, or comment anything that includes swearing, it will be deleted.

I don’t engage in politics on here, at all! If I get asks that support a particular cause or ask for money in any way for any cause, I delete them indiscriminately.

Click here for the masterpost of my WIP, Project Opal (name not final)!

My poll blog! @cb-polls-stuff

pronouns.cc page

〜♠︎ What I Post ♠︎〜

For fandoms, I post about A Hat in Time, In Stars and Time, Hollow Knight, EPIC: The Musical, and possibly others. Fandoms I don’t post about but still enjoy include Pokémon, Baba Is You, Undertale, Deltarune, both Portal games, Stardew Valley, and anything I remember later and add on. Not fandoms, but sometimes I’ll also post about Ado and plushies.

I also post about my writing, my college experience, and thoughts about being median/a system not anymore, those go on my system blog. And of course random jokes here and there.

I don’t have much regarding a DNI list. This is an SFW blog, so keep that in mind when interacting. And if you swear in my replies or asks, I’ll just delete it. Like I said earlier, it’s my blog, I can do what I want. And what I want is a safe space. I’ll also delete any asks that do stuff like ask for money or promote any particular cause, because that’s just not something I want to interact with—and I will delete them indiscriminately, regardless of what they promote or don’t promote.

I also post about figuring out… myself, I guess. Sometimes I vent. Sometimes I talk about depression or anxiety.

We stay silly.

〜♦︎ Tags ♦︎〜

My tags are pretty self-explanatory. But the ones that aren’t…

#project opal - posts related to my WIP.

#ihat / #in hats and time - posts related to my ISAT-AHIT crossover AU, In Hats and Time.

#siffrin and the craaaazy time loop - posts from my liveblogged playthrough of In Stars and Time.

#pixie’s plush hour - pictures that my friend Pixie sends me of her plush

The (mostly) self-explanatory ones:

#cb writing stuff - yapping, basically all my posts

#cb doodling stuff

#cb drawing stuff

#cb defining stuff

#cb answering stuff

#cbの日本語 - posts that have/are about the Japanese language in some way

#cb progressing stuff - progress updates on my WIP

[poisonhemloc]

Why is Chert on the ‘best place in the system to see astronomical events’ when it’s. Not? Ember Twin is right next to the sun; it’s a huge part of their view no matter where they go and it's blocking out a big chunk of what they can see. Even just the Attlerock’s north pole is almost definitely a better spot.

So, the biggest thing, someone had to be on the Twins. Not on Ash Twin, cause it’s starting the loop full of sand, but Ember Twin is fine to start on.

Which derails me from why Chert is Where they are (I’ll come back to it I promise) to why Chert is How they are- if they’re on Ember Twin, why have they not found the Sunless City yet? Pretty universally (I know my launch order isn’t the word of god one but I’ve chosen my hill to die on) Chert is one of the older astronauts, how have they been on Ember Twin for a while and not found it?

Because they’re not an explorer of anything in our system. They’re observing the stars, not exploring the Twins beyond what they need to. Their exploring in their system- the Attlerock, the quantum grove on Timber Hearth, the locator on Ember Twin’s south pole- is done for right now, and they settled to start observing and updating star charts. Anything now is just shooting their scout around to glance at things. So, no exploration under the surface, but, between them mentioning the tunnels under the surface and them telling you about the Nomai wreck on Ember Twin, you have a good idea that something exists under the crust here, just like Brittle Hollow. (Also of off topic note, the Twins are also the only planet(s) that don’t have anything of Feldspar having been there- the only sign of Hearthian life is Chert’s notes on the locator on the south pole and Chert themself on the north pole.) You can’t have an adventurous or archeology minded Chert without them having found something of the Sunless City and erasing the player’s status as the Hearthian who discovers that. You could have a lazy Chert, but Chert’s major reason for being in the game requires them to be an astronomer. And that role, in game, is to be your first (or second, if you’re observant) hint that no, you can’t save everything, that’s not your end goal here. A lot of people do get blindsided by the knowledge in the Sun Station, but, both Chert’s progressive panic attack and the visible supernovae littering the sky exist to give you hints before you get there. 

And coming off of that, Chert is the only traveler without a separate mention when you’re in the village. Gneiss and Hornfels both tell you about all three active astronauts in one sentence, then Feldspar is talked about specifically by Hornfels, Gneiss, and Tephra, Esker is mentioned by Hornfels and Marl, Riebeck is mentioned by Hal and Moraine, Gabbro is mentioned by Hal and Spinel, and no one brings up Chert except in the context of everyone else (And their exhibit in the museum- the supernova one. Chert and Gabbro both have mentions there- Gabbro is the traveler with the second most mentions in the village, because Riebeck doesn’t have anything in the museum). And this is mostly because directing you to Chert first, or very early on, gives the game away. Most of their dialogue is about what’s happening with the sun- if you make it to them, even just as your second stop that first loop, you’re gonna be told everything is dying, way before you have the thread of hope that you can fix whatever the Nomai did to make the sun blow up! So it’s better to let the player make their way to Chert… later. I think, in as much as there’s an ‘intended’ order to meet the other travelers, Chert is second to last on the list, but they don’t need everything Feldspar the puzzle piece needs. 

And all of that is also why Chert is on Ember Twin, not anywhere else in the system. Hornfels directs you to the Attlerock if you tell them you’re starting with something small- it’s likely to be one of the first places someone will go, or an early stop, and (I’ll touch on this again for Esker but) you don’t go back. So putting Chert, with dialogue that changes throughout the loop, on the Attlerock, means they’re probably not going to fulfill their in-game role. And again, while further away from the sun would be better for their observing, Brittle Hollow’s surface is too dangerous due to the meteors, Giant’s Deep has that atmosphere, and Dark Bramble is No. The Twins are the only place that really makes sense for Chert to be on, with the front row tickets to the supernova that’s going to kill them included. 

As a minor note to end it, to actually be effective observing, Chert has to be on one of the poles- and placing them at the north pole makes them a handy landmark on the way to the lakebed cave, since that trail starts at the bottom of the dry lakebed they’re camping on. Once you have an idea of where you’re going you can land next to Chert and Drop.

[aloneinthehellfire]

GOH: The Monsters

Gates Of Hell

Below are the creatures that appear in GOH with a little description for each. I have received a few asks about them and thought I'd put them all in one place (these will be updates as the story progresses).

[note to self: don't search scary stuff at 1am.]

taglist: @toomanyfandomsimfanvergent . @sheisjoeschateau . @kthomps914 . @curled-hair-red-lips . @nix-rose . @palmtreesx3 . @kryztalglear . @sattlersquarry . @hey-barnes-stole-a-jeep . @sadslasher13 . @iliveonteaandbooks . @innercreationflower . @newyorkangelbaby . @totally-bogus-timelady

Warnings: horror, inspired images of monsters, thalassophobia, i genuinely had to sleep with the lights on with all the research i did into these monsters

Introduced in: Part One

Demogorgons

Tall, grey, and thin monsters with elongated limbs. They first appear as 'faceless' until they unfurl their flesh in a flower formation, showcasing many sharp teeth. The demogorgon is fast and strong, relying strongly on hearing to stalk its prey.

Demodogs

Adolescent demogorgons, smaller in size and not unlike the stance of a dog. They carry a virus; any victims they strike (and don't kill) will be infected.

The Infected

Normal people turned monsters from a virus spread by the demodogs. Black veins spread across their body, eventually reaching the brain and turning them feral. The last stage of the virus rips into the flesh of their face, uncurling in four pieces with scattered teeth.

Mind Flayer

An entity made up completely of black particles, its shadow representing a closeness to the appearance of a spider. The dust itself has the power to control the bodies of other monsters, both alive and dead.

Shapeshifters

Creatures that stalk their prey, mimicking familiar voices to lure their victims. Their true form is thin with grey skin covered in dark veins, long black hair cascading down their head. They have hollow eyes and can unhinge their jaw to 'mimic'. In order to shift, they must observe their desired shape head to toe.

Rideo

Built abnormally, the creature is larger in size and most noticeable for its unsettling grin. It has immense strength and will usually focus their sights on one victim until successfully killing them.

The Green-eyed Monster

An unknown creature found in the lab. It resembles a demogorgon but is physically larger and taller, weaponising the claws on its hands. Its most noticeable feature is the vivid green in its eyes, glowing even in the shadows.

Introduced in: Part Two

Dustwalkers

A shadowy figure that stalks the Upside Down. When catching its victim, it can flood their body full of dust until they no longer breathe. They can not be 'killed', but once defeated they will deplete into a pile of ash on the floor.

Banshee

Pale human-like creatures that seemingly hover due to their speed, relying on sound due to their blurred vision. They have a gaping mouth that can blast a debilitating scream, the pitch enough to paralyse their victims in endless pain before death.

Aboleth

Giant leeches restricted to large bodies of water. It drags its victims deep down and curls around it until death. It will most likely digest the corpse after.

to be continued...

[h3lfaerie]

So if there's three acts in POA around how many chapters would there be in each act

My friend, I wish I could tell you...

Unfortunately my neurotic brain has zero concept of structure (in the sense that I know my plot, but divvying it up is a whole different story) Writing fanfiction right now is actually helping me learn how to dole out the content in digestible segments however it is very much a work in progress given that my chapters have started RELIGIOUSLY exceeding the 5,000 word mark.

I am actually concerned that it might be a bit too much for some people to read in one go, but because I generally update once a month (or try to) I figure that having a nice thick chapter by the time I'm done is quite nice after having to wait for so long.

So, the sheer fact you think we'll stop at Three Acts alone tells me you have far more faith in me than I do myself. To which I'm very flattered, don't get me wrong, but I'm far more scatterbrained than you may think.

I did say we'll have multiple Acts, however I did put a lil "etc" after counting up to Act III in that one post when I explained the structure I have in mind.

I do think that roughly from the pace I'm going at right now, if I were to stick to three Acts alone, if that works, each one will likely have anywhere between fifteen to twenty chapters.

I work in the sense that I have key moments that I need to happen to drive the story forward, so they will be happening no matter how much the characters like to go off script 🙃 The journey may vary but the destination is the same.

And once we hit a certain point (a damn heartbreaking one if I might add), we will then finish Act I.

But it's basically the same kind of "structure" for the rest of the story. There are certain landmarks along the plot and each Act has a number of them.

For example in Act I (The Hollow):

-> We have introduced Hiccup's internal conflict, which is crucial for his gradual descent into, not necessarily madness, but someone who is... Morally questionable at best.

-> We have introduced The Craze.

-> We have introduced the FMC.

-> We have introduced the political World-building that takes place in the Archipelago.

-> And we have introduced important landmarks in Berk's Village like the Dungeons, Heather's Watchtower, the Yak Fields, etc.

All of these are important for the progression of the story. And if I'm being completely honest, even though this is a Hiccup X Reader fanfiction, the romance is actually more of a subplot. Though trust me, it is there, and it ain't going anywhere 😂 but if I were to take it out completely the plot would still hold on its own as it has certain beats it needs to hit that are irrespective of the romance.

So in short, once we tick off every "box" for each designated thing that needs to happen in the Act, we can then move on to the next one. How I spread it out though is a whole different story, because more often than not characters like to go completely off the rails... 👍

Thank you for your Ask, Anon! ❤️

[tideswept]

First post of 2024, let's go!

First off! I'll be picking up my goal of 100 books a year again and will post a tracker next, feel free to join in and/or give recommendations as the year progresses. ❤ I'm a voracious but lazy reader, so I don't venture outside of my usual circle of authors as often as I should, which is actually the point of the tracker!

Secondly, I want to show off the podfic @sweet-cynic did of stubborn in the bones and the delicious Padobi/Masterkin @ossidae-passeridae wrote for silly ol' me. 💕

stubborn in the bones (podfic)

surrender | be moved and shaken

Yessss, yesss, look at the pretty, look at it!

Third, and really what you're interested in--State of Fic Updates and Previews!

ACTIVE WIPS:

[Hartwin] a tender gasp of inevitable ache ch2: 3k in, rough outline written out. Guesstimating something like 6k for this one.

Then Merlin pipes up.  “God, I thought you two couldn’t get more obnoxious.” Neither of them starts. Kingsman trained them too well for that. But Eggsy’s fingers curl around the stem of his fork before relaxing. Since there’s no data being fed into his glasses, he assumes this is an informal check-in.  He places another forkful of tender, exquisite salmon on his tongue, closing his lips around the tines and dragging the fork out without breaking eye contact with Harry. This might be mainly to yank Merlin’s tail, but he can’t deny that Harry watching him make a slaggy spectacle of himself ignites a forbidden, heady thrill. It’s better than the cock of a well-oiled gun—better even than firing off a snazzy one-liner when taking out bad guys.

[Hartwin] always be something sacred ch3: 1.6k in, some thorny things to work out. Might be a split POV chapter, might also end up being 5 chapters total after all, we'll see!

“Opinion on a blockade?” Harry asks, shrugging off his jumper, heading for the hidden armory beneath the staircase. He’d long ago bought and hollowed out the neighboring houses that bracketed his own for security and usage—pressing his palm against the wooden panel reveals a hidden entrance.  It’s amazing that Eggsy, despite all his rightful suspicions and cleverness, has never figured this secret out. He would have loved it. There’s no need for Harry to close his eyes and imagine that boy’s delight, he knows the exact grin that Eggsy would flash, his choked, skeptical laughter, his glee. How carefully Harry would have to watch his hands to ensure that Eggsy didn’t pocket anything.  Pain digs sharp claws behind his breastbone. He ignores it. Regret can come later, after Eggsy isn’t at the mercy of an unknown enemy. 

[Obikin] Untitled -- Alpha!PadObi/Beta!Masterkin: smutty irredeemable oneshot, ahoy!

Obi-Wan groans again. He stumbles onto his sleeping bag and lies there, gritting his teeth. Through their bond, Anakin experiences an echo of the pure need threatening to drag the nineteen-year-old into a feral state.  Or that will kill him.  Anakin swears in Huttese. If he were better at mind suggestions or at meditation, if he could karking heal, he could help. If he were an alpha, he could superimpose his will and force Obi-Wan to calm down. And if he were an omega… Well. Anakin didn’t successfully see one Padawan through an intergalactic war only to lose his second Padawan to something as ridiculous as this.

[Obikin] Untitled2: another irredeemable smutty oneshot, yay!

“Are you sure that you’re alright, Anakin?” Obi-wan asks for the third time, exasperated to the point where no matter what Anakin claims, he’s going to stop their walk and examine Anakin from head to toe. But instead of lying again, Anakin, who has been making the strangest noises as they pushed through the wildly lush jungle that covers the planet, groans piteously and stops so suddenly that Obi-Wan almost runs into him.  “Anakin?”  “I’m—kark, don’t make me say it.”  Since Anakin stubbornly refuses to face him, Obi-Wan circles around to find Anakin flushed and sweaty, his lips torn from biting down.

[Obikin] Untitled3: probably still irredeemable but not actually smutty! for @sweet-cynic, a bit of a... TMA-SW fusion AU? (featuring Priest-Wan because we could always use more of that.)

The day Obi-Wan Kenobi stumbles over the bedraggled figure curled up tight at a corner of the stairs leading up to the church is already one of exhaustion and fury drowned in alcohol. He is in no charitable mood, but discovering a small child wedged tight against the stonework in the middle of the night, with the chill of an early winter creeping in, horrifies him into action. Are they dead? Obi-Wan wonders, leaning down carefully. Wrapped up in misery and in shapeless, grimy garments, the child is nothing but a genderless mop of blond hair and too-pink ears peeking out from the collar of the jacket they’re wearing, some cast off business jacket for an adult repurposed for warmth against the bitterness of October.  He clears his throat. “He—” Blue eyes snap open.  Too blue, too bright, there’s not enough light that I should be able to see the color. But Obi-Wan doesn’t pay that thought as much attention as it deserves. “Hello there. That doesn’t seem terribly comfortable." The poor creature—Obi-Wan still cannot pinpoint a gender, the face dark with dirt—shifts away from him, inching to regain space as if they don’t trust him despite the markers of his office, the collar, the coat, the cross weighing heavy on his chest.

NEXT UP:

airline Obikin shenanigans for @virahaus

even more shenanigans set in bones of a miracle for @gretchenzellerbarnes

A coda for all things unsaid

I'm hoping Untitled2 will be finished today, but we'll see. :) After some of these go up I will finally get back to working on fear the crown and the devil is a gentleman. They're long overdue for updates. (Also have my eye on you should see what we do in my head--definitely want to finish that this month.)

And that concludes the State of Fic! ❤ If I have forgotten anyone or any thing or you have a question about a fic not mentioned, please give me a poke.

[sophieinwonderland]

Hi sophie, my oldest headmate (still young but we've been making really quick progress) has been drifting in and out of presence today and seemed really quite sad, i felt some of the emotions bleed through. Now i can't reach her even though i can locate her in our wonderland, and I'm getting quite worried, you know, what if she's experiencing symptoms that i usually bear? I'm not sure what to do here

I'm not sure exactly what your situation is or how long your headmate has been around. If it hasn't been very long though, this could just be... growing pains, of a sort.

I don't know how common it for this to happen, but speaking from my own experiences, I was pretty stable and always available for my existence as an imaginary friend. It worked well, existing in that state. Then I became self-aware, and I had moments where, after feeling intense emotions, I would be unavailable for a bit.

Once, my host even tried to to force me to front so he could know what I was feeling, and when he did, I was fronting but felt nothing. It was like I was hollow and completely devoid of emotions.

It was terrifying.

But every experience is an opportunity to learn. And this made me think about what might actually have been going on in our head.

And my theory that I settled on to explain this is that I wasn't developed enough to deal with those sort of emotions yet. So my mind, the program that is me in the hardware of our brain, processed my inability to handle those emotions by making me unreachable.

I think my thoughts needed to be rewired to be able to process those new feelings I've never felt before. Like when your computer needs to restart to update.

This obviously doesn't explain all headmates becoming unreachable all the time. But I think it could be relevant here since you mention your headmates are pretty young. (Depending on what "young" means here.)

Especially if this is the first time she's ever felt deep sadness like this.

If I'm right, this is basically a mental growth spurt and she'll be back and more developed before you know it. Try to keep talking to her as you go even if she doesn't respond, because that will keep her mind working.

Either way, when you can reach her again, it's going to be important to find out why she was feeling sad and try to help her through it.

As far as experiencing symptoms, maybe. You do share a brain, and any mental illnesses that affect you will probably affect her too. But only you and her can really decide if that's what's happening.

For now, just keep calm and carry on.

When she's back, you can work things out together. Ask her why she's feeling how she is, and what you can do to help her feel better.

Best of luck to you both. 💖

[goblinbugthing]

Bugthing’s brand-new Pinned Intro Post!!!!!!

Hi! I’m Bug, I’m a mentally ill emo artist and fic author. This is where I put my nonsense for you internet ppl to look at.

I’m transmasc, currently identifying as xenogender, and I use he/xey/it/they pronouns. Mutuals, and only mutuals, can use my other neos, blood/bleed and gore/gory. I’m solian/mspec veldian, fictoromantic, and fictosexual. Please respect that!!

Currently, I’m into Hollow Knight, the Kirby series, A Hat in Time, Bug Fables, Cult of the Lamb, Rain World, and Fate/Zero. Do be warned, though, I can fall out of these fandoms at any time — my interests are almost always fluctuating.

This blog is safe for minorities! (e.g. disabled ppl, LGBTQ+ ppl, BIPOC, Palestinians, etc.)

I am a minor. Don’t be weird.

Other stuff under the cut!

(divider gif via @/animatedglittergraphics-n-more)

My asks are closed. When they’re open again, feel free to ask me stuff about my hyperfixations, or whatever you wanna know about me, as long as it’s not too personal.

Commissions are closed. You can still support me by donating/tipping! Ko-Fi linked below!

My other socials:

My YouTube channel (I don’t upload much)

My Wattpad I can’t link for some reason. My @ is goblinbugthing on there (I hardly ever touch this one)

My AO3 (All my fics live here now)

My TikTok (Why do I have this? I couldn’t tell you.)

My $$app (Consider supporting me and my reckless spending addiction)

My Ko-Fi (Commissions & tips!)

My other blogs:

@princes-creations-askblog — An askblog specifically for my OCs.

@ask-emporianroyals-au — My AHiT AU askblog.

@kirby-souljourney-au — My Kirby AU blog.

@hollowknightinsanity — My HK sideblog.

@kokothedrag0n — My RP blog, where I act as my sona.

Current works:

Kirby: Soul Journey — My Kirby AU fanfiction, taking place after Kirby and the Forgotten Land. (Read on Tumblr / Read on Wattpad / Read on AO3) (To be rewritten)

Kirby: Soul Journey oneshots collection — A set of oneshots created for K:SJ. (Read on Tumblr / Read on Wattpad / Read on AO3) (To be rewritten)

Hollow Knight: Empty Promises — A set of fics created for my base Hollow Knight AU, Empty Promises. (Read on AO3 / Wattpad link to be added)

My tag key:

#buggie’s rambles — Text posts

#buggie’s randoms — Nonsense stuff! In other words, my homemade memes

#buggie’s doodles — Doodles and sketches

#buggie’s characters — OC stuff

#buggie’s creations — Proper artwork

#buggie’s creations (in the making) — Work-in-progress artworks

#buggie’s building paradise — All my Minecraft build stuff :3 (here’s a list of all the mods i use if you want em)

#buggie’s stories — My original writing

#buggie’s answers — My answered asks

#buggie’s polls — Self-explanatory. My polls

#buggie’s queue — The Very Rare Queued Posts (the only one unaffected by the name change)

#buggie’s stims — Stuff I stim to

#buggie’s sluttery — A tag I made specifically for my ace friends to block so they don’t get suggestive content on their dash. Also known as my hornyposting. Please block this tag if you don’t wanna see suggestive stuff!

#buggie irl — IRL pics of me, mostly just my gender euphoria

#saved 4 serotonin production — My comfort tag

#quicksave — Stuff I want to look at later

#important — Self-explanatory. Important stuff

#semi-important — I’m honestly not sure, just scroll through the tag if you want an idea, because I can’t describe it myself

#besties doodles — Art from my mutuals

#besties rambles — Ramblings from my mutuals

#other’s art (it’s awesome) — Other people’s awesome art

#other’s rambles (sick af) — Other people’s sick af rambles (I tend to forget to use this one…)

#bbg tag — Posts both by me and by other people about my F/Os

#images that describe my gender — My gender envy tag. Don’t question the stuff that’s in there.

I tag triggers with #cw (trigger).

I tag OCs with #oc: (oc).

If I make any new tags (or remember any ones I forgot), this section will be updated!

Also, please keep in mind that tumblr is a bit fucky and sometimes doesn’t show posts under tags for some reason! Some posts might have my old tags on them.

DNI list:

If any of these fit you, do not interact with my blog.

Pro//shippers

NSFW blogs (I scroll through every blog that follows me. I don’t wanna see that.)

TERFs

Transphobes, homophobes, racists, ableists, sexists, misogynists, antisemites, etc.

H//arry P//otter enjoyers (I fucking hate J.K. Row//ling and all her works.)

D//anganronpa-specific blogs (Very sorry — this is just a big trigger for me.)

People who support Israel’s genocide of Palestinians (Stay FAR away from me.)

People who ship The Knight/Ghost and the Grimmchild (I mean, you do you, but I don’t wanna. See that. Feels weird.)

A//I “art” supporters (this includes A//I generated anything. Text, music, images, ANYTHING. Go away.)

H//azbin fans (😐)

And I believe that’s it! Enjoy your time here :)

[shai-manahan]

Hollowed Minds Progress Update 8/13/23

Hi! I haven't been here for a while, I know, and I'm sorry for that! I've been going through a lot of changes lately -- new job and all that -- and have only finished moving today to another city :'))) I'd like to take a week for myself to set a proper pace and figure out a schedule that would work for my writing, so I'll probably post another progress update next week. For now, some progress below:

30k+ words usable content for the next update (usable meaning I had to cut a lot from what I wrote previously :(( and I might have to cut more from that depending on how it'll go.

Previous chapter edits - this includes making the passages more concise, the tension stronger, a lot more action-focused, and much easier to read and understand with strengthened dialogues.

There's a few changes I'm implementing with regards to the stats as well. It mostly goes like this as presented in the picture below 👀

Default means your Ripper starts that way from the beginning of the story, though you can still change this with your choices.

Fixed means you can immediately set that specific trait for Ripper and it stays that way for the rest of Book 1.

Fixed and variable just means you can set the initial trait but there'll still be a stat-style movement depending on your future choices.

Some of the terms I used for these opposed pairs are merely placeholders because I literally can't think of other words for some reason, but this system does open opportunities for comparisons and comments from other characters, so I'm eager to go through with that plan.

I know it's been several months since the last update, but rest assured that I'm doing my best!

Anyway, that's all for today, and see you next week 🥺if you have any suggestions/concerns about the current content HM has, my ask box is always open :'))))

[hollowedkingdoms]

If I were to code some of your Hollowed Kingdoms things into Foundry VTT for use in a personal game, would you be all right with me putting it on their Modules Browser?

I do not mind Hollowed Kingdoms materials being coded in for peoples personal games and if I think I remember how foundry works that's the way you put homebrew in your games. So you may do so.

However, I will encourage you to join our Discord Server because we are currently making progress through updating and rebalancing the Classes and Subclasses we have already made. So if you want up to date announcements of those changes, you will first hear it there.

Link to Discord:

[aheckinmess]

In response to the results from my "What Am I Working On?" poll, I've decided that for those of you who want to see what's up ahead, I would be delighted to share it with you!

For those of you who do not want to be informed about upcoming writing and fanfictions, whether it's because you don't want to be disappointed if it's not posted or because you would rather be surprised when it comes out, I will put a divider here so you DO NOT have to read it if you don't want to. The only news I am sharing below this line is new and upcoming writing information. Read at your own discretion.

I wanted to take all of your responses into account, and this is how I am able to do so!

TLDR: You want writing news? It's down below. You don't want writing news? Don't read.

Writing News & Updates

Welcome all of you who want to be kept in the loop with updates and other fun ideas headed your way! Bear in mind, the ideas that I share with you will take some time to write, but I figured you all might be interested in seeing what's happening in addition to the regularly updated stories I have going on right now.

This is a compiled list of both current and future works that I'm working on.

CURRENT WORKS IN PROGRESS

My Hero Academia Imagines/One-Shot Compilation:

This work gets updated regularly every Saturday/Sunday right now. Should I ever need to skip a week, I will post an update about it. In addition to this, I'm willing to consider different requests should anyone have them, so feel free to drop a line in the comments (or in a message if you're more shy, like myself) and I'll let you know if I can work it in as a prompt.

A Reader Rendezvous:

The hope is to keep this updated at least once a month. There are a lot of prompts I have as works in progress for this compilation, but work has been busy so I haven't had a lot of time to focus on my x Reader imagines/prompts. Trust me, I'm as upset by this as you are. I have so many good prompts that are basically finished and just need editing! However, I don't work on these as consistently as I do the prompts for my MHA Compilation with Ichijiku (since it's updated every week), so please be patient with me. Same as before, though, requests are allowed.

Cursed, Not Cute:

This work is being updated spontaneously when the muse speaks to me. I went from writing 4 chapters back-to-back in May, and then not posting chapter 5 until Aug. 18 of this week. (although chapter 6 is in the works now). However, I know that it's a fan favorite, so rest assured that it's not forgotten. Since this fic doesn't have as clear of a direction for me right now, there may be long stretches between chapters, but I will try to keep it consistent.

Season of Serendipity:

This work is being updated spontaneously when the muse speaks to me. Similarly to CNC, this fic doesn't have as clear of a vision right now. Since I'm more hyper-focused on My Hero Academia at the moment, Jujutsu Kaisen kinda gets the short end of the stick right now, but I promise these stories are not just being dropped in favor of MHA fics. They all get just as much love!

Bashful Beginnings with Bengal:

This work is being updated spontaneously when I have time to get chapters written. I got into Batman: The Dark Knight in high school and was crazy about it for a while! Then, it died out and my friends rekindled my love for it by introducing me to Wayne Family Adventures on Webtoon. So, I've been writing about my OC, Bengal, for a few years now, but I haven't had time to edit her story in order to make it as polished as I'd like in order to post it. However, more chapters will be added. I just don't have a clear timeline for it. I'm going to say I'm shooting to get another chapter out before the end of September!

Apricity:

This story is completed. This was meant to be a 3-part one-shot series! Now, that's not to say that I won't eventually add onto it, but for the time being, it is complete and can be read as it is.

Hollow Harmony:

This story is completed. This was meant to be a 3-part one-shot series! Now, that's not to say that I won't eventually add onto it, but for the time being, it is complete and can be read as it is.

FUTURE PLANS & PROJECTS

By the Books:

Calling all Aizawa lovers! This is a fanfiction that I've been working on since I first got into My Hero Academia about two and a half years ago. Shouta Aizawa has always been the holder of my heart since I got into the show, and that will never change (although Enji Todoroki also holds my heart in his hands)! I don't want to give too much away, but just know this is an OC x Aizawa fic that is somewhere around 721 pages of nothing but slow burn, angst, and tasty delicious ✨C H A R A C T E R   D E V E L O P M E N T ✨. My hope is to have enough of the fic edited by the beginning of 2025 so I can start posting at the beginning of the new year.

Eye of the Beholder:

Once again, Aizawa lovers, this is for you! Especially if you love Dadzawa! Instead of having an Aizawa x OC fanfiction for this, this is a good old-fashioned Dad!Aizawa-Finds-Child!OC-and-Adopts-Her fanfiction. The idea for this fanfiction was actually born from By the Books, when I was wondering to myself how my character might act if she was hit by a de-aging quirk. And then Eye of the Beholder was born! This story was only just recently thought up in the past year or so, so there's only about 200ish pages for this one.

Ice Ice Baby:

While I know Enji Todoroki isn't a fan favorite in the fandom, that certainly hasn't stopped me from loving him (I mean, more for me, am I right?)! The idea for this story was born because I wondered how Enji might react having someone as emotional as me as a child. From observing the family from the show and manga, it appears most of the Todoroki children are all emotionally distant/have tucked away their feelings. Yes, part of it is because of the emotional abuse, but as someone who grew up in a similar household and still ended up a squishy, emotional bean, I decided LET'S EXPERIMENT! So, we get to see the havoc my little soft OC bean reaps in the hearts of the Todoroki family as she slowly pulls them back together. You can hate it if you want to, but I think it's absolutely adorable (and also about 250ish pages) and I'm rather excited for it. Consider this your warning about it if you don't want to read it.

Might:

We all love some Papa Toshinori. I just think it's absolutely cute and based on the AU fanart and fics I've seen of him taking care of Shigaraki, I decided I'd try my hand at writing some of it. This fanfiction is going to be Toshinori's goddaughter and her life of trying to be a hero after her parents die and Toshinori is left to care for her. It's got a little canon divergence, but a lot of the main canon events will be taking place for some tasty delicious ✨C H A R A C T E R   D E V E L O P M E N T ✨ with a lot of fluff and angst sprinkled in.

Permafrost:

Once again, I have an obsession with Enji Todoroki. Simply put, with enough love and affection, I think his redemption arc and character development could have been kick-started. So, this fanfiction idea was created before Ice Ice Baby with the same idea of "How would Enji Todoroki's character arc have changed if he had someone to actively show him love and affection up front before his children were born?" (Note: I am not saying that Rei did not love Enji. I am, however, saying that I read her character as being much more passive in her affection, as well as marrying him out of obligation instead of someone who might choose to marry him for different reasons.) So basically, think of this as my Todoroki family fix-it fic!

Other Ideas:

I have at least 300+ prompt ideas for MHA that all have little summaries written for them so I don't forget what my ideas were, but they haven't been written yet.

For JJK, I don't have much in the way of a full-fledged fanfiction planned out. (That's a lie: I have a fanfiction plotted out, but it's in collaboration with some friends, and thus I would have to speak with them before deciding to post anything.) However, I do have ideas for a compilation of one-shots, much like I have with MHA.

Also in the way of JJK, I have a Bartender Sukuna AU that I've started writing. It was inspired by someone on Instagram named pikkufrog, but it has my own spin on what it might be like. Maybe once I've gotten part 2 finished, I'll post it as a little two-part one-shot story. Or maybe it'll end up a full series, who can say?

I have two 30-day OTP challenges that I've been working on that I think would be fun to post. One is for Aizawa and one is for Enji. They both have very different plotlines but are both full of cuteness and angst. (Perhaps a dash of spice here and there.)

I've considered an Arranged Marriage AU for Sukuna in JJK as well, but we'll see if the muse sings to me on that one.

Finally, my big, ambitious project is to make a full-fledged fanfiction for every major character in MHA (and yes, I have compiled a list - we're at 38 characters thus far). Yes, it's a big undertaking and no, it won't happen overnight. However, since I enjoy the fandom and I like creating fanfiction within the world, I figure as long as I'm having fun with it...might as well!

CONCLUSION

In closing, I have a lot of ideas swimming around my brain constantly. Not all of them will ever see the light, but for the majority of these that I've shared with you, I want to give them a chance at life so I can share them with all of you! I hope this update gives you a look at what's happening, as well as some anticipation for what is to come.

TLDR: I have a lot of ideas for MHA and JJK. Most of them revolve around Aizawa and Enji, with a dash of Toshinori. Yuji, Sukuna, and Gojo are the ones I typically write for in JJK but those ideas aren't as fleshed out since I'm obsessed with MHA.

HAPPY READING!

[tlwebb]

Darkness over Dallas update!

Hi, word nerds!

Things have been a little wild lately. Our washer flooded out the house and that's been a ton of fun with all the carpet being ripped out, vendors not returning our calls and other irritating problems that go along with that.

But, DoD episode six is progressing! I'm getting great feedback on the first draft and will be plowing into revisions pretty soon, after a Secret Project is complete (details to come)

Episode six is a little different. This is the halfway point and while the stories up till now have been fairly self contained this one sees a lot of plot threads get threaded together here. Just about the only major character who doesn't show up here is Winnie the Action Scientist from episode two. (and guess what? She's the star of episode seven- Night Rangers!)

We got Etherites, virtual Adepts and Hollow Ones so far, and I'm introducing an Akashic Swordswoman here. Who else will show up? Well I won't have the time or energy to fit ALL of the splats into this but I will try. I can say that episode eight will be an Ecstatic melody with a lot going on in terms of crossover.

After that, things will get sort of insane. Hope you all enjoy the ride

[probably-ace-ok]

Unusual or Unique Crossovers

A small collection of fanfictions that either crossover pieces of media that are completely different, or does so in an interesting and unique way. Many are unfinished or seemingly abandoned, but I think they’re worth checking out anyway.

stand in the ashes (ask the ghosts)

My Hero Academia/Mass Effect

Izuku transported to Mass Effect universe before meeting All Might, gets adopted by Shepard. In progress.

Ghost's space adventures.

Hollow Knight/Mass Effect

Ghost gets sent to the Mass Effect universe and is pretty OP. Complete.

Diamond in the Rough

Steven Universe/Worm

Post-Future Steven gets transported to the grimdark superpower setting of Worm. In progress.

Child of the Sun (or, The Return of the Avatar)

Star Wars/Avatar: The Last Airbender

The Force stops working normally, and everyone who uses it becomes a bender instead. The Jedi Council does not approve. In progress.

Tilly Death Do Us Part

Double Life SMP/Attack on Titan

Minecraft players get accidentally sent into Attack on Titan… but can still use the Minecraft mechanics. In progress.

A Tale of Spirits

Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles/Avatar: The Last Airbender

The turtles get send into the AtLA world and are mistaken for spirits due to their appearances and abilities. In progress.

see you in the dark

The Disastrous Life of Saiki K./Worm

Saiki gets sent to Brockton Bay and complains about not being in a comedy show anymore. In progress but hasn’t updated since 2021.

Stacked Deck (Or, Colin Wallis vs. Single Parenting)

Persona 4/Worm

Armsmaster has to deal with his brothers wife’s nephew being suddenly dumped on him. Yu has to deal with his uncle being a humanoid cactus. Also superpowers. In progress but hasn’t been updated since 2018.

Pray For the Children You Lost Along the Way

Miraculous Ladybug/Silent Hill

I actually haven’t read this one, although it got into my bookmarks at some point, but I’m putting it on the list for that crossover alone. In progress but hasn’t been updated since 2019.

Magic, not materia

Final Fantasy VII/Harry Potter

Was a bit hesitant about adding a HP fic to this list, but from what I remember, this fic respects HP about as much as I do — that is to say, not at all. Cloud shows up and stabs the Basilisk during Chamber of Secrets. In progress, last updated in 2021.

Once Again

Naruto/Gravity Falls

Mabel is reincarnated as Sasuke Uchiha, and that’s really all you need to know. In progress, hasn’t updated since 2019.

The Addams Family Thief

Persona 5/The Addams Family

Akechi gets adopted by the Addams family and fits in quite well. Complete.

All That Glitters Must Be A Rock

Kingdom Hearts/Steven Universe

Only a crossover in the loosest sense of the word, this fic is set in a world where people from the Destiny Islands are similar to Gems. Effectively complete.

More Than One Hero

My Hero Academia/The Legend of Zelda

Bakugou is a Link, and that changes everything. In progress, hasn’t been updated since 2018.

it's dangerous to go alone

Majora’s Mask/Undertale

Link falls into the Underground and meets Chara. Oneshot.

in the shadows of history (is where we roam)

Little Nightmares/Pokémon: Legends Arceus

Six is going to kill Arceus — and possibly eat what’s left. In progress, last updated in late 2022.

Revival

Batman/Attack on Titan

Eren Yeager in Gotham, what will he do? Adopt a child and befriend the local murderous vigilante apparently. In progress.

The Wheatley Parable

Portal 2/The Stanley Parable

Wheatley feels bad about what happened with Chell, but then he gets a second chance. Things go wrong immediately. In progress, hasn’t updated since late 2022.

Teen Titans: Morph

Teen Titans (2003)/Animorphs

Earth has been invaded by mind-controlling aliens, and the Teen Titans are some of the few heroes who know about it — along with the original Animorphs of course. Also, Starfire has a secret friend. Technically unfinished but satisfying to read anyway, hasn’t updated since 2014.

The Odd Duo of Blue and Pink

Persona 5/Kirby

Kirby and Meta Knight are reincarnated as humans in the Tokyo of Persona 5. In progress, hasn’t updated since 2019.

[unsanctioned-if]

Snippet

Though I haven't finished the intro post yet and the demo is still very much a wip, it's been a long time since I made the intro post in the first place. Since I'd like a tiny bit more content featured on here (taking baby steps with that), I thought I'd post a small snippet of the very first scene, for now. Please keep in mind that it's not 100% edited and that I might polish it a bit more going forward.

Update-wise, I'm currently working on the character descriptions to add to the intro post and making slow but steady progress for chapter 1.

Enjoy!

"Time seemed to slow down in the silence that settled over the two lone figures facing each other in the middle of a glacial valley.

Coldness stung your palms as they dug into the white blanket beneath you, leaving a pair of messy, deep prints. Although it was your first time experiencing the rawness of winter, the sights and sensations all but escaped your notice as your focus was helplessly drawn to the man standing in front of you before all else.

Even craning your neck, you had difficulty distinguishing his features. They remained obscured by the darkness that had fallen over your surroundings.

What you could make out was the gold and red-streaked hair that fluttered in the biting gusts of wind passing by, along with the slight twitch of his mouth that bordered on a sneer and the pointed corners of his ears. A flickering wisp hovered in the air next to him, humming faintly and soothingly, though you barely paid it any mind. 

Your attention settled on the ring adorning his leftmost finger. It gleamed and glistened in the darkness, the green and gold patterns a stark contrast to the bleak environment you found yourself in.

Even a child of nine summers such as yourself had recognized the sigil inscribed on that ring. A gold and emerald pentagon with small, red gems embedded in each corner. The shape’s middle was empty, a hollow depth where one might otherwise have expected to find a jewel.

The Ring of the Unsanctioned."