#horror and romance i feel are the genres that get the short end of the stick (especially but not only from non fans)

[froqgy]

mouthwashing being thrust into the spotlight because of popular gamers playing .. well there would be bad takes regardless of popularity but just people treating it as the next big horror game. i'm not big on horror personally, i just don't handle it well, but i feel as a genre it gets treated very 1-dimensionally and heavily generalized (see: people who are like "horror movies are just all blood and gore"). so no nuance is afforded when there are horror games/movies that don't immediately fall into tropes.

[catskets]

From Desires to Demo: How to Write a Good Demo for your Visual Novel

I'm deciding I want to expand on some topics in longer, fuller-length posts based on points I made in this general VN development post.

There is a problem that players have expressed to me about visual novel demos, especially in horror/romance/yandere circles these days: they are not demos at all. Rather, they feel like introductions to the characters and the setting, and nothing happens at all. No one wants to have to go find out everything good about your game by going to your Tumblr and going through 10+ months of asks to get themselves hyped up for your game. Most people are not going to do that. They will instead play your demo and go "this isn't enough for me to come back to" and never think about it again.

How, then, do you get people playing your demo and being excited for the full game? This is my personal guide on how to make a compelling visual novel demo.

In case you've never heard of me, I'm Kat, also known as catsket. I have a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Game Design. I've been making games for nearly 5 years, and I've been doing visual novels more "professionally" for 2. You may know me for Art Without Blood, 10:16, God is in the Radio, or Fatal Focus. I'm here to help you make your first visual novel, or, perhaps, improve on what you've already made.

What is the purpose of a demo?

A demo is short or a demonstration. Your job is to demonstrate a portion of your game to players. In more "traditional" games, a demo typically takes place in a very tightly-constricted space that is meant to show off how the game feels. Maybe this is the first few levels of a platformer that showcases the general atmosphere and gameplay of the game.

We aren't making action and adventure games in explorable spaces. We are making visual novels. Most visual novel demos just showcase a small portion of the game, maybe the first few scenes.

What your demo should have is this:

A general vibe for your game. You're writing a psychological horror game. Give me a taste of that! Show me a bit of the gore, a bit of the horror.

A sense of urgency. A lot of demos I've played and discarded have been discarded because the game itself does not give me a motivation

An established plot. What is going to happen in the future? Why am I in this world?

In general, think of your game as the back cover of a book. That's where the hook that draws you in to read it. Just give me a proper taste of your game!

There are cases in traditional games where things are hidden from the player in demos (let's all remember MGS2) and where things are changed in from the demo to the final product. That's perfectly okay! You are not obligated to update your demo unless you find gamebreaking bugs and other issues. If things change from the demo to the final product, let your players be surprised and intrigued by these changes!

I can make this a list of do's and don'ts:

Before writing your demo...

Do: Outline, plan, and everything else.

Unless you're blessed by Mnemosyne herself, you need to outline where your story is going to go.

When starting a project, I write a 1-2 page document that has this information:

Name of the game

The target audience

The genre and moods

A paragraph summary of the game

1-2 sentences describing main characters and their roles

Write a short scene that captures the essence of the game

Write a basic outline. You don't need to fit everything in and outline it all, but give yourself an idea. A beginning, a middle, a climax, and an end. Some people just write the start and the finish, and then the middle gets all muddled and convoluted.

While writing your demo....

Do: Make it clear how the choices will impact the game

Visual novels are a medium where player choices affect the game. Make sure those choices actually matter. They don't all have to, of course. They might matter later in the game, but you should at least try to write an example of how a choice may matter.

For example, in Art Without Blood's new demo, certain choices mean you meet the characters in a different order and experience different sides of them.

Having a certain amount of a sanity stat will cause characters to give you some flavor text.

Here's a very simple idea: if you're running your game on a "love points" or other points system, you can make it so if player gets 10 points with love interest, get a different scene. It shows that your choices are impactful. Just let players have a taste of the consequences of their actions.

Don't: Character dump.

Many demos I have played were just character dumps. This means using the demo just to introduce to us the characters but not giving them room to truly show their personalities or their attachments to the problem.

For example, I played a game recently that had the player complaining about their living situation, showing us the characters in the same living complex, showed off the yandere, and then had the player deal with an annoying, evil boss. That sounds like lots of games, right? And that doesn't sound very fun, does it?

Do: Ground the player in the world

Try to immerse your player character in your world. I want to read like I'm part of it. What is our purpose? If we are a stranger, how can you immerse us in a world so far removed from ours?

Do it slowly, and do it with necessity. You don't necessarily want an exposition dump either.

Establish the world, establish the conflict, establish why they got into this conflict, and leave us off with a reason to come back.

Don't: Make your players have to visit other sites to get important information

Your ask blogs or other social medias should contain supplemental material that keeps players engaged, but it should not be a place where you should go "well, actually, in the demo, x y and z should have happened but it didn't."

Try not to spoil your game on your socials. What's the point of playing if I can just read it all on your blog?

I should learn about the plot and the characters from the game itself. I should not have to get a sense from your blog about a character because they were so dry in the demo.

Obviously, this isn't to say you need to include everything about a character in your demo. But we need to get a sense of personality. I shouldn't have to go to Tumblr to find that personality.

Do: Ask for help

Making a game on your own, especially for the first time, is scary. It's okay to ask for help. It's okay to get people to help you out with parts you aren't so familiar with. It doesn't make you any less of a developer. A lot of people need some degree of help. There is nothing wrong with that.

Don't: Start your marketing until you know you can finish the demo

I've seen lots of demos that have been in the works for years. It can be disappointing for fans and demotivating for the developer to have an idea, tell the world, and then not see a demo for a long time. This is especially the case when money is involved, but it's still irresponsible to promise a product and never deliver it. Be honest about the status of projects and your life.

Do: Outline content warnings properly

It is up to the player to decide if they think they're capable and ready to play your game. Make sure to outline your content warnings. Cover the basics, and feel free to leave an extended warnings list in your game or on your game page for specifics.

Content warnings are usually things like blood/violence, profanity, sexual content, etc. Trigger warnings typically get into specific things, like suicide, dentists, or religious trauma. Think of content warnings like the ERSB.

Put a splash screen before the game starts that showcase the content warnings and a place to find trigger warnings.

Don't: Pull back punches with what your characters are capable of

It's fiction. It doesn't necessarily mean you support your characters being crazy stalkers. Know the audience you want to write for, and don't feel a need to cower. Let them be filthy. Let them get their hands deep into someone's chest cavity and rip a body apart.

What I'm trying to say is you really shouldn't tone down what you think your characters are capable of because you're afraid of making fans sad or upset because pookie isn't acting the way they thought pookie acted in their head. It's your character. You're commanding the story. You are choosing where it goes, not fans. Just because you have an audience doesn't mean you need to tone it down to be more palpable to others.

Once your demo is released...

Do: Keep a balance

Making games is very, very hard. And the world is very, very harsh. It is okay to let your fans know about delays or potential cancellations, such as through the devlogs on itch.io for your game, in your community spaces, or on your blog. Please be honest. If you do not think that, after a demo's release, you can continue on the project, make it clear that it has been cancelled or on hiatus.

People will be understanding. The world sucks, and it sucks the life out of us. People are more forgiving if you are honest with the status of your game, rather than leaving it in a perpetual limbo.

Don't: Think that the popularity of your demo constitutes how "good" your game is.

Your demo may not do well. That could be a number of factors. Maybe your marketing didn't hit where you think it should have. Maybe you posted it at the same time as another game. Not your fault. The full release may do better. Don't let the numbers be the reason you give up.

Do: Network!

Get to know fellow developers in the space so you can learn from one another and get more ideas for improving your own games.

Don't: Use developers.

Use a developer's resources. You should not be making friends with other devs if your desire is to try and become friends with big people. That's a parasocial relationship, buddy!

Do: Tell your fans the course of action

Do you have a development timeline set up? Writing multiple days? Give fans a general outline that you planned before writing your demo. It's okay to miss things as long as you're honest. But a timeline will help you hold accountability for yourself.

Don't: Charge for it.

I've seen at least 3 games take the "I'm going to charge for a demo" route in an effort to sway children from playing the game. This is going to sway everyone. Especially if players have not seen a complete + finished product from you, they will not be buying an unfinished game. There are other ways to hide your games from children, such as using itch.io's adult content filters and applying them to your projects.

Main takeaway: Be honest.

I say this a lot throughout this post, but it's because it pushes on a particular trend I see in beginner visual novel developers. There's this desire to create, but there is also the desire for fandom centered around what characters and world spawn from your creations. To maintain that fandom, you need to create. You need to be consistent. It may be harsh, but it's the reality.

Life is hard, and a large majority of us are NOT doing this for a living. Life will get in the way. It always has, it always will.

That's why it's good to practice integrity. Know yourself and your limits. Take steps back and be willing to be open + honest.

Fans won't be happy if you keep saying a game is delayed and show little to no work. Posting unrelated artwork and spending months answering Tumblr asks instead of making a game will eventually run you in the mud without anyone to enjoy what you have the potential to create.

Live up to your promises, and if you can't, be honest. Your community will support you as long as you're open.

[aahorrorfest]

Welcome to Ace Attorney Horror Fest 2024!

Welcome, and thank you for participating in this special Halloween mini-event for Ace Attorney Fandom! We’re inviting fans to create all things spooky, scary and judiciary featuring characters from the mainline Ace Attorney Games and/or the Great Ace Attorney Chronicles.

Whether you are an artist, writer or other fan creator, you are invited to submit to our AO3 collection. Works will be highlighted and promoted on the last week of October, but you can submit anytime from September 1 to November 15. There will be a suggested prompt list for each day (in the last week of october) based on different subgenres of horror.

Submit to the collection here: https://archiveofourown.org/collections/AAHorrorFest24.

Frequently Asked Questions

What types of work are allowed for this event?

Written works (ficlet, fic, drabble) and visual art are accepted for this event.

Is there a required length for written works in this collection?

This is a low-stakes (insert vampire joke) event, and we want people to be able to participate even if they are feeling low-energy or don’t have a ton of time to write! Any work will be accepted. Very short, bite-sized drabbles will be just as welcome as sweeping epics! Poems are also welcome.

What topics and themes can I write about?

You can write about any themes, topics, or characters you like, as long as there are some horror themes involved. Genres like horror romance and horror comedy are totally fine, but there should be some evil force/monster/existential threat/killer. An example of a work that’s allowed: Two characters have witty banter while they fight zombies. An example of a work that’s not allowed: Two characters have a normal conversation in a coffee shop. No zombies are present. In general, please make sure you are tagging your works appropriately. However, if there is some reason you want to keep an element of a fic a secret (e.g. not wanting to tag “bad ending” because you want that to be a surprise), you can use the "Creator Chose Not to Use Archive Warnings" tag.

Can my work contain ships?

Yes, content featuring ships is allowed.

Can I submit works anonymously?

Yes!

We have a Discord server for event participants to chat, get to know each other, and share ideas and inspiration. This server is 18+ due to the mature themes inherent to horror. Please reach out if you'd like to join.

[pookie-mulder]

October 2024 fic roundup

👶☑️ Beginnings by @television-overload

The most perfect follow-up to Of Our Own Making! Seeing m&s fall in love and go on their first date AFTER getting married and having a child together is just precious. (Especially Mulder’s “will u go out with me” note!) I love their unconventional relationship so much.

🐓🍽️ Untitled by @aloysiavirgata

This little fic is hilarious! I love Mulder getting the chance to be subtly petty towards Bill. I also love to see MSR being so domestic and settled down in the unremarkable house.

blue prints by @foxmulders

(Couldn’t find an ao3 link to this one)

Oof. This one hurts in the best way. It’s everything you want for these characters that they never got to have. It’s fluff, but it feels like angst because it’s a reminder of what the Mulder-Scully family could have been. I love it!

🛁🫧 the alchemy by @leiascully

I absolutely adore “platonic” intimacy that happens when they’re not quite together, and this fic starts out that way and ends in some incredibly satisfying RST. For such a short fic, this one sure does pack a punch! One of my favorites from fictober.

🕳️📍 You Send Me by spookynerd

The silliest premise leads to the sweetest romance! I love to see Mulder all pathetic and pining. My favorite line: “I’m in love. I think it’s terminal.”

🧜‍♀️💍 mermaids, native to montana by @foxmulders

I read this one a while ago and recently stumbled across it again. It’s the type of fluff with an undercurrent of sadness that creates such a powerful sense of longing. If you’re a fan of an unconventional marriage fic, read this one!

🛌🚂 Untitled by @myassbrokethefall

I usually steer clear of revival fics (I haven’t even been able to bring myself to watch it yet) but this one is just so darn sweet! I’d like to go back in time and show CC a copy of this fic so he writes it into the show.

🎂💌 Birthday Blues by Donnilee

I’m a fan of an author who can turn the silliest, most improbable situations seem probable, and this fic delivers. Read it if you’re a fan of tropey goodness and smut that’s as adorable as it is hot.

💇‍♀️💥 By the Dim and Flaring Lamps by @sunflowerseedsandscience

I was in the mood for a historical setting, and this Civil War AU fit the bill! One of my favorite things was its exploration of 19th-century gender roles, not to mention the unconventional romance.

🇮🇪🏰 Katherine of Ireland by Jenna Tooms

If you’re a fan of Hiraeth (as I am), you’ll love this one! It has a very similar setting and plot. The writing styles are very different, though, so it’s not like they’re carbon copies of each other or anything.

Anyway, this fic is achingly romantic, with plenty of lines that take your breath away.

(If you want the epub for easier reading, let me know!)

🏝️👻 Waldron Island by @sisterspooky1013

Like Gaslight, this fic features M&S not being able to trust their own minds. However, this time, it’s for horror reasons, not sci-fi reasons. Regardless, that concept is one of my favorites to explore in fiction, so I absolutely devoured this spooky fic! (And the ending scene? 😫🔥🥵🥹‼️)

😈🪞 Succumbing to the Truth by OnlyTheInevitable

If you liked Waldron Island, you’ll love this one! It’s a similar concept, but lies more in the casefic genre rather than straight-up horror. I loooove the way it uses the plot (a succubus demon) to force M&S closer together and finally talk about their feelings. It’s one of those fics where you can see where it’s going, which adds anticipation and makes the ending so much sweeter!

🥤🛍️ Inevitable by @thefinestmuffins

This alternate version of the car conversation in Tooms is an incredible Scully character study that’s absolutely dripping with UST. For a short fic, it truly packs a punch! One of my favorite parts is this: “On the Dana Scully list of priorities, want figures very, very low. It’s not that she doesn’t possess it in great quantity, it’s just that she fights like hell to rate it less highly than ambition, dignity, control, pragmatism, self-sufficiency, stability.”

[orikiys]

✿ ✿ 〞zb1 as love languages

✰ pairings : ot9! zb1 × fem!reader

✰ genre : romance + fluff

✰ warnings : none! yujin's love language is shown a bit more platonically.

✰ word count : 1.9k words 😵‍💫 guess who got carried away so fast?

💐᭄⠀ׅ⃑ jiwoong ⸺ physical touch

jiwoong's love language is touch. i literally cannot have it any other way.

my man won't hesitate before wrapping his arms around you everytime he returns home. he'll probably keep you in his embrace for a few minutes before pulling away.

he's the saddest when he has to leave for work 🥺 poor baby won't get to see you for hoursss!

during your movie nights he will definitely pull you close to him, lean his head on yours and will half-heartedly watch the movie with a shy smile when he feels you press a kiss to his jaw.

whenever you two go out he's gonna hold your hand and never let it go. He'll even absentmindedly trace patterns against your thumb or index finger.

if you're feeling down, worry not jiwoong the cuddly bear is present. he'll cuddle you and pepper your face with kisses just to see you giggle. he's so precious i can't

in the morning this pouty baby wont let go of you! gets super cute if you don't give him his daily dose of morning kisses.

💐᭄⠀ׅ⃑ ㅤzhanghao ⸺ acts of service

hao isn't very keen on showing pda. he prefers to keep it private and intimate only when you both are alone.

he would probably feel disheartened when he feels like he isn't being sincere (even though he tries his best)

hao is a quite and a pretty observant person, so when he sees you struggling to tie your shoe laces with the various things in your hand he'll jump in to help! will have the biggest smile for the rest of the day!

he proves his sincerity through minor or major gestures

he will swap places with you when you walk on the road just so it assures him that you're safe

when you're tired he'll make your favorite and silently leave the room to let you have some personal space

though hao doesn't like watching horror he'll definitely watch it for you! he just wants to see you smile and would hate to be the reason you're sad!

since you two live together, you have divided chores. but hao often ends up doing some of your chores as well so you get more time to relax

whenever you both get into an arguement he's always the first one to say sorry regardless of who's fault it was

it's things like these when you can't help but fall for him deeper. zhanghao is a man who'll do his best to keep his loved ones safe and happy <3

💐᭄⠀ׅ⃑ ㅤhanbin ⸺ short notes

hanbin is the type of partner who will leave you little notes pretty much where ever you go!

you have a test? not to worry! bf hanbin will send you some chocolates along with a little note that wishes you the best of luck and a reminder to not overwork yourself!

whenever he misses you he'll sneak in a note and magnet it on your fridge just so you could see it

hanbin feels like he expresses himselves better in letters than spoken words, so during any misunderstandings he'll be sure to write down his pov, say sorry, and tell you that he loves you no matter what! where can I get him?

he just has to find an excuse to send you notes! your memory box with him would probably be filled endless notes and you couldn't have it any other way!

hanbin hates seeing you sad! so everytime he sees a frown followed by tears he'll stay beside you and try to distract you by writing funny stuff! he's become an expert at it by now.

he constantly reminds you that you're so pretty and that he is so thankful to have you

his friends always tease him especially gyuvin and jiwoong whenever they see him pulling out his sharpie from his pocket! by this they know he's gonna write a note to you for the nth time, but you don't mind it ofc! you love him and his habit so much that you always hope it never changes ❤️‍🩹

💐᭄⠀ׅ⃑ ㅤMatthew ⸺ massages and words of affirmations

matthew has been your comfort place for as long as you can remember. he's seen you at your most vulnerable and has never once left your side in that state.

he kisses your forehead and tells you that he's proud of you.

he gives you belly rubs when you experience severe cramps and will not hesitate to reassure you that you're not a burden to him

matthew always has a way with words. he knows the right words during the right time which never fails to surprise you. without him and his lovely words your heart would have been broken too many times

mathew always gives you a foot massages saying it helps stimulate blood flow and whispers soft praises to you while doing so i claim this

before you go to sleep he'll most probably hum the lyrics to your favorite song and end it with saying lots of i love you's and words you never knew you might need so bad

that one weekend when he went out with his friends you could feel how much his words have affected. you no longer think of negative things and find yourself smiling more often

matthew is the best boy. he won't hesitate to massage your shoulders while telling you cheesy pickup lines which you act like you hate, but deep inside it makes your brain go fuzzy.

he'll flirt a lot to help you feel happier and to let you know that you're the only one he does this all to.

💐᭄⠀ׅ⃑ ㅤtaerae ⸺ quality time

for him, spending time with each other matters the most.

it doesn't matter if you're sick! He'll stay by your side till he sees you get better with his OWN eyes because he knows you worry too much. in the end, he too will end up getting sick from trying to "keep you warm" as he says.

that one time when you had to cancel a date because of an up-coming test broke his heart ): baby was so excited to tell you everything about his day and what he planned for the day. after that day, you made a mental note to never cancel any of the dates! as you should

apart from this he'll always send you pictures of what reminded him of you. mind you they are the most random things like a scrunchie, a cat hissing at someone, or even the sky. 'cause it's pretty just like you.

he'll also send you memes and tons of videos which let you know that he thinks about you 24/7!!

taerae prefers to watch romance movies with you because he just loves the way you tell your point of view. The way your eyes shine or the way you hold his hand tighter during a tense moment makes him feel at ease. he loves to view things from your point of view!

he's grown so accustomed of you that he can recognize you just by your footsteps 😍😍

he even signed the two of you for yoga and painting classes just so you both could spend some extra time!

💐᭄⠀ׅ⃑ ㅤricky ⸺ giving gifts

being in a relationship for the first time had the guy panic to death. he acted awkward or abnormally quiet with you at the start

his search history is filled up with "what should I gift my partner for the first time?"

boy took internet too seriously and gave you gifts almost everyday!

some of the gifts were handmade as well like a small photo album of the two of you or just handing you random roses throughout the day

what first started as a research to keep you happy and ensure you would like him (no matter what you do) turned into a habit. if he misses giving you a gift even for a day he's gonna go all sad and apologize multiple times even though you don't mind.

he is seriously whipped. there are no other words to describe him.

when he falls in love he gives his best. in fact, he gives his best at everything. he lets you know your importance in his life through these small gifts

ricky is no doubt a creative genius from all the ideas he brainstorms just to come up with a great gift that you would

he has your food orders mentally noted and will often send it to you if he sees you too tired or if you crave for it

he creates a spotify playlist every year for your birthday with songs that remind him of you!

during your arcade dates he gives you ALL the gifts he wins! he loves seeing how you smile at him before hugging him tightly. he feels like he won in life after every hug.

💐᭄⠀ׅ⃑ ㅤgyuvin ⸺ physical touch + harmless teasing

another touchy boy right here. won't hesitate to hug you death or squish your cheeks

loves to bully (tease) you! will act smug about his height everytime you ask him to get something that is out of your reach

he'll even tease you if you don't know a meme that he shows you

but the moment he sees you get sad he'll hug you tightly and pat your back mumbling sorry for like a million times!

he loves holding your hand and presses kisses on it just to hear your giggle

he'll end up teasing you again if he finds out you like cheesy things. BUT, mark my words he's gonna make a mental note of it and try something cheesy just for you

if he sees you eat messily he'll make disappointed noises. not even a minute later he'll use a tissue and wipe your mouth for you

he loves braiding your hair for no reason! although the braids might seem uneven and messy you love it!

hair dries your hair for you saying it's fun and later teasing you how you're such a softie.

look at the irony.

💐᭄⠀ׅ⃑ ㅤgunwook ⸺ writing poems + having deep convos

while gunwook might seem like the type to goof around a lot I feel like he might often get into deep convos with you. he feels good to know that you enjoy these convos rather than finding them boring.

he shares all his true feelings with you and even takes few advices from you

every little gesture of his holds a deep meaning

even his poems are so meaningful

he writes on different topics but somehow ends up correlating all of them to you!

your deep convos are either when you go on night walks and sit in front of river under the moon or on voice calls.

his voice is very calm and soft when he speaks. his thoughts– they flow endlessly and you often wonder how many things does he have bottled up

💐᭄⠀ׅ⃑ ㅤyujin ⸺ playing games together

yujin loves playing games whether it be online or in the parks

he loves being competitive and winning ALL the games

but the moment he sees you frown or get sad he'll purposely lose the game just to let you win and see that smug grin on your face

you both have a weird and a very platonic way of expressing feelings

you're sad? don't worry! yujin got the latest games on xbox just for you both to play all night long!

other than games you both help each other in homework which often ends up in a debate on who's answers are right

yujin might not physically show how much he cares for you but he will keep in mind your favorites, your problems, and he'll listen to you calmly

there's a problem at school? worry not! yujin has been taught by his members to be confident in himself and stand up for others!

yujin is a shy shy boi ><

you both go to the same school so he has a habit of picking you up from your place and then the two of you cycle race to the school grounds

poor cycle gets abandoned anywhere

he has a habit of buying you two bottles of strawberry milk since he knows you love it so much! must protect him, so precious

thank you so much for reading up till here! I hope you liked it : )

[maleyanderecafe]

Coffee Meet (Visual Novel)

Created by: Angel

Genre: Horror/Romance

This games goes from kind of cute to horror fairly quickly. It currently starts in a coffee shop only to end with kidnapping in a car, at least as so far as what we see in the game, since this is a demo. I will say I do like the way that you can customize the MC.

The story starts out with the MC (Angel) ordering a drink at the cafe, where they can customize their appearance based on what they write on the coffee cup. After sitting down and starting to work on their computer you feel someone watching you. Regardless of if Angel goes and take a look or not, this person, Guy, will come over and sit at their table. He starts to compliment Angel's looks, before asking for their number. If Angel agrees, they will write their number down before Guy kisses them on the forehead. Otherwise, Angel will simply leave, freaked out by what just happened.

Later at their place, Angel feels uncomfortable as it feels like someone is watching them. Feeling this restlessness, they can either go out for a walk or go to bed. Either choice will lead to Guy drugging and kidnapping them, with going on a walk leading to a bit of a chase first. Waking up, Angel realizes that they're in a car. If they scream out they will be gagged for the remainder of the game. Guy notices that Angel has been wounded and tries to bandage it, either roughly or gently depending on how Angel is behaving. Eventually Angel goes to sleep, haunted by self deprecating thoughts.

Starting out, there isn't too much happening here. It is quite literally a coffee meetup after all. I think that the aesthetics of the game are interesting as it starts out with a more cutesy looking general coffee date type of game before moving onto the more sinister murder sim style gameplay later. It's hard to say why guy likes Angel in the first place, given that he pretty much just comes up to the Angel to compliment them before kidnapping them, though it is implied that he has done this with countless others as well. Considering that he says that Angel is like a model, it does make me wonder if this could be some sort of dollmaker yandere. What I really did like about the game was the way you could visual see the customization of the MC in the game when putting in your name for the coffee/drink. I think that more games should try to add in more natural elements like that to incorporate elements such as gender, build, style, etc, since it feels much more natural than just simply asking the player what they are. At least, that's how I feel about it.

We don't really get to see too much of Guy as a yandere, seeing that he seems to have stalked Angel as well as kidnapped them, so I hope there will be more in the future. It makes me wonder where he is taking them though, as well as what other victims he might have had. He does indicate that he's not a big fan of needles though.

While a short game, I do think it's nice that the creator is slowly building upon this game to mostly learn how to make a renpy game. I think that it's great as long as you are able to learn and progress in your game making. It's a short demo so if you are interested, please give it a try.

[storytowrite]

|You will always be mine ~ Lee Minho series|

PART 9

Paring: Minho x Y/N

Genre: smut, angst, university au

Word count: 1705

Warnings: sex, 18+, Minho is a psycho, dom!Minho, sub!reader, abuse, slight BDSM, kidnapping, violence, age gap, Minho is an university professor, Y/N can be hurt physically (and mentally too I guess).

Synopsis: Who knew that accidental fuck in the club bathroom with a handsome man will bring you to a lot of unexpected events.

Author's note: I kept this series for a really long time not sure if I want to post it or not, but I decided to do it anyway, so I hope you'll like it.

——————————

You ate dinner in silence. You sank into your thoughts. You thought about Lisa, about the pictures, about Jeno, about the university, generally about everything. You didn't even listen to what Minho was talking to you about. 

“Hello. Earth to Y/N... Can you hear me?” The man asked. 

“Hm? Ah, yes, yes... Forgive me Minho. I was just thinking.” You replied and smiled apologetically at him. 

“Mhm... I noticed.” He muttered, not entirely satisfied with your answer. “I asked if you liked it?”

“Yes.” You replied with a smile. “It's mega delicious, you cook very well.”

“Thank you kitten. Would you like to watch a movie?” He asked, picking up the dirty dishes. 

“And what kind?” You became interested. 

“Go to the living room and choose something.” He instructed you and went to wash up. 

You immediately went to the room, where you sat down on the black leather couch and took the TV remote control in your hand. You started looking for interesting movies, casually checking what movies Minho had watched recently to get a sense of what he liked. 

It turned out that Minho watches everything. Starting with action movies, or horror movies, and ending with romances, or fairy tales. You sighed quietly and turned on the first better romance. You didn't really feel like watching anything that much. You would honestly rather go to bed. 

Minho came to you after a short while. He sat down next to you on the couch and embraced you lightly. His hand rested on your shoulder. He kissed your cheek and pulled you tighter to him. You leaned against him. 

“ So, have you decided what we're watching, kitten?” Minho asked. 

“‘”Oh, I don't know... Some kind of romance, I didn't check the title.“’” You replied. “I think I'm tired, Minho... and I don't want to watch the movie too much. I would like to lay down...”

“Ah, too bad.” He said very unhappy. “I thought we would have a pleasant night after the movie.” Saying this, he began to glide his hand over your shoulder. “In the end, we didn't finish our fun in the car,” he said.

“Because you thought I was being naughty Min... Besides, I don't feel like it.” 

“Maybe you don't, but I do.” He replied a little more sharply than he intended. You looked at him slightly puzzled. 

“And what are you going to do, force me?” 

“No...” He sighed quietly. “You know very well that I'm not going to force you to do anything you don't want...” He didn't sound very convincing. His behavior was strange to say the least. “Go and lie down Y/N, I'll come over later.”

“Sure, good night Minho...” You said and kissed him on the cheek, then disappeared into the bedroom, where you changed into pajamas and lay down on the bed. 

Sleep, however, did not come easily. You began to sink into thought again. You didn't like the man's behavior. More and more, you began to wonder about him and what the two of you had in common. But did it really connect? Or were you just a toy for him to use whenever he felt like it? He was ceasing to like the arrangement you had entered into. You sighed quietly. If it continues like this, then, I'll end it, you decided in your mind, then fell asleep. 

The next day you woke up quite sleepy. You glanced at your watch again. It was nine o'clock. The lecture you should have attended had already been going on for an hour and a half. The plus side was that the lecturer in charge was Minho, so he would rather forgive your absence. 

You got out of bed and headed to the kitchen. Minho left you breakfast on the table. You smiled slightly. The man really cooked well. You sat down at the table and started eating. The apartment was quiet, far too quiet. You decided to turn on the TV, you just happened to come across a news channel. 

This morning, a woman's body was found near the ponds. The woman was probably raped, and then the perpetrator must have carried out the murder, by strangulation, probably done with a rope or thin line. Investigators are looking into the circumstances of the incident.  

You gasped. The moment the camera caught the woman's corpse, before the TV had time to blur it out, you noticed a piece of clothing belonging to the dead. Red material was wrapping the woman's body. It was probably a dress. The news did not give the name of the deceased, but you had a feeling you knew her. 

Terrified, you put your uneaten breakfast aside. You began to fear that the perpetrator might have been Minho. After all, he himself had said he would take care of Rheena. What if it was her? You didn't really know the woman. Aside from one unpleasant interaction, you had nothing in common, but the thought that Rheena could have ended up like this made you shudder. 

But what if it was just a figment of your imagination? What if it wasn't Rheena, but some random woman? You began to think about this intensely. Should you ask Minho about it? But do you have reason to believe that Minho did it? After all, he cared about you and wouldn't hurt anyone, right? No, it's probably just a coincidence, and you're imagining too much. 

You sighed quietly and went to the bathroom to wash your face. You rinsed yourself with cold water, hoping to soothe your thoughts at least a little, but it didn't help. You decided to take a cold shower. You stripped off your short nightgown and entered the cabin. You stood under the shower and turned on the water. You didn't know how long you had been there. How much time had passed? 

Suddenly, immersed in your thoughts, you felt someone's arms wrap around your waist. You let out a scream, pulling yourself out of your musings. You felt strong hands glide over your body.

“Shh...” You heard a familiar voice over your ear. “It's okay, kitten, there's no need to shout.” Minho said in a quiet, soothing tone. You calmed down slightly. When did he manage to return? You didn't even hear him come in. 

Minho's hands glided over your body. He gently brushed every scrap, staggering circles with his thumbs on your bare skin. He moved one hand to your breast and gently began kneading it. The other hand, meanwhile, moved across your body and landed between your legs. Minho hooked the most sensitive spot on your body. You felt his finger slide inside you and gently begin to move. Your body responded to his every touch. You let out a quiet moan of pleasure and leaned your head against his shoulder. This gave the man easier access to your neck, on which he began to place wet kisses. 

You began to melt under his touch. You closed your eyes slightly, forgetting everything you were thinking about before. You let yourself be carried away by the pleasure that was building more and more strongly in your body. The sounds you made from yourself were getting louder and louder. Minho brought you to the edge. His thumb found its way to your button, and his finger began to move decidedly faster. You were already about to reach orgasm when he suddenly stopped. He took his hand away and stepped back slightly. You looked at him with a questioning, slightly hazy gaze.

“Lean your hands against the wall, kitten,” he said. The man said firmly. “And gently push yourself out toward me.”

You obeyed him. With your hands, you leaned against the wet tiles and pushed out slightly, exposing your buttocks. Minho smiled slightly. You felt a gentle slap on your bottom. The one. The second. The third. 

You received a total of ten spankings, five on each buttock. Your bottom turned mildly red. However, you didn't mind. The excitement that gripped you did not allow you to make any protests. Minho massaged both of your buttocks gently. He moved closer to your body, rubbing his manhood against your feminine parts. After a while, before you had time to say anything, you felt his presence inside you. 

He began to move inside your female parts, setting a pace that was not too fast. Your breathing sped up. You began to make loud moans from yourself. With each moan, the man's movements accelerated. His hands held your hips. He drove his fingers hard into your naked body. He brought you to the edge. You let out a loud, prolonged moan, reaching orgasm. 

You rested your forehead against the cold tiles. You normalized your breathing. The unexpected sex gave you an incredible sensation. You continued to feel Minho's presence inside you, who now embraced you tighter from behind. 

“The whole lecture today I was thinking about you, you know?” He whispered in your ear while gently biting the petal of it. “You weren't in my lecture, and I still couldn't concentrate. What are you doing to me Y/N? You're driving me crazy.”

The man finally slid out of you and moved slightly away from you, but still embraced you. You turned to face him and hugged him, hiding your face in the hollow of his neck. The water from the shower ran down your naked bodies, and you persisted in the embrace. 

Finally, you decided to leave the bathroom. Minho helped you out of the cabin and handed you a bathrobe. He threw a second one over himself. You smiled slightly at him, and he just wanted to watch that smile forever more. 

“What do you want to do now?” The man asked, but before you had time to answer, you heard the doorbell ring. “Wait, let me see what this is about...”

Minho walked to the door and opened it. Behind the door stood two other men in police uniforms. Minho raised one eyebrow slightly.

“Yes? Can I help you gentlemen?” He asked, raising his eyebrow slightly. 

“Senior Sergeant Christopher Bang and Junior Sergeant Lee YongBok.” Said one of them. “Lee Minho? We have some questions, can we come in?” 

——————————

<- Part 8 | Part 10 ->

-> Series Masterlist

Taglist: @yaorzu-blog, @iovecb97, @hpnsfwaddict, @syedazarintasnim, @palindrome969, @biujulia

[mostlyfate]

Would it be okay to ask you for jdrama recs? Coming from someone who hasn't watched a single jdrama in their life 😊 Kind of a jdrama starter pack please? ❤️

*sweats nervously once again* bc as I said before I honestly don’t like to rec things bc I think my taste is all over the place... 😂 and I'm not one who really pays attention or think about the faults of dramas. I just watch and enjoy (most of the time) lol. It also has only been almost four years for me with watching jdramas so I feel like I'm still pretty new to them haha. but I will try~ and what I mention is honestly more of ones I enjoyed the most watching and can remember!

okaaay! if you want to start out v short and sweet w some 🦋's i have two favorite drama specials 💘

— Tadashi Koi no Hajimekata (2023) | episodes: 01. genres: romance, youth. » there's only one episode but with two different versions! the name mentioned above is the first version and then tadashi koi no hajimekata: horoama? horoniga? date hen is the second version. it basically the same but shows the perspective of the two male leads with additional scenes! i just loved the pairing of mako and eita and their chemistry was soo good and fun. i am still v sad it wasn't an actual full length drama 😭 and the song that played at the end of date version was on repeat for months! 10/10 reccomend ✨

— An no Ririkku: Sakuragi An Haiku Hajimetemimashita (2021) | episodes: 02. genres: drama, youth. » i remember enjoying this one a lot it was definitely one of my favorite watches in 2021! since this one isn't the freshest in my memory (i have the worst memory fr) i can't say much but i swear i was obsessed w this special and the leads back in 2021!! 😆

before i get into mentioning actual full-length dramas i'll mention my two favorite jmovies that i actually physically own :)) so if you're interested in watching a movie before diving into dramas 💐

— Murder at Shijinso (2019) | duration: 2hr. 0 min. genres: horror, mystery, thriller, youth. » i love this dumb (affectionately) silly movie so much!! it might also be because i love the main actress hamabe minami but it's definitely just a fun murder mystery to watch :D

— You're Not Normal, Either! (2021) | duration: 1hr. 38 min. genres: comedy, romance, drama. » i enjoyed this one a lot!!! obviously since i also went out of my way to own it haha. but yeah my reviews for literally everything i like is "i enjoyed it" 😅 but seriously i did 🙇‍♀️

now for dramas!! i'll mention my two all time faves then ones i remember enjoying the most! 💐

— Talio Fukushu Daiko no Futari (2020) | episodes: 07. genres: comedy, law, mystery. » it's been three years since it aired and i'm still crying about it 😭 it's the one drama i never shut up about and think about all the time. it's my favorite drama of all time like nothing throughout the years has had a hold on me since!! (what i've previously said about it~) | the way both leads played off each other and their chemistry was just- a++ the soundtrack for the drama was also such a treat and the vibes matched it so well! the vibes of the whole drama though!! I think it was also shot beautifully. and the consistency (!!! the way they kept things going even the smallest details !!!) throughout was something i really appreciated and looked forward too :’) i really be missing it everyday... </3 | i literally have a talio collection that i finally completed a few months ago 🥹 i have the dvd, cd, vinyl, and the magazine the leads were on the cover of 🫶

— Itsuka, Nemuri Ni Tsuku Hi (2019) | episodes: 06. genres: fantasy, friendship, supernatural, youth. » this one still makes my heart hurt whenever i think about it and i just simply love it to pieces. it really has left an lasting impression on me. short and bittersweet. 🖤

dramas that are romance focused 💓

— Koi wa Tsuzuku yo Doko Made mo (2020) | episodes: 10. genres: comedy, medical, romance. » ahh so i think this was my first jdrama i watched!?! i honestly cant remember if i watched any before this bc this was the first jdrama i actually made gifs of so i'm going off of that as it being the first haha. but if you want something nice and fun to watch with romance at the forefront this is for youuu! bc i feel like most of my recs aren't romance heavy! and i just remember being obsessed with the leads and pretty sure it's what made me continue to watch jdramas 🫣

— Animals (2022) | episodes: 08 (+ 2 specials). genres: business, romance, drama. » loved loved loved this drama! one out of the five favorite dramas i watched in 2022!! great friendships, great message, funny and sweet moments, lovely lead— umi-chan i miss youuu. 🤧

— Oshi ga Joshi ni Narimashite (2023) | episodes: 12. genres: comedy, drama, romance. » definitely one of the funnest and sweetest drama i watched last year and suzuki airi (female lead) it's just such soo good, love her acting! she's also the lead in the drama animals i previously mentioned! pure rom-com with great chemistry!! ✨

— Kieta Hatsukoi (2021) | episodes: 10. genres: comedy, romance, youth. » high school setting with romance/friendship being the focus!! all the characters are so likable and it was such a cute and fun watch!!

— Ore no Kawaii wa Mousugu Shohikigen!? (2022) | episodes: 09. genres: comedy, romance. » easy fun and cute watch with great leads!!

dramas with all other kinds of genres (w hints of romance) ✨

— Bishoku Tantei Akechi Goro (2020) | episodes: 09. genres: comedy, food, mystery, thriller. » ooh i was obsessed w the leads of this one as well LOL. idk i really had so much fun watching this one and i loved main female lead a lot. 😭 also it had some really funny moments 😭

— Toki wo Kakeru Bando (2020) | episodes: 10. genres: comedy, music, romance, sci-fi » #wasnt expecting any crying to happen going into this drama 😩 #miura shohei's performance though?? AMAZING #he had me in tears every time #ryo i love u #not that it's similar but this reminds me of itsuka nemuri ni tsuku hi 🤧 | tags from a post i posted when i watched yeah 😂

— Dr. White (2022) | episodes: 10 (+ 1 special). genres: comedy, drama, medical, mystery. » also another favorite from my five favorite dramas watched in 2022! even though it wasn't finished being subbed until last year i still very much enjoyed what eps i watched back then! like i really looked forward to every episode and soo grateful the subber decided to finish it and subbed the special as well! i might be bias because i love hamabe minami who's the female lead (and is in two other things i mentioned above lol) but all the characters are v likable and they all have great chemistry together! plus i enjoyed the v subtle hint of romance between the two mains like it isn't really there but it is and i was quite satisfied with the ending. 🫶

— Ryosangata Riko: Puramo Joshi no Jinsei Kumitate Ki (2022) | episodes: 10. genres: business, drama, life. » i adore the lead so much, she's the cutest! i find this one to be such a fun and relaxing watch! and there's a cute little hint of romance which was soo good to me and wish we got more of them. 😭 there's also a second season: Ryosangata Riko: Mou Hitori no Puramo Joshi no Jinsei Kumitate ki / with same cast members but set in a new universe that just aired last year!

— Okaeri Mone (2021) | episodes: 120. genres: life, drama, romance. » the number of episodes might scare you but this drama is an asadora (morning drama) which is only 15 minutes per episode! so if you're looking for a longer watch about life with a bit of romance i 10/10 recommend checking it out!! yes hello i always miss them 😭

what i'm currently watching ☕️

— Uchi no Bengoshi wa Te ga Kakaru (2023)| episodes: 11. genres: comedy, law, mystery. » i totally have a thing for law and mystery dramas lol. but i've been enjoying this one a lot and recommend if you want something fun but somewhat serious to watch! and if you just like law dramas like mee 😂

— Nanyobi ni Umareta no (2023) | episodes: 09. genres: drama » this one is keeping me really interested and is definitely a type of drama i haven't really watched much of?? it's engaging, surprising and the actors are great! i feel like most dramas i mentioned are easy going ones to watch besides a few so this one is the latter!

+ special mention if you wanted to watch something base on an manga w anime-like feel ❈

— Kishibe Rohan wa Ugokanai (2020 - 2022) | seasons: 03, episodes: 03, 03, 02. + a movie Rohan au Louvre (2023) genres: horror, fantasy, mystery, thriller, supernatural. » i had been watching since the first one came out in 2020 and i didn't think we would be getting a season every year since and then even a movie! definitely check out if you're in the mood for creepy mystery with pleasing visuals + great outfits!

yeaaah that's it from me! ✌️ i feel like this isn't much of a starter pack-friendly list since it's kind of all over the place sorry 😭 but hope even just one peaks your interest!!

[twhos-fests]

Gothic Fantasy Fest 2024: Day 2 Reveals

Today's GFF highlights are focused on the submissions we received that were inspired by or based on a short list of songs that we curated exclusively for this fest. Song such as Son of Nyx by Hozier, Vampires Will Never Hurt You by My Chemical Romance, Silent All These Years (Tori Amos cover) by Kat Leon, and more! Mind the tags & Happy Reading! 🦇

Look At What You Made Me Do by @emmalouisefanfiction

"Screaming, tugging. She was trying to tear him apart..."

Warnings: Dead Dove | Obsession | Possession | Non-Con |

Rating: Explicit

Character(s)/Ship(s): Dramione

Word Count: 10,673 words

Summary:

It was the sound of something breaking. His heart. His soul. His world. And he would tear it apart all over again. All to get his hands on hers.

The monster that had been silent all these years. It was here. It had come. Draco was done ignoring it. And it wanted her.

It's Like You Never Had Wings by @left0utsideal0ne

"The jar has become a fixation. Hermione finds herself staring at it for hour..."

Warnings: Canon Divergence | Morally Grey Hermione | Violence |

Rating: Mature

Character(s)/Ship(s): Hermione Granger & Rita Skeeter

Word Count: 1,264 words

Summary:

Unwavering determination makes her a force to be reckoned with. Anyone who dares to cross Hermione quickly learns the error of their ways, as Rita Skeeter discovered firsthand.

Or, Hermione loses it (as she should) and Skeeter gets what's coming to her

Thoughts of Endless Night by @papercraneaudiobooks & @thedramionearchives

"I can feel it inside me, changing me. You need to stop this for me before… before…"

Warnings: Dead Dove | Vamp!Hermione | Angst | MCD |

Rating: Explicit

Character(s)/Ship(s): Dramione & NottPott

Word Count: 14,164 words

Summary: Draco Malfoy toils obsessively in his apothecary, harboring a deadly secret beneath the floorboards. Hermione Granger, lost between human consciousness and vampiric hunger, pleads for release, but can Draco really end her suffering?

Marked for Death by @byanca-black-writes

"They’d had only one fleeting, blissful year together before the cruel truth surfaced..."

Warnings: MCD | Terminal Illness | Hurt/Comfort | Hermione POV |

Rating: Mature

Character(s)/Ship(s): Dramione

Word Count: 2,549 words

Summary: Draco Malfoy is dying. The magic of the Dark Mark is slowly corrupting his body, spreading through him until death inevitably claims him. And no matter how hard she tries, there’s nothing Hermione can do to stop it.

Son of Narcissa by somnophiliasweetheart

"His eyes scanned the surface, searching for any movement, praying for a glimpse of her..."

Warnings: Recluse!Draco | Creature!Hermione | Angst | Tragedy |

Rating: Explicit

Character(s)/Ship(s): Draco Malfoy & Hermione Granger

Word Count: 6,279 words

Summary: Draco, the lonely son of Night and Darkness, is subjected to a world of pain and neglect. His only solace is his sister Hermione, a mysterious creature in the lake.

Complete fest information under the cut!

Fest Disclaimer

Due to the darker subject material of the prompts, please mind every tag of the submissions you choose to read and engage with from our fest. Some fanworks include triggering and taboo content. So, take care of yourself, honor your limits, and enter at your own risk.

Fest Information

Gothic Fantasy Fest is a Harry Potter fanworks fest dedicated to and centered around our love for the gothic horror genre!

The inspiration to host this fest came out of our desire to see more fanworks in the fandom where the darkness within us all is celebrated, embraced, and reveled in.

This fest is hosted by The Writing Heirs of Slytherin Discord Server.

Important Links

AO3 Collection

Official Fest Spotify Playlist

Official Fest Mood Board

Discord Server

[briar-rolfes-research-oubliette]

your writing is phenomenal. i write a little bit, but i think one of the biggest struggles i have is with pacing and structuring for anything longer than a couple thousand words. gonna hit you with a ton of questions, no pressure to answer all of them: how do you structure your longer-form writing? what considerations do you keep in mind as you do? are you more of a pantser or do you start with a solid outline and story beats first? what is your 'process' - and how do you approach editing as well?

Okay, I’m ready! Took me a bit.

Thank you, first of all! This is humbling, since in industry terms I’m a debut author. (Or not even. My book isn’t even out yet. It takes ages to make a graphic novel if you have to hold down a day job at true same time. Fingers crossed 2026?) And, since structure has been the hardest thing for me to learn, it’s rewarding to know that it’s paying off!

I’m in the middle of a few planning-stage projects right now, so I’ve been asking these questions myself. Because each story is different (in length, in genre, in terms of what I want it to achieve, and also, because I’m a cartoonist as well as a writer, also in format!) I have to reinvent at least part of the wheel with each project. I’ve learned some constants, though. I’ll try to outline some of them, and rather than just tell you what I do I’ll try to explain what purpose it serves when I do it.

I do think starting small and working up is the right way of learning, because that’s what worked for me, a chronic not-finisher. I sat down and said “okay, what is the shortest thing I can make that I am guaranteed to finish?” and once I had finished that, said “okay, what’s the next longest thing?” and worked my way up. It’s easier to structure a zine than a graphic novel, it’s easier to structure a short story than something with multiple chapters, etc etc… but this isn’t because a longer story has more structure in it so much as that each structural element has to work harder.

HOWEVER, I don’t look at structure until I know what I’m building my structure on. This was the missing piece in my structure learning! So, the things I have in mind when I’m starting a new project are:

What is my genre?

What are my themes?

What is my tone?

Genre is where I get the payoff that I’m working towards. Why do people pick up this kind of story? What’s the most basic appeal of it? I try to keep this as simple as I can, eg:

In romance, the couple have to get together by the end.

In sci-fi, a new discovery poses a new question, which is then resolved

In mystery, the detective has to figure out who committed the crime so that they don’t do it again.

In erotica, the protagonist is liberated from a social norm by a new sexual encounter

In horror, an outside force threatens irrevocable change to everyone who encounters it.

This narrative payoff is (in my opinion) the bumpers on the bowling lane of fiction. If you read a romance where they never got together, an erotica where nobody fucked, a detective story where justice wasn’t done, a horror story where it was no biggie and everyone just walked it off… you’d feel ripped off, right? You’ll see that I’m not saying “in horror there is always a jumpscare” or “in a mystery there is always a red herring,” because I never actually notice if those were missing. Many stories are worse because the author has said to themself “a story like this always has this element.” RIP to all those minor characters who die in fantasy novels during the fight scene at the end of the second act just because Boromir did.

Sticking the landing on that genre promise is what makes a story “feel” complete, and the success of the buildup to that promise is what makes a story feel satisfying in that worth-a-reread way. The overall genre payoff helps me keep my eye on the prize as I’m writing. If I get writer’s block, 99% of the time it’s because I’ve written something that conflicts with it. That’s helpful to keep in mind for editing (awkward scenes/characters/sentences etc are usually also conflicting with the payoff, or at least not helping me get there) and is also helpful to know when I’m doing back of mind narrative debugging while zoning out over the dishes. If I have a character and I want them to end up at that final point in a way that feels natural, what do I have to do to them to make it happen? If they feel stagnant, what beliefs do they have to have at the start that will jar against that end point?

(I believe the Literary phrase for the narrative payoff is the climax, or the catharsis. Catharsis is usually the concept used for horror or for tragedies. But I’m a cartoonist, so it’s easier for me to think of everything as setup for the final payoff of the punchline.)

Also—and this is more my individual philosophy rather than actual advice, but: delivering the payoff matters because it develops my readers’ trust. I’m not owed anyone’s time or attention. In a big world full of competing demands, it’s important to me that my readers know that I appreciate them choosing my work over putting the recycling bin out. And the great thing about reader trust is: it stacks. Trust means a reader is willing to go a bit further out of their comfort zone with me. When someone says “I don’t usually read stories like this, but I gave this a shot because you wrote it,” that’s what I’m talking about. I’m a trans writer who tells silly jokes and tackles weird topics, so I really do appreciate the readers who invest time and attention in me. They’re my 30 sickos, you know, from the tweet?

Anyway. If genre tells me where I’m landing the plane, theme tells me what the jet fuel is. The reason a particular concept is making me insane, aka, my motivation to tell the story at all, is my theme. It’s the question I’m trying to answer. It doesn’t have to be pithy or well articulated—I just have to know the general gist of it. It might just be “it pisses me off when authors do X, so I am going to prove it’s not actually hard to write Y.” What matters is that it’s something I won’t become bored of. My graphic novel, which has been the longest and most involved project of my life, hasn’t bored me once. That’s pretty spectacular seeing as I have ADHD out my ears! I’ve been frustrated, tired, had bad wrists and general creative ennui at points, but “can you have a happy ending if your family doesn’t accept you?” Is a question that hasn’t run out of juice, even though I’ve been answering it for six years now. The theme is often the most powerful if it’s something you don’t know the answer to. When we were talking about whether or not to tackle the marriage equality debate in Australia in my book, my agent told me “you’ll know it’s a good story if writing about it feels like pressing on a bruise.” I think this is what keeps your themes honest. It stops them being preachy and stops them from becoming The Moral Of The Story.

Terry Pratchett said that the first draft is him telling the story to himself, and the subsequent drafts are him figuring out how to tell it to other people. That’s been very helpful to me. Each successive edit will make the themes clearer until I can say “oh, so this is what the story is about.” What I said before about longer stories doing more with each structural element is because of this. Longer stories tend to accrue more themes, usually one per subplot and/or per character relationship. Shorter stories usually address just one. Themes are handy to think about here because if a story looks like it might get too bloated (“no way I can explore this AND this AND this and still stay under 20k words”) you can cut em out and address them somewhere else.

The themes in your fiction are the bit that makes it uniquely yours, like fingerprints in a clay pot. They stop the structure feeling formulaic and make it feel personal. A thousand authors could (and do) write the same premise over and over again, but in their hands each story means something different. If you’ve ever read a story that rings hollow even though it hits all the same notes as other stories you like, I’d say that it’s by an author who hasn’t figured out what interests them in the story they’re telling. Like… there’s a reason Twilight was successful and its many copycats were not. It’s because Meyer had this theme of insane repressed Mormon horniness running through her work, and everyone else just said “ah, so readers like boys who are barely restraining their murder instinct.” No! The murder instinct was juicy because it was thematically complex.

Genre and theme give me an idea of what the tone is, aka what mood I am building. I guess if genre is my destination and theme is my fuel, then tone is my plane. It’s about how the journey feels. Taking a first class flight from A to B is different from taking the same trip in a crop duster. The people on each plane will observe different things throughout the journey. The same events could happen on both flights, but a reader will feel way more anxious about the crop duster encountering turbulence.

Outside my increasingly elaborate metaphor, this is questions like… Is this setting fun and friendly? Are the characters mistrustful of each other? Is the world fundamentally evil? Can anyone die? Am I using colloquial language? Are swears allowed? How hard should the protagonist’s failures hit them, and how sharp should the consequences for their actions be? Is it realistic, or a bit surreal? Is my narrator (or narrative perspective if I’m in second or third person) sincere? Cynical? Trustworthy? Biased? Can they crack jokes?

Once I have an idea of these things, structure usually slots in pretty easily. As I’m in the thinking stage, if I have an idea for a scene (or a joke, more often than not) that I want to include, I’ll put it in a dot point list. Later on, I will look at these dot points and the structure and say “what goes where?” or “what needs to happen before this thing I want to include to make it make sense?”

Short things I use a three act structure, aka Beginning Middle End, where “middle” is whatever events need to happen to shift my character from their opening position to their concluding one. For longer things, I just whack on a seven act structure for whatever genre I’m working in. I often come back to Jami Gold’s romance structure because I write romances a lot, but also because it’s the only structure I’ve ever really seen that maps internal character arcs along with external events—one of the things I found absolutely the hardest to get my head around when I was structuring my graphic novel. If it’s a genre I know less about, I’ll find a structure that specifies examples for the pinch points, because those are ones I usually have trouble brainstorming. The mystery outline I used for my Disco Elysium fanfiction gave me the suggestions that a suspect should escape, which got me out of a huge block.

So: before I write, I’ve thought very hard about genre and tone and theme, and how my characters need to get from their starting positions to one where if bondage doesn’t happen the story will feel narratively incomplete. I’ve pondered my place in the world, I have developed beef with a handful of authors who I’ve decided have Done It Wrong, and I have image searched “mystery structure seven act”. I have probably gone on four or five research sprees where I learn a bunch about medieval demonology and insect genitalia and radio antennae or whatever.

(I should say a lot of that is just what do for fun anyway. I do think writers tend to forget that we do this because it’s fun. If you’re not having fun doing this stuff, then your reader is probably not having fun either. It’s important to figure out what is fun to you and to find a way to make your process mostly the fun stuff.)

Materially, what I have is a maybe a couple of test scenes I’ve written while working out character dynamics and refining my idea of tone, and a list of dot points that reads like:

Wrap up the subplot with that other guy

Heart to heart

Protagonist gets a boner

Exposition about early printing press

Fight scene (to show they care about each other)

Phone call from side character 12

MIDPOINT: Guy goes missing (or is killed with weapon from earlier? Suspected killed, but actually just escaped?)

JOKE

Bring back printing press thing

Bondage obviously

Catch the bad guy

Resolution (come back to this).

The trap for structure for me for YEARS has been assuming that I should be able to sit down and write out the perfect plan. “I’ll be able to write well so long as I know exactly what I’m doing every step of the way.” But… most of the fun of writing for me is figuring out how to address those missing plot elements as I go. I don’t think I’ve ever said this, but I never intended for my Disco Elysium fanfic to end with an explosion. I figured it out once I wrote the interview scene with Felicity, and then I said “okay, so that’s the resolution. Now, what do I need to do to blow this building up?“

The groundwork I’ve laid is helpful because I know what I can’t compromise on. As I’m heading towards my payoff and hitting these beats along the way, I have the wriggle room for flashes of discovery where I go “wait, fuck, you know what’d be cool as?”

Editing is where I get to make sure that everything lines up without contradictions. I’m very irresponsible; I don’t have the patience to wait until the story is finished before I start editing it, so I often go back and make tweaks on a sentence level. This is often how I get myself out of writer’s block. “What did I say back here, and why does it make me feel like I can’t get to the next point on my structure?”

I also tend to write on my phone in notes app documents or in Scrivener, so I can actually make use of the dead times in my day. I pick up my phone all the time to keep my hands busy, but I rarely sit down at a computer without something more important coming up. Only once the document gets long enough to be unwieldy, or once it’s actually finished, will I sit down with the text on a bigger screen. This really helps me stop myself getting overwhelmed by the idea of The Blank Page, too. I can’t see how much I’ve written or look at much text at a time when I’m writing on my phone.

Other favourite structural things, which I add on in successive edits:

Bookending! For when you have a scene displaying the relationship between your protagonist and a secondary character at the start, then bring ‘em back together at the end to show how things have changed. My graphic novel has something like two… wait no now I’m counting it’s more like four bookend scenes, whoops. I guess I really like these! They’re good for when someone reads your draft and says “I don’t know why this character showed up, they didn’t seem that important.” If the character really IS important, they need to come back. This is handy for me specifically because I love big world with lots of secondary characters.

Callbacks: jokes strike again! But you can use this to achieve other moods. In my Silent Hill fic the words “Empty, bleeding, and different in every way” get used first to describe the town, and then again at the end to describe the protagonist. It’s unsettling both times, but the second time I feel as though it is a little bit reassuring, too. Maybe sometimes it’s good to be reinvented.

Foreshadowing: Lay the breadcrumbs! Make that one character stare at the table in the scene where everyone is speculating on the identity of the traitor, draw our attention to the ceramic statue on the mantelpiece. I love to use the rule of three for this, often describing the significant thing last—or to describe two significant things and diffuse any audience suspicion with a joke as the third thing 😈🙏

Well, this has been a very long post! I wonder what my rules for writing are. UM. I know I have them. I’m nothing if not wildly opinionated!

1. Don’t hang out with writers who think that they’re better than their readers. Storytelling is about sharing humanity, not transcending it. Writing is not a divine gift. There is no muse! Not only hang out with people who do not write, but hang out with people who do not read. It keeps you humble.

2. Don’t break format just for the helluvit, but—if you have an idea about how to pull something off and say, scandalised, “oh my god, but is that allowed?” you have to do it.

3. If you’re having fun, your reader is having fun. If you’re bored, your reader is EXTRA bored. So… don’t write the boring bits. If you don’t know what to say in the scene where the character gets the bus between two locations, just cut it and start the next scene with “When she got off the bus.” Christopher Paolini is an example of someone who has never learned this. On one hand he has a lot more money than I do, but on the other hand, I’ve had a lot more gay sex.

4. Hot take: bad books are just as educational as good ones. I love a formulaic or poorly told story because they give me a chance to engage my structure brain. I like to figure out what went wrong and how. It’s never cinema sins bullshit like “WOW! GAPING PLOT HOLE!!!” but more like “weird, the tone of the climax is jarring compared to the rest of the story” or “well that’s the obligatory breakup at the end of the second act, but why did it happen?” I’ve also learned a whole lot about how to write sex scenes by reading ones that made me say “well, certainly not like that.”

5. Learn to recognise ways you make your own writing noncommittal. “He felt,” “she realised,” “they discovered,” “she thought.” Almost, very, really, nearly. These are all things I do way too much. Don’t say he felt it was, say it was.

☀️🌱☀️

Lastly: If you’re hitting a brick wall, if you’re blocked, if writing isn’t fun… stop.

Read something outside your genre. Dig up weeds in the garden. Watch a friend play a game that is too scary for you. Put a weird doll in the corner of your bathroom, go look through second hand shops for cheap treasures, get an outlandish food on your grocery run. Have a nice chat with a guy who is eighty something, make faces at a baby when mum isn’t looking. Learn to tie a useful knot. Badly paint some furniture. Sit out under the stars with a cuppa, listen to the night sounds, enjoy the feeling of being small. What I’m saying is, you should actively distract yourself with the interesting parts of Being Alive. Whatever feels like a waste of time is worth your time. Internet does NOT count! Do not watch a video, do not read a post! Do things that engage your senses. Do things where you use your hands. Make yourself laugh! Be clumsy, be silly, be messy on purpose. Writing is never more important than being alive, and your brain is never more important than your body. You need to fall in love with being alive. You need to be in the world. One day the gears will click into place and you’ll need to start writing again, furiously, like there’s a fire lit inside of you—but you can’t rush it. You need to take the time to be an animal, and animals play.

Here is a photo of Flea, who is a sixteen year old cat. She has no teeth. Here she is having a great time rolling around in the sun.

Sometimes my zine friends and I joke about things that are zines. Can my tomato plants be a zine? Poets joke about what is a poem. Is my cat rolling on the lawn a poem? Well, in that line of thinking… being an animal isn’t not a kind of writing. You’re making a mark on the world either way.

[atiny-piratequeen]

𝑩𝒆𝒂𝒖𝒕𝒚 𝑳𝒆𝒂𝒗𝒆𝒔 𝑪𝒉.𝟓 (𝑷.𝑺𝒉)

✧.*Summary  ✧.*-Due to olden traditions, you’re sent off to be a sacrifice to an unseen beast on an island far from home. You’re not exactly the one to go down without a fight and you promise when you get yourself out of this situation, you’re going back for revenge.

After an encounter in the ocean and arriving on the island in question, you collect yourself and begin making preparations to get yourself off of this island.

All while being watched over by a pair of unfamiliar, narrowed emerald eyes.

✧.*Pairing  ✧.*-Siren!Park Seonghwa x Fem!Reader

✧.*Genres  ✧.*-Angst, Romance, Smut, Action, Fantasy, Survival, Slight Horror Elements, Hurt/Comfort, Revenge, Siren AU, Monster AU, Enemies to Lovers

✧.*TWs  ✧.*-Guilt, Intimidation, Stabbing, Blood, Biting, Pregnancy (Oh Look, the Consequences to our actions-)

✧.*Sws ✧.* - Creampie, Chase Kink, Cunnilingus, Breeding Kink (Yall look what all that stuffed poosi did-), Double Penetration, Monster Anatomy (Double Cocks), Scent Kink, Fingering

✧.*Rating  ✧.*- Explicit (18+)-Minors DNI

✧.*WC  ✧.*-+ 11.9k

✧.*Previous Chapter

✧.*Next Chapter

✧.*A/N  ✧.*This was originally a 3k+ paid commission thanks to the lovely @jacksons-goddess-gaia​​ but I loved the idea so much that I decided to make this into a short series! Thank you again for allowing me to turn your comm into something of a bigger scale and I hope you and everyone else also likes this little series! Just a note of warning, the ending of this series does have a pretty dark ending so please be mindful of the tws of each respective chapter (tbh I don’t think its any darker than the shit I make yall suffer through write anyway but just a fair warning, you are not ending this as any kind of pacifist lol)

✧.*Series Playlist ✧.* (I keep fidling with this one so dont be surprised if songs are added lmao)

✧.*  AO3 | Ataraxia Info| Taglist Form | Commission Sheet  ✧.*    

✧.*  ©atiny-piratequeen. do not repost, translate, or use my works. Minors DNI✧.*

✧.*Network Pings- @kwritersworld | @kdiarynet | @k-vanity

Divider Cr.- @benkeibear (tysm ily)

“It’s time to wake up, my love.” 

You feel lips against your head and grumble, tucking yourself firmly against the warmth pressed against your cheek. There’s a deep chuckle that rattled your bones and for a moment, you are under the wrong assumption that you’d be able to go back to sleep. 

Instead, you’re lifted clean up, and your eyes snap open, large and silver as you scramble to hold onto the giant so rudely mocking you with his dumbass handsome face. 

“Good morning, Y/n.” 

You stare at him, unimpressed, and for a moment you lament not being able to shift into your SeaBorn form at will. You’d found slapping Seonghwa with your tail was surpiringly effective when it came to him teasing you. 

You could only do it when wet, though. 

For now. 

Speaking of wet, you blush feeling a distinct wetness run down between your legs, reminding you of last night's messy love making. You huff, crossing your arms as Seonghwa held you up off the ground. 

“How wrong are you going to hold me up?” 

Seonghwa looked at you for a moment in confusion before he chuckled. 

“Long.”

You arch a brow. 

“Yes, you’re wrong.” 

He shook his head, gently, touching your lips. 

“You’re still getting used to your new language. Here, follow me.” 

Seonghwa repeated the sentence and you flush, realizing your clicks had, in fact, been off. You’d come a long way since you and him mated a week ago, but you still found yourself stuttering over your clicks or holding down a note too long occasionally as you spoke to him. 

As flustered as it made you, Seonghwa found your pattern of speech rather cute, calmly helping you every time you stumbled. 

He’d actually been pleasantly surprised when he found out you wanted to talk to him only in your new language, and for the first three days after you’d mated, you couldn’t understand a damn word he was saying. 

Seonghwa had been surprised by how adamant you had been to understand, fumbling through your tones and hums until he’d perked midday through the third day, hearing you call to him and ask him for a kiss because you were frustrated. 

The look on your face when you’d gotten the desired kiss all but made him fall in love all over with you again.

“I dod it!”

“‘Did’ it, baby.”

“I did it!”

Back to the present, Seonghwa walked you to the beach, the salty air blowing his bangs as he looked out at the ocean. You look up at him and then follow his gaze. 

“...Wanna go tell Hongjoong the good news?”

You don’t miss the way he perked, his eyes lightening, excited as he nodded. You kiss him, cupping his jaw lightly before he walked you to the water.

“Remember, don’t panic. I have you, and I won’t let you drown. Ever.” He assured you. You smile and kiss him gently. 

You hadn’t gotten the hang of holding your breath quite yet. Seonghwa had assured you the more you did it, the longer you’d be able to do it, and you’d be able to talk freely as well. 

For now, all of your focus usually went into not panicking while underwater. 

Seonghwa waited until you were ready and gently waded into the water, holding you bridal style so your legs would shift, the dark grey speckles of your legs stretching up to your torso, a thick, rather smooth tail forming. Seonghwa ran his fingers up the speckles, smiling to himself despite the shiver that ran through your body at the intimate touch. 

“Sorry, I got distracted. Let’s begin. If you do well, we’ll go down and visit Hongjoong.” 

You smile and nod, floating vertically with your head above the water as Seonghwa let you go. You drifted a bit from him before gently keeping yourself in place, your hips working gently as you watched his tail slap the surface in his usual fashion. 

You feel his hand lace into yours and dive in, smiling as he pulled you lower. 

The water is pleasantly cool, but you find yourself marvelling at Seonghwa’s tail. 

While yours was a simple grey, dotted with different colored splotches, and much rounder and thicker than his, Seonghwa’s tail had definitely gained some color since you both had mated. 

Before his tail was a simple, yet elegant ombre of platinum and gold, now it held many intricate designs and colors along the expanse. 

Thick, brown stripes started along the midway point of his tail, with beautiful orange and yellow dots speckling the space along the stripes, all the way down to his tail, which was a contrasting black with a single, distinct electric blue stripe going along the tips of his tail fin. 

You found yourself mesmerized by the upper half of his tail, which was the same electric blue as the tips of his tail, a series of mesmerizing (and sometimes glowing) platinum rings drawing your gaze directly to him. 

He smiled at you and swam backwards, encouraging you to follow after him, and you clumsily do so before you get into the groove again. 

The two of you swim in tandem, twirling around one another, swimming through reefs and enjoying each other. Seonghwa didn’t rush you, and instead waited until you took your breaths before continuing. Each time, he’d keep you for longer and longer, encouraging you with clicks and words of affirmations. 

After the fith dive, you hear a loud, distinct bellow that drew your attention. 

“My, look at this.” 

You look down and find Hongjoong casually circling you, his expression interested as he eyed your tail. You smile and wave at him. 

“Helho!” 

He blinked before chuckling and swimming closer, greeting Seonghwa with a gentle nudge. 

“Hello, Y/n. You’re learning the language a lot quicker than any human I’ve ever met, besides myself. How are you handling swimming?”

You purse your lips, frowning for a moment. 

“I still can’t stay underwater indefinitely.” 

He chuckled and crossed his arms. 

“You wouldn’t be able to, anyway. It’s the Landling in you. We are Reborns. Humans turned Seaborn. We have to come up for air eventually. It's just a matter of perfecting closing down one breathing system and using the other.”

You blink slightly and tilt your head at him. 

“‘We’ have to? Hongjoong? Were you also-”

“A story for another day, but yes. I was.” There’s something…dark in his eyes the moment you mention him previously being a human, and you immediately decide it’s none of your business to pry. 

Hongjoong seemed to appreciate you not doing so, and in an instant, you watch his eyes lighten back up as he looked at Seonghwa. 

“You’re doing a wonderful job, Angelfish.” 

Seonghwa’s scales tinted pink for a moment before he coughed and looked away bashfully. Both you and Hongjoong noticed immediately, matching grins on your faces. 

“Cute~” You both chirrup. 

“Oh oceans no, please don’t start ganging up on me” Seonghwa immediately half heartedly complained. You laugh, raising yourself to the surface for a fresh breath of air with both of the men trailing behind you. 

When your head surfaces, you find its night out, the stars twinkling in the sky as a crescent moon illuminated the surface of the water. 

The three of you don’t say a word, simply bobbing in the water as you enjoy each other’s company. Seonghwa kissed the top of your head, a calm smile on his face as he hugged you close to his body. 

“I think it’s about time she meets the others, don’t you?” Hongjoong inquired sometime a while later. You hadn’t even realized you’d been nodding off, your head resting on Seonghwa’s chest as he held you from behind to keep you from drifting. 

Seonghwa let out a nervous laugh that made your head perk up. 

“I’ll call them, Wooyoung probably will need to be warmed up first.” 

You frown and turn your head to look at his expression. His eyes were tinged white around the edges, something you’d never seen before. 

Was he…afraid?

“Who is Wooyoung?” You quietly speak up, reminding both of the men that you were not only right there, but able to understand them through the bouncy notes and hums of their conversation. 

Seonghwa looked at you and gently rubbed your hips. 

“He’s our best friend. One of them.” 

You purse your lips. 

“So why do you look afraid?” 

Hongjoong chuckled quietly. 

“Because he’s worried Wooyoung might not exactly take it kindly knowing you stabbed Seonghwa and nearly killed him.” he answered honestly.

You feel the weight of the world slam into you. Your lips part and you find yourself unable to speak. It hadn’t came up again since you’d dragged Seonghwa to the ocean to save his life. You glance at him again, and Seonghwa doesn’t respond, staring at the dark inky waves as he held your hips, the cogs in his head turning quickly. 

“What…what exactly does ‘not take kindly’ mean?” You ask slowly, putting your hand over Seonghwa’s. Hongjoong clicked his tongue, floating past both of you, looking at the sky. 

“Do you want to tell her?” He looked at Seonghwa but the SeaBorn simply shuddered and kissed your head. 

“It’ll be fine. I’ll talk to him tonight using the resonance stone.” He muttered. You could smell his scent, tinged with anxiety and fear, and press yourself back into his chest more to comfort him as much as you could. Even though you had no idea what was going on. 

Hongjoong hummed and gently flicked his tail hard enough to send both of you drifting to the left. Seonghwa sent him a curious look before Hongjoong waved his hand dismissively. 

“Go to sleep. I’ll check back on you both tomorrow.” He encouraged before he dove down, disappearing into the dark waters. Seonghwa took your hand and guided you to the shore, carrying you once you got there. 

You cup his chin and kiss his cheek several times until you make him turn his gaze down to you. When he does, you steal a kiss from his lips. 

“I really am sorry I hurt you.” You whisper. He nodded.

“I’ve long since stopped being angry and hurt about it. You were scared and defending yourself.” 

You nod and then gently press your forehead together with his. 

“I’ll explain myself to this friend of yours. Even if they yell at me, I deserve it. So don’t look so sad. We were having such a wonderful day, tomorrow will be the same.” You encourage and Seonghwa sighed, closing his eyes for a moment. 

You had no idea the beast of a man that Wooyoung was, but Seonghwa would undoubtedly handle the man’s ire first that way you could meet everyone worry-free. 

It’ll be fine. 

When he opened his eyes again, they were back to their normal emerald, and he gently walked you back to camp, settling you in your bed. Since you couldn’t hold your breath as long as Hongjoong could, you still preferred to sleep on land and Seonghwa didn’t mind accommodating you. 

You find yourself drifting once more against his neck and he gently sung, soft, airy notes swirling through your mind. Seonghwa rubbed the space between your shoulders, kneading out any tension his fingers found there. 

“Just rest. Tomorrow I’ll make a big breakfast for us.” He promised. You smile and let the embrace of sleep pull you under. 

For the briefest of moments, you feel as if you’re being watched by the sky itself, but you pay it no mind and drift off.

.·:*¨¨* ≈☆≈ *¨¨*:·.

Something warm began to rouse you from your sleep the next morning. There are undeniable puffs of air blowing directly onto your face, and while tinged with the scent of amber, you couldn’t help the way the hair at the back of your neck stood on end. 

You should wake up. 

“Rrrrr.”

The moment you hear a growl, your eyes fly open, and in an instant, you’re greeted with a mass of hair, a GIANT canine standing over you with blazing, molten eyes that looked like fire peering out at you past their undeniably bear-esque face. 

You stare up at them in horror, your voice caught in your throat. The canine doesn’t move from their spot above you, though you watch where you assume the ears are under all of that fur twitch and rotate, listening. They raised their head, looking North East before looking back at you, letting out a bark that rattled your bones. 

You scream and scramble up to your feet, grabbing your knife in a hurry, but the dog made a snap at your heels, and you decide running is much more viable for you in this moment. 

“SEOGNGHWA” You scream, rushing into the trees with the giant dog on your heels. Every time you moved to make a turn and shake them off, they threw their massive body in that direction, howling and barking and forcing you to pivot in the opposite direction. 

Had you had been a bit of a calmer mind, you’d realized this demon dog was much faster than you, and seemed to be corralling you in whichever direction they wanted you to go in. 

You, however, are not of a calm mind, and keep running for your life, screaming Seonghwa’s name, panic flooding into your system when you realize he hadn’t came for you yet. 

Above you, the sky is blotted out for a brief moment as something humongous flew overhead, obscuring the sun for a few seconds before it was gone, also heading in the direction you were running in. There’s the sound of a primal roar that vibrates the air. 

You pay none of that any mind, nearly tripping over your own feet as you catch a root on your ankle. The dog grabbed your dress in their jaws and spun their body, nearly hurling you in the direction you were running in. Surprisingly, the maneuver doesn’t tear your dress, and you keep sprinting after the close call, finally breaking the treeline. 

Seriously, where the fuck is Seonghwa?!

“SEONG-”You stop yourself, eyes wide as you finally see your lover. 

Your stomach drops in an instant. 

He’s being held above the water of the ocean by his throat, a different man staring at him with an unimpressed look in his eyes. They were glowing a shifting deep purple and blue. 

In an instant, all of your fear melted away, your claws elongating and your eyes bleeding red. Seonghwa looked in your direction, and threw his hands up. 

“Y/n, wait, no!”

You don’t heed his words, rushing over, tossing the sheath to your knife away, your feet moving faster than they did even with the dog on your heels.

You don’t ask questions, driving and twisting the knife hard into the man’s back, throwing your body between them as much as you could and biting down on his forearm, tearing the skin and crunching down on bone. 

Seonghwa paled and the man hardly flinched, his gaze, once fixed on Seonghwa’s face, now snapped down to you. 

You don’t back down, your nose scrunched as you lock your jaw, biting harder. His blood runs down between your lips, into your mouth. You ignore all of it, glaring hateful daggers at the unmoving and infuriatingly smug looking man. 

“So. You’re the mate, hm?” 

“Wooyoung, listen to me, calm down.”

You don’t hear anything but the blood rushing through your own ears. Wooyoung smiled at you, but you can see a wild look in his eyes as he cocked his head ever so slightly to the left. 

“Is this how you did it? Did you stab him the same way here? Or was it a little higher? How about to the left? Mm? Hit any organs? How about we try again? I don’t quite feel like I’m getting the full experience, little seal woman. Though, the bite is certainly new.” 

You hear a bark from somewhere behind you and Seonghwa reached to touch your head and try and push you off. 

“Y/n, baby, my angel please I’m begging you, let go. You’re making it worse.” He genuinely looked terrified, his eyes pale platinum as he glanced at you and Wooyoung.

“No, no, Seonghwa. Let her do what she wants. I’m finding out every little thing I need to know here.”  

You hesitate and Wooyoung’s arm flexes in your mouth, in a moment, he lets Seonghwa go, grabbing your jaw and leaning into your face. 

“I don’t take too kindly to having harm fall upon my loved ones. So, what should I do, seal woman? I’m facing a dilemma.” He sighed dramatically, ignoring Seonghwa’s rapidly protesting and trying to separate you both. 

Suddenly, he perked, looking at the tall SeaBorn for a moment. 

“My, that was a dangerous thought, Park Seonghwa. Were you thinking of biting me too? Putting your fist through my chest? Are you sure that’s what you want to do here?” 

Seonghwa froze and you frown. He hadn’t said anything threatening. Hadn’t even moved. But the look on his face told you everything you needed to know. 

Who is this guy?

Instantly, purple and blue eyes are back on you, as deep as the night sky, speckled with stars. 

What is this guy?

“Jung Wooyoung. Eldritch god. Any other questions? I’d be careful, if I were you. I’m not sure how much of my blood you’ve consumed~ Who knows what could happen to you consuming the blood of a god like this.” He teased. 

You let go in an instant, and everything hit you in an instant, horror crossing your face. 

This was the friend, the one Hongjoong mentioned. You look at Seonghwa and he looked distraught, reaching for you. Wooyoung narrowed his gaze, and a barrier instantly separated him from the two of you. 

“Haven’t I let you do whatever you want for too long, dear Hyung?” He inquired, though the honorific sounded more like teasing venom with his tone of voice. Seonghwa locked his jaw, red bleeding into his pale eyes as anger began to swell in him. 

“Wooyoung, that’s enough.” 

“Is it? You nearly die, don’t call me even once to save you, and now you think the person responsible can suffer no consequences? When you fell, did you crack your head, perhaps? I gave each and every one of you a resonance stone and instead of it being anywhere near you for a case of emergency, where is it? Hm?” He turned his gaze to you, and you shrink back from the overwhelming pressure coming from him as he looked at the peridot earring dangling from your ear. 

“I was hoping you’d help protect her from harm in case I wasn’t enough.” 

“Protect her? She almost killed you.” 

“The spider almost killed me. The toxins would have killed me before I bled out.” 

Wooyoung looks infuriated, turning his head in an instant. 

“And WHO could have avoided all of that if he’d just called me? Are you out of your mind, Park Seonghwa? Do I need to remind you of how important you are to m-”

You can see he’s about to lay into him, and before you can think, you reach out, grabbing his face and forcing his head back to look at you. 

“I’m sorry. Whatever it is, I’ll take responsibility, just…please, enough of this. My mate is upset and I hate this. You think I don’t already feel horrible for what I did? I did then and I do now, every time I see him, I see the scars he got from that day and it won’t go away, it never will. But that doesn’t mean I don’t love him. So whatever it is that you’re going to do, whatever punishment you feel I need or deserve for it, just do it already so I can go back into his arms. This has been a very long and fucking chaotic morning.” You speak a mile a minute and Wooyoung stared at you with a half lidded look once more. 

“So, you’ll die? Because that’s what I deem appropriate for hurting one of my seven.” He answered flatly, all emotion gone from his voice. You hear a bark again, and a different noise that sounds like a growl, but you don't tear your eyes away from Wooyoung. Seonghwa pounded on the barrier, frantic and enraged. 

“WOOYOUNG?!”

You feel his killing intent, but don’t look away from him. 

“If that’s what you think I deserve. Just make sure he’s not hurt.” 

Seonghwa’s voice nearly breaks from the sheer rage in his voice as he slammed on the barrier, and for a moment, you think you hear a crack. Wooyoung looked into your eyes for a long moment before looking down at your stomach, cold fingertips pressing against your abdomen. A thoughtful hum left his lips. Seonghwa’s enraged voice grew louder. 

Wooyoung looked up, meeting your unwavering gaze. You were terrified, but you didn’t back down. A long pause stretched between the two of you.

Then, he chuckled. 

“Welcome to The Fold, Seal.” 

He snapped his fingers, and in an instant, you feel the world rush by. Colors and scents whirl past you until-

-you jolt upright, heart hammering. You’re back in your hut. 

…what were you doing?

Seonghwa startled from beside you, and the moment you lay eyes on him, you burst into tears, kissing and embracing him tightly. 

“Y/n? Why are you crying, my love?” He inquired. You open your mouth to ask him if he was alright after seeing…who, again? 

Why are you crying? 

Seonghwa looked at you, checking your head, your face, and your neck for any injuries. You relax the moment you feel his touch, putting your hand over his. 

“I guess I had a bad dream. I’m okay as long as you are.” You kiss his nose and smile. He sniffed gently, making sure you weren’t hurt before he kissed you deeply, hovering over you. 

You run your fingers down his abdomen, smiling at the way he rumbled and shuddered into the kiss. Seonghwa’s scales turned pink around the edges of his eyes and he smiled. 

“Oh? Is this how you want to start your morning?” He purred, pressing his hips down and grinding between your legs. You smile and thread your fingers through his hair, intending on pulling him into a kiss when a bone-shaking bark drew a loud scream out of you. 

Instantly both of you jolt up and Seonghwa looked perplexed for a moment, standing and sticking his head out of the hut. 

It took a brief second before a black and red blur tackled him back into it. You scream again, reaching for your knife and then frowning when you note it definitely wasn’t where you’d left it last. 

When the hell did it get so far from you?

“Yunho!”

You turn your head to the sound of your mate's voice, and in an instant, you relax when you hear Seonghwa laughing.

Your gaze falls upon this massive mass of black and crimson fur. They appeared to be a canine, and you got the confirmation when they licked Seonghwa’s face, nudging his hand until he began roughly rustling and ruffling their fur. 

“Y…Yunho?” You parrot, slowly coming closer, the knife forgotten. Yunho turned his head towards you and keened. 

“This is one of my best friends. What are you doing here?” Seonghwa inquired. Yunho wagged his tail, sitting straight. You were amazed at his massive form, and you nearly forgot to wave in greeting to the canine. 

“Wooyoung said we had to meet your partner.” Yunho spoke despite his form. Seonghwa paused, and you could smell the twinge of anxiety in his scent. 

“Oh, please. Just come outside, we made this feast for you and it's going to be eaten completely the longer we wait.” 

You hear a voice seemingly coming from the sky and Yunho made a gruff keen before turning himself around and lowering himself, seemingly waiting for you both to get on his back. 

“Yunho, I’m too big to be riding-”

You jolt as Yunho let out a dramatic yowl, slamming his weight playfully against Seonghwa and nearly knocking him over. Seonghwa caught himself and sent him a scandalous look. 

“Fine!” He huffed and turned to you, smiling sweetly and picking you up. He kissed your nose and raised you high, setting you carefully on Yunho’s shoulders. He rumbled and you smile, gently scratching his ears. He radiated warmth, but he wasn’t uncomfortably hot to the touch. Seonghwa mounted him next, wrapping his arms around your waist. Yunho rumbled and stood up to his full height. 

If you weren’t tightly clenching your thighs to keep yourself in place, you're sure you’d fall right off. Falling from this height would hurt like a bitch.

Was Yunho as tall as Seonghwa on all fours like this? Was he taller? 

"Hold on, I'm going to go fast." He warned before he walked outside. Seonghwa tightened his grip on you, kissing your head before Yunho broadened his stance and took off like a shot. 

You let out a scream before you cover your mouth and burst into joyful laughter as Seonghwa held you. Yunho wove through the trees as if he’d done it a thousand times before. 

When he stepped foot on the beach, he slowed down to a trot, walking over to a group of men talking amongst themselves. 

“I brought them.” Yunho keened, closing his eyes and wagging his tail as the tallest of the group, a man who towered over the others, scratched below his chin. 

“Good job. I hope you didn’t startle our new friend too bad.” the man with the golden hair with the deep orange tips spoke. Yunho nudged his hands. 

“I didn’t mean to, if I did.” 

You look at the two of them and then take the time to survey your surroundings. 

Hongjoong is here, his arms crossed as he looked down at a man who was sitting on….air? His legs crossed and a cup of tea to his lips. A man with long hair and a ponytail stood with them, seemingly scolding the man sitting on nothing with his quiet gaze. 

There was a fire pit on the beach, and beside that was another man clad in tight, form fitting black clothing. He had part of his pendant in his mouth, and he seemed to be focused on getting the food on the fire cooked to the perfect degree. The man beside him watched on quietly, though he cast you a few cautious glances, the scorpion tail swaying behind him twitching every now and again. 

Seonghwa got off first, gently letting you down and smiling before he looked over at the man floating in air. He took a breath, seemingly steadying himself. 

“Just wait here, I’ll go talk to-”

“There’s no need.” 

You’d blinked, and in an instant. The man with the teacup was floating in front of you, his blue and purple eyes twinkling like the night sky itself. You startle, Seonghwa’s hand instinctively goes in front of you. 

“Wooyoung, I want to-”

“I said there’s no need. I’ve learned everything I needed to know already. Isn’t that right, Seal? Or, rather, Y/n?” He inquired, offering his cup to you. You blink at him and then gently take the cup, sniffing. 

It smells sweet. 

Seonghwa looked stunned, watching the two of you and the look of joy bloom on your face as you sip the tea. Wooyoung smiled casually and leaned back, sending Seonghwa a mysterious smile. 

Seonghwa pursed his lips. 

“Did…did you do something? You’re taking this a lot…calmer than I expected.” He admitted. Wooyoung shrugged a shoulder. 

“Have I done anything? Is there something wrong with me greeting one of my seven’s partners with open arms and a cup of healthy, immune system boosting tea?” He inquired, looking in your direction as you drank another sip, peeking over the rim of the cup at the two of them. 

Something about him seemed familiar, but you couldn’t put your finger on it. Seonghwa touched his abdomen subconsciously but then he relaxed, putting an arm around you. 

“Y/n, these are my seven. They’re…the most important people in my life. I didn’t know everyone would come to greet you.” He shied, rubbing his neck as he looked at the others. Hongjoong shrugged, wearing attire you weren’t familiar with, though he looked comfy as he approached you. It dawned on you that you hadn’t seen him on land until today. 

The man who was beside him followed and stopped in front of you, a row of freckles stretched across his cheeks and nose, and a nearly heart-shaped, splotchy birthmark at the corner of his left eye. You stare at him for a moment, taking in the unique look of his eyes. They were an interesting mixture of blues and pastel yellow and they glittered in the morning sun as he smiled sweetly at you. 

“My name is Yeosang. I’ve heard you’ve had quite a rough time. If there’s anything I can help you with, please let me know.” He greeted, glancing at your stomach for a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it moment before looking back at your face.

The man with the gold and orange hair towered above you, smiling and extending his hand. 

“Name’s Mingi. The weather is quite nice out here today.” 

You took his hand, marveling at how huge every part of him was. Two thick horns sprouted from his forehead and the moment you nodded and greeted him back, you noticed his massive tail swaying to and fro behind him. 

Speaking of massive, the dog you’d come to know as Yunho shifted before you all, standing taller than Seonghwa, as well. 

The corners of his crimson eyes had smudges as if left from the cinders of a once-burned fire and he smiled from ear to ear as he offered his hand to you, as well. 

“Hi, Yunho. Thank you for carrying us here.” You smile and hand Wooyoung back the now-empty teacup. Yunho’s tail wagged so fast, it thumped into Yeosang’s hips. 

“Who are they?” You inquire, pointing to the men by the fire pit. Seonghwa took your hand and gently brought you over to the two. 

The man with the scorpion tail tensed for a moment before relaxing the moment Mingi sat to his left and Yunho to his right. His ears, rounded, yet cat-like, twitched and swiveled. 

“Good morning.” He quietly greeted. You nod and sit across from him. 

“Good morning..uh…sorry, what is your name? My name is Y/n.” 

“....San.” 

He didn’t meet your eyes, but you found Mingi subtly opening his posture so the man could press closer. The small, yet familiar action made you smile. 

‘He must be nervous because of something.’ You think, not realizing you’re doing the same, leaning into Seonghwa’s chest as your eyes fall upon the last man. 

The one with the black clothes and hazel eyes. He had a laser focus on the food in the fire, his pendant firmly in his mouth as he turned the fish and gently stirred the pot that had what looked like a stew inside of it. 

Where on earth did he get that on this island?

“Jongho, baby bear, you’re being rude.” Yeosang gently scolded, touching the back of his neck to get his attention. 

He tensed in an instant, his spade-shaped tail sticking straight up. That was the only indication of him being startled aside from his wide eyes. In an instant, he relaxed and looked over the fire at you, smiling. 

“Oh, uh. Sorry. I spaced out. My name is Jongho. It’s nice to meet you.” He greeted. He smelled incredibly sweet, almost mouth wateringly so.

You waved at him and introduced yourself, looking at the group. 

“To what do I owe the pleasure of meeting all of my mates…seven?” You’re not sure what the significance of them calling each other their ‘seven’, but you don’t pry. They all seem very close with one another, no matter what. 

“We figured we might as well stop by and say hello just in case a certain angelfish decided to not bring you around to greet any of us.” Yunho answered, staring as Jongho finally finished one of the bigger pieces. He nodded in his direction and he picked it up right out of the fire, seemingly unbothered by the flames nor the heat of the fish as he immediately tore into it. Mingi followed suit, splitting his piece with San and continuing between bites. 

“Our den isn’t exactly ready for other people to be in it.” He rumbled. San made a sour face before biting into his fish to seemingly keep his comment to himself. 

He didn’t seem privy on you being in their ‘den’ yet.

You hummed and accepted a cooler piece of fish on a stick Seonghwa had passed over to you. It was full of flavor and you can’t help the seal-like bark of joy that came out of your mouth. 

All eyes land on you and you blush, clearing your throat and looking away. 

Wooyoung smiled smugly as Seonghwa gently broke off more of his fish to hand to you. 

“Jongho, make sure to give our lovely new friend extra.”  He instructed. Jongho nodded and handed you a bowl. 

You look down into it and tilt your head. 

“It’s full of protein, and I brought some freshly harvested veggies to stew in there. I added some spices, too. Not too many, though, I promise. It's very good for you.” Yeosang smiled softly and handed you a spoon. You sniff gently, the aroma smelling slightly spiced and savory. You take a sip with the spoon and smile, going in for more. 

Seonghwa leaned over your shoulder, blinking owlishly. 

“I want some.” 

“It’s not for you.” Hongjoong muttered flatly. Seonghwa gasped in horror while Wooyoung laughed, leaning on Yeosang. 

“Why not?! There’s a whole pot full of it!” He complained. Hongjoong arched a brow at him and San eyed the two of you before speaking up. 

“Y/n needs the extra protein.” He spoke gently, wiping his mouth. He seemed to be trying to convey something, but it seemed to have gone over Seonghwa’s head.

Instead, you tilt your head and look at the bowl before sneaking him a spoonful anyway. 

“It’s okay. I know I’m still growing into my size now that I’m SeaBorn, but I still will share with him, and you all, too. I can’t possibly eat an entire pot full of food all by myself.” You tell them. 

They seem to exchange a look with one another before Yeosang sent you a gentle smile. 

“Well, it’s alright. We’ll all eat until you’re full. If you want more, just call us back and we’ll be happy to make more. Or, Seonghwa can bring you around The Whetū Faewilds and I can cook something different, but just as nutritious for you.” He cooed, and you can see the freckles along his skin twinkle and glitter. 

“I’d love to visit everyone’s home one day. Maybe I can make some food from my old home for you all….”you trail off, thinking about your village. 

Oh. 

You’d been so engrossed in your new life, you forgot your promise of revenge. You stare idly into your bowl of food, brows pulled together. 

Wooyoung looked at you from across the pit, eyes narrowing for a split moment before he gently was slapped on the back of the neck. 

“Stop reading the poor girl’s mind.” Yeosang scolded him, his voice low. San, Mingi, and Yunho perked regardless, looking over at you as you nurse your bowl in your hands, unbothered by the heat. Your eyes had begun to bleed into a deep red color.

“Not my fault her thoughts are so loud. That woman’s mind has a storm just festering below all the goody goody emotions Angelfish is giving her.” 

Yeosang blinked before he looked over at you, as well. A stormy expression crossed your face before it disappeared the moment Seonghwa kissed you. Your grip on the stone bowl in your hands loosened and you relaxed once more into his grip, clicking and purring as he peppered kisses all over your face. 

“Give it a few months, tops. She’ll call us. I’ll bet on it.” He rumbled, leaning on Yeosang. The faerie exhaled and looked at him. 

“True as it may be, you need to let it come to pass naturally. For now, stop prying.” 

“Yeah, yeah. You’re no fun.” 

You eat and listen to the stories of the group of unlikely friends until you feel yourself dozing off, your eyes growing heavy. Seonghwa wrapped his arm around you, smiling softly. 

“I think it’s time we head to bed, everyone. I promise I’ll be better about visiting.” 

San sent him a look and then looked at you instead. 

“....I’ll let you in our den if you make him stop by. This one is terrible at keeping his word. He gets too comfortable on this island taking care of sea turtle babies and monkeys and neglects us.” 

“I do not!” Seonghwa gasped, scandalized. Jongho snorted and Mingi arched a brow. 

“You haven’t stopped by in months.” 

“It was during Season! You two were-” His cheeks flared red before he cleared his throat, San's face igniting as well while Mingi stared back, unbothered.

“And I told you, you could have joined. I have two-”

“I’llDoBetterLet’sJustDropIt.” Seonghwa muttered quickly, his face dusted with pink scales. You looked at him before snickering. 

“It’s a promise. I want to visit, anyway.” You tell them through a yawn. Hongjoong gently motions with his hand. 

“Go rest. We’ll clean up.” 

You wave goodbye to them and get on Seonghwa’s back, your limbs dangling as he chuckles and disappeared back into the trees. 

The seven remaining men watched the two of you leave and Yeosang glanced at Wooyoung. 

“I know what you did in the first meeting, Wooyoung. Must you threaten people like that all the time? What if the stress was too much?” He scolded. Yunho sent them a curious look before tilting his head. 

“Did you do something? Is that why I have this weird sense of deja vu?” 

Wooyoung yawned, stretching his limbs before he flopped back, his head resting on San’s thighs. San gently ran his fingers through his hair, looking down at him. 

“If anyone intends to get near you, they go through me. I needed to see if she was worthy. Besides, she’s not nearly at the point where overstress would be a concern. If I were you, I’d worry about that hatred she’s got in her pretty little head instead of me testing her.” Wooyoung checked his nails before locking eyes with a concerned Yeosang. 

“That woman has murder on her mind. It’s below the surface, quieted only by her love for him, but it’s there. All we need is one monumental event, and it’s all over for that sorry-ass village. And when that time comes…”Wooyoung trailed off, humming softly. 

“We help. Where she goes, Seonghwa goes and where he goes, we go.” Hongjoong cut in. 

In an instant, all of their eyes hardened. Wooyoung’s lip quirked. 

“Now who’s the one who’s being threatening?”

Yeosang looked at him flatly and threw a ball of magic his way. It exploded into dandelion-esque puffs and Wooyoung instantly began sneezing. 

“Oh, shut up, you sound like a damn villain. Help us clean up the beach.” 

 .·:*¨¨* ≈☆≈*¨¨*:·.

1 Month Later

.·:*¨¨* ≈☆≈*¨¨*:·.

You feel the wind blow by you, and your lungs protest from the strain as you rush through the trees. 

Several tree branches snap behind you, but you pay it no mind, rushing faster through the island’s forest. 

You’re almost there. You’re so close. 

Goodness, you’re a bit more winded than usual today, aren’t you? 

In the briefest of moments, as your mind trailed off, you feel yourself get swept off of your feet. 

“I caught you.” 

You look up, sweat running down your temple as you meet Seonghwa’s gaze. He’s looking at you with deep magenta eyes, his chest rising and falling as he catches his breath. 

You smile. 

“You won this round. I won before. That means we need a tie breaker.” You tell him through pants, reaching to wipe his face. Seonghwa gently set you on your feet and held you close to him instead, burying his face in your neck. 

You look at him, smiling softly. He’s breathing in your scent deep, and with him so close, you find yourself doing the same, grazing your fangs over his shoulder, pressing yourself against his sturdy body. 

“How about we do something else?” You coo, running your fingers through damp blonde locks and tugging. Seonghwa purred deep from his core, his cock hard against your thigh as he tilted his head back. 

“Kneel for me.” 

Seonghwa doesn’t make you ask twice, getting down on one of his knees before you and looking up. You run your fingers through his hair, pushing it back before you lift your thigh and set it on his shoulder, smiling sweetly. 

“Go ahead. Enjoy your meal.”

Seonghwa let out a keen, grabbing both of the globes of your ass and pulling you flush against him after muttering a soft ‘thank you’. 

You clench and sigh, feeling him work his tongue into you, his claws leaving indents in your skin as he curled his tongue. 

You move his head, thigh flexing every now and again as the sparking pleasure from his saliva started to creep into your system. 

“Don’t make me cum yet, I want to make a mess of your cocks.” 

You watch his pupils dilate, a reverberating growl tearing from his lips as he looked up at you. You smile, sweet as nectar as you push his face flush between your legs, challenging both him and yourself to actually fulfill that wish. 

Seonghwa, for his own credit, ate you out slower and more deliberately than he usually did, kneading and panting against your pussy as your juices ran down his chin. 

You don’t think you’ll ever get tired of the look on his face when he’s between your legs, dazed with his eyes deep and pink. 

He could be there for hours, if you let him. You’d tested that one day and he’d only stopped because your eyes were full of pleasured tears and your legs were trembling. 

You pull and tug at his hair and grit your teeth. Reluctantly, he stilled all movement, looking up at you with half lidded eyes. 

“Where?” He growled, short and simple. You growl back at him, trembling and impatient. 

“Right here. Both.” 

He stared at you for a moment before he chuckled and pulled away from you, letting your thigh down and slowly licking his lips. He stood to his full height, backing  you against a tree and leaning into your space, tilting your chin up to make you gaze deep into his eyes. 

“My, you haven’t had a single time where you didn’t ask me for both.”

You stare back at him, brow arching. 

“Why should I? You’re mine and that means both of them are mine too.” You fire back, running your fingers down the expanse of his abdomen until you stopped over the slit at his pelvis, smiling at the way his eyes darkened. 

“You’re insatiable.” He whispered, though it distinctly lacked any real reluctance. You smile, regardless. 

“Am I?” 

“Yeah.” 

You pretend to think for a moment before nodding, kissing the tip of his nose. 

“Okay.” 

He blinked, head tilting, and in an instant, you bolt back through the trees, leaving him stunned in your wake. 

“I’ll take care of myself, then~” You call over your shoulder. 

It took another second, and you fight the urge not to laugh as you hear the loud, undeniable roar of your name come from behind you. 

The birds in the trees squawked and flew off as Seonghwa tore through the island, chasing you with renewed vigor. 

“Y/N!”

“Seonghwa~!” You mock him lovingly, calling his name as you make sharp turns and pivots through the familiar terrain. This island had become your home in your time here, you were more than familiar with all it hid.

Seonghwa, of course, knew this place like the back of his hand and in no time he skid into your view, scales shimmering and glittering beautifully in the sun as he laid eyes on you. A smile stretched across his face as you rush to the left, giggling to yourself. 

You find yourself at a familiar rock formation, the same from when you first arrived on the island, and realize with a pout that you’ve hit a dead end. 

The sound of Seonghwa growling behind you confirmed it and you don’t even get the chance to turn around before you’re being embraced from behind. Seonghwa purred, planting kisses upon your shoulder and up your neck and ear before he nibbled the shell of it, clicking slowly. 

“I caught you again. What do I win?” He purred. You smile and turn your head to kiss him, taking one of his hands and guiding it between your legs. He got the hint, long fingers working you open while he held you flush against his body. 

You sigh and relax into his grip, moaning as your head rolled onto his shoulder. Seonghwa kissed you with an urgency his fingers did not share, and the mixed speeds made your head spin. 

You move his other hand to your breast, smiling as he kneaded it in his free hand, rutting his cocks against your ass. You can feel him dribbling against the dimples at the small of your back and you have a passing thought. 

‘He’s wasting it.’

You’ve long since stopped being flustered about these thoughts, and cup your hand over his, pushing your own fingers in beside his as you kiss him with a tad more aggression. 

“Want you.” You growl, hoping he gets the hint. Seonghwa moaned into the kiss and pinched your nipple between two fingers. 

“Bend over.” 

You pull your fingers from yourself, sending him a searing look over your shoulder as you lick them clean. Seonghwa followed the movement with his eyes before they drifted up to yours.

“Ah ah, down here.” You spread your legs and hold your folds open, your core aching. Seonghwa pressed himself against you in an instant, slowly guiding his cock coated in essence into you first. Your eyes nearly roll back at the pleasure of finally having his warmth inside of you. A shaky gasp left your mouth as he held your hip, pushing the other into you once he was sure you’d adjusted to the first properly. 

Seonghwa waited until you were ready, kissing your head and singing sweet nothings into your hair. 

“Put your arms back.” He instructed and you do so, feeling him work one of his arms through both of yours, pinning them back as he slowly rolled his hips forward and keeping you arched. 

“Seonghwa~”

“You’ve become such a fast baby, Y/n. I wonder what you would have done if you got away from me. Maybe I should’ve let you this time, just sit back and watch you pleasure yourself just right.” He growled against your ear, taking your earlobe between his teeth. You whine, clenching down possessively on his cocks. 

He noticed, a deep, throaty groan ripping from his chest as he snapped his hips up before reminding himself he wanted to drive you crazy, slowing himself back down. 

“I would have called to you-ah…faster, it’s too slow-” You whimper, trying to rock your hips back. Seonghwa’s arm flexed between yours as he held them back, clicking his tongue in your ear. 

“I’m enjoying my mate. Be still.” 

You shudder and feel yourself gush around him. Your body is getting hotter again, and you loosen up. Feeling precum run between your thighs as he moved faster over time. 

You stand on your tiptoes as he rocked into you, moaning his name like a chorus as he nuzzled your neck. 

“Sweet…you smell so sweet.” He panted, both of his cocks rocking hard into your gspot at the same time. 

You feel your brain disconnect for a moment, your mouth falling open before a guttural moan of pleasure fell from your lips as Seonghwa repeated the action. Encouraged by your song, he angled his hips, focusing on making you melt in his arms, his teeth sinking into your shoulder. 

Beautiful, glittering silver droplets run down as you feel him let go of your arms, pressing them above your head on the smooth rock wall as he thrusted into you. 

“Seonghwa! S-seonghwa slow down I’m gonna cum-” You try fruitlessly to drag it out for longer. Seonghwa had other plans, his free hand finding its way between your legs, rubbing your clit in rapid circles as he licked your shoulder bites closed. 

“Cum for me, then. You sound s-so pretty for me, clenching me like a vice….c’mon, don’t hold back. Make a mess. That’s what you want right? To make a mess of your mate’s cocks?” He chuckled into your ear, both of his cocks throbbing deep inside of you. You can feel them, and your mouth waters at the undeniable need to be bred swirling in your mind. 

“K-kiss me?” You plead, nearly crying in relief as he immediately tilted his head to do so, his tongue melding against yours as you feel yourself standing on your tiptoes due to the force of his thrusts and his heights. 

Your stomach bulges from the size of his cocks and the moment you hear him growl ‘I love you’ into the kiss, you feel yourself clench down, fingers flexing and clenching as you came with a spine-shaking orgasm.

Seonghwa moaned, your scent flooding his senses as he sped up his own thrusts, cumming deep inside of you and keeping himself still as he kissed you, keeping you pinned between him and the wall. 

“Love you, I love you.” You pant, mewling as you look back at him, your eyes no doubt matching his in their magenta color. He smiled and hugged you close, keeping himself inside of you. 

“I love you.” He rumbled, letting both of you catch your breaths and settle down before pulling out, watching as his cum and essence roll out in thick pearls, leaving a glittering puddle on the stone between your legs.

You pant, and for a moment, you consider cupping yourself to keep it inside, but you blush and perish the thought, instead.

Seonghwa picked you up, kissing your temple and carrying you off to the waterfall where you both had first gotten intimate. He gently guided you into the water, chuckling at the way your legs instantly shifted into your tail. 

You look down and he ran his fingers over your tail, smiling fondly. 

"Your tail really is beautiful."

You look at the gray speckles and purse your lips. 

"Yours is stunning. Mine is just…"you trail off and Seonghwa clicks disapprovingly.

"Beautiful." He ran his fingertips in small loops, tracing words of love and patterns of lace along your tail and chuckling as you shudder.

"You can always tell the difference between a Seaborn who was born that way and one who used to be human. We call them Reborns, at least, the older generations did. As Hongjoong told you, humans who were turned into Seaborn will retain mammal traits. Namely, the tail." Seonghwa hummed, drumming his fingers along your tail. You look at his face, watching the cogs turn. 

"Everything else is basically the same no matter the type. Our strength, our longevity, our basic anatomies, how we give birth, it's very similar regardless of being Reborn or Seaborn." He continued, beginning to wash your tail with long caresses after opening the container of self-made soap he'd left at this particular waterfall since it held sentimental value for you both. 

"How do Seaborns give birth?" You inquire. He blushed and rubbed his neck. 

"Laying eggs and keeping them warm? 

You blink at him.

"Laying eggs…and then keeping them warm after that?"

"Yes."

"Like a chicken?"

Seonghwa gave you a funny look, his eyebrows and nose scrunching up.

"....did you just compare us to chickens?"

"....its kinda chicken-like"

He stared flatly at you and pushed you into the water further, face deadpan as you came back up laughing.

"Seonghwa! I'm right!"

"No, wash yourself, chicken girl"

You snicker and come close to him, resting your arms on his knees as you feel him work his hands into your hair, gently washing and scratching your scalp.

“Our village is fortunate. There is an underwater volcano within our territory. There is a nursery nearby that is protected by magic and round the clock security. This is for couples who are active in hunting or may not have time to incubate them above water, in sand. During particularly busy egg hatching seasons, Yunho will come and stay within one of Hongjoong’s gardens and use his body heat to keep them warm. We have had our numbers quadruple and our success rate for hatching guppies almost perfect itself because of him and Yeosang enchanting our nursery gardens for Hongjoong." Seonghwa explained, purring softly as you close your eyes. 

You don't even realize the way your tail slapped the surface of the water, just enjoying the feeling of him taking care of you. He chuckled and reached in, picking you up out of the water as he continued to wash you. 

His hand wanders as he sings and hums to you, but so do your lips, and it takes but a few minutes of him cleaning his essence and cum out of you before you press your face into his throat, kissing and nibbling at his pulse. 

Seonghwa opened his mouth to tease you again, but paused. Once again he can smell it. That sweet scent lacing your usual one. 

His fingers twitched. As you place nips and kisses along the edges of some of his scales, you can hear him rumbling. 

".....sweet."

You look at him, blinking. 

"Sweet?"

"Yes. You smell sweet."

You blink before you hum quietly. Your eyes drift between your legs.

"Your fingers are still inside of me."

Seonghwa’s platinum scales along his cheekbones and the corners of his eyes turn a dusty pink, but all he did was hold you close. 

"Y/n."

"Yes, Seonghwa?"

You can tell there was nothing to panic about-yet-Seonghwa had spoken in a calm tone, his scales never paling or his scent tinging with fear. 

Instead, excitement? Nervousness?

"I think you're pregnant."

You stare at him. 

He stared back.

For a while, you think the world had stopped, had it not have been for the rushing sound of the water behind you and the gentle, steady sound of splashing as he continued to wash you with gentle, reverent hands. 

Then, your eyes well up. Seonghwa bit his lip and smiled as you bring your hand to your stomach. 

“Pregnant?” 

“Your scent has changed. It’s sweeter than usual, gentler.” 

He gently ran his hand over your stomach, landing on top of yours. 

Tears roll down your cheek as you pull him down for a kiss, feeling like you were floating. He smiled into it, holding you securely as you both sang and purred words of love and adoration to one another. 

That would explain…a lot, actually. The hunger you felt growing steadily, your portions growing significantly, getting winded easier while doing work around the island and in the ocean, and the increased clinginess from Seonghwa. 

You two clean up and Seonghwa held your hands in his, smiling softly. 

“How about we visit The Whetū Faewilds tomorrow? Yeosang may be able to help us out. He’s really good at helping out new families and I want him to give you a protection enchantment. I need to see if I can have my own seagarden somewhere here for our eggs so you can lay them separate from everyone elses. Maybe if Yunho brings a magma stone we can keep them warm on our own and-”

You watch fondly as Seonghwa excitedly chattered on about setting up your own nursery for your eggs. You cup his cheek minutes later and he stops mid-sentence, looking into your eyes. 

Neither of you say a word and he simply pressed his cheek into your palm, smiling. 

“Let’s get settled into bed early. We’ll leave for Yeosang’s early tomorrow.” Seonghwa suggested. You nod and smile, letting him carry you off to bed, a new kind of joy settling in your body as you cuddle into his arms that night. 

˚*＊✿❀༓❀✿＊*˚

“So how are we getting to Yeosang’s faewilds? Do we swim?” You inquire, looking over at Seonghwa the following morning as you both stand on the beach. 

Seonghwa fiddled with his ear, blinking as they brushed against a peridot earring. 

He had a feeling something had been misaligned, but couldn’t put his finger on what. Instead, he gripped the earring and called out to the ocean. 

“Wooyoung?” 

There’s a silence that stretches between you both. The ocean swayed calmly, unbothered. 

Seonghwa furrowed his brow and opened his mouth. 

“I’m right here. What do you need?” 

Both of you look behind you, finding Wooyoung standing on the air above both of you, looking down as you clutch your chest, startled. Seonghwa rubbed the small of your back and Wooyoung cocked a brow. 

“You two don’t look like you’re in danger. What do you want?” He yawned, stepping off of whatever invisible platform of air he was standing on, getting right in both of your faces. 

“We need a lift to The Whetū Faewilds, please.” Seonghwa informed him, smiling in greeting. Wooyoung blinked before looking at you. 

Whether you noticed or not, you’d been idly rubbing small circles along your stomach, taking note of the subtle bulge forming. 

“Oh, good. You both realized she’s pregnant. I see.” Wooyoung stretched and ignored the stammering coming from Seonghwa. 

“You knew?”

“We all knew. Now, c’mon before I change my mind. I don’t recall when it was I said I was suddenly a transportation service.” Wooyoung grumbled. He took a few steps towards the ocean, and you could see trails of stardust glinting with his every step. 

You blink. 

His feet never actually made contact with the sand, now that you looked closer. 

Wooyoung made a sweeping motion and in an instant, a tear appeared before you all. You frown, looking at the unnatural tear space and peer through it, holding Seonghwa’s hand. Through it, you can see a lush forest. 

“I don’t have all day, go on.” Wooyoung urged, nodding towards the tear. Seonghwa smiled at you, kissing your knuckles before he pulled you towards the spacial tear, guiding you into it. 

Immediately, the aroma around you changes. 

The smell of sea salt disappeared into the distance, now replaced with fresh rain and flowers. You breathe deep, smiling as it caresses you and brings about an instant calm. The forest seemed to welcome your presences, and you watch as a tiny, cotton ball shaped entity bounced over to you. 

It made a noise you could only describe as a puppy-like squeak before it ran down a row of fragrant plumeria and gardenia bushes. 

“That’s a faerie, they’re leading us to Yeosang.” Seonghwa explained. You smile and turn to thank Wooyoung, but find him already missing. 

“Oh-uh, okay, let’s go.” You take Seonghwa’s hand and follow the fae through the forest. You are careful not to step on any flowers along the way. A few other fae peeked out of the bushes, watching you before they began following you both, some of them cooing and climbing up Seonghwa’s body with a sense of familiarity. 

You smile, watching as the small glowing puffs dot your mate. One of them crossed the bridge between your and his shoulders, squeaking as it pressed against your cheek and began to shake in what you assumed was excitement. 

“Ah, you’re here. Welcome.” 

You look up and blink in surprise, finding yourself standing in front of a beautiful hut in the center of a village you don’t remember walking into. You look around, lips parted as you spy faeries of all shapes and sizes, looking curiously at you as they held fruit and flora in various baskets. 

Your eyes drift back in front of you and you find Yeosang smiling softly at you both, his hair secured back in a clip and a dangling jewled hairclip catching your attention as he walked closer. 

“You kept your word and stopped by. I appreciate it. We’ve missed you,Seonghwa, and my people have wanted to greet you, Y/n.” He gently gave Seonghwa a hug. Seonghwa closed his eyes and leaned down, pressing his forehead to Yeosang’s. Yeosang closed his eyes back, gently holding Seonghwa’s forearms. 

When they pulled away, Yeosang muttered something in a tongue you couldn’t understand, smiling softly before he looked at you. 

“Do you mind?” He asked, holding his arms open. You smile and lean into his embrace without a second’s hesitation. Yeosang smiled and hugged you back. He pulled away after a moment or two and you follow what Seonghwa had done, closing your eyes and tilting your head up slightly. You miss the small look of surprise on Yeosang’s face before it melted into a fond look, with him leaning down to press his forehead to yours, breathing gently. 

A sense of warmth and welcome washed over you, and just like with Seonghwa, Yeosang pulled away and muttered something. This time you could understand him. 

‘Welcome home.’

Seonghwa put his arm around you and guided you into Yeosang’s home, sitting down first and patting his lap. You sit down with a small blush, settling into his embrace as Yeosang began to move about his home, grabbing some decorative cups and setting them in front of you both before he set down a few small ceramic bowls. 

“So, I can smell the excitement on you both, and I noticed you had Wooyoung bring you here instead of making the day-long swim…I’m assuming you both have come to realize you are with children, yes?” Yeosang inquired, his movements graceful as he removed the lids of each bowl. You lift your head to peek, seeing dried flowers and fruit inside of each one, as well as the one at the end having some form of glittering powder. 

“Was I really the last to know?” Seonghwa frowned. You laugh behind your hand and kiss his jaw after turning your head and Yeosang chuckled, gently adding certain petals and leaves to a small bag, tucking them carefully into it. 

“It’s alright. Love is as exhilarating as it is blinding.” Yeosang mused, looking at both of you with a gentle fondness in his eyes. 

“How are you feeling, Miss?” He inquired. You wave gently. 

“Y/n is fine, Yeosang. I’ve been slowing down a bit but I’m okay. I imagine in the next eight months that may change drastically.” 

Both he and Seonghwa looked at you curiously before Yeosang hummed gently, adding dried apple and lemon to one bag. 

“Seaborns do not hold their eggs for nine months like humans do their young. You will probably need to lay in about two or so months. You’re a month in, so you’ll notice your body adjusting and changing fairly quickly from here on out.” He explained. You feel your lips part, staring at him in surprise. 

“Two months?” 

“Or somewhere about that time, yes. I recommend you keep your stress levels down and try and stay away from dangerous situations until then.” He met your eyes and you feel like there’s something he’s not saying in this moment. You don’t look away, rubbing Seonghwa’s knuckles as he adjusted his embrace. 

“What would I be doing that’s dangerous, Yeosang?”

Yeosang’s eyes didn’t betray anything in his head, and instead he only shrugged a shoulder. 

“I don’t know, I’m just warning you regardless.” 

He put the bags in the cups and gently poured the water into them. A pleasant aroma flooded the room and you find yourself sniffing eagerly, watching as he covered each cup with a small lid made of some kind of wood. 

He closed his eyes and took a moment, seemingly thinking before he looked at you both once more. 

“You would like me to place a protective enchantment on your womb, correct?” Yeosang inquired. You and Seonghwa nod in unison and Yeosang hummed, staring at the cups. 

“Have you chosen a place to lay your clutch?” He inquired, looking into Seonghwa’s eyes. 

“On the island, in a mini spring with a waterfall.” 

“Is it deep enough to have a magma stone placed in it without overheating it?” 

“I would need a smaller stone than usual, but yes. It's a good twenty-five feet deep. At least.” 

Yeosang tapped his lip and nodded quietly, humming to himself. He took the lid off of the cups and gently grabbed some of the glittering dust from the final ceramic bowl, sprinkling it into your cup before smiling softly and handing it to you. 

“Here.” 

You take a moment to take a deep breath, enjoying the aroma of hibiscus mixed with dried fruit. You sip gently and lean back against Seonghwa’s chest fully. 

“How many guppies do Seaborns usually have?” 

Yeosang looked at Seonghwa, arching a brow. Seonghwa rubbed your hips, putting his chin over your head. 

“If all goes well, usually two or three. If they aren't incubated properly, they won’t make it. We also would have to watch for predators. Usually, the creatures of the ocean stray clear of Seaborns but nurseries that aren't properly guarded have been known to have opportunity hunters go after the eggs.” he sighed. 

The sound of a growl drew both of their attention to you. A deep leer settled on your face, your eyes bleeding into crimson as you gripped the cup tight. 

“Baby?”

“I’ll kill anything that comes near my fucking babies, Seonghwa.” 

He blinked in surprise before he rubbed your hips and kissed your cheek. 

“I know, baby. Nothing will get close to our nursery.”

Yeosang watched the two of you and moved closer, sitting in front of you. 

“Can you lift your shirt? Just so I can see your stomach?” He inquired. Seonghwa moved his hands away from yours so you could decide and after you sit up a bit, you lift your shirt up until it was bunched over your belly. 

Yeosang’s eyes gleamed, and he held his hand over your stomach, fingertips glowing. He blinked for a moment before he exhaled, laughing to himself. You frown at him, worry settling in your brow. 

“What? What’s wrong?” You ask quickly. He waved and pressed his palm firmly against your belly. 

“Nothing, just thinking. Hold still for a moment.” He instructed. You hold your breath without thinking. Yeosang’s fingertips begin to glow with a soft, pastel yellow twinkle, small symbols appearing around the curve of your stomach before he pulled his hand away and gently lowered your shirt. 

“I’ve put some protective magic over your womb. Remember to be careful, it doesn’t make you immune to injuries, but it simply makes it easier for you with carrying and eventually when you lay. I’ll send you both home with some fae meals to keep your energy high and boost your health. Because you are a Reborn, you will find that your body will most likely begin to lactate, as well. Only Reborns can, seeing as you hold onto your mammal genetics to some extent. You can come back to me when your guppies are born and I will provide you with more Fae meals in order to keep your body healthy and cleansed of toxins so you can nurse them…if you choose to do so.” Yeosang explained, moving to sit back down, taking a sip of the tea in front of him. You touch your stomach ever so slightly and looked over at the kind Fae man. 

“That’s so kind of you…all of this is…Is there anything I can to repay you for your kindness?” 

Seonghwa kissed your head and pressed a kiss to your temple. 

“Yeosang, I’d like to show her around the village and your forest. Is it alright if I do it alone? I want her to see the Vermillion Gardens. If you don’t want anyone there, I understand, too.” Seonghwa spoke gently, and you could tell from the way Yeosang had paused his drinking, this was something of a special place. 

He rose his gaze up to the two of you before he smiled, his nose scrunching slightly. 

“Just be mindful of the flowers. Do not stray too far from them. My Faewilds may be friendly towards those I welcome here, but that does not mean you shouldn’t watch your own back.“

Seonghwa smiled wide and took your hand, pulling you out of the hut and guiding you through the beautiful village. 

Yeosang watched the two of you leave and sat down, bringing a cup of tea up to his lips. 

“I never expected you to be such a softie for an addition of The Fold.” He spoke into the brim of the cup. For a moment, there was no response in the seemingly empty room. 

Then, 

“A ‘softie’? You wound me. I don’t give a damn about that woman or those kids, I just want to make sure-”

“There was an Eldritch rune on her womb long before I touched her. I wonder who that came from.” Yeosang cut him off and motioned to the empty spot beside him, his fingers glowing as a second cup of tea began brewing. Sure enough, Wooyoung emerged, taking a seat beside him, pouting. 

“I really can’t hide a thing from you, huh?” He grumbled. Yeosang sent him a smile, eyes twinking with mirth. 

“No, you can’t. I don’t even know why you try at this point.” 

˚*＊✿❀༓❀✿＊*˚

You step carefully as you trek through the Vermillion Garden, the petals of countless spider lilies tickling your ankles as you walk beside Seonghwa. There was a gazebo in the center of the field and Seonghwa carefully helped you sit in a bench, touching you with added care, as if you were to lay at any moment. 

It was as equally adorable as it was endearing. 

Seonghwa put an arm around you, looking at the illuminated flowers as he took a deep breath. You admire your surroundings, holding Seonghwa’s hand. 

“This flower field…is it special?” You inquire. Seonghwa nodded, looking up at the stars above. The sky was a much different color than the one back on the beach. 

Instead of a pitch black or a deep blue, the night sky was a deep purple. A shimmering aurora flowed through the sky above the two of you, and for a few moments, you forget to breathe, simply taking it all in. 

“The heart and soul of the Faewilds. It all started here. Yeosang always brought us here when something good would happen in our lives. Something about the flowers helping lift the soul and spirit. So…its only right I bring you here.” 

You blush and smile, kissing him slowly. Around you, the flowers begin the glow, wisps of light dancing around the night sky like fireflies. You cup Seonghwa’s face, feeling like you were floating. 

Everything was going to be alright. 

….right?

︶꒦꒷♡꒷꒦︶

Taglist

︶꒦꒷♡꒷꒦︶

@kimnamshiks @angel0taiyo @atiny-dazzlinglight @jacksons-goddess-gaia @smallfrye @daniblogs164 @daisyhwa @yunhofingers @xlilehx @violetwinters @jess-1404 @perfectlysane24 @babiebumm @bangteezbaby @skmoonchild @universe-sighted @seomisaho @sanraes @asyamonet22 @drunk-on-hwa @shingisimp @yungiland @serialee @justatiredhuman @heesuncore @twistedsiren @xuxibelle @delphinium3000 @horizonmoonfics @cookiechristie @stardragongalaxy @ateezwonderland @spooo00oky @shymexican

[my-favourite-zhent]

Writer Interview

Tagged by the lovelies @commander-krios here and @coreene here

Tagging: @dustdeepsea @thisaccountisagainstmywill @fistfuloftarenths

@littleplasticrat @captainsigge @grossestjay

Questions under the cut!

When did you start writing?

I suppose depends what counts? Where I went to school we did creative writing as early as six. The first stories I remember were Halloween stories I wrote with very unhappy endings.

Writing purely for myself maybe not till high school? I dabbled in a little fanfiction and then didn't touch it again for years and years and then suddenly BG3 and Rugan happened, smdh.

Are there different themes or genres you enjoy reading than what you write?

Is there a writer you want to emulate or get compared to often?

Just like Krios I enjoy horror novels, although I actually prefer horror as short stories/novellas. If you look at my spotify history you will see a lot of NoSleep podcast and Knifepoint Horror so its definitely a running theme. I could never write horror though, would spook myself too much. I did rather like the tiny horror story in one of the books in Baldurs Gate.

I also enjoy reading low fantasy (low magic, more grit, considerably plucky, ensemble casts) which I think comes across in New Tricks, but in contrast the stories I read have very minimal if any romance.

Can you tell me a bit about your writing space?

Nope, as much as there are many writers I enjoy and at times think "I wish I were that talented" I also don't wish to be a perfect copy of anyone's style because what's the point of that?

I suppose if it was something more like "as funny as so and so" or "world-building on level of such and such" then probably Pratchett, Rothfuss, Sapowski or Glen Cook?

I will literally write anywhere, a lot of my ideas pop-up while daydreaming and I have to get them down when they happen or I won't remember clearly later. So at my desk, in bed, on the couch, on the train, standing in the shoppe, literally anywhere.

What's your most effective way to muster up a muse?

Consuming other media. Books, TV, movies, podcasts, etc. Seeing a scene or circumstance and imagining how the characters I write would react under similar circumstances.

Are there any recurring themes in your writing? Do they surprise you?

Hmm hadn't considered it before but I guess so far: grey morality, class differences (this likely due to my muse being Rugan) and overcoming betrayal? I suppose the last one surprises me a little, I think I might just like the angst of it.

What is your reason for writing?

Is there any specific comment or type of comment you find particularly motivating?

I mentioned earlier I haven't touched personal creative writing since high school, although I did consume fanfiction on occasion. I originally returned due to a frustration at the lack of Rugan content. I wanted to consume, but at the time there wasn't much, compounded by the fact that I did not have an AO3 account at the time so of the few that existed I could only see half. So I started by writing how I thought getting that drink at the Elf Song might go.

After that I got a bit attached to the OC and was inspired by the works of @dustdeepsea to write something with a little more emotional depth. I was prone to daydreaming these sorts of things before but I never put pen to paper till now.

I'm happy any time someone enjoys my work, but I suppose the best comments are when the reader notices the characterization I've been trying to get across. It makes me feel validated that I'm able to write certain qualities without (hopefully) being too on the nose with it.

How do you want to be thought about by your readers?

Me or my writing? Myself, hopefully reasonable and open-minded. My writing, I hope they find it funny and exciting in turns, I hope it makes people feel some sort of emotion even if negative rather than being boring. I hope the world I've tried to piece together from bits of Forgotten Realms lore feels consistent and cohesive, that the rules and stakes make sense.

What do you feel is your greatest strength as a writer?

Similar to Krios I think my dialogue comes across the best of all my writing, and it certainly feels the easiest to get down.

How do you feel about your own writing?

It seems to change by day and chapter. There are some things that when I write I'm quite pleased, and then come back a month later and am quite embarrassed by. Other things I didn't like originally but actually enjoy quite a bit on reread. I find myself having to just post things I'm unhappy with at times otherwise I won't get on with the story. I jokingly tell myself "we'll fix it in post!" and I have slowly begun some edits of early chapters so it's not a complete lie.

When you write, are you influenced by what others might enjoy reading, or do you write purely for yourself, or a mix of both?

It's mostly what I think the story needs at the time. There are times where I feel "augh we've been on this mood/theme for too long, the reader will get bored" but I try to reframe it to myself as "is the pacing good? is this scene necessary right now?" and that helps me make a decision that is hopefully a bit more objective. Sometimes we need that information for later, sometimes we don't. I have been known to go back and adjust a thing here or there if the current chapter is missing a bit of set-up and will continue to do so until the story is over. I'm treating it all as a work in progress.

Thanks for reading this far!

[darkurgetrash]

Writer Interview Tag ✍️

Thank you for the tag my kitten @savriea! I love this format ❤️ no pressure tags to @lemonsrosesandlavender @forget-me-maybe @freesidexjunkie @blackstaff-blast @crystal-overdrive @notlikeparis xo

When did you start writing?

I was writing awful emo-type fiction (featuring yandere tropes that I didn’t know were a thing) then got into fanfic around ?13/14? with Death Note. I think so anyway, it’s nearly impossible for me to remember what age I did what 🤷‍♀️

Are there different themes or genres you enjoy reading than what you write?

I enjoy literary horror and absurdist fiction, which I used to write more of but haven’t really felt motivated to since venturing back into romance writing. I have a few short stories though from back in the day in these genres that I was thinking about publishing somewhere, but I wouldn’t know where to begin!

Is there a writer you want to emulate or get compared to often?

I’ve always been inspired by Diana Wynn Jones and have been compared to her from before, but I’m not sure I agree with that because I am nowhere near her level — that would be the dream, though! When I used to write more creatively, I very much tried to emulate Sayaka Murata, my queen. 🙇‍♀️

Can you tell me a bit about your writing space?

I don’t have a designated space, but I do find it easier to write when I’m commuting (because there’s no wifi/signal and I have nothing better to do). So… the London Underground? 😁

What's your most effective way to muster up a muse?

Being so bored that “I might as well write”, hahahaha! I have tonnes of hobbies though so, unfortunately, I don’t get in the writing mood very often. 🤣

Are there any recurring themes in your writing? Do they surprise you?

I tend to always end up writing about depression and trauma, even when I didn’t intend to hehe. 🤭 Write what you know, right? Tbh, I’m unfortunately quite a pessimistic person who is more naturally inclined towards melancholy, so I think these things tend to slip into my characters. That said, I always want to make things feel hopeful and whimsical too — probably as a form of escapism — so I suppose that surprises me!

What is your reason for writing?

A loaded question… 👀 I wrote a long answer just now but deleted it because I couldn’t quite properly express what I meant lol, so the tldr is: escapism, self expression, and fulfillment🫡

Is there any specific comment or type of comment you find particularly motivating?

I love all comments ❤️❤️ but also, if you’re writing mini essays under my fics, you have a special place in my heart.

How do you want to be thought about by your readers?

Hmm, depends on what I’m writing. For the most part, I’d like readers to think I’m funny and enjoy my humour, and, of course, enjoy the story I create!

What do you feel is your greatest strength as a writer?

I personally enjoy my sense of humour in writing. My one-shot ‘Gods Damned Gale Dekarios!’ and some parts of HITMC have been some of my favourite writing I’ve ever done, and my short stories I used to write used tonnes of irony and absurdist humour. I think I’m also good at writing about characters’ inner thoughts and feelings — when it comes to anything external, however, I struggle. 💀

How do you feel about your own writing?

I think I’m pretty average tbh — enjoyable enough to read but nothing super special. I have a lot of cognitive issues that make writing really hard for me, especially when it comes to, like I said, writing about anything that’s happening externally: action, the senses, settings, etc. I think I especially have problems when it comes to the all important “show not tell” rule, because girlypop has no visualisation skills. 🤣 But overall, I think as long as people are enjoying my writing, I don’t see it as a reason to be hard on myself. I’ve kinda given up on any ambitions to write anything more than what I do now because my disabilities are too extreme and also getting worse with age, but hey-ho, it is what it is.

[kittyamore0]

𝐻𝒾𝑔𝒽𝓈𝒸𝒽𝑜𝑜𝓁 𝓈𝓌𝑒𝒶𝓉𝒽𝑒𝒶𝓇𝓉𝓈 ˗ˏˋ ꒰ ♡ ꒱ ˎˊ˗

Summary: You had a crush on this guy during highschool, but what you don't know is that he felt the same way about you. Just a little bit more...obsessive Paring: Yandere! Male x GN! Reader

Fandom: Horror, romance, yandere's, OC's, male! OC's,

Tumblr genre: Head canons, horror, romance

Rating: SFW with NSFW mentions

Pov: Third and second person

CW: Manipulation, obsessive behavior, attempted murder, stealing private personal value - a.k.a clothes, bleach poisoning

✩‧₊˚ ✩‧₊˚ ✩‧₊ Ｌoａｄｉｎｇ．. ✩‧✩‧₊˚

Yandere! Crush who never believed in love at first sight, until he saw you. Oh, how amazing you looked, and your looks are just as good as your personality!

Yandere! Crush who starts becoming obsessed with your looks, your hair, your eyes, your lips, your neck, your style, your voice, your personality, how funny, smart and cheerful you are. just...you.

Yandere! Crush who loves being around you whenever you talk to your friends, just to hear you mention how much you think hes cute, nice and funny...

Yandere! Crush who attends every party you go to, and loves when you start freaking out whenever you see him

Yandere! Crush who crushes that red, plastic cup with a thick white outline at the top whenever he sees someone go and try flirting with you

Yandere! Crush who accidentally put too much bleach in that person's cup, sending them to the bathroom and then the hospital. Whoops!

Yandere! Crush who finds out that the person flirting with you was your friend...

Yandere! Crush who goes and attempts to comfort you, but secretly is proud of their work.

Yandere! Crush who is very excited because he had just become friends with you after comforting you, yay…!

Yandere! Crush who offers to walk you home, to which you happily agree.

Yandere! Crush who gets all giddy when you invite him to come inside your home.

Yandere! Crush who goes through your stuff when you go to the bathroom

Yandere! Crush who finds a few tops, shorts, pants and even some underwears (or bras) that he favorites

Yandere! Crush who smells some of the clothes, basking in your lovely sent while thinking about intimate times between you two…ah, how he just cant wait to share those heated movements with you!

Yandere! Crush who finds a small bag in your room, and stuffs the clothes he found in your room. Then throws it out the window and into the nearby garden to collect it later.

Yandere! Crush who admired you throughout all the activities you’ve done with him

Yandere! Crush who ends confessing to you about his feelings after

Yandere! Crush who engulfs you into a very big bear hug after you tell him that you share the same feelings as he does for you

Yandere! Crush who starts imagining both of your lifes ahead. One kid— No! Maybe two?— or— four? Whatever you’re comfortable with, of course. Oh, and how about some pets? A dog? A cat? A bird? A hamster, or a fish! You name it!!!

Yandere! Crush who will be thrilled if you loved the idea of starting a family of him!

But if otherwise, then i guess this yandere! Crush will just have to show how he is meant for you, and how you are certainly meant for him as well.

✩‧₊˚ ✩‧₊˚ ✩‧₊˚ C o m p l e t e d．. *✩✩‧₊˚

[maleyanderecafe]

Rot with Me (Visual Novel)

Created by: Gothic Ilustrations

Genre: Horror/Romance

Rot with Me is a short game created for #72HourMurderboyMayhem jam, and it does a good job with the horror elements it has for the endings. I like how some of the endings go more into the gothic horror that the game is running with, which is always very fun. You can find more from this creator at @gothic-illustrations.

The story starts with the MC going on a hike and getting lost in the forest. As it starts to rain, they spot a giant mansion and run inside of it for shelter. While feeling guilty for essentially running into someone's house, they meets a strange man who welcomes them. He introduces himself as Fyodor Voronin and they introduce themselves back. The two talk about why Fyodor is living there and that they are the first person to come to his manor for a while. Fyodor shows them around, inviting them to dance. Accepting it will make Fodor very happy and he ends up dragging them into the basement.

The basements is filled with a lot of bodies, blood and various diagrams of the human body, all with the same Y-shaped scar that Fyodor has. Fyodor basically traps the MC into the basement and they look around for information. Upon looking around the MC finds taht Fyodor has an obsession with killing (well, specifically plunging a knife into someone's chest) and as a result attempts to extend his lifespan so he can continue to kill. He finds something called the Crawling Rot, which extends his life, however, still causes his body to rot, thus why he seems to be replacing parts of himself.

The MC can choose to wait for Fyodor, which results in him declaring that he will keep the MC in his manor forever. Whether or not the MC feels alright with this determines a slight variation of the ending, though in the end, they are trapped with Fyodor forever.

If the MC decides to call upon the Crawling Rot, they will perform a ritual on one of the decaying bodies, which summons them. The MC talks about how Fyodor made a deal with them and that he hasn't paid back his end of the bargain. When Fyodor comes back down, the Crawling Rot drags him away into another dimension, with Fyodor begging for the MC's help before disappearing. After this, the Crawling Rot offers to make the MC a proposition to become a debt collector, essentially finding and making people who owe the Crawling Rot pay.

If the MC agrees, they are infected with the Crawling Rot, and become the debt collector for them.

If the MC refuses, the Crawling Rot leaves, and the MC returns back to their normal life.

If throughout the visit, the MC decides to be distant towards Fyodor (giving him a fake name, not dancing with him), he will fall in love, but instead try to take the MC's heart instead. Being captured will result in Fyodor succeeding in cutting out the MC's heart to make their own. If the MC successfully escape, they will attempt to call the police, but will only find the MC's missing items and will be anxious constantly about what they saw.

The story itself feels very gothic horrory, mostly from the characters themselves as well as Fyoder's ties to the Crawling Rot itself. It's kind of neat. The is only one sense of sound within the entire game, which is the sound of the music that plays when the two are dancing (or rather about to dance) which I thought was an interesting choice, but does add to the eeriness of the game itself. Personally, I really like the design of the Crawling Rot, the way their chest opens up and the eyes crying blood really does contrast with the other white tones of a more ethereal being. Fyoder's life of killing and then remaking himself really does encapsulate the kind of gothic horror feel that I think the creator was going for, even in some endings using the MC's own heart to replace his own. It's pretty cool that we can end up being the Crawling Rot's debt collector in the end, with the description of how when it does enter the MC's body, that they described it at something right, that has always been there. In terms of a yandere, Fyoder encapsulates this in two endings- one where he keeps the MC forever against their will (or cooperating) where likely they live with the MC until their deaths, or when the MC tries to escape and fail, taking their heart to keep forever, along with whatever remains of their body. I'm not sure why he doesn't seem to run after the MC after they escape the mansion, possibly some magic that won't allow him to leave, but there are implications that it does haunt the MC afterwards, something that never leaves their mind.

Overall, a pretty cool and short game made for the jam. Though it is a work in progress, I think that it's pretty solid for a short game, as it goes in through some world building about how Fyoder and the Crawling Rot came to be. Might be cool to have a bit more of a romance with Fyoder in the future possibly in another update.

[batmanisagatewaydrug]

reading roundup: February 2024

I literally completely forgot I needed to do this oopsie poopsie

WHAT DID I READ IN FEBRUARY!!! LET'S TALK ABOUT IT!!!!

Rouge (Mona Awad, 2023) - listen. there are some very cool ideas in this book, and it's definitely big creepy in places. some of the childhood flashbacks, in particular, had me shrieking with pure dread. but ultimately my issue with this book is the same as my issue with Awad's most well-known novel, Bunny: I would just... kind of like to understand what's going on? like even a little bit? at literally any time? you don't need to explain everything, but man, give me something. vibes alone do not make a meal, and I left this book not really feeling fed.

Our Share of Night (Mariana Enríquez, trans. Megan McDowell 2023) - god, this book makes you WORK FOR IT, but I'm glad I stuck it out. Enríquez has written a fucking doorstopper of intergenerational drama, about an Argentinian family deeply embroiled in a cult that worships something otherworldly and... hungry. perpetually sickly Juan is the Order's prized prophet, but after his wife's death is orchestrated by her own mother he becomes determined to get their young son, Gaspar, away from the Order's control by any means necessary. a wrenching read that swings through every kind of horror, swinging from the supernatural to Argentina's military dictatorship in the 70s to the AIDS epidemic in the 80s and 90s to an absolutely brutal ending.

Red String Theory (Lauren Kung Jessen, 2024) - some of you may recall that Lauren Kung Jessen wrote Lunar Love, one of my favorite romance novels of last year thanks to a zodiac-obsessed protagonist who's (unintentionally) giving major Rebecca Bunch pre-diagnosis in Crazy Ex-Girlfriend vibes. Red String Theory also has a female lead obsessed with mythological matchmaking, so I was really hoping for another unhinged queen, but please don't make my mistake: everyone in this book is devastatingly hinged, and the only real conflict is two characters who like each other from the jump repeatedly coming up with unsatisfying excuses for why they can't date each other. my least favorite was "we'll only in the same city for A YEAR," which is absolutely hogshit wild. "only a year." get out of here. I hate you guys.

Drinking from Graveyard Wells (Yvette Lisa Ndlovu, 2023) - a tiny short story debut by Ndlovu, a Zimbabwean sarungano. one of my very favorite genre of short story collections is "women having a bad time taken up to 11," and god does this deliver. Ndlovu writes about the many indignities heaped upon Zimbabwean women at home and abroad, weaving together tight stories about misogyny, war, poverty, and immigration with restless spirits, bored gods, ignored wise women, and unsatisfactory afterlives. there's a story about a near future in which diamond miners are purposefully set up and sacrificed to an angry underground god to create more diamonds that was so fucking clever, and the final story - the titular Drinking from Graveyard Wells - was just... an absolutely perfect short story. suspenseful and eerie and just enough of a hint of explanation to really chill you. chef's kiss.

It Happened One Summer (Tessa Bailey, 2021) - shout out to all of my patreon supporters who voted to make me read another Tessa Bailey book; you truly wish darkness and despair upon me. here's the insane thing about this book: if you just completely ignore the actual central romance, it's just a sweet book about an infinitely likeable young woman unplugging from her shallow socialite life and finding a new niche reviving her deceased father's bar in a tiny fishing town in Washington. it's like, you know, the plot of a pretty okay disney channel original movie? it's no Minute Men or High School Musical, but it's cute. it's a solid Dairy Girls or Princess Protection Program. but then there's the love interest, who's just a fucking tool all the way down. reader, I kept wishing he would get swept over the rigging of his own crab boat and die ingloriously at sea. this guy sucks so bad. also the sex scenes were identical to the ones in Unfortunately Yours and they did not taste any better reheated. fascinating treatise on cishetero gender norms, rancid romance. I wrote a whole thing about it on my patreon if you're into that kind of nastiness.