#i particularly wanted to respond to your points about short stories!

[synamartia]

I promise I haven't forgotten about this! Things have been a bit hectic in my personal life, and it feels like the hits just keep coming. But as a sign of good faith, I'll leave you all with another little snippet! Hopefully, it'll be the last one before I release the full story. On another note, as much as I LOVE the title Smutmus, I don't think that it's a fitting title anymore with the direction the story is taking - it's becoming a fully fledged fic with plot (which is one of the biggest reasons it's release has been delayed). So I will be renaming it in the future; just not sure what, yet. If you have any ideas, I would love to hear them! 🥰

Content Warnings: Again, none really. Afab!Reader ; No pronouns used ; Suggestive situations ; Nudity ; More light banter. If there's a warning anyone feels should be listed, please let me know!

Divider © cafekitsune

“Alastor, is that a tail?” you blurted out without thinking, immediately slapping both of your hands over your mouth right after. “Oh- that,” he said nonchalantly, moving to stand between your legs once more. Your body tensed as you awaited his reaction, so sure that you had just earned yourself a good scolding for such an impolite question. You hadn’t meant to be so bold or outright, but you’ve come to find that your body and your brain hadn’t been on the same page since the moment all of this began. “Yes, it’s a tail,” Alastor responded and turned slightly, swishing the puff of fur side to side a couple of times to amuse you before turning back. “I’m sorry, that was rude- …!?” you tried to apologize, but a surprised squeal interrupted your speech when his sharpened claws sunk into your posterior and he hoisted you up off the desk, your legs wrapping around his waist in the process.

“It’s alright, darling,” Alastor reassured you, spinning around and taking a few long strides to the rarely used bed. “While I’m not particularly fond of it, my tail isn’t something that I’ve ever gone out of my way to hide,” he explained, dropping you onto the mattress and climbing on top of you soon after, nestling himself in between your legs as you breathed a sigh of relief - albeit a short-lived one. He leaned down to whisper in your ear, causing your body to tense right back up with each word that left his mouth. “Although, you are correct - it was rude to ask such a thing,” he clicked his tongue in mock disapproval, his pointed teeth nipping at the shell of your ear then tugging on the lobe. “Perhaps I should give you a lesson in proper etiquette, hm?” Alastor mused, rolling his bare hips against yours and sending a shiver down your spine, not missing the flash of panic in your eyes when his words finally registered in your brain. 

‘Shit. Shit, shit, shit- fucking hell, fuck my life!’ you thought, trying to reel yourself back in and failing miserably. If this ‘lesson’ of his was anything like the punishment he had doled out earlier, you knew you were in for a rough night - one that would leave you physically incapable of walking out of his room come morning. “No- …! Al, no, no… i-it was just a slip of the tongue, I swear!” your pleas fell on deaf ears, his lips ghosting over the carotid artery in your neck, then over your collar bone and traveling further down to your breasts. “I’m sorry, please- …!” you spoke, only to be interrupted by Alastor’s stern gaze, looking up at you while he placed butterfly kisses to your chest and his teeth grazed your erect nipple. “I know you are, dear,” Alastor started, kissing further down to your navel, not breaking eye contact for even a millisecond. “But if ‘sorry’ fixed everything, there would be no hell, no demons, and we certainly would not be in this hotel,” he smiled wickedly, knowing that you couldn’t argue with the point he had just made - your silence proved as much.

Alastor continued to move south, soon reaching the delicious mound between your thighs which he had not known could be so fun, so intoxicating. But, as much as he wanted to devour you and everything you had to offer him, he was on a self-imposed mission now and couldn’t let himself get distracted. Heated breath fanning over your soaked core, Alastor lightly kissed and nipped at the insides of your thighs, past your knees and down your calves - stopping momentarily for a taste of your blood that was still seeping from your self-inflicted wound. He groaned as his tongue was coated in the coppery flavor of his new favorite thing, one hand wrapping around your ankle, his deft digits unclasping the strap of your heel and pulling it off, repeating the process with the other one and discarding both seconds later. 

Sighing softly, you wiggled your freed toes while Alastor began to kiss his way back up to your face. “W-well then… what would this lesson entail?” you asked nervously, resigning yourself over to your fate. Alastor chuckled darkly at your question, not bothering to answer you as he pressed his lips against yours harshly and pinched one of your pert nipples. “Mmph-phh!” you whined, your body flinching at the pain his digits were causing as he twisted the sensitive flesh between his thumb and forefinger. Alastor pulled back, his teeth dragging your bottom lip with him as far as it would go, releasing it and your nipple a few seconds later.

"On your knees."

[catalinemorosetheblog]

On Divergent Universe and Aventio

Okay, so I know that pretty much everyone has noticed the Aventio bits in the Divergent Universe video that was released a few days ago, but I wanted to take a moment to point something out in the famous question 2 section at the end.

So, as most probably already know, this is what I'm talking about. Aventurine puts up a sign that says "Find Ratio", when asked who the Trailblazer could team up with. This in of itself confirms Aventurine see Ratio as an ally, but what happens before it is just as important.

This is where Owlbert first puts forwards the question. Now, nothing particularly special happens in the prior one. Everyone gives pretty standard answers for their specific characterizations, Screwllum's is the only one that's helpful, and Ratio and Aventurine give their typical responses pretty quickly.

That changes however for the second question.

Aventurine does not answer immediately, unlike everyone else, including Ratio. Which means he had to think about his response.

Further evidence of this comes from Aventurine's pose when the question was first asked.

He's doing a thinking pose (also sort of mirror Ratio lol), and he doesn't do this for the other question (so it isn't some sort of default animation). And given that his responses to question 1 and 3 both related to money/bribes, he did not put this same level of thought into them.

It's also pretty easy to miss due to Sparkle transforming and everything, but if you look carefully...

He looks at Ratio, or in the very least glances in his direction, possibly to look at his sign. However, it also exists the possibility that Ratio was the first person he thought of when thinking of a good teammate.

And then a moment later...

Ratio glances back, which leads Aventurine to put up his own sign.

Now, Ratio staring back could mean many things. It could be that he started staring at Aventurine because Aventurine was staring at him. It could be that Ratio noticed that Aventurine hadn't answered yet, and was urging him to do so. Or, dare I say it, he saw Aventurine hadn't answered yet, and was concerned about him. Ultimately, there is no way to determine the true reason, given that none of the G&A guests talk.

But it is extremely telling that Aventurine, who could have just tied it back into money again, was the only guest who gave a specific person to team up with. And it was Ratio, not one of his IPC coworkers, not a member of the Astral Express, but Ratio. Someone who, at some point, Aventurine believed that Ratio would not understand his methods so much so that he forced him to point a gun at his chest, as seen in the infamous Final Victory Lightcone:

(Please note that, in the short video for this lightcone, Ratio tries to pull the gun away from Aventurine, but Aventurine pulls it back).

And assuming that Aventurine was reading Ratio's sign card, there exists another possibility.

As seen above, Ratio responds with the phrase "Walk Your Own Path". This is in line with pretty much everything known about Ratio. His main motivation is to "cure" foolishness. He wants people to overcome their problems. He's a teacher, a strict one, both metaphorically and literally. His role in the interlude quest before Penacony was to both push the Trailblazer to figure out what was going on with the researcher's disappearances and step in if things went south. It's also why one of the reason he gives Aventurine that note in the main story (that, and that they were likely being watched by the Family) instead of telling him directly. Every interaction, voice lines, and the fact that Ratio does not wear his plaster head in any scene he appears in with Aventurine, implies that he does not see him as foolish. He knows Aventurine is capable. Hell, in the most final Penacony main story mission, he says Aventurine is his responsibility or something along those lines (unprompted, mind you).

But it also relates towards Aventurine's backstory. Aventurine, for all his good luck, has had one sucky life. But he also has fought tooth and nail to survive, through gambles and wagers and money and being quite literally sold away to live. In that sense, his life also has never been his own. But I think he managed to regain some hope by the end of Cats Among Pigeons, and of course, Ratio's note, which told him to live (in a Ratio way).

So imagine: Aventurine sees Ratio's response in the video, thinks about what he would do, what he would do following his own path...and says to find Ratio.

Now, it could true that I am pulling at threads here, but there is evidence of trust. In one way or another, these two emotionally constipated too smart for their own good dumdums care about each other and show it in the most convoluted ways imaginable. And for the that reason, I think that these two mentioning each unprompted on multiple occasional, this video included, is very telling. They're important to each other. They went from shaky allies to two people who will bring up the other in conversations. Hell, I already made a post about the cake cats, and how in Divergent Universe, what this video was explaining, gambling got added, which could have only been done by Ratio, because let's face it, Screwllum would not.

Essentially:

These b*tches gay.

Bonus:

Their reactions to Sparkle's shenanigans.

[amore-reads16]

Part 5

Overview- things are getting even more tense in the quadrant and the secret relationship that Y/N and Liam are hiding is becoming a problem. There are too many secrets to hide and reveal and Y/N needs to find her footing and keep herself and Liam safe.

Note- I don’t know if there are any Merlin lovers but this giff is perfect for Liam’s reaction to Violets antics in this chapter lmao.

After your talk with Liam you had gone to your own room. You had both discussed how you were going to manage to convince Xaden that you were staying away from Liam, but that should be relatively easy to do as Xaden had convinced Liam to basically become a body guard for Violet Sorrengail. You knew the Sorrengail family pretty well because of your parents you were in the same circles. But you didn’t know the youngest that well despite being of the same age. She was a nice enough girl from what you knew of her and she had been holding up extremely well in the quadrant considering her frail body and the long list of people that wanted to kill her, but you weren’t particularly fond of the idea of Liam spending all of his time with her. She was no threat and you trusted Liam not to do anything, but just the idea made you uneasy. No girl would want their significant other spending that much time with another girl. No one. But you had no say in the matter and causing a fuss would only draw attention to something you didn’t want attention on. So for now you were biting your tongue.

You were currently in the library sorting out some books as it was your duty as a first year when you suddenly heard voices from behind the bookshelf you were standing at. One voice you recognised immediately, it was hard not to when it haunted your dreams and kept you up at night. Of course, just your luck that Liam and Violet would be here. It would be wise at this point to walk away, but today you weren’t feeling wise and instead was feeling nosey and jealous.

“So whatever happened between you and Y/LN? You two were pretty close for a while” Violet asks.

You hear Liam pause for a minute thinking about what to say before he responds “it’s a long story, I guess, but we just didn’t work out”

“Why? The last I saw was you basically chasing after her in the corridors begging her to let you explain something. That doesn’t sound like things just not working out to me” Violet says clearly prying making you wonder why she would be so interested. Jealousy rears its ugly head again.

“Well well aren’t we nosey today Sorrengail. What’s it to you anyway? You interested in her? Because she’s single now I could try and set you two up if she’ll ever speak to me again” he jokes making you shake your head at him.

“What? No! I just- I just thought that maybe something got between you two. Well someone…” she trails off, too embarrassed to finish that sentence

“Who?” Liam demands instantly making your stomach churn. Please violet Sorrengail do not say Bodhi or Liam will loose his shit you quietly pray.

“Xaden” she replies. WHAT. You almost choke on your own spit, so shocked at the name that just left her mouth. Xaden? XADEN? Why the fuck would she think that.

There is a short moment of silence before Liam bursts out laughing so hard it almost compels you to blow your cover and laugh with him. You hear Violet let out a huff as Liam continues to laugh, probably in her face, making her even more annoyed and embarrassed.

“Xaden?” Liam manages to choke out “why ever would you think that?”

Violet lets out another huff “well when she fought Bodhi on the mats the a few weeks ago he couldn’t keep his eyes off their fight and he almost looked worried. I just assumed that maybe there was something going on between them. And then when she walked off the mat she went right up to him and whispered something to him. I- it looked like they were together” she rambles. She couldn’t be further from the truth you thought shaking your head. Now your jealousy had completely dissolved. It was crystal clear that Violet Sorrengail was not interested in Liam. She had the hots for Xaden Riorson. Gods help her.

“Sorrengail it is so transparently clear what is going on here” Liam seemed to had arrived at the same conclusion as you “you like Xaden don’t you?” He asks and you could practically see the taunting smirk on his face by the tone in his voice. You almost felt sorry for the girl. She must be mentally insane to ever have a crush on Riorson. Yeah he is hot as hell, but clearly fucked in the head you think.

“That’s the most ridiculous thing I’ve heard you say yet Mairi. I was just… curious” Violet responds “and I never even-“ you don’t hear the rest of that sentence as you quietly walk away, your jealousy now dead and your patience gone. You don’t exactly want to hear Sorrengail deny her obvious feelings for Riorson. You had more important things to do.

Putting your last book away you feel a hand slip around your waist tightly. Shit. You elbow the intruder in the stomach grabbing their throat pinning them against the book shelf.

“Liam!” You shout realising who had just grabbed you and who you had just assaulted in the middle of the library.

“Woah! I knew you liked it rough but here? In the library? That’s a new level of kinky” he smirks and you let him go.

“You’re a dick! What are you doing sneaking up on me like that?” You ask.

“Well the whole point of our relationship now is being sneaky” he smugly responds grabbing your waist again to pull you against him.

“Jesus Christ and what part of this” you gesture between the two of you “is being sneaky”

“Well I guess no part, but I just couldn’t resist” he laughs quietly “I knew you were there. Before. When I was talking to Violet”

The smirk on his face makes you want to slap him “and?” you ask.

“And you were jealous. I could feel it through the book shelf basically radiating off you” he teases.

“What like you were with Bodhi ?” you argue back.

“Don’t” his jaw ticks.

“And anyway I have nothing to be jealous of it’s quite clear that the wing leader is the one she wants, not you” you say smiling slightly remembering how much Liam had laughed when Violet thought Xaden was the reason you and him had been on the outs.

“That was hilarious and you should have seen her face gods-“

“You can tell me later” you smile patting his chest and removing yourself from him “we can’t keep on doing this in public. It’s only been a few weeks and we have already been too public” you sigh.

“I know but it’s so hard when you walk around in those lathers that make me want to-“

You quickly cut him off “I’ll see you later Mairi” you wink giving him a quick kiss on the lips before walking off making sure to swish your hips.

“Now that’s not fair” you hear him mutter.

…………………………………………….

Later on that week you were walking to the session you have with Dain and Professor Carr to mature and control your signets. Which of course was a secret to everyone else, except from Liam and apparently the marked ones, and if anyone was to ask where you were, you were in your room sleeping off one of the frequent migraines you got (which you actually didn’t). Rounding the corner almost at Carr’s room your body slams into a rock solid object confusing you immensely. There is no way you had just walked into a wall… no that was not a wall. You look up confused and dazed as to what you just walked into only to see non other than Xaden Riorson. Of fucking course. Ever since your talk with him, in fact ever since that night with the hooded figures, he was everywhere you looked. Perhaps you just hadn’t noticed him before but that seemed impossible as he commands any room he walks into. But now it’s like it was his mission to invade your life. Which made keeping you and Liam a secret even harder.

“Sorry” you quickly mumble and attempt to step around his massive figure but he steps with you obstructing your path.

“Where are you going” he asks brow raised.

Like that was any of his business you think “I don’t think that concerns you” you say tone clipped at the audacity of this man.

He stares at you for a long moment and his jaw clenches as he speaks “you wouldn’t be heading to see Liam would you?”

You startle in shock, there is no way he knows surly ? “No you basically threatened my life and my brother’s life if I was to do that, so why would I risk that over a stupid boy?” You try to sound persuasive but the way Xaden is eyeing you up as if he can smell your lies is unnerving.

“Not basically I did threaten your life” he replies quickly.

That’s it you’d had enough of his attitude “you’re such an assho-“ you don’t get to finish the sentence as suddely Liam and Violet appear at your sides. Liam looks apprehensive as to whatever is transpiring between you and Xaden, whereas Violet is eyeing the two of you up judging the situation.

“Woah hey guys what’s going on here” Liam asks trying to get in between you and Xaden but failing miserably.

“Nothing I was just alerting the wingleader to how much of a dick he is being” you reply with a sarcastic smile aimed at Xaden.

Xaden scoffs shaking his head slightly as he glances at Violet taking in her appearance before levelling his gaze back to you “and I was just reminding cadet Y/LN of her place”

“You know what Xaden you can shove it where the sun doesn’t shine” you spit, frustrated as hell.

“Okay let’s just cool it for a moment-“ Liam starts but you don’t let him finish.

“And what the hell are you doing?” You ask him turning your body to face his

His face startles for a moment confused at why you are mad at him “well- I- I was just seeing what the problem was-“

“No” you stop him again “what are you doing talking to me? I told you Mairi I don’t want you to ever speak to me again so for the last time, and I mean it, leave me the fuck alone before you get yourself hurt” you threaten hoping that Liam catches on to your performance.

He gulps and hurt, real hurt flashes in his eyes, he clears his throat “right, sorry, I just thought-“

“I don’t need you swooping in to save me. I’m a big girl and I can handle myself. Especially around jerks like him” you point over to Xaden who is standing cross armed his gaze flickering between you and Liam trying to read the situation.

“Jerk? That’s the best you can do?” Xaden, the jerk, says with a hint of amusement in his voice.

“Shut it Riorson.” You reply and are about to call him every name under the sun before a firth person enters the gathering you have somehow formed. Great.

“Cadet Y/LN” Dain approaches confused at the sight of the four of you. Perhaps the most unlikely group of four. “Professor Carr is looking for you and asked if I’d escort you to him immediately” he says staring Xaden down as if he could take him. You liked Dain, but boy was his ego overinflated if he thought he could beat Riroson. The man was an asshole but boy was he skilled. “So if you all don’t mind” he continues “I’ll be taking Y/N now”

Liam, who has often expressed to you how much he loathes Aetos, furrows his brows “actually I do mind-“

“Liam” Xaden cuts him off

“Of course let’s go” you say to Dain as you walk away. You hear another set of foot steps near you and Xaden overtakes you and Dain glancing back to look at you once more. The look is filled with the warning he gave before and you know he will not take any more bullshit from you. Good you think it was time things got a bit interesting around here. Game on Riorson.

“And you are telling me there’s nothing going on there” you just about hear Violet say as you round the corner to Carr’s office

“Come on Violet let’s just go” Liam sighs.

………………………………………

After the showdown in the hallways you had made sure you slipped a note under Liam’s door to meet you in your room after curfew, but after the way you spoke to him you was unsure he would even come. Today has been a long day and the ‘meeting’ with Carr had drained you. Mentally and physically. Your signet had been growing more strong recently and you thought it may reflect your need to heal the fragements that was your life at the minute. Everything used to be so whole and you used to feel complete. But after learning of the truth, being subject to threats from Riorson and now having to watch your boyfriend saunter around the quadrant with the youngest and most gorgeous Sorrengail you no longer felt the happiness you used to. You felt fear. Not to mention the cryptic moment you overheard between Dain and his father after your session today. That had just pushed you right over the edge. Being a double spy was tiring.

Liam walks into your room stopping your spiralling thoughts. Usually he walks in with a spring in his step, happy to see you. But today he sluggishly strolls in and immediately stands in the centre of your room whilst you are sat on your bed.

“What’s wrong” you ask and Liam starts to pace.

“I think he knows” he ominously says.

“Who” you ask confused at what Liam is acting so frantic about.

“Who do you think, the Easter bunny?” He snarls back finally stopping his pacing to look at you, hands on hips “Xaden of course”

You gulp back a reply “Oh”

“Yeah oh” he sighs and then lets out an agitated groan.

There was no way he was acting annoyed at you. Like this, any of this, was your fault “Why are you pissed at me?”

Liam lets out a incredulous laugh which is short and clipped “Well you aren’t helping the situation, baiting him at any chance you get!”

You roll your eyes back so hard you think they might be stuck permanently at the back of your head, the audacity! “Baiting him? I’m defending myself Liam! In a situation that you put me in in the first place ! Ever thought of that?” you yell.

He shakes his head and gives you an annoyed look “Let’s not go there. If you don’t like the situation leave it”

“You can’t be serious” you laugh but not because you are humoured, because you are in disbelief.

Liam moves closer to where you are sat on the bed and if you didn’t know him you would almost feel a need to be scared of him “I am. You can’t argue with Xaden and expect him to leave you alone” he bluntly says.

“He’s not going to leave me alone Liam! He’s always watching me!” You shout back getting up from your bed to get closer to him.

“And you’re always watching him!” He argues back

“Oh. My. God. Because I have to! It would be stupid of me to not be looking over my shoulder with him always lurking in the shadows. It’s not just my life on the line here. It’s not just my life I’m sacrificing to be with you, to help your revolution. Remember that!” You spit at Liam. He looks at you for a moment in a strange way something swirling in his eyes that you can’t quite put a finger on.

“That doesn’t mean you have to be up in his face every minute it’s like you have a crush on him or something” his tone lowers and he can barely look at you in the eye. It’s jealousy. That’s what you can see.

“You’re kidding me? Don’t tell me you’ve let Sorrengail and her school girl infatuation with Riorson cloud your judgement enough to think that I in any shape or way have feeling for Riorson!” You shout feeling defeated that you have to keep on defending your self to the man you love.

“I’m not saying that but-“ he starts but you cut him off immediately.

“No buts Liam. We either trust each other or we don’t! This will never work without trust. It’s full disclosure now remember” you grab his hand holding it tightly in your own using your other free hand to grasp his face making him look fully at you.

He takes a deep breath in and grabs your hair playing with it gently “Fine I get jealous. But how can I not when I feel like you talk more to Xaden then you do me. I know it’s not your fault but we barely get any time together and the time we do get is sneaked and rushed. I hate it” he explains and you agree with every word he says. It is hard. But just because something is difficult that doesn’t mean that you give up.

“I hate it too” you admit.

“So how do we change it” he asks.

You sigh pulling away from his hold as you now start to pace your room slowly as you think. “I don’t know. I don’t think we can completely. But how about I start to back off Xaden. You try to get Xaden to back of me and you. And then maybe, just maybe, we’ll be able to find some more time together without the fear of being watched”

“It’s worth a try” he agrees going to sit on your bed “Come here” he says holing his hands out and you fall into his hold sitting on his lap.

“I need to tell you something” you say quietly.

“Go on” he whispers clearly exhausted with everything that is currently weighing down on his soul.

“I overheard the end of a conversation that Dain had with with father today and it was strange” you start

“I’m listening” he ushers you on.

“They were talking about his signet and Aetos said something about Dain using his signet for the greater good despite how uncomfortable it made him. I don’t know the extent of what was said because it was so muffled but I got the impression that Dain’s father wants him to use his signet on someone to try and get some information out of them” you explain.

Liam stiffens for a second “Who”

You shake your head trying to think but nothing comes to mind “That’s what I don’t know and can’t figure out. I’m assuming some criminal or something but I don’t understand the urgency behind it. I thought I should tell you so you could tell the revolution perhaps they could figure it out”

“Thank you.” He says quietly planting a kiss on your forehead.

“I said I’d do whatever it takes to help didn’t I?” You smile and play with his hair combing your fingers through it.

Liam looks at you deeply as if he’s thinking about something and is working up the courage to say it out loud. “You did… look about what I said before. I was just being jealous and I didn’t mean it. I trust you completely. In fact I don’t think I’ve ever trusted anyone the way I trust you. So no matter how hard this gets and what I say out of pure jealousy just know I love you. And I want you. Always and forever.” His confession makes your heart melt and you don’t know what to do about that. What do you do when you are head over heels for someone so much that it consumes your very being?

“God your sappy Mairi” apparently you decide to make a joke about it. Well played Y/N.

“Hay! Say something nice back” he laughs and you know in that moment that the two of you were made for each other. You balance each other out.

“Come on quick one say something loving back…” Rhella your annoyingly nosey dragon decides to butt in.

“I love you too you loser”

[maiochiruhanabiraaa]

Fangirl (Lamine Yamal.)

Summary: You were captivated by football and inspired by Lamine Yamal's talent. After closely following his career, you finally met him at a fan event, where you expressed your admiration. Although Lamine responded warmly and you shared a brief hug, the connection was one-sided. While he appreciated your support, he remained focused on his career, and you treasured the moment despite the lack of reciprocal emotional depth.

You had always been captivated by the world of football. The excitement of every match, the skillful dribbles, the heart-stopping goals-it all made your heart race with exhilaration.

But among all the players, one stood out: Lamine Yamal. His talent was undeniable, and his presence on the field was nothing short of magical.

To you, he was more than just a footballer; he was a beacon of hope, a symbol of dreams coming true.

From the moment you first saw Lamine play, you were enchanted. You followed his career closely, attending every game you could, and supporting him through every victory and defeat.

Your admiration for him grew into something deeper, a cherished hope that one day you might have a chance to meet him in person.

That opportunity arose one cool autumn evening. After a particularly thrilling match, you found yourself at a fan meet-and-greet event.

The air was electric with excitement as fans chattered about their favorite players. Your heart pounded as you queued up to meet Lamine.

When your turn came, you stood before him, your breath catching in your throat. Lamine, with his dazzling smile and warm eyes, extended his hand for a handshake.

You, trembling with anticipation, took it, your fingers barely brushing his. The brief touch sent a shiver through you. This was your moment.

As you gathered your courage, you spoke, your voice trembling but earnest.

"Lamine, you've been my inspiration for so long. Your talent, your dedication-it's changed my life. I've followed your journey and cheered for you through everything. I just wanted you to know how much you mean to me."

Lamine's smile was kind, and he thanked you with a genuine warmth that made your heart flutter. For a fleeting moment, your eyes met, and you felt a rush of emotions, a whirlwind of joy and hope.

You mustered the courage to hug him, your arms wrapping around him in a gesture of gratitude and affection.

To your surprise, Lamine hugged you back, though the embrace was brief and somewhat distant. It was clear that while he was polite and appreciative, the connection you felt was one-sided.

As you pulled away, Lamine's smile remained, but it seemed to fade into the backdrop of his busy life.

You left the event with a heart full of butterflies, your mind replaying the moment over and over. You cherished the memory, believing it was a sign of something more.

Yet, as the days passed, the euphoria began to wane. You realized that the emotional depth you had experienced was not reciprocated.

Lamine continued his journey, his focus on the game and his career.

To him, the interaction with you was a pleasant moment, but nothing more. He moved on, lost in the rhythm of his world.

For him, the fans were part of the landscape of his life, and though he appreciated their support, he remained detached from the personal stories they carried with them.

For you, however, the experience lingered. The brief encounter had meant everything to you, a high point in your life that illuminated your world.

You held on to the memory with a mix of sadness and sweetness, knowing that while you had given your heart in that moment, it had been a one-sided dream.

[shrimpalbuspotter]

Um this is so stupid but I wanted to write more on my cc darkworld au and somehow instead ended up writing a weirdly worded one-shot??? It's worded that way because it honestly wasn't meant to be a story I was just writing in my usual format but then I got carried away... its also very awkward because i was tired for most of it and idk how to write storys. So yeah. Here is Scorpius and Albus first official meeting and playdate.

----------

Scorpius never liked confrontation. Even in this timeline, where he is conniving and cruel, he avoided doing anything to make his peers angry with him. Now, with mudbloods and traitors, it was different. They didn't count, and he actually took some amount of joy in seeing them all squeamish and angry.

This, however, prompted him to shy away from making "friends". He had a few people he was close with, Polly Chapman and those idiots who follow her around come to mind, but most people just respected him. Admired him. And he was content with that arrangement, he didn't need friends, only followers loyal enough to do what he asks. Even the people he was close to, he would only call acquaintances.

But there was something different about that boy. The one with the bird mask who, although not even seeming to attend Hogwarts, he always sees walking down the hallway to Headmistress Umbridges office, his elegant feather coat dragging behind him. Scorpius didn't even know his name. Just this one thing;

He was worryingly close to The Augurey.

See, Scorpius had a beneficial companionship with his cousin. They looked dashing together, a perfect image of Voldemorts legacy, of what Death Eaters are supposed to be. Just their meer presence in a room together has people grovelling in submission and cowering away.

And ever since he was little, he remembered her having that boy with her. At first he didn't care about it too much, he didn't waste his time thinking about people's mudblood pets. But as time went on, and the boy grew alongside him, and his playdates with Delphi became purely professional, he couldn't help getting curious. He was the most well taken care of pet he'd ever seen, wearing the most beautiful garments and being extremely well kempt. Scorpius had no clue why Lord Voldemort would let Delphis obsession with that thing get so far she'd waste so many Galleons on it.

He had only ever questioned her on the matter of her pet once, and after her answer of "keeping your little head out of things that don't concern you", he backed off completely, left to just wonder.

On the occasion Scorpius did hear her call for the boy, she referred to him as "Munin", but Scorpius was sure that wasn't his true name, just an alias Delphi had given him. She did love nicknames, after all.

Back onto the matter at hand, Scorpius had reached a point where he simply had to atleast talk with the boy, and get more than just nods and shrugs as an answer. But how? Scorpius knew well enough than to not interrupt Delphis pet while he is on his dutys through Hogwarts, but that was the only time he would ever see him. Other than that he stayed up in the Dark Lords manor, or glued to Delphis side.

It seemed, however, his cousin had sent him a blessing. As one particularly hot day in the summer had him answering the door to the boy himself, unmasked and in dark blue and black garments, different than the ones he'd usually wear.

"Erm, hello." Munin had said, but Scorpius didn't respond. He actually spoke! By god, he was almost certain the boy was mute!

After a moment of Scorpius staring at him, mouth slightly open and feeling awkward in his pajama shorts and opened button up stripy green shirt, Munin spoke up again.

"Well then... I was sent here by Delphi- I mean The Augurey- I mean... Uhhr, yes. I was sent here. To come in, I think, and have a nip of tea?" The way he spoke was odd, switching between mumbled and normal, with that slight twinge of an accent he must've picked up from being around Bellatrix and all the other purebloods who pass through the Dark Lords manor.

Scorpius still didn't respond, trying to figure out just what was happening. The boy he hadn't been able to stop thinking about in months suddenly shows up at his door, unmasked (with a face Scorpius didn't expect. Very sallow, rather handsome, with murky green eyes and dark freckles that made him look youthful), and asking to pop in for a cup of tea!.

In his confusion, he hadn't even realised he stuttered out a quiet "Yes... ofcourse-", causing the boy to slide passed him and into Malfoy Manor. Scorpius quickly turns around to follow him as he makes his way to the sitting room, seeming to know exactly where to go despite not being in the Manor since he was 8. (Or well, from what Scorpius knows. There have been many meetings hosted there he was begrudgingly not welcomed to sit in on)

When they finally reach the room, the boy sits down on the chair to the far left, brushes back his hair, and begins twiddling his thumbs.

"Well then?" He broke the silence, finally breaking Scorpius out of his trance.

"Excuse me?" Scorpius replies, rather taken aback from his tone but being too confused to respond properly.

"Tea?"

Scorpius gasps quietly before nodding his head in haste, remembering his manners. "Right- right. Barmy!" Scorpius shouted, clapping his hands together and looking at the entrance of the room. Suddenly, an elf appeared infront of them, wobbling slightly as she holds a tray with cups, a teapot, and a plate of assorted biscuits that altogether make up most of her weight.

"Sorry, Master Scorpius, Barmy didn't hear you enter with guest. Barmy has now brought biscuits and tea, Master Scorpius." She spoke out, her two big ears being the only thing Munin is able to see of her from behind the tray, causing him to let out a short giggle in amusement.

Scorpius, who would've usually reprimanded the bloody elf, simply waved her off after she sits the tray on the table, pinching the bridge of his nose in silent stress. He then makes his way over to the chair on the opposite side of the boy, crossing his legs and reaching out to grab a cup.

Another awkward silence fills the air, the only thing audible being the sound of Munin blowing his tea.

"Well then," Scorpius finally speaks now that he has collected himself, "you said that Delphini sent you here? How come."

Albus didn't answer until after he took an obnoxiously loud gulp of tea, and scrawned down a biscuit alongside it. "I'm not very sure myself. Right now I'm going with the theory that she's throwing me a suprise party. Gives me something to look forward to."

Scorpius spits out some of his tea at that, snorting quietly. He doesn't even apologise for his rudeness, just grabs a napkin and begins dabbing his face and trousers. "i don't believe that's it, I'm afraid. Although the idea of my cousin blowing up rainbow balloons does make for a great image."

Munin smiles at that, and Scorpius is utterly fascinated. It's a purely true smile, no malice or snark in it. He hadn't seen a smile like that since his mother was alive. Not even his own father smiled at him like that, not anymore atleast.

"Yeah, yeah It does. Maybe she'd hire a clown for me, too. Do you think Polly Chapman would be up for the job?"

"You know Chapman?" Scorpius ponders exactly how the boy would, as he's sure she would've told him by now of their meeting. (He wasn't exactly quiet about his fascination with the boy, asking everyone if they knew anything about him.) And apparently he felt some amount of annoyance from her.

The boy shrugs, his smile now turning into the type Scorpius is used to, a matching glint of something in his eye. "Mm, so and so. I've had a few encounters with her and her posse. Not the brightest few."

Scorpius gives a slight nod at that before looking down at his cup, the silence from before slowly creeping back. Scorpius, in fear that if it goes quiet once more they won't be able to salvage this, just speaks the first question on his mind.

"What's your name?"

The boy finallys looks up at him, and Scorpius counts 4 moles scattered around his face, almost making a constellation amongst the lighter freckles.

After a moment of what seems to be hesitation, he responds, "Munin."

Not being the answer Scorpius was looking for, he pushes further. "Not that silly title- Your real name."

It seems the boy doesn't want to answer, going back to twiddling his thumbs and rubbing his hands together. Scorpius is honestly beginning to edge into annoyed, not understanding the reluctance to answer such an easy question.

"Ehrr, well, see... The Augurey doesn't like me using my name. She says it's- Disrespectful."

"A name? Disrespectful? I hardly believe that. Just tell me, it's not like Delphini is here to hear you. I certainly won't snitch."

The pair look at eachother deeply after that, Scorpius subtly raising a brow almost to tell thr boy "go on, then".

He shuts his eyes and takes a deep breath in and out, leaning forward to put his cup down onto the table then nodding.

He sits uo straight and rubs his hands once more before putting them in his lap and speaking.

"It's Albus. Albus Severus."

[am-i-the-asshole-official]

AITA for telling my best friend about her closing act in our talent show supposedly being taken?

As background, my best friend, who I'll call Lily, was told that she would be performing thte closing act for the talent show that my school is holding. We have this other ex-friend, who never really showed respect to us, and after a ton of huge fights, we both stopped being friends with him. We'll call this guy Evan. Lily and I are friends with this other girl who I'll call Callie. She's friends with Evan as well despite him being disrespectful to her as well, but she's very forgiving so it makes sense, I guess.

More detail on this Evan guy, he used to call me certain names that I will not detail on here that were very hurtful, and he would say sexual or just downright weird things during school. He starts debates on gender sometimes in the middle of lunch, and nobody wants to engage. He only ever stopped most of these behaviors after adults were involved in the firghts between me, him, and Lily. I admit that I was quite an asshole to him before, I would call him an idiot in retaliation to his hurtful jokes or I'd kick his shins when he said really nasty, sexual stuff. Even so, I stopped that pretty early on. He never really stopped for long when Lily and I asked for him to stop his behaviors.

Back to the actual situation, this week, Lily has been out of school because of an ankle injury. this incident took place on Tuesday. In the morning, I was standing next to Callie, and Evan was talking to her, not very discreetly, saying that the organizer of the talent show said that he would be doing the beginning and closing for the talent show, and he stated that he did try to remind her that Lily was meant to do the closing, and he didn't know how to tell Lily without her getting mad. He seemed sort of happy to me while saying this, which may just be my bias. Of course, I told Lily about this after school. She got very angry and texted him angrily that if he didn't make sure that she would do the closing, she would beat him. I did point out that he was only wondering how to tell her so she wouldn't get mad, and not how to apologize or anything, because it stood out to me.

As much, much more background, I do not trust Evan one bit, as he's lied about the things he's said and done multiple times and even joked about gaslighting me.

A few minutes after he responded to her text, he texted me asking if I told Lily about what he said. He asked why I did that, and stated that he was trying to fix it. I resonded that I told her because she deserved to know. It was important to her to do the closing and we both knew it. They've actually fought about who'd do the closing before he got sort of expelled from our friendship.

In short, he got much madder after this and accused me of telling the story falsely as Lily had drawn the conclusion that he was selfish. It doesn't show in this situation particularly, but she was kind of right when she said that. I told him EXACTLY how I told her. He never denied it, so I assume he knows it was an accurate telling. He continued getting angry at me for the conclusions she drew from the situation.

What happened next, I wasn't prepared for. He told me these exact words: "So you say “it’s how she sees it so it’s not my problem”, but you’re the one who put yourself in this situation by putting yourself in a conversation you weren’t even part of, and now all this happens. It’s not your problem, but YOU made this worse than it EVER should have been! Also, not that you would care because you are just trying to stir up trouble, but she kept her act and I kept my promise to get it back."

He never told either of us that he kept that promise until then. Not to mention that I never actually stepped into the conversation. The most I said that morning was that Lily was injured and that's why she wasn't at school. I never meant to stir up trouble, but I guess it seemed like I did. That text made Lily angrier at him. Honestly, her reaction was valid. He's the one who would start fights over nothing, he even stated that sometimes he'd intentionally stir up arguements before because he loved fighting that much.

The arguement ended with him leaving me on delivered after I responded to his last message defending himself. He said there will be no argument, but I'm quite certain that he already made one?

AITA for telling her?

What are these acronyms?

[anneapocalypse]

16 for choosing violence >:3 (unless you did that one and i missed it, then dealer's choice)

🔥 Choose Violence Ask Meme 🔥

16. you can't understand why so many people like this thing (characterization, trope, headcanon, etc)

That One Zenos Short Story, specifically. I get why people like Zenos on a general level even if he is a character type that does very little for me. (Post-Stormblood, anyway. I think he's a perfectly good villain in Stormblood.) I have oft seen it lamented that people don't understand Zenos because this incredibly important and illuminating piece of canon about his childhood is buried in a short story in an out-of-print book that no one reads.

Fortunately, someone has posted the story on reddit. I'm a lorehound, and it's not long, so I read it.

I was generally unimpressed.

I'm actually choosing violence on this one, you've all been warned. I'm sorry, Zenos lovers. 😛 I truly am. I hope we can still hang. Long-winded elaboration on why I think the story is bad under the cut.

From the minute go, this story attempts to impress upon the reader that Zenos's whole deal is that he's just such an incredible, unbelievable genius that nearly every other person bores him to death because they're just so stupid compared to him. That's his problem, you see: he's just too smart for everyone! From a young age he has been burdened by his own genius.

So we are told. We are then shown this kid's unsurpassed genius in no meaningful way.

This line in particular is infuriating to me:

Even had his tutors not treated him with deference, Zenos had always had the better of them, regularly surprising them with brilliance.

What brilliance? What are these brilliant insights with which he so dazzled his learned instructors? We aren't given even a single one.

But none of that matters to the author, because they just need us to accept that Zenos is an unsurpassed genius and that's why he's Like This, so that we can move on the part of the story they actually want to tell: the part with swords in it.

And I'm not sold. I just don't buy it. If he was so bored and disengaged from his lessons, how was he offering his instructors brilliant insights? And if he was responding in this way, if his teachers were able to recognize his genius, why didn't they act accordingly and move him into more advanced lessons? In his position, even in his parents' absence, why would his aptitude have been ignored?

We're also told earlier that "he preferred the silent company of books" to that of his instructors. Okay, so what books? Clearly even at that young age he did have access to something that held his attention, but the story rushes past that point without showing us, because to actually do so would undercut the point the story thinks it's making: that nothing had ever held his attention before the Corvosi stranger enters his life. Except, something clearly did, because he was reading books independently of his lessons. And it's made clear to us later that Zenos basically has the run of the royal library, because after meeting the stranger, he starts tearing through it for books on combat and no one stops him.

The thing about kids in my experience, and especially particularly bright kids, is they're generally pretty curious. Smart kids can certainly suffer from boredom, but it's usually because they not being given access to learning and activities that are stimulating at their level. When they have those resources at their disposal, they are not bored. They are voracious. They want to learn, and they are excited to share what they've learned with anyone willing to listen--even those who might not share their aptitudes. You know this if you've ever had a bright child excitedly infodump to you about their special interest that's a little over your head. They don't care! Show even the slightest interest and they are thrilled to share.

Intelligence undirected doesn't actually mean very much. Even the most brilliant kid in the world is not born reciting random facts or magically understanding complex systems they've never been exposed to, like you see with Genius Kids™ in bad movies. A child may have an aptitude for learning, and they may learn knowledge or skills at a rate that shocks the adults around them, but they do still need to learn, and they need to want to learn.

Hilariously, one of the comparisons that comes to mind is Matilda--another fictional character who becomes extremely powerful thanks in part to the ennui of her upbringing by neglectful and indifferent adults. Matilda's intelligence is an undeniable part of her character and one Dahl clearly intends to be there, but it's an intelligence that is shown to the reader. We see Matilda find her way to the library; we not only see which books she checks out and reads on her own, we get to hear some of her thoughts on these adult books so we actually know how she is processing them as a small child.

But with Zenos, we start with this contradictory picture of a kid who is both a voracious reader and utterly bored by everything, dazzlingly brilliant in his lessons while also completely detached from them. It's a very common pitfall with a writer trying to write a Smart Character (especially a smart child character) without putting much thought into how their intelligence actually shows itself.

I simply do not buy that a kid as smart as Zenos is supposed to be, with the kind of access to information and learning that he plainly has at his disposal (considering how quickly he's able to track down the secrets of the Unyielding Blade once he starts giving a shit) would be as bored and disinterested in everyone around him as we're meant to believe he is at the beginning. Like, that doesn't actually convince me he's a genius. It just makes me think he's an incurious twit who thinks he's already above it all and doesn't care to learn more.

So is Zenos actually brilliant, or does he just believe all other people are beneath him? Is his boredom actually due to his intelligence, or is he just terminally incurious until someone hits him hard enough? The author doesn't really seem to know, or care. We're just supposed to accept that he's smart.

It's lazy. It's such lazy writing, and as a reader I honestly feel kind of insulted by it.

To be entirely fair, I do recognize one particular part of this story that I think is probably pretty important to Zenos's character and which I can understand why fans would be frustrated that people don't see, and that's this:

Zenos continued. “Second, battle offers no euphoria, despite what the tales may claim. Deep down I had always known this, yet I find myself disappointed nonetheless.” He tossed the crystal at his opponent’s corpse. “Your payment for these two lessons.” So it was that Zenos yae Galvus’s first true battle came to an end. Without further ceremony, he quit the training hall, washed, and put on the fresh clothes. By the time he sat at table for his evening repast he had quite forgotten the face of his tutor. And he settled into bed, he prayed as earnestly as a boy of his years might that one day he would cross paths with a worthy foe and feel such exhilaration as the heroic epics promised.

I can see how a surface look at Zenos solely in the game might cause someone to conclude that he delights in violence or killing for its own sake, and I can see how hearing that take would be frustrating for anyone who has dug deeper into his character and understand that it's not the case. Violence is the means through which Zenos seeks exhilaration, but it's clear that most violence doesn't actually grant it. The Corvosi swordsman piqued his interest, but ultimately disappointed him. He doesn't actually desire victory, but an equal.

And I wrote about before, but this is what actually needles me so much about having to fight Zenos one last time in Ultima Thule: he wins. He gets what he wants. He never wanted victory. Had he beaten the Warrior of Light, it would have been the ultimate disappointment.

There's something interesting in that. I get it. I can see it. But in both the game and in this story I'm faced with a premise I don't buy in order to get there.

[lemoncrushh]

Cubicle // 17) I Could Write a Book

STORY PAGE

Word Count: 2950

Monday // Roni

The next best thing to waking up next to Harry is seeing his smiling face as soon as I walk in the break room to get my coffee. Especially since Gerard had already left something on my desk for me to do, which he marked with a Post-It URGENT. With a huff, I dropped my bag on the floor next to my chair and quickly left my cubicle for my much-needed caffeine boost.

"Morning beautiful," Harry greeted me, planting a hasty kiss on my forehead.

"Good morning," I replied, my voice still sleepy as I reached for a cup. I felt Harry's hand slide down my back and pat my bum before I jerked around and gave him a look.

"What?" he mouthed just as I saw someone else arriving out of the corner of my eye.

"Morning you two," sang Alice as she came up behind me and opened the cupboard.

"Morning, Alice," said Harry. She looked up at him and smiled.

"Hi." It was then that I noticed her ensemble - a short denim skirt, pink cardigan set and pumps to match. She even had her hair pinned back, showing off her peaches and cream complexion. I raised a brow.

"You're chipper for eight a.m.," I remarked. "Good weekend?"

"Not particularly," she replied as she poured her coffee. "Just trying out a new attitude."

I grinned at her. "Good for you."

"What about you lovebirds? Did you have a good weekend?" Alice asked as she turned for the table.

"Lovebirds?" Harry echoed.

Alice chuckled, rolling her eyes as she sat down. "Please. Like I didn't know."

"Um..." I hesitated as I sat across from her. "What exactly do you know?"

Alice raised her brows over her cup. "That you two are dating? Like, a couple?"

"Oh," I said, dropping my shoulders. "Does everyone know?"

"I doubt it," Alice shrugged. "Most people here are either idiots or too worried about themselves to notice."

"Miss Graver," I suddenly heard behind me, and I jumped.

"Case in point," Alice muttered under her breath, but loud enough for me to hear.

I cleared my throat and turned in my chair. "Good morning, Gerard," I said through gritted teeth.

"Did you see what I put on your desk?" Gerard asked without greeting me.

I sighed. "Yes, I did."

"I need it ASAP," he remarked.

"You need everything ASAP," I spat.

"Excuse me?"

"I just got here, Gerard," I said. "I'm having my coffee. I'll get it done when I get back to my desk."

I heard him mumble something as he made his way to the cupboard, but I didn't bother to try to make it out. I turned back around in my chair, catching Harry's eye. He gave me a gentle smile and placed his hand over mine. I felt the tension slowly escape my body just from that one touch. I smiled back at him before taking a sip of my coffee.

"Miss Graver," I heard once again. I groaned as I turned around to face him.

"The next time you call me that," I nearly shouted, "I'm not going to acknowledge you."

Gerard sighed, though I didn't miss his eye roll. "Veronica. I would really appreciate it if you got that report completed for me by my meeting at ten."

"Fine."

I saw his mouth uncharacteristically twitch into a smile. "If all goes well, I'll take you to lunch."

I clicked my tongue. "No thanks."

"No? Why not? Don't tell me you're having lunch with Styles again."

"As a matter of fact-" Harry began, but I nudged him with my elbow.

"We're all having lunch together," piped up Alice. "We made plans already, before you arrived."

Harry looked between me and Alice, not quite sure what to say or maybe even what was going on.

"I see," Gerard pursed his lips. "Just have it on my desk by ten alright?" He didn't wait for me to respond before walking down the hall.

"What a prick," I muttered.

"What was the poke for?" Harry asked me.

I shrugged, not wanting to get into it as a couple of other people walked into the break room. After making sure they were out of earshot, he leant in to whisper in my ear.

"You don't want people to know we're dating, do you?"

I shook my head. "It's not that. I just don't...trust Gerard. He already seems to have it in for you."

"I can handle him," Harry scoffed. I raised a brow. "Roni..."

"I gotta get to work," I heard Alice announce as she rose from her chair.

"Hey, thanks for the save," I told her.

"Anytime," she smirked. Then she leant over the table, her voice low. "For what it's worth...I think you guys make a cute couple. Just...be careful."

"Do you think it's gonna be a big deal if everyone finds out?"

Alice shook her head. "It's not everyone I'd be worried about. It's someone."

"Holcomb?" Harry widened his eyes. "Really?"

"I haven't been here as long as he has, but I've been here long enough to know what his intentions are," Alice explained, folding her arms across her chest. "And he always gets what he's after. He's waiting for Roni to break. And if he knows you're standing in the way, he's liable to go to the boss with something about you."

"He's got nothing on me," Harry scoffed.

"Harry," I said, grabbing his arm.

"No, I'm fucking sick of him. He treats you like you're his personal secretary and insults you, and then expects you to go out with him? Fuck that."

"Harry," I repeated.

"You're my girlfriend. And I don't bloody care who knows it. And I'm not gonna let him continue to treat you that way."

With that, he kissed me. In front of everyone. Granted, there were only a couple other people, but still. When he released me, I felt my knees shake as I stared at him.

"Mine," he declared like it was a period at the end of a sentence.

I watched him start for the exit until he turned around and began to walk out backwards.

"Have a good morning, my love. I'll see you at lunch."

I beamed as he walked away, and I heard Alice chuckle behind me.

"Yeah. You guys are the cutest. Just be careful."

Harry

Although Alice's warning still rang in the back of my head, I was determined not to let Holcomb get to me. Roni was mine, we were in love. And I damn sure wasn't gonna let him get in the way.

After Nina gave me some busy work to do and Travis came by to chat about his adventurous weekend, I'd all but forgotten about Holcomb. That is, until I strolled down the hall towards Roni's cubicle to meet her for lunch. I could hear him arguing, his brazen voice echoing down the hall.

"You can't tell me you didn't do that on purpose!" he yelled. "You knew I had that meeting."

I stopped just outside the cubicle partition, not wanting to interrupt. Also, I was eavesdropping.

"It's one typo, Gerard!" Roni countered. "I apologised!"

"Oh, come off it, Veronica!" Holcomb spat. "You just don't wanna go out with me so you're doing everything in your power to make me look stupid."

"First of all, you're absolutely right. I don't wanna go out with you. I thought I'd already made that perfectly clear. Second, I don't need to make you look stupid. You do a great job of that yourself."

I stifled a giggle as I could practically hear Holcomb seething.

"Now if you have nothing more to do than to blame my silly little typo on why you couldn't close that deal," said Roni, "then I ask you to excuse me because I have a lunch date."

"Oh, it's a date, is it?" inquired Gerard with disdain in his tone.

"Mmm," Roni sounded before her voice dropped to a near whisper. "With someone who can close the deal."

My eyes widened in surprise, but I remained hidden from view.

"Oh, give me a break," said Holcomb, no doubt rolling his eyes. "You realise you're robbing the cradle."

Roni chuckled. "Am I now?"

"Styles is nothing but a kid. He's barely out of high school. What does he even do here? He's one step above an errand boy as far as I know. Is that really what you want? What can he even do for you?"

"Oh, a lot of things, Gerard. I could probably write a book already, just on how his eyes dance and sparkle when he looks at me. And our relationship has only just gotten started," declared Roni. "But I won't bore you with the details, seeing as you're such an important business man and don't have time for such nonsense."

I held my breath while there was a slight pause. My heart was beating so hard and fast in my chest, I was sure they could hear it. Finally, Roni spoke once more.

"I'll be back in an hour. Have a nice lunch."

Roni strode out of the cubicle, nearly bumping into me. "Oh! There you are!" she grinned when she saw me. "Ready?"

For a split second I was tongue-tied and merely nodded. She took my hand, threading her fingers through mine as we walked down the hall to the exit. Once outside, I got my bearings.

"Oh, I forgot something," I said, stopping just outside the door.

"What?" Roni asked, looking at me with quizzical, wide eyes.

Taking her face in my hands, I kissed her firmly. Roni stumbled back just a bit until I had her pressed against the wall. She opened her mouth to me eagerly, inviting my tongue inside while she let it wrestle with hers. Her arms wrapped around my waist, pulling my body closer. A tiny moan escaped her throat as I deepened the kiss even more. When I gently released her, her face was flushed, her lips slightly parted.

"I love you," I muttered as I gazed into her eyes.

An easy smile curved her lips. "You know you don't have to do this every time he makes a move on me. There's no competition, Harry. You don't have to prove anything."

I blinked slowly. "I know. But that's not what the kiss was for."

"What was it for then?"

"What you said about me," I licked my lips. "The book."

"Oh," she smiled bigger, her hands sliding around to my stomach and up my chest. "Well, it's true."

I beamed at her. "Are my eyes dancing and sparkling right now?"

"You bet they are," Roni giggled, giving me another soft kiss. "And I love you, too."

Roni

The rest of the workday flew by, and fortunately I saw no more of Gerard. I doubted he ever returned to the office after lunch because I didn't even hear his annoying voice bellowing like I usually would.

After another quick make out session next to my car, I said goodbye to Harry and drove home. My good mood was threatened, however, when I remembered Roland was coming to pick up his suit. I washed off my makeup, changed into my sweats and warmed up something quick for dinner. While it was in the microwave, I walked back to my bedroom and retrieved the suit out of the closet. Then I slung it across the back of one of my dining chairs, so that I wouldn't have to waste any unwanted extra moments with my ex.

I was eating on the sofa when my phone alerted me of a text from Harry.

We forgot to have Alice join us for lunch.

I smirked as I typed out a response. I don't think she was serious about that. She was just trying to save us from Gerard's interrogation.

I feel bad anyway. I didn't think to invite her to come with.

I doubt you were thinking about anything when we left except having your tongue down my throat.

This is true.

I laughed out loud.

Still, we should have asked her. She's a nice girl.

Maybe we can ask her tomorrow.

Okay.

I smiled and set the phone next to me while I continued to eat my dinner. A few moments later, I heard another chime.

Think she'd go out with Caleb?

What?

Harry didn't bother to type another response, instead my phone rang. I shook my head as I picked it up.

"You remember my friend Caleb?" Harry asked.

"Is that the nice one who looks a little like Ewan McGregor or the shorter one who was undressing me with his eyes?"

"Undressing you with his eyes?" Harry echoed.

"Oh definitely," I chuckled. "Didn't even try to hide it, that one. Probably didn't even care that I was with you."

I heard Harry groan. "That was Matt. He's...yeah, he's Matt. Sorry about that."

"It's alright," I said. "But this Caleb, he's the other one?"

"Yeah. I reckon he and Alice would get along, don't you?"

"Harry, are you playing matchmaker?"

"I dunno. Maybe. I was just thinking it would be nice to introduce her to someone. She's been nice to me since I started working there, and you as well. Although she seems very quiet and shy."

"Does Caleb like quiet and shy girls?" I inquired.

"He's crazy about 'em," Harry joked.

I giggled, deciding it best not to tell him that Alice had confided in me about having a crush on him.

"So what d'ya think?" he asked me.

"I think that's very sweet of you. Maybe we could have them meet us at Tom's or something."

"I like the way you think, baby," said Harry. "Those were my thoughts exactly. That way there's no pressure. Just friends getting together."

"You sound excited," I teased.

"I am!"

I giggled some more as I heard a knock at my door. "You're adorable," I commented just before I rose from the sofa, removed the latch and unlocked the door. My smile faded when I saw Roland standing across the threshold. He merely raised his eyebrows in greeting which suited me just fine.

"I know, that's why you love me," I heard Harry quip, my cell phone still next to my ear.

I didn't bother to hide my scowl as I stepped back to grab Roland's suit from the back of the chair.

"That's just one of the many reasons, baby," I said. When I turned around, Roland was standing inside the door, rotating his keyring around his finger.

"Here," I handed him the suit.

"Thanks," he nodded, taking it from me. "I knew you had it."

"What?" Harry sounded.

"I told you I did. You don't have to make a big deal out of it. Just take it and go."

"I'll tell Jamie and Tara you send your love," said Roland.

"Please don't," I rolled my eyes.

"Who are you talking to?" Harry inquired.

"Nobody, love," I replied, glaring at Roland. "Nobody important."

Roland gave me a look that rivaled mine before stepping out onto the landing. I mouthed a sarcastic goodbye and shut the door in his face, replacing the latch.

"Asshole," I muttered.

"Babe?"

"Yeah, sorry," I sighed, walking back to the couch. "That was just Roland. I had a suit of his he needed back."

"Are you okay?"

I smiled in spite of the burn in my stomach. Harry was more concerned with my well-being and state of mind than the fact that he'd just witnessed an audio meeting of the exes.

"Yes," I swallowed, running my fingers through my hair. "I'm great. Good riddance." My voice was still a little shaky though I tried to sound convincing.

"Want me to come over?"

I sighed again. "No, Harry. No, I'm fine. Really."

"You sure? I could bring soup."

I chuckled. "I'm not sick."

"Wine? Ice cream? Your favorite rom-coms on DVD?"

"Harry."

"Do I sound desperate?"

I made a contented sound. "No. You're incredibly sweet. And I appreciate you trying to make me feel better and take my mind off of him. But honestly, I'm fine. That was probably the closure I needed."

"I just want to know you're okay," said Harry.

"I am. I have you."

"Always," he confirmed in a low voice. "Any time you need me, baby, I'm here."

"I know."

Harry and I chatted for a while longer. He lightened the mood by telling me some stories of his mates, making me laugh. I shared some stories of my own, mostly about Patricia and me, and I promised to introduce him to her soon.

"It's probably a good thing I didn't come over," he finally said when I started to yawn.

"Why?"

"Because...we agreed to keep the sleeping over to just the weekends. And I wouldn't wanna leave."

"Harry..."

"I know I get to see you at work. And it's great. But it's not the same as getting to hold you and watch you laugh as you're lying next to me."

A tiny sound rose from my throat before he continued.

"Kissing your face just after we've made love. Feeling your soft skin under my fingers. The way you look at me," Harry sighed. "Oh, Roni."

I bit my lip as I felt my chest clench. "How you do always have the right things to say?" I choked.

"I uh..." Harry chuckled nervously. "I was afraid it was too much."

"No way," I blinked. "It's only too much if you don't mean it."

"I mean it, my love," he replied. "With all my heart."

"Good," I swallowed. "Just promise me something."

"Anything."

"Promise me you won't break mine."

MASTERLIST | KO-FI | FEEDBACK

[bijoumikhawal]

Hunger is the only story

Content warnings for: child abuse, animal abuse, CSA in the form of nonconsenual groping, mentioned suicidal ideation

Read on AO3

Elim slipped in through the kitchen door, hoping to get to his room so he could read until dinner. He was rarely so well fated, but it never hurt to try.

His mother spoke without looking up from her papers at the table. "Enabran wants to see you in his study."

Elim's stomach curdled, and he felt the wings by his cheek pull in tight. "Now?"

"Did I say otherwise?" Mila looked up now. "Put your school bag down and don't leave him waiting."

Elim slipped off the bag in the seat across from her, only mildly annoying Shasert by encroaching on where he'd been sitting.

Cardassian daemons tended to settle at two points in one's life; at one's first name day, or at their age of emergence. The latter was more common, but the first was usually seen as a good omen- a child who knew oneself early presented many possibilities, had a head start in following the path that lay before them.

It was usually a good omen. Elim knew that his mother and Uncle Enabran didn't see Itzik that way. His vague memories of his life then were very clear on that- when he'd settled, in the form of a canal diver, mother had refused to believe it, snapping at Itzik to quit messing around.

Tolan had named Elim. Shasert had named Itzik. It seemed fair, he supposed. Tolan named him for his eyes and his daemon's feathers, like shimmering blue opals, and Shasert-

Elim called his daemon Itzik, and that was his name on paper. His true name, however, what Shasert called him and his mother called him and Uncle Enabran and Arjam called him, was Kratitzik. He'd once said that sounded more like a childhood name, and had to kneel in front of the cenotaphs for three afternoons in a row.

Broken star.

Elim pushed open the study door quietly. Enabran and Arjem were sitting inside, not looking at papers. Just waiting for them.

He stepped in, closing the door behind him.

Arjem leaped up to flip the lock down, then settled at Elim's side as he sat. "Elim. How was school today?"

Elim shifted on his seat, unsure if he wanted this just over with or not. "It was normal. Nothing- nothing particularly exciting happened."

"Hm." Enabran hummed, and beckoned with his finger. "Kratitzik. Come here."

Feathers trembled across Elim's cheek, before Itzik took wing and obediently settled on Tain's hand. There wasn't a point in fleeing- Itzik was more stubborn than Elim was around his uncle, but the first few times, Arjem would simply climb and catch Itzik out of the air, and she wasn't nice about it.

Enabran's thumb stroked the top of Itzik's head, soothing. It made Elim shudder in his seat- he hated this part, hated the strange feeling his hands and his chest.

"You both understand why I have to do this. It'll make you stronger- a better servant of Cardassia." He used his thumb to press Itzik's head down as he ripped out a tail feather. Elim clenched the armrests of the chair. His scalp tingled, a pinpricking ache from their bond. Enabran hummed, twirling the feather inbetween his fingers, shimmering blue. He tucked it into a short vase on his desk- it was already full of similar feathers. "I could have a pair of gloves made for you." Enabran said dryly.

Elim didn't respond. He wasn't meant to- certainly not to say featherthread gloves were absurd, or to say he'd rather they'd stayed where they came from. Enabran grabbed Itzik's wing, not at all gently, and spread it open. He worked his fingers into the feathers- these, he never tore out, at least. He flipped a few of them up, looking at the skin underneath, before closing the wing up tight and making a fist around Itzik, squeezing until he cried out.

One of the rules was Elim had to hold still and stay in his chair until Enabran was done. If he didn't, he'd get thrown in the closet, and Iztik would be chucked into the trunk outside it, possibly until the next morning.

He walked over to Elim, standing behind him and squeezing his shoulder with his hand. He did that, massaging, until Elim let out a groan that made him want to crawl inside the closet himself.

Enabran chuckled and lightened his grip on Elim's shoulder, squeezing Itzik instead. "Young people." He said, undoing Elim's braid by carding his fingers through it. His age of emergence wasn't too far off- then, he'd have to cut it, and wear it slicked back like Enabran. "You always have been precocious, Elim- I thought it would be awhile longer before poor Mila would have to worry about that sort of thing."

He felt unpleasantly hot all over. Had the temperature been turned up in the study?

Enabran went back to his desk, pinning Itzik flat to it by the wings. He stroked his head again, then ripped out another tail feather. Itzik thrashed, claws digging into the varnished wood. They'd get in trouble for that, Elim thought as his head pounded.

This time, he reached out behind him, spinning the feather so it fluttered against Elim's face. His shoulders curled up and forward, and he leaned against the back of the chair.

Enabran felt him do it, and simply hummed, taking the feather and putting it in the little vase. It went on and on like that- Enabran, plucking a few feathers out where they wouldn't be noticed too much, chatting to Elim, occasionally touching him, all while he tried to hold still.

Enabran was trying to teach them that they were halves of a whole, yes, but seperate halves. If they understood that, he'd explained, many possibilities would open up to them both. That was why Elim had to hold still.

It had been very hard for him to do, at first. Now, it wasn't so hard, but his head always started pounding midway through it, and didn't stop until hours later. Today it was especially bad. Enabran had bought some sort of- contraption, for holding down birds to study them, and the clamps were too tight, and he kept tightening them. He was always careful not to break Itzik's bones, but there was the possibility of a mistake.

He left the desk and turned to Elim again, touching his shoulders, digging his thumbs in until his shoulders relaxed against themselves, until embarrassing noises squirmed out of his throat.

"Seperate halves." Enabran reminded him, before going back the desk and undoing the clamps. Releasing them made it worse somehow, made nausea roil in Elim so bad he thought he might fall apart-

"Run!" Elim screamed, and immediately, immediately he regretted it, regretted the feeling before feeling of Arjem scratching him up. Itzik, mad with pain, darted towards the window, and Elim's insides were crawling up his throat-

But Enabran pushed the window open right before Itzik hit it, and out he flew.

Itzik did not come back for two days.

Elim had been told, your daemon being parted from you hurt. But he didn't feel anything. He just felt numb. It was the weekly break from school, so no one asked questions. He just laid in his bed and ached vaguely. Tolan came in a few times, trying to talk to him, but he felt underwater. He heard nothing. He stared at the ceiling with sightless eyes as Tolan patted his temples and chufa with a warm, wet rag. The hot tea carefully poured in his mouth had no taste. The scented steam wafted over him only tickled his nose enough that he almost sneezed. Out of the corner of his eye, his father, bent by his bedside in such a specific posture as he talked, but not to Elim, only registered vaguely as odd. As something a good Cardassian didn't do... it didn't stir in him the ability to care.

On the second night, Tolan brought a blanket with him and slept on the floor by his bed.

On the second night, Elim saw blue against the window that took up the book tall gap of wall that peered above ground.

He quietly stepped over his father and opened it. Itzik stared at him.

If you'd asked a classmate, they'd say he was a creature of few words when Elim had many, many when Elim had few. It was rare that they both were quiet. None of their classmates ever came over to where they lived, of course.

Elim held out his hand, and Itzik nestled into it, gently nipping the meat of his palm with his teeth. Affectionately... Elim could almost cry. Itzik's wings spread out, his tiny fingers at the bend of his wings clasping Elim's fingertips.

"Does this mean he'll stop?" Elim said quietly. "Did we... he wanted this from us, didn't he?" It stayed quiet for a moment, the night bugs humming outside.

"Who cares?" Itzik said, finally.

"Itzik-"

"I'll leave again."

Elim's knees buckled. "No. Please."

"We want to run. You told me to run... why don't you run?"

"To where?" Elim sat on the floor. "Do you know how to get a job?"

"We could serve tea. Uncle made sure we know that." Itzik said, scornful.

Enabran did indeed, make them serve tea when he had guests sometimes. Elim's stomach turned, though- most people, not Enabran, surely, were crass towards tea sellers. You had to move a certain way, pose yourself, act deferential. Many people got ideas about a tea server, the way they got ideas about dancers and actors. "No one would hire us. We're too young."

Elim thought for a second. "Our parents would miss us."

Itzik managed to nestle further, like he was trying to squish himself flat into Elim's hand. "Tolan tried to leave with us, once."

"What?"

"Kebi confessed to me last year." Itzik looked up at him. "They'd miss us, yes. But Tolan and Kebi would know we were happier."

Elim got up and closed the window. "We can't."

"Why?"

His insides were up his throat again. "You want me to say it, even though you already know? Fine. Enabran would find us. He only let you out the window so you wouldn't bash your skull open. He knew you wanted to."

He knew we wanted to.

He feels the hatred Itzik feels, and knows that it's also his own. He's not sure who, exactly, he hates, though.

End Notes: I wanted to play with the idea of Tain taking things about Garak that are associated with Hebitian-ness and twist them to his own ends, like how Hebitians were known for their agriculture and Tain made Garak kill someone with his orchids after failing to force Tolan into it. In this case, I was inspired by how witches work in HDM and figured in a daemon AU, Hebitians probably had a ritual for certain religious figures that caused seperation. Mila's anger here is that Garak's daemon being a bird is associated with the practice (in this case, because flying creatures are sacred and associated with Oralius), but Tain naturally would see an opportunity. Instead of doing something more safe, he forced the seperation via trauma. Tolan here is trying to do Hebitian aftercare for this sort of thing- I imagine he and Mila might've had a rare argument about it, since he seems to just avoid the topic around her.

A canal diver is meant to be something like a Cardassian kingfisher, because there's a poem about kingfishers by Mary Oliver that I associate with Garak, which gives this fic it's name. I picture Cardassian birds as resembling microraptors.

The idea that "Elim" means blue opals is something I believe I cribbed from @xenobotantist

[elliethecat]

The Spark of an Eternal Flame (a story about how Sulane and Luvan met and fell in love!)

It was a cold November morning in the city-state of Naitula; the sea next to the city only made it colder. It was a holiday; most people slept in, but for one woman, sleeping in wasn't an option.

Sulane was 111 years old—about 19 years old in Hylian terms—and she was a warrior. She was a member of the Naitulan Marines, one of the best fighters in the entire city. The marines never got days off, so she had to go to work. At least she got paid well compared to others.

“Okay, let's get started,” Vites—Crown Prince of Naitula and Leader of the Marines—said. “There have been reports of monsters on the South Bank of the Opal River, near the mouth of the river. One of them was reported to be a Silver Lynel. Does anyone want to offer to hunt this Lynel?”

Sulane raised her hand, bandages covering fresh scars bending over her chest.

“Are you… sure, Suten?” Vites asked, unknowing of Sulane's chosen name. “You're injured. You fought off a two-hundred man army last week and got a giant wound across your chest. If I was allowed to, I would dismiss you until you heal. You need rest.”

“No,” Sulane responded, “I can go and find it. You can count on me.”

“Okay, okay. You can, on one condition. You will be on paid medical leave afterwards. No ifs ands or buts. You can't fight like this.”

“Yes, sir.”

Sulane grabbed her sword and a compass and went out to hunt this Lynel.

It was a rather short walk, all things considered. It was only about 643 meters to the river, but the cold and her injuries made it tougher to get there. It was 7° celcius; it was November after all.

She eventually got to the riverbank and went to look for this Lynel. Several hours later, it was 10:00 o'clock, and there was no sign of this Lynel. Sulane was tired at this point, the sand looked pretty comfortable, and there was no sight of this Lynel. Since she saw no harm in it, she decided to fall asleep on the grass. She'd been up since 6:00 o'clock; she needed the rest.

“Hey, are you okay?” A voice said, stirring Sulane from her slumber.

“What…? Yes? Who in Hylia's name are you?” A dazy Sulane said, rubbing her eyes.

“I'm Luvan, the Prince's… ‘brother’. Who are you?”

“Oh… I am very sorry for worrying you, my liege. My name is… Suten. I just… needed rest.”

“You didn't seem very confident about your name, Suten.”

“You didn't seem very confident about being the Prince’s brother.”

“You've caught me! I'm non-binary, not a guy.”

“Oh? Heh, I'm trans. I go by Sulane.”

“Sulane? That's… a very beautiful name. Don't say what—”

“Thanks, I chose it myself!”

“Oh fucking course!”

“You put yourself in this situation, Luvan!”

“That's fair, I very much did lead myself into that.”

“Yeah, you did.”

“Say, do you need help? Your bandage around your chest seems a bit… stained.”

“Oh, I'd like that, thanks.”

Sulane walked with Luvan to the Palace in Naitula, where Luvan helped give her more bandages and gave her a hand to hold whenever she was taking the particularly unpleasant antibiotics she had to take. Have you ever had to put antibiotics on a wound? Those can sting like nobody's business.

This happened every day for about two weeks; Sulane going to Luvan for help with bandages (because reaching behind your back to tie something can be tough), Luvan holding her hand so that she wouldn't punt anyone or anything because of the wound stinging, and the two just talking.

One day, however, Sulane needed to confess the feelings she acquired for Luvan. It wasn't immediate, but sometime over those two weeks she developed feelings for the royal. Sulane also needed to practice her sword skills. Why not spar with Luvan and confess afterwards?

Sulane eventually found Luvan in a meadow outside of Naitula and smiled at the other Zora, “Luvan! Would you like to spar with me?”

“Oh! Sure, I wouldn't mind. Just please don't flatten me into a pancake.”

“Of course I wouldn't! You're my friend, and my superior. I wouldn't intentionally hurt you!”

“I know! Let's just get to sparring!”

The two grabbed their swords, and they began sparring. Luvan fought gracefully, their movements resembling a dancer in a ballet; sassy spins, dodges, and flips galore! Sulane fought more tactically on the other hand. She evaded Luvan’s attacks, looked for weak points during their impressive moves, and never once took her eyes off the other Zora.

Sulane eventually knocked Luvan down and disarmed them during a spin. Sulane almost immediately checked to make sure they were okay, and then hugged them?

“Why are you hugging me, Sulane?” Luvan asked.

“It's because I have something to tell you.”

“Oh? What is it?”

“I… I love you. I love you, Luvan. I don't know how, but you're the first person I've loved since I was in middle school.”

“You love me? Oh, Sulane…” Luvan tightly hugged Sulane back. “I love you, too. You're just so damn sweet! My parents won't allow us to be together, though…”

“Who said they need to know?”

“That's a fair point.”

[tennessoui]

✨✨✨✨🫱Care to share🫲✨✨✨✨

The message was sent to you because someone loved your writing and stories. ❤️

▪️What are your writing suggestions for newcomers, or what would you have liked to know when you first started?

▪️How do you write different personalities and perspectives? Could you explain how you came up with the manner you written your favorite or any character?

▪️What do you do when you have writer's block?

▪️How do you come up with new ideas and develop them?

▪️Any messages for your readers or fellow writers?

You are welcome to answer if you have the time and desire, or you can simply respond to the questions that come to mind.

💐Thank you for your work as a writer and as a member of this fandom!💐

hello and thank you!! i can try to answer these questions, but i don't think anything i have to say is particularly revolutionary or interesting so be warned i'm not going to be helpful haha

▪️What are your writing suggestions for newcomers, or what would you have liked to know when you first started?

it's really really ok to like your idea more than others!! when i first started writing fic, i would come up with an idea and share it and people would say 'that's great what if it went like this instead?' and that was fun and i think i have a lot of aus that have been influenced by posting on tumblr/talking with people here, but at a certain point i had to just learn for myself that it was ok to say 'yeah that would be fun too but i also really like my idea the way i wrote it, and that's what im going to focus on'. that probably sounds really obvious lol but it also took me like. a solid year to learn and feel comfortable saying.

not that your ideas will necessarily be better than someone else's or that "better" is a good matrix for creativity. but if you're writing fanfic, you're doing it in your free time for no cost. it should be something you absolutely are in love with and it's really ok to fall in love with your idea/your fic and not change it no matter what other people suggest

▪️How do you write different personalities and perspectives? Could you explain how you came up with the manner you written your favorite or any character?

i change my characters up a lot between fics/aus and give them different personalities each time, but i do try to keep some traits recognizable so they still feel like obi-wan and anakin. for obi-wan, for example, i picture him as having some innate qualities that i put on a sliding scale. bitchiness (i.e. sarcasm, irritation at the situation, capacity to insult, anger) and manipulation are my main two for him. then depending on the fic and the characterization, i adjust my bitchiness and manipulation scales: pbatmb obi-wan is both extremely bitchy and extremely manipulative. 10s across the board. stacy's mom au obi-wan is low on the manipulation scale (even though he's trying SO hard) but medium on the bitchiness scale. infinite sadness is probably also one of the scales come to think of it.

▪️What do you do when you have writer's block?

i go outside!! i go for a walk or a run away from screens where i can just tease out the idea i want to write and work over it with no distractions

also and i cannot overemphasize how much i love these but writing warm ups!!! do writing warm ups!!! i collect prompts that i write out before i start a major project (which i define as something going on ao3) which helps getting the words flowing and helps prevent writer's block for me. if you don't want to do prompts from a list, pick a fic that you already have and just write a scene for it that will not go into the fic. like, the characters going camping or waking up in the morning or discovering there's no more coffee. something short, 500 words, 1k words, whatever. it really, really, really helps me

▪️How do you come up with new ideas and develop them?

lol two ways. i write about things that happen in my life and tweak them a bit ("fixer-upper" was written after i toured an apartment with my friend and she liked the place but hated the stove/appliances; "tripping over my words trying to give you my name" was written because people always tell me to tie my shoelaces) OR i throw words around like darts at a board until i have a solid idea. usually this involves taking an idea that i feel has been done or feels pretty straightforward and thinking about how i can put a twist on it to make it feel like mine (i.e. sith obi-wan, but what if we make him x, y, and z too)

and tumblr asks help a lot because people really can flush out an au so fast by just asking open-ended questions like 'where's shmi? how does qui-gon react to this? when do they get together?' that make me think more about the story and how i imagine the characters!

▪️Any messages for your readers or fellow writers?

thank you for reading what i write, that's really amazing and i'm glad you do!! i think i've grown so much in the past few years as a writer and it's because this fandom has become such a safe space for me to experiment with my writing style and story-telling.

and thank you for writing if no one's told you that recently - you deserve to hear it every day! ✨

[riverxsong-ao3]

20 Questions (for fanfic writers)

Thank you @theonceandfuturequeenoftarts for the tag! I don't know who else has been tagged/answered, but if you see this, this is your prompt to answer (if you want)!

how many works do you have on ao3 7

what’s your total ao3 word count? 366,485

what fandoms do you write for? Harry Potter and Phantom of the Opera

top five fics by kudos: Horcruxes, Death Eaters, Treasure, The Knights of Walpurgis, A Woman Out of Time

do you respond to comments? I… try. I was very particular about responding when I first started posting regularly, but fell out of the habit. I’m trying to pick that back up again now and am actually going back to some older comments to engage!

what is the fic you wrote with the angstiest ending? Hmmm… I don’t really write angsty endings, but I have a feeling Pity the Living is going in that direction. It’s either “Harry goes mad due to Voldemort living in his head,” or “Voldemort comes fully back to life and takes Harry away against his will,” so. Not great outcomes on either front.

what’s the fic you wrote with the happiest ending? Well, these are the endings I go for, but… I think the Vitae Redux series is leading towards the happiest — I mean, uh, spoilers?

do you get hate on fics? Nothing bad so far. A bit of constructive criticism, but overall it’s mostly positive.

do you write smut? Sometimes! Treasure definitely started out as a PWP oneshot, but I tend to focus more on the emotional side of relationships, with some added smut as an occasional treat.

craziest crossover? I haven’t really written any crossovers, though I do sneak in references to other works. The closest would be in the final instalment of Vitae Redux, not yet posted, when Tom and Harry end up hiding out for a bit on a cluster of magically hidden islands which are a direct element taken from the Sevenwaters Trilogy by Juliet Marillier

have you ever had a fic stolen? Not that I’m aware of. I did however once find someone trying to sell a short story I wrote on Amazon as an ebook, and that pissed me off to no end.

have you ever had a fic translated? Someone went through and translated a few instalments of Vitae Redux, and that was very cool!

have you ever co-written a fic before? Not precisely, but I do bounce story ideas off my friends and rework things based on their suggestions!

all-time favorite ship? Tomarrymort, hands down <3

what’s a wip you want to finish but doubt you ever will? Ugh, if I’m being honest, probably Treasure. That’s subject to change, though, at the moment I don’t know exactly where it’s going but who knoooows?

what are your writing strengths? Dialogue for sure, particularly in weaving in what’s happening in the story around the dialogue. I tend to play out scenes in my mind ad nauseam until I know exactly what, where, and why the characters are doing and saying things long before I ever put digital pen to paper.

what are your writing weaknesses? Worldbuilding? I’m actually pretty thorough with this, it’s weaving it into the narrative seamlessly where I struggle. Aaaand endings. Fuck endings lol

thoughts on dialogue in another language? Love it. Try to add it in as much as I can when I know enough of the language in question. I think it can go overboard, though, and have found it most effective when it’s short, to the point, and easily translated by another character so as not to leave the reader floundering.

favorite fic you’ve written? Vitae Redux, hands down. This story keeps me up at night. OTOH, I have a backlog of writing of favourite fics I can’t wait to get back to once I’ve finished up with this one!

[pynkhues]

https://www.tumblr.com/pynkhues/762758699427282944/httpsxcomgetawaybitch28status180934599150343?source=share

Yeah I'm sympathetic to a lot of different readings on the show, but a lot of times the show is not actually that ambiguous with the big things it's telling us even if the details are unknown, and it makes it SO clear that Lestat does not want to be at the trial, is doing this to save Louis, and does not want Claudia to die/would save her if he could save both, that if someone denies any of those points, my conclusions are that they are either not that bright (or at least not very media literate) or that they hate Lestat so much as a character that it's blinding them. Because the show did not make it difficult to follow.

I mean, in a lot of ways, your first phrase there sums it up for me, because what those sorts of posts are aren't readings of the show. They're pretending to be, or perhaps think they are, but what they really are are kneejerk fan responses to other people's readings of the show.

I genuinely love that fandom can be such a space for people to even just start exploring storytelling and film and tv analysis/criticism - it can be a really great place to cut your teeth on all of that, I'd know, it's how I did, way back when I was in highschool - but I think the nature of twitter and other short-form social media has just made all of this sort of thing incredibly reactive. Like I came up in the days of LiveJournal and like - - Geocities websites, haha - fandom discourse had to be more involved to get any sort of engagement.

Like, okay, back to that post as an example - - if they were saying that, say, for argument's sake, Lestat's only talking about how strong Claudia is to make the coven up their planning in how to control/kill her, that's something I'd have to think about, right? I'd be like - - definitely not my interpretation, but I can appreciate how someone might be able to take that away from the scene? But that's not what that sort of post is doing at all.

It's the lack of actual engagement with the show itself but the hyper-engagement with the fandom. As a result, it's not about responding to the show, and the story the show is trying to tell, it's about - literally, from the way they want 'more people on his head' - social media engagement and clout and inciting stan wars for - - what? I don't know. I don't get it, and I'm not particularly in any of it.

[mizkit]

new blog post: critical for author websites - summary!

new blog post on https://mizkit.com/critical-for-author-websites-summary/

critical for author websites - summary!

So I got about forty responses from my question a few weeks ago about what was critical to have on an author website, and the overwhelming response was that these, in more or less this order, are what readers are looking for:

What’s New

What’s Next

ALL THE BOOKS

Reading Order, particularly if that’s different from the publication order

CURRENT! INFORMATION!

Okay, so this was pretty interesting! I’m gonna go into some of these more, and then touch on some of the less-widely-asked-for-but-still-requested features!

WHAT’S NEW – well, this is pretty self-explanatory, isn’t it? Readers want this front and centre.

WHAT’S NEXT – the most interesting thing about this to me was people asking for as much lead time as possible on this. It’s probable that people who are coming to your author website are the most likely to preorder things, so if something’s available for them to preorder, they want to do that NOW!

ALL THE BOOKS – also pretty self-explanatory, but subclasses of this include:

Books listed by series

Notification of whether a series is complete! I wouldn’t have thought of this, probably because I know, but this makes sense. Readers want to know whether there are more stories coming or whether a series has wrapped up, or perhaps ended prematurely.

Maybe short blurbs for each title, to remind readers where they are in a series

READING ORDER – Listed by series is clearly great, but a lot of readers would like actual reading order, particularly if the author’s recommended reading order isn’t the same as the publication order.

This includes short stories/bonus material/etc at the correct chronological points, and if series intertwine, a notification of when and where this happens along with a recommended reading order (ie, the author recommends you start with Series X, read up to Book 5, read Series Y up through book 7 where they cross over, and then continue with whichever series you want to, or whatever).

CURRENT INFORMATION – this is really critical. A lot of respondees said it was incredibly frustrating to go to an author’s website to discover the last time it was updated was 4 books ago, which, of course, yeah. I also get really frustrated when I go to an author’s site and find out it’s not current. :)

Beyond those things, other things that readers said would be nice to see were:

Social media links – including newsletters and patreons! – one reader specifically said, “If there’s ways to get bonus content, tell me about it. So I’d add a link to your Patreon with a copy/paste of the lowest tier description that includes bonus/early content access. Then tell me what I get by signing up for your newsletter. You’ve posted a pitch elsewhere, copy/paste it to the sign up page here.”

Other bonus material – maps, short stories; for writers who do sprawling things across a lot of books and a long timeline, maybe a timeline (which dovetails with ‘reading order’), ‘drabbles’

Blog posts, but really only if they’re current

Author appearances, ideally with as much lead time as possible

There was also clearly a strong preference for authors having websites that were updated regularly so people could just go there to find out what they were missing. Readers (correctly, IMHO) felt that a regularly-updated website is much, much more reliable than anything Goodreads, Amazon, Wiki, whatever, might provide in terms of this kind of information, and by all appearances everybody responding really appreciated author websites.

Another writer did suggest that the “what’s new” especially should be an invitation/link/insisting on JOINING OUR NEWSLETTERS (that’s a subtle link to mine!), which is a very, very good idea, because our newsletters are the one way we have to absolutely for sure at least GET information to you (whether you read it or not, that’s between you and your gods, and let’s be real, between me and mine for the newsletters I’m signed up for), but also, look, the truth is, I personally am in fact more likely to go to a writer’s website than sign up for their newsletter, so I’m going to look for a happy medium on that one somehow, because I don’t want to punish readers who aren’t on my newsletter. So I’ll think on that one.

Anyway, overall, this was REALLY HELPFUL and interesting, and I really appreciate everybody who took the time to respond!

[umber-cinders]

20 Questions for Fic Writers

I was tagged by the lovely @megamindsecretlair 🤗💖✨

1. How many works do you have on AO3?

Since I last did this, I've up my total of works from four to six so I'm happy about that 😄

2. What’s your total AO3 word count?

From 182,483 words last time, to 287,008 right now in June 2024 😁

3. What fandoms do you write for?

I'm hoping to add more to my collection but right now this is it lol

1. Black Panther 2. Secret Invasion 3. Bright (2017)

4. What are your top 5 fics by kudos?

I only have four fics up and one of them is brand new so 😅

Winter Moon

Mount Jabari

Incubus

If The Shoe Fits

Bonds In Blue

In that order. You can find a link to my fics for both tumblr and Ao3 here

5. Do you respond to comments? Why or why not?

HELL 👏🏾YES👏🏾 I love talking to the people reading my stuff and want them to know that their comments are appreciated and often keep me motivated to write more 😁Love you guys! 💕

6. What is the fic you wrote with the angstiest ending?

Hmmm, I guess that would be If The Shoe Fits. There's a planned part two that might negate this answer though.

(This answer still stands so far)

7. What’s the fic you wrote with the happiest ending?

Mount Jabari 🤣Reader was very happy at the end of that fic.

8. Do you get hate on fics?

I did on Winter Moon but I don't particularly care about the opinions of someone whose intentions are to be intentionally dismissive and negative so the comments the person received in return were likely not what they had wanted 💀

9. Do you write smut? If so, what kind?

Absolutely. And I'm not sure what the categories are, but I'd describe my smut as detailed and nasty 😈

10. Do you write crossovers? What’s the craziest one you’ve written?

Nah, never did a crossover and not really a fan of them. However when I was still really young there was a gigantic, kind of OOC crossover fic with a bunch of popular anime from the 90s/2000s called Otherworld and I used to read that like it was the bible. It inspired me to do my own first fanfics. There were like 9 books to that story and multiple oneshots and short stories that tied the characters together and everything.

11. Have you ever had a fic stolen?

Not that I am aware... and anyone who tries it...

12. Have you ever had a fic translated?

Not publicly, but I have gotten a comment that someone loves my story so much that they translate every chapter so that they could read it properly and it made me so happy 😭❤💕

13. Have you ever co-written a fic before?

Nope! But I do love giving other authors ideas and vice versa. I think it helps people think outside the box when they brainstorm with friends.

14. What’s your all-time favorite ship?

I'm going to say Attoye from Black Panther for now? I was never that big of a "shipping" person in fandoms but I definitely enjoy Attoye enough to say I ship them. I also like Nashuri and Killmora.

15. What’s a WIP you want to finish but doubt you ever will?

Nothing atm. I tend to work on stories in order of inspiration and importance. I don't publish things I'm not willing to commit time to at some point.

16. What are your writing strengths?

I've been told that I write very descriptively and that it can paint a vivid picture of scenarios and characters, so I'll go with that.

17. What are your writing weaknesses?

Fluff and filler. I don't dislike fluff completely but I tend to write it as realistically as possible because trying to imagine people being that super ooey gooey makes me wanna gag and cringe lmfao

18. Thoughts on writing dialogue in another language in fic?

I do it only when necessary for the simple fact that having to provide translations for entire scenes of dialogue gets tiresome very quickly.

19. First fandom you wrote for?

Inuyasha 🐶✨

20. Favorite fic you’ve written?

This is hard because I love all my fics and have several multi chapter stories that I consider my babies. For now I will go with Winter Moon or Bond In Blue since they are published.

Tagging anyone who hasn't done this yet because I don't know who has and hasn't 💖💗💕✨

[oodlyenough]

fic 20 questions

1. how many works do you have on Ao3? 127...! I have had the account since 2009, lol.

2. what's your total Ao3 word count? 707,519

3. what fandoms do you write for? Generally I only write for one at a time, which is currently Ace Attorney. Not counting the odd one-offs for ask memes over the years, the other big ones were Arcane, Borderlands, Doctor Who and the wizard books.

4. what are your top five fics by kudos?

Commutative Law (Arcane)

Window of Opportunity (Arcane)

Where the Air is Rarefied (HP)

Prestidigitation (Arcane)

Contingency Planning (Arcane)

Lmao, 4 of 5 written in 2022. You can see the power of writing m/m in a popular new fandom VS my entire other library at the time. Admittedly at some point I made a concerted effort to try and knock HP down from top spot, which was successful. For now. Jayvik fandom has quieted down a lot.

5. do you respond to comments? Yes. Sometimes it takes a while because if it's a particularly thoughtful comment I try to give a particularly thoughtful reply, and it can take time to gather my thoughts.

6. What is the fic you wrote with the angstiest ending? I'm going to discount oneshots because the tone in one-shots tends to be more consistent throughout the piece rather than being about the "ending" yknow.

So probably King and Country, a Doctor Who fic cowritten with @go-ldy way back when. Technically a happy ending if you factor in immense amounts of off-screen couples therapy lmao. But we had originally written something much simpler and happier, and it didn't fit the story at all, so we went back and wrote something heavier for the closing chapter, which is why it sticks in my mind.

7. What’s the fic you wrote with the happiest ending? I think probably Anachronism, the 95k Borderlands epic. I had always had a rough image of the four main characters happy together by the end, and it was also my swansong in Borderlands fandom, so I wanted it to be an optimistic, happy ending (especially in contrast to whatever the hell is going on in the canon there now lmfaoooo). Plus the rest of the fic was quite angsty, and the ending was hopeful and happy.

8. Do you get hate on fics? Not in recent memory. Once upon a time I got a couple disgruntled comments in Doctor Who fandom, and perhaps funniest of all found people complaining about my fic on LJ in French, unaware I read French.

9. Do you write smut? If so, what kind? Nope I'm a big baby who gets too embarrassed. I've written some pretty soft-focus M rated stuff but nothing I think could rightly be called smut.

10. Do you write crossovers? What’s the craziest one you’ve written? I wrote a short joke crossover between Doctor Who and Inspector Spacetime, the Doctor Who parody from Community. I don't think that one made the leap from Teaspoon to AO3 actually.

11. Have you ever had a fic stolen? Not that I'm aware of

12. Have you ever had a fic translated? Yes, a number of times. It's very flattering. Mostly Borderlands fics and mostly into Russian iirc, but there's been a few over the years. Sometimes people ask, and I say "sure, drop me a link!" and I never hear back, so I'm not sure if they forgot to link or just never finished translating to begin with.

13. Have you ever co-written a fic before? My longest and best DW fics with @go-ldy way back when! Not so much since.

14. What’s your all time favorite ship? I'm gonna be real it always just feels like whatever I'm into at the moment. And, actually, not necessarily something I write fic for -- like Pricefield is an all-timer for me, easy, but I have never written fic and I haven't read all that much either. If I were narrowing to tree, one of "each" lol, probably Doctor/Rose, Pricefield and Narumitsu.

15. What’s a WIP you want to finish but doubt you ever will? Don't have any. I know I will never finish them (RIP Fixer-Upper and Silly Love Songs) as I've lost interest in those fandoms.

16. What are your writing strengths? I'd like to think I am good at packing emotional and/or character beats into a concise scene or story. Adding missing scenes or elaborating on canon scenes to give some additional depth or meaning without really deviating from the source.

17. What are your writing weaknesses? Definitely plot. I will get stumped on the technicalities of things for ages -- I might know an emotional scene I'd like to write, but hell if I know how to get them there. It's why I primarily write one-shots. Also I struggle with any kind of scenery or set description.

18. Thoughts on writing dialogue in another language in fic? I avoid it as much as I can. (Which so far has been entirely, lol.) I don't speak any other languages well enough to write dialogue in them and feel awkward relying on Google translate or hitting up random friends to do that work for me. I am more likely to use the "said something in [language]" approach.

19. First fandom you wrote for? I actually can't be sure but I think it was 101 Dalmatians. The animated one. When I was like, 7.

20. Favorite fic you’ve written? I'm gonna cheat and do one per fandom:

Anachronism (Borderlands) -> biggest, most complicated, plotty fic I have ever written, with four main characters and every combination of relationship between them as the focus. Took 3 damn years. Very proud of it.

Unravel (Ace Attorney) -> total recency bias here but I'm very happy with it and it scratched a very particular itch for me, fleshing out a relationship and characters that exist mostly in the fringes of canon, something I used to do lots of but haven't in recent years

Contingency Planning (Arcane) -> an emotional sucker punch fic in my humble opinion, happiest with it

Out of the Howling (Doctor Who, with @go-ldy) -> actually I had a hard time picking a DW fic. But this was our last together and most complex, so it wins. Also the Master is fun as hell to write.

I am supposed to tag people! I am not sure who else has already been tagged. Do it or don't, I'm not your boss, happy new year 🎊 @annalyticall @heavybreathingcatt @sandboxer @mutxnts @tinsnip @tlonista @themirokai