#i want to get back into the groove of writing + mini games !!

[enluv]

tehehehe send me an idol of your choosing + your favorite word(s) and I’ll write you a small drabble for them <3 !!

[randomoranges]

I started this fic 10000 years ago and somehow or other, what was supposed to be a short little haha fic turned into an 11 page mini-monster. This is from teacher au land because that’s the way I roll at times.

I kept wondering how it would be that Ed and Ét would come to know about the other being a queer and the original meet up scene came to me one day and I thought it was great. Of course, then it meant having to come up with the rest and how both of them would feel about the other knowing.

I’m also quite aware that not all schools and school environments are Super Conservative but everyone deals with their shit differently.

Finally, you may think Étienne is a little bit too considerate of Edward and not his usual selfish self, but I can assure you, he does act for his own benefit before Edward’s. He’s always been a friends first, everyone else after.

Safe

Started writing: June 5th 2024 3h14pm

Once the school year ends, Étienne feels as if he can finally be himself again. He no longer needs to be M Étienne and he can do whatever he pleases without having to worry about how it will seem to the children or how he could potentially be perceived by parents, staff or administrators.

Don’t get him wrong, he likes his job enough not to quit just yet, but there are aspects of it that feel archaic at best.

His first year at this new school teaching art hasn’t been so bad to the point where he’s accepted to return for a second. But now that it’s summer break, finally, he can put all of that behind and enjoy his free time whichever way he wants.

It so happens that tonight, he’s decided to go out. He’s often too tired during the school year or too busy or too something, but now, he can stay out late, hook up with whomever if he so pleases and he won’t have to worry about the bigger repercussions.

Normally, he likes to go out with his friends, but everyone seemed to have been busy or had previous plans. Étienne doesn’t mind, for it makes his night out different. He can dance with whomever he wants, he doesn’t have to check in with his friends, and if he wants to disappear with someone who’d caught his attention, he doesn’t have to let anyone know.

Tonight, that’s what he wants. He wants to get lost in the throngs of strangers, pressed close to warm bodies and roaming hands and finish his night in someone’s bed. (Or a bathroom stall, or a back alley. Whatever works. He’s not picky.)

Anyways.

There’s a decent crowd at the club and the music is just right; a perfect blend of retro dance hits mixed in with some modern tunes that don’t make his ears bleed just yet. He’s already on this side of tipsy and he’s highly considering getting another drink soon if no other pretty thing out here offers him one.

For now, however, he’s content grooving to the beat of the music, letting the notes envelop him in a warm cocoon. He’s giving himself until the end of the song before getting his drink, when someone puts their hands on his waist and presses in close.

Étienne grins to himself.

His night has just gotten better.

He leans back into the contact to see how comfortable his mysterious dance partner is and he is more than pleased when the person steps in closer and grinds against him.

The music picks up and it gets his blood circulating just a little bit faster. He loves the friction and loves the anonymous proximity of an unknown body pressed close to his. He moves to the rhythm of the music with his dance partner and lets the other’s hands do as they please, offering up his body to them as a gift.

Étienne’s always liked this side of going out alone. The chase. The temptation of the buffet of strangers ripe for his picking. The endless possibilities. The unknown of how his night will end and whom he’ll end it with. The freedom. The music pulsing in his veins. The game of cat and mouse.

They move together to the rhythm of the song, his dance partner’s breath tickling his ear, and their hands daring to dip under his tank top. Étienne closes his eyes to enjoy every bit of the moment while grinding back on his partner’s evident arousal. He’s giving them both until the end of the song to see if his new friend wants to find the nearest bathroom stall to mutually get off. He wouldn’t mind getting fucked by a stranger or sucking them off. He has condoms in his back pocket anyways for such occasions. It’s been a long while since a debauched night and Étienne feels it would be a proper inauguration to summer break.

He's also willing to follow whomever back home to their place if they’d rather do that instead. Or his own. Or, really, anywhere at this point, so long as the delicious friction currently going on can lead to sweet release. He’s not picky.

Finally, he turns in his dance partner’s embrace with the full intention of wrapping his arms around the other’s shoulders and maybe sharing a kiss or two. He starts doing just that, insanely curious to see what his catch of the night looks like.

The lights seem to find them in that moment and illuminate both their faces, while the last few notes of the current song fade and bleed into the start of the next one in a seamless transition.

Étienne’s mind stills for a moment as it tries to sort through the information it’s receiving.

This is a handsome face, yet it looks familiar – but it shouldn’t be here.

This is a familiar face, yet he cannot for the life of him recall from where he knows this man.

And then it clicks, same as for the other man.

Étienne is – well, surprised more so than shocked. Or frightened.

Edward, on the other hand, looks completely horrified as his eyes go comically wide and he takes multiple steps back, trying to get as much distance between the two of them, when mere moments before it had been nothing but the contrary.

“Edward, wait,” He tries to shout over the noise of the music, but Edward has already bolted off the dance floor, miraculously only bulldozing a few dancers on his way out and Étienne tries his best to run after him.

He gets it – no, really, he does, and he can only imagine how Edward must feel at the moment. There could be a myriad of different reasons as to why Edward was out at a gay club, but the fact remains that Edward had never told him anything and neither had he.

That and Étienne had never necessarily told him whether he was an ally. But before Edward can come to his own conclusions, Étienne wants to tell and reassure him lest this gets any more out of hand.

He fears for a moment that he’s lost track of Edward, when he finally makes it out of the club and doesn’t see his friend anywhere. There’s no way Edward is that fast, but then again, maybe he’d had an escape vehicle ready.

Étienne curses, turning on himself trying to see if he can see a retreating figure in any direction, but he comes up empty. He feels like a fool and a small voice at the back of his head reminds him that this is why he tries stay clear from these places now, even though that’s its own kind of messed up. He should be allowed to do and go wherever he wants to without fearing for his job.

He’s about ready to call it quits, go back home and forget all about his night out, when from the corner of his eyes he spots a figure some ways ahead, walking away.

With a renewed sense of urgency, Étienne runs after his friend.

“Edward!”

Edward looks back and instead of slowing down, he picks up his speed.

“Tabarnak, wait!”

Somehow, miraculously, he finally manages to catch up to him and makes to grab at Edward’s shirt before his friend can dash away again.

“Jesus; you’re a speedy little fucker.” He gasps and wheezes, completely out of breath. He should start biking more frequently again. Or something. Clearly, he’s out of shape.

“Yeah well, comes from years of playing soccer.” Edward’s voice is cool and cagey, as if guarding himself, not that Étienne blames him really.

“And I played hockey through university and yet here I am.”

He takes a moment to try and calm his erratic beating heart before it jumps out of his ribcage and gives its own pursuit of Edward and only lets go of his shirt once he’s sure Edward isn’t going to start running again. He should quit smoking too. He knows that. He’s – working on that. But, anyways.

Edward watches him closely, any trace of his usual warmth gone from his face. He has his arms crossed over his chest and everything about his posture is closed off and defensive. Étienne needs to choose his words carefully but there are a dozen or so different ways he can approach this and he doesn’t know which will be best.

Even he has something to lose by telling Edward anything at all and isn’t that something. It frustrates him, really, because he’s never been one for closets and such. Yet, he knows that with the work he does it’s still sometimes taboo and he can’t know who’s safe and who isn’t.

He swallows, takes a deep breath and hopes he won’t be shooting himself in the foot. He likes Edward as a friend and would hate to lose him over such a silly little – misunderstanding, but he tries to console himself in the notion that if Edward had been at this particular club for whatever reason, then clearly, it must at the very least mean that he’s not a homophobe.

Or, he really hopes he’s not.

(He has a slew of other questions running through his head though, such as wasn’t Edward spending his summer in not Montréal with his partner? And if Edward had a long-term partner then what was he doing getting handsy with strangers at a club? But then again, maybe Edward had some type of open relationship with his partner. And really, Edward had never mentioned his partner’s name in the few times said partner had come up in conversation so what did that mean? When really, who the fuck was he to judge?)

He's still too sober for this and slightly too tipsy at the same time, even if the run after his friend has certainly made him more alert.

“Look – just, hear me out. People come to clubs for all sorts of reason, yeah?” He passes a hand through his hair and still itches for a cigarette. He’d offer one to Edward as well, since he sure looks like he could use one even if he’s been meaning to cut back and quit for good, current physical extortion proof enough.

“And maybe you’re here with friends – or a curiosity – or whatever, but I’m – I’m safe.” He tries to put emphasis on the word hoping Edward will get it without having to spell it out.

“I won’t say anything about you being here and I hope you won’t either.” His hands are flying all over the place, unsteady in his nervousness as if they’ve lost all tethers. He has no clue where he’s going with any of this or what he hopes to achieve with his words other than hoping Edward won’t freak out more.

“I mean, it would be really hypocritical of me to judge, or say something, since I came here since I’m – queer.” There is only the smallest of hesitations to his words and he holds his breath as he quietly observes his friend for a reaction, but Edward remains perfectly still, illuminated by golden streetlights that makes him look otherworldly – a creature from heaven sent down to pass judgement on his sins.

But then he blinks and Edward looks – relieved? Relieved and defeated? Surprised? It is hard to tell.

“You’re – queer?” Edward asks as if he needs confirmation and Étienne tries real hard not to be annoyed but nods nonetheless. “And you won’t – this – we can just?”

“Pretend it was a silly little misunderstanding or such and laugh it off privately? Absolutely.”

At this point, Étienne wants to move past this as quickly as he can and start breathing normally again. He can’t remember the last time he’s felt any sort of fear for his own safety and he remembers acutely why it is he hated it so much.

“Oh thank God.” Edward crumbles like a house of cards on the nearby bench and brings his hands to his face. He lets out a long-exhausted sounding groan. “Had I known it was you, I wouldn’t have – well, I would have kept my hands off you.”

Étienne tries not to think his friend means it that he found him repulsive and shrugs, fishing out that long needed cigarette from his back pocket before sitting beside Edward. “Don’t worry about it. It’s not like you knew.”

“Still… I’m sorry and I’m glad.”

They sit in silence for a moment and Étienne finally lights his cigarette. He takes a gluttonous puff and lets the familiar taste of nicotine still his frayed nerves. He’s glad Edward hasn’t thrown slurs at him, but there’s still an edge of something crawling under his skin and he has no idea if it’s left over adrenaline from his run, the near fight-or-flight anxiety from the reveal or his previous thoughts of having a little fun with a stranger.

“For the record, I’m also queer. Well, gay.” Edward admits quietly, a private confession, his gaze fixed on his hands, what feels like ages later.

Étienne’s not sure he’s heard correctly at first, but he doesn’t ask for clarification. By the looks of it, saying it once has taken its toll on his friend.

“So your partner…” He starts instead, unable to shut up his incessant curiosity.

“Was a man.”

He’s about to nod until his brain registers on the verb tense Edward’s just used.

“Was? Shit – did something happen? Fuck, I’m sorry.” He’s not sure if he’s meant to offer a sympathetic gesture or what exactly happened, but things are starting to piece themselves together in this eclectic mosaic of a night.

“He – well, he broke up with me. After five years. It’s why I came here.”

Edward says it so very calmly and seems so very detached from all of it that at first Étienne thinks he’s mostly fine with it, until he notices that Edward’s hands have formed fists on his thighs and that they’re shaking slightly.

He has so many other questions buzzing in his mind now, but he tries his best to remain supportive without infringing on his friend’s privacy.

However, in his honest opinion, it’s clearly What’s-It’s loss. It’s – well, Edward is a handsome fellow and even though Étienne hasn’t said or done anything about it, because Edward was with someone, and since he didn’t know if his friend would be interested, he can still admit it to himself that he likes Edward. As a friend. As a human being. As someone he wouldn’t have minded bringing back home. But – it’s not here nor there for now.

Étienne stubs out his cigarette for now and puts a cautious hand on Edward’s shoulder. He’s relieved when Edward doesn’t flinch or shrug him off.

“That sounds like a really shit thing to happen.” He finally says. It makes Edward laugh even if it’s mostly pained and a little manic.

“That’s putting it lightly. We were supposed to go on vacation together. Then, a week before we were going to leave, he told me he couldn’t do this anymore. I was completely blindsided. He left. Like that. And I – I went back home. To Edmonton. I couldn’t go on a vacation that was meant for the both of us and the idea of staying in the place we lived together was too much. It’s still too much. It’s why I came out tonight. I just wanted – to feel something.”

Edward sounds a little lost and still very sad. It’s understandable, he supposes, and he wishes there was something concrete he could do to make him feel better.

“If you need anyone to help you burn something down, call me.” He offers. It’s not his strongest, but it does make Edward grin and he takes his win where he can.

Another silence falls on them and Étienne lights himself another cigarette for a lack of something to do. He can start seriously thinking of quitting tomorrow.

He takes another one out and offers it to Edward who accepts after a moment. They smoke quietly, the actions and confessions of the night permeating the air around them. It’s not necessarily heavy, but it does have a certain weight of change to the atmosphere. Now they know each other’s bigger secrets and that – transforms a relationship.

“I’m sorry I ruined your evening,” Edward says once their cigarettes have been smoked and discarded. He gives him an apologetic smile that’s shy around the edges and a little embarrassed. “I’m sure you hadn’t planned on hearing the sad state of affairs of a friend’s love life.”

“No, but I’m glad you ran into me and that you trusted me enough to tell me what happened.” He means it really. He wouldn’t have minded getting laid, obviously, but he can do that on any old evening. Being there for his friend is different.

Edward shrugs as if wanting to dismiss what he’s just said, but Étienne needs to reassure him that he won’t hold this against him.

“And honestly, no harm done for earlier, okay? If anything, I think it’s funny. It’ll be our own little private inside joke. I’m your friend, I don’t plan on making your life a living hell and I really hope that’s not your intention either…”

Edward shakes his head vigorously, “No – same here – and thanks, really, for being so cool about, well, everything.”

Étienne smiles and claps him on the shoulder. They’re part of the same community; it would be really daft of him to turn his back on a friend and on one of his own. Plus, if it means that he’s that much less alone at work, then so be it. At least, he now knows he has someone he can go to and be just this more authentic around.

They talk some more – about this that and everything in between. It’s quiet at this time in the park and the night, if nothing else, is perfect; the sky is clear, it’s still pleasantly warm and it’s not too humid yet. When Edward starts yawning, Étienne suggests he walk him home and Edward agrees with little fuss. They take their time though and Étienne lets his friend talk, glad to listen.

“What other exciting plans do you have for the end of the summer?” Étienne asks once they reach Edward’s doorstep. He wonders, briefly, if one of the reasons Edward never invited him inside before was because he was afraid of him finding out about his boyfriend. Maybe this time – or in the upcoming future, he’ll be able to come in and Edward won’t have to hide anything from him anymore.

“I don’t know – can you believe this is the first time that I’m actually in town for some part of the summer?” Edward admits sheepishly and Étienne nearly stumbles on the stairs. It would certainly leave quite the impression if he fell face first in Edward’s stairs, but the shock of the news is enough to nearly make it worthwhile.

“You’re joking.” He says to be sure he hasn’t hallucinated anything. He’s quite sure he’s more sober than not and he has it on good authority that he hasn’t taken anything else since leaving the club – but, clearly, he’s heard wrong.

Edward gives him a sheepish shrug as a reward and scratches at the back of his neck. “No? I was – well always away, somewhere…”

“Oh my God, Édouard.” He grabs his friend by the shoulders and tries not to shake him too much and looks him straight in the eyes. “I must show you all the things.”

There may be a smidge of fear in Edward’s face but Étienne thinks it’s a good thing. No one should live in the city this long and have never enjoyed its summer. It’s a tragedy, really.

“I’ll make a list of places and a schedule. We can start tomorrow.” He takes out his phone and starts typing away at full speed, jotting things down that come to his mind, not trusting himself to do it later.

“Please, you don’t have to go through all that trouble – forget I said anything!”

Edward looks – well, surprised and a little shocked, but Étienne is quick to dismiss him with one hand as he makes another note on his phone. “Nonsense. This is a high offence and I will make sure to rectify it before it goes on any longer.”

“Well, if you insist…”

He does, really, and so he jots down a few more things before sending it off to Edward. “You can start by looking at what I’ve sent you and see if there’s anything that you’d like to do first. We’ll work our way through it and whatever we don’t hit we can do in the fall.”

Edward takes a moment and opens the document, most likely to make sure he can read it and then pockets his phone. “I’m both frightened and amazed by the speed at which you made this already quite thorough list.”

He grins, self satisfied and pleased, “It’s a gift.”

“Alright, well, I’ll let you rest your magic then. Thank you again, really, for – everything tonight and for walking me home.”

“Any time.”

Edward steps up to him and opens his arms for a hug that Étienne is more than happy to give.

He realises then and there that Edward’s hugs are soft and that if he’s not careful, he’ll want more. He knows he should step back before he lingers too much, but he indulges for now. He likes the feel of Edward’s arms around his back and the warmth of his body against his own.

Logically, Étienne is aware that maybe it all comes down to his silly crush he has on his friend or the fact that he hasn’t been with someone in a while. It also might not help that it’s quite late and that he’s had a bit too much to drink, but he’s also always enjoyed living a little bit dangerously, and ever the glutton for punishment, he dares to inch his face this much closer to the fold of Edward’s shirt so that he can let his scent wrap around him for just a second longer.

Edward’s ex is the biggest loser for letting him go, really.

Somehow, he manages to pull away before it gets too awkward. He makes the mistake of sparing Edward a look and his breath stills for just a second. Edward’s even prettier up close and the urge to hold him again or caress his face is quite strong. He tries to think of some platitude he can say, but his words completely fail him and instead he’s pulled in by Edward’s lovely eyes.

Maybe, he thinks, it’s leftover pent up whatever from before that’s making it hard to look away. Maybe, he tells himself, it’s the fact that he’d gone out with a specific goal in mind and it’s ruminating in his body. Or – maybe, he rationalises, he’s been harbouring this thing for Edward for months now and it would be so very easy, so very convenient to just – lean in and – kiss him.

And maybe – just maybe – Edward feels partially the same – or it’s the atmosphere that’s charged – or something, because Edward maybe – just maybe – meets him halfway before they both hover, milometers apart, suspended for a singular breath, before – and it’s hard to say who finally goes for it first – they connect.

It’s soft and delicate at first, as if they’re both this side of tentative and unsure. Étienne dares to cup a hand on Edward’s cheek and it’s only when Edward reciprocates by grabbing him by the front of his shirt that Étienne throws caution to the wind and completely goes for it, matching Edward’s sense of need and potential desperation.

It gets messy and heady and he yields under Edward’s kisses, feeling warm and hot all over. He grabs at Edward’s body with eager hands and presses forward for more and more, greedy bastard that he’s always been, pleased and thrilled that Edward wants just as much.

It’s the club all over again, but this time he backs Edward against his door and the gasp Edward lets out is better than any music he’s heard all night.

They make out, pure and simple. Étienne’s thrilled by the throaty little moans Edward keeps producing and the friction happening between their bodies is delicious.

“We should continue this inside,” Edward whispers in his ear, sending a wave of pleasure through his body.

He nods and quietly laughs while Edward fumbles with his door, until finally, they’re on the other side of it where it’s nice and cool.

They make it a few paces in when the blast of cool air seems to sober him up and make him realise exactly what it is he’s doing. Or, more importantly, who it is he’s doing it with.

“My bedroom’s this way.”

Étienne should have been ecstatic. He should have followed Edward without second thought. Or, at the very least, maybe gotten on his knees to offer Edward a blowjob, but instead, his stupid conscious decides to rear its ugly head at the worst of times.

Way to be grown up and mature about all of this…

(And really, he’s surprised he still has one after all these years, but that’s a retrospection for some other time.)

He pauses long enough for Edward to notice and suddenly look worried.

“Actually,” He starts a little sheepish as he runs a hand through his hair and tugs at a curl out of nervous habit, “And I’m so going to regret this later,” He lets out a great big sigh followed by a nervous laugh.

He’s about to fuck this up, isn’t he?

Leave it to him to ruin things one way or another…

“I think – maybe we shouldn’t.”

Étienne knows how bad that sounds and he knows it’s the absolute last thing anyone wants to hear given this set of specific circumstances, and yet, he goes on even though he’s already mentally kicking himself.

If the first silence had been bad, this one is even heavier and if possible, worse.

“Oh God,” Edward starts saying, nearly leaping away from him as if wanting to put as much physical distance between the both of them. “I’m so sorry – I got carried away.” Edward’s already turned embarrassed, if he’s to judge by the flush on his cheeks that has gone from turned on to mortified.

“No – it’s look – I know this sounds completely deranged, but,” He takes a deep breath. He needs to attempt to save this, somehow or other. He needs Edward to realise that it’s really not him and that he’s lovely and great and under a different set of circumstances, this conversation would have never happened and they’d already be in Edward’s room with less clothes on and even less distance between them.

But, even in his head it sounds bizarre and he’s not quite sure why he’s chosen this ground to run on.

“I like you.” Étienne figures he may as well come out and say it now. Hell, it’s been a night of confessions so what’s one more? Maybe it’ll reassure Edward. “But I don’t want to ruin our friendship.” He adds quickly before Edward can get any false hope. “I don’t want you to wake up tomorrow morning and have regrets and then avoid me at work. I like what we have and I don’t want it to get weird.”

There’s a part of his brain that tells him that this is weird, especially considering he’s never been one to turn down a very eager hot guy. Then again, he’s seldom gone and developed overlapping friendship and potential feelings for someone either. It had to happen now, obviously, because clearly the universe was out to get him personally and make his life that much more complicated.

“You’ve just broken up from a long relationship. I don’t want to be a rebound and then maybe lose you as a friend in the end…”

He tries to give Edward an apologetic look, but it’s hard to do when Edward hides his face in his hands.

“No – you’re right. I shouldn’t have – and I’m so sorry. I mean, we’re colleagues as well. There’s – logistics to it and – HR to think about.” Edward laughs nervously and tries to put even more distance between them as he can, it seems, “I totally – I’m just going to – actually, if you could see yourself out and then I’ll just – dig a hole to burry myself in and I’m sorry – please forget any of this ever happened. You never have to see me again.”

Étienne thinks it’s endearing how red Edward’s gotten and how he’s taken refuge in the safety of his hands. He never thought he’d find such a thing sweet, but he blames it on the booze and the overall night. Never in his life would he have thought this could have been possible. And yet, here he is, trying to console his friend who had been quite willing to bring him to bed.

He laughs softly and tries to reach out for Edward’s elbow to get his attention and stop him babbling nonsense.

“No; I promised to show you around town.”

Edward does what Étienne calls distressed baby whale noises and it only makes him fonder. Sure, there would be HR to think about and other logistics, but they’re so far away from that and it is, currently, the last think on his mind.

“You’re just saying that to make me feel better.” Edward bemoans, but he does look away from his hiding spot in his hands and Étienne takes it as a small win.

“I’m serious. In fact, how about brunch tomorrow – well later?”

“You really don’t have to.”

There’s an edge of polite rebuttal to Edward’s words, but Étienne ignores him and takes out his phone to look up a place he has in mind. “I can pick you up at 11.” He puts the phone back in his pocket and leans back against the wall, trying to look defiant to see if Edward will challenge him again.

“You’re not letting this go, are you?” Edward finally asks. He lets out a great big sigh of someone who’s come to the terrible realisation that they’ve lost at an argument.

Étienne’s grin is wide. He’s been known to get his way here and there and he has it on good authority that he can be quite persuasive when he wants to, “Nope.”

Edward rolls his eyes, but Étienne knows it means that his friend is only mildly annoyed at him and not that he’s completely cross. If anything, it also means Edward is momentarily less distressed and that’s a step in the proper direction.

“Alright, fine, you can take me to brunch tomorrow. Happy?” He sounds a smidge resigned, but also a tad – hopeful. Or so Étienne thinks. He’ll take the interpretation, anyways.

“Absolutely.” Étienne is far too pleased with himself and if it shows on his face Edward doesn’t comment on it, instead choosing to walk him back to the front door where they dither there for a moment or two.

“You better not bail on me tomorrow, Murphy. I know where you live now.”

“Don’t worry – I won’t skip town.”

Étienne reaches for the door, ready to step out and leave with one last joke, but then he hesitates for a moment, his mind playing catch up with everything that’s just happened. He looks back at Edward and reads the same hesitancy on his friend’s face. Edward looks as unsure as he suddenly feels and maybe it’s this shared common feeling that pushes Étienne to change his closing remark for something a little more sincere.

“You know – if ever you’re still interested – after you’ve given yourself some time to heal, hit me up, yeah? I wouldn’t mind seeing where this could go.”

“The fuck is that supposed to mean, Maisonneuve?”

Étienne laughs at Edward, before he opens the door. “Whatever you want it to. Don’t forget – brunch tomorrow. Sleep well!”

He’s gone with a wink before Edward can call him back and before he starts overthinking that he’s just said too much. Instead, he nearly skips down the stairs and then heads back towards his own place. He meant what he’s said; he likes Edward and he really wouldn’t mind, given better circumstances. He takes out another cigarette for good measure, lights it up, and focuses instead of what else they can do tomorrow after their brunch.

He has a good feeling that things will work out in their own way.

FIN

August 17th 2024 4h08pm

[hypaalicious]

3,6,& 9 if you please~ it's so good seeing you on my dash 💖

Yeah I’m lame and screenshot the questions cause I end up forgetting what I’m even talking about mid-type 😂

… also, I read “3, 6, 9” and immediately followed it up with “damn you fine, hoping she can sock it to me one more time, GET LOWWWW GET LOW GET LOWWW”

Sorry okay let me get back on track

I answered 3 in a previous ask, so

#6 - hardest part is probably just starting to write, LMAO! There’s nothing like the intimidation of facing a blank document and a flashing cursor waiting for you to put something down, frfr. I end up overthinking the story before I’ve even written it. 😩 Once I get rolling, it’s a lot easier, even though I have mini hurdles along the way like trying to figure out the BEST word to use in a sentence or how to transition scenes.

#9 - writing process??? WHAT’S THAT

Okay well I can now say it’s totally different between fics vs novels/script writing

For fics, it’s totally “get obsessed with an idea, marinate on it in your mind for days, fly off the seat of your pants while writing it”. What I plan is often not entirely how the fics go, but hey, I get to be surprised by the outcome just as much as the readers are 😂

For novels and professional writing, I learned that outlines are mandatory, so I start with that. Pacing must fit within thresholds and if you just ramble you end up with a lot that needs to be trimmed or re-worked, and that sucks. I basically had to re-write my manuscript from scratch after the first draft got (lovingly) critiqued by beta readers because fic writing ain’t novel writing, LOL. Also, to help get my writing going, I actually RP’d a third of it with a good friend to get a feel for how I wanted it to go. This prevented me from falling into a writer’s block cause I had someone else basically prompting me to write my story bits at a time. The final product is very different from what was RP’d, but that base really helped me get the rest of it done.

I also wrote scenes out of order instead of stressing over writing “boring” parts to catch up to the stuff I really wanted to write. Never did that before, but once again, it was to stave off writer’s block.

For game writing scripts… lord, that was such an adjustment 😩 Yes, outlining is mandatory! Believe it or not, my weakest link is writing dialogue. I depend on narrative descriptions to fill space, but in a game where everything is dialogue driven it’s rough. I had to picture my characters talking way more than I’ve ever even pictured actual people talking, LOL! My introvert status is mad showing, I know 😂 But dude, you don’t realize how much dialogue is involved in even the most mundane things until you’re like “oh, I can’t infer their nervousness through descriptive body language or tense atmosphere, I have to figure out how to make them say they’re nervous without actually having them SAY straight up they’re nervous and not having it feel like scenes move clunkily.” I’m so damn verbose that I didn’t think I could do it, fam. 🥲

But now I’m in 100% script writing mode and just need to finish the game so I can throw myself back into long-form writing to get my groove back 😂

[universi-tea]

Hi! I love your blog.

I have ADHD and have been struggling to get any work done and I can't seem to focus or be productive. All I seem to do is procrastinate and then panic when deadlines approach and I don't have things done because my brain just says no.

Do you have any tips for what to do? How can I help myself stay focused and on task and not feel like I can't do anything? I'm at my wits end trying to find new ways to help, but I just can't.

Thanks in advance for any advice you may have.

I have ADHD too so I know how hard it can be to get your brain to coorporate! Here are a few things that work for me, but as I'm sure you know they'll sometimes work great and other times I still end up staring at a wall for an hour. Oh well.

1. Set timers My phone is usually my biggest distraction, so having a timer pop up when I unlock it serves as a physical reminder that I have to work for 20 more minutes before I can check Instagram. It also helps because it gives me a mini deadline, which my brain likes. I'll say that I want to finish writing a page, or making 15 flash cards, etc before the timer goes off.

2. Make the most of flow Sometimes I'll be getting a lot done and really be in a groove and think "wow, I deserve a break right now". It's a trap!! You'll never get that focus back. If you're in a groove and getting a lot done, take advantage and keep going until you hit a wall.

3. Treat yourself like a grumpy toddler in a grocery store I shamelessly bribe myself to get things done. Have something fun in mind (when I was in school it was usually a party or basketball game) to motivate you to get projects done before the deadline. I'd force myself to work a little extra each day so that I'd have the time to have fun on weekends. Or, promise yourself ice cream if you can finish your work on time. Whatever works.

4. Done is better than perfect A lot of times I'll put off work because I think I need to do more research, come up with more ideas, etc. Just get started! Learn to be okay with turning in work that's not perfect, because perfect work doesn't exist anyway.

5. Keep your brain happy Sometimes something as simple as sitting on a comfy chair makes work easier. Or eating a fun snack, or watching tv if it's mindless work. Do those things!!

6. Work in public When I work near people, I'm guilted into actually getting work done. I don't want strangers to see me sitting on my phone instead of reading my textbook, so I'm more likely to actually get stuff done.

Hopefully some of those help!! Good luck :)

[caspercryptid]

Little mini author update because there’s not enough to report to warrant a full newsletter (I’m sorry, no snippets! I also wish there were snippets.)

To the person who just single-handedly met my last ko-fi funding goal: Hello. I love you. I love you most ardently. I want you to know that you’re the reason I managed to get out of bed today! In my hazy oversleeping haze I pulled up my phone and saw my notifications and went “What the everloving fuck” I owe you my life. Semi-literally.

Seriously in general to everyone who’s given on ko-fi though: Every little bit truly does count and even if you just tossed a dollar or two in the proverbial tipjar it counts and I love you and you’re the reason I can afford to make health purchases without losing my mind that i’m going to cut into savings I need to get out of my shitty living situation. it means an immeasurable amount to me. May you all be blessed. Seriously. I love you. 

Now, in payback, some updates. 

Fake Dating Game: Three more to go! One of them’s singerdinger. But casper, you ask, surely you don’t mean-- yes. yes I do. singed is gonna date that yordle. I think one of the other two is gonna be Melco and the last one’s a toss-up but we’ll see! probably gonna land on jayvik.

Looking Forward: The next prompt-spam game is going to be Sickfic! at some point in the next week at a random time I am going to open my inbox for about 15 minutes and do as many sickfics as I receive requests for. ((After that, other options might be epistolary au and disguises au))

But casper what about all those other requests in your inbox?

I go where there is serotonin. One of the good things about the spam game is that once I get in the groove I churn those out FAST and with the extra serotonin I can write the stuff that’s a little higher effort. 

But casper what about your longfics?

All in due time. I am going to do a re-read of “this ain’t a scene” to get back in the groove but honestly the answer as to why that one’s taking so long isn’t at all that I've lost interest in it: I absolutely have not. I’ve just been having a little bit too rough a patch to be funny. but things have sort of stabilized a little, still not Good but at least on less uncertain ground, so i’m optimistic about being able to get back on the horse soon.

NSB is in edits and is waiting for me to be able to read, and HtF is in my poor poor overworked partner’s lap because I have only ever written one decent sex-scene in my life and that’s what’s on the docket. I am too depressed for Blood. Stars is at a weird formatting section. Anyway. Soon! soon. 

As always, much love, thanks for your patience and for the the asks. My one bit of solid good news is that i’m planning on re-watching arcane soon! as soon as my migraines actually let up. so there should be some meta incoming. 

[weasleypogues]

jealousy is a two way street

request: Hi could I request a young Sirius black imagine where reader and Sirius have a argument blow up infront of the rest of the marauders in the dorm with lots of shouting because they are both to stubborn to admit either of them are wrong. Lots of snide remarks and sarcastic comments (also reader and Sirius are already dating) I love your writing 

thanks so much!! hope u enjoy xxx

finally trying to get back into the groove of writing!! requests are open <3 

masterlist.

“Fuck, Marry, Kill: (Y/N), Emma Cooper, and Allison Wood.” James called off names as the Marauders, Lily, and you sat in a circle in the common room. It was approximately 2:45 AM and after a stop at HoneyDukes, needless to say no one was falling asleep till later or at all for that matter.

“Kill Emma, Fuck Allison and Marry (Y/N) for sure.” Sirius answered without even hesitating. You slightly clenched your jaw and looked at the ground.

“Course.” You muttered under your breath and looked in the opposite direction of Sirius immediately. You mentally cursed James for even bringing up Allison and cured Sirius even more for choosing her. In the past you two had arguments because of Allison whether it be that she was getting too touchy with Sirius and he wasn’t stopping it or constantly talking about her when you two were alone. But why couldn’t he just choose Emma? Was he completely oblivious to the months of constant arguing?

Sirius Black knew how to get under your skin. As much as you loved him as your boyfriend, he could be a dick from time to time and found it hot when you would get frustrated after he would push your buttons. But this time he’d gone a little too far.

“What was that?” Sirius inquired, raising his eyebrows at you. 

“I said ‘Of course”. Of course you would pick Allison instead of the sweet Emma. I knew this game would make me jealous but your dumb fucking answers are making me infuriated.” You replied, feeling like your whole body was on fire.

“Babe, we’ve been over this. She means nothing to me, I’d rather spend the rest of my life with you than be with Allison.”

“First of all, don’t babe me. Second of all, we endured months and months of conflicts because of her. She hates me! I hate her! It’s a two way street and you seem to stick yourself in the middle of it instead of choosing a side. You know how jealous I got when she would put her hand on your leg or on your arm. Run her hand through your hair. Or on date nights when instead of a nice and loving conversation it’s ‘Guess what Alli did today?’ or ‘Alli is actually too funny’.” You said, not taking a breath until the end. All of this anger and emotions that have been bubbling up inside of you were finally released and you didn’t feel any remorse at all.

He opened his mouth to say something but chuckled darkly and shook his head. “I’m not even going to say it.”

“No, say it. Please do. I’m sure we would all love to hear what you have to say.” You spat back, crossing your arms. 

“For months on fucking months during our fights you know who you would constantly go to? James. My best fucking mate. My fucking brother. At points, I felt like you liked him better than you liked me. It made me feel like shit to see you two always having a good fucking laugh. You could have came to me! Yes, there was tension between us but never on earth would I turn you away. We could’ve figured this out a lot quicker and calmer if I didn’t believe you were out shagging my best friend.” Sirius admitted, his face beet red and hair wild. Your jaw dropped and you were at a loss for words. What you were feeling was exactly what he was feeling?

“Sirius I had no-” You started but were soon cut off.

“No idea, yeah I know. If you haven’t noticed I’m an expert at keeping my feelings hidden.” He grumbled. “You know what. I’m done. I gotta go.” And with that he stood up and left the room, walking up the stairs to the dormitory. You immediately stood up and was about to take your first step until a hand held you back.

“Give him some time to cool down. If you speak to him any more he’s only going to get more heated and it won’t help anyone.” Remus spoke softly and gave you a sympathetic smile. 

“Fuck that, I’m going to talk to him.” James bursted out and shoved himself off of the ground and walked up the same stairs Sirius had moments ago.

“I really fucked up this time. If I had just kept my mouth shut.” You mumbled and ran your hand over your face and let that run through your hair. 

“You didn’t fuck up. You were angry and there were still some unspoken feelings between you two. This will get resolved. Sirius is so whipped for you that he wouldn’t do anything to lose you. Trust me.” Lily state simply and gave you a reassuring smile. You let out a shaky breath and nodded before getting up and walking to your dorms. 

“I’ll just let us both sleep on it.” You responded, though you were not completely sure of that.

“Give him a couple of minutes for he and James to sort this out between them. But you don’t want to go to bed angry, that’s not going to work.” Lily said, looking extremely sympathetic. You groaned loudly and let your head roll to the back of the couch.

“Why must you always be right, Lily?” She laughed in response.

“It’s just in my DNA.”

You waited downstairs for another half hour, fiddling with your thumbs and going through mini arguments in your head on what to say to him to clear this up. You heard the creak of the boys dormitory door open and looked up immediately to only see James walking out with his hands in his pockets, looking quite sheepish.

“I told him I’d send you up there.” James stated, taking a seat on the couch next to you. 

“How’d it go with you?” You asked, worry written all over your face.

“Not that badly. He just needs a pair of ears. He may be dramatic but he isn’t the type to want to start yelling at you.” You nodded and with that, lifted from the couch and made your way up the stairs. You chose not to knock but just walk right in to see Sirius sitting on his bed and looking out the window that was next to it. He had his hands folded in his lap and was quiet.

“Sirius...” You said, hoping not to spook him, but in reality you just wanted to soflty grab his attention. Sirius moved his head slightly but still didn’t look directly at you.

“I’m sorry about, you know, everything. I never put myself in your shoes to take in what you must have been feeling when all of that was going down. It’s just that James knows you the best so I thought that he could give me guidance on how to make things right but I never realized how it must’ve looked to you. I really do apologize for that.” You said, still feet away from him, standing with your fingers interlocked with themselves. Sirius finally looked in your direction and gave you a small smile.

“Thank you, (Y/N/N). But really I should be apologizing. I shouldn’t have blown up on you down there. I just got jealous and didn’t want to admit I was wrong considering you going to James for advice is way different than Allison heavily flirting with me all the time. It’s hard for me to take blame where it’s deserved and I let my pride get the best of me. But I want to assure you that you’re the only girl I ever want to be with. Allison is Allison and that’s it. You mean the world to me and absolutely no one could ever get in the way of that. Not even my pride.” Sirius responded, worry etched in his furrowed eyebrows and glossy eyes as he slowly made his way towards you and grabbed your interlocked hands. 

You subtly smiled, realizing if you showed anymore emotion that the overwhelming amount of emotions you were feeling right now might make you start crying. You instinctively let your body nuzzle right into his chest and you wrapped your arms around his torso, taking in his warmth and scent. He didn’t hesistate to wrap his arms around you and kiss the top of your head a couple of times. 

Pulling your head away but keeping your arms around his body, you looked up at him and smiled. “I love you.”

“I love you too.” Sirius responded with, not hesitating whatsoever. You leaned in for a long kiss and were in each others arms for a few moments longer.

[parkerlyn]

Mini update - Jan 20, 2021

Hey all! Thanks so much for your patience with me and for still sending asks despite me being super slow 😫

Covid has come a lot closer to home recently, affecting some immediate family members and causing a death in our extended circle (someone my parents knew more than us, so mainly just trying to check in with them). Thankfully the immediate relatives are mostly on the mend, so things are looking up and we’re just taking each day one step at a time :)

That and some other irl things have kind of thrown me off / sent me into video game brain rot to unwind when I have time, so I haven’t made as much progress as I wanted (especially in IFWriMo asjdfklasjdkfdjk 😞). Though I did manage to get past 87k without code and 95k with code, so slowly creeping closer to 100k! Also huge apologies if I missed a tag or anything while I’ve been a little out of it D:

Slowly getting back into the groove of things, so will hopefully have a more earnest writing effort in the next couple weeks because I am so excited for the upcoming updates! Looking to still release at least Chap 2 at the end of January while I continue to work Chap 3, just because I’ve let this lull go on for so long x_x

Thank you for sticking around, and please stay safe! I hope you and your loved ones are well, and watch out for one another!

xoxo Parker  ❤️

[fasterthanmydemons]

{out of breath} As you can see, not much has been happening on my blogs lately. I am sorry about this, but rest assured, it’s not permanent. I’m just dealing with a few things right now that are sapping my creativity, my muse, and my time. Details below the cut, and I may be taking mini-hiatuses during my busy times at work. I will let everyone know if/when this happens, so you’ll know to expect me around or not.

I’m experiencing a bit of burnout with my writing currently, combined with a lack of muse for Marvel muses, which unfortunately is the majority of my active muses right now. I may be taking a day away from Pietro, since he’s the only single muse that has two days on my schedule, and making one day where I don’t have anything scheduled to give myself a break, because scheduling rping for every day is starting to become very stressful. I’m thinking maybe Thursdays will be my day off, but I’ll let you all know when I decide.

I’m also having trouble kicking inspiration for an old character from my favorite video game (one I’ve loved for 15 years and really should have made a muse of mine well before now), and I’ve come to the conclusion that maybe I just need to do something with said inspiration to get it out of my system. I’m hoping that if I do that, I can yank my brain out of this rut it’s stuck in. I’m trying to decide whether to give him his own blog, which I’d prefer, or to add him to my multimuse, which might get him mildly more activity. Can I count on some of you to go bother him if I give him his own blog? Pretty please? XD Overall, I expect there to not be very much interest in this muse, which is totally fine because I don’t necessarily want more rp activity overall, but I would like a space to write about him, even if it’s just fics and metas, so I’m leaning towards making him his own blog. 

Also this semester of teaching is proving to be one of the most difficult I’ve ever had. I have more students now than I ever have before, so volume of assignments to grade is an issue, but also the students are really struggling a lot more than usual. I don’t know whether it’s that it’s the first semester they’re back to almost all in-person classes and they’re back on campus and they’re just stressed out or what, but they are needing a lot of guidance, makeups, and reminders from me to keep going. This is really sapping my free time and energy, which then makes it harder to write even when I do get the free time to do so. I think I want to take mini-hiatuses of maybe 4-6 days at a time whenever I have forums assignments to grade, because those are my most time-consuming assignments to read through and score. There are five more of these assignments between now and December, including one due tomorrow. I will let everyone know if/when I go on hiatus in the next couple days.

So... I think having a free day of the week where I get a break from T.umb.lr, playing around with some non-Marvel inspiration for a change, and taking breaks when work gets really time-consuming will help not only my stress levels but my creative burnout as well. I apologize to everyone waiting for replies, as I know I was slow enough as I was before, but I appreciate the patience, and hopefully I will have my groove back before too long.

[sunnymenagerie]

RuPaul's Drag Race: Snatch Game

We’ve reached the ninth week of ‘Drag Race’ and we’ve finally said goodbye to a fifth queen. It was the least unexpected Sashay Away, ever - but it was fucking Snatch Game this week! The week every fan of the show looks forward to and after a Double Shantay and a COVID special...I gotta say, RuPaul doesn’t know a damn thing because one of those that were simply safe should have been doing laps in the winner’s circle, but hey...let’s talk about everything else that went down first.

The mini-challenge took us back to Ru’s roots when he was a fierce punk rocker in a band. The queens had to create makeshift rawk ensembles out of Snag Tights. Which, I’ve seen their ads on Instagram for years, and now I feel like they’re really trying insanely hard to get my attention. Listen Snag, I’m NOT interested, okay? Well, I am. I just can’t afford that luxury at the moment. After Tina Burner won it, we learned that it was Snatch Game week, which let our nine remaining queens to talk to Ru about their…

Did Olivia Lux have a backup planned because...When Ru comes through and is a little hesitant, that’s when you’re going to want to push your love of your first choice out the damn window and pick anyone safe. Chrissy Tiegen is another foodie celeb, one Olivia could have easily pulled off in terms of looks - and is someone Ru would’ve recognized in an instant. Again…

For a couple of weeks I thought Kandy Muse was going to be Spongebob’s BFF Patrick, but she was um...someone else, but really, I thought it was more like when Miss Vanjie basically just came out and was herself; funny but a winner? I knew she’d wind up safe. Alongside her in the safe zone was Tina Burner with an okay Richard Simmons, and...fucking Symone? Okay, let’s talk about this. When I saw she was doing Harriet Tubman, I was nervous but then I remembered that Symone cannot fail an acting challenge. From the moment she was introduced on that panel - I was like - WINNER. Then her runway? She took her time on that runway to say their names and it was a fucking MOMENT. I could not believe she was safe alongside two people who gave okay performances and middle of the road runways. Well, not Tina - that was tragic but not as bad as some that were actually in the bottom. Which, we’ll get to. First, the tops.

Denali’s JVN from ‘Queer Eye’ was one of my favorites but I truly thought her runway was going to put her backstage with Tina and Kandy. She was on par with Symone’s Snatch Game BUT the runways? There was no comparison to be made. However, Denali can be damn proud knowing she killed two of the hardest challenges on the show - two weeks in a row. Rose was someone I figured would be in the top, but safe after I saw her runway. It was pretty (and a personal fav) but not a wow-factor. Speaking of wow....Gottmik. Well, once Symone was safe I knew Gottmik had to be the winner. Her Paris was perfect, and her runway utilized that same adjective. If it’s not her and Symone in the top 2 when this all ends…

That left us with Utica, Olivia Lux, and Elliott with 2 Ts in the bottom. Which, if you didn’ realize that from watching Snatch Game...really? What surprised me was Utica having to lip sync for her life because her runway was fantastic compared to the Yzma from ‘Emperor’s New Groove’ and whatever the hell Elliott was trying to accomplish. If you’re trying to serve flamingo fantasy - have a beak. Even a black lip would’ve sufficed. In the end it was Utica and Elliott, and I think Utica really did a better job, while Elliott didn’t seem to have the same level of fight as she’s had previously.

So Utica lived to see another day but I’m not sure she’ll want to stick around longer after the other queens clocked her for what seems to be a two-faced personality; one on camera and one off. We see her as a sweet, small town queen but according to her season 13 sisters - when they stop filming, Utica can be shady. I think I understood where Utica was coming from in her timid explanation...she doesn’t quite know how to be as jokingly catty with the girls all the time, so sees if she can be when they’re away from the Werk Room to sort of see if hers and their comfort levels with her “shady” side. At least, that’s how I heard it. I could be 100% wrong though.

Anyways, next week the queens are making over...one another. Ugh, fucking COVID and the adjustments that have to be made. I’m wondering though...all the huge challenges have sort of come back to back to back. So...what the fuck is left for these queens to do after this? We shall see…

Fascinating Fascinators Looks Ranked:

Symone: *gasp*

Rose: I’m a sucker for floral

Gottmik: Was refreshing to see her out of latex this week

Utica: Based on just the look - I thought this was super inventive and cute

Denali: Cute but nothing to write home about

Kandy Muse: There’s a reason she was safe

Olivia Lux: Not really sure what it was but it didn’t make me upset like the other two

Tina Burner: If Elliott had done anything with her lips, Tina would’ve been the worst for me this week...seriously, she’s going to lose because of her runways

Elliott with 2 T’s:

Week 9 Rankings & Reasonings:

Symone - I do not care that she was safe. Her Snatch Game took a historical figure that is so well revered and made her current, and hilarious. Also, how was that runway merely safe? I’m sticking with her as my #1.

Gottmik - She is like BenDeLaCreme perfection from All Stars right now and the only way I see her going home before the finale is if she takes herself out.

Rose - Girl is making it to that top 4.

Denali - Two weeks in a row on the rise? Her trajectory is there, but can her runways are still a hit or miss. 

Kandy Muse - For having such a huge personality, I was surprised she played it a bit safe this week. Which, I assume, was a tactic because she knows that Snatch Game is the hardest thing they’ll have to do - and she knew that being safe was just as good as winning. However, this is the second week she’s walked out like a shower loofa.

Utica - The risks she takes don’t always work out but she continues to bring next-level creativity to the stage. Ain’t no repeat looks with her.

Olivia - Wasn’t a fan of anything she did this week but she looked pretty during Snatch Game. So there’s that. This might rock her confidence next week.

Tina Burner -

[tyonfs]

hey i really love ur writing !! do u have any tips for overcoming writers block and writing full length fics ?

hihi anon !! 🤲 PLS tysm and ofc i’d be happy to give you some tips

TIPS FOR WRITERS BLOCK —

there isn’t a clear-cut answer for this one. my advice is to write, write, write. even if it’s nonsense and has nothing to do with your book, just getting all the fuzz out will clear your head and you’ll get back in the groove of writing!

i fall into slumps myself every so often. most of the time it’s burnout and not having the energy to write, so personally i indulge in other hobbies for a little until i’m feeling up for writing again LOL because i want to keep time for other things

when it comes to inspiration on plot or if you’ve hit a roadblock on what to write next, then i would go back to my point and just say writing whatever’s on your mind is very effective. another thing that helps me is just taking a break and indulging in other activities. plot points come to mind naturally when i’m doing other things like going on a hike, playing a game, or watching a show!

you can also prevent or help it by planning out your fic! here’s a google sheets template that you can use to get your thoughts out!

there’s also this website that can help with writers block! it’s sort of a mini game where you choose a character, a “monster” to fight, and set a word limit of how much you want to write. so you click the fight button and you have to keep typing so the monster’s hp goes down :’)

but i hope any of those are of help!

TIPS FOR WRITING FULL-LENGTH FICS —

long fics can be a hassle but so, so rewarding. i think it really depends how long you’re going for! i definitely recommend more initial planning when plotting out a longer fic. for my shorter fics (1k-10k words) i just go in blind LOL, like sort of flashlight method it, but i make sure i know how i want it to start and a vague idea of the ending

i would go back to the google sheet i linked before :)) i am not that organized so i just make a google doc and list down everything i want to happen, note characters, and any information to add to my world building! for example, i’m writing a txt space au rn and since it’s a bigger project, i’m writing it on the side and investing more time into it. so i have a plotting doc where i write down all the alien species, their traits, spaceships, and other planets/galaxies.

it can be v tiring tho so it’s good to plot beforehand so you can go back for inspiration when you’re feeling burned out! i recommend using notion too — i make pages for my longer fics there so i can see all my ideas in one place :’)

a mistake i notice a LOT of writers making tho is focusing too much on the word count itself. i would remove the “view word count” option if you’re writing on a google doc and just write whatever comes naturally to you! sometimes people get too caught up over getting a higher word count that their story then just feels dragged on and the flow is awkward

it’s also important to be interested in what you’re writing. dont force yourself to adjust to tropes that you don’t enjoy writing !! write smthn that you are passionate ab :)) my first long oneshot was around 10k words and i wrote it in two nights bc i was just super hyped to write it 🏃‍♂️

and honestly take a break if it gets too much. grinding on a huge story can be mentally taxing and the exhaustion will show in your writing. when i was around 20k words for my yuta fic, i realized i’d need like 5k more for a satisfying ending (even tho it ended up being 27k words), and the thought just made me so tired that i postponed the date when i expected i’d finish it

i think it also helps to be able to talk to your friends and bounce off ideas about your fic! i talk to my friend about my fic ideas and she does the same with me, and it rlly helps me clear my head with my own story 💓 some people invest in beta readers and i do not have a beta reader but it could definitely be helpful to get second opinions on your fic

lmk if you have any more questions and i hope that helped anon !! ♡

[rosethornewrites]

Fic: The Rebellion of Adrien Agreste, ch. 3

Relationships: Adrien Agreste | Chat Noir & Gabriel Agreste | Papillon | Hawk Moth, Juleka Couffaine/Rose Lavillant, Adrien Agreste | Chat Noir/Luka Couffaine, Marinette Dupain-Cheng | Ladybug & Kagami Tsurugi, Adrien Agreste | Chat Noir & Luka Couffaine, Lila Rossi/karma, Gabriel Agreste | Papillon | Hawk Moth/aneurism, Marinette Dupain-Cheng | Ladybug/Kagami Tsurugi, Plagg & Tikki

Characters: Adrien Agreste | Chat Noir, Gabriel Agreste | Papillon | Hawk Moth, Lila Rossi, Jagged Stone, Plagg, Marinette Dupain-Cheng | Ladybug, Luka Couffaine, Penny Rolling, Anarka Couffaine, Rose Lavillant, Juleka Couffaine, Kagami Tsurugi, Alya Césaire, Chloé Bourgeois, Wayhem, Nadja Chamack, Nathalie Sancoeur, Sabine Cheng, Tom Dupain, Tikki, Fang, Principal Damocles, Caline Bustier, Ms. Mendeleiev, original minor character, Alec Cataldi, Lila Rossi's Mother, Sabrina Raincomprix, Roger Raincomprix, Mylène Haprèle, Le Gorille | Adrien Agreste's Bodyguard, Nino Lahiffe, Nooroo

Tags: Lila Rossi salt, Fake/Pretend Relationship, Teenage Rebellion, Swearing, Bad Parent Gabriel Agreste, Crack Treated Seriously, Lila Rossi's Lies Are Exposed, Cuddling & Snuggling, Luka Couffaine Needs a Hug, Paparazzi, Parentification, Marinette Dupain-Cheng Needs a Hug, Gabriel Agreste Needs an Aneurism, Uncle Jagged Stone, we're all queer here, the spirit of punk is sometimes just being allowed to be yourself, Kagami Finds Her Groove, punk rock fashion, Savage Kagami, Marinette protection squad, Good Parent Sabine Cheng, Good Parent Tom Dupain, Protective Kagami Tsurugi, Protective Luka Couffaine, Bisexual Marinette Dupain-Cheng, Pansexual Luka Couffaine, Sharing a Bed, Pet Names, LGBTQ Character, LGBTQ Themes, Instagram, Bullying, Social Media, Anxiety, Makeover, Hugs, will cure your acne, Face Punching, Bad Ass Juleka Couffaine, Rumors, Protective Juleka Couffaine, Protective Adrien Agreste, Lawyers, Hijinks & Shenanigans, Holding Hands, accountability, mental health, Jagged Stone's well-paid pet shark, How to Make the Evening News, Sexy eyeliner for days, one fish two fish Lila is a screwed fish, How to have fun and piss Gabriel off, Fuckery, sweet litigious karma, Alya sugar, lawyer shark doo doo doo doo doo doo, Schadenfreude, Bad Ass Alya Césaire, Gaslighting, abuse denormalization, Jagged likes his lawyers like he likes his pets: toothy af, Blood in the Water, Everything you didn’t know you wanted and some things you did, Gabriel Agreste is shark bait, Denial, Consequences, Principal Damocles salt, caline bustier salt, the impotence of Gabriel Agreste, snarky Nooroo, lies and the lying liars who tell them, Lila's brain is a narcissistic hellscape, Lila’s mind is built like an Escher piece, Alec Cataldi salt, Adrien Sugar, wholesome salt, Fu Salt, Kwami Shenanigans, Nooroo is a little shit

Summary: Marinette gets serious.

Notes: This fic is 3 comments away from the 1K comment milestone on AO3!

AO3 link

Chapters 1-2

------

In comparison to Jagged, who was coming up with more and more ridiculous ideas—getting a pet crocodile, for instance, which made it seem he wanted Adrien to be a mini-him—Marinette was positively sedate when Adrien came back into the lounge. She was seated primly with a notebook she’d found somewhere.

She looked up at him, quirking a smile. “We need to be serious about this if we’re going to win.”

Jagged let out an exaggerated sigh. “Ugh, being serious is so not rock n’ roll.”

Adrien blinked. “Win?”

“Beat your dad at his own game. Manipulating public perception.” Marinette gestured to the notebook, which had a list. “We have fifteen hours before the announcement hits the news, about, if it’s meant to be released at nine tomorrow morning. That gives us some time. Not much, but some.”

He sat down, browsing the list.

Non-Lila fake relationship (call Nadja Chamack)

Not skunk hair – black w/ green tips?

Expose Lila – make her inconvenient (no more photoshoots)

Jagged read out loud over his shoulder, adding commentary like, “Wait, you know Nadja Chamack, too?” and “Yeah, I guess that’d look better” and “I’m in!” The last one regarding Lila.

“I texted Penny to come back so we can make the plans more cohesive before moving to clothes,” Marinette said as he handed back the notebook.

“Should I tell the hotel to hold off on the hair, too?” Jagged asked. At Marinette’s nod, he moved across the room to the phone.

Adrien was stunned that she had, in the course of one conversation he’d had in the bathroom with Plagg, come up with something that would look less haphazard.

“But who would I have a fake relationship with?”

The idea made him uneasy. It felt a lot like what his dad was doing.”

She bit her lip. “Um, not me. But someone who knows Lila is toxic and is willing to help us. The only reason for it is to make it look like your dad is trying to break you and this person up, or is embarrassed or something.”

Adrien winced. “I mean, I don’t want to use someone like that. It’d be easiest to choose a guy, since Father wouldn’t dare upset the LGBTQ+ community with him being in the fashion industry, but it’d be a little disrespectful to the community, wouldn’t it?”

Marinette was quiet for a bit. “I… I don’t know. I’m, um… I identify as bi, but… Maybe if you basically said it was a relationship to explore your sexuality? Like with someone who’s also a friend?”

“But… I don’t think I know anyone who’d be willing to do that.

Realistically, everyone in their class was under Lila’s thumb. Another celebrity would make it weird. Other models might be concerned about a future modeling for Gabriel.

Jagged butted in. “Weren’t you jamming with Anarka’s boy that one time?”

Adrien blinked. “Luka?”

“He might be willing to help—and you could promote Kitty Section, too. Make that part of your outfit.” For some reason, Marinette’s cheeks had turned pink. “Um, is it okay if I text him and get him to come?”

Honestly, Adrien had been a bit jealous of Luka when he’d wielded the Snake so well after Adrien’s failure—but Plagg had pointed out that it just meant he was a better Black Cat. And he was fond of the older boy, who had welcomed him into the band even though his father wouldn’t let him play often.

“I think… yeah. Let’s talk to him. Hopefully he’s not fooled by Lila’s act.”

“He’s not,” Marinette said darkly. “I, uh, told him after she got me expelled and almost Akumatized.”

“No!” Jagged jumped up. “I can’t believe she hurt you so bad! Oh, she’s got to go down!”

Penny just so happened to walk in at that moment. “Who?”

“That Lila girl almost got our talented, wonderful Marinette Akumatized, Penny! We can’t have that.” Jagged sprawled against his part of the circular sofa dramatically. “She’s, like, my muse!”

Marinette turned beet red. “I-I’ll just text Luka and ask him to come here.”

She pulled her phone way closer to her face than was necessary. Adrien thought it was cute that she got flustered whenever someone reminded her of her accomplishments—she was so modest, unlike Lila.

Penny, for her part, rolled her eyes at the dramatics, but smiled. “Adrien, can you run through a list of her lies? I might be able to get more people on board, since she seems to like to steal fame.”

Adrien nodded, listing staying with Prince Ali of Achu, being best friends with Ladybug, Jagged Stone’s kitten and song for her, and knowing Steven Besielberg and other Hollywood directors.

“She even told our friend Nino she would introduce him to Steven Besielberg, and he wants to be a filmmaker,” he finished. “And those are just the ones I’ve heard—she probably has more.”

Jagged broke in. “I wrote one for Ladybug after she saved me, and Mariette inspired a song, but I’d never write her a song, even as a take-down. She doesn’t deserve it.”

Penny was writing on her pad. “I can get in touch with Steven Besielberg, at least. That should be interesting.”

“Luka’s on his way,” Marinette broke in. “And, uh, I just realized my idea for your hair would match his… So maybe that was a sign?”

Adrien smiled. “At least that I should also spend time playing with Kitty Section again.”

Penny cleared her throat. “Adrien, do you have control of your official social media?”

He rubbed the back of his head. “Kind of? My father has the password for both my email and my social media accounts.”

She nodded, and gestured to a laptop on a nearby desk. “Change them while we wait for M. Couffaine. I’ll help you make sure he can’t regain control.”

By the time they finished, Luka had arrived. Adrien and Marinette worked to explain the situation to him; the blond could tell by the look on his face, as though he’d just smelled something nasty, that Luka knew of and wasn’t fond of Lila.

He hadn’t even gotten to asking him, when the older boy abruptly nodded. “A fake relationship. Something your father can’t protest without looking bad. I’ll do it, so long as we take down Lila, too.”

Adrien grinned. “Already in the works.”

Marinette, though, looked worried. “Has she done something?”

Luka scowled. “She’s been trying to make things weird between Juleka and Rose lately. It’s bad enough she hurt Marinette, but she’s not hurting my sister.”

Adrien traded serious glances with Marinette. This was bigger, more important, than just avoiding a fake relationship with Lila now. If the liar had proved anything with her plot to get Marinette expelled, it was that she didn’t care who she hurt, what relationships she destroyed.

It was time to take her down.

[mar1garden]

even more diamond au because i said so

this bitch wanted to write more nerds being nerds so here

adrien is Very Protective of his friends because tikki gave him a super Mom Boost

he takes to carrying around a big ol bag full of bandaids, snacks, water bottles, sunscreen, hoodies, etc. someone asks if anyone has a phone charger and adrien has three out before theyre done asking.

mari stubs her toe and hes like “do you want an ice pack? i have some painkillers as well. do you need a splint?” and pulls out a fucking tiny toe splint nd mari’s like WHAT THE FUCK THEY MAKE THOSE?

meanwhile mari is still responsible but plagg is a bad influence and mari becomes more and more chaotic. adrien is just sighing and preparing emergency supplies while mari does a sick kickflip off bustier’s desk when her back is turned.

mari wears heelies. that is all

mari dunks on fashion nightmares with sincere advice. she has never caused an akumatization but she has sure as shit corrected someone who was wearing stripes on stripes on stripes (vert hor diag) mari does not stand for that shit

mari made high heeled heelies and she wears them to school once and nearly dies. alya cackles while adrien mother-hens the hell out of her.

femme minuit is wildin. this girl has just as much chaotic energy as mari but with superpowers.

shes still a responsible leader and her timing is impeccable but like. unless she is Needed, she is Goofin

she did a backflip off the eiffel tower. she didnt use her staff until she was ten feet from the ground. red light had a heart attack and was never seen again god rest his poor soul

red light stops by maris balcony for snacks and banter and gaming and it’s fuckin cute darnit. theyre in love and this is the side they love and theyre just. chillin and its PINING and its CUTE *i am dragged off stage*

minuit breaks adrien out of his house often and slowly infects the boy with her chaos energy.

the first time he eats a hot cheeto he cries

one time mini swings by the agreste mansion and sees adrien sitting sadly at his desk and shes just like. dammit i gotta cheer up the boy.

they’re good friends as civilians!! mari is extemely responsible until u get to know her and adrien is super composed until u get to know him and as soon as they break through each others walls they complement each other well

mari’s chaos keeps adrien from helicoptering and being overprotective of others, both because he’s becoming more chaotic and because he has an actual sense of “oh this isn’t too dangerous, oh this is too dangerous”

adrien’s meddling keeps mari from dying. no, mari, you can’t try to do a wheelie on a motorcycle. you don’t know how to drive one. no. bad mari. bad.

his rigid schedule & her overpacked one mean that they study together a lot because two minds finish homework a lot faster than one. they’ll facetime sometimes and he’ll practice piano while she designs and it’s just peaceful and nice

no matter how much mari is in love with red light she finds herself falling more and more for adrien because he’s so sweet and kind and reliable and she just. doesn’t want to love him because he reminds her so much of red light and she doesn’t want to love him because of someone else

and adrien finds himself falling for femme minuit as her chaos leads to his freedom over and over. a friendship forms between her and him on both sides of the mask and he feels like he’s betraying mari by loving mini

in reality the reveal isnt all that much

during a fight mini has to recharge and just as she detransforms red light gets flung into her alley. he sees her detransform and immediately reveals himself

over the next week they stumble and blush around each other but they fall back into their groove

(no one is surprised when, a month later, they announce officially that they’re dating. no one comments as alix, kim, and ivan slip alya $20 each, all grumbling)

[surveys-at-your-service]

Survey #278

“they will seduce you, get through the door; then they bite you in the neck, leave you bleeding on the floor.”

Do you believe in dream symbolism? If so, do you ever look up what certain things in your dreams may mean? Some, yes, others, no. A lot just seem way too random to have stories behind them, but just as well, some dreams are obviously stemmed from our experiences, fears, desires, etc. Who was the last person who exploded on you? What was the reason? I have no idea, but probably Mom. Is there a certain name that keeps popping up in your life, like a name that many people you know have? No. What is something you have a "love/hate relationship" with? What do you hate about it, and what do you love about it? The first thing that comes to mind is technology. I grew up way too dependent on in despite my mom being a good mother that really tried to limit my time of it. It just never worked. Almost everything I do involves a computer. Through the Internet though, I’ve made spectacular friends, discovered great things (coughcoughmark), it helps me through depression and stuff… but I nevertheless hate how attached I am to it. Sometimes I feel like I’m so disconnected from the “real” world, “real” experiences, but then again, I also believe tech is a part of the “real” world. Idk how to really explain it; I have such mixed feelings. Do you like things that are cliché or not? What kinds of things that are regarded as "cliché" do you like? Sure, especially romantic cliches. I’m just such a sucker for that kind of stuff. What was the last quote you read somewhere, and who said it? “Speak your mind even if your voice shakes,” Ruth Ginsburg. We truly lost a hero. Have you heard any song mash-ups (when they put two or more different songs together) that you like? If so, which? Oh, quite a lot, I love those! The first one that comes to mind is “Centuries” by Fall Out Boy and “Radioactive” by Imagine Dragons. How many boyfriends/girlfriends have you had in 2014? Well, this is old. But anyway, I had one. How often do you say ‘lol’ in a computer or text conversation? Quite a bit. Idk, it just changes the tone of what you’re speaking. Whose hoodie did you wear last? My own. Have you ever listened to music you hated just to fit in? Ha ha… not devoutly, but I’d explore “cool” metal bands to try to get into. I didn’t make myself listen to them if I didn’t like ‘em, though. What’s an interesting fact about you that not many people know? Hm. Well, I don’t consider it “interesting,” but very few people (besides the Internet lmao) know that I essentially stole my then-best friend’s boyfriend by mutual flirting to the point he broke up with her and wanted me instead. I cut that shit the fuck out once he told me he loved me. It’s one of the things I’m most ashamed of. What do you want to do after high school? I’m long past high school, and let’s just say things are NOT going as planned lmao. At all. I had such, such a different vision. Do you do anything embarrassing when no one is home? No. If you had the chance to move to a completely different state/country, would you? I deadass want to move to Canada but am unwilling to move so far from my family. How old were you when you stopped believing in Santa? I don’t know age; it’s funny, I tend to remember things by school grades versus my age. Even in this situation, though, I’m not positive. Towards the end of elementary school, maybe? Do you have any saved texts? Yes, from Sara and Ashley. Do you ever play online games with your friends? Which one(s)? Once upon a time, my friend/”big brother” Sam and I would play WoW together every day and just chill out over Skype. He helped keep me company during my worst depression. We haven’t played together in quite a long time, though. I should message him. Which emoji did you use most recently? The upside-down smiley face on Facebook. Who was the last person to cry in your presence? Mom, probably. Or one of my nieces or nephew. Do any of your friends have small children? Yes. One of my closest friends had her son not even two weeks ago. Do you ever wear accessories in your hair? Which ones? No. What kind of fruit do you like? A good chunk of it. Strawberries, apples, grapes, pineapple, bananas, peaches… Is there anything you've always wanted to do that you've never told anyone? *shrugs* Maybe. Do you flush the toilet with your hand or your foot? ”I use my hand at home and in other people’s bathrooms, but I use my foot in public washrooms.” <<<< Same. What is your Myers-Briggs Type Indicator? (Ex: ENTP): INFP. Do you read any blogs? If so, which ones? No. Would you rather have curvy legs or skinny legs? I’d prefer to have an in-between. What is your favorite game show? Family Feud with Steve Harvey. How many times a day do you use the restroom? Hm. Depends on how much I drink. What was the last thing that made you cringe? Idr. What is your favorite ‘80s movie? I’m not sure, given how I don’t tend to recognize movies by decades. Do you have your own car? No. I don’t drive. Who was the last person who drew you a picture? I commissioned someone on deviantART to draw My Child Jaw and it is so FUCKING beautiful. Would you rather hold a scorpion or a snake? I love snakes, so guess. How do you usually get your exercise? I don’t, but that’s going to change when we FINALLY fuckin move. I’m going to walk as much as I possibly can because we have a sidewalk. Who are your godparents? Idk if I even have any. Are any of your siblings married? Three are and one is engaged. What does your phone case look like, if you have one? It came with a plain purple one. What is something you can draw really well? I think I’m pretty good at meerkats. Best field trip experience? The zoo in the 5th grade. One and only time I’ve seen meerkats irl. What is the most amount of money you’ve spent on a meal before? Idr. It’s very rare I can pay for anything because I don’t have an income, but with gifted money and stuff, it was probably when I paid for my mom and I to eat at Olive Garden. I don’t recall how much it was, but OG isn’t cheap, so. Who was (or is) the teacher that gave you the hardest time in school? Idk. I had good teachers. What is the strangest thing you’ve ever seen outside of your house? I don’t know. Nothing exciting. Do you ever feel self-conscious when you eat around other people? Not really, no. There are cases where I do, like if I take too big a bite or something, but generally I don’t. Everyone has to eat. What is the worst thunderstorm you’ve experienced? I recall one in particular during my era of being terrified of them when we were on the way home from a friend’s house and there was INSANE lightning. I was crying so much in the back seat. I think I have experienced worse ones, that’s just the one I remember because of how much it terrified me. How quickly can you write an essay? Pretty damn quickly once I get into the groove of it. Have you ever had problems falling asleep in class? No. What bug frightens you most? Oh yikes, idk. A lot of bugs scare me, honestly, particularly if they surprise me. Probably rhinoceros beetles. Are your parents supportive of you? Very. Have you ever participated in a mock trial, or a real trial? No. Have you ever had sex in someone else’s bed/bedroom? lol oops Have you ever had sex on your bedroom floor? How about your living room floor? YIKES this survey getting frisky but anyway idk. When you kiss someone, do you like to play with their hair? Yeah. Do you regret sleeping with anyone? No. Do you ever brush your hair before you go to bed? No…? Your hair is just gonna get messy while sleeping. Have you ever asked anyone out? Do you prefer to do the asking out, or wait to see if the other person will ask? Yes. I don’t really have a preference. Have your parents ever disapproved of anyone you had a relationship with? Not to my knowledge. When’s the last time you ran? HUNNY Brittany doesn’t RUN. Have you ever stayed online for a long time waiting for someone? Oh yes, I did that A LOT with Mini back when we were younger and RPed together like every day. Who or what sleeps with you? Roman, my cat. Would you wear a boy/girlfriend’s clothes? I somehow wound up with quite a few of Jason’s pj pants?????? But anyway yeah sure, I would. If it fit, anyway. Do you return your cart? I am a lazy person. But not that lazy. Do it. What noise do you hear? I’m currently listening to NateWantsToBattle’s cover of “Feel Good Inc.” Would you survive in prison? No. No. I know I’d try to commit suicide. Do you remember the last movie you saw while on a date? The IT remake with Girt. Have you ever cheated on someone? No sir. Do you kiss on the first date? I never have, but not saying I wouldn’t. BUT I most likely would not just because I reserve kisses for someone I really, really like. Usually by the first date I wouldn’t know that yet. Are you into sports? Nope. Have you ever used your bra to hold things like you would a pocket? HAHA I don’t think so. Who knows a secret about you that no one else does? My ex-therapist. What is your longest relationship to date? 3 ½ years. Who ended the last relationship you were in? It was brought up by her, but it came to be a mutual decision. Have you ever gotten back with an ex? No. Who was your first prom date? Jason. Have you ever dated someone more than three years older than you? For less than a day. Have you ever been used? I don’t think so. Do you like when I guy takes you by surprise and kisses you? This is making quite a few assumptions, but anyway, if we’re in a stable relationship, generally yes. It’s cute. Would you be more likely to date a redneck or a goth? My dream partner would be a goth, hnnnnnnnnGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG. Has anyone ever sung to you? Yes. Do you like massages? EW don’t touch me like that unless you’re my s/o. Have you ever been skinny dipping? No. When was the last time you spent the night at someone else's house? The last time I was at Sara’s. What scares you more, spiders or snakes? Spiders. Does it matter if a guy has a sense of humor? If he’s a romantic interest, yeah. Would you ever get implants? No. Have you ever had a crush on a sibling's friend? No. Have you ever dated someone with a child? No. I’m quite sure I wouldn’t. Have you ever dated someone of another race? For less than a day. Have you kissed anyone today? No. What was the last topic you read about? I beliiieeeve… Metallica’s new album. Have you ever participated in a fundraising campaign? I think? Again, I don’t have an income though so I’m unsure. Do you know how to knit? No. What’s your go-to order from KFC? I don’t go there. What was the last album you listened to in full? Oh man, there’s no telling. I generally don’t do that. Do you use pepper to season your food? Sure, that’s a common enhancement. Do you know anyone who has an unusual pet? Probably somebody. Have you ever known anyone who was homeless? My mother, Nicole, and I technically were at one point, we just had spectacular people let us live with them until we got a new place. Did you have a treehouse when you were younger? No. One does not simply build a treehouse in pine trees. Have you ever played Magic: The Gathering? Guys. Guys. For many many months now I’ve been dying to and idk why. That game was one of Jason’s favorite things in the world and so he taught me it how to play, though I never fully got it because there are a LOT of rules. When I had my PS3, I had one of the Duels of the Planeswalkers games, and I miss that shit. What are your thoughts on role playing games? Fun fun. What is a band you can't stop listening to right now? I’ve been seriously into 3TEETH lately, as well as Solence. Have you ever had a panic attack? LOTS!!!!!!!! Have you ever entered a talent competition? Naw, I don’t have an exceptional talent. Are you indecisive? Ridiculously so. Are you smiling in your Facebook profile picture? It’s actually one of my brightest smiles I’ve ever taken a selfie with. I look way happier than I am lmaooo. Describe your hometown. What's it like there? Small, notoriously dangerous. Do you have any expensive hobbies? You could say photography given the various lenses and other materials available, plus editing software subscriptions. What is the oldest online account that you still use? My email, probably. What was the last video game you beat? I wanna say it was the last time I replayed Silent Hill 2. Long time ago. What's your favorite Studio Ghibli film? I actually haven’t seen any. Have you ever been really passionate about something but then lost interest? If so, what was it? Yeah, sure, like various entertainers/bands/musicians, TV shows…

[jadekitty777]

Who Needs Tradition When We Have Each Other?

Hi, hello! It’s been a bit – but yes, I do still write. Amazing, isn’t it?

So this is going to be a short, four part mini-series of Summer/Tai/Qrow stories. Why? Because apparently, I have a thing about writing fluffy snippets for underappreciated poly-ships that I secretly adore. Three of four of the stories are complete – with, naturally, the second chapter being the incomplete one. Hopefully… the probably extremely small pool of people who will read these will enjoy them!

Rating: K

Word Count: 2,600

Pairing: Summer/Tai/Qrow

Ao3 Link: Who Needs Tradition When We Have Each Other?

Summary: Qrow wore three rings on his right hand. Only one was actually his.

~

Originally, Qrow was only supposed to have one ring.

“Pick one out, pick one out!” Summer was leeched onto his arm, hopping on her heels. She’d been practically flying on cloud nine ever since the engagement, going full bridal mode with planning it all - decorations, catering, guest lists, clothing. He wasn’t exactly sure all the activity was good for her, especially considering her condition (“It’s a baby Qrow, not a hernia.”), yet her enthusiasm was too infectious not to get swept into.

That’s why he allowed himself to be dragged out of bed at eight on a Saturday morning to decide on wedding rings.

“Aren’t they supposed to match?” Taiyang called from where he was peering into another set of cases. Qrow suspected from his distant expression that he was only pretending to look. Probably for the better, considering his sense of fashion equated to ‘if it’s clean, it can be worn’.

Summer wiggled, bumping her hip into his own. “Only if we want to be traditional. But if we’re going to wear something for the rest of our lives I’d rather it be something we like for ourselves.”

The sentiment brought a smile to Qrow’s face. The rest of their lives, huh? After so many years of never having anything permanent or feeling like he was unwanted, he couldn’t begin to describe just how the promise of such a complete commitment made him feel.

“Oh well, then I’m good.” Tai said as he walked over, wheeling Yang’s stroller between the displays. The infant had her chubby little hands clutched around her favorite teddy bear plush, occupying herself by gnawing at one of its rounded ears and growling like she was the bear.

“Really? Which one did you pick?” Summer asked, practically vibrating with excitement.

“None of them.” He replied.

“Wait, what?! You can’t pick none.”

He arched one brow. “Sums, I punch Grimm in the face for a living. Pretty sure wearing jewelry isn’t good for my hand. Or the jewelry for that matter.”

“Oh.” She deflated as she considered that. Then her eyes lit up again. “What if we turn it into a weapon?”

Qrow barked out a laugh. Typical.

“I’m serious! I bet they make those; Huntsman-specific rings that have poison barbs in them or, or – oh!! Mini guns!!”

Tai snorted, shaking his head. “Think I’ll pass.”

“Ah, come on it would be rad!” When he continued to shake his head, her pout only grew more pronounced, “But Taai-”

Qrow curled his arm over her waist, dropping a kiss against her temple. “Babe, it’s fine. But maybe we’ll get that for your ring.”

“Yes!”

They continued to explore the store while Summer tried to talk the shop keep into customizing her ring with spikes (Unsurprisingly, it wasn’t going well). Qrow ghosted a hand over the top of a case full of silver bands, wondering if that was possibly too tacky. Just as he was about to turn away, he spotted one that had potential – a ring of both silver and gold, the two metals weaving around each other like vines. He lent closer to get a better look, only for his view to get obstructed as the glass started to break, cracks spiderwebbing across the top.

He straightened up, hurrying away from the scene of the crime.

As he joined Tai’s side, the blond pointed out the white rings he was admiring. “These ones are nice. Really Team STRQ-ish.”

Qrow bent over as if he was trying to see better, but he was peeking at the other from the corner of his eyes. Despite his previous deflections, Tai seemed rather despondent. It was hard to gather why; his logic was reasonable and he knew, culturally, rings weren’t really part of the wedding tradition in Vacuo. For that matter, they weren’t part of Mistral’s traditions either – probably for the same reason: only richer kingdoms like Vale and Atlas could afford such luxuries.

Still, when Summer had declared she wanted rings for the ceremony, Qrow hadn’t argued the matter because he had no argument to give. He knew part of it was because he was selfish. He’d grown up with so little that the idea he could purchase something so frivolously expensive and be allowed to keep it forever was oddly thrilling. More so, that he would be able to display it, with no one around to tell him he was foolish or threaten to take it and trade it in for lien. The other part of it was he’d grown soft over the years away from the tribe and liked the idea of having something physical affixed to himself that symbolized his marriage.

Knowing Tai was even squishier and sappier than he was, he had to wonder if it wasn’t the same for him?

“You know,” He started off casually, “For someone who doesn’t want one, you sure are looking hard.”

“I mean, I wasn’t lying. It probably isn’t a good idea for me to wear it. But well-” Tai looked over his shoulder, making sure their other partner was still distracted, before looking back down but he seemed to be staring far beyond the jewelry. “Look, it’s, stupid? I think? When Rae and I talked about rings, she just said we weren’t getting any. At the time, we’d just put the down payment on the cabin so I just brushed it off; but it always kind of bothered me she never asked my opinion.” He rubbed the back of his neck, embarrassed like he usually was whenever he shared his feelings. “I guess I’m just trying to say it’s nice that you guys are giving me a choice.”

“It’s not stupid.” Qrow told him, taking his hand within his own. “Raven’s always been like that. It was either her way or no way. She’s never been the type to do anything that doesn’t specifically benefit her.”

Tai’s expression was as hesitant as his voice. “I guess you’re right?”

“Believe me, I am.” He assured, thinking of all the times his sister had tried to pull similar stunts on him. It hadn’t really ever been a problem, because he tended to stand his ground or even played her own game against her. It was only after he’d started to date Summer that he understood just how vital compromise was to any kind of relationship – and it was only after Raven left that he was able to see just how damaging what refusing to compromise could do to your partner.

Tai didn’t talk about it much, probably because it injured his pride too much, but it wasn’t hard to see just how much Raven’s actions had cut through his confidence. He wasn’t a pushover by any means but he was bright, like the sun itself, determined to speckle through even the darkest of places and bring light and warmth to whatever he could touch. It was a quality that terrible people couldn’t help but take advantage of.

Qrow would be the first to admit his record was anything but stellar in that regard – but exploiting his teammates’ who had welcomed him so readily, even after learning about his shit semblance, felt almost taboo. It infuriated him to think his twin not only didn’t agree with this thought process but deliberately was abusing it. Yet he’d been so caught up with his own life, he never even noticed what was going on right in front of him until Raven was already running out the door.

It felt like it was just another tally to add onto his growing record of things he’d done wrong and had to try and fix. Summer told him that was probably normal, since she shared the sentiment and even admitted she sometimes felt responsible, as if being their leader meant she had to be in charge of everything in their lives. When he asked her how she dealt with it, she’d said, “It’s not our job to fix Raven’s mistakes. Our job is to make this new experience for him with us a good one.”

That’s what he was thinking of when he commanded, “Tai get a ring.”

“What? But-”

“If you want one, then get one.” He urged. “And don’t pull the ‘it’s too much money’ card on me. This whole ceremony is an overpriced theater show – a few extra hundred ain’t gonna be missed.”

Again, Tai was quick to disagree, “Qrow, that’s dumb. Why would I get something I’m almost never going to wear?”

“Then I’ll wear it.” He declared. When Tai only shot him a bewildered look, he explained, “Our ring sizes aren’t too different; I bet it’ll fit on my index finger. That way you have one, but I’ll be holding onto it.” He reached out, tenderly running the back of his hand along his cheek. “Kind of like how I’ll always hold onto you, no matter where I am.”

“Wow…” Tai breathed, eyes wide, “That was oddly romantic. Sure you thought of it?”

Qrow dropped a kiss on his nose, murmuring, “Shut up and pick one already.”

His laughter was soft and warm. “Alright.”

By the time Summer rejoined them, he’d made his choice.

“This one.” Tai said, pointing at an ivory ring that had a groove in the middle of it filled with obsidian rock that shined nicely in the light.

He smiled. White and black, huh? “Yeah that’s a good one.”

“What are you guys doing?” Summer had the dejected look of a girl who had been told that she was not allowed to have a gun installed into her wedding ring. It was gone the moment they told her what they had negotiated over. “Oh Qrow!” She gushed. “That’s so sweet! I’m surprised you thought of it.”

“It’s nice to know neither of you have any faith in me.” He grumbled, ignoring the teasing grin on Tai’s face.

She pat him placatingly on the back. “It’s just not your style hon.” She bounced over to the blond’s side next, pushing him towards the counter. Though, it was hard to say if her urgency was from excitement or because she was worried he’d change his mind. “Go tell the jeweler which one you want so they can get it fitted!”

“You guys can handle Yang?” Tai asked, sparing the stroller a look equal to one a person might give when staring at a minefield.

She saluted him. “You can count on us. Well, mostly me.”

“Hey!” Qrow protested.

“Oh sorry. Only me.”

“That’s better.”

Tai laughed. “You two are too much.”

Still, it was enough to convince him, and Summer happily took up baby duty, rolling her along with them as they continued to scope out the shop. From gold to platinum, from gem-encrusted all the way around to fat diamonds squarely in the center, there were hundreds of styles, all for a particular taste. Even after he eliminated anything with a gemstone on it, it still left him with what metal he’d prefer, the thickness and design of the band, whether it would or wouldn’t have imprinted words or patterns.

“You see any you like?” Qrow asked, rocking on his heels, mesmerized by the way a set of anodized rings changed in hue. They were neat, but they probably stood out too much. Not exactly suited for a spy.

“Not quite.” She was by the titanium case. He wondered if she was trying to find something to match her brooch. She moved away, not seeming to find anything of interest and headed back his way. “You know, I was thinking…”

“About?” He asked, still swaying, watching the greens and blues shift to yellows and purples.

“We have the same ring size.”

He fell flat on his feet. Looked at her. Her lips were set in a firm, pensive line. “You want me to wear yours too?”

“Oh, no-no! I definitely want to wear mine!” She pushed some of her hair behind her ear, looking everywhere but at him. “But, when you go on missions, maybe I can wear your ring until you get back? Keep it safe. And when…” She bit her lip. “When I go back on mine, you can do the same for me.”

He sucked in a sharp breath. Oh. “So, you decided then?”

“Yes. No? I don’t, I’m not.” She placed a hand over her stomach. It was barely more than a little bump. “I don’t know what I want.”

By now, it was an exhausted topic. One they’d stayed up late multiple nights just looking at every angle of. And every time, Summer felt even less sure than the day before. She was crucial to the war Oz was trying to wage, she felt obligated to jump back in as soon as she was able; but wasn’t their child crucial as well? Perhaps not to the world, but to her. To their family. It was with the announcement of Summer’s pregnancy the three of them decided to officially tie the knot. Their entire dynamic was changing for good because of this one little life. But did that mean Summer’s life should change for good as well?

Qrow didn’t have the answer; after all, it wasn’t his decision to make.

But, as he placed his hand over hers, he told her what he did know. “That’s okay. There’s plenty of time to think about it. Just know, whatever you do decide Tai and I will support you, no matter what.” He rubbed her thumb across her knuckles. “But I’ll promise you now, if you do go back to being a Huntress, I’ll wear your ring while you’re gone.”

“Thank you.” She looked up at him, and he was overtaken by her beauty in her soft gaze and sweet smile.

He couldn’t help but kiss her.

It went without saying that when Tai heard about their silly ring trade-off idea, he was practically moonstruck over it. Corny, fairytale-esque stuff like that was always the easiest way to his heart.

They ended up choosing a pair of thin, silver rings with an opalescent finish to give it a pure white look from afar, but when held up close and in the light, had an array of colors shining across the gemstones. Elegant, but simple, matching well with Tai’s and easy for them both to wear on their ring fingers at the same time. The final touch, after getting all three fitted, was to have each one engraved with their own names on the inside of their respective rings.

When they got home, Tai worked on an early lunch while Summer put Yang down for her late morning nap. With them distracted, Qrow snuck away to the bedroom and pulled out the three velvet cases from the bag, opening them one by one.

He put on his first, where it fit snug and secure on his ring finger.

Then Summer’s, right above his. It held on just a bit tighter than his own and assured it wouldn’t fall off.

Lastly was Tai’s, slipping nice and easy onto his index finger.

Suddenly, everything felt more real than ever before. Qrow turned his hand to and fro, getting used to their presence and their weight. Held them to the light and was blinded in their luster. Settled with the idea that this was soon going to be a more consistent addition to his wardrobe.

It was a change he was looking forward too.

[demonologist-in-denim]

End of the Year Fanfiction Ask Game

Cut and pasted from @threshie‘s post here.

Technically, no one asked me for this. But it’s also a good writing experiment. 

Favorite fic you wrote this year

Without a doubt, Diners & Coffee Shops. Each line in the story is its own little story. When it was finished, it was everything I wanted it to be. Writing Diners & Coffee Shops encouraged me to work on my current series, Bergamot & Sulphur, which I wouldn’t have thought myself capable of without first writing this fic.

Least favorite fic you wrote this year

‘Tis the Season. I choked on the most emotionally moment of the fic, between Dean and Crowley, and don’t feel I wrote it as well as I could have. I’m not looking for anyone to comment here and tell me otherwise – seriously, the rest of that fic feels very strong, and the important moment between those two feels weak in comparison. I spent so many weeks on that fic, when I finally got to it, I said “fuck it, just get it done,” and ended up with something less than what I wanted. It’s why the final chapter of Scene From an Alt!Dimension is taking so long – I’m attempting to learn from mistakes already made.

Favorite line/scene you wrote this year

I know I just dumped all over Tis the Season, but my favorite line for this year is buried in that fic. Describing a cup of coco that had gone cold, “with a layer of film congealing around the discolored mini marshmallows bobbing like waterlogged flotsam against the rim.”

Most popular fic this year

Do I measure this in hits, in comments? What do I measure this in? I guess if it’s number of reads, then it would be Scene From An Alt!Dimension, which surprises me. Personally, I like my one-shots better, but the people have spoken.

Least popular fic this year

Diners & Coffee Shops, which considering it’s my favorite, again, this surprises me.

Longest wip of the year

Again, Scene From An Alt!Dimension. The last chapter was posted in Sept of 2018! But there is so much that happens in the last chapter, and I want to get it right.

Favorite writing song/artist/album of this year

Tis the Season was written to Mattia Cupelli’s “Frammenti” (the buildup of the music is perfect for the emotional moments in the fic). But if I get around to writing a particular wip in 2020, I’ll have the perfect answer to this question then.

A fic you didn’t expect to write

I wrote the first chapter of Bergamot & Sulphur as a gift for @thayerkerbasy, after he said all he wanted for Crowley was for him to relax, enjoy a cup of tea, be content. It was just supposed to be a small Tumblr post. Then I thought, why the hell not, and a series came out of it.

Something you learned this year

There’s no point (for me) in attempting to keep to a writing deadline. I told myself I had to write a certain amount each week, to “get through” fics and move on to other ones. But life kept getting in the way, and I wouldn’t meet the goal, and then became annoyed with myself, and felt pressured to write. Writing fanfiction should be fun, relaxing. I was definitely “doing it wrong” for a while.

Current number of wips

Actual works in progress: 3. Fics waiting to be written? 76. See the above comment about feeling like I need to get around to writing other fics.

Any new fics to start next year

Fuck off.

Number of comments you haven’t read

No. This year, I started replying to every comment I received on either AO3 or FF.net, and have decided that very important for writers – or at least me – to do. Writers want feedback on their work and don’t want to feel like they’re just sending their work out into the void. Those that take the time to comment don’t want to feel like they’re sending their comments out into the void either. A lot of conversations and then friendships started for me this year because I responded to comments and engaged with people that liked my work.

Most memorable comment/review

One commenter swelled me to bursting by commenting on one fic that reading my writing was the equivalent of watching the show in terms of the dialogue and staying true to the characters, and posted on another fic that my version of Crowley as “one of the boys” was their favorite. Another simply asked “who’s cutting onions in my office?” which is surely the bon mot of the fandom salon season.

(A 2018 review that sticks with me is one reviewer choosing to miss their bus to work so as to finish reading Brother’s Keeper. Woah. But @thayerkerbasy‘s *smashes subscribe button* will always be my favorite, for however long fandom and fanfiction is a thing. It’s timeless and meant the world to me when I first started out.)

Fics you wanted to write but didn’t

Again, fuck off. I wanted to get around to writing every one of them. Here’s to next year!

Favorite fic you read this year

Posting something like this ask game feels very self-serving and narcissistic, so  it’s absolutely important to me to include praise and a link to someone else’s work. I’ll be honest, I didn’t read a lot of fanfiction this year – I’ve gotten very picky. But one not-quite-fic that came across my dash this year was @defilerwyrm’s AU in which “John Winchester loved his boys just a little bit less and put them up for adoption and they were raised in a healthy, functional home.” It’s a wonderful read, short and punchy, with a fabulous ending. I highly recommend it.

A fic you read this year you would recommend everyone read

I would recommend to just about anyone Hark, The Empty Hallways Calling, written and published in 2014 on Tumblr by ink-splotch. I enjoy the fic immensely, though it’s from the Harry Potter fandom and chock full of references I don’t quite understand. The fic has a rough start, jumping back and forth in time, but you can feel when the writer really gets into a groove, where the pace picks up, the story begins to unfurl itself. I love the style in which its written, the way small lines have earthshattering impact, how exposition and dialogue mingle comfortably together. This fic, along with a now removed Star Wars fic Walking the Sky, had a significant impact on the development of my own writing style. It’s also very similar to the fic referenced above, so apparently it’s a style I find very appealing.

[emritcheson]

Is Mortimer Beckett and The Book of Gold Really That Bad?

(Full disclosure: this post contains mild spoilers for discussion’s sake.)

So I am a big fan of the Delicious series and the many spin-offs that have launched from its universe, now formally known as GameHouse Original Stories.  Yes, they sometimes seem like they’re hyper-marketed at that Hallmark Channel crowd, but they are the cream of the crop of modern casual games, I promise.  That said, not every game that comes out of GameHouse Studios is a masterpiece.  But just because it’s not a masterpiece doesn’t mean there isn’t good to be found or fun to be had.

Enter Mortimer Beckett and The Book of Gold, released in 2017.  For those unaware, Mortimer Beckett was not originally a GameHouse IP, instead starring in his own series of hidden object games developed by Paprikari from 2007 to 2012.  I played the first in the series, Secrets of Spooky Manor, and dabbled with others, but I am by no means an aficionado on Mortimer Beckett lore.  Actually, I’m not big into the hidden object genre period.  I can tell you, though, that this game feels very different to the traditional Mortimer Beckett series.  Paprikari still worked as the developer for Book of Gold, but the overall style and flavor is extremely influenced by GameHouse.

I can only assume GameHouse acquired permission to use Mortimer’s character around the same time they acquired Sally from GamesCafe’s Sally’s Salon series.  These were two fairly well-known faces in casual gaming for many years, and for those characters to suddenly be picked up by a new company and breathed new life was a strange move to witness.

Not to say it was a bad one.  I was an am a dedicated Sally fan and Sally’s Salon - Beauty Secrets blew my expectations out of the water.

Book of Gold on the other hand...well, that’s why we’re here.

Before I even played the game, the first things I noticed were the consistently negative ratings it received across distributing websites.  Now all things considered, I wasn’t expecting perfection, but these scores were abysmally low.  I thought, “it can’t be as bad as that, right?”

And after playing through the whole thing in one night, I will proudly go on record to say that this game does not deserve these low ratings.

Buuut it’s not perfect, either.

So let’s talk.

First, the elephant in the room - the gameplay itself.  As previously stated, Mortimer Beckett is a hidden object series.  GameHouse is best known for their time management games that occasionally have hidden object mini games sprinkled through the levels.  Mini games and main gameplay mechanics are two very different things, mind you.

That said, I think the translation of the gameplay went very well.  Better than I was expecting, at least.  You’re given a scene in which you must find pieces of different objects that will help you in your current situation.  Then, once those pieces are put together, you can use those objects in the scene to complete small puzzles.  Even with my limited hidden object experience, I can tell that this style of finding pieces of things is quite unique.  

In fact, this was my biggest complaint back in Secrets of Spooky Manor: the pieces that some objects broke into seemed arbitrary and unnatural, making it harder to find what I was looking for.  In Book of Gold, the objects are broken up where they naturally have different “sections” (for example, if you’re looking for a screwdriver, it would be in two separate pieces: the handle and the bit) and gameplay is smoother as a result.

There are also three different kinds of challenge levels throughout the game in which you have to complete certain tasks within a time limit.  These provide a nice sprinkle of adrenaline rush as the main levels have no time limit and you’re welcome to stare at and contemplate them as long as you wish.  So all in all, the gameplay is pretty solid.

Let’s discuss the plot.  Mortimer Beckett moves to Snuggford after inheriting a museum from his Uncle Jerome (a staple character of the series until now, I understand).  In his last letter, Uncle Jerome mentions something called the Book of Gold which apparently possesses mystical qualities, and warns Mortimer to keep it safe.

Even as someone with very little preexisting attachment to this character, I found Mortimer very charming and enjoyable, in that “I don’t really know what I’m doing but I’m going to make the best of it anyway, and probably embarrass myself in the process” kind of way.  It was also refreshing simply to play as a guy, as GameHouse Original Stories pretty much exclusively feature women protagonists.

Speaking of which, while this is happening, Kate O’Malley (Delicious Emily’s sister-in-law) is having something of a life crisis and desperately looking for some kind of adventure to get her out of her “boring” hometown.

This is good for two reasons.  One: Kate is a character seen very little of in the Delicious series.  Other than she’s Patrick’s sister and she used to work as a perfume salesgirl, we didn’t know much about her until Book of Gold.  The writers really gave her some agency this time around, where previously she felt kind of cardboard.  And two: Snuggford is often viewed as a very idyllic small town with emphasis on supporting local businesses and fostering community with others.  It’s oddly refreshing to see a protagonist character have a negative view of this place.

Anyway, the two run into each other, shenanigans ensue, and an adventure does indeed begin.

Now if GameHouse is known for anything besides time management gameplay, it’s their heterosexual romantic subplots.  And as much as I was hoping for a platonic partnership this time around, I have to say I ended up liking Kate and Mortimer more than I expected.  It is a bit tropey and shoved down your throat at times, but I think their personalities play off each other quite nicely - Mortimer the somewhat bumbling scholar and Kate the confident risk-taker.  In the end I was genuinely rooting for them.

The story itself as a whole is...fine.  Not amazing, not terrible, but fine.  It has good intentions but, as I said, falls into tropes and shenanigans rather than raising the stakes.  And when the stakes are raised, it fails to explain why and generally lacks urgency.

The best parts of the story in my opinion are the more character-driven scenes.  Stemming from Kate’s desire for adventure, there is an underlying emotional theme about whether or not you’re satisfied with your life and where you are in it.  I think this is handled better than the immediate plot, but could still use some tweaks.  Overall, the writing has the same wonkiness I would expect from any story that hasn’t truly found its groove yet, but it does enough to keep you intrigued.

I absolutely cannot knock GameHouse for trying to do something new, especially in this cash cow of a universe they’ve built for themselves.  They’ve been using basically the same formula for the past ten years or so, and it makes sense that they would want to branch out into other things while still attracting their core audience.

Unfortunately, this game has some very apparent growing pains.

My biggest issue without a doubt is the art.  It’s inconsistent, there’s no other word for it.  Some sprites are completely 2-D, others are completely rendered in 3-D.  Sometimes it’s 2.5-D.  Sometimes it’s 2-D heads stitched onto 3-D bodies.  Some characters look very disproportionate when standing next to others.  Not to mention a lot of reused assets from other games.  I can’t show it for spoiler reasons, but there is a scene near the very end of the game where the character cutting-and-pasting is so painfully obvious and so sloppily done that I almost had to close my computer and take a lap around the house to compose myself.

Also, this game has far less music than I expected.  Despite a swingin’ noir-style theme song written by Adam Gubman, most cutscenes carry out with only generic background white noise for company.  And let me tell you, when a dramatic scene is going down and the only thing you can hear is the muffled voice of an airport intercom?  It feels wrong.  And also lends to that lack of urgency I mentioned earlier.

And as much as I hate to, we have to talk about the “exotic” themes.

For the most part, I would describe GameHouse as having “lukewarm sensitivity” to cultures that are not North American or European.  They have good intentions and for the most part their characters are pretty well rounded, but their research still leaves a little bit to be desired.  I think the Inuit tribe from Delicious - Emily’s Hopes and Fears is the best example of what I’m talking about.

However, I would not put Book of Gold in that same sensitivity tier.  During the third chapter, Mortimer and Kate travel to South America (it’s never specifically stated but since Machu Picchu is clearly visible in one of the scenes, it’s pretty safe to say they’re in Peru) and end up getting lost in the jungle.  Kate is more or less kidnapped by a group of natives, whose leader speaks what can only be described as “cave man English” and invites her to join his harem.  When she refuses, he threatens to kill her if she doesn’t complete the puzzles set before her.  Then, when Kate manages to escape, the tribe leader leans over to one of his guards and says, “Those tourists are so gullible,” indicated that it was all an act.  I still have no idea what to think about this entire section.

There’s also a great deal of Arabian influence in the second half of the game, as the main villain claims to be a sheikh, but I would say that it’s more there for visual interest than anything else.  The side characters you meet in this arc aren’t particularly memorable, and aside from avoiding a sandstorm and racing camels at one point, the desert setting is just kind of...there.  It’s not as bad as it could have been, but it certainly wasn’t doing the game as a whole many favors, either.

To wrap this up with a bow, if you disliked this game simply because it was different and not the “signature GameHouse experience” you’ve come to expect, I feel sorry for you.  If you disliked this game because it doesn’t feel as polished as it could have been and the graphics are a bit of a train wreck?  Yeah, I get you.  But I still found this game enjoyable despite its flaws.  And if you’ve been avoiding this game because the bad ratings scared you off, pull on your big girl panties and manage your expectations.

I really hope that GameHouse sees Book of Gold as a learning experience and not a failure, because I think there’s some genuine potential here.  With some tweaks and polish (and clearer art direction), I would happily accept another game like this.