#longer chapters though

[thefloatingwriter]

it is not a fix-it if stanley uris is still dead. it is not a fix-it if stanley uris is still dead! IT IS NOT A FIX-IT IF STANLEY URIS IS STILL DEAD!! IT IS NOT A FIX-IT FIC—

[buwheal]

Merry (Kris)mas

[blaithnne]

You’re 12 years old the first time your father leaves. You’re 26 years old when he comes back. You’re 6 years old and your parents adore you, you’re 10 years old and they hate each other more. You’re 13 years old and your mother moves you out to the wilderness, packed into the back of her rusty little trabant-six-oh-something. You’re 13 years old and you have a new room, but you miss your old one. You’re 14 years old and you still haven’t gotten your period, your mother says it’s nothing, but you think she's lying. You’re 15 years old when your father comes back, and he loves your sister more than you. You’re 15 years old and you just want him to love you. You’re 15 years old and he tucks you into bed, kisses your forehead, and leaves before you wake up. You’re 16 years old and you know he doesn’t want you, you know he never did. You’re 12 years old and your parents won’t stop fighting, you’re 13 years old and you miss the noise. You’re 12 years old and you want to run away. You’re 12 years old and your father does. You’re 11 years old and you have a crush on the boy next to you at the station, and he hands you a cigarette and makes you feel special. You’re 13 years old when your mother finds out and convinces you to quit. You’re 16 years old when your father asks you to buy him a pack of cigarettes, and he doesn’t come back to smoke them himself. You’re 16 years old and you can’t bring yourself to let them go to waste. You’re 26 years old and you only smoke once a week, but you know you’ll never break the habit now. You’re 12 years old when your father runs away, you decide to do the same. You’re 12 years old when your mother tells you she’s pregnant. You’re 13 years old when your little sister is born, and you can’t believe there was ever a world without her in it. You’re 16 years old and you give her your favourite scarf, you’re 26 years old and she still won’t give it back. You’re 23 years old and you’re back in the city, you have a new room but you miss your old one. You’re 14 years old and you take the train back and forth from Trolberg every weekend on a supply run, you feel important, needed, special. You’re 16 years old when you have your first kiss, 17 years old when you have your first break up. You’re 19 years old when you find out you’ll never have children, you’re 26 years old when you have your first. You’re 23 years old when you meet the love of your life, still 23 the first time she kisses you. You’re 25 years old when you decide you’re going to marry her. You’re 23 years old when you meet the best man at your wedding. You’re 25 years old when you buy your own house, and you don’t miss your old room, you’re not alone in this bed. You’re 23 years old and your girlfriend lives in a van, you’re 26 years old and now she lives with you. You’re 25 years and your little sister’s afraid you’re leaving her, you’re 26 years old and you’ve converted your attic to a bedroom for when she sleeps over. You’re 25 years old when you open a cafe. You’re 25 years old and your mother is your first customer. You’re 26 years old and your son calls you mum. You’re 26 years old and sometimes he calls you dad. You’re 12 years old and you think your life is over, you’re 26 years old and it’s only just begun. You’re 12 years old and your father doesn’t want you. You’re 26 years old and he changes his mind, but you don’t need him anymore. You never really did.

[thetrashthatsmilesback]

One thing that annoys me about boruto is that naruto ended with the confirmation that Sasuke was *right* but that his *methods* weren't the best way to achieve what he wants

Naruto agrees that shinobi society needs to be massively overhauled, he just thinks it can be achieved without mass death or at the cost of Sasuke. Youre not supposed to end Naruto believing that Konoha's system was correct.

You're supposed to leave the manga *knowing that Sasuke's beliefs were correct, it was his methods which weren't the best path forward*

Naruto wants to take the pacifist path of talking and communication, but he doesn't fundamentally disagree with Sasuke.

But then we get to boruto and what do we have? The same system except the villages get along now. Great. So different. Also for some reason Sasuke is willing to die for the sake of Konoha.

You're supposed to end Naruto knowing that sasuke was correct about shinobi society and hoping that Naruto will bring about change even if sasuke doesn't stay (his """redemption""" tour which was unneeded because he was the fucking victim) but boruto shows us a society where nothing has changed

[o-sunny-day]

Me n my sister when the chapters release…

IM SO EXCITED we play rpg games like this all the time like Omori n Night In The Woods, where we voice the characters and WE DID THAT FOR UNDERTALE BACK IN 2016, SM FUN, THEN DELTARUNE CHAPTER 1-2, AND IM JUST SO EXCITED TO DO THAT AGAIN!!! Cause tbh we’re running out of fun voice acting games….

We trade off who voices who so much cause we love em all BUT i usually do Ralsei, and she does Susie. Then I Noelle, her Berdly, I Toriel, her Asgore and Sans, fun stuff all ‘round

We go to war over who voices Jevil and Spamton HBCDBHDEHNS Oh yeah and she does Lancer, I do everyone else + Lancer when hes talking to his dad, she does Kings stuff. And she also does Queen.

I gotta make a list of things to do when the chapters come out like omfg there are going to be GOOGLE DOCS GALLOR. Notes of my thoughts on specific parts, theories, objectives, MORE NOTES ON MY THOUGHTS like those are fun to look back on after. These were my notes after the finale to Act 1 of Arcane

ahh…good times.

[oceanwithouthermoon]

kaido thinks hes kubosais designated third wheel, when actually theyve been trying to worm him into the polycule for months

[withthewindinherfootsteps]

MDZS Notes + Analysis — Chapter Two: “Reincarnation”

Three main things stood out to me when rereading this chapter: the theme of status, our intro to WWX, and the information we’re given about his state after death.

…Well, four things, but the other one will get its own post.

The theme of status is immediately introduced* with ‘MXY’’s treatment and the backstory of MXY and his mother, yet again showing just how well MDZS’s ideas are integrated into the text and how well it’s paced! You’re introduced to every important theme so, so early on. Two screenshots are analysed below:

(See: entitlement of the upper classes towards the lower classes, and how this can exist even between members of the ‘same family’; and arguably the idea of debts between a richer family and someone who was 'taken in'. There are a surprising amount of parallels between MXY and WWX, but I'll make my own post about that)

(See: once again, differences in status between members of the same family, and also the worse, and disposable, treatment of one daughter because she was "the daughter of a servant". Now, why does that phrase sound familiar...?)

Also, MXY's mother was sixteen when she attracted JGS's attention... if you somehow needed even more material to hate the guy...

We also get introduced to WWX’s personality(!), which immediately disproves the rumours from last chapter on how he'd cast the world into ruin:

(That's one of the first questions he asks after waking up – I love how he's so concerned about this! It shows us two important things, too: 1) Morality is important to WWX, and 2) Doing immoral things seems to be out of the ordinary for him. Both of these stand in direct contrast to the picture of WWX we were painted earlier!)

(Same thing here, along with showing us some of the (healthy!) pride WWX has – he wouldn't be offended at this if wasn't something he held as important within himself)

(I use this quote again, but here it's once again proving that the vengeful, evil WWX who'd sink the cultivation world into "nothing but chaos and despair" at the first chance he got... very much does not exist.)

(And finally, it's explicitly confirmed here that he's not the type to take exessive revenge and take pleasure in it... at least at this point in time, because. MXY definitely had reason to think this considering Sunshot!WWX, if everyone had been working from the truth. But importantly that isn't who he is now, and isn't who the WWX villified by the cultivation world was – imo that's including Nightless City, we'll get to that when I reach it. But note that actions during the Sunshot campaign aren't even mentioned in the prologue, because, shock, they actually helped the cultivation world win the war! Though that doesn't mean they weren't part of rumours + the WWX hatred mill later.)

Then some non-morality related things:

This is just really funny to me, with how the makeup being badly applied (:o) is enough of an issue to merit a thought – WWX I love you.

And then this way of thinking comes back a few times esp during the earlier chapters, enough to be noted I think.

Confirmation on WWX's status after he died – it's not anything new to point out, but this chapter does give us rare insights into what state he was in during the post-death, pre-rebirth period.

So, he was somewhat conscious, enough to be aware of what he was(n't) doing – seeking vengeance, haunting the living – and was seemingly in control of those actions. However, he was specifically a "wandering ghost" – his soul didn't pass onto the afterlife or "return back to Earth"** like the body-offering spell's caster's would. He was conscious that a long time had passed as well, and this long period of downtime where he could accept + deal with what happened in his first life is what likely allowed him to be so well-adjusted the second time round – even taking into account the remarkably good way he tends to deal with things in general (cue the "forgetting the wound when the pain fades" quote, it summarises WWX's mindset really well)***.

Also, as for resisting the summons from the prologue – I'm wondering how much was due to WWX's experience with resentful energy + general capability (if that affects it..?) allowing him to consciously refuse, how much was due to WWX not being the type to hold onto resentment (so possibly spells targeting ghosts, full of this resentful energy, wouldn't be as affected?), and how much was due to the relative lack of knowledge about how ghosts/resentful energy works compared to WWX. Or, if it was something else. Either way, achieving the impossible, that's WWX for you :D

It is interesting that he hasn't heard a voice in ages despite wandering, too – do ghosts just not hear the same way, or did he deliberately avoid areas with people? I could see both, the second being more likely, especially considering how many people wanted to summon him back for... less than stellar purposes.

Misc:

Poor Mo Xuanyu....

--

*Well, reinforced – in the prologue, one of the things said about WWX is that "if not for the YunmengJiang clan’s adopting and teaching him, he would have been a hobo living on the streets", which is among the insults people throw. So of course, class-affecting-perception is tied to WWX from the very beginnning! But this is the first time it's actually explored, not a throwaway line.

**Though that may be what's literally happening to WWX's soul here – it is wandering around Earth – I don't think that's what this line refers to. There's a very good meta on how different translations handled that line, I really recommend it (tysm @/mxtxfanatic for finding it)!

***It would be very interesting to read a fic where it felt like no time had passed for him since his death, actually! Though the extremely stressful circumstances are gone, it would still be interesting to see a WWX for whom the Siege, Nightless City, Qiongqi Path etc are pretty recent – but only in fic territory, since I'm so, so glad we got the WWX we did in canon. Also, I'd love to see a fic maybe exploring some of his time as a ghost...?

[thingsthatbleedfic]

k i have like absolutely no time to do this until probably june or some shit like that but i wanted to ask our lovely readers for ideas™

i was thinking of doing more header images for the chapters, like the lighter for chapter 1 or the elevator for chapter 9. i would prefer if it's an inanimate object/doesn't have the characters in it, nice and simple

so far i've got a few suggestions from my co-authors/friends:

ch 3: the 6ft/no diving tiles on the side of the pool

either ch 5 or 6: the EMF detector

ch 11: bullet casings

reply on this post or send in an ask if you have an idea! i'm all ears

EDIT: also please put the chapter you would want to see it on for my sanity!

[flying-cat]

People don't want character redemption they want a revenge plot from a story that was never supposed to be about revenge

[parab0mb]

(Finally) read the first chapter of Paranatural :)

[amethystina]

Hi! Thou Shalt Not Covet got me craving for more and thinking... what do you think is the difference between Ga On and Yo Han's jealousy? When would they feel most threatened? Also, how far do you think they would go in terms of their possessiveness?

Would love to read more about that 🙃

Hi there 💜

I think the biggest difference is that Ga On's jealousy is more internal while Yo Han's is more external. Like, Ga On becomes introspective, picks everything apart, and overthinks things, trying to figure out why this is happening and, not so surprisingly, what he did wrong to make it happen. Because even if Ga On would be angry and probably pretty vicious, he'd still focus a lot on his own "blame" and start wondering why he's not good enough. All those abandonment issues would kick in and he'd come up with a number of theories and what he thinks are answers — but they're all just speculations.

And, because of that, I don't think Ga On would really lash out against Yo Han and whoever's making him feel jealous. Or, well, with words and such, sure — and clearly mark the boundaries if he and Yo Han are a couple and someone is encroaching on his territory — but not by causing physical harm. Ga On's jealousy is more bark than bite, basically. Because somewhere deep down he'd be convinced he's just not good enough and that's not a reason to hurt someone else over. It's Ga On's own fault for not being lovable enough, right?

So while he'd get snappish and rude, he'd never act on it in a threatening or malicious way.

Yo Han, on the other hand — oh boy.

I did answer an ask about how Yo Han would react if he ever had a reason to suspect that Ga On was cheating on him and all of that still stands. I think Yo Han would focus all his ire outwards, the jealousy becoming a weapon to hurt others rather than himself (as opposed to Ga On who internalises it all and ends up hurting himself rather than others). That's not to say that Yo Han wouldn't have some angsty moments where he bemoans the fact that he's a monster and, clearly, no one can love him, but those aren't his main focus.

His main focus would be making life difficult for Ga On and whoever's making Yo Han jealous. And as for whether or not Yo Han would go far enough to kill? Uh, I mean... that depends on the situation? x'D

Ga On? Never.

(though Yo Han might just lock him away and throw away the key)

The other person? He'd be tempted.

But it would have to be an extreme situation, I think. Because killing someone he perceives as a romantic rival would, in some ways, be an admission of weakness. It would mean that Ga On has an incredible amount of power over Yo Han and I don't think that he'd be willing to admit that Ga On's choices can influence Yo Han's decisions to that degree. Especially if he thinks that Ga On has betrayed him by falling in love with someone else. That would mean that Yo Han has to admit to himself that he's pining after someone who's not his — which would hurt his pride something terrible.

So, in the long run, while Yo Han is certainly capable of murdering someone he considers a romantic rival, I don't think he would. Because it's beneath him. He's not that interested or invested in Ga On.

(except yes he is — he's just a grumpy old man who refuses to admit it to himself)

As for when they'd feel most threatened, I think it would be before they get together or just shortly after they get together. Once they've been a couple for years and settled down, I don't think jealousy is going to be much of an issue for them. Because they'll both know that there's no way in hell either of them is stupid enough to throw away what they have, given how well-matched they are. They know there's no one else who can give them exactly what they need.

And, like, if they have kids? Fuck no.

Both Ga On and Yo Han would go: "No, he loves the kids and me too much to cheat" and that's that. I mean, sure, there might still be brief moments when they have to get a little possessive when a third party is being too flirty, but neither of them would actually think that the other is going to respond to that flirting and start straying.

(partly because I suspect that they have an unspoken agreement of: "if you do cheat on me I'll take the kids and spend the rest of my days making your life a living hell" but that sounds a lot less romantic)

But at the beginning? Or just after they get together? There would definitely be more to worry about.

And their weak spots are connected to their overall insecurities. So Ga On would be afraid that he's not good enough, not lovable enough, not smart enough, not experienced enough etc. He's not very glamorous or suave and pretty shy and clumsy about sex at first. He'd worry that he can't give Yo Han what he needs and that he'll eventually become a burden or that Yo Han will grow bored of him. He'd feel clingy and desperate and wonder if, just maybe, Yo Han wants someone more like himself — someone calm, rational, and mature. So just the usual abandonment and self-esteem issues cranked up to a toasty fifteen, basically.

Yo Han, meanwhile, would feel threatened at the thought of not being able to give Ga On the life and love he deserves. Yo Han is nothing if not self-aware and he knows that living with him is difficult, so he'd worry that someone might come along and show Ga On that he can find a better, sweeter, and kinder life elsewhere. Yo Han would worry that he's hurting Ga On by holding on to him and that, maybe, Ga On will realise that too someday and choose someone better. Someone who can love him and support him and care for him in a way that Yo Han can't with all his jagged edges. That was probably why he felt so threatened by Soo Hyun — she could give Ga On a life full of love and light and softness, whereas Yo Han can only offer darkness. And Ga On deserves better.

Again, it all depends a bit on the situation, though. Like, different insecurities rise to the forefront depending on where they are in their relationship and what the exact situation is.

But something like that, I guess?

I admit I've debated whether or not to write a fic based on that ask about Yo Han being jealous but goddamn it would hurt so maybe not x'D I don't like hurting myself (or Ga On) like that.

I've also toyed with the idea of writing Yo Han's POV of Thou Shalt Not Covet partly because I think it's hilarious just how confused he was there for a second. But that also means I'd have to write out Yo Han's thoughts and not all of them were pretty or kind. He's not a nice man — even less so when Ga On gives him such a perfect opening for some manipulation that will result in Ga On staying by his side >_>

So we'll see. It's not very high on my list of priorities right now since I have so many other projects I want to focus on.

Thank you so much for the ask! Please take care 💜

[nixie-deangel]

Tell me about your shifter AU, Nix. 🥰

This is the published shifter AU that started it all! It's from Jake's POV and mostly about how protective/possessive he is over his husband and how he's not going to make Mav and Ice's lives easy as they try to reconcile.

I have plans to turn it into a series full of mostly short-ish one shots, that way I can explore more, without worrying about writing out a long main story.

So far though, I'm just working on how Jake and Bradley first meet! And how Jake obviously has to work to gain Bradley's trust to get that date.

These are also the ideas I plan to eventually add:

Jake and Bradley first meeting

Bradley showing/telling Jake what he shifts into (something I haven't decided on yet lol)

Bradley and Jake getting married

Bradley meeting the Seresin family

Post I'll Be Your Guard Heart, family dinner with Ice, Mav and extremely bitchy/petty Jake

(if you have ideas, please send them! I am not saying I will fill or add each one to the series, but I'm also not saying I would mind some ideas or suggestions from y'all!).

Really, my only downfall of this is that Jake and Javy are quiet literally the only two that I have settled on for what they shift into. I have nothing for anyone else yet lmao which is a big problem, considering it's a shifter AU.

Ask Nixie about the WIP list!

[deus-ex-mona]

she’s so proud of herself…

[coffeebanana]

i love how optimistic i am when outlining long fics it's like "oh wow if i just plan this all out and then Follow. The. Plan!! it will totally be SO EASY. i mean i can have it all done so quickly!"

...ignoring the fact that this has never once happened 😂

[writingboutbrainrot]

All of Me Loaves All of You [ch4]

[ch0 | NOW ON A03] [hey here's a playlist btw]

The entrance dance had gone well enough. A small amount from Tina's “heinie liney” fantasy had made its way in, and Louise definitely had to protest with the idea that it looked better with the shortest member of her party and the tallest on the grooms’ side. Their butts were not level enough to touch, and instead Logan’s ass kept bumping into the middle of her back. She was sure they'd see her gritted teeth when they watched the playback that Linda would insist on viewing this Christmas. 

When the music shifted into something more calm and Gene announced the hour of open bar, Louise beelined. No eye contact with Logan or anyone else until her hands tapped the bar’s countertop and she stared at ex-convict and the family’s long-time friend, Mickey.

“Gimme your strongest, Mick,” she said, sure that her tone held the appropriate amount of desperation - which would be none, and she’d be wrong about that. Mickey raised his brows but shrugged and began to make his signature concoction.

He couldn’t help making small talk though, it’s just who he was. “Work up a sweat out there already?” he asked as he placed the glass on the bar. Louise squinted at him in a way that could be construed as menacing. Mickey construed it as such, at least, and gave a weak smile before nudging the glass toward the young woman. It broke her concentration and even her death glare. Maybe even her brain.

Louise looked back up at Mickey, eyes now wide. She pointed at the thick and cloudy monstrosity in front of her with pretzel sticks poking out. “Mickey, what is this?”

“That? Well you asked for my strongest Mick. So that’s my strongest ‘Slipping You A Mickey’. Beer, wine, milk, pretzel sticks and protein powder, with extra protein powder for extra strength!”

The way he beamed made it difficult for Louise to be harsh. She inhaled and exhaled before giving him a smile.

“Thanks Mickey, I’ll take this one to Logan in a sec - so sure he’d appreciate the extra protein. In the meantime, do you think you could mix me up an Old Fashioned and drop in some extra cherries?” 

“Oh yea, sure thing Baby Burger! Comin’ right up!” Even as he said this, Louise decided to watch him closely this time. Even if he’d gotten his liquor license (had he?), she wasn’t sure Mickey had passed any bartending classes. She didn’t see anything odd go into this glass though, and was at ease when Mickey turned around with the fresh drink that included an entire layer of maraschino cherries. For this, Louise slipped a $20 bill under a garnish jar as she verbally thanked the bartender before turning around with both glasses. It was the first time she was aware of the crowd that had grown around them.

Pushing her way through, Louise was careful not to spill either drink on her way back to the table she shared with her family…and Logan.

Although she noticed the table was a little lacking on the family side. The frantic way she looked around for anyone else was extremely noticeable. Logan fought back a chuckle.

“Linda and Gene are at the bar, Bob’s talking to the guests of honor,” he said neutrally as he could. Catching the glasses Louise set down, notably the one she set in front of him. “What is that?”

“That’s your free drink,” Louise answered matter-of-factly as she sat down. Then she dared to look at the blonde through her mascaraed lashes and added, “Got it just for you.”

And it’s not like Logan could turn down a “goodwilled” gift from his nemesis. And it’s not like Logan could turn down anything from someone who looked at him like that. Swallowing any odd feelings, that were definitely just from anticipation of what this drink was made of, Logan put a hand around the glass. Returning Louise’s gaze, he lifted the drink.

“Well, thank you then,” were his famous last words before the edge of the glass touched his lips. The way Louise’s face lit up in real time as the life drained from Logan’s could be considered demonic. As if she had used the moment to drain his soul through the alcohol-protein-milk monstrosity.

It spoke volumes that she managed not to cackle at the sight of her main tormentor doing his very best not to vomit or otherwise cause a scene. Not that she could stay entirely saintly, however.

“Don’t forget the free snack, Logan,” Louise insisted, reaching over the table to pull out one of the pretzel sticks and waving it in front of the man’s discolored face. She reveled in how long it seemed to take him to regain his composure. At least, until her mother’s voice chided from behind her.

“Louise Lilith Belcher.”

Said Belcher flinched. Bush let out a single “ha” before covering his mouth again. Louise scrunched her face at him before turning in her chair to smile sweetly at her dear mother.

“Yes?”

“Mickey told me what drink you brought for poor Logan. Didn’t I tell you to be on your best behavior?” Linda asked as she continued to stand over her youngest. Even with a glass of wine in hand at the ripe age of ‘mom to adults’, a stern Linda Belcher was sobering. Louise thought quickly to fix the situation and avoid the punishment of extra shifts this week.

“Mother, dear sweet Mother, Mickey must’ve heard me wrong. I brought Logan this very nice drink while I got this one for myself,” she sweetly corrected, smiling wide as she reached for both glasses. “Silly Logan just mistook which one was his and drank the wrong one.”

Linda continued her intimidating staredown as she took her seat. She didn’t look away from Louise once and instead made a motion. Drink, she silently insisted. Louise wanted to bolt from the table, but stubbornness held her captive as she lifted the abomination to her lips and closed her eyes. She hardly had time to think about if it was the same spot Logan’s lips had touched earlier as she slammed the remaining 9 ounces of sludge.

Tears were halfway down her face when she opened her eyes to see her audience had grown by one impressed Gene and Alex,  and a concerned Bob. 

Wiping her arm across her lower face, Louise returned her mom’s look with a smile that was more sickly than sweet.

“See? My drink, for me.”

Though she raised a brow, Linda let the transgression slide and sipped her wine. There was still a warning look though. The silent threat that no other shenanigans if she wanted to live to see the sun rise. Louise let her smile drop as she gave the most microscopic of nods in acknowledgement. Though she was starting to think it would’ve been better to get extra shifts as she heard Gene whisper, “That’s going to be awful coming back up.”

Her Old Fashioned had been slid back in front of her at some point, and she looked up to see Logan speed-walking towards the bar.

~x~x~x~

It was not on Logan’s bingo card to see just how long Louise could inhale a thick liquid for. Not that he actually knew how long it took her to down 9 ounces of something, because he brain stopped working when she didn’t take a break after a few gulps. It was impressive on multiple levels, but he tried to tell himself that it was just because he knew how horrible that drink was and that there was no way he’d be able to handle even a second sip of that.

He slid into an open space at the bar and was surprised to be automatically greeted by Mickey. 

“Back for another strong Mick?” the eccentric carnie exclaimed. Logan held back a grimace for the other man's sake. Instead he gestured at the Belcher table.

“Louise decided she actually really wanted both drinks,” he started as he glanced at the various bottles on the shelves. “I did get to try it though, very good. You should market that one.”

He stalled while processing what straightforward drink he could ask for that could get that image out of his head. The calculations finally halted, and he pointed at a champagne flute.

“Could you put a little absinthe in that and then fill the rest with champagne for me please?”

Mickey turned to look before nodding enthusiastically. “Yea I don’t see why I can’t, I’ve got those things right here!”

In the few seconds it took the bartender to pour the alcohol, Logan stared at a speck on the bar. The whole bar was patterned in specks, so honing in on that specific one really gave his brain something to do. Just when he thought that maybe his speck would move, the champagne flute was in front of him.

“Here ya are, one death in the afternoon! Kinda macabre for a wedding, but hey who am I to judge? Don’t let Louise take that one too. She should be on lighter drinks after what she’s had, I’d suggest water but I wouldn’t want to be the one to actually tell her…” Mickey rambled on for a bit. Logan politely nodded along, sending out ‘mhms’ where appropriate. Honestly it was better than going back to the table right away, and no one would doubt if he said Mickey held him up. They all knew he could give Teddy a run for his money on idle chatter.

In fact, Logan sat and nodded again and even took a sip of his drink. Hearing a loud and sarcastic laugh from across the room, a very prominent loud and sarcastic laugh, Logan chugged the drink and asked Mickey for another. The older man took the glass back with a nod, but Logan thought there was a look in his eyes this time. His voice dropped a bit.

“Be careful with this one, yea? Absinthe doesn’t mess around ya know.”

Unsure on if he was being cautious of telling an adult patron how to live, or if Mickey somehow recognized that Logan was battling a specific black haired demon, Logan grabbed the flute with a wry grin. Before leaving, he dug in his pocket and slid a $20 bill across the bar.

“I’ll keep that in mind, Mick, thanks.”

En route back to the Belcher table, Logan was blindsided by someone grabbing his free arm. He looked to see Tammy pull him a few steps off his path. Obviously she was trying to play it cool; but for the five years he’s had the displeasure of knowing her, Tammy has never had a passable pokerface. So Logan quirked a brow.

“What’s up Timtam?” He couldn’t help but grin at the way her face scrunched then recomposed. What could he say, he loves annoying people.

“I need you to dance with me later. Hopefully just one song, but-”

He had to interrupt, “Who’s not giving you the time of day now?”

Another ‘mmph’, this time coupled with the crossing of her arms. “Zeke’s cousin Leslie.”

Leslie was a cool guy, Logan didn’t think he would get so jealous of watching Tammy dance with someone else that he’d feel strongly enough to intervene. He was just about to tell her this when he got shoulder checked. Well, someone’s shoulder bumped into his arm at least. And judging by where on his arm he was hit…Logan moved his head just enough to watch Louise walk up to the head table. Maybe it was the alcohol hitting, but a gear clicked a few notches in Logan’s mind. He nodded. 

“Yeah, sure I’ll help you out Tammy. Pick you up after dinner,” he informed her with a friendly shoulder pat. The woman barely got the first syllable of gratitude out before Logan continued his journey back to his chair.

He’s proud to say that he didn’t look back at Louise until he sat down.

[ch5]

[simonsquest]

and this is a more specific ask, hope you dont mind! Tell me about how you've approached writing Simon in these recent "present" chapters! The new chapter was so engaging, watching simon's frustration and psychosis pour over into physically attacking and hurting his loved ones. but he's still the hero and the audience should like him, so do you take steps to make sure the audience can sympathize with him and understand his motivations? i especially liked his inner dialogue at the end - it shows how deeply and personally his failure has affected his opinion of himself. sad :(

I never mind! This is such a good question, ah! I hope I can properly put my reply into words lol.

I think to elaborate on the “present” Simon, I have to first justify the “past” Simon. My hope in writing him throughout these “past” chapters is to take him from being a heroic figure to a deeply flawed one - b/c of circumstance, the curse festering, or otherwise. He’s just a human capable of errors and is far from the perfect image the Belmont family (see: Laurent, lol) would like him to be. I also wanted to take every opportunity in the “past” chapters to show the other side of Simon to help build that contrast: that he’s actually quite gentle with his loved ones, wants and needs kindness and tenderness, and he is capable of giving those things, too, despite his appearances of being a brutal warrior.

But my hope in something like the most recent chapter still making him “likeable” to the audience is because Laurent is taking really low blows to a Simon who is already past his limit - that the audience has seen a side of Simon that Laurent is not privy to and not taking into account (his vulnerability). I want the audience to empathize with Simon, and understand why he hit a breaking point, and maybe see themselves in it, too, when they’ve acted in an explosive way when they were deeply hurting and doing their best in spite of their hurt, and know the immediate regret and remorse that comes from something like shouting at a loved one.

So we see him now, comparatively, in the present-day chapters, as someone who had to collect the pieces of his shattered pride, who comes out on the other side of it with something to prove. He has to crawl out of the hole, or die trying.

I’m not sure if I am doing a good job of still making Simon likeable but I hope the next few chapters might redeem him if he’s fallen out of favour! :P