#love that we're not waiting for asks and are just dropping the entire ask game worth of answers on everyone

[mylittleredgirl]

20 questions for fic writers

thanks @annerbhp for the tag! i really enjoyed reading her answers too!

1. How many works do you have on ao3?

215

2. What’s your total ao3 word count?

646,705 (average of 3k per fic, which sounds about right)

3. What fandoms do you write for?

stargate atlantis most often, followed by sg-1, various star treks, and the x-files (with other miscellaneous fandoms on demand for exchanges and gifts).

4. What are your top five fics by kudos?

No Sooner Met (voyager, janeway/chakotay)

Career Day (sg-1, mini!otp)

Next Chapter (the good place, chidi/eleanor)

First Date (voyager, janeway/chakotay) editor's note: man my title game was weak in my voyager era

Occupational Hazards (the good place, chidi/eleanor)

it's so funny to spend my online time in small or inactive fandoms and look at statistics because i'm like yeah... i'm kind of a big deal... people know me... i have many leather-bound volumes... and not a single one of my fics crack 300 kudos (& very few over 100). the person i reblogged from topped out over 9,000! what's it like to write long fics for popular fandoms? is it cool?

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

i do now! and it's awesome! for a long time i was intimidated by praise and had a hard time responding, but my brain works now and i really enjoy exchanging comments that turn into long threads of headcanon back-and-forth and sometimes new friends.

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

oh god PLEASE let me unburden my soul about Twilight (sga, john/elizabeth). it's so uncharacteristically hopeless for me -- far future fic, complicated family dynamics, elizabeth has dementia and john is estranged from their son... really no one is having a good time. i think it's interesting and a cool departure from my usual writing style, but it's also a big sad mess.

i still feel sooooo guilty about these two thousand words of misery that i REGULARLY think about writing a sequel where john and his son fix it with time travel and mend fences. like i lie awake at night worrying about these characters because one time in 2007 i didn't give them a happy ending and suggested john might not break the bad father generational cycle. normal fic writer behavior.

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

Weaving Loose Ends (sg-1, sam/jack)! i love happy and hopeful endings but i think of all of them, this one is the most resolved and least complicated.

8. Do you get hate on fic?

nope. oh!!!! there was the one time when i caused Big Drama in a corner of the Dancing With The Stars fandom by turning people's headcanons into rpf, which everyone liked until one included porn. people got so heated with each other over this one smut fic (doxing! splinter factions! a fandom schism!) but somehow no one was ever actually mean to me. i didn't even get blocked or banned for my rpf transgressions, i was just standing there at the eye of the storm. so... i guess the answer is still no??

9. Do you write smut?

yes! i should probably write more, though. it has been all slow and gauzy the past few years, somebody should really get railed pretty soon.

10. Do you write crossovers?

nope.

11. Have you ever had a fic stolen?

i don't think so. happily toiling in obscurity.

12. Have you ever had a fic translated?

back in the x-files days i think someone translated some of my doggett/reyes fics for a spanish archive, so those might still be out there.

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

no i haven't!! i am really not doing well collecting my fic writer girl scout badges here!!

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

john sheppard/elizabeth weir my beloved.

15. What’s a WIP you want to finish but probably won’t?

i have 10k of an sg-1 episode-by-episode soulmate fic that started really strong and i would love to share someday, but i lack staying power so it will surely just go to seed in my dropbox forever!!

16. What are your writing strengths?

hopefully character complexity and dialogue. dialogue is interesting in fanfic, because the dialogue on many TV shows is really different than how real humans speak (it's scripted to be clearer, more concise and direct, uninterrupted, etc), so it's a fun challenge to balance that and get something that sounds both in-character and realistic.

17. What are your writing weaknesses?

long fics!

the big related weakness is that i find it incredibly difficult to keep writing on a fic after i show it to anyone (as a sneak peek, or because i want feedback / encouragement / brainstorming help). i lose steam on my own, but posting or inviting other people into the process is like pouring sugar in the gas tank. why is that!! how do i fix this!!!

and i don't know if this is a "writing weakness" or an "egregious personal character flaw" but i sure did finish an exchange fic this year literally forty seconds before reveals, so that's... pretty bad.

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

SO SCARY aughhhh my fear of Being Wrong really nukes me here. it doesn't even have to be a real language. it's like the ghost of JRR Tolkein himself is standing over my shoulder telling me that if i don't backwards engineer an entire proto-latinate space language instead of just chucking words into google translate and calling it Ancient i'm committing unpardonable sins.

19. First fandom you wrote for?

star trek! first internet-published fics were x-files, but first limited-print-edition fics were xeroxed hand-bound voyager stories my sister and i would give as "gifts" to family friends (and then stand there staring at them while they read the first few pages and told us how clever and creative we were and promised to "read the rest later").

20. Favourite fic you’ve written?

new answer! i have always answered this before with ain't no sunshine (sga, john/elizabeth) or career day (sg-1, mini!otp), but i think i really stuck the landing this year on pieces (sga, john/elizabeth). which, incidentally, is the one i finished forty seconds before reveals so i'm definitely not going to learn anything from that narrow escape.

tagging @ussjellyfish if you haven't already done this one, @coraclavia, @havocthecat, @lonesomehighways, and anyone else who made it through this long post and would like to do it!

[w2soneshots]

Pub golf -W2S

words: 0.5k+

warnings: alcohol consumption.

summary: you play pub golf with the sidemen, their girlfriends and Freezy. And you and Harry are a fluffy cute couple.

notes: hello my loves!! Here is the request💓. I love the sidemen pub golf’s so I was excited to write this🤭. I hope you enjoy!🫶🏼🍻

"You ready?" Harry popped his head into the spare bedroom that he had turned into my dressing room. "Mhm. Two secs." I grabbed my lipgloss then got up. Harry's eyes widened. "That skirts a bit short." He walked up behind me to slap my ass. "Oi!" I turned around with a cheeky smile. "I'm wearing white shorts underneath, they just don't fully cover everything." I told him. "Well I don't mind, I love your big juicy bum." He joked. I chuckled.

Once we were dropped off (by a taxi) at the pub that we had all agreed to meet at me and Harry went inside. Everyone had dressed up in golf gear. We had to wait a little while for the entire group to arrive but once they did we got started. The rules are: we each have one drink per pub and are scored by the amount of swigs it takes to finish it. Downing it would give you a hole-in-one. At the end of the game, the player with the lowest score is the winner, just like real golf. But because we're playing in teams of two (me and Harry being together) we are alternating between each other, so we don't get too drunk too quickly.

"Ew, can you do this one? I hate sambuca." I asked Harry. "Yeah babe, sure." He didn't seem to be too bothered and easily took the shot. "Lovely jubbly!" Was his reaction. On the other hand Talia and JJ seemed to really struggle. No one got a point though since they all did it in one gulp.

We walked to the next pub. "This one's a pint of cider!" Simon announced to the group. I looked to Harry. "I've got this one." We ordered then went around the table, each person drinking their drink. I was second and somehow managed to do it in just two swigs. "Well in babe!" Harry gave me a massive high five. Ethan drank his in one go and so did Freezy but it took Josh four gulps to get it down. "I'm fucked." Freya said (since she was Josh's partner), making us all laugh.

After a few more pubs and many drinks everyone became increasingly more drunk. As we were walking to the next place I did a cartwheel. "Woah! What the fuck." Harry lunged forward, worried I was going to fall straight onto the pavement. I chuckled with a hiccup. He stood right next to me for the rest of the walk, his hand on the back of my skirt, as it kept flying up in the wind.

At the end of the night Tobi went through the scores, since he was the only sober one. Poor guy had been babysitting us all night. Me and Harry won with ten points. Ethan and Faith came second with twelve and Josh and Freya lost with twenty five points. Once we got in our taxis I fell asleep on Harry's shoulder. He carried me upstairs to our apartment, got me ready for bed then tucked me in.

The next morning we both woke up with an awful hangover but since we had so much fun last night and made some great memories with our closest friends we didn't mind.

[seraphinitegames]

Hey, Mishka!!!

I've been replaying TWC over the last couple of months, and must say, it's been an entirely rejuvenating experience for me. Like, I was reading it the first time, although I've replayed the series quite too many (worrying number) of times already. And it still manages to amaze me, EVERY SINGLE TIME.

I've repeated this in the past, and I'll repeat it again. The Wayhaven Chronicles is a blessing for me and I'm sincerely thankful to have come across it when I did. And I'm grateful to you for making this lovely world a reality (and of course, the four beautiful vamps)! Really eager for Book 4 and have already player the demo; can say it's gonna be worth the wait. It every time is.

Replaying the series in the last few months, I had a certain uncontrollable urge to drop and ask a few questions to you. Apologize in advance for the long ask and message, but it had been bottling up inside of me for SOOOOOO LONG.

1. In Book 1, when we're to lead the investigation in one of the three directions, is there any way to get success in any direction without Bobby making a big joke out of our investigation in the newspaper?

2. In Book 2, when Nicole and Max Salinas come to report their incident, can Tina actually find out anything unusual? If so, what is actually needed to explain that?

3. In Book 3, I noticed if we choose to go the final mission alone, depending on the route chosen, Boddy/Doug will end up tagging along as well, jeopardizing everything. Is there still a way to complete the mission successfully and rescuing everyone like it happens when we go along with Rebecca?

4. Less of a question, but more of a plea. Please tell me we can get a pet anytime in the series. I was just curious if we can get one.

5. How powerful is the big baddie in Book 4 compared to Unit Bravo? You don't need to answer if this verges on spoiler-y territory.

Really sorry to overwhelm you with this, but it's just months and months of joy, happiness, and sheer ecstasy making me blabber on about this world like this. Thanks once again, for making this truly beautiful story, world, and the vampires a reality.

Have a good day!!!! Lots of love from India!!

You can never play a game you love too many times (I keep telling myself that as I gradually burn a hole into my poor old console playing Dragon Age over and over, lol!)! If it brings you happiness, then that's what is important! :D

Ok, let's see about the questions...it's been a whole since I've gone through the older games without being in editing mode, hehe!

I don't think so...Bobby is, well, Bobby. And that scene was there very much to establish their character and show the player what type of person they are.

I don't think so, again. If there's anything unusual or odd, then I usually like to let the MC find that instead of it happening 'off-screen' so it's more impactful for the player—unless it's Verda discovering stuff, because that needs to happen for…reasons.

Iirc, in the Bobby/Doug routes, you get the auction scene, so a lot of that branch involves focusing on saving yourself! But the other team that joins Unit Bravo will help in saving a lot of the captives in that version.

I would love that being a massive animal companion fan myself, hehe! But likely not, just because the MC is away a lot from home, and that's unfair on the pet, even a fictional one, lol. I was tempted to give the MC a supernatural pet that hung around at the facility—that was definitely a strong idea at one point just so I could write a pet in the series for those that wanted it (me, I was the one who wanted it, hehe!) :D

**BOOK FOUR DEMO SPOILERS AHEAD** It's not just that Book Four's villain is terrifyingly powerful (or will be. They are, thankfully for the MC and UB, in a weakened state for a while due to what's happened to them and what happened in Chapter Two) but it's a lot to do with the fact that their power specifically counteracts and weakens Unit Bravo's. So that's a double whammy!

Thank you SO incredibly much for the amazing message! It means more than you can know <3

[shotmrmiller]

✨Toni~✨

I come with an idea. I need more FWB! Simon. I need angst, I need to suffer from this man, I know he would do us so dirty.

Like imagine since the both of him and reader are non exclusive, but reader gets knocked up. She's panicking because she's on birth control, trying to figure out who she slept with last and it's HIM-

And maybe, just maybe the last time they slept together, they had a fight. Because this Mansss decided to leave us after an argument, because he had another 'appointment'.

So yeah know, now we got to tell this dick we're knocked up. And I don't know you can go from there, if you don't like this idea, delete it ignore it.🫠

BUT ANGST.

Thank you for your time, I love you Toni you rock like always! 💓

oh, so dirty.

esp if i use the fwb simon from the (platonic) cbf johnny au i got.

Johnny held your hand as you waited the 5 minutes for the results of the pregnancy test.

"What am I gonna do if it's positive, Johnny? I can't...I'm not ready to be a mum!" you sniffled and took in a shuddered breath. "What are the chances that I'm the 1%?"

His expression was solemn, thin lips set in a firm line. "Ye finally gonna tell me tha' the father is Simon or do ye wish to continue playin' yer little game?" Johnny rasped.

You rest your head on his shoulder and tiredly close your eyes.

"Was hoping I'd never have to tell you. It was supposed to be just a quick knocking of boots and then we both went my merry, his miserable, ways. But as per usual, I'm just dogged by misfortune."

The wait for the timer to ring had your heart slamming against your ribcage. The prospect of birthing a child you never even thought about having had bile rising up to your throat, leaving an acrid taste on your tongue.

You start at the piercing ring of the timer but don't move to get up.

Johnny, forever your hero, is the one who bites the bullet for you.

He gently flips over the stick, stares at it for a second, then drags a hand down his face. He also doesn't look at you as he utters, "So are ye gonna tell 'em?"

You hastily crawl over to the toilet bowl and empty your stomach.

Pregnant.

--

You told Johnny everything. How it started that one night when he had been over here for drinks, and you had put Johnny to bed because he'd gotten to sloshed, to propositioning him and then the weekly hook ups.

Well, almost everything. He didn't need to know that you gave Simon a sloppy toppy in his kitchen while he snored away that same night you asked him to fuck you.

And then how it finally ended. Simon getting redressed at witching hour because some other tart called him to go over. (your thighs had still been wet from his spend at that time)

So you had called him an unpaid whore; A worthless piece of meat— good for nothing other than cock— and told him that if he leaves, you and he are done.

He had huffed out a laugh, grabbed his motorcycle helmet off your dinner table, and walked out the door without a backward glance.

Johnny hadn't said a word the entire time, but then again, he didn't have to. His countenance said it all.

Disappointment.

He looked so devastatingly disappointed that your eyes welled with tears in seconds and spilled— one fat drop after the other until he pulled you into his arms and held you as you wept, your grief and anguish visceral.

--

"Ye've gotta tell him, bonnie. He has the right to ken."

You let out an aggrieved sigh. Again, with this. "No. He hasn't texted in weeks. Clearly, Simon doesn't give a damn about me. 'Sides, we don't need him when you're around."

A wave of dizzying nausea slams into you, and your world beings to tilt on its axis.

"Don't feel so good, Johnny, I think I need to sit down."

Strong arms catch you as your body crumples and everything goes dark.

--

You rouse from your sleep and find yourself in Johnny's bed with a sharp pounding in your head. Groaning, you turn over to your side and press your fingers into your temples— hoping to alleviate some of the pain when your phone's screen lights up.

Simon's calling.

Goddamnit Johnny. Bloody nosy parker.

You decline it and wait for his text. He's always hated when you ignored his calls on purpose.

And there it is.

Where you ever gonna tell me?

Nothing you need to know about.

No? I thought you were on birth control.

We don't need you.

That mean you're keepin' it?

My baby? Yes, obviously.

Our. Stay at Johnny's, I'm coming over.

No, no. Stay at your girl's house. We'll be just fine without you.

Cute. I'll see you in 10.

(lowkey wondering how he would react if you told him it's johnny's. lol)

[moregraceful]

Saw an old picture of Cooch playing wordle with the sharks equipment manager and I have got to ask. Is he a word games guy. Was he pulled into it or do you think he instigated. Does he have a NYT games account.

There is no reason you should know but I feel like your augury will be closer than anyone else I can think of (or at least more fun)

WELL. He had a book club during the pandemic so canonically he can read and loves to share literacy. And Wordle is a good game not just because it works your brain but also bc you have a limited number of chances before you legally have to go to idiot jail, which for a man as chronically depressed as Cooch, it does feel like he would enjoy the challenge. I bet he has an NYT game account. I bet bro loves the honey comb one.

This is giving me a perfect excuse to talk about one of my favorite articles from Corey Masisak's tenure with the Sharks: the Sharkies' lil nerd ass bookclub. You may have read this already bc you've been in these trenches but here are my favorite excerpts. There's a lot of Reimer in the article and while I don't care for the man or his politics, he does have some fascinating insight into why the Sharks are cringe nerds (so much travel time)

He likes to share books with guys on the team!! He's the team librarian!! Drop your book talk Cooch I wanna see something. It actually tracks because every librarian I've ever worked with was deeply and chronically mentally ill. This is why we need more mundane workplace aus that aren't coffeeshop aus.

in my sexiest imagine, Logan is an extremo depressed burnt out librarian and Thomas Bordeleau is the guy who has to do community service due to getting arrested for idk stealing a doctor's prescription pad and starting a black market estrogen prescription economy. And now he has to just, teach Bordy how to read so Bordy can pull holds. And its not making Logan less depressed.

Logan Couture 🤝 Bryce Harper: reading pulp novels so they can get away from the horrors of being an athlete. Wait let me cook. What if I was an athlete who read copaganda novels and you were an athlete who read hockey romance novels...and we never even met

The thing about John Grisham, Jimmy Pat, and Lee Child is that the people who checked out those books the most ofte at my library were like 80 year old women, who would read approximately 7-10 books a week. From this we can conclude Cooch is an old woman. Do you think he does the kinds of fiber arts crafts you have to learn from a book and not a Tiktok

This excerpt isn't about Cooch but I feel its critical knowledge: Pickles hasn't read a book in at least 3-4 years

The real bomb we're throwing here is if Pickles doesn't read books but does do the NYT crossword puzzle every day and has a streak. I mean maybe he's doing like, my first crossword puzzle for kids, but EYE like thinking about him seriously working on the Sunday crossword for an entire flight. I would say he completes it perfectly but he made fun of Nick Bonino's ereader and made Nick got mad as hell and EXPOSED him

Words are still words you're SO right king. It's not about the format or the length or the type of book you read. It's about reading . Because to read, to use your words, to engage in the action of imagination, education, storytelling and build, is to live. And I include nonfiction in that. And also audiobooks.

Also thank you for your kind words about my augury, that really made me smile 💙💙🦈🦈

[anyalovesu]

we're not saints at all.

༘˚⋆𐙚｡⋆.✧˚ eight ༘ ˚⋆𐙚｡⋆.✧˚

necessary reminders:

contains 🔞🔞🔞 minors dni

🔞 is not pw authenticated anymore ( cri ) but yea i hope that you guys are old enough to read the content you consume

more warnings on the second part tnx

also i only have like 2 chapters left wkwkwkwkw tnx for hanging around with me for this oneee!!

oh and mdni !! pls pls pls

The waiting game was exhausting. 5:30PM, on the dot, Tobi and Ally were there in the waiting area of the arrival terminal in his black hoodie, all masked up to avoid getting noticed. After the entire fiasco with Kashiana, the last thing he wants is to attract more attention to him and Jas and cause another scene that might reflect on Jas’ social media platforms again. He’s had enough of the allegations they have received the past few days. Thank the good gods out there for giving them friends who work in the legal field that this was sorted out quicker than he was expecting. 

The silence to himself was eating him alive, especially with him sitting next to Ally who made the speedy process possible. If he was honest, it was a mystery to him why they managed to forgive him. What he did to Jas was beyond forgiving if it was done to him, but here they are, helping him with whatever plan he has so he can fix things with Jas. Bella even pulled personal strings just so he would be able to reserve one of the back rooms in Sunday Vine, so he can take Jacynthe to dinner. The way Eli still speaks to him in the same gentle tone even when she gets frustrated with how dense he gets every time he asks her for tips. It didn’t feel real to him that her friends are still helping him.

“Ang aga aga mo naman kasi umalis, Park,” Ally complained, hands reaching up to stretch out her back from being hunched as she has been writing her novel the past 30 minutes.

“6:30 daw eh,” he responds nonchalantly, shrugging before glancing on his phone again to check the time.

“Park, landing time and 6:30! If they get delayed, now what? Anong gagawin natin?”

“They’re flying with Azure Air,” he shakes his head. “They rarely get delayed, Al.”

“Ang tagal tagal naman kasi, dong,” she huffs, shutting her laptop down. “Patatawarin ka naman noon kahit late ka!”

“That's not the point.”

“I never asked this before,” she sighs, sliding her laptop down her purse before turning to look at him. “Mostly dahil ayaw kong makarinig ng maling sagot.”

“Ano ‘yon?” Tobi could feel his heart thumping against his chest as he waited for Althea to drop the ball on him.

“Seryoso ka na ba talaga kay Jas?” she asked. “Kasi kung hindi p’wede ka pa naman umuwi. Kaya ko naman iuwi ang dalawang ‘yon mula Pampanga hanggang QC.”

“I’m serious, Althea,” he says firmly.

“Jas always loves too much,” she stated. “Are you ready for that? Kaya mo bang suklian ‘yon? Inalagaan namin si Jas every time someone broke her heart. Can you promise me na you’re going to try to be the last one?”

“I can promise that, Al,” Tobi promises. “I will be the last one. Ally, I never wanted someone to spend my entire life with before until Jas came around. God, I fixed my relationship with my mom just so I could have a shot for her forgiveness. Mahal na mahal ko si Jas.”

“Good,” she hummed, swiftly running a hand over her cheek to wipe away a stray tear. “Because that woman has never been that in love before you. God, ang lungkot, all of a sudden at the slightest hint of pain she’s writing the saddest shit. I can’t take it anymore. Nadadamay kaming lahat!”

“You do that too,” he snorted.

“I didn’t know you read my books, Park?”

“Jas read your books aloud to me as an aftersex routine before,” he chuckles embarrassingly at the thought of sharing that kind of intimate detail to her best friend. “You are a sad person too, Ally Kim.”

“Bad parents, raise sad children,” she replied softly, looking away.

“Makes sense,” Tobi replied, before leaning back on the back rest of his seat as well. “It’s really funny how Jas managed to get us to mend our broken relationships with our parents.”

“Yeah,” Al sighed. “I guess she did that.”

“How are they now?”

“Are you really trying to get me to open up to you, Tobi?” Ally rolled her eyes at him. 

“Ano pang gagawin natin dito kung hindi magusap? Maliban sa napakagalante ng magulang mo at dito tayo dinala sa VIP na lounge tayo pinapunta, wala rin naman di talaga tayong ibang gagawin kung di magchismisan dito.”

I took some time before Al replied to him, contemplating on whether he should reply.

“They’re okay now,” she replied. “Nagsorry sila for pushing me away noong hindi ako nagtuloy magpractice ng law. They saw how successful I got. Apparently, muntikan na palang maassasinate ang tatay ko after he won a case against a politician noong isang buwan. Sabi nila they have never been more glad that I didn't go that route.”

“Politicians are insane.”

“True. But also they found out I was dating Attorney Santos’ golden boy,” she shrugged. “I still have mixed feelings. But they apologized. I guess that’s a big thing now. My parents are good and I have a hot boyfriend. All is well, I think.”

“Good point.”

“You and your mom?”

“Yeah, she didn’t apologize directly,” he replied casually. “Baka hindi lang rin n’ya alam kung paano. But she’s trying. She wants to be friends with me apparently. Asking me to hang out and be around me and Bianca more. I understand where she’s coming from though. He had to make Leon that perfect little boy in the eyes of the Yangs, and she did that. Big weights off her shoulders.”

“It shouldn’t be our responsibility to understand why our parents weren’t good parents,” she sighed. “But it is what it is, I suppose.”

“I used to feel jealous how Doctora Daphne managed to raise Jas so nicely,” Tobi muttered quietly. “Jas is such a good person. Alam ko naman sa sarili ko na hindi ko kayang maging ganoon kabuti given the circumstances that I grew up on.”

“But you want to be better, no?”

Tobi nodded. 

“I feel that too. That’s exactly how I feel with Kyle. That boy is too nice for the world and I’m this whole mess that didn’t go to law school because it was never what I wanted.”

“Good people make us want to be good people,” Tobi chuckles to himself, fiddling on the buttons of his phone to distract himself. “Love does that to us, I think.”

“Promise me you’ll always be in love with my Jas, okay?” she hummed at him. “I don’t want to ever see you walk away from her like her dad did, or like every single man did in her life. May pagsatanga si Jas kaya tatanggapin ka noon palagi—but for the love of God, don’t take the opportunity every time. Last na dapat ‘to.”

“I will do just that, Ally.”

“That woman is crazy for you, Tobi,” she sighed heavily. “And we’ll do anything to see her happy, even if it means forcing you to be the man she needs.”

“You don’t have to force me to do it,” Tobi replied politely. “I can always try and if I fail, uulit nalang uli until I get it right.”

“Very good.”

-

༘˚⋆𐙚｡⋆.✧˚ continue here ༘˚⋆𐙚｡⋆.✧˚

[storiesofsvu]

A Dangerous Game Ch 3

Emily Prentiss x reader Warnings: language, usual Criminal Minds canon type conversation, mentions of violence, nothing descriptive though. Minor flirtation, smut maybe eluded to. So. for those of you who loved how long the first chapter was, this may just be the fic for you. I originally wanted this entire "trip" to be one chapter but this one ended up being long enough on its own so I've split it up by days. Downside: you now have to wait for the smut. LOL. sorry not sorry at least that means we're now getting more plot? more time for our girls to actually get to know each other...

It was as if your first case in the field was your official initiation onto the team. Though honestly, it kind of was, being a profiler wasn’t for everyone, especially with the BAU. You had to be quick on your feet, fit in well with the rest of the team, be used to seeing gruesome crime scenes and be ready to leave Quantico at a moment’s notice, not worrying about what you were leaving behind. After the case in Omaha you’d proven yourself on all accounts and found yourself thoroughly enjoying coming into work and the people you spent your days with.

It started out with a coffee left on your desk, a friendly good morning from Penelope along with a warm smile. Monday’s she would linger a little bit longer, asking how your weekend went and when you mentioned most of your free time was still spent making yourself have energy for unpacking and trying to figure out where everything would go in your house she offered up some of her time the next weekend. Considering her office was one of the most positivity oozing rooms at the BAU you figured it’d be nice to have her as a second set of eyes. That weekend you discovered you were both coming from the same direction and usually stopped to grab coffee together on the way into work, giving you a little more gossip time before hitting Quantico.

After your first trip to the range with Derek you found that there was a lot of friendly competition banter going on between the two of you. In spare time between cases or to kick the mid afternoon slump doing paperwork you started running together, which lead to hitting the gym together a couple of times a week. The competition definitely helped both of you push yourselves passed the limits you’d normally go, not to the point of hurting, but you were already seeing results and you weren’t complaining.

One of your weekends you’d been out exploring Alexandria and ended up running into JJ coming out of a cute café. The accidental run in had you being introduced to Will and the boys, joining them in the park for a couple of hours afterwards. The boys loved you, pleading for more playdates, asking if you could come for dinner. You politely had to decline that night but did offer up to Will and JJ that if they ever wanted a date night you were more than willing to babysit free of charge.

Spencer and you often found yourselves talking about books, exchanging some of your favourites to read in downtime or while on the jet. It was another thing that helped you actually get unpacked and get yourself set up, wanting to find specific ones you knew he’d enjoy. He took you to a couple of his favourite old book stores around the area, spending a few hours perusing the shelves for a few hours until you had selected a few.

Even Rossi you found yourself getting along with perfectly, though your conversations were more limited or related to work. He did have a plethora of knowledge on fine wine and whiskey that you weren’t about to turn down, and you ended up having a couple of life chats over the weeks. He’d been with the bureau for long enough to have seen it all and the stories and lessons he could provide were ones you were going to pay strict attention to.

The only one you hadn’t had much one on one time with was Emily. Well… since you’d shown up for your first day of work that is. There were small fleeting moments here and there, ones where you had to drop off paperwork in her office, or when the two of you happened to be filling up coffees at the same time. Caught in the breakroom together with so much sexual tension buzzing between you, you were glad you were alone, it would be a wonder for no one else to pick up on it. It certainly didn’t help that you’d both been busy trying not to think about fucking the other person and with work that you hadn’t exactly had time to find someone else to relieve the urge. Instead your nights were full of remembering just how good Emily made you feel, your hands often wandering, wishing they were hers instead of your own.

Every day you got to work Emily would, once again, think about completely remodelling her office so your desk wasn’t in her direct eyeline when she was sat at hers. Your laughter would drift through the bull pen into her ears like fucking silk and it was killing her, she was more than happy to see you fitting in with everyone else but there was almost a twinge of jealousy. She wondered if the two of you would be able to hang out and just be friends as she watched you chatting with Penelope. She nearly had herself convinced she would be fine until you stood from your desk, leaning over to grab something from Spencer’s and the neck of your blouse gaped low enough she could see the green lace of your bra and swell of your chest underneath it. She let out a groan, dropping her pen to her desk as she shifted her thighs together. She needed to fuck you again.

Absolute need, not want.

*

It had been a relatively relaxing week, if one could even say that about working with the FBI. You all thought you were basically in the clear, waiting for the okay to come through so you could enjoy the weekend ahead. You’d finished a pile of paperwork earlier, dropping it in Emily’s inbox on her desk, thankful for the fact that she was in the conference room for once. Currently, Spencer had pulled up to your desk as the two of you were competing to see who could finish the crossword the fastest. (It wasn’t a competition, you all knew Spence was going to obliterate you, but it was a fun way to kill the time). None of you even noticed Emily exit the conference room as she quickly strode along the raised platform to her office, her authoritative voice breaking into the calm atmosphere of the bull pen.

“Wheels up in ten!”

You glanced up and she’d already disappeared into her office, your brow furrowed as you looked across at JJ, curious about what was different today.

“Means it’s super time sensitive.” The blonde replied, pulling open a drawer of her desk to grab her go bag, “we’ll debrief on the jet.”

*

The jet was on its way to Atlanta, where an unsub had been kidnapping young girls, taunting their families and the local police down to a specific timeline until he killed his victim. The first girl had been kidnapped almost a month ago and her body hadn’t turned up until nearly a week later but with each victim he got, the unsub was escalating, taking less and less time between the hunt and the kill. It had taken two weeks for police to realize things were connected, much less a pattern. Two days ago a young girl had gone missing from her bed in the middle of the night, it was the first kidnapping of its kind, originally not thought to be connected until the taunting started. Police found her body thirty six hours after she was taken. At eleven a.m. today a girl, April, was snatched from the playground at school and you had deduced you had less than twenty four hours to find her alive.

“We’ll be touching down in ten.” Emily’s voice floated through the jet, returning from the cockpit, pulling you out of the trance you’d been in reading over the case file, “Spence, Morgan, you’re going to the local precinct, read what they’ve got, figure out what they’re missing. JJ and Rossi talk to the families, all of them, we’ve got to figure out if there’s a connection between these girls, something that might help us find the unsub. Wilson and I will take the school and work through the other crime scenes.”

There was a small rumble of accepting roles through the jet, nods from all of you as you shifted into the right focus for the rest of the day. Emily hadn’t even really realized she’d paired herself off with you, she’d simply been thinking who was best applied where to find this girl as fast as they could. She dropped down into the seat next to you, her arm brushing against yours on the arm rest and heat surged through your body at what felt like an incredibly inappropriate moment. You cleared your throat to regain your focus, passing her the file you’d been looking through and shifted slightly in your seat so you weren’t touching her.

You could think about her touching you once you were in the privacy of your hotel room tonight, right now you had a job to do.

*

You were thankful for the distraction of work as you and Emily pulled up to the school, briefly talking with the local pd, a couple of teachers and the principal. Despite the police already doing a sweep, it was still ongoing, while Emily busied herself with talking to a few of April’s friends, trying to figure out exactly where she had been playing and if anyone had a description of who she’d gone off with you were retracing steps through the playground. One of the structures was made up to be a ship, cops said they’d found April’s back pack on the lower deck of it so you knew she’d been playing somewhere on it. You noticed a child sized entrance that lead to the below deck area, letting out a groan at the fact that this was clearly made for tiny humans and not adults, but weaseled your way through it anyways. Using your flashlight you searched the area, sand squishing under your shoes as you swept every inch. A bit of graffiti on the wood, an sand pail in the corner to collect the garbage, a note or two pinned to the wall as form of communication between kids who had recess at different times. The beam of your light swept over the corner of the space and a flash of vey bright colour caught your eye, pulling a glove out of your pocket you tugged it on before picking it up.

“Prentiss!” You called out, scrambling back through the entrance.

“Yeah?” Her voice replied from a distance and you found an exit from the ship, jumping back down to the sand. “You get something?”

“This is the same bracelet that they found on Lucy’s body.” You held it up.

“Looks like some kind of friendship bracelet.”

“Can’t be a coincidence.” You tugged your phone out of your pocket, snapping a picture of it before Emily pulled out an evidence bag for you to drop it into.

“Get that picture to JJ to see if any of the other parents remember seeing it on their kid, or who it might’ve been from. Loop in Garcia to see if it’s chain made or not. You mind?” She reached out for the bag and you shook your head, handing it off to her, “I’m gonna talk with a couple of these guys, make sure April was the one wearing it.”

“Yeah.”

You shot off the handful of texts, checking in with what the others had discovered so far, chatting back and fourth a bit before you swept through the rest of the playground. Emily appeared at your side again later and you glanced up,

“Hers?” You gestured to the bracelet and she nodded.

“You’ve got a good eye.” She practically smirked and you laughed softly before following her back to the car.

*

The rest of the afternoon was spent examining previous crime scenes, or doing so through photos and reports, visiting the medical examiner’s office and finally making a pit stop at the local pd’s office. You poured over photos there, looking through the files Morgan and Reid had left for you, along with statements JJ had emailed over. The sun was long gone from the sky by the time you and Emily were finally pulling up to the hotel, parking and grabbing your bags before heading into the lobby. Rossi was waiting for you, tossing a key in Emily’s direction, and old school keychain on it that had the room number embezzled on it.

“I don’t get one.” You half joked and Rossi laughed.

“You two were the last here, you’re bunking up.” He shrugged, clapping Emily on the shoulder, “can’t pull that chief card every trip.” She rolled her eyes, swatting her hand in his direction as he made his way out the front door.

“C’mon.” She nudged at your elbow, nodding in the direction of your room number, wandering through the halls until you found it. She let out a breath when the door swung open to reveal two beds, thankful she wouldn’t have to be that up in your space tonight. “I need a shower.” She grumbled, dumping her bag on the bed farthest from the door.

“Go for it.” You sighed in return, flashing her a small smile before kicking off your shoes, dropping yourself onto the other bed letting out a groan.

Emily grabbed a couple of things from her bag before slipping into the bathroom, making sure the door was locked behind her. She had to admit, so far things seemed to be going good, there wasn’t any awkwardness lingering in the air, despite the back of her brain wanting to invite you into the shower with her, you’d both managed to keep what happened between you from coming up again. She flicked the water on, giving it time to adjust to her preferred temperature while she stripped down and stepped into it.  She took the time to relax, to try and turn off the profiler part of her brain for at least a couple of hours before going to bed. She had almost forgotten where she was, her mind drifting to that first night spent with you, her hand slipping lower on her body when she heard the television spring to life in the other room and her eyes snapped open.

“Fuck…” she muttered, shaking her head, “get yourself together Prentiss.”

*

On the other side of the door your head tilted up at what you thought was Emily talking, wondering if this was one of those hotels who stored their towels outside the bathroom or something. But after a moment of silence you figured you must’ve heard something from the hallway instead. Dropping back onto the bed you did your best to distract yourself, scrolling through your phone, it was purely out of instinct you’d left the tv on the late night news channel, you almost always had it going to see what they were reporting on versus what you were working on.

Your eyes drifted toward the bathroom again, listening to the sound of the water running, wondering how long Emily usually showered for. Your only hope of relief after spending all fucking day with her was once you’d gotten to the hotel; however this was far less private than you’d been hoping for. You thought about it for all of two more seconds before you realized that it was a terrible idea, if you were going to you should at least wait until you were the one behind the locked door.

*

Emily turned off the water, stepping out of the shower and wrapping a towel around her as she used a smaller one to somewhat dry her hair. She’d washed her face in the shower, smoothing on overnight cream and drying herself off. Since you were in the room she figured she’d get dressed in the bathroom, tossing the used towel over one of the racks before finally opening the door and wandering back into the hotel room. Her eyes moved between the tv playing the news and you sitting on your bed with your iPad on your lap, she knew by the way your lip was tugged into your mouth that you were still working. At the very least you’d changed into comfier clothes, a cute pair of glasses on your face as you worked.

“Didn’t realize you wore glasses.” She greeted and you glanced up at her.

“Hmm?” You replied before you’d properly digested what she’d said, “oh! Pen suggested them, they’re for the blue light, supposed to help with eye tiredness and headaches and shit.”

“You get a lot of those?” She asked, picking through amenities on the coffee table.

“They can get pretty bad from time to time.” You let out a soft sigh, “especially with the constant travelling. I’m still pretty used to Florida so anywhere particularly dry or cold makes it worse. Part of why I liked Florida so much, cold aggravates the ribs, never really heal properly those things.”

“Don’t I know it.” She chuckled softly, her fingers moving from the caddy of coffee pods over to the basket of snacks. “Injury in the field?”

“Cheer camp.” You admitted and she turned to you with a laugh, a wide smile on her face.

“What?” She laughed, the smile wide enough her eyes crinkled in an incredibly adorable way, “you were a cheerleader?”

“Scholarship covered university.” You simply shrugged in response, smile on your cheeks.  

“You’re just full of surprises, aren’t you?” She teased with a grin as you laughed, turning back to your iPad. She let out a small sigh, chucking a pack of peanuts down onto the table, “I’m gonna go grab some food, you wanna come?”

“Nah.” You mumbled, not glancing up from the screen as she pulled on a jacket, picking up her wallet.

“You better not be overworking yourself.” She warned and you rolled your eyes.

“You know when you’ve got two dots and you just can’t seem to connect them but you just know that they’re related.”

“Okay, okay.” She held up a hand in defeat, “we’ve all been there. Can I at least get you something?”

“Where’re you going?”

“Dunno.” She shrugged, “saw a diner up the road that was still open, figured it’s twenty four hours.”

“Yeah.” You let out a small sigh, leaning over on the bed to grab some cash out of your wallet, “just like a sandwich or something, I’m not picky.”

“You sure?” She asked, tucking the cash into her pocket.

“Oh!” Your face nearly lit up, “don’t ask me why but I have had the worst hankering for mozzarella sticks.” You grabbed your wallet again, digging out some more cash to hand to her while she laughed.

“What are you, eighty?”

“What?” You laughed back while she took the cash and shook her head,

“Hankering? I’d expect that from Rossi but not you.”

“Now you’re just being mean.” You feigned offence and she chuckled softly, moving toward the door as you returned your attention to your work. The news on the tv took a turn, covering the open case you were working and it caught Emily’s attention for a moment as she stalled right by the door.

“Hey…” she began softly, “how did you know to even check under that ship thing?”

“Park by my house has the same structure.” You muttered in response.

“You spend a lot of time at the playground or are you hiding some secret kids on us?” She raised a brow and it was your turn to bark a laugh.

“Em… you’ve been to my house.”

“I wasn’t exactly given the grand tour.” She nearly smirked back and you felt your cheeks heat.

“You’re telling me an FBI profiler isn’t at least tempted to snoop a bit on their way out?” You grinned across at her, “and no, I babysat for JJ, the boys loved that ship. I had a fucking heart attack when I thought I’d lost them but they were just underneath the ship, called it their own private fort.”

“Hmm…” She nodded with a small smile, a blooming within her at the thought of you out with the team outside of the office, partaking in non work activities. She was glad, it was important to form those kind of relationships, to have those bonds so you weren’t constantly buried in work and lost in the darkness that was the world of unsubs. The thought crossed her mind and she glanced back up at you, “hey…” that caught your attention and you looked up, “if you’re going to keep working would you at least turn on something a little bit more lighthearted?” She gestured to the television and you held back an eye roll, “that’s an order from your superior, you know that right?”

She smirked as you bit back a grin, reaching for the remote and flicking through a few channels until you found some late night South Park, glancing back to her with a raised brow in the way that you were asking if that was substantial. She nodded with a soft smile before slipping through the door, making sure it was closed behind her before making her way to the car.

You felt an overwhelming sensation of warmth and comfortability as you settled against the headboard. Perhaps attempting to avoid each other was the wrong move, after all, you hadn’t exactly spent much time talking the night you’d met, maybe this was the route you were meant to go after all.  

_____________

@ssa-sapphic @mickey-gomez @clarawatson @yesterdaysgone @momlifebehard @alexusonfire @melindawarnersgf @itisdoctortoyousir @emilyprentiss4life @softgamerking @httpjupiterbby @somethingimaginative177 @temilyrights @alexxavicry  @mysticfalls01 @anya-casablanca @daddy-heather-dunbar @evilregal2002 @aliensaurusrex @alcabots @7thavenger @ladysc @rustyzebra @ilovemycrayons @mandy-asimp @thegrantwater @leftoverenvy @kades95 @disneyfan624 @dextur @m00nkn1ghts @gamma-ray-bursts @augustvandyne @supercriminalbean @bookpillows @daffodil-heart @msvenablesbitch @its-soph-xx  @going-gray @just-a-torn-up-masterpiece @hopelesslyfallenninlove @peanutbutterprincess  @kdaghay @emilyprentisssluvr @lex13cm @bluetodie @awolfcsworld @zizzlekwum

[strwbrryvagabond]

my dad is a CHRONIC sleep talker, though he only passed it on to my brother, and they sleep talk sort of different. while according to his fiancèe, my brother just says things randomly in his sleep, you have to talk to my dad first before he starts talking, but they both will carry an entire conversation if you try. obviously it's not a very followable one, but still

my dad's former hits consist of saying things like how my mom and I were waiting for him to show us the greatest operational street car ever made (he's a mechanic), and how he has to get a cat, because the cat has my mom's back (the cats LOVE her)

so, weird and funny, but generally we can understand where it's coming from

tonight was very different

first, when my mom accidentally dropped a candle and it broke, she was yelling out to me where the broom was, and my sleeping father helpfully chimed in with "it's the most successful campaign of all time!". confusing, but we're all leftists in a super conservative area, so we talk politics sometimes

later when my mom and I are trying to get him up so he can help take the dogs outside and then go to sleep in a real bed, he starts mumbling about "the grand campler", obviously prompting my mom and I to ask

"What's the grand campler?"

my dad: it's about the rugs

mom and I: what rugs?

dad: the five rugs you guys have (there are no rugs in our house???)

mom: we don't have any rugs

dad: you got a rug, and ginny got a rug

me, already laughing: what's the grand campler?

dad: I'm the grand campler

mom: you're the grand campler?

(I am laughing hysterically at this point)

dad: they're not gonna let ginny get her campler passport like that

mom: look at me. are you being for real?

he nods, and as my mom helps him up, he continues to mumble about rugs, passports, and the grand campler, but I'm too busy losing my shit to hear very well

my mom then picks up his two drinks, his soda and coffee, and asks which one he wants

dad: if I were you, I'd take the liquid

mom: do you want your coffee?

dad, almost indignantly: no! it'll spoil

then, our bloodhound, stubborn as ever, doesn't want to go outside with the other dogs until I give him a gentle push, which always makes him go out, he thinks it's a game, when my dad hits us with this banger

"they don't let that dogs kind into the group,"

and that fucking FINISHES me, I thought I was actually gonna piss myself laughing

I asked him when he came back inside what he was talking about, he said it was some kind of camping group he'd read an article about and how they were racist, and he was pointing at our black cat during the last comment? I'm still not 100% sure he was awake, so I'm gonna ask him again in the morning

[fandomwave]

TCOAAL UPDATE 6 LETS GOOO You know the drill don't give yourself hives

I have been rolling this around for a few days now and again, absolute blind shot in the dark is to say that this is probably him about to confess to Ashley that he and Julie are dating. I cannot WAIT to get more context, if Andy is worried about her reaction to him dating, if he's feeling conflicted internally and unsure as to why that feeling is there. There is so little available to know what this could fully mean but I am thrilled to learn more AND THEN THE GOT DAMN VID 1) nice to know we have confirmation that his biting his knuckle is a nervous tick 2) MOM NAME! That'll make fic writing easier lmao 3) God there is SO much to unpack here We kinda always knew that Renee suspected Andrew of having some sort of inappropriate attachment to Ashley. This is something she hints at a few times in chapter 2 and more so when you reject the olive branch. Renee keeps dropping points in parent of the year it's almost comical. I am genuinely interested to see what the game has in store for her and if we do get a little more empathetic to her situation as playing her, given that we clearly have a round to do so. Also the fact she was looking for condoms is.. Good lord this lady will die before she gets therapy for her kids... I LOVE seeing the fact that we get confirmation that Andrew is able to lie on the fly. It's again implied but the fact he was able to make up, some bullshit about a show she's never seen. That's some fascinating skill knowing A) It's a show she doesn't watch B) Because of which he CAN just make up whatever because she can't confirm he's lying C) Creativity to weave a fib about a show he's probably also never seen. We know he can do poetry on the fly so making up a plot about a show must be as easy as breathing. The sheer fact Renee has Andrew labeled as Disappointment and Ashley as Embarrassment is incredible too. Fantastic work. A fun little showcase of her relation to them both honestly.

All of this is just causing me to vibrate in place in anticipation. I'll admit TCOAAL is fun in terms of it's world, but rotating each character around and really picking them apart? That's why I can't shut the fuck up about this game. Everyone is so INTERESTING even if they are the worst people alive. I am THRILLED about the idea of getting to know their mother better as a means to understand the foundation they come from. Like the idea Andrew is labeled Disappointment is so telling. She clearly had higher hopes for him, clearly was content to pin those to him and when he fell short of, lets be honest, of those probably unrealistic expectations. > She did basically ask him to raise an entire human as a child himself. > I hate that I have to say this but in the 90s having a college degree meant you eared the good money. Andrew going to college would imply that he would make enough cash to at least be a source of pride in the family given that the implied economic situation of Renee and her husband is that neither of them are college educated.

Andrew still being at home, still clinging to Ashley (literally), still ruined his life with whatever happened to Nina, it's easy to see how she feels like he's the biggest letdown. A bright spot in the family squandered. Ashley being labeled Embarrassment is no surprise. She already clearly harbored some ill will towards her even as a baby, and with how much of a fucking handful Leyley is, it seems like that trend continued well on past infancy. Then her being out of school, I can only assume without a job (or at the very least one that can't pay for her own apartment) and worse now, potentially in an fucking relationship with her brother is... Yeah I can see the tagline pretty easily got applied. Now again, that's because it seems like this woman is critically allergic to Getting Her Kids Help, but what ifs and what coulds need not apply, we're lookin at what we got :D ANYWAYS OK IM DONE NOW BYE I HOPE YOU ALL HAVE A GOOD ONE!

[separatist-apologist]

What are some of your favorite fanfics? You can only include up to 2 LB fics

I was going to wait to answer this in the morning because it's so daunting an ask. But I have to be in office tomorrow and I know I won't have the time, and then I'll forget about this. It's been a long time since anyone asked me my personal favorites.

I put some of them in yesterday's list of elucien recs, so definitely start here. I have to cross post a little, though. None of these are in order, this is actually not a ranking but the opposite of a ranking in which every one is incredible, and written by very wonderful people worth following.

playgirl, by @damedechance. I love this fic. Lucien has an only fans, Elain moderates his chat. She was the first gwynriel writer I ever read. You know I'm weird about Azriel- I don't really enjoy him, but in bookclub, her fic was being recommended CONSTANTLY and I gave it a shot thinking I'd hate it, and she made me insane. The gwynriel fic is Things You Can't Have, and I suggest reading it, too.

Latch, My Fate is Yours; Latch, My Very Soul is Yours by @labellefleur-sauvage. Elucien mummy au and so beautifully done. The author is also an VERY funny person and I recommend anything she writes (such as her 1920's Neris fic And All That Jazz) on vibes alone.

Our Bodies, Possessed By Light @iftheshoef1tz. Azris at its FINEST. If you like Azriel and Eris as a pairing, and you want something that is both achingly beautiful and well-plotted, this is it. This is the fic. Honestly, even if you don't want that, you should read it anyway. It's sexy, it's funny, it's emotional and it's poetic. I think about this fic (the cabin specifically because I'm slutty) all the time.

Crimson Clover, by @thesistersarcheron. Baby's first elriel fic, I heard the sentence "Elain covered in blood" and dropped everything I was doing to learn more. Elain is, in fact, covered in blood and Azriel is pretty insane about it. This author also has a fic bookclub is obsessed with, Viciousness & Intelligence which is Nesta x Cassian x Azriel in a poly bond and another of my personal favorites, Bejeweled in which Feyre is Night Court fae made entirely of jewels and Rhys is...well...down bad as he always is.

Embers, by @ultadverb is my favorite Morlain fic in the fandom. It's so richly written and such a good exploration of Elain and her feelings. She really does Elain such justice. I have it on VERY good authority she's also working on a little monster elucien, and right after I typed that I saw she's actually posted the first chapter, Seven Tears for the Sea, which is selkie Lucien, coastal Elain, I believe. I will be reading that for sure, just as soon as I finish this list, but everyone else should too!

I Believe the Word You're Looking for is "Friends" by @kingofsummer93. Truly Elucien 101 required reading. It's actually on the made-up syllabus I just created in my mind. If you're wanting to settle into a long fic, canon-compliant, adventure fic, THIS is it. Also, people are always asking for BOE smut, well she has so GRACIOUSLY provided it with The Intimacy of Being Understood

Remember, We're Madly In Love by @velidewrites. Have you ever seen one of those really gorgeous mood boards floating around and asked yourself, is that person also an incredibly sexy writer, too? Well I'm here to answer that question with a resounding YES. This is hunger games Feysand and if you've been thinking about reading it, stop thinking and start doing. I don't know when I became a sales person during this sharing of faves, but here we are I guess.

Vanserra Wildlife Rescue by @headcanonheadcase. In the haze that was elucien week, where everyone was creating and I was trying so hard to see all of it (and failing miserably), this fic was a gem. It's meet cute Elucien- he's a wildlife vet, she finds an injured fox. They're both on their way to a blind date (I wonder who they're meeting), and instead cancel to take care of the fox.

Can't Help It by @moodymelanist. This fic was literally why I decided to answer this anon. Nesta and Cassian are in a very toxic relationship but can't keep away from each other. I LOVE this fic, I love their dynamic and without spoiling it, there is a threesome I am still so deeply unwell about, even to this day.

Wonderland by @c-e-d-dreamer. The premise is SO GOOD. Nesta rejects the mating bond and Cassian rejects society. They reconnect later on, and the angst is SO DELICIOUS.

This list is getting really long- I could do this all day, actually. As for my top two @the-lonelybarricade favorites, which is cruel just fyi.

I'm gonna go with

You Look Like Bad News- Elain's neighbor has an annoying habit of fucking REALLY loudly next door.

And of course,

They Are The Hunters, We Are The Foxes, which is the best thing ever produced in the history of ever. Wonderland WHO? This is the shifter elucien romance we deserved, actually.

[heliza24]

I'm rewatching A Court of Fey and Flowers with @bluedalahorse and it's so fun to be picking up on all the details I didn't the first time, since the season was the first actual play I watched, and I now understand the format and the game much better. It's also really fun to introduce Blue to the world of D20. She really likes it which makes me so happy. We're both having a really great time!

I know everyone loves Rue/Hobb (how could you not) but I love Andhera/Binx even more. From the very beginning, even when she's disguised as Gwen, Andhera and Binx vibrate on the same frequency. They're both of the darkness, their magic matches, they're both clearly neurodivergent in a way that compliments each other, and the way they bring much needed recognition and compassion into each other's lives... I just love it. We just finished watching the Hedge Maze ep, and the moment when Andhera recognizes Binx's eyes in their true form for the first time and their hands touch...Magic. (Also I deserve a medal for not spoiling this pairing to Blue before this episode, I wanted to talk about them SO BADLY). I also appreciated the layers that Omar and Surena put into their characters even more this time. Omar plays with the social suaveness of Andhera in such an interesting way. Sometimes he leans into Andhera as simply bumbling, but sometimes he uses it in a meta way to reveal real feelings, and sometimes he uses it as a character weapon, like when he fools Suntar in the maze. And Surena creates all these little physical differences in the way she plays Binx and Gwen, dropping her voice and changing her mannerisms.

Blue and I are of agreement that most fantasy things don't get the fae right; they're more capricious and funny and scary than most things makes them seem. (And more than simply sexy, which is how most modern things seem to portray them). But ACOFAF gets it. Chirp and Squawk are so funny (and I'm enjoying them even more now that I know Lou and Emily as players better) and I cannot wait for Blue to see Chirp's big reveal (another thing I have not spoiled please clap!) And I just love the way that Aabria creates a magical atmosphere, and hones in on emotions and pushes them to the forefront of a scene. Like simply asking if Binx and Andhera's hands touch when he passes her the heart; the entire second half of the season is shaped by the connection that is forged in that moment. I love the way she uses the rule of cool to help pull emotions and interesting scene flavor forward, which works because I have absolute confidence she knows the rules and is breaking them with careful intention.

This is a disorganized rant more than it is an analysis but I just needed to say **chef's kiss** about all of it, I love it so much. and I'm so excited to bring @bluedalahorse into the magic with me.

[imagine-knb]

I'd love to be a part of the match-ups, they're so much fun! Sorry if this comes out as very long, and happy valentine's day! 💕

I'm an INFP. When in a group of strangers, I tend to act more extroverted to hide how nervous I really am and it works because when I tell them the truth later they're always shocked that I was nervous! I'm actually very introverted and the type of person who once you give me time to come out of my shell, I will be my true self, which is much more talkative, bubbly mixed with some sarcasm, and (if the person I'm with is fine with it) touchy as I LOVE giving and receiving hugs. I'm quiet but not timid just fyi as I've been known to be pretty brave when needed (ex: I have no problem telling someone I have a crush on them despite my face being red lol) I don't hold grudges, loyal af, and I'm an open book, if you ask me something, no matter how random, I'll answer it. People can talk to me about anything, nothing is too personal with me! My friends tell me they admire my honesty, empathy, and how caring I am to those around me but balance things out by not letting people push me around.

Likes: naps, dark chocolate, music

Dislikes: High heights, thunder/lightning storms, being ignored on purpose

Hobbies: playing video games, going on night walks, and drawing

I adore the GOM, Uncrowned Kings, and Captains

For the match up I just submitted, I forgot to add that aside from the guys I mentioned I also adore kagami and himuro as well! So I also realized I forgot to add my nickname, gender, and pronouns... It's Moon, female she/her.

Type of Romance

Friends to Lovers

How You Two Met

The two of you had met through mutual friends and an easy friendship, in his opinion, was born right away. You were easy to talk to, always responded to him in kind, and didn't write him off as too hyperactive to interact with. Hayama had always been so high energy and upon first meeting him, you matched that well.

He was a bit of a show off the first day you met him, showing you tricks on his skateboard and wanting you to watch every one of them. If we're being honest, perhaps Hayama had a crush on you from the moment he met you, because he always seemed to be vying for your attention.

By the end of the day, he was declaring you a best friend.

"Moon, hold on!" Hayama ran up to you before you could leave the park. In his hand, he held his cellphone, waving it around for you to see. "Let's exchange numbers! I want to hang out with you again."

By the time he reached your side, Hayama was practically shoving his cellphone into your hands, asking you to input your contact details, your social media, anything that would allow him to meet up with you once more. There was a bright smile on his face, sharp toothed and innocent. It dropped momentarily when he made a realization.

"Wait, no, it's more appropriate for me to give you my number, isn't it?" The dropped smile didn't last long on his face as he began grinning once more, asking, "Gimme your phone so I can give you my number?"

How He Fell For You

He had fallen for you more outgoing and extroverted personality at first, thinking that it was the real you. He was definitely thrown for a loop when you confessed that you had been a nervous wreck the entire time, but that didn't stop Hayama from falling for you further.

He admired your bravery to put yourself out there despite your true feelings on social situations. It may have instilled a little bit of a protective nature in him around you, wanting to keep you from getting too overwhelmed.

This protection actually extended to even himself, and he worried at first that confessing to you wouldn't be the right move. It's a good thing you had other plans.

He was staring at you, wide eyed and shocked. The slight tan of his skin was beginning to turn a darker shade, a little redder, with his surprise. For once, Hayama had not much to say as his mouth fell agape at your words. When a full minute had passed, and you began to look worried, he finally choked out, "Can you say that again?"

"I like you, Hayama," you repeated, hoping your confession would reach him the second time around.

But his brows furrowed. "Are you sure? I'm not too... too much?" But at your insistence and the reassuring smile on your face, Hayama's own expression broke out into his usual grin. He almost looked relieved. "I like you a lot, too, Moon."

What a Relationship with Him is Like

Hayama's the type of boyfriend to take your willingness to talk about anything and everything seriously. He loves asking you questions, picking your brain and random subjects, and ranting to you about conspiracy theories. Often, the two of you will be up until the late hours of the night discussing the same topic for hours. It definitely helps that he loves hearing the way you talk.

Hayama loves that you're a rather touchy partner because he is as well, often coming up behind you to wrap his arms around your shoulders or hold you close by the waist. There's almost never a time where he isn't touching you, always wanting to feel close.

And on those days where his energy just seems to be lower than normal, when he needs a quiet get away and a bit of a recharge, he knows he can count on you to be there for him.

With his head on your lap and your hands threading through his hair, Hayama gave off a long, tired groan. He had been working extra hard at practice, spending long hours on the court that left his body exhausted.

"Can we stay like this forever?" he asked, reaching up to stretch his arms around whatever part of you he could reach. It had you laughing, telling him that eventually he'd have to get up and go home, for daylight would only last so long and the night would be there soon.

"Naw, I have a better idea," Hayama said, grinning up at you. "Hey Moon, tell me again about that band you like," he requested, knowing once he got you going, the two of you would be laying together talking for hours.

Match Up Requests are Closed

[honyakuninakunaru]

Together At The Carnival Of The Flowers // Mithra SSR Card Story

CHAPTER 1

(Courtyard)

Akira: "Hmm, where could Mithra be... He wasn't in his room..."

Mitile: "Master Sage!"

Rutile: "We found him! He's up there!"

Akira: "On the... rooftop? Ah! You're right!"

Shifting my gaze upwards, I saw Mithra’s sprawled figure.

Akira: “HELーLOOO!”

Rutile and Mitile: “MISTER MIーTHRAー!”

Mithra: “...Hm?”

Akira: “MIーTHRA! SHALL WE GO TO THE CARNIVAL OF THE FLOWERS FOR YOUR BIRTHDAーY?”

Mithra: “.....”

Rutile: “Ah! He's waving at us!”

Akira: “At least he's listening...!”

I raised the invitation I'd brought and waved it high up for Mithra to see.

Akira: “One of Shylock’s old acquaintances signed over this magic playground to him! I had lots of fun when I went with Shylock, so I’d love to bring you there for your birthday!!”

Mithra: “What on earth are you three doing?”

Akira, Rutile and Mitile: “Whaー!”

Akira: “Mithra! Weren't you up on the...”

Mithra: “Didn't you need me for something?”

Akira: “Yes, and I was just explaining it to you...”

Mithra: “Explaining what?”

Mitile: “Erm...”

Rutile: “Did you perhaps not hear us well?”

Mithra: “No.”

Akira: “(So he wasn't listening at all, huh...) I-I’ll explain it once more then. Since your birthday is coming up soon..."

CHAPTER 2

(Mithra's room)

Several days after that, I paid Mithra a visit.

Akira: "Thank you for making the time for this! I'm glad I get to plan your birthday party!"

Mithra: "Rutile and Mitile wouldn't stop pestering me about it, so... In exchange, you must absolutely put me to sleep tonight."

Akira: "Ahaha... I'll do my best... Here. Write your name and chant your spell, please. That will open the gates to the playground."

I placed said gates - as tall as a picture frame, with ivies and flowers coiling around them - on the table.

(Scribbling)

Mithra: "<Arthim>"

(Creaking)

The moment Mithra chanted his spell, light enveloped the invitation and the playground's doors began to flicker. Then, little by little, fog engulfed the entire room.

(Casino)

When the fog lifted, we found ourselves in a lavish casino. Everything around us was blindingly dazzling.

Mithra: "...You know, I'm not a fan of having my clothes randomly changed. You've got quite the nerve doing that."

Akira: "T-This is a sort of welcome! Everybody who's been invited has their outfit changed. Yours looks great on you!"

Suddenly, a tin puppet with arms full of tokens came to us.

Akira: "Oh, they've brought us chips to play with. Shall we play a game? If we need a dealer, we can always ask the puppet."

Mithra: "Well, I suppose we could go for a round since we're already here anyway."

He took a chip from the puppet and brought forward his hands in fists.

Mithra: "Here, try and guess."

Akira: "Uhmm... (Does he want me to guess in which hand the chip is?)"

Mithra: "Choose wisely. If you guess right, I'll do anything you ask. But if you guess wrong... I'll have your arm."

Akira: "M-My...arm?!"

Mithra's crystal green eyes gaze coldly at me. Face unchanging, he continued.

Mithra: "... I think that's only fair. I have to comply with every little thing you say just to get you to put me to sleep every single time. It would be much faster if I could simply snatch that hand of yours. This is the best birthday gift I could ever receive, no?"

There was nothing unusual in the way he said this - neither his tone nor his expression. Shivers ran down my spine at the realisation that Mithra might not be joking.

Akira: "(I should tell him that won't do, but...)"

Mithra: "Come on, choose. It's all up to you."

Akira: "...Alright then..."

CHAPTER 3

With a trembling finger, I pointed at Mithra's right hand.

Akira: "Uhm..."

When I did, Mithra opened both fists, dropping the chip from his left hand.

Akira: "Ah...!"

Mithra: "You lost. Then, if you'll excuse me."

Akira: "Mithra, waitー!"

Mithra gripped my right arm and squeezed so hard it hurt.

Mithra: "....."

Just as I was about to cry out, he suddenly let go.

Akira: "...Eh?"

I slumped down on the floor. Breathing hard, I felt the pounding of my heart resonate within my entire body. Looking down at me, Mithra spoke.

Mithra: "<Arthim>"

(Amusement park)

Akira: "Whoa...!"

In a flash, the scenery around us changed. We were now in an amusement park one would expect to see children play.

Mithra: "If you're going to chaperone me, I'd rather it be a place like this. It's a bit too early for a casino."

Akira: "S-So this is what you meant when you said you'd have my arm?!"

Mithra: "I was kidding earlier. Come on, you can stop shaking in your boots now, you're ruining the mood."

Mithra grabbed my arm once more and helped me back to my feet. This time, he was much gentler, as if he was trying to cheer up a child.

Akira: "(He gave me quite a scare just now... Turns out he was worried... In his own, Mithra way.)"

Though my heart was yet to calm down, I wanted to spend Mithra's birthday having fun.

Akira: "...Then, shall we ride on that flying merry-go-round?"

Mithra: "Sure, if that's what you deem fun. You said you'd escort me, right? Let's go."

Akira: "Yep, leave it to me!"

—————

(After a while...)

Akira: "Huff...Huff... I-I thought it was going to be a... fun ride, but..."

Mithra: "You were letting out quite the screams earlier. You almost sounded like a dying bird."

Akira: "I-I didn't know there was a ruse that would snap the cord of the swing! ....Ah."

(Petals fluttering)

Mithra: "...What is this?"

Akira: "(It's our return call...)"

The exit doors will open once the person invited to the Carnival of the Flowers has enjoyed themselves to their heart's content. When that time comes, flower petals will come fluttering down to send them back.

—————

(Mithra's room)

Soon, the mist that had enveloped us at first brought us back to Mithra's room.

Mithra: "Well that wasn't too grand."

Akira: "(...These kinds of things aren't good for my heart...) Well, Mithra, did you enjoyー"

Mithra: "Yes. Here."

Without allowing me to finish my question, Mithra extended his hand to me. Smiling wryly, I took his hand in mine.

Akira: "Mhm, I'll do my best to help you sleep."

Mithra: "....."

Akira: "...What's wrong?"

Mithra looked at my hand for a while before muttering to himself.

Mithra: "A warm hand is better than a cold one, I suppose."

Akira: "Eh...? (This isn't another of his jokess is it...)"

(Door opening)

Rutile and Mitile: "Good evening!"

Akira: "What's up, you two?"

Mithra: "...What brings you here so late?"

Rutile: "I see you've returned from the playground! We're almost done with the party arrangements, so we came to check on you!"

Mitile: "We've prepared lots and lots of food! Hope you'll like it! Of course, you should come too, Master Sage!"

Rutile: "We'll be waiting for you!"

(Door closing)

Akira: "Ahaha, seems like you'll have to be awake for a little longer."

Mithra: "Oh, woe is me..."

Despite the big sigh he heaved, Mithra didn't look the least displeased.

Akira: "Thank you for everything you've done today, Mithra. Happy birthday."

A Fun And Peaceful Party? // Card Training Episode

(Courtyard)

Akira: "Are you taking an afternoon nap in the courtyard today, Mithra?"

Mithra: "I was trying to, but this spot is an absolute no-go. First, the twins came up and tried to talk to me, and then that Central knight invited me to spar. It's simply too noisy."

Akira: "A lot of people pass through here, so it is lively. It was the same on your birthday, though, wasn't it? Everybody was coming up to talk to you and congratulate you."

Mithra: "Congratulate me...?"

Akira: "Yeah...? Do you remember the birthday party everybody threw you?"

Mithra: "Oh, right, there was something like that. I reckon the southern brothers were noisier and pushier than usual. I understand why they'd want to thank me. They do cause me a lot of trouble."

Akira: "They prepared your favourite meals and invited everyone as well. Even Owen and Bradley showed up! Though, Snow and White did tie them to a chair so they wouldn't run away..."

Mithra: "And here I thought they were into something weird. They were mumbling about killing those twins later and such... The looks on their faces were absolutely priceless."

Akira: "Ahaha... (The aftermath of that was quite the scene though...) Well, I'm glad you enjoyed yourself! That's all that matters."

———

Big thanks to @sleepyena for providing the raws for this story!

[nikatyler]

Zeph 1.0 ✨

Surprise. I wanna archive my very first bg3 run over here also, because it's pain in the ass to revisit it on twitter. I didn't quite live tweet this one, but I tweeted it a bunch too. The usual applies, spoilers are inevitable*, do with that what you want, and as per usual, if you haven't played this game yet: Go. Play. It. NOW. 😡

*but also this one is wayyyy less spoilery than my livetweeting of later runs haha

So let's go back to the beginning, March 7. Little Nika had no idea she's about to unleash her greatest hyperfixation since her Winx Club days.

I'm feeling like. Proper shy about this game 💀 It's just a game these people are fake no need to feel shy you'll hurt no one's feelings dammit

(it's still installing btw, because apparently my internet hates me today of all days)

Still about 80 minutes to go 💀 my own stupid ass anxiety will kill me before that

(x)

nice

(x)

FIVE MINUTES UNTIL I LOSE THE LAST SHRED OF MY SANITY BESTIES

(x)

friends i'm too shy to click the play button

(x)

See this is why I have zero friends because I'm too intimidated to even open a game with people who DON'T ACTUALLY EXIST alright alright i'll go do it you know i want to and i know i want to but i'm gonna sit here blushing like a fool the entire time

I also need to yell before I do a new thing

I'm in

Being a complicated asexual means I have no ducking idea if I want it or not Eh we're going with it

Yes I suppose this will now be the live thread of my initial thoughts and shenanigans, welcome welcome, or use that cute little mute button if you don't care ✨

I can already tell I'll have only two facial expressions playing this game: 👁️👄👁️ and 👁️🫦👁️

That was some fucked up asmr right there in the beginning. 10/10

Fuck it whomst do we create now chat Do we do it Do I do that thing we talked about

I'm overwhelmed by the amount of ways I could go about this, I think I'll create a random character at first and then when I play some other time I'll bring my boi in when I know better what to do and how 🫣

Girl help I don't know what kind of character I want to play with

As someone who dropped out of university I kinda feel like I need to have this hair 💀

them need a name (idk why i said it like that but i'm keeping it my brain is mush ok)

aintnoway it's been 15 minutes and i still haven't picked a name, am i possibly overthinking this? does anyone get the vibe that i'm overthinking this because i certainly feel like there may be a chance that i'm overthinking this

BUT I AM HAVING FUN I PROMISE

I'm still playing I just have nothing to say, I'm learning, and I'm waiting to meet you know who

Here we go 😗

Had dinner irl and I feel like I should take a break but so far I'm loving this! I'm a bit dumb but eh we'll get there. Would love to try out the multiplayer at some point (but don't count on it, I say that now and then I'll be too anxious to play with you 💀)

(x)

I just realized my guy Zeph (they/them) looks like a yassified Ladislaus the Posthumous and idk what to do with that information

here's a slightly better look at my guy. do i need to say i'd die for them

(x)

babes the minecraft hole will be abandoned for another game i'm afraid

(x)

That little thingy that tells you the character approves will ruin my life. Pathological people-pleaser reporting for duty 🫡

(x)

Y'all weren't lying this game is addicting

(x)

i'm so fucking weak already he just lays there like that and i fgjklsdfsjkljdsf thoughts i will not handle this game well

(x)

i'm so schoolgirl with a crush coded at the moment it's so embarrassing

(x)

I haven't played bg3 since before lunch

Midnight and I still haven't played it's been like almost 12 hours at this point I'm completely normal abt this

I'm too tired but I want to play but it would be a bad idea but I mean I'm dumb at this game anyway so what's the harm but I don't want to mess up but ok bed first ig

(x)

did someone ask for homemade niche memes that only apply to me

(he would get it though)

wait that picture is even funnier than i intended for it to be bc like this happened canonically in the nsb legacy, he burned because i was too busy doing something else

(x)

I killed my character 💀 whoopsie it's reload time sorry bud

(x)

Teehee won a battle and knew what I was doing most of the time, maybe I'm getting better at this

I'll go put some lasagna in the oven and continue playing

(x)

Chanting "eat shit, eat shit, eat shit" in a very squeaky voice every time an enemy goes down

(x)

all too well you say?? wind in my hair i was there i remember it all too well?? did you leave your scarf at his sister's house???

(x)

lemme tell you how to make my simple bi ass happy

i'm bi first and people pleaser second. or vice versa. dunno

(x)

Oh yissss the bite scene here we go :3

(x)

oh don't you worry i will so be on my vigilante shit for you

(x)

Not to be weird again but this game is unlocking emotions I didn't know I had

(x)

You know how I thought I was getting better 💀 yeah nvm it's reload after reload today 💀

(x)

Oop I'm already on 14 hours 🫢

(x)

Okay I'm gonna play for just like five minutes and then go to bed If I'm still online at 2am you're allowed to yell at me

lord save me I said five minutes

I'm showing great restraint right now

(x)

Oh something is happening ohhh something is happening can my laptop catch up and stop lagging pls

(x)

You know it's gonna be so jover for me and I'm gonna be so beyond saving when I start putting together detailed information about my boi Zeph

(they/them btw, I call them boi or bud but in a nonbinary way)

Also can't decide what Zeph is short for. Was their deadname Joseph and they kept just half of it? Is their full first name Zephyros or something? What's their full full name? See it starts with little things like this but give me an hour and I'll have their full history 💀

(x)

Big spiders...big fucking spiders ;----;

(x)

hELLO

fuck that's not the best screenshot i could've taken 💀 I PANICKED OKAY

live nika reaction

Why do I get the feeling *everybody* wants to have fun with me

i didn't click it yet guys i'm 💀💀💀

so do i torture myself and leave it to tomorrow or do i go back in the game now? 👀

Fuck it let's go asexuality leaving my body as we speak

Oh boy

👁️👄👁️ gnight

(x)

My sibling: *sends me a picture of their blorbo* Me: THAT'S NEAT, ALSO I F🤭CKED MY BLORBO YESTERDAY

And yes, those are our first messages today. No "good morning, have a nice day", more like "so this fictional man dammit", straight to the point 😌

Asking the real questions (abt their blorbo)

(x)

Having an Annabeth Chase in Mark of Athena moment (and I don't mean that I'm doing something smart, I mean there's spiders)

FUCK YEAHHHHH WE WON (and almost died) (and in Zeph's case literally died) (but we're so back) (seriously though why do I always manage to kill just my character) (this was the worst battle I hate spiders I hate spiders so much)

I'm still shaking 😭

Having a real dummy day, besides the spider fight I'm not doing well 💀

nvm we got the pwetty book, it only took me like an hour to get here, it's fine😂

the blood, i like it 😌😏

(x)

Oop I've got over 24 hours in the game already 🤭

btw I don't think I ever told you, my savefile name is "girl help"

Also I just quickly hopped in again now but I didn't really do much, I'm too tired to think at this point, I'll probably go to bed soon. I thought I figured something but nah not really and then I accidentally crashed the game oops 💀 my bad

(x)

bi panic intensifies

(x)

Something about me forgetting there could be traps and letting Zeph run straight through them over and over again…no wonder they're always on the verge of death 😭🤣

(x)

um yeah i guess we weren't supposed to do that huh 💀

Don't worry, I reloaded 💀

(x)

I miss my boi Zeph I wish I could be playing rn

They are so getting a backstory and like actual development once I get more into the lore and everything, just watch. And then we'll come full circle and I'll create them in ts4

(x)

we are here

sorry not sorry but also occasionally i'm too self aware so i will be sorry but most of the time i will just not be sorry. sorry about that. but actually not sorry. sorry --

(x)

[exoticalmonde]

So me and my bestest friend @notanegrill began playing a game about making stories. It's called Storybook, and as the title suggests we're coming together to create the most legendary story of them all.

V: *Opens first page*

Me, normal voice: "At the end of this book lies a crown-"

V: "NO! STORYTELLER VOICE!"

Me, using that one voice from the Theatre scene in 'We Were Here': "It is bestowed only to the finest storytellers of the realm."

V: "Hehe, way better."

Spoilers Ahead:

So we start the world as any world begins, with a tale as old as time - Adam and Eve. Which is... Me! Me and V because I will pick his ribs clean if he doesn't 100% the achievements (he enjoys it, ok)

And we were both excited for 0.7 seconds before V hits me with the important questions of:

V: "Who is Adam, Eve?"

Me: "It's you, silly goose!"

V: "Oh, okay." c:

And like with every story that has Eve in it:

:)

It's adorable to see Bernard getting some love though!

This game just flies by so fast when it's the two of us thinking, taking turns on what gets to be where so we push the other forward where our own ideas fail us. Playing games like this with a buddy truly beats playing it alone.

It's tagged LGBTQ+ because you can put two guys or two girls in love in some of the frames and it's adorable. They interact well.

Me: "Oh look! It's the tiers of regret whenever I decide to open up."

Can't believe this whole story is about how Edgar dies and forgets he's dead while being dead so he ends up shocked that he's dead when he sees himself in the mirror.

It's such a good plot for a fanfic not gonna lie... It's Genshin related and not meant to be here, but /I/ am the one who is writing this 'review' and I am the rat that makes all of the rules.

V: "These... Two pixels, why are they so hot...?"

Me: ".... Yeah."

V: "I know you want her dress."

Me: "Oh I want to BE her."

Us two: *GASP*

V: "Are you ready?"

Me: "VAMPIRE TIME."

V: *Accidentally does this because he randomly drops characters on the map after figuring out what to do.*

V: "My brain (is so big)... I'm singing up in Harvard."

V: *Struggles with the simpler map later*

Me: "I think we have to sign you off Harvard now."

AND THE ENDING IS SOOO CUTE IT'S SO SUBTLE I BARELY NOTICED BUT IT MADE US SO HAPPY TO GET TO THE ENDING.

Like giving two kids a paper crown and calling them 'champ'.

Someone in STEAM was asking how to solve the Maid and the Knight story and someone commented under it with 'God bless you'. Seriously, we managed on our own and it's all because it was 50/51 and we HAD to finish it to get to the ending.

During our reviews:

Me: "I think the graphics are beautiful. For a game that has a simple idea of making stories via characters and places being put together, everything is very well animated, interactive and apparently, given the achievements, it also has MULTIPLE options to work with."

V: "I agree. Also, there is an update in September."

Me: "Overall, it's a game I'd get if it's on sale. It's 20$ and in comparison to a visual novel with 40K words, a couple scenes, art etc. If that was 20$... I'd still think twice, but the point is - for what it is and it's original, a game I have never seen before, I think it's pretty good. It also doesn't have any background music, it could probably set the mood for some chapters. But the sound was totally good. No sounds overlap no matter how quickly you click around so it doesn't create a caccophony."

V: "Yeah, the music, or the lack of thereof is still fixable."

Me: "Well, there's the update. Might as well wait and see."

V: "Overall ranting?"

Me: "Hmmm..."

V: "On the count of three?"

Me: "Ok."

V: "Ugh I'm stuck between two... Ok, one... Two... Three!"

Me and him at the same time: "Seven."

V: "Why am I not surprised."

And that's it! It was truly a wonderful experience. Big thank you to developpers and the entire team that came up with the game. Can't wait to see what the updates may be and thank you, V, for sponsoring our gameplay.

Hope we get to play much more in the future.

[kotlc-deleted-scenes]

Keeper Summer Week #2

Deleted Scene from Exile

This scene used to be part of the aurenflare sequence and was a moment I created to show that something might be wrong with Sophie's abilities. But I realized after I wrote it that it didn't really sell the idea that she was “malfunctioning." If anything, it made her seem even stronger, so I cut it out. And I'd considered including the skill in a later Keeper book, but I decided it was too confusing trying to differentiate it from other things Telepaths could and couldn't do. So I dropped the idea from the series entirely. 

—Shannon

Biana yelped and jumped out of her seat. "Don't do that!" she screamed, flinging a cookie at Fitz's head. 

"Did I miss something?" Sophie asked. 

"Yeah, Biana's afraid of the dark,” Fitz told her. 

"More like my brother loves torturing me with his evil mind games," Biana corrected. 

"Actually, it's a highly developed skill," Fitz explained with a smug grin. "I bet even Sophie can't do it." 

His eyes narrowed and Biana screamed again. Even Keefe jumped though he tried to cover it with a cough. 

Sophie frowned. "I don't get it." 

"You didn't see the giant shadow wolf that just attacked us?" 

Biana asked before screaming again. "There-right there. You really don't see that?" 

She pointed to the fire, but all Sophie saw were the dancing rainbow-colored flames. 

"Okay, you guys are starting to freak me out," Sophie admitted. "What's going on?" 

"He's impelling," Alden explained as he joined them by the fire. "That's what we call it when a Telepath pushes a shadow of a thought into someone else's mind to make them see something that isn't there. It's mostly a novelty—and a bit of a gray area when it comes to the rules of telepathy. But it appears your unique blocking protects you." 

"But that doesn't make any sense," Fitz argued, narrowing his eyes yet again and making everyone except Sophie flinch. "I can transmit to her now-shouldn't I be able to impel?" 

"Impelling reaches a different part of the brain," Alden reminded him. "And your connection to Sophie is limited. You can't even read her thoughts-only make her hear yours." 

Keefe laughed. "Foster loves keeping her sense of mystery." 

Fitz frowned and Biana screamed again, clinging to Alden's arm. 

"Dad-tell him to knock it off!" 

"I think that's enough impelling for one night, son. Though, I wonder..." Alden turned to Sophie. "Would you like to give it a try? 

All you have to do is concentrate on a thought and push it toward us—without opening your mind to ours." 

“I guess," Sophie mumbled, not loving the way everyone was staring at her. 

She felt too frazzled to come up with anything original, so she copied Fitz's idea and imagined a shadow wolf with hackles raised and fangs bared. When she could picture every strand of its bristled fur, she narrowed her eyes and shoved the thought toward her friends. 

"What the—" Keefe shouted, covering his ears as Alden ducked and Biana and Fitz screamed. Sophie cleared the image from her head, and everyone slowly straightened, blinking at her with wide, haunted eyes. 

"Did you open your minds to ours?" Alden asked. 

Sophie shook her head. "Why?" 

"That was no shadow," Keefe mumbled, looking paler than she'd ever seen him. "That was a full-color, twenty-foot monster. I swear I could even smell the dog breath.” 

"Me too," Fitz said quietly. "And I could hear it snarling." 

"It was so real," Biana whispered, hugging her dad and glancing around like she expected the wolf to emerge from the shadows any second. 

"I'm sorry—I didn't mean…" Sophie fumbled for her home crystal. 

"Wait," Alden said as she held her pendant in the firelight. "You don't have to leave-you didn't do anything wrong." 

"I nearly gave you guys a panic attack!" 

"Yeah, you did,” Fitz said, trying to smile but not pulling it off. 

"I almost peed my pants," Keefe added. 

Humiliation burned Sophie's eyes. 

Why did she always mess everything up? 

"Your mind is stronger than we're used to. That's all," Alden assured her. 

"Well, that's still a problem," Sophie replied. 

She didn't know her own strength. 

And if she couldn't understand herself—who could? 

"It's really okay, Sophie," Alden insisted. "Please stay." 

She tried to stand a little taller as she shook her head. "Honestly, I…have a headache now. And I'm sure Edaline's waiting for me. Thank you so much for dinner and the aurenflare. I'll see you guys at the Opening Ceremonies, right?" she asked Fitz, Keefe, and Biana. 

They nodded, and everyone tried to smile as Sophie let the warm light whisk her away. 

But Sophie would never forget the look on their pale faces. Fear. 

Maybe even terror. 

Like she was the monster. 

And Sophie had a horrible feeling that they might be right.