#love when fic writers give her a fishing job <3< /div> Explore tagged Tumblr posts

[kiwibrain]

fishing at ungodly hours of the morning 🐟🐟

[they-breasted-boobily]

Ways the plot of tua s4 could have been improved while including a lot of the same storyline:

It goes without saying that a 6 episode season was too rushed for even the shitty plot we got given, but I'll mention that these ideas would have worked better for an 8-10 episode season. Or maybe you could use them for fics or comics- I'd love to see them!

1. The careers and new lives of non-powered umbrellas: While Lila, Klaus, and Viktor had decent set-ups, the others seemed out of place. Diego's personality and desire to be a hero would have been better suited to a mall cop or traffic cop, where he feels undervalued and underutilised, rather than just beaten down as a delivery driver for jokes about peeing in a bottle. Luther only mentioned Sloane a couple of times in the entire series- with more than 6 episodes, it could have been possible to give flashbacks of him trying to get back to her, but her not recognising him and not being romantically interested. Not sure what changes could be made to his job or housing though. Allison's setup was mostly fine, but we really should have been given an explanation for why Raymond left- maybe lean into the horror of being taken from your time and timeline raising a daughter you suddenly have? Five would not work for the CIA except as a double-agent, either that or he would be retired as a fishing supplies store owner. Ben is his own whole point later in this post.

2. The marigold sake shots: I feel like this plot point added to Ben just being an asshole and scapegoat for the entire season, which could benefit from major changes. If left relatively unchanged, the fact that Klaus threw it over his shoulder could have led to greater implications if it landed on an unknown person behind them and gave them powers. This person could have been the subject of an episode or two as they were tracked down when it was necessary.

3. Ben's character: While s3 Sparrow Ben was a dick, he was not as edgy, conceited, or self-absorbed as he was in s4. I think it's fine to start his arc with him leaving prison, but making the crime as major as crypto fraud (just because you think it's funny) makes it much more difficult for him to seem likeable and relateable to Jessica or anyone else. If the crime was something more minor, or he was framed/unfairly jailed it could set up a revenge/redemption arc from the get-go. With his relationship with Jessica, it would have benefited from being more of a slow burn, or if the gradual unnatural obsession had more than 6 episodes to build up.

4. The subway romance: While I can almost understand why it was Five and Lila due to their history working together and especially using time travel together, I think if Five needed a romance (which I don't but show writers can't stand having one member of the main cast never being in a relationship), it should have been someone he met while on that 7 year subway adventure (probably an older woman) and settled with in Strawberry Tradwife timeline while Lila keeps looking for a way out for the sake of her children. Lila would find the journal a few months later and using both it and the subway map, get back to Five because she still needs his powers to get entirely out of the subway system. Could you imagine a scene with Lila trying to convince Five to leave the peaceful Strawberry Tradwife life he's always wanted after dealing with the trauma of being stuck in time twice?

5. Klaus's return to addiction: I think Klaus's arc could have definitely benefited from the season being longer. If there was a slower burn towards his addiction returning and his confrontation with Claire and if she stressed more that he didn't need to go down this path again, it could have really been impactful. The ghost sex trafficking thing was gross but if that was the only way to get him buried alive then so be it, because having him in a situation where he would have to directly face his trauma from the mausoleum and become stronger would be so good for the sendoff of his character. Maybe that could have been the point where he learned how to levitate?

6. Reginald and false memories: Why was the fact that he's literally not human and crafted this timeline so he could have as much power as possible (including a militia town) not explored at all? The plot should have revolved a lot more around at least verifying what he was saying about marigold and durango, if not about handing him a final defeat for this final season. Everything around him killing Ben led to huge plot holes (why wouldn't Klaus know the truth from Ben's ghost? Ben easily could have been spared and only Jessica shot. Why was Jessica being in a squid never explained?). While it's interesting to see the Umbrellas all give a brainwashed explanation for Ben's death, it couldn't be something as blatant as that, because Klaus would have to know even if everyone else was brainwashed. The brainwashing is an idea with promise, but it should have been something like Ben and Jessica being consumed by the giant squid together because Ben went against orders.

What other things could have been changed? I personally liked the CIA subplot, especially as it taught Diego to appreciate his family more. I also found Jean and Gene and the Cleanse conspiracy theorists to be fun new mini-villains.

[dayseternal-blog]

Fic Author Self Rec! When you get this reply with your favorite five fics that you've written, or some snippets from upcoming WIPS. Let’s spread the self-love! Love ya and thank you for all you do!! 💖

:D my 5 favorite fics that I've written?? okay.

"It's No Secret" - Hinata returns to Konoha after 5 years studying abroad in the Moon Kingdom. She just wants to enjoy her last year of high school as a normal girl, but blossoming love forces her to confront her future. (Rated M). - My baby fish. A high school AU for which I was really trying all different kinds of things and making all kinds of mistakes, finding my writing style. As a fanfic writer newbie, I felt so free to do whatever I wanted! Every scene for me was gripping, and I was so immersed in the world I was trying to create. It has an original, lengthy plot that I still hope to finish one day!!! I love this fic just because it was so instrumental to helping me improve. It's definitely NOT my best work, but from the first chapter to the most recently published chapter, my growth in writing is so apparent. All of the comments I got on it, even the ones that criticized, were encouraging for me and I cherish those readers who've followed my fics since then 💞

"Nightdreams" - Naruto and Hinata find comfort in each other after the war. (Rated E). - The easiest multi-chapter fic to write. Ever. Since then, I've never had quite as much fun writing a fic (I think Catskin came close). Certainly never as easy a time. "Nightdreams" had its moments of growth for me for sure, though, like the mission chapter, the argument chapter, all of the smut! It had its challenges, but the story flowed so easily, from beginning to end. I think there were only a couple of small writer's blocks. Overall, "Nightdreams" easily takes fave #2 just because it was so fun, and I think readers can tell that I really enjoyed writing it.

"Awkward Jocks" - She knows that if he were to ever ask her out, she would accept in a heartbeat. After all, he's the star quarterback and basketball player. Plus, she's liked him since...forever. But when her home phone rings, and he's on the other line, she hangs up. (Rated G). - The sweet and funny love story based off of my ex-coworker's life...bittersweet now, don't remember if I shared on Tumblr why. But I wrote this fic full of my love for her, so it takes the spot for fave #3.

"About You" - A summer job at the Dole pineapple cannery, graveyard shift 10 PM to 6 AM. A long bus ride into and out of town. Two teens, shy beside each other. (Rated G). - One of my most personal fanfics, though many of them are super personal. This is possibly the MOST personal because it's slightly based off of my parents' stories, I set it on my home island, and I experimented with writing the dialogue in pidgin. The only reason it's not higher on my list is because I somehow feel like I didn't do as good a job on it as I would have liked. It's like, the cultural/historical details are not accurate enough for me. But this is definitely a fic I wrote for myself, and it's been a joy to see other people love it, too.

"Matcha" from "Shared Vows" - Naruto calls Hiashi "father" for the first time. (Rated T). - ooooh it was a toss-up between this one or "Finally Home" from "Shared Vows," but I decided on "Matcha" as my fave #5. I love how I framed this fic, its ending reversing the beginning, and I somehow managed to communicate exactly what I wanted to say about Naruto's new family. This fic gives me such feel-good vibes, and I'm so glad it captured the feelings I felt.

I know that my personal faves do not align with readers' personal faves. Except for maybe "Nightdreams" haha. That one is easy to love. I know people loved "White Lilies," "Friend of Mine," "Tell Me of Forevers," and "Undercover," ...those exhibit some of my best technical writing, so I'm glad readers recognized that effort! My personal faves have more sentimental value, I guess, so that's what makes them special to me.

[touchstarvedsam]

I was really gonna ignore that "superior"natural thing but I saw that they seem to have some talented artists. So I thought maybe they are doing something interesting (even if it's destiel) so I checked out their Google doc and omg I'm HOWLING! Eileen calls Sam moosie, Cas calls Dean squirrel. Dean calls Cas kitten, Sam calls Eileen otter. They say it's just a incollection of ideas that might not make it into the project, but you get a sense of what you're dealing with there. And this is from1/?

A brief perusal to see how much attention Sam gets compared to Dean & Cas (a word search gave 27/87/100 results for each respectively, so not too much attention to Sam. But sure, Sam is the favorite character of some of their writers). I'm sure a deeper reading will unearth more (like, Dean saying you are home to Cas, who says we're not at the bunker, Dean replies but you are home. That sounds like something Dean would say. And Dean wishes a tulpa into existence 'cause he misses Cas too much)2/?

They say they want to eliminate plot holes but it seems what's a plot hole depends on whether it serves their ship: purgatory stays (we know they love that arc) even if it makes no sense for Crowley and Cas to go through that much in S6 when apparently there are many ways in and out. Cas, the guy who failed at almost everything he's done, is a "master strategist". Every other retcon of later seasons stays as long as it serves ship purposes. Sam gets his fair share of attention but Dean is the3/?

One who teaches Cas about being human including the textures of food (Sam and Cas pbj moment erasure) and Cas should be the one to teach Jack about his powers (no mention of Sam and Jack's relationship). Other ooc things: Cas rides a bike and when Dean asks says it reminds him of flying. After Cain, Dean takes Cas to the farm for bees (?). Cas and Dean snuggle. Knowing Cas is alive gives demon Dean strength to fight to be cured? Dean speaks enochian to Cas. Cas making a mixtape for Dean. 4/?

Cas being in regarding Dean. "Baby jack walking around in cas’s trench coat going “I’m an angel”." Home alone type ep with Jack. Dean kissing cas's forehead when he's dead in 13.01. Crowley is Jack's godfather and gets him a hellhound pet. Sam has a pet fish? Dean sings you're my sunshine to Cas as he sleeps. "Uncle Gabe". Apparently John dropped Sam and Dean off at Bobby's all the time? I don't think this is canon? Keep 15.18 but change 19&20 (of course). There's no drama or angst like 5/?

Kevin's death or Crowley's death or anything that might add tension to the story. Unless of course it serves the ship so plenty of trauma for Cas including darkness (from the empty) and sharp objects (from Naomi). A small mention of Sam's trauma with Lucifer, thank God, but it's interesting that they have so little Sam. They can say they'll flesh out more arcs for Sam but it's clear he's not a priority from how he's not present where he should be. For example, Dean will explain everything 6/?

To Mary and break her out of her brainwashing. But where's Sam? She's his mother too. Other than Eileen Sam's most meaningful relationship seems to be with his pet fish (still confused about that). Even if this project gets better in the future, which I doubt, it's clear what the direction here is. It baffles me that they think this is superior to the show we have, as problematic as the show is. I wish them best of luck but I don't have any high hopes for this. Thanks for the laughs though. 7/7

Sorry for that long ass rant in your inbox. It's in the middle of the night but I'm cackling after reading their doc and I had to share it with someone. I thought you might find it amusing as well. Hopefully all my asks go through. On the one hand, I feel bad hating on a fan project. But the way they've positioned it ("superior"), the blatant disrespect to Sam, and all the shit their side has pulled since the finale (and long before that) has really irked me. Again, sorry.

I just- this whole thing was a whirlwind of nonsense, it took me a whole week to process it. I don’t even know where to start here, or if I want to just yeet my laptop out my bedroom window into the snow. They really consider their ideas superior to the original show? More like Inferiornatural, to be honest. Superinferiornatural? They can’t even seem to characterize them correctly, let alone come up with a decent plotline or idea.

So we’ll start with the nicknames, since that is where you started. The whole thing is painfully out of character, but the worst (and funniest) of them all is Dean calling Cas “kitten,” I might actually laugh myself into an early grave with that one. Dean gives nicknames to shorten people’s names (besides Sam; Sammy is the only person who gets an extended nickname). He’s not going to give someone a longer nickname than the original nickname he uses for them! And Cas wouldn’t actually give nicknames, especially not giving Dean the nickname Crowley gave him??? Otter?! Moosie?!  W H A T. Can we move on from grade school kiddie crush nicknames?

I’m currently manifesting Dean saying “kitten” in his gruff voice with that lip curl he does sometimes and I’m cracking up about it. Thanks for the amusement, heIIers.

Of course Sam would only be mentioned 27 times to Cas’ 100 because Sam means nothing to them. He’s only ever either been in their way or a cheerleader for that horribly characterized ship of theirs. I just love how, in order to make DestieI, they have to butcher the characters so irreparably that they��re unrecognizable. Good for them, they can’t even have fanfiction of their ship where the characters keep their canon personalities. 10/10 would laugh at again.

I love the Sam erasure. It’s true to the heIIers’ character at least. They’re a one-trick pony. I’m so used to it by now that I’m totally desensitized to their bullshit. But Dean speaking Enochian? What? When and how did he learn that? I can’t see Dean in his 30s sitting there willingly to learn the language of the angels. Not even if his “kitten” is the one to teach him. Dean doesn’t give a fuck about that. If any of them is going to learn Enochian, it’ll be Sam, and they can fight me on that. I will kick anyone’s ass that argues.

I hope the mixtape Cas makes for Dean is just 4 hours of that Spaghetti song by The Wiggles because Cas sucks at doing human things.

I’d love to see the Sam erasure in the Regarding Dean one. Just swap Sam out for Cas? So Cas is the only one Dean recognizes? Hmm. Where would Sam go? A smoothie place? Yeah, as if Dean would remember the angel who he’d barely known for 8 years at that time over Sam who he’d known since he was 4 years old, lol. Sure, Jan.

The entire 5th ask is WILD, nonnie. A pet fish? Dean singing you are my sunshine? Dean kissing Cas’ forehead? LMFAO. Crowley is Jack’s godfather. The KING OF HELL is Jack’s GODfather. I’m- hgfjdksl I’m sure Dean who was ripped apart by hellhounds would love for Jack to have a pet hellhound. Yeah. Absolutely. “Uncle Gabe” yeah, fuck that guy in particular. Honestly, I’m surprised they haven’t erased Eileen to make SabrieI endgame in their fic. SabrieI is the Sam version of DestieI. It’s just as nasty and abusive :) which was why the heIIers ship it. They’re into abuse. It’s their shtick.

I do wonder what the point of the fish is... Sam has always loved and wanted a dog... you’d think they’d give Sam a dog... but I forgot they don’t pay attention to the show unless the episode has Mushy in the credits. I literally saw a heIIer say they skipped episodes if Mushy wasn’t in the credits... so they don’t know how to characterize Sam or Dean, but from this message they don’t even know how to characterize Cas who seems to be their precious uwu baby angel so I’m not surprised. I can’t wait for them to start releasing this shitshow. It makes for good fodder to make fun of them all over again. They really watched a grand total of 146 out of 327 episodes and thought, “Yeah, my opinion about the show definitely matters,” and I think that’s fucking hilarious.

Sorry for taking so long to respond! Hope I did a good job, nonnie. <3

[allie1804-fan]

Kerensa

chapter 1, Chapter 2

Warnings: mentions of baby loss

Chapter 3

Getting to Know You

With wet coats hanging up and steaming hot chocolates in hand, they settled into a nook not far from the fire where Scout lay contented by its warmth.

After a sip of the milky goodness, Kerry teased him:

“So if you’re Canadian, how come you’re always commenting on the cold and damp here?”

“It’s a fair point “ he agreed grinning at her teasing “but I’ve been in LA over 30 years. I have no tolerance for cold anymore!” What about you, did you grow up here?”

“Well in England, yes but not here here if that’s what you mean. My parents loved Cornwall, we holidayed here for years and I even got my name from here”

“Kerry? I thought it was an Irish name”

“It’s not that kind of Kerry - Kerry is short for Kerensa”

“And that is?”

“Cornish for ‘love’”

“Awww that’s cute”

Kerry felt the heat rise up her face

“What can I say? My parents were a pair of hopeless romantics!” she shrugged.

Keanu chuckled. He knew how this conversation could go if he didn’t watch it, so he took another sip of his drink to give himself thinking time. He segued away from the subject of romance.

“So how long have you lived here?”

“About 3 years, when both of my parents had passed and after my divorce, I had enough money to invest in a property down here. I needed a fresh start but also something comforting and familiar you know? Here seemed the perfect place so I left my job and headed down. The cottage rental is my main income and I do some freelance copywriting to tide myself over and I’m working on some short stories but I’ve yet to get anything published.”

“Wow a writer, maybe you could give me some tips” he quipped

“I don’t think writing ads for chocolate bars is really training for screenwriting! Or are you writing a novel or a play”

“No it is a screenplay”

Just then, Keanu’s stomach made a loud rumble making him giggle and cover his mouth, embarrassed.

“I guess it’s lunchtime huh? I think I’m going to eat here. I love their fish finger sandwich. Care to join me?”

“You sure? I feel like I’ve hijacked your peaceful morning”

“Not at all, it’s been nice to get to know you a little bit”

Kerry went to the bar placing the order for 2 of their fish-finger sandwiches. That was a bit of a misnomer really as they weren’t your standard breadcrumbed fish sticks in flat white bread but rather tender Cod goujons in a light beer batter served in a crusty home baked roll with homemade tartar sauce and chunky triple cooked chips.

After a few bites, they picked up the conversation from before.

“So, you were divorced 3 years ago then? Or did it take you longer to execute your exit plan?”

About 3 and a half years now. Things had been unraveling for a while so my plan was underway for about a year before I got here.”

“No children?”

She shook her head, a shadow passed over her expression.

“That’s good”

Her expression turned stricken.

“Gosh sorry, I meant good that there weren’t kids to be hurt by the divorce, not good that you don’t have them!”

“No it’s ok, it’s just a touchy subject. It’s why we split up basically”

Keanu tilted his head, encouraging her to continue.

Kerry took another bite of her sandwich, taking a moment to decide what to share.

“We both wanted a family, very much, but it just never worked out. I had a couple of miscarriages then nothing, for a couple of years. When we got checked out, they couldn’t find a problem but they recommended we try IVF or adopt, and turns out he didn’t want a family with me enough to go through any of that!”

“I’m so sorry”

Kerry could see the sincerity in his warm brown eyes and threw him a sad half-smile.

“Thanks. You know, it’s odd, obviously it hurts that it’s unlikely now that I’ll ever have kids, but what hurt the most is not that, nor losing the relationship but that I so badly misjudged who he was as a person. It’s like my “good person” radar failed me so badly!”

Keanu chuckled with recognition.

“Been there, got the t-shirt! It really sucks huh? I had a completely different situation with a friend but it also left me reeling – they turned out not to be who I thought they were, not at all.”

“Oh, what happened?”

“Well I helped him out with funding for a project, then he forged my signature on a contract and I ended up having to make a movie I hated just when I should have been somewhere else.”

“That sucks. What was the film?”

“Eugh” Keanu made a guttural noise “The Watcher”, I played a serial killer and it was just bad!”

Kerry laughed

“Sort of against type I guess”

“Nah, nah it wasn’t playing a bad guy I had a problem with, it was just a shitty script and a shitty project full stop”

“And where should you have been?”

“What?”

“You said before, you were forced to do the film when you should have been somewhere else?”

“Oh yeah, yeah, right”

Keanu’s voice had got quieter with each word.

Seeing his hesitation, Kerry assured him “no need to share, looks like a bad memory”

“No, you shared your painful memories with me, I can too.” He sighed sadly. I should have been with my girlfriend at the time. She was pregnant, 8 months along and I was away filming that shitty film in New York. She went for her last scan and there was no heartbeat. She called me” he paused, remembering “God she was screaming and wailing down the phone for me to come home”

“And you couldn’t?”

“No, of course I did, I dropped everything and went home, that’s not what I meant, it’s just that I’ll just always wonder, if I’d been there before….. then things might have been different …..”

Kerry reached over and squeezed his hand. She hoped she wasn’t overstepping but it seemed the only response to such a revelation.

“Did you have a son or a daughter?”

“A daughter, Ava. She’d be 22 now.”

“I’m so sorry”

“I’m sorry, for you too, for your lost babies. Do you know what you were having?”

“No, they were early miscarriages, at about 10 weeks.”

“Still enough time for hope to bloom right?”

Kerry nodded

“Not many people get that, especially not someone who’s experienced such a different level of loss”

“I have enough friends who’ve been through a miscarriage to know there’s a lot of commonality.”

They both sighed and drew in a shaky breath then giggled at their mirrored actions.

“I feel like we deserve the naughtiest dessert on the menu after sharing all those sad memories!” Keanu offered in an attempt to lighten the mood.

“Oh I couldn’t manage a whole one”

“We’ll share one then, what do you fancy ?” he asked looking towards the menu board. “What’s the most trad thing we can get?”

“Gotta be the sticky toffee pudding with clotted cream Ice cream hasn’t it?”

“Let’s go for it”

That decided, they finished their lunch off in a lighter mood with the delicious pudding to share, then walked up the hill to the house and cottage slowly in light of their full stomachs!

@fortheloveoffanfic@ladyreapermc@paperplanesandwallflowers@toomanystoriessolittletime@omg-imagine@fics-not-tragedies@ficsnroses@keanureevesisbae

[love-bokumono-fics]

WIP Wednesday - Friends of Mineral Town, Part 2!

I'm going to make 2 WIP Wednesday posts today for the FoMT WIP Wednesday feature. When I sorted by Date Updated, I realized that the most recent 10 fics have all received a feature on the blog over the last couple months. Which is great! But I also want to take time to feature some of the WIPs that haven't been updated in a little bit, but still deserve some time in the spotlight. Part 1 featured the first 10 fics on the list, Part features the next 10! Happy reading! Do you have a FoMT WIP that didn't get featured today? Drop the link to it in a Submission box! We're always happy to feature submissions! to cure what ails you - by indoorsy; WIP, 7/?, 22k Rating: Mature; Archive Warning: No Archive Warnings Apply; Category: F/M Fandoms: Friends of Mineral Town Relationship: Claire the Farmer/Doctor Trent; Characters: Claire, Doctor Trent | Torre Additional Tags: Slow Burn, Eventual Romance, Eventual Smut, Other Additional Tags to Be Added, his name is Doctor Summary: Claire, a perpetual people-pleaser with a sensitive soul, uproots her mundane city life to take over her grandfather's farm. Her endeavors are supported by the friendly community of Mineral Town - including the town's eccentric doctor. A Happy Lamp for an Unhappy Life - by MacchiatoRodion; WIP, 7/?, 17k Rating: Teen And Up Audiences; Archive Warning: Major Character Death; Categories: Gen, Multi Fandoms: Back To Nature, A Wonderful Life, Friends of Mineral Town, Havest Moon DS Cute Characters: Cliff, Old Nina, Galen | Guri, Mary the Librarian, Ann the Innkeeper | Ran, Basil the Writer, Celia | Seperia, Marlin | Mash, Pony | Aya | Jill, Jennifer, Gray, Kai, Carter the Pastor, Popuri, Rick, Manna, Lillia the Shopkeeper, Aja | Adge, Doctor Trent, Dr. Hardy | Paddock Additional Tags: Canonical Character Death, Grief/Mourning, Suicidal Thoughts, Child Death, Past Character Death, Implied/Referenced Character Death, Tags May Change, Childhood Memories, Child Abandonment, Domestic Disputes, Poor Life Choices, Flowers, Developing Friendships, Healing, Child Neglect Summary: Cliff was once considering committing suicide, so his instinct is to jump off the edge of Mother's Hill, where so many lovable people had perished before. But something compels him to look down at the area where the bodies should have landed. To his surprise, there was an entire village at the bottom. He decides to investigate since he doesn't anticipate that anybody will miss him while he is away. He ends up meeting someone who shows him the impact of even the shortest life to him. This story begins in the summer leading up to the beginning of Friends of Mineral Town and the first chapter of A Wonderful Life/DS. Story of Mineral Town - by CustardPudding; WIP, 2/?, 5k Rating: Teen And Up Audiences; Archive Warning: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings; Category: F/M Fandoms: Friends of Mineral Town, Harvest Moon 64, Back To Nature Relationships: Claire the Farmer/Gray, Cliff/Female Farmer, Ann the Innkeeper | Ran/Brandon, Kai/Popuri, Harris/Mary the Librarian | Marie, Elli/Doctor Trent | Torre, Karen/Rick; Characters: Claire, Sara, Cliff, Gray, Jennifer, Karen, Ann the Innkeeper | Ran, Doug | Dudley Additional Tags: Chickens, Angst, Family Drama, Self-Esteem Issues, Slow Burn, More like medium burn? I don't really know, Some Fluff, But also quite a bit of angst, Canon couples, Ann/Brandon is kinda cracky, Some underage drinking, Which is mostly Karen, Minor Swearing Summary: Claire and Sara, sisters who have been inseparable for their whole lives, are vastly different. With Claire's quiet and responsible nature combined with Sara's hotheaded and standoffish one, many wondered how they could possibly be related by blood. But they took care of each other nevertheless. So when they inherit their late grandfather's farm, they expect it to be an easy thing. Take a few looks at it, restore it to its former glory, and then sell it and move on. They were wrong, of course. Rival After Events - by LuxBeacon (Number13teen); WIP, 4/13, 7k Rating: General

Audiences; Archive Warning: No Archive Warnings Apply; Categories: F/F, F/M, Gen, M/M Fandoms: Friends of Mineral Town Relationships: Elli/Doctor Trent | Torre, Kai/Popuri, Ann the Innkeeper | Ran/Cliff, Karen/Rick, Gray/Mary the Librarian | Marie, Harvest Goddess/Pete | Jack, Kappa/Claire, Male Farmer | Yuto/Huang | Won; Characters: Elli | Elly, Doctor Trent | Torre, Popuri, Kai, Ann the Innkeeper | Ran, Cliff, Karen, Rick, Mary the Librarian, Gray, Pete | Jack, Claire, Harvest Goddess, Kappa, Won | Huang, Gourmet - Character Additional Tags: Fluff, Rival Marriage, LGBTQ Themes, Wholesome, Cross-Posted on FanFiction.Net Summary: A series of one shots detailing the lives of the Mineral Town bachelorettes and bachelors after marrying their rival. Each story references different locations and characters from across the franchise and each chapter takes inspiration from actual events in the games. Pure Fluff. Year One - by pawprintmusical; WIP, 7/?, 10k Rating: General Audiences; Archive Warning: No Archive Warnings Apply; Category: F/M Fandoms: Friends of Mineral Town, Harvest Moon DS Cute, A Wonderful Life Relationships: Claire the Farmer/Zack, Ann the Innkeeper | Ran/Cliff, Elli/Doctor Trent | Torre, Gray/Mary the Librarian, Kai/Popuri, Karen/Rick; Characters: Claire the Farmer, Zack, Ann the Innkeeper | Ran, Cliff, Elli, Doctor Trent | Torre, Gray, Mary the Librarian, Karen, Rick, Kai, Popuri Additional Tags: MFoMT, Friendship, Hurt/Comfort, Fluff, alcohol mention, didn't want to tag the whole town but they're here with a chunk of AWL people too, Tags Added As I Go, Pre-Relationship, Not Remake Compliant Summary: Claire needed a change, and Mineral Town seemed like just the ticket. She just never expected how much it would change her. Rainy Day Vignettes - by Shelookstothesky; WIP, 7/?, 31k Rating: Teen And Up Audiences; Archive Warning: No Archive Warnings Apply; Category: F/M Fandoms: A Wonderful Life, Harvest Moon DS Cute, Friends of Mineral Town Characters: Marlin | Mash, Pony | Aya | Jill, Rock, Muffy | Muumuu, Griffin | Garfan, Takakura, Celia | Seperia, Vesta, Claire Additional Tags: Vignette, Eventual Romance, Angst and Drama Summary: This fanfic is a collection of scenes I wrote with the Jill/Pony and Marlin paring back in 2016 and decided to reread and edit them just for fun. I'm not sure if I'll actually write new scenes in addition to the original ones I wrote back in 2016. I suppose it will depend on how engrossed I get back into the plot. I hope you enjoy anyway!~ Life is like a Festival - by LeafBubble; WIP, 7/?, 26k Rating: Teen And Up Audiences; Archive Warning: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings; Category: F/M Fandoms: Friends of Mineral Town Relationships: Many relationships will happen, Final pairing is a mystery; Characters: Rick, Popuri, Barley | Mugi, May | Mei, Saibara, Gray, Duke, Manna, Basil the Writer, Anna, Mary the Librarian | Marie, Thomas, Harris, Old Ellen, Elli | Elly, Stu | Yu, Jeff, Sasha, Karen, Doctor Trent | Torre, Carter the Pastor, Cliff, Doug | Dudley, Ann the Innkeeper | Ran, Kai, Gotz | Gotts, Brandon, Jennifer, Zack, Won Huang Additional Tags: Adult themes are present, Depression, Angst, Prejudice, Sexuality, Abandonment, Happy Themes, Life gives the good and the bad Summary: Claire is a young woman who led a comfortable life. Great up bringing, amazing schooling, landed a dream job. As the days go by she feels as if she was doing nothing, but being a cog in the machine. A chance get away on a cruise forever changes her life. A forgotten land, facing turmoil when crops and animals begin to decay. A goddess is in disarray as she needs to find a new farmer to help restore the town. After making a deal with a goddess, Claire vows to find the man who saved her life. Will she decide to take on the challenge of being a farmer in an unfamiliar town and find this mystery man, or pack her bags and face reality? Friendships will be tested, and love will be fought and lost. A slow burn story that will go through the lives of the many

characters of Mineral Town and their connections to each other. all that glitters - by christinahosetti; WIP, 3/?, 5k Rating: Teen And Up Audiences; Archive Warning: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings; Category: F/F Fandoms: Friends of Mineral Town Relationship: Claire the Farmer/Jennifer; Characters: Claire, Jennifer Additional Tags: Slow Burn, Supernatural Elements, Worldbuilding, Eventual Smut, Fae & Fairies, not gonna tag the whole town but they're all there basically, claire is called clover Summary: “You’re not completely solitary, though,” Clover points out, now harvesting the blackberries into a tupperware container she’s fished out of her rucksack. “You hang out with me all the time. And Mugi, and Lillia, and Harris.” “That’s true. They’re all people with peaceful energies, though, so I don’t mind them so much. No drama or nastiness.” Clover gives her an odd look. “I’m not sure that applies to me.” “Well, you’re the exception.” - Jennifer has secrets to keep, but the farmer makes her want to spill them all. Harvest Moon: The Novel - by CurtTheGamer, WIP, 5/?, 8k Rating: Teen And Up Audiences; Archive Warnings: Graphic Depictions Of Violence; Major Character Death Fandoms: Friends of Mineral Town, Back To Nature Characters: Pete | Jack, Ann the Innkeeper | Ran, Doug | Dudley, Mary the Librarian | Marie, Karen, Elli | Elly, Old Ellen, Gray, Jeff, Cliff, Gotz | Gotts, Sasha, Maria the Mayor's Daughter, Anna, Thomas, Manna, Doctor | Trent, Duke, Saibara, Stu | Yu, Won | Huang, Kent, May | Mei, Barley | Mugi, Kai, Popuri, Lillia the Shopkeeper, Rick, Basil the Writer, Harris, Jennifer, Zack, Dog, Horse Summary: Pete is a young man from the big city. He hasn't dreamed of having a job outside the city, nor does he want to. But when an old friend from a small village dies, Pete inherits his farm. Though reluctant, he agrees to leave his city life to become a farmer. Will he live happily ever after, or will the old-fashioned country life become a bore? What is Art? (Not That) - by FosterTheBananas; WIP, 1/2, 1.2k Rating: General Audiences; Archive Warning: No Archive Warnings Apply; Category: Gen Fandoms: Friends of Mineral Town Characters: Won | Huang, Brandon Summary: Huang heads to Mineral Town to help oversee shipments for his cousin. While there, he tries to buy some art in the hopes of reselling for a profit, but instead he catches the attention of an eccentric artist who. just. won't. go. away.

[spnfanficpond]

June 2020 Angel Fish Awards

(New Angel Fish design by @slytherkins!!)

Every month all of you fantastic writers work your asses off to post some truly incredible stories. Our Angel Fish Awards are the way for all of us, as a community of writers and readers, to lift each other up and give praise to those who have captured our attention and deserve a few kind words.

The monthly Angel Fish Awards are peer-nominated, meaning ANYONE IN THE POND CAN NOMINATE ANY POND MEMBER’S FIC. While the Pond was founded to support the Guppies, everyone in this community deserves to be showered with love and feedback, and we hope that by opening this up as a Pond wide system, we’ll be able to share the love as far as it can go.

NOTE: WE’VE BEEN HAVING OCCASIONAL PROBLEMS WITH ASKS GOING MISSING. Please use the Submit button when submitting your nominations and make sure you’re signed into Tumblr or your URL won’t show. (If the form asks for your name and email address, then you’re not signed in.) If you like, you can also send a message to Michelle @mrswhozeewhatsis or Mana @manawhaat to check and make sure we got your submission.

Be sure to read through this whole post as people who were nominated more than once only had one tag activated for tumblr tagging purposes!

WITHOUT FURTHER ADO, HERE ARE JUNE’S ANGEL FISH AWARDS!

Nonimated by @thegirlwhorunswithwinchesters

I Thought You Were Going To Die (oneshot) by @fun-and-fandoms

My nominations for the month wouldn’t be complete without a little bit of angst. Though this one isn’t just that. If you’re easily triggered by mentions of depression and its symptoms, this one’s not for you. But it’s an important topic and I will always encourage any creator who uses their art to remind people it’s okay to talk about it. (Note from Kale, this was actually submitted in May but I missed it.) 

More to Me (oneshot) by @becs-bunker

No spoilers, but I’m so glad this ended the way it did. So sweet <3

Help  (oneshot) by @blushingjared

I came across this fic and was immediately intrigued. Then I started reading and I was captivated from the first sentence until the very last. The author did such a good job with setting the scene and painting the right picture.

Talking Bodies (oneshot) by @ne-gans

This AU-Sam is such a huge weakness of mine. That, in combination with this dangerously filthy masterpiece, is nothing short of perfection.

Nominated by @focusonspn

Into The Woods (series) by @amanda-teaches

So well written, interesting plot and great development. The chemistry between Y/N and Dean is also amazing, and I loved how this mini-series could be so easily part of the show. Totally worth reading.

Nominated by @thoughtslikeamindfield 

Stranger Than FanFiction (series) by @cherry3point14

The premise is similar to the film Stranger Than Fiction – a story about a story being written about you – and it’s just as hilarious. Also, Cherry Pie is still one of the funniest writers in this corner of SPN fandom.

“You’re not supposed to move your head if there’s someone trying to murder you, probably…”

No, I wouldn’t think so, but lollllll

“You’re being insane, out loud.”

Omgggg

“It tried, oh, how the door tried to divert her attention from the unknown men who could be terrible, rule-breaking influences on her. However the door was only wood and she was a stubborn woman made of free will and limbs—a woman who refused to be deceived.”

“Your hand is on the doorknob before the mention of your limbs has finished rattling around your head.  Realistically you don’t want to encourage the voice by doing what it says. After all, the voice’s ultimate goal seems to be killing you.”

BAHAHAHAH omfg you guys

I need to stop quoting from this bc I probably seem insane to those of you who haven’t read this, so stop being judgy buttheads and go read!

Nominated by @flamencodiva

The Choice (series) by @superfanficnatural

A couple of things. 1) this is an amazing fic that highlights Dean unwillingness to let himself go until it’s almost too late. and 2) the smut in this is hot hot hot hot! not for anyone under 18 years of age.

Mert has a way with words and can literally pluck you into one and make you see it as it comes to life in your head.

Mine (series) by @holylulusworld

Lulu has an abundance of different stories she tells and this one is my favorite of her ABO’s at the moment. (although I love all of them) I think this one deserved a mention. I am glad she joined to Pond so I could help nominate and spread her amazing work!

One Night at a Time (series) by @crashdevlin

Another great fic by Cassie! This one shot full of Angst, Smut, and if you squint just the right amount of Dean fluff. She has a way of capturing your attention and putting you in the world as you read.

What He Lost (oneshot) by @jensengirl83

This short story by Brandy is sure to rip your heart out. she leaves just a bit of hope where you think there is a chance only to crush it completely with the ending. This one is sure to bring you to tears if you are looking for the most delicious angsty story to read.

Nominated by @risingpheonix761

Down The Rabbit Hole (oneshot) by @dontshootmespence

So, this was hysterical. XD I love crack fics, and bad smut in particular, and this one hits the spot. (I’ve also learned several new horrible euphemisms lol). The ending, though? Golden!

Nominated by @myinconnelly1

The Affair (oneshot) by @holylulusworld

I love how well all the characters are portrayed I truly hate everyone except the reader! Well done!!  

Red Riding Hood - or how you ran into a wolf... (oneshot) by @holylulusworld

I have nothing to say about this. I will simply allow the puddle I have become to speak for me. 

Last Omega On Earth (oneshot) by @holylulusworld 

This was a great entry in the ABO world. and we need more of this and more like !!!!! Great work!

My Beta (oneshot) by @holylulusworld

I am a greedy little bitch with this fic.  I think I've read it 3-4 since i first read it this month!!!!!! READ THIS FIC!  

Third Period (oneshot) by @fictionalabyss

Some truly inspiring smut.  Inspiring to change my panties. 

Gods of Twilight (series) by @thecleverdame​

I think i posted this fic in my rec before, but it is so amazing and intricate that i can't stop gushing about it.  Fucking awesome. 

Apple Pie (oneshot) by @bad268​ 

The amazingness of this is great, check this guppy out!

Deal (oneshot) by @bad268 

Comedy at some of its's finest!!! 

Confession (oneshot) by @idreamofplaid

THE FLUFFFFFFF!!!! I don't read straight fluff.  So get the tissues ready.

Fallen (series) by idreamofplaid

My therapist has told me i'm not longer allowed to talk about this fic during our sessions.  So instead i shall now talk about it here... *pulls out soapbox* ahem... *gets pulled away with hook*

Memory (oneshot) by @idreamofplaid

This fic is older, but i love it so much.  I recently went back and reread it, and the angst and reconciliation in this fic are heartwrenching.

Home (oneshot) by @emilyshurley

My dentist bill the month was higher than normal, due to the new cavities caused by this fic.

Imperfectly Yours (oneshot) by @emilyshurley

Cuteness overload as you get Dean's perspective of Home ^^

Second Hand News (oneshot) by @emilyshurley

Alright listen. I am a glutton for punishment.  And this fic, I asked for.  Also i had it set within one of the universes we now own.  That all being said, reading this was like a dose of my own medicine and it fucking hurt.

Honesty And Lies (oneshot) by @crashdevlin

This was super dirty, and great.  Totally recommend. 

Nominated by @deanwinchesterswitch

The Classifieds (oneshot) by @talesmaniac89

This is rip your heart out and stomp on it angst right here. So well written, but so, so heartbreaking.

So Much More Than Perfect (oneshot) by @imagineteamfreewill

This fic is one of the sweetest things I’ve ever read. It made me tear up a bit, but who doesn’t love Dean being the most protective, most adorable dad ever?!

Nominated by @mariekoukie6661

Dear Dean (series) by @smol-and-grumpy

It’s one of those series that makes you wants more after every chapter. It’s a brilliant story.

Left Behind (series) by @kittenofdoomage

It’s the only John Fic I can read over and over and over again. Its hot, the plot is awesome! And it makes me wants more each and every time I read it.

Not Much Left (oneshot) by @impala-dreamer

I think Beka tries to kill her readers every time she writes smut… or she just tap into our mind what we want or what we fantasize about. Every single time I’m speechless by her talents!

Yes Professor (oneshot) by @impala-dreamer

It’s a Misha fic, there’s no one who write Misha the way Beka does!!!

Owe You One (series) by @supernatural-jackles

It’s such a great series! The friends with Benefit and Mechanic!Dean… I just love this so much and I don’t have words to describe how good this one is!!

Flirty In French (oneshot) by @fictionalabyss

This is brilliant, and I know its an old one, but from someone who finally decided to read more and from someone who is from Quebec, this is absolutely brilliant! The flirty french pick up line are so hilarious!

Nominated by @moosekateer13

Watching for Comets (series) by @holylulusworld

This fic beautifully captures the song that it was inspired by.

It also showcases things that when things are meant to be.

I’ll will all fall into place.

Please Trust Me (oneshot) by @holylulusworld

This fic beautifully emotionally captures what it’s like to have trust issues.

Nominated by @fictionalabyss

Last Call (oneshot) by @impala-dreamer 

It was everything we needed and wanted.

Culinary Exploits (oneshot) by @impala-dreamer  

Too utterly ridiculous not to get a mention.

His Omega (oneshot) by @iflostreturntosteverogers 

A sweet little comfort fic of Dean being utterly perfect caring for his Omega. Carrie also pulled off keeping this gender neutral, which isn’t something I see a lot of, and probably something I’d struggle with, so hats off to you, babe.

Poison (oneshot) by @supernatural-jackles 

YES omg i feel this on such a level. I’ve gone through that shit myself. A friend who lets you down so profoundly but then acts as if you’re the most toxic person in the world.  Nothing feels as good as letting go of that shit and moving on to better things. This was beautiful, and perfect, and TRUTH.

Amara (oneshot) by @impala-dreamer  

This one hurt. It really hurt, but it hurt so good that I’m left wanting more.

Take Me Now (oneshot) by @sorenmarie87  

If Dawn doesn’t continue this, I’ll riot.

Stuck On You (oneshot) by @kittenofdoomage  

I rarely read a fic this long (I just don’t usually have the time) but it looked too interesting for me to scroll past, and it had me completely captivated. I needed to know what would happen as if I needed air, even though I could guess how it ended, I needed to read the words. Phenomenal.

Thank you all for the awesome work and great feedback!

These are not actual awards! This system is set up so everyone in the pond has a chance to share the love and promote a fic/author that has grabbed your attention. The more people that participate, and the more everyone remembers to submit their own fics after posting, the better this will be :D

THANK YOU ALL AGAIN, KEEP UP THE AMAZING WORK, AND AS ALWAYS, HAPPY WRITING!

[mego42]

Writer Asks

Tagged by @sothischickshe, @bourbon-ontherocks and @medievalraven who are all v lovely and for reasons unknown to me, want me to ramble about my fic so like, blame them for this I guess

Tagging @fairhairedkings, @riosnecktattoo, @inyoursheets, @foxmagpie, @pynkhues if you feel like it

ao3 name: ms_scarlet (origin story no one asked for: I came up with it for a creative writing class where we had to submit everything under pseudonyms for anonymous full class critique, which was gr9 and not at all traumatic, and I was deeply obsessed with both the Grateful Dead and Sublime versions of Scarlet Begonias at the time)

fandoms: the only fandoms I’ve written fic for are bellarke/t100 and Good Girls (and Buffy but it was way back in the day, pre-organized archives and has been completely lost to time which is For The Best)

number of fics: 14 (lol, 5 over the course 3 years in t100 fandom and 9 since joining the GG fandom at the beginning of s3, you could say I have been inspired)

fic i spent the most time on: a song inside the halls of the dark for sure, it’s the first multi chapter I’ve ever done and I’m far enough into it that I will be super honest, I was extremely dubious over whether or not I’d actually see it through when I started but huzzah! It’s happening. But yeah, I spend like, a lot of time thinking about it, writing it (lmao obvs), rewatching clips of the show to pick apart characterization and mannerisms, etc, etc. I try to work on it in some capacity every day (sometimes that just means outlining or deleting chunks of my outline and crying about how much I hate myself) to keep up momentum so yeah, def that one.

As far as one shots go, there’s blood in my body (I’m holding on) for bellarke, I think I spent a month, maybe 6 weeks working on that

fic i spent the least amount of time on: as the world turns, the blunt burns, I was doing my usual lazy Saturday morning scroll through Tumblr before I got out of bed and saw a post like I want beth and mick to get high together (I would love to give credit but I haven’t the foggiest notion who said it, I wasn’t intending to write it so I didn’t pay too much attention, I’m the worst, I’m sorry) and then some dialogue popped into my head maybe 10 min later and I think I wrote the whole thing in like, 45 min on my phone. Cannot emphasize enough how little I thought about it (or proofed it tbh, yikes, so many typos) before posting

most hits: overall, I’ve Got You Here my t100 post s3, alt s4 thing. For Good Girls, a song inside the halls of the dark

most kudos: overall, there’s blood in my body (I’m holding on) - bellarke modern au. For GG, still song.

most comment threads:  a song inside the halls of the dark by a M I L E (it twice as many as blood, the next highest), the GG fandom is so lovely and supportive and friendly and I love you guys, I really do

most bookmarks: same as kudos, blood overall and then song for GG

highest total word count: lol song is killing it

favorite fic i wrote: oh man, that’s hard. I love them all for different reasons. Blood was my first ever AU (I am a canon/canon-divergent ho) and it also deals with some stuff that’s important to me so that’s always going to have a special place in my heart. I’ve Got You Here was the first time I tried to tackle something bigger than a missing scene or short one-shot so that’s also significant.

I’m really proud of smoke, fire, it’s all going up because I think I did a p good job with the Rio POV there. I’d give her a HA! And a HI-YA! is special bc it’s my first outside POV and it was based on so little info it was basically OC, so that was a fun challenge.

All of that said, obviously, a song inside the halls in the dark is my fav. It’s been the biggest stretch of my skills (I had NO! IDEA! If I could plot and pace on the level required to sustain the fic I’d originally outlined and it’s only grown from there tbh), it’s also been like, the loveliest experience? I keep saying people’s reaction to it has broken my brain and I’m not actually just saying that. I’m deeply overwhelmed. And last but emphatically not least, it’s how I’ve gotten to know @nickmillerscaulk who, on top of being an incredible editor (seriously y’all, she is Skilled, I’ve learned so much from her), is such an awesome, amazing person and I’m so very glad we’ve become friends.

fic i want to rewrite/expand on: Oh man, idk. Pills N Potions is the easiest because it’s a prompt collection! Send me prompts! I can’t promise I’ll write them right away (my ADHD is so very real and only dubiously under my control during quarantine, so I live in constant terror of losing the thread of song especially this close to the end) but I def want to flex my quick and dirty short fic for funsies skills. I’m super looking forward to @goodgirlsficrecs prompt-a-thon.

share a bit of a wip or story idea you’re working on: ahahaha oh man, my google drive is littered with partially drafted or outlined ideas. I have a bunch of missing scene things I started at various points in s3 that are realistically dead in the water.

In terms of WIP/ideas I’m still intending to work on/finish:

A post 311 Rio POV pwp

A fishing/fencing/flute playing fluff for @medievalraven because I keep taunting her with my tags for song

The Good Guys (Rio, JT and Stan) thing that snowballed in a post way back when from @jazillia007, @nickmillerscaulk, and @inyoursheets

I still low-key want to do the transcripts for the Mick, Annie and Ruby group chat. I might save that for whenever I rewatch and have it running concurrently to s3, idk we’ll see

A Jewel Thief AU that I am wildly hyped about. I outlined the first chapter of it around when I started posting song and haven’t let myself do anything with it because I know once I get started I’m going to abandon whatever else I’m working on

More Annie POV, I don’t have any specific ideas, I just really love writing Annie POV

[sirowsky]

Interview Game

Tagged By: @sarahjkl82-blog

Nickname: Sickan

Pronouns: She/Her

Star Sign: Cancer

Height: 5,7

Time Currently: 17:30

Birthday: June 30th 1986

Favourite Groups/Band: Welshly Arms, Hurts, Imagine Dragons, Evanescence , Two Steps From Hell (I’m incapable of giving single answers in these cat:s)

Favourite Solo Artist: Rag ‘n’ Bone Man, Ruelle, Billie Eilish, Tina Turner, Whitney Houston

Song Stuck In My Head: Wings by Birdy

Last Movie You Watched: Artemis Fowl

Last Show You Binged: The Mandalorian

When You Created Your Blog: I don’t even know. Years ago. Only started posting regularly about two months ago, though.

Last Thing You Googled: French Café’s (for a fic)

Other Blogs: Had one or two in my tweens, but never took to it.

Why I Chose My URL: It’s a bit of an inside joke from many years back, referring to my horse.

Do You Get Asks: I’ve gotten one (which I kind of asked for myself bc I wanted to know if I could do it.) Would love to get more, though.

Following: 30 (I’m a bit particular about crowding my dash... it’s nothing personal)

Followers: 80+

Average Hours Of Sleep: 5-6 

Lycku Number: Don’t believe in them.

Instruments: None. Wish I could play the piano.

Currently Wearing: Not much. Slouching on the couch under a blanket (isolated bc of flu, so can’t be bothered to get dressed.)

Dream Job: Actress, or writer.

Dream Trip: Hurtigrutten, a cruise along Norways fjords.

Favourite Food: I’m really bad with favourites. Love noodles and chicken, but also fish. 

Favourite Song: I couldn’t possibly tell you. The list is way too long.

Top 3 Fictional Worlds To Live In: Hobbiton, The Marvel Universe, The Star Wars Universe, in no particular order.

[drsteggy]

For the fanfic writer ask thing: 2, 13, 27, 34! Happy Friday!

Happy Friday @st0rmyskies ! Thank you for the asks!!

2. Why do you write fanfiction?

I have a pretty high stress and occasionally emotionally charged job that was spiking into my red zones prior to March 2020 when the screws got tightened, and my job got busier, and everyone got more stressed and all the escape things I did had to stop. I could not go to cons and dressing in cosplay at home feels weird to me. There were no model horse shows, and while the hobby has adapted to photo shows, I have only been able to participate as a judge and again, the social aspect is gone. I could not see my friends and work really became my entire world. I have always told myself that could never happen.

So I threw myself into a thing I’d written just to dump an idea that then became 9,000 words and pantsed it into 88,000 words and wow it was a ride at times but it did get me through some shit when I was angry and sad all at once, and there wasn’t a way to physically burn the crap via competition. I like that the particular sandbox I’m in is very flexible with canon (or not) and seems to welcome remixing and retooling.

I thought I’d be one and done but I managed to make friends as I wrote and it was fun bouncing silly ideas off each other, and experimenting with things to just play with them and I find that I really enjoy this new way to play. I don’t know if I have another novel length thing in me but I do have a couple irons in the fire and I did my first fic exchange and I’ve applied to a couple zines (I’m hoping to hear from the first of these today squeeee!) so I hope that going forward, once the world allows me to cosplay at cons, and pack up a carload of plastic horses and drive 12 hours to meet up with other people with carloads of plastic horses again, I’ll still play with it.

13. First fandom you ever wrote for?

The X Files! The show started the same year I started grad school and I was hooked immediately. I also got online the same year. One day, a fellow fan/classmate told me about a Usenet group where people wrote stories about the X Files and Star Trek!!!! It took several years, but I did write one story and I remember getting it beta read and I don’t think it ever got posted because I also thought it never was finished and then lost as I moved computers.

Then like 3 weeks ago I was digging through my hard drive for something and I found it! And it was done! So I posted it on New Year’s Day, and I am so freaking happy I have it back. Hooray for digital hoarding.

27. What’s the nicest comment you ever received?

It’s hard to pick just one, because I've had a lot that touched me, but this stands out to me. I joined a small discord server that focused on my fandom and posted a link to my then in progress longfic. I wanted people to read it but I was getting frustrated that no one seemed interested-I do a relatively small fandom and everyone wanted to read Marvel and Harry Potter.

I woke up in the morning and someone on the discord said something like “oh hey I’m reading this and no regrets” and then I opened my email and this person had binged the entire thing I had at that point and commented on every chapter. I was terrified because I had been crossposting to fanfiction dot net and already had some kinda mean anonymous people who I could not interact with. These comments though were gentle and encouraging and picked out things I’d written and praised them and I went from being completely terrified to realizing I’d probably found my people.

I do like it when people tell me they thought Old!Link would be boring or weird but they tried it anyway and ended up loving it.

34. Copy and paste an excerpt you’re particularly fond of

This is the end of chapter 14 of the long fic. I like it because it’s a point where Link is starting to clumsily grapple with the trauma of his life, though it’s not going well for him. He is making decisions that don’t serve him well, and make him more upset. He is angry at his lot and starting to lash out at people who want to support and help him, and idk it was delicious to write this.

Plus I am also happy with how my version of the Arbiter’s Grounds came out because I have not played that bit of Twilight Princess yet.

“Hylia, have you tired of sending children in your stead? Are you sending an old man in your name now?”

The voice has a smokey texture to it he didn’t hear in his dreams. He swivels his head, looking for the source. He has done this before, and he knows what is next. He wrenches the sword out of the skull, and slides to the floor.

He is ready.

“Who do you think you are? Do you really think you are worthy of that tunic you wear?”

He snarls “You can decide after we dance. Let’s go.”

There’s a throaty laugh in response. Link stands his ground, relaxing his hips and knees in preparation to fight. He rolls his right wrist, giving the Master Sword a showy flip. The blade is glowing and he can feel a low thrum through his arm. He hears the faint sound of glass breaking somewhere.

“Not today, old man. Not today.”

“But soon.”

And like that, the presence is gone, and it’s just him and a giant pile of dead bone. He thinks there’s a flash of light on the corner of his vision and when he turns to it, there’s a wooden box that he is sure was not there before. Inside that; the red, heart shaped crystal and an enormous topaz. He scoops them up, pausing as the red crystal restores him. Using the hook shot once more to get out of the pit, he then heads out into the desert night; back to Gerudo.

It’s cold; and the sky is a deep, dark blue, filled with pinpoints of light. He pauses once to look up and name the constellations. The Wind Fish. Aquamentus. Creatures from stories. He catches himself wondering if she is looking up at the night sky and naming the same stars. He pushes on. None of this seems fair, suddenly.

He is back at the gates at dawn. The guards eye him, wondering how much trouble he is going to be. He feels like a toxic combination of tired and frustrated and angry. He feels like he might be trouble.

He barks at them. “Tell the queen of Hyrule her hero is at the gates for her.”

[wistfulcynic]

On What They Fall: Epilogue

Lovely, lovely members of the CS fandom: To say that the response to this fic has been overwhelming is an understatement. Your reblog notes and AO3 comments and messages have actually brought tears to my eyes. Thank you all, so much. Somehow the little three-sentence note I wrote on my phone late one night has grown into the angsty, secret-love story I’ve been trying to write for some time and never quite managed until now. A HUGE PORTION of the credit for that must go to @thisonesatellite who pushes me and encourages me and sometimes drags me kicking and screaming in the direction she thinks things should go, and she is NEVER WRONG which is so annoying but also immensely valuable. She remains the VERY BEST. 

In this chapter we have the happy ending. That is all. 

SUMMARY: Killian Jones is an angry young man. He has no family and few friends, and he’s stuck in a small town where everyone views him with fear and suspicion.

Everyone but Emma Swan.

She’s everything he wants in life and everything he can’t have. What he doesn’t know is that she wants him too.

Part 9 of Secret Things.

Rated: T

On AO3 and chapters 1, 2, and 3 on Tumblr  

Tagging some folks who might enjoy it: @kmomof4, @stahlop, @mariakov81, @teamhook, @resident-of-storybrooke, @darkcolinodonorgasm, @shireness-says, @thejollyroger-writer, @ohmightydevviepuu @jennjenn615 @superchocovian

Epilogue: 

He’s dreaming of Emma again. She’s on his boat this time, standing at the railing gazing out at the stormy sea as wind whips her hair around her. She wears nothing but a shirt he recognises as his, her long legs bare and pale in the moonlight. He approaches slowly, knowing that this won’t last. His dreams of her never do. The moment he reaches out to touch her she’ll be gone. 

He moves towards her anyway, he can’t help it, he’s always been drawn to her. Awake or asleep makes no difference. He holds his breath as he reaches out, dreading the moment she dissolves into mist, leaving him empty and alone as ever. 

But she doesn’t. His hands glide over warm skin and she turns to smile at him as the wind blows her hair across his face. It tickles his nose. 

He rubs the tickle away, groaning a protest as he feels consciousness encroach. He’s not ready to leave this dream, not yet. Not ready to let Emma go. 

Emma. His nose is tickled again and he rubs it harder. He can smell honeysuckle and cinnamon and sex and his arms are full of something so, so soft. 

He opens his eyes and blinks them rapidly, for a moment wondering if he’s still in his dream. But no, the blonde hair tickling his nose is real and the woman in his arms is Emma, sound asleep and snoring softly, her back nestled against his front and completely naked. 

So is he. Killian nuzzles his nose in the crook of Emma’s neck and breathes deeply as memories of the previous night come flooding back. A night like none other he’s ever experienced. He’s had a lot of sex but never before made love, and while he feels a bit silly making that distinction he can’t deny the truth of it, or that it was a far different act last night with Emma than with any of the other women he’s known. And he has always, always woken up alone. 

He strokes his hand over Emma’s hip and down her thigh but she doesn’t stir. She’s a deep sleeper, he thinks, and feels a thrill at the knowledge. There is so much he’s looking forward to discovering about her. 

He presses a kiss just below her ear and eases out of the bed, careful not to jostle her. She mumbles something that sounds like too damn early and rolls onto her stomach, throwing her arm over the pillow and burying her face in it. He grins as he pulls on his jeans and grabs his phone, and heads into the kitchen to make some coffee.  

As it brews he calls Belle. She answers on the first ring and his grin widens. She was expecting him to call yesterday. 

“Killian,” she says eagerly. “What news?”

“I talked to Emma.” 

“And? What did she say?” 

“Many things that were hard for me to hear. But I needed to hear them. And—”

“And?” 

“She said she loves me.” Just speaking those words aloud sends joy surging through him. He still can’t quite believe all this is real, though he is beginning to, and his joy is chased by a flutter of fear. This level of happiness is going to take some getting used to, he suspects. He imagines it will be some time before he stops waiting for it to be snatched away from him. 

“And??” encourages Belle. “What did you say?” 

“Eh, I told her thanks but she’s not really my type.”

“Killian!” 

“I told her I love her too, of course,” he laughs. “I told her everything.” 

“Everything everything?” 

“All of it.” He doesn’t elaborate but he knows Belle understands. “That was yesterday afternoon and she’s, ah, still here.” He rubs at that spot on his neck, the one just behind his ear that always tingles when he’s embarrassed. Odd, he thinks, he’s never been bashful about Belle knowing who he slept with before. 

“Good.” There’s a hint of tears in Belle’s voice. “I’m so proud of you, Killian. Don’t let her go again.”

“I won’t,” he says, and it’s a vow. 

He hears a faint footfall behind him and seconds later slender arms wind around his waist and a soft body presses against his back. Lips brush light kisses across his shoulder blades and he sighs. “Belle, I have to go,” he says. 

“Of course,” she replies. “Tell Emma I said hi.” 

“I will.” He hangs up the phone and turns around, cups Emma’s face in his hands and kisses her. “Good morning,” he says. 

“Morning.” Her hair is mussed and her eyes still hazy with sleep. She’s so beautiful she steals his breath, and he kisses her again. He’d happily spend the rest of his life kissing her. 

“Mmm,” she says as her arms twine around his neck. “Do I smell coffee?” 

“You do. Would you like some?” 

“I definitely would,” she murmurs, but makes no move to release him. Her lips find his again, open and inviting. He pulls her closer, his hand sneaking under the hem of her shirt —his shirt, just like in his dream— to find her bare beneath it. He groans and backs her up against the kitchen island, plundering her mouth as his hand slides higher. When it encounters metal, warmed by her skin, it stops. 

He pulls back and so does she, looking up at him with wary, hopeful eyes. He brushes aside the placket of the shirt to reveal a pendant on a long chain, nestled between her breasts. A very familiar pendant. 

“I didn’t see this last night,” he says, in a voice rough with emotion.

“I wasn’t wearing it then. I had it in my pocket. Yesterday was the first time I haven’t worn it around my neck in—” 

“Five years?” he finishes for her. 

“Yeah.” Her smile is faintly embarrassed. 

He kisses her softly, rests his forehead against hers and runs his fingers through her hair. “How would you like to go sailing later?” he asks. 

She looks surprised at the non sequitur. “Really?”

“Aye. It’s supposed to be calm seas today.” 

“And you still have your boat? Even though you— well, live on land now?” 

“Of course I still have my boat. I couldn’t get rid of her, she’s the love of my life.”

Emma’s eyebrows rise. “Is she?” 

“Aye.” He grins. “Along with you, obviously.” 

“Oh, obviously.” 

He pulls her back into his embrace and she snuggles against him with a happy sigh that makes his heart soar. “So what do you say, Swan?” he says, low in her ear. “A picnic on the boat for lunch?”

“Sounds wonderful.” 

—

When they arrive at his mooring Killian takes her hand and guides her around to the front of the boat, positions her at the end of the jetty and stands there, grinning, his eyebrows dancing a jig on his forehead. 

“What?” she asks. 

“Exercise your powers of observation, Swan,” he says, with extra emphasis on her name. 

“What am I missing?” She looks around then back at Killian standing in front of his boat, right next to where the name is painted in large bold lettering and— oh. Emma’s mouth drops open and she feels tears begin to gather in her eyes. 

“You named your boat for me?” she whispers. 

“Aye,” he says gently. “You’re not the only one who’s clung to mementos these five years.” 

“Oh, Killian.” She launches herself into his arms, buries her face in his neck. “I love you.” 

“I love you,” he replies, cradling her close. It’s a long time before they pull apart. 

—

They sail out towards the Atlantic until the land is just a slim sliver on the horizon, a faint line of grey between the blues of sea and sky. Killian adjusts the sails to let the boat drift while Emma spreads a blanket on the deck and lays their picnic on it.

It’s not much as picnics go, just peanut butter sandwiches and apple slices and a thermos of hot chocolate, but they devour it hungrily.

“Why does this taste so good?” Emma asks around a mouthful of apple. 

“There’s something about the sea that sharpens the appetite,” Killian replies. “Which is handy when all you’ve got to eat is fish.” 

“I bet.” She gives him a sympathetic smile as she grabs another sandwich. Someday, he thinks, he’ll tell her about the difficult times he experienced in his years of travelling. But not today. 

“So you never told me how long you’re staying,” he says, as casually as he can manage. 

“I have two weeks off work,” she replies, licking peanut butter off her thumb. “But…” She glances at him, looking hesitant. 

“But what?” he encourages. 

“But I was thinking. About what you said yesterday.” 

“I said quite a few things yesterday.” 

“What you said about my job. And how I used to want to be a social worker.”

“Ah.” 

“Yeah. And you were right, I did want that. I’d forgotten how passionate I used to be about women’s advocacy, and my job— I like it well enough but it’s never been what I really wanted to do with my life. So I was thinking.” She pauses again as she sips some chocolate, her fingers toying nervously with the cup of the thermos. 

“What were you thinking, love?” 

She takes a deep breath.“I was thinking I might apply to grad school,” she says, all in a rush. “Here. In New York.” 

Killian’s heart lodges in his throat. “Do you mean that?” 

“Yeah.”

“What about your family? Storybrooke?” 

“I’m twenty-six, I can’t live at home forever. My parents will survive. As for Storybrooke—” She shrugs. “It’s not your place. And I want to be with you.” 

His love for her engulfs him like a storm surge, nearly overwhelms him with its force. He leans across the picnic blanket and kisses her, harder than he intended but she doesn’t seem to mind, kissing him back with a fervour equal to his own. She tastes of peanut butter and chocolate and home. 

 She grabs the collar of his jacket to pull him closer and they overbalance, tumbling onto the deck in a tangle of limbs and laughter. Killian rolls onto his back and Emma sprawls across his chest, still laughing as she cups his face in her hand, tracing the thin scar on his cheek with her thumb. “You know,” she says, “If I do go to school here I’ll need a place to stay.” 

“My love,” he breathes. “You can stay with me as long as you need. Stay forever.” 

“Forever.” Emma smiles. “That might be nearly long enough.” 

[distant-rose]

Carousels and Pretzels

Notes: @welllpthisishappening​ is an amazing person and I will never forget the day we met and started chatting and realized we know a lot of the same places. This is a dumb and purely indulgent fic that is full of Albany/Capital Region references most readers might not understand but admittedly, they’re only meant to be understood by one person and that’s Laura. She’s a phenomenal person, literally one of my favorite people and just an all around amazing human being who doesn’t get enough recognition for just how perfect and wonderful she is. Anyway, this was going to be a much longer fic but I kinda ran out of time. Also, Druthers has better pretzels than Brown’s, fight me. Summary: Emma Swan takes a job at Hoffman’s Playland with the hope of not running into anyone she knows from UAlbany. Instead, she runs into Killian Jones, a former lacrosse athlete whose tragic accident she covered as a story back in February. Word Count: 2,000+ Rating: T+

Hoffman’s Playland wasn’t Emma’s first choice of summer employment. If it were up to her, she would have been working for the Troy Record all summer, but their internships weren’t paid, and Emma had to rent to account for and she refused to hike all the way up to Lake George to work the depressing lunch shift at King Neptune’s again. 

It wasn’t the worst place in the world to work. Though she was forced to wear the ugliest combo of a polo and cargo shorts and the staff break room constantly smelled of Subway, her coworkers were pretty okay and was only a thirteen-minute commute from her apartment in Troy. Furthermore, it was monotonous enough that she could spend her days plotting how she was going to run the Inklings magazine this year and whether or not she should apply to grad school or try to apply for a job at the Times Union while she’s finishing up her last year.

Another plus was no one knew her at Hoffman’s aside from Mary-Margaret. It made everything easier, especially after her huge breakup with Neal and the amount of rumors of drug use that circled around afterward. They had broken up not longer after his dorm got raided and he tried to pin his stash of pot on her, nearly getting her expelled from the school. The last month of Spring Term was awful and she was lucky that most of her newspaper and literary magazine friends stood by her or else she wouldn’t still be in school, let alone have made it as the sports editor of the Albany Student Press and Inklings in the fall.

Still, the way things went put a bad taste in her mouth and she hoped that it would too stale for anyone to care about by the time that September rolled around. With most of the clientele of Hoffman’s being families with small children, she’s highly doubted that she would know anyone who went there.

Until she did.

Actually, that wasn’t entirely true.

Emma didn’t know Killian Jones personally, but it was a name and face she’s gotten to know well over the past three years. While she had never truly met the guy, it was imperative that she knew of his existence as a staff writer for the student paper and then later on as the girlfriend of Neal Cassidy, the starting lacrosse goalie.

His name wasn’t one that was said with fondness, but usually disdain. The name Killian Jones was generally premised by the use of the word “fuck”, “screw” or any variety of obscenity. There were three reasons for this hatred: 1) he went to Siena, UAlbany’s cross-town rival, 2) he played lacrosse and 3) he was good at it.

At least he used to be.

In February, he got into a car accident in Troy, a mere three streets away from her apartment. It has been a nasty one, which ended in the loss of not only his girlfriend’s life and his hand, but also his lacrosse career. She remembers quite clearly writing up the article on it for the Albany Student Press and then later on the party that had been thrown by Neal in celebration of his fallen adversary. Neal had hated Killian with a passion and the two of them had gotten in a fight during a game last year, which ended with a picture of Killian punching Neal square in the face on the front page of the Times Union sports section. 

Emma, on the other hand, felt bad for him. Despite the fact she had attended Neal’s horrible party, she had argued that it was in poor taste. Killian might have been “the enemy” but what happened to him was horrible and alongside reading a very sympathetic article on his behalf, she had even sent a condolence card.

Since then, Emma hadn’t so much of heard or seen anything on Killian Jones until he was standing in front of her, wearing a green Siena lacrosse sweatshirt and jeans in the middle of July and holding the hand of a small blonde girl no older than six.

She was so stunned by the fact he was standing in front of her that she did little more than stare at him for a good few seconds. She completely forgot to give her greeting and safety spiel.

Luckily, she was saved by his little companion.

“Hi!”

“Um, hi.”

“You’re pretty.”

“Thank you. You’re pretty too,” she replied, laughing at her awkwardness. “What’s your name?”

“I’m Alice! What’s yours?”

“I’m Emma,” she smiled. “Would you like to go on the ride?”

“Yeah,” Alice beamed before tugging roughly on Killian Jones’s hand. “Uncle Killy, give her a ticket!”

“Right,” he mumbled, fishing through the pockets before handing her a crumbled ticket.

She deposited it in the proper container before starting up the ancient carousel. The old music croaked through the speakers as it slowly started to move, but Alice didn’t seem to mind. It’s obvious to Emma that she’s pretending that the horse she’s riding was real, and the sweetness of the scene filled her made her smile.

Still burning with curiosity, she glanced back at Killian. He was standing a few lengths away and watching his niece with his forearms practically stuffed into the front pocket of his hoodie. As if sensing her glaze, his eyes shifted in her direction. Despite the urge to look away, she often him a small smile instead. He didn’t return the gesture.

When the ride stopped and Alice hopped off, he took her hand and left without a word. Only Alice turned back to give her a wave. Emma returned it tentatively, wondering if she upset him and swallowing her questions.

She didn’t know why she cared so much.

Much to her surprise, they return the next day. This time, he was wearing a pair of khaki shorts and a leather jacket despite the fact was nearing a ninety-degrees. Again, he didn’t speak much, letting Alice do all the talking. They show again the next day and the day after that; each and every time Emma had tapped down her inner journalist to keep from asking questions that were burning in the back of her throat. What happened to you? Why do you wear long-sleeved shirts? Why do you keep coming to this ridiculous 1950s amusement park?

Following Wednesday was a cloudy and humid day and there was only a handful of people in the park and none of them seem interested in riding the carousel. Emma fought the urge to play on her phone. Despite the horrible weather, Killian and Alice showed up yet again. The little precocious girl handed her a fistful of tickets.

This time Killian stood closer to the operator stand, practically hovering over her shoulder. He and Alice had been coming every day for nearly a week and a half now, and never before he had stood so close to her. She did her best to ignore him, focusing all of her attention on the little girl on the painted horse.

“How many times do you think she can ride that thing before she throws up?”

She nearly jumped at the question, turning to face him with surprise. He wasn’t looking at her, his eyes trained on Alice, but Emma could tell he was waiting for a response.

“I don’t know,” she answered honestly. “Depends on how strong her stomach is, I guess?”

He nodded. A few beats passed before he spoke again. “You look tired.”

“I haven’t been sleeping well,” she admitted. “I don’t have any air conditioning and my room in my apartment is kinda like a hot box.”

“That sucks. We don’t have AC either, but we’ve kinda be taking to sleeping on the porch since it’s screened in.”

“I don’t really have the option. I live in Troy.”

“Oh? Where? I’m familiar with it.”

“Let me guess? Bootleggers?” Emma asked sarcastically, without thinking. Bootleggers was a well-known college bar a few blocks away from where she lived and it was known to be frequented by obnoxious underage Siena students with fake IDs. It was constantly being shut down and reopened.

Killian laughed, a loud and boisterous sound that caught Emma by surprise once more. She had never seen him look so animated.

“Maybe, when I was a baby freshman, but I would like to think my taste level has gotten better since then. So, yeah, you located? Lansingburgh? North Central? The Hill? Sycaway? 

“Downtown. Third street.”

“By Brown Bag burger place, right?”

“That’s on Fourth street, but yeah, pretty close. More by the Ruck.”

“I love that bar. They have great wings.”

“They do and they’re less expensive than Brown’s. One of my roommates is a bartender there. David. He may or may not give us free pitchers occasionally.”

“Brown’s is expensive, but it’s good beer. I love their oatmeal stout. Their pretzels with the honey mustard are amazing.”

“They do have good pretzels but the one at Druthers are better.”

“Druthers? Isn’t that in Saratoga? It’s a bit hike, isn’t?”

“No. There’s on in Albany on Broadway,” she responded. “It’s not too far from the Pump Station and Old English.”

She was almost embarrassed about the fact that she often referenced locations by the bars in the neighborhood. In her defense, she had lived in the Albany area for nearly three years and have been involved in more Birthday tours than she could count.

“You’re a bit of a foodie, huh?”

“I used to write for the local eats section of the Albany Student Press my freshman and sophomore year before they switched me over to a different section,” Emma chuckled. “Needless to say, it was a bitch to keep off the freshman fifteen when you’re eating at every cool and exciting places across the Capital Region every week.”

“Sounds like a hardship.”

“For my scale, yes, it was,” she laughed.

When they ran out of tickets, Emma wasn’t sure who was more disappointed, Alice for no longer being able to ride the carousel or Killian for having to end their conversation. He reach forward and gave her shoulder a squeeze.

“You here tomorrow?”

“Same time, every day.”

“Good. I’ll see you then.”

He didn’t disappoint. This time not only bringing his niece, but also a large Dunkin Donuts coffee as well. Emma stood in shock as he handed it to her.

“I figured that you would like this since you’re not sleeping lately.”

“You didn’t have to do this.”

“No, but I wanted to.”

“Why?”

“Because you treated me like a person and not some wounded animal,”

“Oh…” She didn’t know what to say to that. “We just talked about food.”

“And it was the best conversation I’ve had in a long time,” he responded, lifting up his arm, which was once more covered by a Siena lacrosse hoodie. He pulled it back to expose the scarred stump left behind by the accident. “Yesterday was the first time I talked to someone aside from my niece who didn’t mention or talk about my accident. I felt normal again.  Coffee is the least I could do.”

“You’re welcome, I guess. Seriously. Thank you. It’s the nicest,” she said, taking a sip and giving him a small smile.

Growing impatient with the conversation, Alice tugged her uncle’s sweatshirt.

“You didn’t ask her yet,” she told him impatiently, not at all impressed with her uncle. He looked amusingly chastised for someone being told off by a six-year old.

“I was just getting to it.”

“Well, ask her so she’ll let me on the ride.”

“Okay, okay, Miss Pushy,” he responded with a roll of her eyes before giving Emma an apologetic grin.

“Ask me what?” Emma prompted him with a question.

“Well, if you’re not doing anything later, would you mind going to Druthers with me and, you know, having some pretzels and comparing them to Brown’s?”

“Just pretzels?”

“Well, and a beer or two? Perhaps maybe even dinner?”

“He likes you and wants to be your boyfriend,” Alice stated, crossing her arms in front of her chest and huffing at Killian.

“Well, that’s a good thing because I like him too,” Emma laughed. “And, yeah, we can go to Druthers and depending on whether or not, he agrees Druthers has better pretzels, maybe, just maybe, I’ll be his girlfriend.”

[lostinfic]

Hardy/Hannah fic tennis | 9

A collaboration with @fadewithfury​

Each in turn we will write 300-500 words. Neither of us knows what the other will write before our turn - it has not been beta’d or previewed.

The story so far: Hannah is a P.I. specialized in cheating spouses and Hardy the author of popular mystery novels. How will a phone number found in a forgotten coat bring them together?

Rating: All ages (so far)

Catch up here: Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8

Previously: 

When Daisy disappeared into her room to do homework, he went out to his balcony and stared at the number on his mobile for Dejour Investigation.  He really shouldn’t do this. It was stupid - but he did have her book, and no other way to get in touch with her. With a deep breath, he pressed the button to dial the number. 

Hannah’s phone rang. “Where the bloody hell are you?” she shrieked.

“Sorry?”

“There’s water up to my knees! Bring your arse over here.” She pushed another towel under the sink to absorb the water leaking from a pipe. “Mr. Nowak?”

“No, it’s Alec Hardy. I’m calling because I have your book. What’s going on?”

“I had a bloody burst pipe a few days ago, and the plumber who repaired it did a shit job cause it’s burst again. I called him a half-hour ago and he’s not here yet.”

“I’ll come over and help you.”

Barefoot and trousers pushed up to his knees, Alec twisted a wrench uselessly around the pipe while Hannah watched over his shoulder.

So far, all he’d done was hold the towels while she looked frantically around the house for the valve to stop the flow of water. And now this clumsy handling of a wrench. She held back a giggle. “You don’t actually know anything about plumbing, do you?”

“I do! I know things about pipes.”

Hannah indulged him and let him work. She did like the sight of him with his shirtsleeves rolled up and the look of intense focus on his face.

He dropped the wrench and cursed. He ran a wet hand through his hair and pinched his lips together. “I don’t know what I’m doing. I’m a writer, I’m not handy. Sorry.”

“It’s alright. Thanks for trying to help anyway.” It was endearing that he’d rushed to her help despite the late hour and barely knowing her.

“I hope I didn’t make it worse,” he said.

They looked at each other and laughed.

He stood up and stretched his back with a groan, then offered her a hand to pull her up to her feet as well.

They wrung the soaked towels into the bathtub and mopped the floor until the plumber arrived. They let him work in the bathroom, and returned to the first floor.

“I guess I should go now,” he said.

“If that’s what you want. You don’t have to. I can make us a cuppa. You can’t go out with your clothes all wet.”

He looked down at his blue button-up and the light splashes on it. “Yeah, okay.”

Hannah tried to fill the kettle only to remember the water was shut off. She offered Alec a whiskey instead. While she fixed their drinks, he browsed the bookcases framing the fireplace.

“Your novels are in my bedroom,” she said.

“I wasn’t looking for that.”

“Right, you’re not that full of yourself.”

“I try not to be.” He took the proffered glass. “I was returning your book, but I can’t figure out where it goes.”

“They’re not in alphabetical order. The books with a blue spine go in the guest bedroom,” she explained. Only shades of white and grey for the living room.

“Right.”

They talked about books and the weather and house chores, but small talk was obviously not his forte. He kept a hand in his pocket, shifting his weight from foot to foot. Hannah patted the sofa cushion beside her in invitation, hoping to put him at ease.

“So you’re a private investigator,” he said.

“How did you know?”

He explained Ellie’s research. “We cross-referenced a few things.”

“Cross-referenced? Who’s the detective now?”

“I write one, I’m bound to pick up a few tricks.” He shrugged. “So your job, that’s really great. It must be brilliant.”

“You do realize I tempt men into adultery for a living.”

The way his mouth opened without a word coming out told her hadn’t, in fact, realized that.

“Yeah. That’s how most men react… including my latest date.” When she’d finally made time to see James again, she’d told him the truth, and he’d all but fled the restaurant. Somehow he thought she was no more trustworthy than the men she investigated. “I’ve seen what getting cheated on does to people, I’ve had it done to me, I could never do that to someone. I don’t sleep with those men, I just--” Her voice trembled with anger, so she clenched her jaw shut. She hadn’t meant to unload her personal problems on Alec, but she was still upset, and the plumbing problems combined with lack of sleep made it harder to control herself.

“There are other fish in the sea,” he said lamely.

She smiled tightly and curled her legs under herself. She redirected the conversation to how she’d ended up in possession of his coat. She remained vague about the Hamadi case, both out of respect for her client, and because she didn’t want to make Alec feel like she was using him to advance her case. He didn’t have the same qualms though, he asked her more questions about her work, and she sensed a professional interest behind them. He draped an arm on the back of the sofa and leaned closer, nodding as if taking mental notes of her answers.

“Seducing men is a last resort strategy. The nail in the coffin,” she explained. “I investigate them properly before, I don’t take these accusations lightly.”

“Hmm. And do you feel it changed the way you see people, say in public, are there things you notice more?”

“Are you going to write a character based on me?” she teased.

He scrunched up his nose. “Ha, sorry.”

“I don’t mind, it’s… flattering.”

“Yeah?”

“You know, it has changed the way I see people.” She crossed her legs towards him, her toes nudging his leg. “I notice the signs of attraction between them.”

His stilled momentarily, as if afraid he’d been caught. “Like what?”

“Like little, casual touches.” She straightened his collar and smoothed a hand down his shirt.

“I see. Like this?” He brushed a stray curl behind her shoulder and returned his arm to the back of the sofa in a way that kept his fingertips an inch from her skin.

“Yeah, just like that.” She bit her bottom lip as her skin goose-pimpled where he’d touched her. There was something she wanted to bring up, but hesitated. “Signs of jealousy are a big hint too. Like, erm, the way Ellie reacted when I insisted on giving you the coat personally.”

Alec burst out laughing. “Ellie? You think she fancies me?” He laughed some more. “Nah, she’s just protective of her writers.”

“All of them or just you?”

“Most of them.”

Hannah disliked being wrong, but at least now she knew there was nothing between Alec and Ellie.

“She was wary of you because I haven’t had the best luck with women lately.”

Hannah tilted her head. “How so?”

A breath puffed up his cheeks as he rested his elbows on his knees. He appraised her with a glance, as if deciding whether he could open up to her.

“This job mostly,” he summed up.

“Writer? Sounds like a nice job for a boyfriend. Romantic, almost.”

He snorted. “I had a...girlfriend. Didn’t last long. She thought so too. But it’s not. It’s a real job with deadlines and pressure from my publisher and screaming at my computer. And then there’s frustration that just because I’m at home all day doesn’t mean I can run all the errands and cook and take Daisy to school. It’s a full-time job.”

“Daisy?”

“My daughter.”

“Oh. Guess you weren’t talking about your girlfriend just then.”

He shook his head and stared at his whiskey, swirling it around in the glass. “I was married. Fifteen years.” 

He swallowed the rest of the liquor and took their glasses to the sink. Hannah followed him into the dimly-lit kitchen. 

“Your ex-wife didn’t understand your job?” she ventured. Fifteen years, it had to be more complicated than that.

“It’s not just her. When I’m working, sometimes I immerse myself so much in the world I’ve created, it’s like I’m shutting myself off.”

He didn’t explain further, but he’d spoken like someone who’d contemplated the matter at length.

Hannah thought of the fictional town of Broadchurch and Detective Thomas’ love interest who had appeared in his three latest novels. Was it an espace for him? An alter ego who could live the life he couldn’t have and love someone else. A mental shelter to get away from reality. The same way Hannah buried herself in work when things got rough in her personal life. The way she’d filled her loneliness of the last two years with more clients and more employees. To her friends and family, she called it ambition, but deep down she knew it was a distraction.

She held Alec’s gaze across the kitchen, feeling like a thread had woven itself between their chests.

She leaned beside him, against the counter, and he uncrossed his arms, resting his hand next to hers.

“It makes people feel left out, doesn’t it?” Hannah said quietly.

“Yeah.”

“Maybe it’s about finding someone who’ll make us want to let them in.”

He looked at her, something soft in his eyes. “That’d be nice.”

“All done here, ma’am,” the plumber announced, interrupting them.

While she argued with the man about the price to pay, Alec left her house without saying goodbye.

[setmysoulonfire]

you’re the reason

a/n: hi! i am a new member to the bechloe fandom but longtime writer, so hi :) i just saw pp3 and it was great. kendrick definitely played up the gay in this movie (S/O KENDRICK!!!)  and i just felt like.. there was so much to work with here. this fic is post pp3 after the chloe/chicago kiss. it’s multi chapter but i’m hoping people in the bechloe fandom could give me some advice on where to post it! where is the bechloe fandom really located? ff.net? archives of our own? should i just keep it on tumblr? let me know please!!! looking for some guidance <3

okay now the good stuff, here’s the fic. takes place immediately after the kiss:

It’s not like Beca was actively hiding it, like she wouldn’t fess up if someone had called her on it. I mean… she would have. If anyone had ever really, seriously called her on it, she wouldn’t lie. She’s not a liar and nothing could turn her into one. She’s too stubborn for that. Maybe she’d stumble and maybe she’d be a little vague but she wouldn’t outright deny it.

She felt it on the tip of her tongue when she confessed to the girls that DJ Khaled had picked her. It was something about the way Chloe sat down next to her, when all the other girls sat across from them. Such a small thing, such a miniscule detail that Chloe probably didn’t even think about. But that was the part that gave her butterflies: that Chloe didn’t even have to think about it. It was just her and Beca, them against the world.

It was something about the blanket wrapped around her shoulders. Something about the way she ate up her whole bottom lip when she smiled, her eyes so eager but genuine when she looked at Beca. It was something about all the girls’ unending support that filled her body with a temporary bravado that made her nudge her feet over to find Chloe’s. Unabashed as always, Chloe wrapped one leg around Beca’s ankle and leaned forward over the table, taking Beca’s hand and squeezing it once, nearly invisible, but tight enough for Beca to still feel it when Chloe suggested the hug.

Her words had been swallowed with all the arms wrapped around her. Maybe, she thought, it was for the best. Maybe she was just caught up in the moment. Now wasn’t a good time to say anything anyway. There were literally a million and a half things to do, a performance to get ready for, meetings already she had to attend. Saying something now… it was selfish, more than anything. Especially when she didn’t even know what she really wanted out of it. Chloe had been accepted to vet school. Beca was going on tour. Their lives were about to diverge, for the first time. She had seven years to say something to Chloe and now? Now, her time was up.

What was she hoping for, anyway? If Chloe confessed to Beca that she had crazy feelings too, that she felt more than friendly towards her and has for awhile, Beca thinks she’d feel uncomfortable. The idea of some big, magic moment made her skin squirm. So maybe that means Beca is in the clear. If she had real feelings for Chloe, it wouldn’t make her feel so sweaty and nervous and anxious thinking about Chloe feeling the same way. She’d want Chloe to react by grabbing her and kissing her or… something. Something normal that normal people want with their romantic partners. So not wanting that… that meant she was in the clear. She probably was just feeling a little extra attached to her right now because she had been so close to her, and now the idea of separating made her get all confused and weird.

She had felt so full after her performance, completely at ease with the calmness that her feelings for all the Bellas were exactly equal. She felt no different about any of them. She loved them all equally: more than anything in this world.

So it didn’t really make sense. It just didn’t make sense how her heart lit up when she saw Chloe walking towards her, then how it dropped when she breezed right by her and went to Chicago. It didn’t make sense that her sinking heart suddenly weighed more than her entire body when she saw Chloe kiss him, or how her lungs suddenly seemed to have a puncture hole in them, deflating.

Theo was a welcome distraction because the absolute worst thing that could happen to Beca Mitchell in public was about to happen, tiny prickly wet dots touching the backs of her eyes, so she jumped into conversation with him. She fished through her mind, looking for something smart and sarcastic to quip back with. After making a joke about being a handful, the conversation lulled and she couldn’t help it: she craned her neck and stole a glance back at Chloe and Chicago still locked at the lips. Without meaning, an annoyed sigh slipped through her own.

“Everything okay?” he asked with a hint of a smile.

“Hummm?” she asked.

“I asked if everything was okay? Beca?”

Finally, Beca thought with so much irritation in her body she could feel it curling around her fingertips. Chicago looked like a goof, with puffy red lips and dazed eyes. Chloe looked, somehow, as perfect as Chloe always did. Her smile had a little more mischief and confidence than normal as she turned her head, grazing around to see if anyone caught her show. When she noticed Beca, her eyes lit up and she waved excitedly. Beca raised one hand and slowly waved just her fingers back. Chloe told Chicago she’d be right back with a squeeze of his bicep and a wink as she ran towards Beca.

And Beca couldn’t help it. She couldn’t help but let Chloe swallow her in a hug when she enveloped her and spun her around and squealed.

“Beca!!! You are so aws!”

“Dude,” Beca tried hard to act unamused, but her happiness was leaking out. “Put me down.”

“I’m so proud of you.” Chloe released her and looked her up and down, then stuck her bottom lip out. Beca’s shoulders dropped and she pursed her lips in question.

“What’s that face?”

“Nothing. It’s a happy-sad.”

“That’s, like, not a thing.”

Chloe flashed her a wide, genuine smile then, the kind that made Beca’s heart skip a couple beats inside her chest, the kind that ate up her bottom lip, that made her seem just so happy and excited about whatever comes next. Beca briefly wondered how she could have ever let herself fall in love with someone so the opposite of herself, then berated herself before the thought could even finish. Love? Now she’s using the big L word when it’s NOT like that. It’s NOT that serious. It is not. Not. Not. Not.

“I’m going to come to all your shows to support you.”

“Nuh-uh,” Beca shook her head. “You’re not taking seven years to graduate vet school too.”

A surprised laugh came from Chloe then, with a playful shove of Beca’s shoulder. Beca told herself it was normal. It was normal to feel happy when you make someone you care about happy. The tingling sensation in her stomach was from performing. It was from a million and one things, none of them being the stupid sound of stupid Chloe’s stupid laugh.

“School starts in the fall, silly,” Chloe stuck out her tongue and bopped Beca’s nose with her finger. Beca rolled her eyes and turned to the side, feeling her cheeks heating just a little.

“You still have a job, Chlo.”

Chloe shrugged with one shoulder, as if she couldn’t argue that point, and Beca pretended it wasn’t disappointment flooding through her veins at an alarming rate. What did she want? Chloe to say she didn’t? Chloe to quit her job to follow her around on tour?

Chloe pulled Beca’s hair from behind her shoulders and curled it around her fingers mindlessly, fixing it.

“I’m stuh-arving. What are you doing? Wanna grab something?”

Beca glanced over Chloe’s shoulder, at Chicago still waiting. Beca felt bad for the hatred she had felt for him just a few moments ago. He seemed sweet. Just standing around, waiting for Chloe to come back to him.

“Is he…?” Beca started.

“Oh!” Chloe squeaked. She turned around and waved at him. He waved back, clearly misunderstanding. She took Beca’s hand and started walking in the opposite direction, still waving and mouthing bye. Beca pressed her lips together tightly to prevent her laugh.

“That’s not nice,” she tried to reprimand.

“Why?” Chloe asked innocently.

“You just kissed him! Like, all up on him, practically sucked his face off dude. Not even an explanation?”

Chloe shrugged. “It was just for fun.” Beca only shook her head, but let the conversation quiet. “Besides,” Chloe added after a moment, “if he likes me, it will just make him come back for more. I can’t play all my cards in one night.”

“Why play games though?” Beca heard herself ask. “Why not just be straightforward with someone about your feelings for them? Is that ever, like a thing that happens?”

Chloe beamed at her, so brightly it made Beca cringe inwards a little.

“What?” Beca asked.

“That’s so Beca of you.”

“Is that a… bad thing?”

Chloe’s smile somehow brightened as she shook her head. She lifted her hand and rubbed one thumb on Beca’s chin, stopping Beca’s heart when she briefly rubbed against the bottom of her lip. “Not all of us have the Beca Mitchell charm that makes it so easy for you.”

“You are actually kidding now.”

“It’s a thing,” Chloe insisted. “You have this like, brooding, angry, I-don’t-care-about-anyone-but-maybe-you’re-the-exception charm. It’s a TOTAL thing. Like a bad girl kind of thing.”

This time Beca let out a squeal of a surprised laugh.

“I’m just going to pretend you’re not talking now.”

“Whatever Becs, don’t believe me! You’ll see I’m right when guys are throwing themselves at you on tour, trying to get your number.”

And something in Beca, something soft and small, gives her bravery. And she stops walking. Chloe notices just a few steps away and turns with her eyebrows furrowed.

“Becs?” her voice is gentle and full of love and Beca looks up and she knows if she lets it go again, she might never tell her. She looks in the bluest eyes she’s ever seen and she can’t help it… against everything in her body telling her not to, she smiles. Chloe returns with a small, confused smile of her own. “You okay?”

“What if I don’t want them?” Beca asks, suddenly frowning.

“Hmm?”

“The guys on tour. What if I don’t want any of them?”

Chloe’s concern turns real now as she steps back into Beca’s space, tilting her head and trying to figure her out. Not unlike a puppy, Beca thinks.

“Then ignore them?” she tries. She doesn’t know if it’s the right answer. “What’s wrong? You don’t have to be with anyone if you don’t want to…”

“Right,” Beca nods. “You’re right. Sorry, that was weird of me.”

Chloe nods once, unsure, then lets one hand fall around Beca’s shoulder. She pulls her into a one-armed hug and squeezes.

“It’s been a sups weird night,” she offers. “But you were amazing.”

Beca lets her head fall onto Chloe’s shoulder and keeps it there as they walk. “You smell like vanilla,” she notes.

“Ooooh Beca! You noticed I changed my shampoo?! I’m flattered.”

Beca rolls her eyes and pushes her away. “Shut up.”

Chloe’s smile, Beca thinks, could light up the entire world when she looks at her. And she knows it’s stupid, naive of her, but she can’t help but feel special. Like that smile is just for her. Chloe just has a way about her, this incredible, indescribable way that makes you feel like you’re the only person in the world that matters. It’s hard to think anything else.

[youhearstatic]

Exit Interview for a Fic

(or: 10 Questions Every Fic Writer Secretly Wants to be Asked)

I’ve decided that I’m going to do one of these whenever I finish a fic as a sort of exit interview with myself. It’s too easy to forget stuff as you move on and time passes, you know? I want to remember what I felt as soon as it was finished.

So here’s a bunch of questions about Losing Time.

Under a readmore because again, it’s long and pretty really self indulgent! (There are some behind the scenes/further explanation of things if you are interested though.)

1. Of the fics you’ve written, which is your favorite and why? I’m still going to say the unfinished Barry POV even though that’s awful of me. I know I keep saying this but there’s a section in that story that I’m just so freaking proud of and can’t wait to share... But I have to wait because the fic is unfinished and I can’t put that one up episodically. So even though it’s unfinished that section makes it my favorite.

Having said that? I’m really damn proud of this! Putting up something one chapter/part/episode at a time was nerve wracking. Hoping I’ve laid down enough pieces to pick up later? And I didn’t know what I was doing for at least the first third, and only an idea for the next third. And I FINISHED IT! So yeah, proud of all of that. Plus there was a lot of stuff that’s outside my wheelhouse. So I pushed my boundaries in a lot of ways that I’m also proud of.

2. Which scene was your favorite to write in Losing Time? This is going to sound awful but... part 10 - the scene where Barry/Sildar goes through the portal. That’s when it felt to me like the story changed gears if that makes sense. Up to that point it was just so. much. talking. It was necessary! But I felt like I was doing a really crappy job telling a story when it was just so much standing around talking.

And just for an early scene that made me have hope there was something good here: Lup helping Barry/Sildar with the panic/asthma attack. Lup is so ferocious and caring and just this amazing force of nature and that moment between the two of them answered the question “what would happen if they met and he didn’t know her?” Obviously the answer was: he’d fall instantly in love with her of course. She came in and terrified him and still he was putty in her hands thirty seconds later.

3. Which part of Losing Time was hardest to write? I think part 11 was hardest. Like I just said, it felt like the story had just changed gears and I knew where things needed to go but only in the vaguest sense. I sat looking at an empty page for the longest with that section, for sure.

And then of course the end of part 14. That scene needed to carry weight and the whole time I was writing it, right up until that last line showed up, I felt like I was failing miserably.

4. If you could change anything in Losing Time, what would it be? I wish I were better at writing Taako. I feel like I understand his thinking and motivations? But his speaking style is really hard for me to emulate. I don’t want to lean into it too hard and make him ridiculous because he’s not! So I probably err too hard the other way, unfortunately.

5. Did you make an outline for Losing Time? Did you stick to it? No outline at all. I started this thing with a vague “what if” idea: what if Barry were suddenly younger? It turned into more what ifs. What if Barry was suddenly - after canon, with Lup there - alive without his memories? How would everyone else deal with it? How would that effect he and Lup? I certainly didn’t write part one with any clue what was going to happen - I didn’t even know it was going to become a full fic. 

6. Which scenes did you cut, and which were added in Losing Time? There was another scene with Merle but it was giving too much information too soon. I pushed it back and then it just didn’t fit anymore. I also had a brief conversation with Magnus but I knew I wanted this to be the four of them - Barry, Lup, Taako, and Kravitz - so that didn’t go very far before I cut it.

Also, originally they were not going to tell him what was going on. Then I was like... hold up. He’s an adult. Lup would respect him more than that. She would absolutely argue to tell him the truth. So there was more of them keeping things from him that got cut out.

7. Who was your favorite character to write in Losing Time? Lup. I think at this point in the timeline she’s still struggling with the last decade and trying to figure out what their lives are like now. I think she’s just starting to figure that stuff out and then this knocks her for a loop. (heh)  I was a little worried in the earlier parts when she and Taako were talking and just kept having this friction. I didn’t want it to seem like I was having her just be this emotional ping pong ball bouncing all over but... she kind of is? She and Taako are butting heads there. It’s for the same reason though - they are scared and worried and neither are dealing with their emotions very well. Taako has seen that he’s got the tendency to try to cut out people before they can lead to pain and at one point he’s reminding himself not to do that with Kravitz but then he’s totally doing that with Kravitz. And he’s doing it with Barry. To part of him, he’s decided this is already a failure and he is going to shut that part of himself down and stop caring about Barry before it hurts. But dude, it’s too late! And that attitude - like Lup understands but also she can. not. take. it. But then it spirals back around to her feeling like if she’d been around he wouldn’t have gotten this bad about things. So she’s feeling so many things. I really hope I handled it well enough to make that clear but I suspect it’s a weak point.

OH WAIT I FORGOT. Favorite character to write? THE RAVEN QUEEN. I can’t imagine trying to write her for more than brief glimpses but good grief, she is SO much fun to write. My favorite scene ever (as yet unshared sorry) involves her and I just... ahhh. I feel like there is ALWAYS so much going on behind her words. She is absolutely an enigmatic deity. Also, yeah, totally ship her and Istus like for real. But also I think she plays it cool. She plays EVERYTHING cool. Unless she’s mad. 

8. Which came first, the title or the fic? The title was basically me going: okay if I’m going to start putting this on AO3 it has to have a name so... It was the best I could come up with.

9. Which idea came to you first in Losing Time? Just the general idea of de-aged Barry.

10. What are some facts readers may not know about Losing Time? Apologies, this is gonna get really long! 

I really struggled with a few things: 

Lup’s emotions, like I mentioned above.

The Barry/Sildar name thing. It just started as part of his confusion when Lup first comes in. I headcanon hard the thing about Barry was a typo and the twins never let it go and then they added the Bluejeans part. I feel like for a little while it maybe bothered him but then he realized it came from a place of love - the twins tease everyone about everything and that was the earliest sign they accepted him - and so he embraced the name to the point that Lucretia didn’t try to erase it with the void fish. (In my Barry POV story he tries to give his ‘real’ name when alive and memory-less but it just doesn’t feel right so he goes by Barry. So when the coin says “Your name is Barry Bluejeans” it’s not just saying: here’s proof I know what I’m talking about. It’s saying: here’s proof you know what I’m taking about.)  Then in this story, the name thing became a bigger issue. It was him standing up for himself, making himself a full fledged part of things, not just a wounded bird they were dragging along and looking out for. (Which is also why he knocks out the guy with the empty health pot. Even without magic, Barry is a fucking scrapper who will try his damnedest to hold his own.) And I felt like Lup would absolutely respect his wishes on that. Taako slips up not because he doesn’t care but because he’s so much more off the cuff about things. It’s not coming from disrespect, it’s habit. But what I really went back and forth on was how does the narrative refer to him? Is it confusing to switch in the middle? I decided it would be more confusing to call him Barry while the characters called him Sildar. Also, obviously, it was going to be part of the conclusion. The most confusing was when they’re talking about things that happened to Barry before he was de-aged. Kravitz goes back and forth then just calls that person Barry-of-three-days-ago which seemed a very Kravitz way to handle things.

Writing that scene at the end of part 14. I knew that was coming for a while. Sildar had to make the decision that saving the innocent mattered. I knew there’d be a happy ending. I knew what the Raven Queen was up to. I knew pretty quickly (though not immediately!) that Lup referencing him saying “last first kiss” would come back. But that scene... it was important! It needed to be big! It needed to feel like a sacrifice! And I was writing it and it was... okay. And then, without thought or plan I typed “and then he let her go.” And reader, I fucking cried. I cried and I shut my laptop. I’ve NEVER cried at my own writing. Now, I’m well aware that the line only has power because of GRIFFIN’S words and I’m fine with that. I’m not trying to claim any skill or effectiveness. I’m saying it was a gift that finally gave the scene the weight it needed. The scene got better on editing but I could work on it for a hundred years and never get it to where I wanted it to be. But that line redeemed it, got it as close as it was going to get. Having said all that? I know that people will HATE me for cliffhanger-ing there. I honestly thought for a long time that it would end on a very long part 14. And then it kept getting longer and longer and I scrolled back up going... where can I break this and... yeah. I’m sorry. That’s where it needed to break. That’s the shift in things. That’s where the pause belonged.

And then...... Sildar stabs himself. I knew that dagger was coming a long time back. I was pretty sure when Taako asked Angus to research he was going to find info on the dagger. I knew the dagger - this ancient magic weapon that actually belonged to The Raven Queen (part of why she was SO FURIOUS) - was the magic explanation for what was happening. And I knew that he’d already been hit with it. (I hope it’s implied clearly enough in the story that is what happened even though the specific events of 3 days ago are never clearly explained.) And look, it’s rough stuff. I knew and I know. But I literally could not think of any other way for it to work. He had to make that decision. This was not him committing suicide. I realize that’s a fucking razor thin margin but that was not my intent. This was him saying, I fucked up and while it’s not entirely my fault I now take responsibility for this innocent and will do what I can to fix the situation. And since he wasn’t a reaper anymore... His touch didn’t work, his blood didn’t work... because literally his soul was the key. Also... in case it’s not clear I’ll say it here: The Raven Queen totally knew this was the best case secnario but she couldn’t say that. Her hands were tied. That’s why she’s ANGRY AS HELL. Someone fucked with her people and she’s furious. Sildar is out of her hands. He really was clear of his lichdom and his service to her and had he died without the ‘decision’ between him and Istus going the way that it did, his soul would have released to the Primordial Soup/Sea of Souls. The Queen knew this was the only way this could work out and she couldn’t influence it. That’s why she couldn’t manipulate space to get him on that path. She only did it the first time to protect him. She booked out of her court because she could not participate any further in the proceedings without influencing things she wasn’t allowed to alter. In the Stockade, she’s the one who opened the portal for the innocent. The string disappeared (Istus’s dominion over him) and she regifted him the feather (her dominion over him and all that entailed.)

Oh, and one last, small thing. Just for bookending, when Barry checks to see if he can summon his staff? He says the exact same thing he said before he went through the portal. Only this time, of course, it works. I hoped that was proof enough that everything was fixed.

If you’ve read all this, thank you! I feel like I owe you a prize or something. Thanks so much for sticking with me through this project. It was fun. I hope there’s more stuff like this to come!

[nox-lee]

My Beloved is Mine and I am His: 13x02 and Song of Solomon

One of the first things I wrote when I was brand new to the fandom was a short fic with Castiel reading and re-enacting sections from the Song of Songs to Dean. At the time, I thought it was too cheesy and trite to fit within the realm of Supernatural, and I deleted it in a bout of frustration. I am regretting that today like you wouldn’t believe.

I’m a bit of a bible nerd. I took a lot of theology and religion classes in my undergrad. That was nearly a decade ago though, so my current knowledge is a bit shaky. Here’s what I can recall about Song of Solomon that may or may not inform your reading of 13x02 and SPN in general.

A disclaimer: I am sick and drug addled, so please forgive any incoherent rambling. There is a lot of irrelevant gibberish, so I’ve tried to highlight the bits relevant to SPN.

To begin!

Solomon is the heir of King David (whom you may recall had a passionate same-sex relationship with Jonathan.) Solomon’s reign is idealized, much like David’s was, and it was under Solomon that the First Temple was built. Solomon is famous for his wisdom and his large concubine of women. Notably, he settled a dispute between two women who were fighting over a child. He offered to cut it in half, revealing the true mother who could not bring herself to see the child hurt. This bears resemblance to Jack’s situation right now, torn between two fathers.

Song of Solomon (also known as Song of Songs, or the Canticles) is often attributed to Solomon because he is mentioned. However, the text is dated much later, and certain Persian words and influences in the text suggest a post-exilic era as the earliest possible date. Some scholars date it even later.

Song of Solomon is part of the collection in the Hebrew Bible known as The Writings (or the Kethuvim). It’s the third major division in the Hebrew Bible, and one of the last to be adopted into canon. It’s a bit of a catch all category that contains vastly diverse content including poetic works (Psalms, Song of Songs), and wisdom literature (Proverbs, Job, Ecclesiastes), to name a few.

Most of these writings (including Song of Songs) date to the post-exilic era. That is, after the Babylonian conquest, and during Persian rule. The nation of Judah perished in the fires that were set to Solomon’s temple. Post-exile, Judea was experiencing a theological crisis in the face of the apparent absence of Yahweh, or God. David’s dynasty has collapsed, and we see theological despair reflected in writings like Job and Ecclesiastes that ponder the problem of evil, the absence of God, and undeserved suffering. Song of Solomon, and other writings like it, were written at a time when things felt hopeless and there were fears that God has abandoned his people. It is oddly fitting then, that Jack should open to this particular part of the bible. 

The Kethuvim mark a shift in religious thought. Previous writings centred on an independent kingdom involved in international politics. After the fall of the temple, we see an exiled, diasporic religion now led by priests instead of divinely appointed kings. Religious leaders and writers had to adjust and re-envision their scriptural teachings. Gone was the simplistic thesis that equated prosperity with religious obedience and misery with sin. The authors of the books known as The Writings were questioning conventional scripture of the time and creatively refocusing their theology.

Persian rule also introduced new religious ideas, namely Zoroastrianism, which came to influence later Judeo-Christian ideas. Zoroastrianism viewed the world as dualistic, ruled by two opposing powers of good (light) and evil (dark) and had hierarchies of angels and demons. Until this time, most biblical literature did not give name or ranks to angels, nor did they depict satan as an actual autonomous figure. We have Zoroastrianism to thank for that, and its influence on biblical writings can start to be felt around the post-exile period (i.e. the time during which Song of Solomon was written). The book of Daniel, for example, names the angel Gabriel, and the Book of Tobit names the demon Asmodeus. (In Tobit, Asmodeus is a jealous demon who kills each successive husband of Sarah on her wedding night and is later exorcised. He is someone who keeps lovers apart and keeps them from consummating their love.)

Songs of Songs is essentially a collection of erotic love poems. The book defies any easy interpretation or classification, and it stands out in stark contrast to the rest of biblical canon. It’s a completely unabashed, uninhibited celebration of sex, with little evidence to suggest that the lovers are married. They do not live together, and yearn intensely for one another when apart. It’s the subject of numerous feminist readings, as it’s one of few books of the bible to give a voice to women’s thoughts and feelings. Here, those are romantic and erotic feelings.

Don’t believe me? Read this:

My beloved thrust his hand into the opening, and my inmost being yearned for him. I arose to open to my beloved, and my hands dripped with myrrh, my fingers with liquid myrrh, upon the handles of the bolt. (Song of Solomon 5: 4-5)

This is some raunchy stuff for the bible! And all of this is sharply contrasted with the sexual ethos elsewhere in the bible which imposes harsh penalties for sexual misconduct, and places great emphasis on the institution of marriage. Deuteronomy (a book of the bible about sexual and social control) calls for the death penalty in many cases

There was understandably some debate as to whether this particular bit of writing warranted inclusion in the biblical canon of scripture. Rabbi Akiba was a key figure in the development of the Hebrew canon. While he argued strongly against the inclusion of certain books of the Apocrypha, he advocated for the Song of Songs, calling it the Holy of Holies. Its sanctity was preserved by interpreting it as an allegory for the love between Yahweh and Israel, and later by Christians as the love between Christ and the Church. Interestingly, God is not mentioned once in the entire book. (The only other book of the Bible where God is not mentioned even once is Esther.)

And yet, this book was called the Holiest of Holies. Love is championed here above all else.

I really don’t think we’ve seen the last of Chuck. Someone (I’m sorry, I can’t remember who!) pointed out the rainbow glare that happened in 13x01 when Dean was praying as a sign of God’s promise. (Edit: I’m an idiot. I reblogged the damn thing and it was just a couple posts down. It was @gneisscastiel who made the beautiful post about lens flares and pointed out the rainbow as God’s promise.)  The inclusion of Song of Solomon in 13x02, besides being a blatant callout to Dean and Cas, suggests this is also about God and his people. I’d also like to suggest that Song of Solomon is a book that asks us to think broadly about canon. What constitutes canon? How is it formed? And I do mean canon here in the sense not just of biblical canon, but of fandom canon. Who decides what canon is? Is there room in canon for outliers like the Song of Solomon? The answer, as the show has just demonstrated, should be a resounding yes.

Onto the destiel side of things, which I’m sure has been discussed already. Song of Solomon contains some of the most beautiful poetry in the Bible. It is full of similes and references to nature (and arguably Eden/Paradise). It is deeply rural and pastoral, with an appreciation of agriculture, nature, and animal life. The multiple reference to sheep in 13x02 were no coincidence, I’m sure. Castiel has long been associated with natural, rural things: flowers, bees, goats, fish, etc. (If the Void is depicted as a garden and Cas has been spending his time under apple trees, I’m going to lose my freaking mind.) Is he being associated with sheep now? As someone who has been led by God, other angels, duty, Dean, Jack… perhaps this is time for Cas to choose a direction for himself. Sheep and lambs in the bible are also frequently marked for sacrifice. They represent symbolic innocence, and in the New Testament, Christ is called the “Lamb of God.” I definitely think Cas is being set up as a Christ-like figure with his death and anticipated resurrection. If 13x02 made anything clear, it’s that Cas is the answer the whatever problem faces Dean, Sam, and Jack alike.  

Lamentations might have been a more appropriate choice for the episode. It’s also a book of poetry, but one that evokes pain and loss. But they chose instead to give us the book that celebrates love and hope amidst despair. That’s a choice that feel very deliberate, and makes me cautiously optimistic for Dean and Cas.

 In closing, here are some passages from Song of Solomon, and the ones I feel are most closely tied to a destiel narrative.

“You have ravished my heart with a glance of your eyes.” (Song of Solomon 4:9)

 “Set me a seal upon your heart, as a seal upon your arm…”   (Song of Solomon 8:6)

  “… For love is strong as death, passion fierce as the grave. Its flashes are flashes of fire, a raging flame.” (Song of Solomon 8:6)

“I will seek him whom my soul loves. I sought him, but found him not.” (Song of Solomon 3:2)

 “My beloved is mine and I am his.”  (Song of Solomon 2:16)