#oc fanfiction review exchange

[karimac]

Boosting the signal! This includes the link to the sign up form!

OC Fanfiction Review Exchange 2023:

There seems to be a lack of engagement in the OC Community - so, here's an attempt to help! (This will not fix all problems, but it can do a small part for some creators)

The expectation of the exchange is that you'll pick at least 3 fics and then comment on at least 5 chapters (exception: if the fic has less than 5 chapters)

Right now I'm in the data gathering part of the exchange.  

You'll be able to "sign up" for fics to read around Nov. 11-12.

The expectation is that you'll have until Dec. 31st to do the readings you signed up for.

. . . if you don't have any fics, but are willing to read comment on this post letting me know so that I can tag you when the stories are ready to be signed-up for! :)

Information required for the exchange: (Fill out via the Google Form)

Fic Title:

Fandom:

Pairing (if applicable):

Is your fic 18+?

Summary:

Link(s):

Your Username:

You may submit up to three (3) published fics that you'd like comments on.  

Please fill out a separate form per fic. 

As long as the fic had published writing - you are welcome to submit it!

Password: Ready 2 Read

GOOGLE FORM

[mingiatz]

Hana never expected to see Jongho again. Not after he ghosted her years ago, leaving behind only memories of their childhood friendship and an ache she never quite moved past. Now a successful bookstore owner and author, she’s content with her quiet life—until fate (and her friend Emilia) brings Jongho and his group, Ateez, back into her world.

Pairing: Jongho × Hana (OC)

Tropes: Childhood Friends to Lovers /Second Chances

Genre: Romance, Slice of Life, Light Drama

Featuring: Ateez (as Jongho’s supportive but teasing groupmates), Emilia (from the Idol Series Part I), Atiny, OCs

This Series will have multiple Chapters with around 2500 words. I hope you like it. Please be kind this is my first Fanfiction Project and English is not my first language. (I am open for constructive criticism). I will try to upload 3-4 chapters everyday.

Masterlist

Previous Chapter Next Chapter

Chapter Three

Hana’s POV

The next morning, Hana opened her bookstore as usual, but the atmosphere felt different.

She had always found comfort in her daily routine—unlocking the doors, setting up the displays, brewing tea while she organized the shelves. It was her sanctuary, a space she had built to keep the world at bay.

But today, her thoughts were restless.

No matter how hard she tried to focus on the tasks in front of her, her mind kept drifting back to the night before.

To him.

Jongho.

The way he had looked at her. The way his voice had softened when he said her name. The way her heart had clenched when she pretended not to recognize him.

Hana shook her head, exhaling sharply.

She didn’t have time for this.

The bell above the door chimed, pulling her out of her thoughts.

Emilia walked in, a bright smile on her face. „Morning, Hana!“

Hana returned the smile, grateful for the distraction. „You’re here early.“

Emilia grinned. „I figured I’d check in on you. And—“ she gestured toward the door as Mingi and Yeosang entered „—I brought company.“

Hana stiffened slightly but kept her expression neutral. „Welcome back.“

Mingi beamed. „Told you we’d be back.“

Yeosang nodded in agreement. „I needed another book. And Mingi wanted to talk about yours.“

Hana glanced at Mingi, surprised. „You finished it already?“

„Devoured it,“ Mingi admitted. „It was amazing.“

Hana felt a small sense of pride swell in her chest. „I’m glad you liked it.“

Just as the conversation was settling into something comfortable, the bell above the door rang again. Hana turned instinctively—and froze.

Jongho.

He hesitated in the doorway, his eyes scanning the room before landing on her.

Hana’s pulse quickened, but she forced herself to remain calm. „Can I help you?“ she asked coolly.

Jongho’s jaw tightened. „I was just looking around.“

Mingi and Yeosang exchanged glances but said nothing.

Emilia, however, wasn’t one to let things go unnoticed. She folded her arms, glancing between them. „You two know each other, don’t you?“

Silence.

Hana could feel Jongho watching her, waiting.

But she wasn’t going to make this easy for him.

With a polite smile, she turned back to Mingi. „So, what was your favorite part of the book?“

Jongho clenched his fists.

This was going to be harder than he thought.

Jongho’s POV

Jongho wasn’t sure how long he had stood in the doorway before stepping inside, but it had been long enough for Mingi and Yeosang to pick up on the tension.

He didn’t know why he had come back. Maybe he had convinced himself that seeing Hana again would somehow clear the storm of emotions swirling in his chest. That maybe, if she saw him one more time, she would crack—acknowledge their past, say something.

But all he got was cold detachment.

He watched as Hana skillfully dodged Emilia’s question, choosing instead to focus on Mingi’s enthusiastic review of her book.

“She’s doing it on purpose,” Mingi muttered under his breath as he walked past Jongho. “I don’t know what you did, but you’re in deep.”

Jongho exhaled sharply. “Yeah. I noticed.”

Yeosang, who had been flipping through books nearby, finally spoke up. “Are you going to talk to her?”

Jongho didn’t respond immediately. He wanted to. He had a million things to say. But the way Hana was carrying herself, the way she carefully avoided meeting his gaze, made it clear that she had no intention of giving him the chance.

Still, he wasn’t the type to back down easily.

As Hana wrapped up her conversation with Mingi, she turned back to the counter, busying herself with organizing a few books. Jongho took the opportunity and stepped forward.

“Your store is nice,” he said, his voice measured.

Hana didn’t look up. “Thank you.”

A pause.

Jongho took a breath. “How long have you been running it?”

Hana’s fingers tightened slightly on the book in her hands, but her voice remained neutral. “A few years now.”

Jongho nodded, searching for something, anything, that would break the wall she had put up. “You always loved books.”

Hana finally met his gaze, and for a brief moment, something flickered in her expression. Something unguarded.

Then it was gone.

She placed the book down and gave him a polite, distant smile. “It’s good to see you enjoying them too.”

It was a clear dismissal. A subtle way of saying, this conversation is over.

Jongho clenched his jaw but forced himself to nod. “Yeah. Guess I’ll see you around.”

Hana didn’t respond, turning back to her work.

And just like that, he felt like a stranger again.

•┈••✦ ❤ ✦••┈••┈••✦ ❤ ✦••┈••┈••✦ ❤ ✦••┈••┈••✦ ❤ ✦••┈••

Jongho arrived at the practice room earlier than usual, hoping the quiet would help him clear his head. The past few days had been a mess of emotions—ones he didn’t want to deal with. But ignoring them wasn’t working. No matter how much he tried to push away thoughts of Hana, her face kept appearing in his mind—her carefully neutral expression, the distance in her voice, the way she had looked at him as if he were nothing but another customer.

His stomach twisted. He knew he had no right to expect anything different. He had been the one to leave. He had been the one who didn’t say goodbye.

With a sharp exhale, he started warming up, stretching his legs and rolling out his shoulders. Maybe if he exhausted himself today, he’d finally get some sleep tonight.

The door opened behind him, and the rest of Ateez filtered in, chatting loudly. Wooyoung was the first to notice Jongho already there and smirked. „Look at that, our maknae’s being extra productive today.“

Jongho ignored him and continued stretching. He should’ve known this was coming. The second they realized he had been acting off, they were going to latch onto it like seagulls to food.

„He’s been in his thoughts lately,“ Yunho added, plopping onto the floor beside Jongho. „A little too much.“

Mingi chuckled as he placed his water bottle down. „I mean, he did run into an old friend recently.“

Jongho shot him a look. „Seriously?“

„Oh, so there is something to talk about?“ San teased, leaning against the mirror. „Spill.“

Hongjoong sighed but looked mildly amused. „Alright, let’s make it quick. If we start practice late because of whatever drama this is, I’ll make you all stay an extra hour.“

Seonghwa, always the more composed one, studied Jongho curiously. „It’s about Hana, isn’t it?“

Jongho froze mid-stretch, then scowled. „You guys have way too much time on your hands.“

Wooyoung cackled. „We’re your team. Your business is our business.“

Jongho sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. „Fine. Yes. It’s about Hana.“

A chorus of knowing hums and whistles echoed through the room.

„You definitely still have feelings for her,“ Wooyoung said matter-of-factly.

Jongho rolled his eyes. „It’s not that simple.“

„It never is,“ Seonghwa said with a small shrug. „But that doesn’t mean you should ignore it.“

Jongho hesitated, jaw tightening. „She doesn’t want anything to do with me. I screwed up. And she made it clear she’s moved on.“

„Did she actually say that?“ Mingi asked, tilting his head. „Or did she just pretend not to know you?“

Jongho looked away. „Same thing.“

San shook his head. „No, it’s not. If she didn’t care at all, she would’ve acted normally. But she didn’t. That means something.“

Jongho frowned. „And what am I supposed to do? Just show up at her store and beg for forgiveness?“

Wooyoung smirked. „Now that would be entertaining.“

Hongjoong clapped his hands. „Alright, enough of this. Let’s start practice before this turns into an episode of a K-drama. Jongho, deal with your feelings later. Right now, we work.“

Grateful for the excuse to focus on something else, Jongho nodded. But as the music started and they fell into their routines, his mind remained tangled in the past.

Hana’s POV

The bookstore was quiet that afternoon, a stark contrast to the storm raging inside Hana’s head.

She sat behind the counter, fingers absentmindedly tracing the rim of her tea cup. The encounter with Jongho at the store had left an ache in her chest she wasn’t ready to acknowledge. It had been years, but seeing him again brought back a whirlwind of memories she had thought she’d buried for good.

She had told herself she was over it. Over him. But when she saw him standing in her store, looking at her like she was someone he had lost, it had taken everything in her not to crack. Pretending not to recognize him had been the only way she could keep herself from breaking apart.

The bell above the door jingled, pulling her from her thoughts. She looked up, expecting a customer, but instead, Emilia strolled in with a knowing expression.

„How long are you going to pretend this isn’t bothering you?“ she asked, leaning on the counter.

Hana sighed, rubbing her temples. „Not now, Emilia.“

„Yes, now,“ Emilia insisted. „I just had to listen to Jongho’s entire team talk about how miserable he’s been since seeing you again.“

Hana’s stomach twisted. „That’s not my problem.“

Emilia folded her arms. „You could at least hear him out.“

Hana let out a bitter laugh. „Oh, now he wants to talk? After all these years? After deciding I wasn’t worth a goodbye? No thanks.“

Emilia softened, sitting on one of the stools near the counter. „Hana… I know he hurt you. And I know it’s not something you can just forgive overnight. But don’t you want closure?“

Hana looked away. Closure. The word felt heavy, like something she had wanted for so long but was too afraid to grasp.

„I don’t know if I can face him,“ she admitted quietly. „What if it just makes everything worse?“

Emilia reached out, squeezing her hand. „Then at least you’ll know. And maybe that’s better than spending the rest of your life wondering.“

Hana exhaled slowly. Maybe Emilia was right. Maybe it was time to stop running from the past. But confronting Jongho meant reopening wounds she wasn’t sure had ever fully healed.

She stared at the rows of books around her, her sanctuary. This place had been built from her dreams, her hard work, her resilience. She had made a life for herself without him. Did she really want to risk letting him back in?

The doorbell jingled again, and for a split second, her heart stuttered.

But it wasn’t Jongho.

Just another customer.

Hana swallowed the lump in her throat, nodding to Emilia. „I’ll think about it.“

Emilia smiled. „That’s all I ask.“

As the afternoon went on, Hana tried to push aside the thoughts that refused to leave her alone. But deep down, she knew—this wasn’t something she could ignore forever. Whether she was ready or not, Jongho was back in her life.

And sooner or later, she’d have to decide if she wanted to let him stay.

•┈••✦ ❤ ✦••┈••┈••✦ ❤ ✦••┈••┈••✦ ❤ ✦••┈••┈••✦ ❤ ✦••┈

The bookstore was quiet that afternoon. The steady hum of the city outside filtered through the windows, but inside, all Hana could hear was the soft rustle of pages turning as a few customers browsed the shelves. Normally, this was her favorite part of the day—a peaceful lull where she could focus on organizing the inventory, making notes for her next book, or simply enjoying the comforting presence of stories around her.

But not today.

Today, her thoughts were restless, circling the same place they had been ever since he had walked back into her life.

Jongho.

She had been doing fine. Better than fine, really. She had built something for herself, something that didn’t revolve around the past or broken promises. And yet, the moment he walked into her store, the foundation she had so carefully constructed had started to crack.

She knew Emilia was right—she couldn’t avoid this forever. But knowing that didn’t make it any easier.

The bell above the door chimed, signaling a new customer. Hana automatically turned to greet them, the words forming out of habit.

“Welcome—”

She stopped. Her breath hitched.

Jongho stood in the doorway, his expression unreadable, his hands stuffed into the pockets of his jacket. The sight of him here, alone this time, sent a ripple of unease through her.

Hana’s fingers tightened around the book she had been holding. “Can I help you?”

Jongho hesitated for a moment before stepping forward, his movements careful, almost hesitant. “I… need to talk to you.”

Her heart pounded against her ribs. She forced her voice to remain steady. “I’m working.”

“I’ll wait.” His voice was firm, but there was a quiet urgency to it.

Hana exhaled sharply. She could feel the eyes of a few customers lingering, sensing the tension in the air. The last thing she wanted was an audience for whatever this was.

She glanced toward the small reading nook in the back. “We can talk there,” she said stiffly before leading the way.

Once they were seated across from each other, Jongho rested his elbows on his knees, fingers interlaced as he stared at the floor for a long moment.

Then, finally, he spoke. “I’m sorry.”

Hana’s breath caught. She hadn’t expected him to get to the point so quickly.

“For what?” she asked, though she already knew the answer. She just wanted to hear him say it.

Jongho lifted his gaze to meet hers. “For leaving. For disappearing without a word. For hurting you.”

Hana clenched her jaw. The sincerity in his voice chipped away at the walls she had built around her heart.

She looked away, focusing on the bookshelves instead of the man sitting in front of her. “You can’t just show up years later and say you’re sorry like that makes it okay.”

“I know,” he admitted, voice thick with regret. “I don’t expect you to forgive me right away. Or at all. But I needed to say it.

Silence stretched between them. The words she had wanted to say for years burned in her throat, but she didn’t know how to let them out.

Jongho sighed. “I was young. Stupid. I thought cutting you off would make it easier. I convinced myself that if I let go first, it wouldn’t hurt as much.”

Hana let out a humorless laugh. “Did it work?”

Jongho shook his head. “No.”

Hana swallowed, gripping the edge of the table. She wanted to stay angry. It was easier that way. But the sadness in Jongho’s eyes made it difficult to ignore the part of her that had missed him, the part that had spent years wondering what happened to the boy she once trusted more than anyone.

“I don’t know if I can forgive you,” she admitted, voice barely above a whisper.

Jongho nodded, as if he had expected that answer. “I understand.”

Another pause. Hana’s fingers relaxed slightly, though her heart still felt heavy. “So why now?” she finally asked. “Why come back?”

Jongho exhaled. “Because I never stopped thinking about you. And when I heard your name again, I couldn’t ignore it anymore.”

Hana’s chest tightened. She didn’t know what to say to that.

Before she could figure it out, a customer approached the counter, breaking the tension. She stood abruptly. “I have to get back to work.”

Jongho nodded slowly. “Okay.”

But as she turned to leave, he added, “I won’t stop trying, Hana.”

She paused for just a second before continuing toward the counter, refusing to let him see the way his words had shaken her.

Masterlist

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Disclaimer:This is a work of fiction. The characters, events, and scenarios in this story are entirely fictional and not intended to reflect the real lives of the members of Ateez or any other individuals. This fanfiction is purely for entertainment purposes.

[a-paragon-of-their-kind]

A Paragon of their Kind Dragon Age Dwarf Fic/Art Exchange is accepting nominations NOW! 

The second annual A Paragon of Their Kind Exchange is accepting nominations from 12:00am US EST on May 30th to 11:59 US EST on June 6th.

Are you an artist or writer who craves some dwarf-centric content in the Dragon Age fandom? Do you wish you had more fanfiction or fanart to fill that smol paragon shaped hole in your heart? Do you too wish that dwarves were given their proper place at the fandom table (even if, yes, a step stool is required?)

Then may we invite you to plunge into the deep roads with us in the second annual Paragon of Their Kind Dragon Age Dwarf Exchange. This is an exchange, ran through AO3, that shines a spotlight on our under 5 feet tall friends. Dwarves of any kind - from Cadash, Brosca, and Aeducan to Dagna, Harding, Varric, Sandal, and others are all fair game! Any pairing or grouping can be nominated - as long as it features at least one dwarf.

Here’s how it goes:

Go to the A Paragon of Their Kind Tagset on AO3 on May 30th starting at 12am US EST. Click nominate (you’ll need to be signed into AO3).

Nominate your favorite pairings/groupings! If your pairing doesn’t autofill, enter it anyway, and the moderators will take care of it on the other side. Please use Dragon Age - All Media Types as your Fandom

When you’re done, hit submit. A moderator will review and accept/reject your pairings/groupings. After your pairings/groupings are submitted and reviewed you will not be able to edit them, but you may submit more up to 20.

What pairings are eligible?

You can nominate up to 20 different pairings. The moderators will go through the pairings to check that each contains at least one dwarf from the Dragon Age fandom. Any nomination that does not contain at least one dwarf from the Dragon Age fandom will be rejected. Nominations may consist of homosexual, heterosexual, threesomes, moresomes, or platonic requests.

For the purposes of this challenge, the Dragon Age OC Dwarf Protagonists will be considered different characters based on their gender and surname. This means that there are three options (male, female, and non-binary) for Aeducan, Brosca, and Cadash. When nominating an OC Dwarf Protagonist, please keep this in mind and specify which option you want. For example:  

Male Brosca/Female Aeducan or Non-binary Cadash/The Iron Bull instead of Brosca/Aeducan or Cadash/The Iron Bull 

Please do not nominate a custom/individual Dwarf OC Protagonist (IE: Maria Cadash/Varric Tethras). When you do your request and pick your pairings you can provide additional details, such as a preferred name or physical description, in your request. Requests are optional - the only part of your request that must be adhered to are the DNWs.

Other original characters are allowed as long as they are "general" characters. For example: "Carta Smuggler", "Merchant's Guild Member", or "Noble Hunter" would all be acceptable. If you have questions, ask the moderators.  

The pairing must have at least one dragon age dwarf character in it. This character can be from any Dragon Age media - games, books, comics, etc. Pairings can be canon, non-canon, or sheer crack. We also allow poly nominations and crossover nominations as long as they contain at least one dragon age dwarf character.  

Nominations close at 11:59pm US EST on June 6th. Moderators will be updating the nominations spreadsheet as quickly as possible when nominations come in.

If you would like to participate in the nomination process, but do not have an AO3 account, please reach out to via DM, ask box, or by contacting @cartadwarfwithaheartofgold.

Anyone with an AO3 account can nominate pairings. That does not mean you are required to sign up for the exchange. All pairings can only be nominated once.

[karimac]

@darsynia, you have done it again!

Before I started reading your story, I was watching a video on YouTube talking about RDJ reprising his Iron Man role in one of the now pushed back MCU films, and they had shots of the MIT speech in the video. I can just see your OC in that audience now, along with her very enthusiastic roommate!

You really had me at this line: “Just considering the data on the thickness of that lipstick. Can you count the hours of reapplication like tree rings, do you think?” I can hear that plain as day and just see RDJ saying it.

I can also hear him in this line oh so clearly: “If this counts as the ball, you might want to have a word with your fairy godmother. She’s skimping on fabric quality,” he remarks.

And her comeback? “Obviously I’m on India Standard Time, and these are my rags,” she says, smiling up at him sweetly.

Perfection.

Can't wait to go on to Part II!

Tony/OC | In Search of a Fairy Tale pt. I

Hello there! In honor of @patheticallysentimental's birthday (HAPPY BIRTHDAYYYYYY!!) I thought I'd post a Tony smut fic I wrote in her honor a little while back! It's two chapters which I'll split as it got away from me in some of the best ways, haha.

Pairing: Tony/OC, set during Iron Man 2

Warnings: set up for smut, language

Summary: Shortly after his triumph in the senate hearing, Tony fulfills his yearly obligation to MIT by guest-teaching a lecture there. His celebrity often causes some of the students to react enthusiastically, but this year, a lovely student in the front row catches his eye. Not because she's trying to get his attention, but because she's not.

Length: ~4,500 each chapter

Part II is up now! https://darsynia.tumblr.com/post/667769373637984256/tony-starkoc-in-search-of-a-fairy-tale-part-ii

In Search of a Fairy Tale

Chapter 1

In between searching for a replacement for palladium and turning his PA into his CEO, Tony still has his regular, non-peacekeeping responsibilities. One of these is a yearly promise to guest lecture at MIT, above and beyond the flashy visits he makes periodically. He can’t even remember what the subject is, but the professor had been one of his TAs, and he’s good at his job. Tony shakes the man’s hand and heads for the podium to a standing ovation. The guy had promised to leave him a loose outline, and sure enough, it’s there. Tony supposes he should feel at least slightly guilty when he looks up and sees the sea of excited faces arrayed in front of him, considering his lack of preparation, but then again, he’s Tony Stark.

It’s practically expected.

He starts the lecture with a swaggering kind of false self-deprecation, learning his audience in a way that’s not dissimilar to a stand-up comic. There’s a group of young men who are seated in the very center of the room whose laid-back body language belie their interest in what he has to say. For the first five minutes, Tony circles his words around them. The ringleader calls out a particularly clever answer to one of Tony’s bait questions, and this sets the mood for the whole space. He’d almost forgotten how to enjoy this in the midst of all of his personal shit, Tony thinks to himself. Thankfully, it’s all coming back.

Now that he’s got a focal point for engagement, Tony settles in, lets himself relax into his phrenetic style. He’s always known that people value his attention, and he bestows it generously-- pointing to a good response here, winking at a student there, earning and holding eye contact with multiple people. That’s when he sees her. Front row: black corduroy slacks, long legs, tight sweater, though the young lady in question quickly tips her textbook up against her chest, concealing her curves from view. She turns her head to look behind her at the student answering Tony’s question, which reminds him that he should be doing the same.

He shifts his focus despite being intrigued, because the glimpse of her face he’d caught had been, well. Likely deceptive. Women that beautiful don’t tend to bother with engineering for engineering’s sake, and they certainly don’t tend to hide themselves from him.

When he traces his gaze back in her direction a few minutes later, Tony finds that she’s seated beside the exact archetype he’d been mentally comparing her to. This second student is dressed in stark crimson, pun almost certainly intended. Red stilettos, barely-legal miniskirt, form-fitting top complete with a filmy gold and red knee-length cover-up that he’s pretty sure is sold in the lingerie section. She’s got an Iron Man water bottle on the desk in front of her, and when she sees him looking, the girl coquettishly leans over with bright scarlet lipstick to wrap her mouth around the thick straw.

Happy’s advice has always been to let his eyes linger on women like that precisely once. Deliberately pretending not to notice them never works, but dismissing them does. They can tell themselves Tony’s already found his target for the day and found them lacking in comparison, but only if he clearly notices them in the first place.

He’s sliding his eyes away, his hands moving to illustrate the point his mind and mouth are making on autopilot, when Tony sees Miss Reticent Tight-sweater nudge her friend with an elbow, finally dislodging her from her straw lovemaking. He barks a quick question for the room to percolate on for a few seconds and tips his head to the side, watching. The more conservative of the two girls is hissing something at her companion, who is grinning at him, obviously delighted at having caught his eye twice. Shit.

“Something you wanted?” the red-clad student calls out brazenly.

“Just considering the data on the thickness of that lipstick. Can you count the hours of reapplication like tree rings, do you think?” he asks with exaggerated curiosity. By acknowledging something about her outfit while implying maybe it’s a bit too overdone, he hopes the let down is obvious enough. The reaction of the room implies as much, given the behavior of her classmates. She hams it up, pulling out her lipstick and applying more, right then and there.

He’s meant to be observing this, so Tony positions himself as though he is, but instead, he watches the woman seated beside her.

Her face is uncommonly beautiful. Even from his distant vantage point, he can see that she has sweet features framed by wisps of hair that have escaped her severe bun. It’s early May, but her thick sweater is more suited for deep winter, likewise the corduroy pants she’s wearing. She’s biting her lower lip and watching the seat beside her with trepidation, clearly uncomfortable with the way her companion is putting herself on display. Tony should have long since stopped looking at her, but he can see in his peripheral vision that the other girl’s almost done preening, so he grants himself this one indulgence.

Then, the object of his scrutiny flicks her lovely eyes in his direction, releasing her lip from her teeth in shock to see that he’s actually looking at her. Suddenly, he wants her, this obviously shy, gorgeous girl who is hiding her beauty behind clothing a whole season removed from the weather outside. Tony knows instinctively that while the girl beside her would welcome his interest, this woman would not. In fact, she’s widening her eyes at him, as if pleading for him to look away.

He does, because he has a point he wants to get to before the class is dismissed. For the next fifteen minutes, Tony is disciplined. He doesn’t look at her, he doesn’t look at her tarted-up friend, all the while hoping that the delighted desire that’s curling up his spine and tingling through his veins will be assuaged by a last-minute glance. She’s interested in his mind, that much is clear. That’s the hard part.

Tony’s an expert at the rest.

As often happens, as soon as their professor ends the class, students rush to the front of the room, anxious to get a chance to talk to Tony. The crush of bodies blocks his view, something he should have expected. He’s not surprised when the number of hangers-on thins out and the only student he’d actually wanted to speak with is already gone. He’s supposed to be angling towards monogamy anyway, Tony tells himself. He and Pepper haven’t really talked about the potential that floats between them, but her overall message about his legendary wandering eye was very clear: he’s either interested in Pepper or he’s interested in other women, but there’s no point in a relationship if he’s interested in both.

It’s… taking some time.

Tony takes his leave from the knot of students still hanging around, thanking their professor for ensuring nothing else is scheduled after the class in the same space. The one time that had happened, Tony had needed to call Happy for backup. Hogan had gone overboard, so much so that Tony’s just left him at home for the MIT trip every year since. This had the added benefit of freeing him up to eschew his hotel room in favor of staying with a willing college student (or, memorably, three roommates).

This year was supposed to be different, and now that the shy, lovely student has snuck away, he guesses it will have to be.

If he can’t fool around, he can at least drink, so when (after the fancy dinner Tony treats him to) the professor he’s just guested for invites him to join some of his colleagues in the faculty lounge, that’s what Tony does, late into the evening.

Unfortunately, not even high quality whiskey can chase away the twist of desire that tangles his thoughts with longing.

***

Sometime after eleven PM, everyone goes their separate ways. It turns out that all of the other men are headed home to their wives, and that’s how Tony knows he’s not thoroughly drunk, because he consciously stops himself from making a self-deprecating comment.

He’s still coming up with things he could have said as he makes his way through the building. ‘You go home to your ladies, and I’ll start looking for my lady of the night’ would have been a solid contender-- but then again, maybe he is tipsy. Tony’s never had to pay for sex, and joking about doing so after a few glasses of whiskey is the sort of thing that could show up in a gossip rag by the morning. Especially after that senate hearing.

He ducks into a bathroom and does his business. At the mirror, Tony sees that he’d fucked up buttoning his shirt back up after showing off his arc reactor in the faculty lounge. He does it right this time, but while tucking the shirt in, he clumsily knocks his car keys out of his pants pocket.

Tony heaves a huge sigh, frowning at himself in the mirror. It’s starting to look like a bad idea to leave Hogan at home. He definitely can’t drive to the hotel, and he really shouldn’t risk taking a taxi right now (he doesn’t feel impaired, but he obviously is). The only solution is to kill time here on campus. The low-level arousal that’s been plaguing him since the lecture flares up with that thought. There’s almost no chance that the girl is still awake, even less of a chance that he could find her. Still, what else is there to do?

Tony picks up his suit jacket and puts it back on, adjusting the sleeves. The door swings open and a bearded student walks in, pausing in recognition.

“There a place you kids congregate after hours?” Tony asks. The guy looks at him like he’s crazy, so he adds, “Looking to return something I borrowed.” If he can ‘return’ this attraction, cash it in for a night of pleasure, he’s all in.

The kid eyes him with amusement. “If it was booze, I got some bad news for you, Stark.”

“Yeah, yeah. MIT tenure pays for the good whiskey,” Tony says with a dismissive wave, starting for the door.

“Yo, honestly, check the new media lab building. Final papers are due next week, might get lucky.”

“Thanks, I will.”

Once he reaches the building in question, Tony can’t believe he’d even had to ask. He’d donated funds for its construction! He’d even been at the grand opening, that past March. His access card works in the door, and Tony follows his instincts, passing various closed workspaces in search of the open computer labs.

The girl he’s obsessing over is not in the first two labs he peeks his head into, but he’s got nothing better to do, so he decides to still check the one at the end of the hall.

The setup here is more private, so Tony walks all the way in this time. There’s a single desk at the front facing the rest, obviously meant for a teacher or TA, because its computer chair is oversized and actually comfortable-looking. Seated there is a young woman in a dark blue tank top, her legs curled up beside her in the chair. On her upper arm is a splash of color in a shape that looks familiar. Tony takes a few steps closer, his lips curving into an indulgent smile when he sees her tattoo: a caffeine molecule. He must have made some kind of noise, because she lifts her head.

It’s the girl from class, the one he’s thought about the whole day since.

Both of them freeze, looking at each other. The simulated sound of a church bell starts to toll in the room, probably signalling that open lab time is over. Tony stares at her through the whole sequence, even as the two other occupants of the room pack up their belongings and leave. After all twelve bell tolls are finished, he nods at the delicate sandal that waits for her foot just under the desk.

“I think you were supposed to flee by now, Cinderella.”

“Prince of industry, are you?” she asks, lifting her chin in defiance.

“In a way,” Tony acknowledges. He points with his thumb over his shoulder. “So, evil stepsister or roommate?”

“Roommate, but she’s definitely the ‘toe-mutilating to trick a prince’ type,” the young woman says, dropping her leg down so she can turn and pick up her backpack from the floor. The action lets him see that her shirt is so thin it’s almost threadbare, hinting at the shape of the darker garment she’s got on underneath.

“If this counts as the ball, you might want to have a word with your fairy godmother. She’s skimping on fabric quality,” he remarks. Tony strolls over to the desk, enjoying the burn of arousal as it blazes through his veins. It’s been quite a while since he’s looked forward to an encounter like this, and there’s still a solid chance he’ll be ending the night alone. This girl had obviously not intended for him to see her like this.

“Obviously I’m on India Standard Time, and these are my rags,” she says, smiling up at him sweetly. It’s an unusual answer, and after calculating the time difference in his head, Tony realizes that she is quick as hell. His class had been over at 2:30 PM Eastern Standard Time, which works out to 12 AM IST.

“Nice,” he murmurs. Now that he’s closer, he can see that she’s wearing black lace bra, the kind that’s designed to be seen-- but obviously not by him. He’s a bit stung by that. “I don’t know that I appreciate your turning into a pumpkin for my class--”

“Now you’re just flogging the metaphor,” she says briskly, standing up.

He doesn’t move. Instead, Tony traces his eyes over her face, down to her breasts and back up, to gauge her reaction. A surge of pleasure arcs through him when he sees that she’s looking at his body, too. Her perusal is more extensive, such that when she lifts her gaze, he’s been waiting a while. It’s probably too much to hope that her internal dialogue has followed the same path as his, today. She really is beautiful, but the way her mind works is just as attractive, what little of it he’s gotten to observe. There’s a good chance she’s sexually creative, and he wants to, needs to find that out for himself.

“It’s time to leave. We’re closed for tonight, sir,” she says. There’s an impudent quirk to her lips that makes it very clear she’s chosen her words for the double meaning.

“Even for wishes coming true?” he dares, leaning toward her a bit, pushing the charm.

Her face darkens. She steps back, turning her back on him to shove a rolling file cabinet just far enough so she can slip past it, avoiding him entirely. “With an ego like that, I’d rather kiss the frog!” she mutters, pulling her backpack up onto her shoulder as she moves toward the door.

This stings, but Tony reminds himself that she’d already thought poorly enough of him to cover up for his class on the off chance of what he might do or say, and his very presence is confirming her worst fears. Swiftly, he corrects her, hoping her clever mind will catch the difference before she rushes out.

“I meant my wishes coming true. Your wishes have been communicated quite clearly.”

She stops still, but doesn’t turn around. “Have they? You came here--”

“Coincidence,” he interrupts with a shrug, brushing away the twinge of conscience. She was right, he had come looking for her, but finding her had been sheer luck. “Truth is, I’m not sober enough to drive. I figured, find a lab, maybe I could dip into the Department of Agriculture’s secure servers, swap their Chick Cam feed with a nightclub’s security footage.”

Her shoulders shake, but when she speaks, her voice is rock steady, no sign of laughter. He suspects if she turns around, he’ll see the smile she’s concealing. “You have a long way to go before you qualify as a Prince Charming, you know that, don’t you?”

“Always have.”

Now she turns. “If you’re drunk--”

“Tipsy, please,” he says, mockingly. “You’d know if I were drunk.” Her eyes are kind, and he feels the impulse to press his luck. Already he feels more like himself, like maybe having found her has transmuted the alcohol in his system into anticipation.

“If you’re drunk,” she repeats, more gently this time, “--you shouldn’t be hitting on anything but a soft bed.”

“I’m fresh out,” Tony says, but he inclines his head to acknowledge her change in demeanor.

“No hotel?”

“Risk of bad press if I drive, same thing with a taxi.”

She takes a step toward him. “Do you need a ride?”

“I would love one,” he says, infusing his voice with as much promise of pleasure as he can. His gauge is off, though, because she rolls her eyes. Marching past him, she pulls the chair out from behind the desk she’d been sitting at and rolls it over.

“Sit.”

He regards her with suspicion but does what she asks, led both by aching want and simple curiosity. Something deep down prompts him to goad her about his acquiescence, as if being obedient while impaired by alcohol requires an act of defiance to sit well.

“Okay, but I didn’t bring the fluffy handcuffs, so I don’t know what you’re--”

She rushes to press her palm against his lips, the meaty part just under her thumb. Her touch sizzles through him, aided by her tiny gasp when Tony’s own hand shoots up to hold her there. He quirks his eyebrow and then slowly slides his fingers along the skin of her wrist, watching her. She lets out a shaky breath and her eyes flutter closed.

“God, that is unreal. What did you do, slip iron filings into my soda at dinner?” she breathes.

“Believe it or not, I’ve been worse at this since the arc reactor. Something about facing your own mortality,” Tony says. It’s the truth, not that he’s admitted it out loud yet, not even in the privacy of his own mind. “How’s that for sobering?”

Instead of trying to pull away, she loosens her hand from its defensive fist and rests her soft, warm fingers along his neck. It’s a gut-punch, like maybe she’d meant to cup his face in a loving gesture all along, if he managed to earn it.

He absolutely has not, but under her fingers Tony’s slowly conflagrating, consumed by a wild need that verges on desperate. There’s no guidebook for this; he’s got a sixth sense about women, sure, but not this woman. Last year, he’d learned why he should have spent his evening with Ho Yinsen all those years ago in Bern. Tonight, Tony’s starting to understand that the person he is turning into is more interested in the Cinderella type than her sexed-up wicked stepsister.

“That was a lot of expressions you just cycled through,” she whispers.

Tony smiles up at her, knowing she’ll feel the shift of his muscles underneath her hand. “Coming to grips with the idea that I might enjoy just sitting and talking to a woman, for once.”

The words paint a light blush onto her cheeks, but she scoffs and steps away, removing her hand. “It’s kind of fascinating to watch the way your mind works in real time. I can see you working out how to charm me.” With that, she walks over to one of the student chairs and sits, walk-rolling it with her feet until she’s a yard away. A challenge in her eyes, she leans back and crosses both her arms and legs. She’s turned herself into a fortress of mind and body, daring him to attempt to breach her.

He’s more than up to the task. “Are you saying the key to attracting you is through my mouth? Because that’s a talent of mine.” Her eyes widen, and he feigns embarrassment. “Talking. I was referring to talking. Obviously.”

“I can still read the letters on that neon sign you just built, even if they aren’t lit up,” she says, making flashing light gestures with her hands while mouthing the words ‘OPEN FOR BUSINESS.’

“You weren’t picturing that sign when you put on that sweater this afternoon?” Tony asks, stretching his leg out and setting his heel down on the floor, the rest of his foot angled up.

“It was perfectly lovely, thank you very much!”

“I agree,” Tony says, in heartfelt appreciation.

“You--” she huffs out a breath. “Stop that.”

“Stop what?” he asks, changing nothing.

“That face you’re making. Your whole… it’s-- stop it!” She motions in his direction, and the worn-out neckline of her tank top slips sideways, revealing the wide black lace of the bralette she’s wearing. He wants to look, but she narrows her eyes at him, daring him to look. Naturally, he resists.

“You’re going to have to be more specific,” Tony says, still avoiding looking at her exposed shoulder strap. He rolls his foot down, moving towards her.

She throws her head back and angles her arm over her eyes before she speaks, sounding nervous. “Are you trying to seduce me?”

He chooses a regular voice, sensing that she’ll appreciate honesty, even if it’s not complete honesty. Now that he can freely look at the lace of her bra strap, he wants to trace it with his tongue. Tony knows better than to say that, so he asks, “Do you want me to?”

“I shouldn’t,” she groans.

Tony chuckles, deep and provocative.

She lifts her head but leaves her arm draped over it. “That just encouraged you, admit it!”

He stretches his leg out and plants his heel again, this time with the other foot. “What matters is what you want. What were you avoiding with your granny outfit today?”

“I didn’t want you to think I was anything like my crazy roommate,” she admits shyly.

“Mission accomplished.” Tony rolls his foot down halfway, which moves his chair to within a foot and a half of hers. “Tell the truth, right now:” he says, dropping into a commanding tone. “What went through your mind when you saw me looking at you?”

Her whole body reacts to his question, shoulders lifting defensively, face flaming red, arm dropping to wrap around herself in a way that just so happens to thrust her breasts forward. On seeing this, Tony feels like his foot’s resting on an accelerator instead of thin air, because his body ramps up, full throttle. Possibilities flash through his mind; his tongue flicking out to taste her tattoo, her leg bending as she strokes him with the bottom of her foot, the sweet smell of her hair as he groans his release. It doesn’t take as long to pull himself back from those moments as it would have if he were drunk, and that’s a very good thing for his hopes to make them a reality.

Then, she answers his question, thick lashes nearly brushing her pink cheeks, demure and devastating.

“I wished I was the kind of girl to catch your attention. But--” the whispered confession fills out into a tone that’s almost apologetic. Her eyes are wide, now. “--the man standing there looking at me was different, for just those seconds. I don’t know how to explain it.”

He’d dropped the act just then, and this beautiful, perceptive young woman had noticed. Tony reaches out and grabs the arms of her chair, pulling it to his. “And now?” he asks, and fuck, Tony’s not drunk anymore, but he’s intoxicated by her, enough to have infused the question with far too much vulnerability for his liking.

Her brows furrow for a few seconds, head tipping to the side to regard him. Tony clenches his jaw. Honestly, he’s not sure whether it’s because he doesn’t want her to see that vulnerability or because he doesn’t want to let his facade creep back up. She reaches towards his face, and Tony’s not above being predictable. He leans back.

“Oh no, you don’t,” she mutters, and with a nervous little bite to her lip, she launches forward.

Tony gets ahold of her and shoves her chair away with one foot while the rest of him focuses on pulling her close, like he’s starving for physical contact, and shit, he probably is. They end up with her legs curled up on his lap rubbing pressure that’s just on the good side of too much, her right side leaning against him, left hand pressed to her own chest like a makeshift defibrillator. Tony’s own body has turned his blood to whiskey, and desire-drunkenness has lowered the limits she’s taught him to follow. As she traces her fingertips along his still-clenched jaw (strained by patience, now, not fear), he lets himself rest his hand directly on her ass.

To his utter delight, this causes her to slide her hand softly up into his hair, rather than violently across his face. Tony nudges her with his nose, seeking her lips, but she leans back a few inches to look him in the eyes.

“If I ask you if you’re still tipsy, will you lie?”

“If I were tipsy, I’d have made a ‘stroke of midnight’ joke by now.”

She just looks at him, lifting her eyebrows.

“I won’t have to lie,” he says, giving in to his need to thrust up against her with a bit-back groan. “--if that’s the answer you needed.”

“What even is my life right now?” she whispers, clutching his shoulders and shifting so she can settle herself, yes, fuck, exactly where he wants her to be, her legs bracketing his hips in the thankfully oversized chair. He takes this cue to slide one hand up under her thin top, wide and warm along her back. The lace of her bra is so fine that he can feel the threads catch on the rough skin of his fingers. Her breath hitches along with his as Tony thrusts his hips up again, capturing her lips in an impatient kiss. He can’t help but feel powerful when her hand in his hair tightens its grip in response, especially when she lets out a small, desperate little noise when he strokes her tongue with his.

Her fierce grip and determination shifts to a shy shock when he starts rolling the chair around the desk and then past it, towards the wall. To see where he’s going, Tony kisses his way to her throat, turning them so he can slow-walk and not have to lift his head. He’s seeking both privacy and something more sturdy than the chair. While there’s a rock solid looking desk in the corner he’d aimed for, it’s right beside the window.

He looks up at the angle of the lights and the position of the desk, trying to calculate how much of what he has planned will be visible from outside.

“Oh, your face right now!” she laughs, touching her hands to each cheek before sliding them down so she can push off of his chest to get up. “Hold that thought.”

She rushes over to the door, flipping the lock and then the light switch. It helps some, but the hallway is still lit outside the room, and with the scattered LED indicator lights in the lab, the two of them can still be seen. Tony toes off his shoes and reaches down to retrieve the pair of magnets he keeps tucked into one of them. They’re too powerful to risk ruining anything he’d keep in his pockets, but that strength might be just the thing, tonight.

“Here,” he says, walking over to her. The door is, as he’d hoped, metal. Tony stretches his suit jacket upside-down across the window built into the door and secures it with the magnets.

“I guess I shouldn’t be surprised that you of all people would carry magnets on contingency,” she laughs. He offers an exaggerated shrug, walking backwards toward the desk by the window in the process. He can see the reflected shine of her eyes and her smile, but she’s watching rather than following him. Taking time to make the room less exposed for a sexual encounter has offered her a chance to second guess that encounter. To his relief, she comes up behind him as he runs his hand along the top of the desk, lifting up on her toes to drop a kiss on his shoulder before dropping back down and pressing herself against his back.

===

Note: I wanted to add that, as I wrote this, it was the ‘Vamp up and get the billionaire’ part that Tony is resisting. Confidence and coquettish behavior aren’t inherently bad! It’s part of Tony moving on from earlier characterizations—but that might not come across to everyone. It’s meant to be fame-chaser shaming, basically! Thanks for reading! Part II is almost all smut :D.

[thisweekingundamwing]

This Week in Gundam Wing (August 22-28, 2021)

Hey Gundam Wing fandom!  Here’s your weekly roll-up.  Show your fellow fans some love. 

--Mod LAM

EDIT (August 29): have removed tags for richardarmititty per their request (and for evan-wins for good measure).  Please do not submit posts by either party going forward.  I will also be BLOCKING both accounts to avoid future inadvertent inclusion (again, per their request to not be associated with the content captured in this roll-up).

Fanfiction

The Life of the Immortal Jellyfish (CH.14/35) by @lemontrash

Pairings: Duo x Wufei

Characters:  5 pilots + Relena, Hilde, Noin, Une

Rating: MATURE

Tags / Warnings:  post-canon, post-Endless Waltz, UST, roommates, Preventers, slow burn, insomnia, friendship

Summary:   Is it chance that lands Duo and Wufei in the same university dorm room? They're not stupid enough to believe that but too tired to fight it. Duo's dragged himself back from the brink of going too far and remains teetering on the edge while Wufei's doggedly trying to prove himself to the 'good guys' in the aftermath of the Eve Wars. Sleep and normalcy eludes them both. As they become increasingly aware how damaged they are, they start to edge towards friendship, or something more, but all too soon the peace seems jeopardised by a new and manipulative threat.

Thrash (welcome to the gutter) by @gemstonecircles for @noirangetrois

Pairings: Duo x Relena, implied Heero x Trowa

Characters: Heero, Duo, Trowa, Relena, Hilde

Rating: EXPLICIT

Tags / Warnings: safehouses, friends to lovers, unresolved (and eventually resolved) sexual tension, graphic sexual situations, 

Summary: “Not that it’s not a pretty bitchin’ look,” Duo said, his words slightly distorted by the key-pin hanging from his mouth, both his hands engaged with the grocery bags from the pick-up location in the city outside, “And OverKill is an excellent choice, but don’t you have your own clothes?”Relena and Duo are pent up in a safehouse and something’s gotta give. Eventually.

Lucerne by katopiyo

Pairings: Duo x Quatre

Characters: Duo, Quatre

Rating: General

Tags / Warnings: canon insert, dancing

Summary:  Duo and Quatre catch up in the Peacemillion's break room.

The Empresses’ Third by @tziganecaffiends and @zaganthi​

Pairings: Wufei x Treize x Meilan

Characters: Wufei, Treize, Melian

Rating: EXPLICIT

Tags / Warnings: threesome, alternate universe - everyone lives, fix-it, happy ending, love, prisoner of war, coercion, Light Dom/sub, pegging, Porn with Feelings, families of choice, implied/referenced child abuse and suicide

Summary:  Out of a war, she had secured the safety of her husband, obtained a third, and had a daughter. They had managed to fix their colony, and they now had viable economic gains that were steady and sufficient to support their people because she had felt greedy, angry, horny, and petty, yes. Because her husband had been fascinated by the man who was now showing Mei-Xing the parts of a rose bloom, and stumbling for a moment as Wufei gave him the right words in Mandarin.

Warmth by @noirangetrois for ​Purdys aka Diane

Pairings: Heero x Relena

Characters: Heero, Relena

Rating: MATURE

Tags / Warnings: huddle for warmth, only one blanket, resolved sexual tension, sexual situations, Heero’s an idiot

Summary: The front door opened and Relena heard the sound of rain pelting down outside. Heero entered and shut the door behind him, dripping water everywhere.“You didn’t wear a jacket!” She had been asleep when he’d left to scout the perimeter and hadn’t realized. “It wasn’t raining when I left,” he replied.

Stand Without Flinching (CH.46/?) by @angelselene​

Pairings: Heero x Duo, Trowa x Quatre, Wufei x Sally, Steve x Tony, Wanda x Vision

Characters: GW and MCU cast

Rating: MATURE

Tags / Warnings: GW-MCU crossover, alternate universe, canon divergent, fix-it, romance, Preventers, PTSD, moral ambiguity, family reunification, slow burn, found family

Summary:  Wufei wasn’t sure what to expect when Maxwell came back in by himself.

With Open Arms by @bryony-rebb​

Pairings: Zechs x Noin

Characters: Zechs, Noin

Rating: EXPLICIT

Tags / Warnings: post-canon, post-Endless Waltz, reconciliation, emotional hurt/comfort, semi-public sex, porn with feelings

Summary: In the immediate aftermath of Endless Waltz, Zechs and Noin (ahem) reunite.When he looked back at her, there was a slight furrow between Noin's brows, a downward twist to her lips; her eyes seemingly stuck on the slim leather fold of his wallet. "The dead man carries cash," she quietly observed.

The Art of Making a Machine by @the-reanimated-bhg

Pairings: N/A

Characters: Dr. J, Professor G

Rating: General

Tags / Warnings: two brilliant minds bickering incessantly, failed NaNoWriMoFic, humor

Summary:  A Story of Love, Friendship and Fisticuffs

Fanart

Heero Smoking by @bettertasting

No Sleep (Heero x Duo) by @bettertasting

Heero and Relena by @alphaikaros

Heero and Relena Halloween by @alphaikaros

Halloween Relena by @noromax

Wufei by @farshootingstar​

Quatre by @darksharinganz​

Other Fanwork

Cosplay and Gunpla

(RG) XXXG-01W Wing Gundam review by @reversemoon255

Custom EW Heavyarms 1/100 HG by @the-reanimated-bhg

Heavyarms by @christianmswanson

Sandrock and Deathscythe by @christianmswanson

Shenlong by @christianmswanson

Discussion and Headcanons

@kittykatz​ took and online survey and found 8w7 is Une’s enneatype according to PDB.  Try it yourself over here!

Gundam Fuel Source by @meggie-stardust​

@kittykatz​ is sharing some scans of GoL and their thoughts on the scenes

​Wufei and Treize’s fight and the immediate aftermath

Miscommunication at its finest

The Lightning Count

Singapore base + more Treize and Zechs

Heading to outer space

Heero’s freak out

Duo and Hilde

Other Fun Stuff

@incorrectgundamwingquotes is still making us laugh

It’s Always Sunny in Gundam Wing by @incorrectgundamwingquotes

Skeletons by @the-reanimated-bhg

Make it happen by @the-reanimated-bhg

Helmet-ception by @the-reanimated-bhg

Too hot to handle by @vegalume and @janaverse

Calendar Events

@gwcocktailfriday​ is back with this week’s prompt!  Be sure to post your responses on Friday (September 3) between 3-5PM EST!

@/ficwip (Twitter) is hosting a "Rise of the Dead Fandoms" event. Contributor sign-ups end on Monday (August 30), so be sure to register soon! Creation period runs September-October; posting will be in November.  More info at their FAQ.

September is National Prostate Awareness Month and @expewrites​ and @boxofhatebrains​ are hosting a GW Prostate Health Event at @prostatehealth-gundamwing​ beginning September 1.  More info is available on the Event AO3 Page but in brief, options are to (1) create something or (2) donate to your prostate health organization of choice.

@gundamzine has opened up the mailing list, so be sure to register to get your FREE PDF on October 1!  In the mean time, be sure to follow the account so that you can learn about the stellar 2021 Zine Crew members. Also consider donating to the team’s chosen charity, World Literacy Foundation (donations are optional, but encouraged).

The @weedgrandpacookbook is a go!  The project will be an homage to the fanon of Howard as the Gundam Wing’s chillest Weed Grandpa. Yes, this includes content that promotes/celebrates/normalizes the consumption of marijuana and adjacent substances recreationally. The FREE digital zine would be presented like a cookbook, with room for meta, fic, general advice, art, graphics, crafts (Gundam-themed pipes anyone?), and of course, dank recipes.  More info to come this month, with sign-ups planned for October.

NOTE: Due to the nature of the theme, this zine will be considered 18+ NSFW. Be mindful of your local laws regarding creating and engaging with content of this nature.

Spooky prompt idea generation for the GW Hallows Event will kick off mid-September, and posting period will happen in October.  Stay tuned to @thisweekingundamevents!

Keep an eye on @gwoc-october​ while you’re at it for news on the GW Original Character (OC) October Event.  You can expect a prompt calendar to go live in September with posting in October...but you can also just use the month to showcase works with your original GW characters!

Also, @thisweekingundamevents​ will be opening sign-ups for the 2021 Holiday Gift Exchange in September!  Participants will get their assignments in October, followed by the creation period November-December and finally posting in early January 2022.

Got an event you want us to showcase?  Let us know!

[sunnydaleherald]

The Sunnydale Herald Newsletter, Wednesday, July 13 – Thursday, July 14

Thank you to editor-in-training burnhername for contributions to this post

Lily: Hey, do I know you? Buffy: (looks away) I don't think so. Lily: (looks harder) Really? Where're you from? Buffy: (avoids the issue) I'll get your pie.

~~~Anne~

[Drabbles & Short Fiction]

No Pets by badly_knitted (Buffy, Buffy’s parents, Willow, Angelus, PG)

Poem: Summer of Giles 2022 Haiku by sparrow2000 (Giles, G/FRC)

Poetry: Giles Haikus Through the Seasons by littleotter73 (Giles, G/FRC)

that elusive silver lining by Melacka (Giles/Jenny, T)

Wounded by Incendie (Spike/Buffy, M)

The Little Things by Jess_Ann_Perreault (Giles/Jenny, NR)

Falling - Not Faith by Susan19 (Faith/Buffy, T)

The Hat by refusetoshine (Scoobies, G)

A Single Thread of Goose Tied Me To You by henclair (Buffy/Faith, T)

Laughter in the key of Love by Skyson (Buffy/Giles, OC, G)

[Chaptered Fiction]

Forgiveness - Chapter 1 by DWEmma (Giles/Anya, E)

Lost Angels - Chapter 14 by StillRose (crossover with Supernatural, Spike/Xander, Connor, Lorne, Lindsey, E)

Bargain - Chapter 35 by immortal_katharina99 (Spike/Xander, E)

Hers - Chapter 3 by Quaggy (Buffy/Giles, G)

Glimpses - Chapter 3 by calenlily (Buffy/Angel, T)

Love is Blind - Chapter 11 by Cyllene (Buffy/Spike, M)

The best laid plans - Chapter 4 by lex_hex (Buffy/Spike, M)

waiting on you - Chapter 2 by bonniesfire (Buffy/Angel, T)

Different Lives - Chapter 9 by BuffyBot3000 (Tara & Faith, Scoobies, T)

Vacation with a vampire (Sequel to The Sphere) - Chapter 9 by Coraline_Finn (Buffy/Spike, T)

Only Made Plans to Hold Your Little Hand - Chapter 8 by watcherless (Buffy/Faith, T)

Something Worth Dying For - Chapter 2 by violettathepiratequeen (Buffy/Spike, T)

Two Mules for Brother William - Chapter 1 by alittlemoretime (Buffy/Spike, E)

Fangs Out, Ch. 8 by Dynamite (Buffy/Spike, NC-17)

Well, what do we have here? Ch. 2 by Blackmysteria (Buffy/Spike, NC-17)

Why Are There 26 Letters? Ch. 16 by Indi_Shaw (Buffy/Spike, NC-17)

Sweet Summertime, Ch. 2 by B_Red (Buffy/Spike, R)

The Switcheroo Incident, Ch. 2 by DeamonQueen (Buffy/Spike, NC-17)

Night Moves, Ch. 2 by MrsAkers (Buffy/Spike, NC-17)

Family First, Ch. 2 by GillO (Buffy/Spike, PG-13)

Hotter in the City, Ch. 2 by MissLuci (Buffy/Spike, R)

Beautiful Dangerous Chaos #4: I Wish, Ch. 2 by Passion4Spike (Buffy/Spike, PG-13)

The (Demon) Parent Trap, Ch. 2 by MaggieLaFey (Buffy/Spike, NC-17)

Overboard! Ch. 2 by bookishy (Buffy/Spike, NC-17)

Exchange, Ch. 2 by DarkVoid116 (Buffy/Spike, R)

Always and Forever Yours by Buffyworldbuilder (crossover with The Originals, Buffy/Elijah, FR7)

Left Behind to Start Again, Ch. 4 by calikocat (crossover with Stargate, FR15, COMPLETE!)

The Time We Had, Ch. 6 by Dusty (Buffy/Spike, NC-17)

Not A Monster, Ch. 3 by Grief Counseling, Dusty (Buffy/Spike, NC-17)

Everything, Ch. 2 by Ginger (Buffy/Spike, R)

California Dreamin', Ch. 1 by LittleTayy (Buffy/Spike, R)

Last Days of May, Ch. 14 by Myrabeth (Buffy/Spike, T)

[Images, Audio & Video]

Entertain us. 6.22 Two to Go by isevery0nehereverystoned (Spike, worksafe)

Gifset: Now bite your tongue, it’s too dangerous to fall... by summrsbuffy (Buffy/Spike, probably worksafe)

Spuffy artwork based on a Joe Bowler painting by spuffylesbo (worksafe)

[Reviews & Recaps]

2.14: Innocence by handsofabitterman

2.15 Phases by handsofabitterman

2.16 Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered by handsofabitterman

2.17 Passion by handsofabitterman

I hate "Lies My Parents Told Me" with a burning passion by isagrimorie

Thoughts on Buffy books (Halloween Rain, Unseen Trilogy, Monster Island) by oveliagirlhaditright

5x16 The Body by SemperMiror

PODCAST: 7.17 Lies My Parents Told Me | Buffering the Vampire Slayer

[Recs & In Search Of]

Season 6 rewrite fanfiction recs requested by mzjolynecujoh

[Community Announcements]

Today (July 14) is Haiku Day at Summer of Giles

[Fandom Discussions]

Paying attention to the relationships in Tabula Rasa by kingbuffy

drusilla is to darla what faith is to buffy... by mollyspeak

watching BTVS and im at the part in s3 (episodes 2/3) when she comes back... by nolspreid

everyone shut the fuck up. goth buffy just dropped by pintsofguinnesmakeyoustrong

[Xander’s commentary on Buffy's dating life makes sense when...] by vampir4te

Setting details (resources for Sunnydale architecture reference) by brunnismemorybank

I’m a big fan of all the OG ships by initiumseries

I’ve been thinking about autistic-coded characters in BTVS by julietsays999

i just don't think it's fair to be mad at jenny like that by nolspreid, brunnismemorybank

What if Tara had actually been a demon? by takaraphoenix

Willow/Faith in or post season 7 by Bop and others

What would you do with the Buffy Comics? by PuckRobin and others

Willow's bathroom scene by r2d2 and others

Charles's and Wesley's friendship throughout season 2 ATS is one of the best by jdpm1991

Favorite Season 1 episode excluding Prophecy Girl? by Hollyvu

Best line delivery? by Blackdomino

What if Willow had wished..? by lambforlife

Just wondering, with Season 4 arc... by magic713

Tier lists with twists (my 'who would kill me' tier list) by Cia1313

Who do you think won the debate Jenny or Giles ? Books vs Computers ? by Hollyvu

If there was a crossover between Buffy cast and Heroes cast what would it be like? by Hollyvu

Any parts of Buffy that actually scare you/creep you out? by Lone-StarState

Unpopular opinions: Riley felt like he belonged with the group. by demonicsilver

How do you feel about Dawn's character in Potential? by jdpm1991

This subreddit when someone posts about how they don't like Xander (anyone else kind of bored of it?) by thatblondeyouhate and others

What do people think about this scene ("Tell me you love me" in "As You Were") by AstridDante and others

Do you feel like Giles (and the end of the season) would have been more interesting if the power he displayed at the end of season 6 was really his? by sephy009

Submit a link to be included in the newsletter!

Join the editor team :)

[dasmutquisition]

Frequently Asked Questions

Nobody Expects the Dragon Age Smutquisition is a fanwork gift exchange that showcases works rated Explicit in the DA Fandom. Any pairings or groups are eligible as long as they contain at least one DA Character from any DA Media and no characters who are underage. All works must be rated Explicit and tagged appropriately.

2021 Important Dates:

Nominations: January 1st - January 8th Signups: January 8th - January 18th Assignments Given By: January 19th Due date: March 1st Works revealed: March 8th Creators revealed: March 15th

FAQ:

1. What are the requirements for this gift exchange?

When signing up, you will nominate at least three pairs/groups you would like to receive fanworks for (art and/or fic) and at least three pairs/groups you would like to offer fanworks for. All pairs/groups must have at least one DA character from any DA media in it. You will be matched with a person according to what you have offered. You must then complete a fanwork for at least one of the requested pairs/groups.

2. How do I participate in the gift exchange?

The exchange will be run through AO3 so you must have an AO3 account. Detailed instructions on how to nominate and sign up are posted below. You may also follow the official Tumblr @dasmutquisition or email smutquisition@gmail.com to ask additional questions.

3. What pairings are eligible?

The pairing/group must have at least one dragon age character in it. This character can be from any Dragon Age media - games, books, comics, etc. Pairings can be canon, non-canon, or sheer crack. We also allow poly nominations as long as there is one DA character. This exchange does allow crossover nominations with other fandoms. We are not allowing canonically underage characters to be nominated in this exchange.

4. What should my completed fanwork look like for the exchange?

This exchange accepts art or fiction. You must complete one fanwork for the pair you are assigned by the March 1st deadline.

Works of fiction must stand alone and be no less than 500 words. You may include OCs you have used before, but this work must not be part of an existing series and must be tailored to the request you have received. There is no maximum word count.

Art can be computer or hand drawn and must be complete.

Works must be Explicit in this exchange and it must be tagged appropriately. Works may also contain triggering content as long as the request did not prohibit it. Please tag triggers appropriately.

What is 'finished' art?

For the purposes of this exchange, finished art is at a minimum clean, finished line art. Backgrounds and colors are not necessary - but there is no limit to what you can do.

For fanart, do submissions need to show genitals in detail to be considered appropriate for this exchange?

No. Any art of the characters nude or semi-nude and/or in a 'steamy' position while partially dressed will be considered appropriate. Detailed and explicit rendering of genitals is also accepted and allowed.

For fanfiction, do submissions need to consist solely of smut?

No. Plot is allowed as long as it does not violate a DNW on the request. Fics can be as long as you need them to be - but there should be at least one explicit smutty scene in a fic to count for this exchange.

What do you consider "smut" for this exchange?

Smut is any art or fic that depicts a sexually intimate act of some kind. This could be a specific kink, a specific sexual act, or anything of that nature. We are asking art and fics to be smutty in nature, complete, and adhere to the DNWs in the request - those are the only requirements for fulfilling your requests.

5. How does this work exactly?

FIRST! Nominations January 1st to 8th:

You can nominate up to 12 different pairings. The moderators will go through the pairings to check that each contains at least one character from the Dragon Age fandom and do not contain canonically underage characters. Any nomination that does not contain at least one character from the Dragon Age fandom or contains underage characters will be rejected. Nominations may consist of homosexual, heterosexual, threesomes, or moresomes. Because of the nature of this exchange, we are not accepting platonic relationships.

For the purposes of this challenge, the Dragon Age OC Protagonists will be considered different characters based on their gender and surname. This means that there are three options (male, female, and non-binary) for any Dragon Age OC character. When nominating an OC Protagonist, please keep this in mind and specify which option you want. For example:

Male Trevelyan/Bull or Non-binary Mahariel/Leliana instead of Trevelyan/Bull or Mahariel/Leliana

Please do not nominate a custom/individual OC Protagonist (IE: Maria Cadash/Varric Tethras). When you do your request and pick your pairings you can provide additional details, such as a preferred name or physical description, in your request. You may also link to your OC information.

Other original characters are allowed as long as they are "general" characters. For example: "Chantry Mother", "Merchant's Guild Member", or "Templar" would all be acceptable. If you have questions, ask the moderators.

SECOND! Signups January 8th-18th:

After nominations, moderators will open up signups. Participants will complete a form on AO3 to request approved pairings that you would like to receive fic and/or art for. You do not have to request the pairings you nominated! On the same form, you will also make offers of pairings you would like to make fic and/or art for. You must request at least three pairings and offer at least three pairings. However - you may request and offer up to 12. You will only be asked to complete one piece of fanwork.

On the form, there is a place for you to go into details about what you want. This is a great place to put a prompt with your ideas for a fic or art! You do not need to go into detail, but you can go into as much detail as you like to give the creator ideas. You may also put this information on a third party site instead such as Tumblr.

Good things to list: general likes, rating restrictions, prompt ideas, squicks/triggers/do-not-wants, or anything else you’d like the writer/artist to know. Make sure you list things you do not want. We are insisting Authors and Artists adhere to the Do-Not-Wants and the pairing, otherwise they have complete artistic license. Here is an example of a request:

Pairing: Blackwall/Female Cadash

Hello! I have a Baewall love that is deep. I wanna see Blackwall going to lengths to please his lady love. I like a gentle Dom/sub dynamic with Cadash as the Dom partner, and I have a bit of a size kink. Would love to see Cadash on top in any situation.

DNWs: Smut for pairings not listed, incest, angst with no happy ending, extreme gore, non-con/dub-con, humiliation

We are asking you to put similar information in your offers, particularly things you will not write/draw. Authors/Artists will not be asked to create their DNWs. Here is an example of an offer:

Pairing: Female Lavellan/Leliana

I do not want to create anything that features: incest, angst with no happy ending, or non-con/dub-con.

THIRD! Assignments - January 19th:

The moderator team will match you to someone based on interests. You are guaranteed to have a match by the end of the day January 19th, if you do not by 11:59 US EST, please reach out to the moderators.

Once matching is complete, you will receive an email with your assignment from AO3. You will be assigned to write or draw for someone who requested at least one of the pairings that you offered to write or draw for. Since everyone must put in at least three requests, it is likely that your assignment will include pairings that you did not request or parts of canon you may not be familiar with.

FOURTH! Create a Fanwork: January 19th - March 1st

Pick one of the pairings/prompts in your assignment (it doesn't have to be the one you matched on) and start creating! You have a little over a month to work on your assignment. You must honor Do Not Wants and the requested pairing, all other information in the prompt is a guideline but not mandatory. You must also remain anonymous - the only people who may see what you are creating is your beta reader(s) if you have them. If you have a question for your intended recipient, reach out to the moderator team and we will ask it or use anonymous methods (such as tumblr asks) if they're available.

If you create a work with a Do Not Want in it, and do not fix it when asked, you will be banned from the exchange. If you do not complete a work at all, barring extenuating circumstances judged by the moderators, you will be banned from the exchange.

FIFTH! Posting and Review by Moderators: March 1st - 8th

All stories and art must be posted by March 1st at 8:00pm US EST on AO3. You may continue to edit your fanwork until March 8th, but it is imperative that you have a complete work submitted on March 1st. The mods will then go through posted fanworks to make sure that they are complete, meet the criteria, and do not contain DNWs. If there is a problem, the moderators will reach out to the creator and ask them to correct.

FINALLY, the Reveal: March 8th - March 15th

All stories and art will be revealed anonymously on March 8th. You must have your final draft up by this time. Creators will be revealed on March 15th; after this point, you may post your work anywhere.

You are required to comment on any and all gifts produced for you. Anyone who does not leave a comment on a gift for them will be banned until they leave at least a two-sentence comment on their assigned gift.

6. I'm in trouble and can't complete what I signed up to do. What should I do?

If you know you are going to have trouble meeting the deadline, reach out to the moderators as soon as possible. We expect people to complete the offer they've made, HOWEVER, we understand circumstances sometimes are beyond people's control. If there is a reasonable explanation, the moderators will work with the creator to fill the prompt somehow with no penalty to the creator. If there are no circumstances, or the moderators are not informed, the person who defaults is banned from future exchanges.

We will be asking for a list of volunteers who may be able to step in and create content in case someone defaults. The exchange will not open until everyone has a gift.

7. I’m not able to commit to the exchange, but I want to be involved. How can I be?

We will be asking for volunteers to:

Step in if someone defaults on a prompt

Assist as beta readers

Promote the event and our creators

You can do any of those things or create treats!

8. Tell me about these treats?

A treat is any fanwork created for this exchange that is not a participant’s assignment. You do not have to be an exchange participant to create a treat and you can create treats in addition to your sign up, or only do treats.

9. I have other questions...

We love questions! And talking! In particular, Manka ( @cartadwarfwithaheartofgold ) really likes talking, but all the moderators are available to answer questions. Please use this information to contact us via Tumblr messenger:

Official Account: @dasmutquisition

[chornayadrakoshig]

I feel like the fact that ao3 is an archive definitely affects the fandom culture when it comes to criticism. It doesn't have promotios, reccomendations and other things that are more social media-y.

A lot of people in the comments talk about ff .net but my "formative years as fanfic writer" were even wilder.

My experience with fanfiction didn't start with ao3 or even ff .net - after using a few forums & blogs I moved to ficbook somewhere around 2014 (and left it about 1.5ish years ago, slowly moving my works to ao3 now)

And that site has (or had on the past, at least) multiple built-in systems for pointing out errors and giving criticism. Like you can select a fragment of the text and send the author a message about a typo or something, separately from comment section (which was helpful, occasionally, but a lot of the times annoying because apparently a lot of people can't read :) so many times I raised my eyebrows thinking why someone assumed THAT verb somehow made more sense). Or like if you pay to get your fic promoted the comment field changes to promt readers to give a separate star rating for characters, plot, etc. I also remember it having some kind of review exchange event where you'd be prompted to critique a fic you got randomly assigned (which was.... an experience.....).

While I think the general idea wasn't bad, the issue is that a lot of people don't know how to give criticism even if you ask? There are people who think if they hate something in the fic it's their right and duty to tell the author how awful it was just because. And they will be condescending and sarcastic about it. Imho that's not "constructive criticism". There are people who misread something and start to write paragraphs of criticism based on the fact that wasn't even in the text (one of my fics was mostly set in 1976, and one commenter left a whole essay on how the MC's clothing I described wasn't considered appropriate for beginning of 1960s. None of the events were set in the 60s)

And social media experience around that website focused A LOT on criticism at some point. Before on-site critique exchange existed you could find groups online for receiving critique on this site. Around 2016ish there was a boom of online "schools" for ficwritters where oftentimes people barely older then their students, maybe in their early 20s, would tell people how shameful it is to write self-insert fics or god forbid someone would think your OC is Mary Sue like it's the biggest sin on earth or just quoting some "writting tips for beginners" that they found online.

Unfortunately a lot of people who think they are giving critique are just telling their negative opinion with a sense of superiority and for some reason can't live by "don't like don't read" approach.

I'll be honest, I was perpetuating a lot if this culture too. And not only in term of comments. When moving my works to ao3, I looked through a few of my "essays" and "character analysis" and genuinely thought "damn what a sarcastic bitch you were who hurt you". I left one or two that I thought are still kinda funny at least and I've never reposted most of them.

Tbh I'm not really equipped to talk on the topic of "constructive criticism". I never learnt how to properly critique someone's work. Sure, I might be able to spot some typos; maybe some knowledge about analysing fiction is still boinking around my head since high school graduation (10 years ago, damn) - but I've never learnt how to _critique_ written work besides the tips on the internet like "say one nice thing then critique then one nice thing at the end! like a sandwich!!" and who knows how far it is from the actual critique. Definitely not me.

I just saw a Tik Tok that said writers on AO3 are not looking for constructive criticism in their reviews. I have no audience on this platform so I have to know if this is true? I've always left my pros and cons when reading a fic and now I'm concerned that the authors didn't like that.

Yeah writers are Not looking for criticism, constructive or otherwise. Unless they specifically ask for it, it’s considered rude and honestly a bit hurtful. In the least bitchy way possible, don’t do that. It’s unwanted.

[argylepiratewd]

2020 (Fanfiction) In Review

Tagged by @vegetarianvampireduck and @branwyn-says

Fics written this year: I, uh...AO3 says I somehow posted 38 fics? 160,990 words. JFC. 34 of those were for Person of Interest, 3 Forever, 2 original work

The ones over 1k words were:

Building Safer Houses - POI, Finch/Reese, 67k. Harold gets stabbed, and John stays with him as he recovers. There’s lots of pining and lots of h/c.

The first fic in the series, Resilience of Birds, is just over 1k, and features the immediate aftermath of the stabbing, where Harold collapses in John’s arms.

in a world that isn’t hers - POI, Finch/Reese/Grace, 26k. Grace gets shot during Beta, and Harold and John whisk her away to a safehouse in the middle of nowhere to heal. I somehow wrote this thing in a week.

Signs of Life - POI, Finch/Reese, 15k. John survives the finale, and lies around in a hospital bed miserably, until Harold shows up. Then he lies around in a hospital bed less miserably. I started this one in 2019 and had a hell of a time getting it to come together properly.

Satisfactory Conclusions, POI, Finch/Reese, 5.9k. A/B/O mpreg. Harold gets pregnant by an OC, and the pregnancy is a bit rocky. John loves him very much. Another fic I started back in 2019 and had trouble with.

Set the World Down, POI, Finch/Reese, 4.7k. Harold overworks himself. John gives him a nice, brain-melting back rub.

the science of touch, POI, Finch/Reese, 3.8k. NSFW. Harold is not used to being touched. John loves touching him. Harold loves John, so it works out.

Abundance, Original Work, Chubby Male Librarian/Male Book-lover Who Turns Out to be a Belly-Lover Too, 3k. NSFW-ish. Fluffy original chubby/belly kink fic.

potential energy, POI, Finch/Reese, 3k. Literal tech wizard Harold is very very sleepy. John knows the best place for him to be is a nice, comfy bed.

Just Hold on Tighter, POI, Finch/Reese, 3k. Five times John and Harold hugged, and one time they did more. We were CHEATED. They should’ve HUGGED.

heart to heart and hand in hand, POI, Finch/Reese, background Root/Shaw, 2.9k. Post-finale Christmas. Everyone is nursing wounds but is alive. Fluff.

Make a Guy Feel Special, POI, Fusco/Reese, 2.5k. John breaks into Lionel’s apartment and cooks dinner for him. (Writing Fusco is always so much fun. He’s so grumpy. It’s great.)

romance of the maybe undeserving, POI, Finch/Reese, 2k. Harold confesses his feelings. John claims he doesn’t feel the same.

A Worthy Buyer, POI/Forever, Finch/Henry, 1.7k. Harold and Henry meet and like each other immediately. Another fic I started in 2019.

A Snow Globe Life, POI, Finch/Reese, 1.5k. Over a year after Samaritan’s fall, Harold and John celebrate Christmas.

like a complicated line of code, POI, Finch/Reese, 1k. John accidentally reveals his attraction to Harold’s belly. I think this might be another I started in 2019.

and if that hacking bird won’t sing, POI, Finch/Reese, 1k. John can’t sleep. Harold hums him a tune. It’s a bit unconventional.

home for the new year, POI, Finch/Reese, 1k. Harold and John ring in a new year together. Last fic of 2020!

The rest are here!

Takeaways from reflecting on your kick-ass writing, or kick-ass lack of writing, during a year more focused on survival than perhaps any other: Biggest takeaway is that I need to take better care of my wrists. Some of that lesson was learned at work, when I had to type up a ton of subscriber information, but some of it was from unwise writing decisions. Breaks are good. I must take more of them as I write.

Another? I really like hurt/comfort. And fluff. I wrote a lot of fluff and h/c and fluffy h/c in 2020. It felt Necessary.

And fanfic is a really great place to escape to when the world is shitty in a bunch of different ways. I already knew that, but it was reemphasized again and again and again throughout the year. The fact that my escape brought some joy to other people who needed it was an excellent bonus. I really love it when my words bring people happiness. It blows my mind, but I love it.

Most surprising fic you wrote this year: Building Safer Houses. I did not expect to write a fic that long, especially during a trash fire of a year. 67k, wtf? It was not supposed to be that long! I had a lot of fun writing it, though, and I’m really happy with how it turned out.

How you’ve grown as a writer this year: I think I’ve started to figure out what it takes for me to write longfic a bit better, and I’m hoping to change that from writing an ungodly amount of words in a short amount of time to writing an ungodly amount of words in a period of time that does not cause wrist pain in the future.

I’ve also made a lot of progress in the being happy with my own writing department. I’m getting better at writing. I can tell I’m getting better at writing. And I’m getting better at enjoying my own writing. There’s still some “I’m not the right writer for that” going on, still some areas I know I need to improve in, but it’s not as bad as it once was.

What’s coming in 2021: I don’t know! More of the same? I’ve been having a blast writing POI fic. I see no reason not to keep it up. Other than that, I don’t know! I’ve got a few WIPs in my files that I’d like to finish, a few ideas I still want to explore, a prompt in my inbox that I still want to fill, a few exchanges I really want to sign up for...

I’d kind of like to experiment with more pairings, but I also really, really love writing Rinch...so many options!

Also, after rewatching Forever, I really want to revisit the WIP I call The Het Mpreg From Hell or The Het Mpreg of Doom at some point in 2021. I got 150k into that thing. It’d be ridiculous if I never finished it. Will this be the year? Even I don’t know.

And I think I need to, at the very least, seriously consider experimenting with writing using speech-to-text. I’m a really private person and hate the idea of writing my stories out loud, but I need to give it some very serious thought. Eventually.

But I have one more exchange deadline on the horizon, and then I am free to do whatever I want for a while.

Not tagging anyone--feel free to do this if you want!

[pebblysand]

OF CRYSTAL ROSES (EXTENDED AUTHOR’S NOTE OF CHAPTER VI. OF CASTLES)

-- TO READ THE CHAPTER ITSELF, SEE HERE ON AO3 --

well, well, well. here we are. spoiler alert, gryffindors make plans they don’t stick to, lolz. all the good intentions in the world, i had. study, i said i would. yet, here were find ourselves, eighteen thousand words later. this appears to be how i roll. slept about five hours last night, too, so apologies if i’m slightly non-sensical/rambly. this chapter ought to be sponsored by deliveroo and teapigs tea, a brand of tea that appeared in my local supermarket a few moths ago and that i steadily refused to buy because - can tea really be worth this much? low and behold, once you’ve tried it once, it appears to be addictive. i’ve, while writing this chapter, worked my way through about four packs of their different teas - they are just this good. i have a job interview tomorrow so wish me luck in gaining employment which will hopefully fund my expensive habits.

now, before we get into the nitty gritty of the chapter, itself, i just needed to say this: i cannot thank everyone enough for the incredible response on last chapter. i’d kind of grown accustomed to getting a couple of reviews for each of them and to writing in my little corner of the internet but boy, you guys are bloody legends! i am so overwhelmed with gratitude for everyone who commented, kudo-ed and generally gave love to this fic in general. i really didn’t expect such a response and it’s meant the world to me. i think it’s probably also the reason why i’m posting so early because i kept being like, god, i can’t leave this many people waiting in this cliffhanger hell. i think this chapter ends on a more positive note (although, i’ll let you judge), one that might be more conducive of a few weeks’ wait (more on that below), haha.

this being said, as i explained on here before, i come from very tiny fandoms where basically everyone knows each other and the number of people reading would usually fit in my flat. the fact that over 80 people are now subscribed to this fic just blows my fucking mind. you’re all magnificent and i love you. i try to respond to all the comments so let’s keep chatting if you feel like it (although, no pressure - comment if you want to, but do know that it makes me very happy when you do :)). you’re all fabulous and i wish you all the best!

anyway, spoilers for castles, chapter vi under the cut.

guys, guys, guys, i am so tired. i’ve spent four days editing almost 20,000 words and my brain is fried. but, we are officially at the halfway point of this story, yaaaay!!! my plan, at this point, is that we’ll have six chapters on each side but even if i do end up splitting this one later (more on this below) i’ll end up with seven chapters on each side so either way - yay to the end of act 1!

i think that’s also why i tried to turn this chapter around this quickly. to me, i always kind of saw this fic as having two parts. part 1: the immediate post-war aftermath with the heartache and the love-fast/burn-fast start to harry/ginny. part 2: a slow and actually healthy rebuild of their relationship, and of the world around them. i have genuinely been writing towards that last harry/ginny scene in this chapter for months. it feels like such a relief to finally have that weight off my shoulders. and i actually do think it’ll allow me to focus on study later. act one is finished, and act two can wait a bit, i suppose.

now, obviously, given that i already apologised last time, part of me still wants to apologise for the length of this chapter, even more so, actually. it sits at about 18,000 words which, by nanowrimo’s standards, is over a third of a full book, wtf. yet, you guys also said last time that you didn’t actually mind long chapters, so perhaps i shouldn’t beat myself up too much?

as i said in the a/n, this is a little bit of different set up than chapter v. though. i know exactly where to split this. as you’ve probably seen by now, there’s a very natural split point after harry has his breakdown on the couch with ginny, before Christmas properly "starts." the reason i didn’t split this one there, though is: a) selfish: i needed to get this out. stop working on it. i need to study. when it’s out, i’m not thinking about it anymore. it would have been a bit non sensical to split this just for the sake of it and post two chapters at once, which means i probably would have held onto the second part for another couple of weeks, and fuck that. additionally, b) you may not have noticed this but: the chapter titles rhyme. why did i bring this additional difficulty upon myself, i do not fucking know. especially because i will soon run out of one-word construction materials to draw from, lol. as a result, though, i need an even number of chapters to close out this story and because i’m sort of planning six chapters from now to the end (more on that below) i can’t really split this one right now. like, if i end up with another overlong chapter in the next few months, i probably will take that opportunity and go back and split this one, just for readability. but at this stage, at this stage, because i don’t know how many chapters i’ll have for act two (six or seven), i’m keeping this chapter like this for the time being. i kind of hope i end up with seven chapters on the other side and am able to split this one down the line, but we will see. in the meantime, my most sincere apologies to the folks who read fanfiction before bed and it’s now 4 am by the time you’ve finished this. i’ve been there before, believe me.

from a personal standpoint, though, i have to say, this chapter (compared to the last one) was incredibly easy to write. i think i’d spent so much time imagining and writing these scenes in my head as kind of a culminating point for the first half of the story, that it quite simply poured out. i did have a little bit of an everything is shit crisis yesterday and today, but sure look, that always happens. overall, i am quite happy - i think - with the end result.

now, when i say "easy to write" i mean, technically, easy to find words to write down what was in my head. i do not mean: easy to write on an emotional level. oh boy. i’m generally not a crier. i have been asked, a number of times, by people who said my writing made them cry: do you cry when you write, too? and my answer was always ‘no’. i don’t judge, but i’m just not that kind of person. i know people who cry every day but personally, we are in the middle of a pandemic, my father recently passed away, i’ve lost my job and am studying for an exam my life is pretty dependent upon, and i haven’t cried in months. yet, i swear, there were a couple of times, both writing this and editing it, when i had to step away from the screen because i could feel a lump in my throat. that had never happened to me before. i didn’t, like, bawl or anything but god i felt it. i don’t know if it’s because it’s my first time killing an oc, someone who was really mine but boy. giulia. i kept trying to find ways not to kill her, or apologising to her. to me, she’s tom’s last victim and that really, fucking hurts. if you’re hurting too, i don’t really know what to tell you. i’m sorry, i suppose. her death was needed for … plot purposes, lol. god, i’m the worst haha.

re:harry/ginny: i must say i really like where they end up, at the end of this. i had planned this to a certain extent. i was always under the impression that they would talk over christmas, but not get back together. however, the reason why they weren’t getting back together, in my head, was initially quite different. i initially didn’t have ginny dating someone else. i think i mentioned i was toying with the idea in the a/n for last chapter, but at the time i wasn’t truly sold on it. then, i ended up writing the scene i’d originally planned for them and it didn’t quite fit. what i’d planned, at the time, felt rather ooc for ginny when actually on paper. on the other hand, harry, under my fingertips, kept trying to kiss her and i kept hitting the delete button. i swear, i know it sounds weird to people who might not be writers but sometimes, your characters really do seem to have their own agendas. when i caved, let him kiss her, then the scene took on a different meaning, and, i hope, a better one. i think something clicked there and it feels like a good place for act one to end. obviously, they’ll get back together cause this follows cannon so you know, not much suspense there. it’s more about the how than the what, to me.

re:ginny’s letters: this idea came to me a while ago, actually. i was thinking that they’d need to talk about what happened last year, but i was kind of struggling on the how. having character a tell a story to character b is always a bit difficult, in writing, because it can quickly end up being boring. like, when ginny tells harry about christmas last year and lupin, in this chapter, telling that in dialogue is already rather long an laborious, and it’s overall such a short story. for harry, it’s easy. i’m in his head so he can just say ‘he told her about the hallows’ and the dialogue can be about their reaction, rather than the events itself. but ginny, she needs to share facts, as well as feelings. and doing that through long monologues just didn’t appeal. first, it’s quickly boring and second, it’s also kind of ooc. she’s not giulia, you see.

i did entertain the idea of completely skimming past it. ‘she told him about last year and he was horrified.’ - moving on. but, i don’t know, that didn’t feel quite right either, because i think they need to exchange, and talk, and that just felt like a copout. also, to be honest, it’s a very difficult story to tell. like, i’ve seen people in fics being like ‘so, harry sat down all of the weasleys and told them everything the trio did in seventh year,’ and i’m like that’s so difficult, though. sitting someone down and telling them all about your trauma, with little preamble, just setting it all out there, i can’t imagine ginny (or, frankly, most people) actually doing that, you know? we reveal bits of ourselves bit by bit, not all at once.

then, it hit me: she’s a writer, isn’t she? at least, she is canonically in first year, with not only the diary but also the poems, then writing for the prophet. obviously, the diary thing would have riled her up a bit but i do think in the end, she would probably have been like: no, i won’t let him take writing away from me, you know? so yeah, letters. daily letters. you won’t see all of them in next chapter, but probably quotes from the most important ones, things that harry reads. that’s where he gets his facts about her story last year, and then they can focus on their feelings about it. fab! something to look forward to, haha.

now, re: the future. as i said, we are entering act two. act two will gradually become more "fun" and fluffy, i suppose, but i won’t lie, we will be keeping the same happy/sad vibe that a lot of you have commented on with this fic. it exists for a reason (as i said, life is about sex, but it’s also about funerals). as i said before, this fic is, above all, an exploration of what ‘all was well’ actually means.

this being said, this isn’t an 8th year fic. there is a very specific future pov from which this fic is being narrated, and that’s in october 2027 (i know, precise). obviously i have 28 years to get through in act two so that will affect the way that the timeline is designed. it will obviously be more spread out, especially in the later chapters. this being said, while i have about a million of ideas for all the space in between and a very clear view of what the last chapter will be, the exact layout of each chapter is still slightly blurry. i haven’t sat down to put all my ideas in chronological order yet, as well as into some sort of chapter structure, which is also why i can’t really tell if it’ll be six or seven chapters in the end. all of this to say, there’s still quite a bit of work to be done.

this means that, as i said in the a/n, i don’t think you’ll get next chapter until at least, may. please don’t think that this means i’ll be abandoning this fic or anything, it’s just that i’ll be doing work you probably won’t see. i’m probably going to take the rest of march off writing to study (bar maybe a roar-series Harry&Hermione friendship one shot? maybe) then take april to plan and write as much of the next chapters i possibly can. ideally, by the end of april i can have a first draft of the whole thing. i desperately want to write as much as i can now that I’m jobless in the hopes that when i do find a job (again, interview tomorrow, pray for me), i can just have editing to do at the weekends. but we all know i relate to harry on a very deep level when he says ‘when have our plans ever worked, anyway?’ so we will see, haha.

anyway, these were all the thoughts off the top of my head, re: this chapter. if you have any questions or other things you’d like me to ramble about, feel free to send in questions, my ask box is always open. i know i probably think about this fic (and hp) way too much but i’m an extrovert and my hobbies used to include travelling, pints at the pub, dating and, well, there’s none of that anymore, is there, lol? the uk has stolen our vaccines (fucking brexit) so here’s to being obsessed with fictional worlds i wish i could live in for a while longer,

i will now go and endlessly refresh my email for reviews and kudos, like the attention seeking basic bitch i am haha.

have a fab evening, everyone!

[findswoman]

2020 (Fanfiction) in Review

I was tagged by the excellent @fontainebleau22! Thanks, as always, for the tag!

Fics written this year:

NB: I’m only counting the ones I actually generated during 2020, because I also posted several earlier-written stories to AO3 this year. I’ll follow Fontainebleau’s example and include word counts, too. 

A Private Place (982)

Gem of My Beaches (577)

You Must be Garazeb; or, Dinner with the Trilashas (3111)

“I saw the wolf..” (1833)

The Drabatan Lady Downstairs (696)

Blumfruit and Queen’s Heart (495)

The Sisterhood of the Rose Evergreen (in progress, currently 500—it’s drabbles)

Righteous Indignation of a Hutt Betrayed (1069)

Our Big Fat Lasat Wedding (in progress, currently at 12,775)

Long, Lonely Time (2885)

Yet-untitled gift-exchange fic still in progress (no idea on word count yet, but it’ll be a one-shot)

Takeaways from reflecting on your kick-ass writing, or kick-ass lack of writing, during a year more focused on survival than perhaps any other:

A good question. I get the feeling that it still may be too early to tell, but it definitely has been therapeutic and given me something to be proud of. Even if I haven’t generated quite as much in terms of word count as in some previous years, I’ve still managed to create some (hopefully) beautiful things during an extremely difficult time—and just that, methinks, is not too shabby!

Most surprising fic you wrote this year:

Probably Righteous Indignation of a Hutt Betrayed, because the featured OC is one I hadn’t written in a very long time! But she just seemed to fit for the prompt in question. :) I’m also pretty surprised by the yet-untitled gift-exchange fic mentioned above, too, which is slightly outside my usual wheelhouse but still turning out to be a lot of fun.

How you grew as a writer this year:

I feel I’ve gotten a better idea of my limits, and that on various writing-related levels—from when sentences are too long to how many (and what kind) of challenges to take on, and when enough is just plain enough!

What’s coming in 2021:

Oh, gosh only knows, really! Perhaps a first foray into the 5+1 form. Perhaps a first foray into smut, if I can get my courage up. Perhaps even a return to my first-ever posted fic, in hopes of finally finishing it!

Tagging: Anyone who would like to try this out!

[karimac]

Yes, come piles of leaves, snow drifts or a cranky oven, I still hope to take part, @arrthurpendragon!

Boosting the signal!

Review Exchange Update

I'm not going to be able to focus enough to put the stuff together today. So, I will aim to have it ready for Nov. 18th. The deadline will still be to read & review by the end of the year. My brain just can't function properly today. Thanks for understanding!

. . . that being said, there's still time to get friends to join!

[the-lincyclopedia]

Carry On Fic Recs

I’m writing this with a specific, very new Carry On fan in mind, but feel free to take these recommendations no matter who you are! 

SHORT FICS (under 10k)

Keep Me Warm by EchoSpell43, 1k, rated T: Set during seventh year at Watford. Baz nearly freezes while hunting in the Wavering Wood. When he returns to the room, Simon decides to warm him up. Short and adorable.

we are the kings and the queens by morbidbookworm, 2k, rated M: A royalty AU. As crown princess, Agatha is supposed to choose a prince consort by age 17. But the two young men who are supposed to be vying for her hand seem to be falling for each other instead. Achingly beautiful. 

I Hoped It Was You by EllisyaSyron, 8k, rated T: Set during sixth year at Watford. Baz writes Drarry fanfiction. Simon reads it and draws fanart. They fall in love online, unaware that they’re roommates and mortal enemies in real life. Good enemies-to-lovers stuff here.

Merlin, May I? by Mudblood428, aka @vkelleyart, 7k, rated T: Set during eighth year at Watford. Baz goads Simon into playing a game of making dangerous requests. It doesn’t go as planned, but (ultimately) not in a bad way. Heart-wrenching and lovely.

Honestly by MissCeliaKnight, 7k, rated T: Set during seventh year at Watford. Watford students are assigned to use truth spells on their roommates. Simon gets Baz to admit way more than Simon was prepared to hear. Beautiful angst with a happy ending. 

MY SHORT FICS (ignore this section if you don’t like my writing)

Nightmares by HermioneGirl96, 2k, rated T: Set a few months post-epilogue. Baz and Simon both have nightmares about losing each other, and they wind up having a serious conversation about the relationship. 

Love Me and Mend by HermioneGirl96, 5k, rated T: Set a few months post-epilogue. Simon has the flu, so he has to miss going to the Globe Theatre with Baz. Baz goes anyway and then takes care of Simon. 

Christmas Planning by HermioneGirl96, 3k, rated T: Set a few months post-epilogue. Baz’s father is homophobic and Penny and Simon try to comfort Baz.

I Remember the First Time We Wished upon Parallel Lines by HermioneGirl96, 5k, rated T: Set during fall of eighth year at Watford. Simon and Baz catch each other attempting suicide and talk each other out of it. TW for suicide attempts. 

Love in the Time of Influenza by HermioneGirl96, 3k, rated G: Set several months post-epilogue. Baz thinks Simon is cheating on him. Simon thinks Baz is afraid of germs. They’re both wrong. 

MEDIUM-LENGTH FICS (10k-60k)

Carry Me Home by Mathmagician, 34k, rated T: Canon-divergent AU where the Humdrum doesn’t exist. Baz is rescued from the numpties by a man who becomes his very abusive boyfriend. Baz is subsequently rescued from his abusive boyfriend by Penny and Simon. Teamwork, discoveries, and romance ensue. Angsty and beautiful. TW for violence.

Love Is Always in Style by rainbowbaz, 40k, rated T: AU where Baz is editor of a fashion magazine and Simon is his assistant. Baz seems so aloof at first, but soon enough he and Simon become . . . close. Witty and lovely. 

True Love’s Kiss by rhien, 11k, rated T: Set during a later year at Watford. Baz awakens Simon from a spell-induced stupor with a true love’s kiss and has to deal with the fallout of Simon remembering what happened. Gorgeous and full of feels.

Straight Boy by @bazypitchandsimonsnow, 31k, rated M: University AU. Baz transfers to Watford University and becomes friends with Simon. Well--“friends.” Baz thinks they’re dating. Simon thinks of himself as straight. It’s a mess but works out in the end. Funny and relatable.

BAN’S MEDIUM-LENGTH FICS (because Ban deserves her own section)

network connectivity problems by BasicBathsheba, aka @basic-banshee, 35k, rated T: University AU. Simon has Baz’s number but doesn’t realize it belongs to Baz. The two fall for each other over text even though Simon hates Baz in real life. It gets messy but ultimately works out. Witty and real.

Large Black Coffee by BasicBathsheba, aka @basic-banshee, 19k, rated G: University AU. Simon and Baz are classmates and enemies. Simon is also Baz’s favorite barista. But everything changes when Baz gets sick. Just a fun read.

This Must Be the Place by BasicBathsheba, aka @basic-banshee, 36k, rated G: Canon-divergent AU where Simon gets a phone the summer before eighth year at Watford. He tries to contact Penny but winds up Snapchatting with Baz instead. A lot happens. Beautiful with just the right amount of sadness. 

Take on Me by BasicBathsheba, aka @basic-banshee, 50k, rated T: AU where Baz and Simon work in Fiona’s bookshop. At first they hate each other, and then they don’t. What I love, here and elsewhere, is that Ban doesn’t shy away from messy emotional realities and Simon and Baz’s imperfections. 

Family and Genus by BasicBathsheba, aka @basic-banshee, 48k, rated T: AU where Baz is supposed to fix up the family manor, and Simon winds up in the area looking for evidence about his parentage. It’s so lovingly written and just great.

LONG FICS (over 60k)

rebel rebel by BasicBathsheba, aka @basic-banshee, 183k, rated T: Canon-divergent AU where Baz was raised by Fiona, spanning all eight years at Watford. This fic is the literal best--funny, angsty, believable, complex. Just. I can’t even. 

American Holiday by Olivia Ballard, 138k, rated T: Basically a sequel to Carry On. Baz gets into Julliard and the gang relocates to New York City. This fic will rip you apart and put you back together, and if I don’t like Wayward Son this is what I’m going to believe in instead. 

WIPs

Can’t Find My Way Home by tbazzsnow, aka @carryonsimoncarryonbaz, currently 25k, rated T: Normal AU where Baz and Simon used to be roommates at a non-magical boarding school. They run into each other at an airport in a snow storm and a road trip to the nearest functioning airport ensues. I am LIVING for these updates. 

One Nice Thing by @mybrianisfried, currently 20k, rated T: Normal AU. A very Gen Z group chat fic that I happen to find both hilarious and feels-y. 

Video Killed the Radio Star by thegoodthebadandthenerdy, currently 97k, rated T: YouTuber AU where Baz and Agatha have a makeup channel, Simon has a baking channel, and Penny has a social justice/book review channel. Lots of queer OCs and lots of attention on Penny and Baz’s families. Just delightful.

MULTIMEDIA FICS

The Petal Peddler by @carryonebeneza​ is an AU told through Snapchat, Instagram, and Twitter updates screenshotted and posted to Tumblr. Fiona and Ebb are an item; Baz works at the library; Simon works at Ebb’s flower shop; Agatha is aro; Penny is a boss; everything is great. 24 updates so far. 

@simonsrosebud is doing a similar thing, but it’s a university AU and Simon’s the one who works at the library. Agatha’s an American exchange student rooming with Penny. There have only been a few updates, but it’s promising so far! 

CONCLUSION

Feel no obligation to read any of these, but this is what I think is good in the Carry On fandom at the moment!

[forkanna]

Commissions OPEN!

For a long time, I’ve been considering Commissions; IE, you pay me to write a thing, and I write it. But I’ve had a ton of other projects I was juggling so it wasn’t feasible before now. Some of those are taken care of, and also I have no money, so let’s give it a whirl!

This is on a trial basis: if you ask and I tell you I'm no longer accepting commissions, then that's it! Please don't be mean. I took a look around Tumblr and borrowed ideas and snippets from a few other posts to give me a better notion of how to do this. Seriously, this is my first shot so I'm doing my best! If you are interested, please read through the full rules and details in this post.

Commission Rate: $5 to get started and first 1000 words + $0.02 per word

Minimum Word Count: 1500 (IE, $15 is the minimum for a finished product)

Maximum Word Count: Depends on number of commissions/my availability (but generally, anything over 10,000 is a stretch)

                   [Further details:]

Main Universes (I can jump in easily!):

Frozen

RWBY

Sabrina the Teenage Witch (90s TV series)

Riverdale/Archie Comics (yes, including Sabrina lol)

Overwatch

Harry Potter

Sailor Moon

Solty Rei

Wizard of Oz/Wicked

Bucky O’Hare

Scott Pilgrim

Jessica Jones

Miraculous Ladybug

Veronica Mars

Stranger Things

(This list may be updated)

Other 'Verses (I'll have to brush up to do them justice):

Buffy the Vampire Slayer/Firefly/Dollhouse

Charmed, Ugly Betty, Everwood

Hayate the Combat Butler, Zoids:Chaotic Century/Guardian Force, Zoids:Genesis, Tenchi Muyo!, One Piece, Naruto, YuYu Hakusho, Hunter X Hunter, FLCL, Cowboy Bebop, Dragonball, Bamboo Blade, Chobits, and a decent amount of other anime I don’t feel like listing

Other Disney verses, such as Tangled, Moana, Little Mermaid, what have you

Batman, Superman, Spider-man, X-Men

Tales of Symphonia/Vesperia/Abyss

Star Trek (anything but Enterprise)

Star Wars (original or new trilogy)

Hunger Games

Divergent

A Series Of Unfortunate Events

Steven Universe

Miller-Boyettverse (this means Full House, Family Matters, Perfect Strangers, etc.)

Sonic (But please don't ask me to write Sonic... like I will if you really want me to but ugh, it’ll just give me ‘Nam flashbacks)

Extras (note that these fees apply even if you didn’t notice them lol) :

More than 2 characters: $2.00 per character (if they have more than a single line of dialogue lol)

Use of Original Characters (OCs): $3.00 per OC

OCs must be from the same universe.

EXCEPTION: See Cross-overs below.

I will not write anyone else's OC. It must be wholly owned by you.

All OCs requested as primary characters must have a biography or a link to a biography page (if such exists) submitted to provide for characterisation. I’m not a mind-reader.

Cross-overs: $5.00 per universe (and they must still be one I'm familiar with)

Alternate Universe (AU): $5.00

Please describe your AU in the request; use as much detail as possible so I have a clearer picture of what you want.

If it’s just a general “Modern AU” with no other stipulations (meaning I can just write whatever comes to mind), this can be waived.

Pairings that aren’t F/F: $5.00 (sorry, I just need the extra motivation for non-femslash ^^;)

I WILL

Write from fandoms other than those above, as long as you provide information about the characters and the setting. This will cost you $10 extra, because unfamiliar elements will take a lot more time/effort for me to research and get into beyond simply writing the story itself (and I may refuse outright if I’m just not comfortable, fair warning)

Write smut! You can't be surprised.

Write any gender/gender pairing. I prefer and am best at F/F, but M/F, M/M, and anything outside the binary are all well and good for me (but I charge extra; see above).

Trans characters count as their gender for purposes of fees. (IE, if it’s F/trans F, it is F/F; if it’s F/trans Male, it is F/M and will be $5 extra but I’m still totally happy to do it)

Write all kinds of kinks; if you can think of it, I've either already written it or would be willing to try. But there are exceptions: see below.

Post the work on my blog and various fanfiction websites; you are paying for me to write what you want to read, not for you to be the sole "owner". Also, you can stipulate whether or not you are credited with having commissioned it, either with your name or just with a preferred nick/username/Tumblr URL.

I WILL NOT

Write anything that I ultimately don’t feel comfortable with. I reserve the right to refuse commissions for any reason with or without disclosing said reason. Do not push this or I may sever all contact.

Write non-con. Full stop. Dubcon, we can talk about it but I'm still not thrilled with the idea. Yes, I just said I'm dubious about dubiousness. (Superfluous note: this obviously extends to prepubescent characters because they cannot give consent, so just don’t.)

Write certain hard kinks. Scat and dismemberment are off the table; there are others but I’ll let you know if you hit one.

Write real people. This is a growing trend in the fanfiction community, and while I'm mildly iffy with it under the best of circumstances, it is off my commission table entirely. I’m not trying to shame anyone else but it’s just not my jam.

Do anything MLP. After what happened to Yamino, and then WebdogGate happening to me, I just... have an aversion. (There are other fandoms I won’t do but I will gently let you know if you ask about them)

Let you post the fic yourself. You will receive the file of the fic through email/messaging/file-sharing website, or simply by seeing the post on Tumblr/AO3 if you prefer, but you will not post it yourself and claim credit for the work. Just because you paid for it doesn't mean you are now the author; I’m not ghost-writing. 

Write anything other than fiction. I’m not an Essay4Cash service.

NOTE: Asking for any of the things explicitly banned on my “I WILL NOT” list will probably get your commission request ignored.

MORE DETAILS

* I will respond to commission requests on my own time, checking when I can. If you are not responded to within 1 week you may request again. * Once I have accepted and begun work on a commission, I will generally try to contact again within 1 week, either to state the reason it isn’t finished or to hand over the finished product. You may contact me after that time to ask what’s going on. * PayPal is the only form of payment accepted at this time. All amounts are in USD. This information will be exchanged during discussions about the work in question. You can pay me via My Ko-Fi if that’s preferable (still uses PayPal), but I must know that is how you sent payment via PMs/email before you send payment so I can look for it. * The $5 initial fee (for starting work and the first words) is non-refundable, as are the fees for any extras you may have opted for, and that will be expected before any work begins. BUT DO NOT JUST SEND ME MONEY WITHOUT DISCUSSION OF THE WORK IN QUESTION FIRST. If I don’t like the commission idea and you already paid me, that’s on you, and I don’t want you wasting your money. * A brief excerpt from the completed commission will be sent for review prior to payment as proof of good faith. * The full commission will be delivered upon receipt of payment via PayPal. Unless I literally did not do something you requested (or did something you requested I not do), you are receiving the final product: don’t quibble over details or come to me with buyer’s remorse. Done deal, all sales final. * Your money is paying for my time and my work. If I really can’t finish your commission, I will do my best to get back to you and either discuss how to proceed or possibly a change in the work. (But legally speaking, you donated your money to me and it’s gone; don’t try something crazy like suing me to get it back because I have warned you. No refunds. But in most cases that will only be that initial $5 fee anyway).  * Word counts may vary. I prefer to write a story to a natural stopping point, so I could go above or below the word count goal by a handful. I will not charge extra for overages unless it is substantially more, and even then I will likely ask you first if you have more payment to offer. * Your commission will be delivered in DOCX or PDF format in addition to being posted. Hell, if you really wanna send me another $5+printing/postage fees, I’ll print it out at Office Depot and mail it to you, signed. (Separate transaction/arrangement though.)

CONTACT ME TO DISCUSS ON TUMBLR, OR HERE (drawn terribly in paint to avoid spambots):

Thanks in advance!

[rpgwrites]

Year in Review 2019

Thank you for tagging me @ljandersen!!

Tagging: @ripley95things, @varricmancer, @myrddinderwydd, @ferociousqueak, @autodiscothings, @n0rmandysr1, @inquartata30, @xenowriter, @obvidalous, @schoute, @pikapeppa, @thexgrayxlady, and @s0me-writer, with no obligations. Only if you want to this. 

Published:

The Impossible Choice: F!Reyder. I began posting this fic in 2018 but went on with it in 2019. A while ago me and one of my friends talked and this is part of how this began. I planned to cover MEA, but when I wrote that fic I realized it won’t work. It didn’t really feel like I had the freedom to write. But this stayed with me. Even though this began with a conversation I couldn’t stop thinking about it. After a while, I had the outline planned out in my head. Here instead of choosing who Ryder and her team will save she choose to save both. But for me, it wasn’t Ryder needed something to get her to this point. So that’s where Shepard came in. But then I realized Ryder will need to get seriously injured. It wouldn’t make sense otherwise. Afterall there’s a reason why you can’t save both groups in the game, right? The fight scenes were harder since she didn’t have her team and there was more pressure. In this fic, I explored all of this. 

Promises, promises: Shakarian. My first Mass Effect Trilogy I posted. It’s post ME3 and here I went into what’s next for Shepard. I brought a new OC in here Avery. I didn’t expect she'll become really becoming an important character but stories can surprise you like that. I have more plans for her as well for Shepard. Avery was even in @xenowriter‘s two stories namely: Solace and Mass Effect: Winter Eyes which has been such a big honour. Thank you for that!

The Path We Take: F!Rydaal. This is a fic I didn’t expect to write and it’s a fic I fell in love with. It was a suggestion for which I’m thankful for. You don’t see main characters with disabilities or chronic illnesses. They are always perfect. With perfect health. And that’s just not how real life works. I know. I know. This is Fanfiction, but still. So when this suggestion was suggested I knew this was something I wanted to write. Ryder becoming a diabetic, how would this affect her? Not just her, but her job and the people around her. That’s what this fic is about and for me it’s been interesting to explore. It’s already written I just need to edit the rest.

Reliving the Past: The first Dragon Age fic I’ve written. I got the idea when I played Origins. I was doing Return to Ostigar and I wondered how it would affect Cousland. So I explored it here. I definitely want to go more into the Dragon Age fandom in 2020 and write more. 

Actions Have Consequences: Here I combined two prompts. When I played MEA I expected more of the Reokaar on Kadara. So I wanted to explore that. I’m not happy with this fic. It feels rush. 

The Cold: My attempt at a mystery again. And I do love mysteries. The first two chapters I made use of Whumptober prompts. I took some time away from this WIP but I’m going to continue with this fic today again. 

Doctor Visits: In 2018 I wanted to do something for Diabetes Day 2019. But what could I do? Then I thought what if I write something for it. I was worried this wouldn’t be something people would like to read. In the end, it didn’t matter. I wrote this for myself. It’s the least popular thing I’ve posted. It’s not unsurprising, why wouldn’t it be? It’s gen and it’s for a day people don’t really write something for. Nobody knows this but this fic was actually inspired by a couple of things. I wanted to write about why a diabetic wouldn’t want to follow the rules anymore. Ryder was on a very low point here. She wanted to give up, but she couldn’t and she felt trapped because there’s no way out. But even though there’s no way out she didn’t see the point in trying anymore. It doesn’t have a happy ending per se. In the end, she told herself she’ll try again and fail yet again. She feels like no matter what she does she’s bound to fail in this. With this fic, I wanted to get something across. There’s a lot of critic with this IRL. You hear about a lot of cases of people complaining that someone is a bad diabetic because they do this or that or don’t do what they should do. But I feel like people don’t hear the diabetic’s side of the story. So I decided to tell it in this story. 

A Christmas Celebration: Shakarian. My part for the  MEFFW Secret Santa Exchange 2019. It’s pure fluff, and generally, fluff isn’t my strong point. But I had fun writing this and I challenged myself here which is good. I’m proud of what I accomplished here and it’s something I would have normally write. 

Written:

According to A03, I published 99 609 words, but honestly I think some of that was posted in 2018. I have things I’ve written in 2019 I haven’t posted yet though. I’m not particularly happy with myself. Don’t get me wrong there are things I’ve written I didn’t expect and I’m proud of myself for what I’ve accomplished. But there’s things I didn’t get to. I’ve let things of my personal life affect my writing and didn’t get as much done as I wanted. But I did better than 2018 and it’s progress. 

Future (2020 Writing Goals):

This year I decided to have no goals. No New Year resolutions, no nothing. It’s better for myself right now. Less pressure. But this year I want to focus on my writing and get a lot of writing done. 

[sgtbuckyybarnes]

Homecoming - Prologue

A Jughead x OC x Fangs fanfiction

ff.net

“Damnit!”

She sighed loudly and raised her eyes to the dark, night sky as her arms flew out into an over dramatic shrug. She didn’t need her heel to break. Not tonight.

“Are, uh, are you okay?”

She jumped slightly as she turned on the spot to find where the voice had come from. With her eyes narrowed and her hands closed into tight fists at her sides she cursed beneath her breath as she went over on her ankle for the second time “If you’re a murderer can you just get it over with? My night is already bad enough.”

The amused sounding chuckle caught her off guard “Surely it can’t be that bad?” he asked as he pushed himself up from where he was sitting and stepped into the light. He was wearing a light denim jacket, had a grey beanie hat pulled low over his hair and couldn’t look less like a terrifying murderer if he tried.

“You have no idea my friend,” she said as she leaned with her hand pressed against the wall to her left to pull the offending shoe off her foot “Don’t suppose you have any super glue? If my last pair of tights ripping and my favourite top having a hole in it wasn’t enough my heel has decided to break and I’m already very very late.”

He smiled slightly as he reached out to take the shoe from her “My best friend’s dad was shot the other night.”

“Huh,” she answered pausing for a second before she reached out to attempt to get her shoe back “Well. It isn’t a competition.”

“If it was I’m pretty sure I’d win.”

“I’d call for a review of the rules. You can’t use sob stories to win.”

His smile was wider as he looked up from where he had been examining her heel “Is it absolutely necessary you wear these heels tonight?”

A loud groan left her lips as she took it from him to get a closer look herself “Yes,” she said stubbornly “They’re comfy, they match my outfit and…” she paused, pursing her lips together for a few seconds “And they’re lucky.”

“Lucky shoes,” he repeated tucking his hands into his pockets and leaning back slightly as his eyebrows raised “What are you doing that requires your shoes to be lucky?”

Crossing her arms over her chest she regarded him with her head tilted to one side “Do you actually care or are you laughing at me?”

“I guess you’ll have to tell me to find out,” he answered as he leaned with his shoulder against the wall “It’ll take my mind off things,” he added quietly, his head bowing slightly as he scuffed the bottom of his sneaker against the floor.

“Wow. Pulling the sob story yet again hey?” she asked with a laugh before reaching up to push her curls off her face “I’m off to the White Wyrm to meet some friends I haven’t seen in a while,” she explained with a sigh, leaning her back against the wall beside him “They don’t know I’m here.”

“If they’re your friends surely they’ll be happy to see you?”

“I guess,” she replied with yet another sigh, resting her head backwards and closing her eyes for a couple of seconds.

“Uh...didn’t you say you were already late?”

“Shit!” she exclaimed scrambling away from the wall and hopping slightly as she pulled her shoe back on “Shit you’re right!” she continued ruffling her curls up slightly before she sent him a smile “See ya round AlleyBoy,” she called throwing her arm up in a wave as she hurried, as well as she could with a wobbly heel, in the direction she’d been heading.

“Bye ShoeGirl,” he called after her before tucking his hands into his pockets once more and turning to head off in the opposite direction.

The two of them only realising they hadn’t got the others actual name when it was far too late.

*

The door to the White Wrym banged open and, pausing their game of pool, both Sweet Pea and Fangs shared a raised eyebrowed look. Toni was following closely behind a bored looking Tall Boy with the expression on her face that had always told the two boys to keep their opinions to themselves.

“Apparently there’s an initiation tonight.”

Sweet Pea jumped slightly and let out a sigh as Toni dumped her bag down loudly onto the pool table in between where he was lining up his cue and the ball “That what you were bothering Tall Boy over?” he asked straightening up and nodding over to where the older serpent was making his way through the bar.

There was a determined look on Toni’s face as she leaned against the side of the table and crossed her arms tightly over her chest “Yes,” she answered shortly “He wouldn’t tell me who it was.”

“Well he’s not going to when you’ve got that look on your face,” Fangs replied teasingly, flinching backwards over dramatically when she turned to face him and holding his hands up innocently.

“It’s never usually such a secret,” she answered with a huff “And, anyway, if I remember rightly you two weren’t exactly pleased when I had to the outdated, misogynistic, absolutely ridiculous part of the initiation,” she added after a moment of silence, throwing glances between the two boys “Direct quote. From the pair of you.”

“We’re not happy about it T,” Fangs said with a roll of his eyes “No one’s happy about it.”

“But it’s tradition isn’t it. No matter what you do you’ll never get this lot away from their traditions,” Sweet Pea said with a shrug as he glanced around the packed bar “And, anyway, we didn’t watch yours. Kept our eyes down,” he continued as he leaned back down, pushed her bag out of his way and began to line up his shot once more.

“Wow thanks,” Toni rolled her eyes “You’re such gentlemen.”

They were interrupted as a loud cheer went up and the lights cut out, a spotlight spun so it was trained on the stage and Toni let out another loud huff. Beside her Sweet Pea’s face lit up into a laugh and she reached over to punch him in the shoulder.

The three of them all glanced up as the silhouette of a slim girl with long, wild curls stepped up onto the stage, raising a microphone to her lips she began to sing “My demons are begging me to open up my mouth. I need them, mechanically make the words come out. They fight me, vigorous and angry, watch them pounce. Ignite me, licking at the flame they bring about…”

The looks they exchanged were brief as the lights flashed up and the girl reached the pole. Sweet Pea’s eyebrows arched and he couldn’t help but nudge the open mouthed Toni sitting beside him with his elbow as the girl’s arm curled around the pole and her head lay backwards.

“I sold my soul to a three-piece. And he told me I was holy. He’s got me down on both knees. But it’s the Devil that’s tryna hold me down, hold me down…”

There was a spluttering sound as the girl on stage brushed her hair from her face, the light hit her properly and she sent a wink out to the rest of the bar “Eyes down!” Fangs exclaimed almost choking on his beer and waving his arm over to his two friends “Eyes down!”

Sweet Pea let out a shout of irritation as Fangs’ hand slapped against his shoulder “Dude?! It’s an initiation we’re just watching what-?”

“You can’t watch,” Fangs insisted keeping his eyes lowered to the floor as he turned to his two friends “Because that-” he continued jabbing his finger over in the direction of the stage “-is Bambi.”

Both Sweet Pea and Toni slowly looked back to the stage for a few seconds, just in time to watch their childhood friend rip open her blazer to reveal a cropped lace top beneath.

“Oh my god that’s Bambi,” they said together, Sweet Pea turning away as Toni’s hands covered her eyes. They hadn’t seen their friend, Bambi to them but Noelle to everyone else, for a couple of years but as soon as it was pointed out there was no mistaking that it was her.

“This is why it was such a secret,” Toni grumbled as a round of applause went up and Tall Boy stepped onto the stage to present the bowing girl with her jacket.

“How have we missed that she’s home?”

“Because you’re terrible friends?” spreading her arms Noelle sent her three best friends a grin filled with as much innocence as she could muster when they all turned to stare at her with shocked, happy and slightly irritated expressions “Surprise?”