#old but still having fun..i inspired to be like them

[wangxianficrecs]

Rewind 2024 - A few more recs...

WangxianFicRecs - Rewind 2024

Before the year ends, here are a few more recs of stories of 2024 that found their way into our inbox! I wish you all a Happy New Year and hope, that we can discover lots of fun fanfics next year as well! - Kay

Follower Recs

~*~

Think I've missed the 2024 Rewind follower recs but I've been absolutely loving this story!

WIP Modern Cultivators AU where WWX and LWJ have just agreed to a betrothal contract - for supposedly purely political reasons but in actuality because they fell hard and fast for each other during the prior fic in the series. POV switches between the two of them as they face up to (and increasingly embrace) the concept of being cared for and loved for being exactly who they are. Beautiful writing and brilliant characterisation, every update feels like a treat ☺️ @slothwithwifi

🔒 I'm Much Older Than I Thought I'd Be

by MajorEnglishEsquire (@chuckwinchester)

E, WIP, 81k, Wangxian

Summary: “Now. Before we break for the evening, as the topic has arisen between Lan Xichen and myself, directly, in accordance with an inquiry from the Lans,” Uncle passes him the copy of a draft agreement. “I wonder if you recall your lessons on the cross-clan arrangement of cultivation partnerships.” Picks up after The Further I Go, The Less I Know.

~*~

Hello! I want to submit this fic for Rewind because I love cherry magic AU and lwj pov is so rare. It’s very funny to listen to wwx pining in his head and lwj panicking over it. - Anon

My Heart is Yours to Fill or Burst

by anancites (@ananc1tes)

E, 67k, Wangxian

Summary: On his 30th birthday, Lan Zhan gets struck by a mysterious curse: suddenly he's a mind reader! As much as he dislikes most people talking too much, hearing their unfiltered thoughts is even worse. To top it all off, he learns that his old friend Wei Ying might not be flirting with him just to be a nuisance. He might be flirting with Lan Zhan because he's actually really into him? (a WangXian AU very loosely inspired by Cherry Magic)

~*~

Delightfully hilarious. I read it over a month ago and still laugh sometimes when I think about wwx in this. @alyseofwonderland

Living Art

by relenafanel (@relenafanel)

E, 8k, Wangxian

Summary: Broke artist Wei Wuxian takes a hard look at his finances and shrugs his way into becoming a content creator on OnlyFans. Jiang Cheng sighed. “These columns are negotiable. If you want to keep this subscription, you have to replace something to break even.” Wei Wuxian stared at the spreadsheet. He hummed in thought. “I need to break even.” “Yes.” “In order to keep my OnlyFans subscription I need $65 a month. On OnlyFans.” “No,” Jiang Cheng said quickly. “If I become a content creator and earn $65 a month--” “I am begging you--” “Then I can keep the subscription. Thanks A-Cheng!” The account in question? Hanguang Jun's Reading Livestreams.

~*~

🔒 Only with Time

by adrian_kres (@Bichen-Suibian)

E, WIP, 66k, Wangxian

Summary: Thirteen years ago, Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji were arranged to be married as is tradition. Throughout their thirteen-year-long "courtship," things were not always as they seemed. Now, newly married, old secrets have ripped open wounds they thought were closed, and they must work together to rebuild a trust they never had and a love they always did but couldn't see. Told from alternating points of view between LWJ and WWX with frequent flashbacks to memories of their "courtship". Updates weekly.

~*~

Proud Author Spotlight

~*~

I can't believe I almost forgot to shout-out my own fic that I started this year! It's a modern AU with cultivation where Wei Wuxian loses his hand, gets taken in my Wen Qing and her family, starts a prosthetic start-up and schemes to take down Wen Ruohan from the shadows feat. Wen Yuan having a big sister, Wen Zhuliu redemption and all the Found Family vibes!

Black Sun

by thelastdboy (@thelastdboyy)

E, WIP, 51k, Wangxian

Summary: Within one afternoon, the Yunmeng Jiang Clan became a mere branch of the Wen Clan. They lost their estate, all of their assets, and Wei Wuxian – He lost an arm. All to appease Wen Ruohan. To the Jiangs, the name Wen became a curse to be hissed out between gritted teeth. To Wei Wuxian, the name Wen became something dear after Wen Ning and Wen Qing saved his life and took him in. Years later, Wen Ruohan and his sons have long since died under mysterious circumstances and Wei Wuxian has been branded a traitor to the high society of the cultivation world. Together with the remaining Wens, he turned to the civilian world and revolutionized the medical field by developing prosthetics controlled by spiritual energy. Enter: Lan Wangji. After their fight against the Tulu Xuanwu, his leg never really recovered. Years of countless surgeries and feeling as if he was living inside a gilded cage while being patronized by his family passed, until Lan Wangji finally took his chance and absconded. To Yiling.

~*~

(Please REBLOG as a signal boost for these hard-working authors if you like – or think others might like – these stories.)

[rainedragon]

Ok, part 2 of my thoughts on the AP show.... now for the solids. Starting with the Hello Kitty re-release. I love this, it's adorable. I wish they did OTK of the knee socks, but c'est la vie. The OTT version is a lot, but it's cute. Neither is something I'd buy, but I do like that they exist.

I love the twin stars, but the twin stars dress looks like a Pullip dress made human size in a bad way. I think it's the organdy ruffles paired with the satin bows. I do like the candy like buttons on the bows, but I'd much rather see them make a milky planet style kiki and lala print than something like this personally. For so expensive a dress, it feels cheap. The Cinnamaroll dress is cute and well done, I like the design better and the hat is cute as well. It's still incredibly expensive though, and I personally would want either a really good print at this price point, or something more elegant.

This dress confuses me a little. The sleeves are huge and look like organdy, but the body of the dress looks more like an old school cotton piece. It also has a bunch of rhinestones. I kind of wish they had either gone full into "elegant" fabrics and tulle lace, or full old school with it. The middle ground is a little strange.

I like the white organdy dress with the twirling hearts. I wouldn't wear it personally, but it's well designed and the fabric is consistant. Even though it's an old school concept, it works well in the organdy.

Likewise the orandy dresses with the heart bodices are well designed, but not my taste. I don't love the heart bodice, much like a certain IW pie piece I reviewed years ago, it's one of those things that is hard to pull off IRL on a real human without it warping. I like how detailed this is, and it works well as an idol-inspired look.

This sax dress is a lot, and I don't love the sleeves, but it's a strong design and a nice looking dress. It's very doll-like, and it reminds me of a very early OTT dress of theirs. The pink dress is also a strong design, but the sleeves are also huge.

This mint dress harkens back to the Pink House influence of the past few years, but the high hem and A-line look makes it more child-like. I don't personally like the short A-line look in general, but I do think it's a strong design and I like the details. It doesn't look cheap, or like they cut corners even though I'm certain they faked the layers, and that is an acomplishment IMHO. The sax.. apron skirt? JSK? Looks like it could have been plucked from the 2007 collection. The school style elements are cute, and the detauls are nice. I think it's a strong design and while it's also not me, I think it's well done.

I like this design of this buttercream colored dress, I like that it looks like a cake, but up close I hate the fabric / lace. I love her hat too. The pink dress looks like a take on princess in love... I didn't like princess in love and I don't like this. The bows stuck on randomly aren't my vibe, the front corset lacing doesn't elevate it and the sleeves / sleeve lace is not great. It's multiple shades of pink in a bad way and just generally feels like a weaker design than princess in love.

This on the left is great. 10/10. no notes. I'd probably not like all of the fabrics / lace up close, but from a distance it's a great big pile of ruffles and bows in a nice arrangement and the sleeves are fun. The dress on the right has a kind of big ruffle on the bodice that I don't love and the blouse? sleeves? are a little weird being lace, but the skirt design is great. I don't adore the all pink OTT line, it feels a little like a cop-out given how much pink AP makes, but it is very on brand.

The dress on the left is my least favorite of the solids. It's bad. The bow? fantastic. The dress... reminds me of an off brand barbie princess dress, it's just, it's not good. I hate the all over lace fabric they use and it's got a lot of that. The bows in the middle blob all together (at least I think it's bows?). The corset lacing gets lost in the lace, and the cape... thing? is not working. It's visually mushy in a bad way. The dress on the right looks like another attempt to remake princess in love or fantasy princess. I don't like the mixed warm and cool pink. I hate the sleeve with the front corset lacing. Either that sleeve or the corset lacing, but not both. The bodice doesn't fit the model which is hurting the dress as well. The skirt is too small for the bodice. That said, I like the tiered skirt design with the bows, I just want the pinks to either be closer or be intentional in their lack of matching. The hat is cute, and the bag I love. I like the socks too honestly.

The scale feels off for the one on the left. I want the skirt to go under her knee with the bodice style. the bows at the hem and on the bodice being satin also feels cheap. I feel like this could be a really good design but it feels just a little cheap / costume-y The dress on the right works so much better with the longer length. I kind of wish it had different sleeves, the top of these sleeves is boring? but overall it's a stonger piece just because the length and the fabric choices flow better. I feel like these two pieces could have been combined into one good dress. They each have half of the good ideas.

Lastly, these two very OTT pieces. Is the white one a re-release? It looks vauegly familiar but it's 3am. I like this. it's very AP does lolita wedding with the tiers and the pearls and the rhinestones, and while I'm not a bows-on-bows girl, I think if someone was this would be a very cute wedding gown.

I hate the lace gloves the pink one has with it, I'm sorry. I just really don't like AP's lace fabric choices at all. This is a me problem XD Hidding those though, this is a great OTT pink dot tulle princess dress. I really like this. I don't think I'd ever wear it, but it's so barbie princess in the best way and it's well balanced. Not into the floppy bonnet, but if one liked floppy bonnets, I suppose it's an OK floppy bonnet. Weird choice for this dress though.

[laurenairay]

what harm could come from one little call - N. MacKinnon

Summary: Can a drunken phone call repair a pair of broken hearts? Nathan certainly hopes so. Megan isn't so sure.

Word count: 1.6k

Warnings: drunk Nate, exes to lovers, mild angst, some bad language

A/N: This is my entry for @wyattjohnston’s​ winter fic exchange 2k25 for @blueskrugs! Cait, it was a joy to write for you. I had so much fun using Old Dominion as inspiration – they’re one of my favourite bands and I’ve been fortunate enough to see them 5 times, so this was special for me! I hope I included everything you asked for that we discussed. I hope you enjoy this!

Title from Break Up With Him, by Old Dominion

~

“Hey Megan, what’s up?”

Of all the things for her ex-boyfriend to lead with, after not speaking to her for 6 months, that was it? Casual and cool, like nothing had ever happened? And on New Year’s Eve?

Megan was just glad she’d moved away from her group of friends to answer his call. They weren’t exactly his biggest fans any more, and she knew they would absolutely judge her for giving him the time of day, even if it was just standing in the slightly-quieter corridor by the bar bathrooms.

“Nate, are you drunk?” she asked dryly.

“Naw, I ain't drunk.”

Yeah okay. She hummed, voicing her disbelief, and Nate huffed out a laugh.

“Okay, maybe I do have a little buzz, but that song we danced to in my kitchen came on and I just thought what harm could come from one little call?”

What the hell.

What the actual hell.

“You’re drinking at home. Alone? And you’re calling me out of the blue,” she summarised, unimpressed.

“I missed you, Meg. I’ve missed you every day since we broke up and I had to let you know.”

The rasp in his voice sent shivers down her spine, just like it always had. But this time, he had no right to try seducing her. She wasn’t his to seduce any more.

“We’re nearly 30, Nate. What the hell are you doing, acting like a lovesick teenager? You’re the one who broke up with me, remember?” Megan said, frustrated at the nerve of the man she once thought she had a future with.

“It was a mutual break up.”

This fucking guy.

“You instigated it,” she reminded him.

Nate let out an irritated huff of breath

“I know you don’t love him.”

“What the fuck Nathan,” she hissed.

“I know you don’t want to hear it, but I know you don’t love him. This new guy that you’ve been putting all over your social media, whatever his fucking name is. You should tell him that it’s over and then come over to mine. You ain’t in love with him, break up with him.”

What the fuck. How dare he?

“Greg is a good guy. You don’t know the first thing about him.”

“Yeah okay, but I know you, Megan. You don’t want to hurt him, but you’re stringing him along. Not wanting to break his heart isn’t a good enough reason for keeping us apart.”

Her jaw dropped slightly at the unmitigated gall, and she shook her head furiously, even though he couldn’t see her.

“You’ve crossed the line Nate. I don’t know what the fuck is wrong with you, but you have no right to talk to me like this,” Megan said angrily.

Her heart was racing, hands shaking at his audacity. How could he do this to her? On New Year’s Eve when she was out with her friends? When they hadn’t been in each other’s lives since the Spring?

But Nate just laughed softly, infuriating her more.

“You would've hung up by now if you weren't thinking it too. If you didn’t know there was truth to my words. But no pressure, whatever. Just do what you gotta do.”

“You are such an asshole,” Megan hissed, tears stinging at her eyes.

“Yeah, I am. But you still love me anyway. Call me when you’ve broken up with him. Happy New Year, Megan.”

And with that, he ended the call. Megan stood still, in shock, not fully believing what had just happened. What had just happened? Nathan had called her out of the blue, drunk and seductive, telling her to break up with her new boyfriend…so that she could get back together with him?

What the fuck?

Maybe it was the alcohol she’d consumed herself, or maybe it really was the shock of Nathan contacting her after so long with such bold declarations, but her mind was whirling. Whirling and swirling, tempestuous as a typhoon, all because of a man she’d tried so hard to forget. How was she supposed to process this?

“Hey, babe, everything okay?”

Megan jolted at the feeling of a large hand on her shoulder, looking sharply up to see her boyfriend Greg looking down at her with concern. Greg was a sweet softly-spoken man, a gentle giant and true protector, and yet seeing him right now didn’t give her any comfort at all.

“Woah, you look upset. What’s wrong?” he asked.

As if she could tell him the truth.

“Just a phone call I didn’t expect,” she said, forcing a smile on her face.

“Are you sure?” Greg asked, still frowning, “Did you want to leave? We can go if you need to.”

He didn’t deserve any of this. What the fuck did Nate know anyway?

“No, it’s fine. Let’s get back to the group,” she said, shaking her head.

Nate’s words kept ringing through her head as they walked back through the bar to their booth, and the moment she sat down Megan reached for the first drink she could to drown them out.

“I know you don’t love him.”

“You’re stringing him along.”

“Not wanting to break his heart isn’t a good enough reason for keeping us apart.”

~

The first morning coffee of 2025 was nowhere near as good as the last espresso martini of 2024. Megan could admit that much to herself as she forced down a couple of slices of toast. Even a steaming shower and skin care routine hadn’t brightened up the start of the new year, and in her fragile state she could only think of one person to blame.

Nathan MacKinnon. The ex-boyfriend that had suddenly decided not to quit.

Of all of his many wonderful qualities, his timing was usually impeccable, on and off the ice. But last night had been the worst timing she could’ve ever imagined, and right now she didn’t know what the hell to do. Nate really had thrown her for a loop, and despite his demand for her to call him, it felt like the last thing she wanted to do.

Happy new year to her. Not.

But as she finished her second cup of coffee, it seemed like Nate had decided for her, as her phone started ringing with his name as Caller ID.

“You didn’t call me.”

“It’s barely been 12 hours, Nate. What did you expect? For me to just come running into your arms?”

“Yes.”

“Oh fuck you,” she groaned.

That cocky attitude shouldn’t be nearly as attractive as it was. She didn’t need to see his face to know that he was smirking right now.

“That’s the Megan I know.”

“You know how rude it was last night, right? Rude and uncalled for and totally out of line?” she pointed out.

“Maybe. But I don’t regret it, even if I needed whisky to build up the courage.”

The nonchalance was infuriating.

“Pretty pathetic getting drunk on your own just to call up your ex, Nathan,” she said sharply.

“Ouch, thanks for that.”

“You’re welcome, sad sack,” she shot back.

But Nate just laughed, that deep belly laugh that was so rare but so incredible to hear. Fuck. This is not how she thought her year would start.

“I miss you.”

That voice. His deep rumble sent shivers down her spine again, just like it had last night. Fuck.

“I miss you too,” she found herself saying softly.

The hitch in his breath let her know she’d said the right thing.

“You do?”

“I always have done, Nate. Even though you didn’t deserve it, breaking up with me after two years because you wanted to be able to focus on playoffs,” she said, voice cracking slightly.

The way he swore under his breath made her sigh.

“I was an idiot. Such an idiot. Still am, but at least I’m aware of it now. And I’m trying to be better. I want to be better.”

“Nathan…”

Her voice trailed off, not knowing what else to say. What could she say, when he was finally self aware?

“Break up with him, Megan, please. Give me another chance.”

It was now or never. As much as it pained her to admit to it all, she had to be honest.

“I already did.”

“What?”

“I broke up with him when we left the bar last night. I just…you screwed with my head Nate, so badly, and after your call it was all I could think about. I couldn’t get your words out of my head and I knew that no matter what, this was a death sentence for me and Greg. It’s over with him. Because of you, I cried on New Year’s Eve.”

Nate swore again.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to upset you.”

Megan couldn’t stop the laugh that choked out of her throat, thick with emotion and mildly hysterical.

“You never did, hm? And yet I’ve cried over you more than any other guy,” she reminded him.

“That…fuck, I don’t want to be that guy.”

“Bit late for that,” Megan said, sniffing.

“Let me make it up to you.”

His firm words shocked her, and yet they didn’t shock her at all. This was typical Nathan, swooping in with grand gestures to save the day when he shouldn’t have needed to fix what he broke in the first place. He was a mess. He made her a mess. And yet, talking to him last night and right now were the first times she’d felt truly alive since he’d broken up with her. How could she deny what she felt?

Where her light brown hair had been curled last night, it was in tousled waves now, and her grey-blue eyes were shadowed by lack of sleep as well as still being a little bloodshot from the crying. She looked far from her best, especially when it came to seeing Nate, but he deserved to see what he’d done to her.

Fuck it. She missed him and he missed her. How often did people get a second chance with the person they loved?

“Come over,” Megan murmured.

“I’m already on my way.”

[rohirric-hunter]

Ooooh time for my horrible little theory about all that -- I have a thought that trying to burn Faramir alive, from Denethor's point of view, was love.

"Yeah, yeah, yeah, because he was crazy," some of you are saying, but no, you're wrong, it makes perfect sense actually. See, Faramir always had to come as Denethor's second priority, despite being his son. "Yeah, yeah, yeah, to Boromir," some of you are saying, but no, you're wrong. Not to Boromir. To Gondor.

Boromir was the favored son because Boromir's wants and desires rarely if ever conflicted with what Denethor had to do and be for the sake of Gondor. Boromir's motivations and interests were what Denethor believed Gondor needed. A strong military affinity. A modern mindset that would also always put Gondor first in the way that Denethor believed it needed to be put first. Faramir of course also put Gondor first, but he looked to the past for wisdom, and Denethor, not even unreasonably, if we're honest, didn't like that because the past had not protected Gondor. His comment about Faramir desiring to appear "gracious and merciful like the kings of old," combined with something Tolkien wrote about how if Gondor won the war and Denethor was in charge he would have demanded very unforgiving tributes from Harad and the east in retaliation for the role they played in the war despite the fact that they likely had little if any choice, combined with Faramir's willingness to consider issues from all angles and make exceptions to the rules when he believes it necessary paint a rather ugly picture about the specific points upon which Denethor and Faramir likely clashed -- Faramir was more than willing to fight in the service of Gondor, but not ruthlessly so. He embodies pity and mercy, the traits that Bilbo showed when he chose not to kill Gollum, and the traits that in many cases were the only reason the Ring got destroyed at all. But Denethor did not value those traits. He demanded ruthlessness, because ruthlessness was, he believed, the only thing that was going to save them. And so Faramir was the less favored child, not necessarily because Denethor didn't love him, but because he was something that Denethor didn't believe he could afford to love.

So when the enemy comes, and the city is surrounded, and Denethor sees in the Palantir the black ships (but not who is on them), and he sees in the Palantir the empty road northward (but not the secret roads through the Druadan that his allies were actually taking), and he sees in the Palantir the dead body of the messenger he sent to Rohan, still holding the arrow that he sent in a plea for help (but not the fact that Theoden received the message already and gave the arrow back), and when he sees in the Palantir Frodo captured, lying in a prison in Mordor without the Ring (but not Sam carrying it himself), Denethor assumes, quite reasonably, that all hope is lost. Minas Tirith can only last a few days against this assault. He has been led to believe that no help is coming. Despite everything he sacrificed for it, Gondor has fallen. There is no point in loving Gondor anymore. There's about to be nothing left to love.

So in those last moments, Denethor is finally able to love Faramir first, before Gondor. "Yeah, yeah, yeah, and then he lights him on fire," some of you are saying, and I mean, okay, you're right, but hey quick question, do you think being an important political prisoner of Sauron is fun? Do you think being the guy who led innumerable guerrilla assaults against Sauron's allies and weakened his forces and largely held Ithilien and Osgiliath against him for quite frankly a ridiculous amount of time all things considered would be a nice thing to be, if you also happened to be Sauron's prisoner? Do you think the captain who commanded the loyalty and admiration of all of Gondor's army, inspiring them to stand up and fight in the face of overwhelming odds would be having a good time in the dungeons of Barad-dur? And what is the point in asking Faramir to endure that? Gondor has fallen. Gondor is gone. Boromir believed, and Denethor almost certainly also believed, that Gondor was the one thing holding Sauron back from taking over the whole rest of the world that he hadn't already conquered. And he thinks Sauron has the Ring. The whole rest of the world is, from his point of view, just as doomed as Gondor. As far as Denethor knows, this is the end of the world. There's nothing after this, only eternal darkness and suffering. Why should he ask his son to endure that?

I'm not justifying any of Denethor's actions. I'm not even saying he was a good person. But rest assured that if it was Boromir and not Faramir lying injured and dying but still alive, Denethor would have done the exact same thing. He loved Faramir. He knew he loved Faramir. And he was showing Faramir love in the only way he knew of. And yeah it's awful, but you have to remember he was in regular direct contact with Sauron for 30 years. WHICH by the by, Sauron had Numenor doing human sacrifices to Morgoth in less than one year. The best he could get out of Denethor after thirty years was killing his son while he was unconscious because he loved him too much to allow him to suffer. So. There's that.

[jellymochii]

Worth Burning For

𐙚 pairings: Karina x Fem!Reader

𐙚 genre: fluff, angst

𐙚 cw: religious themes (catholicism)

𐙚 wc: 2.2k

↪author's note: hello! decided to write this on a whim since I got inspired by my lovely moots on discord. i am a first time writer so this may be a little rough, but i tried to convey my emotions growing up catholic with this. hope you enjoy! <3

↪special thanks: thank you to @miupow , @moamidzyism , @sheerfreesia007 , and many more of my friends for helping me proofread and edit this. <3

**THIS IS PURELY A WORK OF FICTION AND DOES NOT REFLECT THE TRUE NATURE OF THE INDIVIDUALS MENTIONED.**

Jude 1:7 ~ Just as Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding cities, which likewise indulged in sexual immorality and pursued unnatural desire, serve as an example by undergoing a punishment of eternal fire.

The verse repeats in your head like clockwork.

And yet every Sunday you were willing to disregard every last word.

There was nothing comforting about the church you and your family stepped into once a week. While the beauty of the richly detailed glass murals certainly caught your eye, it never seemed to make you feel at ease, at home. What was once a fun activity as a child had now turned into a reminder of your future in an eternal fire.

It hadn't always been this way,you had always considered yourself "normal" as a child, finding boys in your classes attractive and even dating them in your younger years. As you grew, however, you began to experience puberty and its atrocious and ungodly side effects, and your emotions flamed as you battled a newfound tingling in your system. Lust.

While your sex ed classes had preached that it was normal to feel the desire to touch yourself (and others), your parents and elders at church had always denounced lust at its core, calling it "an abomination before our savior" and commanding abstinence amongst your youth group. That very youth group however, was the one to send you down into your spiral for longing.

Your closest friend since childhood at church, Karina, was always praised for her beauty by all. Glowing brown eyes, soft porcelain skin, and long black hair delicately concealed by a pure white veil. An angel walking amongst the earth, putting even saints to shame. And yet, always kind and gracious to all, and she seemed to have a special spot for you, a mere peasant in her presence.

What started as an innocent friendship between the two of you in your youth had turned you into the very monster your priest warned against since day one. In the blink of an eye, every detail about her made your heart soar higher than the heavens. The way she looked for you while sitting at the bench by the altar and smiled everytime your eyes met when you walked in and how she always got up to sit next to you. The way you could hear the choruses sing in your heart as she looked into your eyes when you spoke. The way nothing else in the world mattered as long as she was with you. The fire in your heart burnt, truly.

No one else could ever come close to her in your eyes, no man or woman. 

Karina also had her fair share of innocent relationships with men, and who wouldn't jump at the chance to be with divinity? But it was never innocent to them, she was a mere prize to be won for them, an object. They never understood her for her true kind nature, they never truly knew your Karina. No amount of ignoring or diving into other relationships could take away the sting of watching her look at a man the way she looked at you.

_______________________

It was still a Sunday like any other, your brother fussing about the early wake as usual as your parents dragged you to worship. You didn't seem to mind, to them you were just happy to be in the presence of God, but you were looking forward to seeing Karina again. Walking towards the old rusted doors you make the sign of the cross and enter, making it a point to fake a smile to anyone who greeted you. You rushed over to the bench where Karina sat, sliding in with ease as she turned and smiled.

"Y/N, you came!" She said with a bright smile.

"Of course I did silly, I always do. Not like I have a choice though." You giggled

"Listen, I've been trying to improve my cooking skills since I burned the last batch of cupcakes I've made. Can you taste this and tell me what you think?" She says as she hands you a small bag of cookies with "Y/N ♡" written on it.

Your heart fluttered at even the smallest gesture, the heart next to your name in the most beautiful handwriting, it was exactly why you endured this agony daily.

Karina watched attentively as you took a bite. It was surprisingly delicious and soft, you smiled at her warmly as you chewed, not caring about the crumbs all over your lap.

"It's delicious Karina! You outdid yourself with these.”

Her eyes lit up as she smiled. "Thank goodness, I worked all night on these! My dark circles must be showing" she said as she touched the skin under her eye.

"You spent all night working on these Rinnie?"

"Of course! I wanted to make them perfect for you."

Your ears rang at the words as heat crept up on your cheeks.

"F-for me? Rinnie you didn't have to do that! I eat enough as it is, I promise!"

"Well why wouldn't I? You're special to me, I wanted to." 

Just as quickly as your heart began to flutter, the bells rang and the priest began to walk down the aisle with the altar boys following quickly. You opened your book of hymns and attempted to sing alongside the rest of the church. Karina's voice sang next to you, her voice was truly beautiful, like a songbird of the heavens.

As the priest made his way down, you noticed one of the altar boys and long time friend, Felix, stumbling slightly while carrying the cross. Karina giggled as Felix laughed at himself slightly. He shot a look at the two of you in embarrassment. 

"He's always so clumsy, I hope he doesn't trip and break the cross" she whispered in your ear as you smiled in his direction. He pouted and looked the other way quickly.  

The rest of mass went about exactly how you'd expect, the priest droning on about sin and temptation as you tried to make sense of your emotions. It seemed as though that the priest's monotone voice and Karina's lack of sleep caused her to doze off, a rare sight for such a devout listener like her. Suddenly, you felt a slight pressure on your shoulder, turning your head slightly to see Karina delicately resting on you. 

This was heaven. Nothing in a promised afterlife could compare to her warmness and beautiful sleeping figure. You leaned your head on top of hers as you thanked the stars for this moment.

__________________

Your moment in bliss was too short lived as mass concluded and many church members gathered downstairs for the brunch. You still felt on cloud nine, but your head was still spinning. You couldn't keep this facade of normalcy up for much longer, especially since you were days away from deciding your college of choice. Would you and Karina go to the same school? Could you finally see her more, or would she pursue other endeavors and leave you forever? Your heart ached at the thought, unaware of the tap on your shoulder from a familiar face.

"Yo, Y/N! Have you finally decided where you're headed to? You seem conflicted about it." Felix asked.

"Oh, well, to be honest I'm still not sure. I'm too worried about the future." You responded

"Like what? You can tell me anything, I won't judge." He noted.

"Felix..." You paused. "...do you think that gay people deserve to die? Or burn in hell?"

His eyes widened at the brazen question as you hurried to retort.

"Well I'm just asking hypothetically, it's nothing serious!"

Felix sighed as he spoke. "No Y/N, you're not burning in hell for eternity. You're still my friend no matter what."

Your eyes widened "W-wait ME?! I'm not gay, I was just wondering!"

"You're a terrible liar." He retorted

"Nuh-uh! I had a boyfriend in 6th grade!"

"Yeah... in 6th grade. Where's he at now?" 

You stood still like a deer in headlights, how were you supposed to defend yourself now? He had caught you red-handed.

"Look, Y/N, I'm at the altar every Sunday. I KNOW you have feelings for Karina, and I honestly don't blame you. Karina is kind no matter what and knows to love everybody regardless of who they are. Besides, God is forgiving. I'm not ashamed of you." He said.

"So...you think she'll like me no matter what?" You whispered.

"I think so, yeah. Why not give it a shot, she might like you back! Besides, she doesn't seem too keen on any of my mates anyway." The freckled boy chuckled.

"But what if this ruins everything? What if she never sees me the same again? What if she hates me fore-" 

"Y/N, hurry! The line for the pumpkin pie is getting longer!" You heard Karina shout from behind you as she grabbed your hand and hurried you to her spot in line. 

"Ughh, I've been dying for some since November! I need some sugar badly before I fall asleep on the floor." Karina noted.

You had to know. You had to know if this was all for nothing, if you should move on forever with no regrets, even if it meant her potentially outing you to your family. It wouldn't matter to you anyway, you could leave and never come back, and yet, you would always think of her.

 "Rinnie, can I ask you something? And be honest with me, please."

"Sure, what's up?"

"Do you think gay people deserve to die?"

She paused for a moment, as if having a war in her mind at the mention.

"...No, of course not. Everyone deserves God's love."

A safe response, you thought.

"So if you had a friend who came out to you, you'd still love them?"

Her eyes widened. "Y/N, are you saying you're-"

You couldn't take it anymore. You grabbed her hand and rushed her into the girl's bathroom. You had to free the demons consuming you.

"Karina, I know you put your faith before anything else, and you have every right to never talk to me again after this, but I have to get this off my chest." You spoke as you felt the tears welling in your eyes, as if pleading to a savoir. You took her hand gently and placed it on your chest, letting her feel the rapid heartbeat pounding in your chest.

Her eyes met yours with a worried concern in her eyes, a rosy red blush creeping on her face.

"...My heart, it beats for you. It always has, and no matter how hard I try and repent, nothing can ever replace you in my heart. You're all I've ever wanted."

At this point, the tears were pouring as your lip quivered. You were about to lose it all, but you were prepared.

"I love you Karina. I always have, and I always will."

A sob escaped your lips as her breath hitched, looking at you as if you were a soaked puppy lost in the rain.

"I know I'm g-going to burn forever, and I know that I'll never see you again, but I had to tell you before I left."

You let go of her hand as she slowly retracted from your chest. Your heart was screaming to stay but your feet were dragging you back out into the world that hated you so.

Your attempt back was stopped by a swift grab of your hand, turning your head finding Karina with tears in her eyes as she moved closer.

"Y/N...do you mean it?" She said with a wobbly voice.

Was this real? Has heaven finally granted you access through her?

"Of course I do," you said through tears. "How could I not? You're everything I've ever dreamed of, nothing else I love comes even close to you. You're a blessi-"

Your speech was cut off swiftly by a pair of soft lips meeting yours.

You closed your eyes, cupping her face gently as you took every moment in. There's no way you would ever need access to heaven, when heaven was right here with you, kissing you with buttery lips and soft hands on your shoulders.

Your lips parted ways ever so slowly, as if being separated by Atlas himself, but not even Atlas could have the strength to keep you away from her. 

"Karina..." You muttered, feeling her warm breath on yours. "You don't have to do this. You don't have to burn in hell forever because of me."

She paused before smiling once more. "To me, Y/N, you're worth burning for." 

You weren't certain about the future. You didn't know if you'd ever get to see your family or friends at church again. But you knew for certain that no matter what, you would love Karina until the day you died. Even if God sent you both to hell, you would carry her through the lakes of fire and move the mountains for her. And if God dared to seperate you, you would crawl mountains for eternity to gaze upon her again, because to you, she was better than any paradise promised to you. Karina was, and always will be, your heaven.

[iamgonnagetyouback]

ivy my dear sweet heavenly child, I have something I must ask you:

the year is coming to a close and it has brought us many great things (like your many wonderful stories) and I'm simply dying to know.... if you were to do a 12 fics for 12 months sort of wrap up of your own blog, what would be your 12 most memorable fics of the year? which of your pieces really stood out to you? I'm eager to hear what my friends' proudest works are!

xx

Elle, my luminous, radiant starshine ☆, your words have me floating in a cloud of joy right now!! Oh, I’ve only been writing for 4 months and it feels like a whirlwind (ᵕ—ᴗ—) But well it sounds so fun (˶˃ ᵕ ˂˶)

I’ll admit, narrowing it down would be agonizing (how do you even pick just 12 when every fic feels like your baby?!), but oh, I’d love to dive into this little retrospective. Thank you for asking, honestly—it makes me feel so warm and appreciated!

So here I go, in no particular order...

♡ 𝐏𝐑𝐀𝐍𝐊𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐏𝐑𝐀𝐍𝐊𝐒𝐓𝐄𝐑 - You play the popular 'Asking my boyfriend to leave while I change' prank on James. ➺ my first fic, my baby, the one which started it all

♡ theodore nott x reader who is too sunshine-y for him to understand ➺ every word made me feel all giddy inside, like i was watching them fall for each other in real time. so much fun, so much fluff, so many butterflies! 🦋

♡ theodore nott x reader who has never had her first kiss ➺ this one was like the most self indulgent fic i've ever written

♡ mattheo riddle x single mom!reader where his smile entranced you and your 4 months old son ➺ soft!mattheo will forever have my heart

♡ 𝐑𝐎𝐌𝐄𝐎 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐉𝐔𝐋𝐈𝐄𝐓 - Romeo and Juliet had nothing on you and Jess Mariano. ➺ my first jess fic and my fav

♡ lorenzo berkshire x oblivous bsf!reader who doesn't realize enzo's feelings for her ➺ my love, my baby, my one of the faves

♡ tom riddle x wife!reader who is the only one he is submissive in front of (୨ৎ/♡) ➺ sub!tom will forever be a fav

♡ 𝐖𝐄 𝐅𝐄𝐋𝐋 𝐈𝐍 𝐋𝐎𝐕𝐄 𝐈𝐍 𝐎𝐂𝐓𝐎𝐁𝐄𝐑 - Your project night with Sirius turned into something you had been dreaming of. ➺ this made me all sobby and stuff

♡ roommate!remus lupin x bookworm!reader where he acts like he hates you but still there are new books lying on your desk every day ➺ this one was self indulgent and i'm proud of that

♡ james potter x cat animagus!reader who he picks up thinking as stray and lets in on a secret ➺ loved this one sooo soo muchh oml

♡ regulus black x reader where christmas at the potters brings back two brothers together ➺ literally sobbed while writing this

♡ 𝐅𝐎𝐑𝐆𝐎𝐓𝐓𝐄𝐍 - After being the forgotten one your whole life, you thought that they wouldn't forget you. (part 1 | part 2 | part 3 | part 4) ➺ my first series and will always be one of the faves

⟢ an honourable mention to my regulus black x crouch!reader and mattheo riddle x potter!reader fics

But enough about me, Elle. Tell me yours! I demand it with love. Your blog has been a treasure trove of inspiration, so I know you’ve got gems that deserve all the spotlight.

xx

[neithoftheveil]

It’s the end of my first full year writing fanfiction, which means I officially get to reflect on the whole experience!

So let’s dive in—

Words written: 385,418 (I was aiming for 400k! So close! Back when I was in my MFA program, I struggled to turn out more than 40k a year. I found my passion for writing again with fanfiction. It’s been a joy. Truly. I have discovered how valuable community is when it comes to creation. Having people in your corner and cheering you on is wonderful—but so is participating in fandom. The art. The meta. The conversations between friends and mutuals. I’m constantly inspired to make things.)

Kudos: 16,167 across 35 works (That’s so…fucking many. Pardon my French. You guys! You are so nice! Omg. I just want to wrap you all up and hug you. Sometimes I get so fixated on, oh, this fic barely got 50 kudos; it must have been a failure. But…that’s 50 whole human beings who liked it. And it adds up.)

Bookmarks: 5,134 across 35 works (!!! Just !!! The fact my stuff is read, let alone getting rereads and recommendations… I’m gonna cry.)

Hits: 136,434 across 35 works (Bizarre.)

My fic with the most comments:

all that defines me (295 comments — This surprises me because I feel like it’s one of my more unpopular works? I’m hardcore struggling to finish it, but I’m doing my best for everyone. Knowing now that it has some of the highest engagement of my fics is going to help me going forward.)

My fic with the most bookmarks and hits:

i talk to god but the sky is empty (582 bookmarks and 18,375 hits — I never expected this work to get the reception it did. It was the second fic I wrote for the fandom—finished after several other works but still my second. I write things I consider “niche fics” that are just hardcore my interests and I never expect anyone to care about them, but the fics always surprise me by ending up some of my more popular works. Thanks for supporting my brainworms.)

My fic with the most kudos:

i hope we shall meet again (1.472 kudos — A fic I wrote in an hour on a snowy day. It could be better, but I know I also say that because I got my first criticism as a fanfic writer on this fic and it really killed my mood for like a full week.)

My fic with the most subscriptions:

pieces of you (232 subscriptions — Another of my “niche fics.” Reception has been great! I tried something new: writing a fic with two endings, as well as challenging myself to flesh out the characterization of some lesser seen—or never seen—versions of Hua Cheng. My first non-commissioned fanart, by dragongoats, was for this fic and is happily linked in the author’s notes.)

My most popular series:

no light, no light + extras (The first fic I wrote for the fandom and a handful of extras that exist mostly thanks to IlluminatingSceadugenga being a huge fan and asking for more of the series. It’s a heavier series, and the writing style is hard to replicate because it’s my old style, but I love it.)

Fics I really enjoyed writing not mentioned above:

good bones (I stepped outside my comfort zone with this one and wrote an angry, dominant bottom Xie Lian, and then followed it up with a bunch of mpreg fluff.)

i will never leave you (I just had endless fun writing the development of Xie Lian and Hua Cheng’s relationship. The teasing. The good times. The domesticity.)

borrowed finery (This one will always have a special place in my heart. It’s sad and sweet.)

plum blossom (It’s probably the only funny thing I’ve ever written, but it makes me laugh when I reread it.)

Bonus: I wrote 5 gift fics this year, received a gift fic (!! thank you, scrapimmortal), wrote 3 prompt fics for my one-year anniversary, commissioned a piece of fanfiction, got art for my birthday, and wrote 15 ficlets on tumblr (one of which juicedpeachy added a piece of accompanying artwork for).

Y’all showed my work so much love. Thanks to everyone who subscribed, read, commented, reread, etc. You’ve been wonderful, and you’ve given me a reason to keep creating. I hope to continue writing this coming year.

[clockwork-ashes]

thank you @olenvasynyt for the tag! this was so fun :)

2024 Fic Writer End of Year Roundup

Answer and then tag three or more creators to keep the game going!

1. How many words did you publish on AO3 in 2024? 

160,904

2. How many fics did you complete this year?

if i count one-shots??? 15 fics. without them??? only 4!

3. How many in progress or ongoing fics did you start this year?

oh goodness, i really haven’t completed any of my multi-chapter fics this year LOL i have 5 ongoing ones (that i hope will be finished in 2025).

4. What was your favorite thing you wrote?

my favourite thing that i wrote this year i think has to be my erisweek2024 series of one-shots!!! i put a lot of time and thought into light the fire bright and i was SO happy with the final outcome!

outsider was also one of my favourite one-shots that i wrote! it was the first one i put up on ao3 and i was just super proud of myself for putting it up there :)

5. What piece was your most experimental or different from your usual style?

definitely something lonesome just because of the time loop aspect!!! it’s a lot of fun, and i like it being just a little darker than everything else i’ve written!!!

6. Did any fics surprise you - either while writing or their reception?

this has got to be all you have is your fire. it’s my first attempt at writing a romance-centred fic that follows a plot, and without everyone who read it and let me know they liked it, i would have given up writing it entirely!!! i was surprised that people were reading it, and the initial reception is a huge motivation for me to continue with it <3 thank you lovely readers!!!

7. Do you have a fic you wrote and loved that went under the radar? (This is your sign to reblog/repost it!)

maybe prince of ashes??? that fic is old and i posted it onto ao3 really quickly just to have it up there LOL so it makes sense that it went under the radar!!!

8. Who is an artist that inspired you

so many!!! especially @works-of-heart, @velidewrites, and @elleybug!!! there’s MORE but if i’ve reblogged your work, you have 100% inspired me <3

9. Who is an author that inspired you?

i just have so many (and i’m sorry to those i forget)! definitely @zenkindoflove really inspires me with her amazing works (with elucien and also with eris x alexius). the relationships just feel SO real in your stories <3 @the-darkestminds also is just so talented, the angst in autumn’s shadow is unmatched!!! @olenvasynyt has the most amazing fic for anyone looking to read about lucien (i cannot get over your portrayal of jesminda it’s too perfect). then @separatist-apologist and @crazy-ache with their legendary elucien works!!! i feel like lots of authors inspire me, and the list will be too long if i keep going, but if i’ve ever read something, it has instantly inspired me as well!!!!

10. Who is a new author you discovered?

new to me because i still feel like i’m new around here LOL but @dusk-muse is just SO talented, and @jon-snows-man-bun has such a unique and interesting take on the hewn city (it’s perfect). @avabrynne is INSPIRATIONAL just has all the best au ideas and writes so manly wonderful fics!!! also i LOVE @missfckingfortune and @jules-writes-stories and @nocasdatsgay and @lovely-vanserra-sunshine and @cauldronblssd!!! so many amazing authors in the ACOTAR fandom!!!

11. Did you do any collaborations? How did it start?

no collaborations, but that’s mostly just because i’m very shy LOL

12. What accomplishments are you proudest of?

just posting anything at all is what i’m proudest of!!! it’s a big step for me, i like not being completely perceived, but just writing and reading fics and interacting with people on here and ao3 is something i’m glad i’m doing :))

13. What did you learn about writing or creating this year?

that it’s okay to post something that isn’t perfect is probably the biggest one. it’s a huge relief to realise that the people who read what you write know that what you share with them is being done for fun!

14. Any advice you’d like to share with new or aspiring writers?

i have to really think about this one because i truly don’t know LOL my one and only piece of advice is to have fun with what you’re writing because if you are enjoying the process and having a nice time creating the story you want to tell, then that’s a success! taking a break from writing projects is okay, and taking your time with things is okay too!!! and as someone who is super shy, i always try to encourage people to just share!!! the experience has been so fun and i’ve really enjoyed writing this year :))

15. What are your creative goals for 2025?

just to keep writing and to finish AT LEAST one of my wips!!! i like the idea of wrapping things up when i write, i just have trouble executing (i’m working on it tho).

no pressure tags: anyone mentioned and anyone who wants to join!!!

[redlistenstomusic]

O no! The gramps are fighting

allegedly, James started it first by throwing that ball to the unsuspecting Lars that almost bonked him out of stage. So, this was a revenge act

source

[spookythesillyfella]

@thecultoflove SINCE YOU JUST LOOVE MIZU5 . HOW BOUT YOU HAVE YOUR FLY MIZU5-ED !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! .... Uhh .. MizuFly -ed .. erm ...... amirite folks ? haha ... ?

[skunkes]

I'm v curious abt Talon's mesoamerican origins and evolution in general how does his accent sound when written out? after such a long life what is the strongest vestige of those times he has (aside from physical features and so on). I can't believe some rando bloodsucker colonized my boy

I have no idea what his accent wld sound like as the few videos i cld find of people speaking his original language, are, of course, mainly spanish speakers! And I can sometimes hear the difference in spanish as they switch between the 2 while being interviewed but i struggle to mentally transplant that as to how it'd sound in English ykwim 😭 there's also the fact that its the modern language spoken by them so it has evolved alongside and borrows from spanish anyway, by those who still speak it and speak both Today

Im actually still zeroing in on fleshing out more of that lore, since I can't find too much info on the specific culture i envision for him, it may really just have to be "fantasy culture INSPIRED by the people" instead, so i dont completely botch actual historical info 😮‍💨 either that or go very vague off of the info available

[chasmbreach]

oh hey old art i never posted back in uh *checks date* December 13, 2021.

i am never going back to finish this lmao. but also what the fuck

@siiversans // GIN BELONGS TO KIA PLEASE LOVE THE POOR BOY I WANT TO GIVE HIM LOVE BUT I DIDN'T FINISH THIS RRRRRRR

[sysig]

Just thinking about @10yrsy’s Things, y’know, casually (Patreon)

[arolesbianism]

Some swap au Olivia and Jackie concepts for the main 3 universes 👍

[vanillabat99]

Just a heads-up that the queue might run out in the next day or two!! I haven't been finding much to put in there and I've been doing a lot of sleeping lately, so it's been falling behind. I need to go through my following list and clear out inactive pages and try to get things going again. If you have any blog or tag recommendations, I'm all ears!!

[chirpingchorus]

chirp

(long and silly rant in tags so maybe don't open them if you're scrolling at a leisurely pace)