#one of my proudest creations. Maybe this is a treat after all

[caliblorn]

trick or treat 🫵👹

The fate has given you...

TRICK (DAMN IT, ENOUGH!!)

Toddimarco

[daisylincs]

Today is, officially, the last day of 2020 - so it's literally just in time that I'm getting to @aosrecweek's amazing challenge. But that does go to show the nature of this crazy year a little bit, right? Time has just been INSANE, and I honestly cannot believe it's so close to over.

That said, I want to put it out there that everyone - absolutely everyone - who created something in this mad year, is a SUPERHERO. Like. We could have hidden away in dark corners, curled into little balls, and lost touch with our creativity entirely - but instead, we made some of the most fantastic content I have ever seen. And, excuse the language, but that is fucking amazing, of each and every single one of us. We're bloody INCREDIBLE, you guys. We really are.

Now, the rules of this challenge dictate that I've got to start with some of my own things, then repeat with the same number of creations by other people. So I'm going to do that, and I apologise for the sheer length (and self-plug-iness) of what is about to follow - but, bloody incredible, remember? I really mean that. 💜💜💜

My Own:

you could call me babe for the weekend - 19k of Spideychelle being oblivious, mutually pining IDIOTS while being snowed in. And, you know, fake dating. (This thing was SO MUCH FUN to write and though, yeah, it got completely out of control, as evidenced by the 19k, I still really love it.)

'tis the damn season - my first attempt at writing a multi-chap, and, yeah, it only has one chapter as of now, but I really love said chapter. Basically, it's Daisy and Mackelena being friends, and honestly just the BEST friends - I adore the style I managed to achieve in this thing. Plus, the Skimmons I have planned up next is going to be da bomb.

the closest thing - Philindaisy plus fake family. Also; amusement parks. And for a fangirl like me - well, it was pretty much a dream come true to write!

oh valley of plenty - in this fic, I basically told myself, so AoS won't give us Huntingbird in the finale? Fine. I'll just do it myself then - in the fluffiest way possible. And that's exactly what I did - making them, and their kids, be best friends in Perthshire.

maybe life should be about more - a very angsty Skimmons and Daisy-centric AU, focusing on the internalised homophobia Daisy has experienced through her life, and shaking it off (and eventually, y'know, getting together with Jemma.)

and it's dark in a cold december (but i've got you to keep me warm) - Fitzsimmons just make such a supreme pairing for hurt/comfort, what with how insanely well they understand each other and care about each other, so I'm really glad for the Fitzsimmons Secret Santa giving me the chance to write this! Basically, this follows our science duo through a stressful mission on Christmas Eve (so yes, it's a mission fic!!) and realising that the two of them can do anything together.

july second - ahhh, one of my personal favourites to write! Daisy birthday surprise fluff will always be top-notch for me, especially for all the team-as-family fluff you can add in, especially especially that this is set in Staticquake times! Also, it's from Hunter's point of view, which will forever be the most insanely fun thing to write, I do think.

i just wanna be with you - man, I'm such a big royal fan, so getting the chance to write a modern royalty AU for my OTP was nothing short of amazing!! This is Princess Daisy and her fiancée Lincoln Campbell at their official engagement interview

see the line where the skye meets the sea - shameless season 1 bby Bus Kids fluff, featuring movie nights, singalongs and... so much fluff your teeth will rot. Also I'm really freaking proud of the pun in the title okay

'cause all that you are is all that i'll ever need - Huntingbird waking up together fluff (because, fight me, Huntingbird in their sweet moments is one of the sweetest things you will ever get to read or write.) This is also my, fluffy, take on the origin of the Franny's Saloon keychain.

we love you, we love you (and we hope you love we too) - aha, my first polyship fic! Also my first try at some actually fancy HTML formatting (forever thanks to Kat for explaining.) Both of these things combined to form a fic that even I think is ridiculously fluffy and funny, and kinda amazing, at that.

and man I don't know where the time goes (but it sure goes fast like that) - Another Bus Kids movie night fic, but this one set post-season 7, and reflecting on how far they've come. A little bit more hurt/comfort-y than it's pure fluff prequel, but still super fluffy and soft. And, of course, with a happy ending.

she shares my dreams, i hope that someday, i'll share her home - snowy Fitzsimmons fluff, complete with them falling in love at the Winter Olympics, as you do.

then you walked in and my heart went boom - 16k of Dekesy for the wife, and remarkable for that, because literally a month ago from this, I hated Dekesy with my entire soul. Then I started reading Kat's fics, and, well, fell in love with them... so much so that I wrote sixteen thousand words of enemies-to-friends-to-lovers, bed sharing holiday fluff for them.

a love like that - a Fitzsimmons Cinderella AU, featuring my two favourite science babies, in true science bby style, falling in love over science and how stupid the whole courting thing is. Also, Daisy makes a brief appearance, and she's the freaking best.

ever after - ah, probably the one single fic I'm proudest of. A post-season 7 Daisy character study focusing on her emotional rollercoaster re: losing her family/things never being the same again, which just achieves... an emotional level that I have never managed to replicate again. I was full-on sobbing while writing it, and, guys, it also part-holds the Closest To Making Kat Cry prize.

blue - Daisy character study spanning snapshots of seven seasons, and before - but tied together by something blue in every moment. Researching for this, and finding all the blue moments, was very interesting, and immensely satisfying, especially since all the moments where a little bit of blue was present actually combine to chronicle Daisy's journey on the show remarkably well.

who is that girl I see - the one time I decided to write straight angst, and straight angst with no happy ending. Melinda May post-Bahrain, folks.

take my hand, take my whole life too - aww, the first thing I wrote that I really and truly loved. A Staticquake and Fitzsimmons Actors AU, featuring a proposal on set and INCREDIBLE amounts of fluff and softness.

hold out your hand, 'cause friends will be friends - the wife's favourite, and, as second fics go, pretty damn good, if I do say so myself. It's a Soulmates AU for Staticquake and Mackelena, with the focus being on DaisyMack friendship, and lots of denial, angst, and guilt about finding their soulmates. (They figure it out eventually, don't worry - it's me, of course I made them happy.)

Fitzsimmons + Fake Dating moodboard - Fake dating will always be FAB, and picturing it out in a moodboard - especially for my clueless bby best friends in love - was the best, and super satisfying.

Staticquake + Orange moodboard - One of the cooler ideas I had for Trick or Treat (which I still have not finished, heaven help me) was to make a series of moodboards for my OTP plus different colours. This orange one is just so light, and cheerful, and happy, and honestly I kinda adore it.

This Philindaisy + Family Moodboard - making moodboards can be insanely frustrating when you just can't find the photo that fits exactly right. With this one, however, I found all the pics I needed pretty insanely fast, and, better, the whole thing just worked, and really nicely so, too.

This Bus Kids + Baking Cookies moodboard - there's absolutely NO faults to be found with tiny, adorable Skye, Fitz and Jemma concocting choc chip cookies - but I'm actually doing a tiny cheat here, because, cute as my moodboard here is, the accompanying fic by my love @eowima is the SWEETEST and best thing you could ever wish for!!!

This Daisy Johnson Appreciation Week Photoset - Day 3 of Daisy Johnson Appreciation Week focused on an emotion, and I picked confidence and power, because honestly, it's nothing short of amazing how confident and powerful our gorgeous girl has become.

This Daisy Johnson Appreciation Week Photoset - One of the times I wish I could gif, because this quote about struggling though never giving up just suits Daisy perfectly. The photos I found are cool, though, and I mean, it's Daisy, so that's already absolutely fabulous.

Other People's:

I managed to find twenty-six of my own things that I liked enough to put up there (because, yes, I'm that big a dork, 26 things for me being 26 is the way to go :D) Anyway, now that gives me the amazing chance to spotlight twenty-six of my favourite creations by my FANTASTIC mutuals! 😍

To start, my wife - Kat said I couldn't put everything she's ever written on here, so, ugh, I guess I'll just do my top five then. *grumbling* Everything by Kat is on here in spirit, though!!

Chasing Cars (even after the story ends) by @aleksandrachaev - the epic Dekesy roadtrip AU and incredible Daisy character study itself, which, I do believe, finishes today!! Words aren't enough to describe how freaking AMAZING this thing is, or how spectacularly well characterised. Just: if you haven't read this yet, you are missing out. You will laugh, you will groan, you will want to wrap Daisy in a very tight hug, and you will probably cry, too. This fic just has it all, really!

there goes the maddest man this town has ever seen by @aleksandrachaev - the post-season 7 Deke-crashes-the-Framework-Zoom-call fic I didn't know I needed (but spent the next two weeks rereading every single night.) It is absolutely INCREDIBLE, with all the Deke & Team feels we missed in the final outro scene, and honestly just the most fantastic writing. I cannot recommend it enough!

To Box It Up And Start Again (everything must go) by @aleksandrachaev - bloody hell, this BROKE me. Deke never really got to say goodbye in canon, but Kat gave him the chance to do it here. And, my freaking GOODNESS, she made it so incredibly bittersweet and heart-shattering. 10/10

i am a leaf on the wind by @aleksandrachaev - a little bit of a stretched-out, reflective moment in the season 7 finale. As Daisy lingers on the edge of death, she reflects on all the lives she could have had - and, man, what a study in bittersweetness!! This entire fic is utterly incredible, and something I think all Daisy fans should read.

Falling Into Place by @aleksandrachaev - here's a tiny cheat from me (sorry, babes, lmao) because technically this isn't one fic, but a series of three. Way too amazing to miss out on, though!! Set mid-season 7, this has the Chronicoms go after a young Mary Sue Poots to kill Quake before she can become a problem for them. They stop the Chronicoms, yes, but not without a TREMENDOUS dose of feels and hurt/comfort. There's also a wonderful little dose of Dekesy friendship, and then an adult adoption (!!) that honestly made my entire day to read. Actually, that's true for the entire series - I really canNOT yell about it enough!!

destroyer of worlds by @bobbimorseisbisexual - a study in incredible parallels between Jiaying's daughters. Utterly breathtakingly done, this will give you ALL the feels for this small and complex Inhuman family.

Muscle Memory by @robotgort and @bobbimorseisbisexual - a Huntingbird!! Bones!! AU!! And also a collaboration between two of the most fabulous Huntingbird authors in the fandom - honestly, what more can you ask for?! This will make you laugh, and gasp, and wince, and keep you guessing at each new plot twist (and also screaming at your screen for Hunter and Bobbi to get their acts together and TALK ABOUT IT.) In short: it's completely and utterly amazing, and I cannot, cannot recommend it enough!!

You Belong Among the Wildflowers by @libbyweasley - a freaking incredible Scis & Spies Regency AU! I only just started reading, but I was hooked all the way through, especially on the way Libby writes all four characters' complex relationships (and their attraction, and their history!) Everything about it is just completely stunning, and I for one cannot WAIT for these beautiful idiots to figure out they all belong together.

Family Snapshot by @tomatobookworm - if it's family fluff you're after, especially Staticquake family fluff, look no further! This tremendously soft and utterly amazing fic follows a day in the lives of a pregnant Daisy and her husband Lincoln, and their not-so-little family of Inhumans, both adopted and biological. There's also shopping with Grandma May, lots of feels, lots of shippiness, and just AMAZINGNESS all the way through!!

Best Day Ever by @loved-the-stars-too-fondly - Jemma and Daisy want to adopt a pet, and make a very special trip to Wisconsin to do it. Also, whether he knows who he is or not, Jemma has an important question to ask Cal - and just, AHHHH, everything about this is utterly stunning! For starters, Aubrey's writing is FANTASTIC, and the scene she sets is absolutely beautiful, and so very bittersweet. I was actually misting up a little with happy tears towards the end of this - really, I cannot recommend this enough, to any Skimmons fan.

so why don't we go somewhere only we know by @loved-the-stars-too-fondly - more Skimmons (platonic this time, though), more hurt/comfort, and, yes, again, more absolutely INCREDIBLE writing. This one is canon compliant, following a shaken Jemma struggling to sleep after Maveth, and how Daisy finds a way to help her out. Incredibly sweet, tender and BEAUTIFULLY written, this one was an instant favourite the moment I read it!

Unspoken by @anxiouslynumbme - a birthday fic for yours truly, and, honestly, one of the most STUNNING Staticquake introspectives I've read. It follows Daisy and Lincoln in a beautifully tender missing moment in season 3, with them both realising their feelings, and just... AHHHHHHHH, everything about it is utterly incredible!! I cannot, cannot recommend this gem of a fic enough

the thing about water droplets and ruffled hair by @que-mint-tea - here's another fic that proves, once and for all, how good Kat's Dekesy is, because it managed to convert T to write some Dekesy smut. And, oh my GOSH, what Dekesy smut - so goshdarn angsty, but so FANTASTICALLY characterised and written that it leaves you more than a little breathless, and gaping at your screen. The first chapter initially left us on the most HORRIFIC cliffhanger, but then T fixed it, and it's just... this thing is really a whole new level of emotional writing, raw and gripping and intensely perfect for both of these characters. My haw still drops whenever I think of this thing, and how utterly AMAZING it was, so yeah. Fic rec!!!

beautiful stranger, there you are by @justanalto - I do believe I still owe Serena a long and very gushy comment on this thing, because, MAN, does it ever deserve that!! Pipsy and fake dating, with the most HILARIOUSLY incredible writing, plot and characterisation, and honestly just a giddy "askhdfkhsfh" whenever I think back to how much I enjoyed it. Yup, it was that good.

Jumping to conclusions by @eowima - a very special one, because it marks my love Océane's first venture into writing AoS fic! It's an AU of 1x06 (the Fitzsimmons episode of s1) where Fitz does actually jump out of the plane to save Jemma. Realisations of feelings, and some of the most genuinely FANTASTIC Fitz characterisation I've read in a while, follow - and, yup, I was shouting at my screen for them just to get together already. Amazing stuff, really!!

Look into your eyes and the sky's the limit by @eowima - okay, this. This. Another gift for me, and one that I will probably treasure forEVER, because it is just?? so?? utterly?? perfect?? Just for starters, the title is a Hamilton reference - and then the theme of Hamilton references continues into the fic itself, I'm delighted to say. There's also the most BEAUTIFUL, playful Skimmons friendship, and teasing, and then of course the bet about who can make out with their crush first... Staticquake & Fitzsimmons perfection. And all rendered in Océane's delightful, best-thing-ever-to-read writing!! I'm going into a giddy keyboard smash just THINKING about this, so yeah, cannot recommend it enough.

lullabies and clear blue skies by @springmagpies and @bobbimorseisbisexual - okay, I never thought I'd catch myself shipping FitzBobbi, let alone shipping it this hard, but... wow. Maggie and Al teamed up to completely blow me away, and MELT MY WHOLE ENTIRE HEART with the sheer cuteness of this!! It features Fitz, Bobbi and adopting two daughters, and it's just the most tender, beautiful development through that little family - I love it so, so much.

We made all the wrong choices by @browneyedgenius - the winner of the AoS Angst War 2020, how could I not include this one? It is such a well-deserved win, though, whoa - I was sobbing, full-on sobbing, at least twice while reading. It follows the season 5 team through the events of the time-loop, after they failed to save the world - and, oh my gosh, it ripped my heart right out of my chest, but beautifully so. Everything about this fic just hits so hard, and it's written so well - yeah, really a most AMAZINGLY deserved win, for an utterly SHATTERINGLY incredible fic.

I threw stones at the stars (but the whole sky fell) by @nazezdha321 - this is Z showing us all how to write a backstory for a minor character, and write it so well that everyone's hearts break all over again when she dies. This one is about Victoria Hand, and it builds a stirring and profound childhood for her, also making her rise through the ranks of SHIELD and just her entire character mean so much more. Really, fic-wise, this is goals, and I take my hat off to you, Z, 1000%, for writing it.

in which the universe is put together by @besidemethewholedamntime - Rebecca's emotional writing, particularly Fitzsimmons' emotions, is incomparable, and she proves it all over again in this fic. If follows Fitz and Jemma before, after and during the bloodwork, and I just... wow, honestly. The emotion!! And the characterisation!! Absolutely stunning, and honestly all I could wish for in a we-had-time fic.

Agents of SHIELD Season 8 by @egumal - THIS. This, this, this, oh my gosh - as fix-it fics go, this has to be the most spectacular one I have ever read. What it does is find a way - a potentially canon compliant way, too - to bring back Lincoln Campbell, and reunite Staticquake. Basically: just about as season 7 finishes, the Astro Ambassadors get an unexpected visitor from another timeline, who asks them to come help out against Hive. Case in point, Daisy meets her lost love again (... but he has no idea who she is) and also has to relive the Fallen Agent drama. It all gets even more complicated when Kora restores Lincoln's memories, and Daisy meets the full team Deke has assembled around him in the 33 years (for him) that they've been apart... in short, this is one of the most thorough, well-written and downright SHOCKING plot-twist-wise fics that you will ever read, and honestly, saying "I can't recommend it enough" is an understatement. This thing is thd BEST, plain and simple!

Black Roses aren't real (but you and I are) by @ohwriteiforgot - ahhhh, a fic that will always have an incredibly special place in my heart, because it introduced me to one of my best fandom friends. The main focus is on Clintasha, it's true, but it's also a crossover with AoS in the sense that Clint was adopted by Coulson and May. Also, Daisy is his little sister, and their bond is gold. Also - there's Staticquake!! And flower shops!! And rivals to friends to lovers!! All I'm going to say is, what more can you ask for?!

A book to shield my story by @maybebrilliant - Staticquake High School AU, ahhhhhhhh!! There are only two chapters out so far, but the way this is shaping up is making my DAY - with Daisy as the new girl who meets Lincoln and his group of friends, and, though her foster parents are absolutely shit, starts to find actual happiness in a school for the first time in her life. Also - THE REFERENCES. Guys. I'm crazy for those, and in this book, so are my favourite dorks, Daisy and Lincoln - and let me tell you, it's nothing short of the best thing ever.

This AoS Finale Gif Edit by @heysteverogers - AoS really has been the most INCREDIBLE journey through the years, but what's really made it special is the company - and that's summed up perfectly in this gorgeous gifset. Also, the graphics on this are just, ahhhh, stunning - I'm in awe, and I've spent very long periods of time just looking at this thing in a state of heart-eyes.

This AoS Finale Gif Edit by @jemannesimms - combining Auld Lang Syne and the final scenes of my favourite show was a raw emotional - but utterly brilliant experience - for me. It's just so absolutely beautiful, and perfectly suited to the team, and their goodbyes!! Breathtaking editing work here, too.

This Daisy as Peter Parker and May as Tony Stark moodboard by @agentsofcomedyandchaos - ahhhh, a crossover of two of my favourite fandoms!! And what a lovely one, too - the colour scheme, quotes, and just the whole FEEL of this is absolutely genius, and I am guilty of being inspired by way too many fic ideas by it. Stunning stuff!!

And... whoa, that was long, but I really do feel that we deserve a bit of a proper pat on the back after creating such magical content in such a messed up year. So that's the note I'm going to leave you with for 2020, my friends: hell-year or no, look at the absolute beauty we were still able to create!! We really are freaking amazing, guys.

[vjhanson]

Writer, Meet Characters

I wrote a thing based on @an-author-in-progress ‘ post (it’s fairly recent on my blog) and now I’m posting it.

I was about to go to bed when I wrote it so it’s neither long nor good but that’s okay. Keep reading if you wanna :)

~~~

She opened the door and barely took two steps into the darkness before a voice sounded from the darkness. “Get out.”

It was calm and monotone—a voice she’d only ever heard in her mind, only ever seen on a screen. A voice she created, but never expected to meet.

“Rhodes?” she asked, feeling around the wall for a switch.

As light flooded the room, she was met with not one pair of eyes, but four. They were her characters—her greatest accomplishments—but they didn’t look like something to be proud of in this moment. They bore scars and bruises, bloodied wounds and grim expressions.

“What happened to you guys?”

“You happened to us,” Chania spat. Her bronze skin was stained with dirt and blood, the dark patches evidence of the girl’s crimes against her.

She didn’t know what to say. Her own creations surrounded her, eyes like lasers burning through paper. Confusion hazed over her eyes. “You’re not like how I remember…”

“What do you remember?” Rhodes was sat in the corner of the room, stare directed at the ground. “Do you remember what we were before you started torturing us? Or have you forgotten all you’ve put us through?”

“No, I—”

“You get a kick out of all this, don’t you?” Kallithea stood to rival her. “You find some sort of sick joy in treating us the way you do. Do you have any idea what it’s like to go through everything you’ve put me through? The—"

“Shut up! They don’t know about all of that yet.” She gestured to the others in the room, but Kallithea was unfazed.

“Who cares? You’re probably about to kill them all anyway. That’s why you’re in here, isn’t it?”

“She’s here by chance, if you can believe it.” Chopart spun the dagger around his fingers, a smile tweaking his lips. “You can attack her all you like—scream and shout if it’ll make you feel better—but it won’t change anything. She doesn’t care. A heartless species, authors are.”

“Maybe you should’ve been an author,” Rhodes offered, but Chopart only laughed.

“I’m more skilled with a knife than a quill. A more stimulating use of time, I think.” He glanced at V.J. across the room, then to the girls surrounding her. “You shouldn’t swarm her like that. You wouldn’t want our baby Satan to kill any of you, would you?”

She diverted her gaze, staring at the floor as she scratched a hand to the back of her neck. About that.

Chopart giggled. “It seems she has that in mind, anyway. Tell me, who’s first? Is it poor Thea who you’ve damaged so much already? Perhaps it’s Rhodes, after all the time you spent perfecting his personality. Would be a shame, don’t you think?”

She flicked her eyes from Kallithea to Rhodes, eyeing their glares with an apologetic smile. Rhodes shook his head. “She needs us to finish the series.”

“I wouldn’t place bets. However, maybe it’ll be me.” Chopart kicked off the wall and made his way towards her, charming grin on his face as he bent down to her height. “But it’s not. I have too much to offer, too much entertainment to bring your boring plot.”

“Does he talk to all of you like this?” she asked the group around her. They all nodded, but their glares pierced through her.

“You created him, jackass,” Kallithea stated. “Don’t fucking complain when you made him that way.”

“He’s not as twisted as I made him.”

The sadistic man’s laugh resonated with her as he withdrew from her space and returned to the wall. “Even the most twisted things about me don’t compare to the things in your mind. After all, I’m just your worst thoughts brought into reality.”

She didn’t know what to say to that.

“I never thought there’d be anyone worse than Chopart, but I guess there’s always an exception to the rule, isn’t there?” Rhodes sighed. “You call me the character you’re the proudest of, and you still put me through so much hell. Why?”

“Don’t you all get it?” She struck their attention with that, and finally they allowed her to speak—to explain herself. “I have and will put you through so much, but you’re functioning fine. I know I’m awful to you, but I’m so fucking proud of you for that.”

Chania took a deep breath, shaking her head. “Your pride doesn’t take away the pain though, does it? You can flaunt us to everyone, you could make us famous, but it’ll never redeem you after all of this.”

She stared each of them in the eyes and spoke. “I’m so sorry, guys. I didn’t realise how much all of this has really hurt you.”

“But it won’t change anything, will it?” Kozani wasn’t believing a word from her mouth, and with good reason.

“No, probably not.” A smile broke onto her lips, more sadistic than she expected. “I’m the god of your world. I control all of you. You’d all be nothing without me.”

“It seems our baby Satan knows her place well.” Chopart chuckled.

She took a few steps backwards and felt for the doorhandle. “I’m going to head off now, but if I’m still welcome here, we can continue this conversation another time.”

“Bold of you to assume you were ever welcome here.” Kallithea narrowed her eyes as she opened the door.

Chopart smiled and gave a quick wave. “Give me a creative death, won’t you? I’d like to die the same way I lived.”

“Brutally sadistic and fucked up? Got it.”

Rhodes waved a hand towards her, as if trying to brush her out of the room. “I’ll say it one more time. Get out.”

She nodded and closed the door behind her. She chuckled, but it was quick to grow into hysterics. Her maniacal laughter shook the walls around her.

She was the god of their world. She was a heartless species. She was an author.

[truewanderer77445]

OC Creation Day Celebration Week: Krim's Tarot Reading

Here we freaking go! I've been anticipating Day three for sometime because the questions are just so interesting to me, which is why I shall do all of them! Funnily enough, Krim puts quite a bit of stock into fortune and the like so he'd be all for this.

So let's just hop straight into this

(This was late so Day 4 will be coming later on today as well.)

The Fool: When has your character been excited to start a new journey?

Funnily enough, his initiation for Haven Academy. For the first time he felt he was making huge strides towards his dream of being a Huntsman, and when he passed it, that made the joy even more palpable. He and his Mother shared tears that day.

The Magician: How does your character unleash their creativity or resourcefulness?

Through intense focus. He thinks on every possible aspect of an idea or solution before settling on that which will guarantee success or lead to it.

The High Priestess: When has trusting their instincts paid off for your character?

Due to the careful nature of his work, Krim can often distinguish which Target is worth pursuing and which is a trap. He's saved his men from several death traps by trusting in his instincts. Intelligence and Recon helps too.

The Empress: Who has been a positive female figure in your character’s life?

His Mother without a doubt. Without her influence, Krim would never have sought to become a Huntsman in the first place. She is easily the greatest source of his drive and determination.

The Emperor: Who has been a positive male figure in your character’s life?

His Father. Without him, Krim would never have seen how important it was to fight against the treatment of the Faunus and instill in him the strength to endure any pain and any hardship.

The Hierophant: Who has served as a mentor to your character?

Because it's in his nature to learn from the experiences of others, Krim's had many mentors. But it's Sienna Khan who can be considered his true mentor. It was her that groomed him into the highly dangerous and effective agent of the White Fang. He owes a great deal to her.

The Lovers: Which of your character’s relationships has been the most positive? (Romantic or otherwise)

His friendship with Pantone, a cobra faunus who's his second in command. Their bond is strong, mostly because they share the exact same dream and willingness to achieve that dream. And it is her that will help cement the future their people deserve, in Krim's eyes.

The Chariot: What goal is your character determined to reach?

Equal rights for all faunus. He will accept nothing less than that.

Strength: On what issue is your character persistent?

That you must be as strong as your ambition is large. Without that strength to defend and push forward that dream, you will never achieve it. You must be strong. You must endure. You must prevail.

The Hermit: Write about a time your character did some soul searching. What did they find?

That fighting the Grimm would not be enough to stop the discrimination against his people. That no matter what he did to the Grimm, it would mean nothing at all. People—Humans— would still view his people as animals, no matter how good of a Huntsman a Faunus could be. He realized he was doing a disservice to his people rather than his duty. He stopped that immediately.

The Wheel of Fortune: What are your character’s proudest successes?

What he's turned the Vacuo branch of the White Fang into. They are a highly efficient, disciplined, and effective force.

Justice: When has your character felt satisfied with the conclusion to a major dispute or concern?

Before he ran the Vacuo branch of the White Fang, he and his squad were dispatched to Atlas to harass SDC interests. While not every victory was a major one, and more than once they were met with failure, by the time they left Krim was more than satisfied with what they accomplished.

The Hanged Man: When has your character needed to step back and look at things from a different perspective?

When Krim encounter's aspiring Huntsman in Silver Chro and Sky Fleur (sort of my oc protagonists of this AU) that make him pause. It's their strength, their ambitions that opens his eyes. that his disregard for humanity made his dream of equality between humans and faunus flawed. It doesn't do much to dissuade him.

Death: When has your character had to let go of something in their life?

Sadly, his Mother. While she's still living out her days on Menagerie, Krim doesn't visit her and only calls her sparingly. His work is just too important, but one day that will all change once he succeeds.

Temperance: How does your character balance their life?

By focusing on why he's doing the things he's doing. It's why he takes time to spend with those working with him, doing what he can to assist Faunus communities, and sending lien to his mother so she can continue to live a pleasant life. He enjoys the little things so the bigger things are much more worthwhile.

The Devil: Does your character ever neglect their wild side?

There have been a few nights he's woken up with a mean hangover after a night drinking with the men. He's not all discipline all the time.

The Tower: When has your character lost an ideal or relationship?

He gave up the ideal that Huntsman could be free of discrimination. After all, both Human and Faunus gave their lives defending others from the Grimm. Learning that truth is what set him on this path.

The Star: When has your character been most hopeful?

When he was young, thinking that as a Huntsman he could bring true change to how Faunus are treated and become respected in their eyes. It was a simple and sweet dream, but a dream nonetheless.

The Moon: When has your character’s path been unclear?

During that period of time in the prime of his Huntsman career. He wasn't having the effect he intended, even if he never expected change to be immediate. But he constantly questioned if he was ever making a difference.

The Sun: When does your character sit back and enjoy themselves?

Only after a successful campaign will he take some time to himself. Maybe drink a little, call his mother, and simply relax.

Judgment: Has your character ever been given a second chance?

Once he's defeated, he's offered a chance to do good outside of the White Fang, that he can work towards equality and redemption at the same time.

The World: When has one of your character’s dreams come true?

It's because of this second chance that he's able to claim the Relic of Destruction for the White Fang.

[chewbaccatookmywords-blog]

The Purpose of a Bottle

My birth was not what one would expect. Yes, it was messy, and yes, I was smashed and my mother was exhausted after. My name is Wine. I am one of the most elegant, flavory and fruity red drinks they call Wine. I am special, though. I don't know what that means, other than people drinking my siblings pretend they taste like angels kissing their taste buds.

I grew over the course of a summer on the sunny slopes of a Chilenian mountain in many little clusters of grapes. My mother was one of the workers (artists) choosing the best grapes which would later define me. She went on to birth me with a vigor and ferocity I deeply respect to this day. Then she stopped looking after me for a long while, only to visit briefly sometimes. My siblings were treated the same, and we waited quietly in the cellars for our mothers to come. I heard her say once that I was her proudest creation. Ah, she understood me too well.

My self-awareness wasn't always as focused as it is now. I was mostly drifting along, taking in the world consisting of cellars and not too much excitement. I could have done more with my life, but I just didn't feel like it at the time.

Suddenly, I had to move out. There was no warning! One day a friend of my mother's came to me, told me that I'd have to leave and handed me over to an obscenely rich-looking man. I guess everybody overstays their welcome at some point. It still made me sad, to be thrown out so briskly. I felt home-sick before I was even out of my home's door.

The journey flew by, marinating myself in self-doubt and thoughts about what I had done wrong. I came to the conclusion that I couldn't have done many things differently, but that didn't make me feel better at all. The sudden nature of it led me to believe that some outside influence had forced my family's hand. Maybe the man was the reason for this upheaval.. He tried talking to me a few times, but I didn't speak his language, and anyhow wouldn't have answered the one person who changed my life without even asking.

After planes, expensive cars, and a lot of people holding doors open for our passage, we arrived at our final destination: a hotel. The man carried me inside and sat me onto a lit empty space behind the bar. He patted my head like I'm some kind of dog! Turning around, he gestured towards me, said something to the people in the bar and got a round of applause. He bowed in way that was supposed to be funny, people laughed. He looked at me, like I was going to give him any satisfaction. I ignored him in icy silence. I think he got the hint because he left me alone after that.

Not so much the people in the bar. Everyone wanted to take pictures. They started talking excitedly, probably about me judging from their repeated glances towards me. The only one who didn't participate was a big dog in the corner, some cross breed between German Shepherd and St. Bernard. I tried to make myself inconspicuous as their discussion became more heated. It wasn't easy to look boring in the bottle I had worn for a long time now. I had grown used to it, the familiar shape, texture and colour. My mother picked it when I was barely a year old, it was the only thing I had left of her.

The people in the bar were still talking, but the noise levels had risen dramatically. The dog was still napping, not in the least disturbed by the fight. One of the people, a meaty woman with a big frame and curly black hair, started pushing a wiry guy with a finger on his chest while shouting and pointing at me. He tried calming her down, but she couldn't back down now. She turned and walked towards me, chest heaving from anger, her face red and sweaty. I tried backing away, but there was no space on the small shelf I sat on. Another man tried to intercept her, but she merely pushed him to the side. The third guy, who had been shouting at her the whole time since she'd started moving to me, gave up and took her in a steel grip from behind. She tried to get away, but he wouldn't let her. So she drove her head into his face. Dazed, he let go and she started moving again. Couldn't she see I was completely terrified of her? My acidity probably went up a few points in those moments alone.

The dog was finally awake. He looked lazily over at the commotion, then laid his head back down on his front paws. No help to expect from that one. The men had started shouting at the wheezing valkyrie again, and were unintentionally doing their best to rile her up even more. Her hand reached for me, I could see each of her finely manicured fingernails. She touched me, her fingers wrapping around my neck. I don't know what she intended in that moment, but it certainly wasn't what she did. The man who'd gotten his face smashed had decided that this was the perfect moment for a sneak attack. Fortunately for the woman, he wasn't very sneaky. She heard him. Unfortunately for me, she used whatever was in her hands and hit the man with it. I saw his surprised eyes going wide. He tried to dodge me, but he wasn't fast enough.

I shattered.

Or rather, my bottle shattered. I spilled onto the man and the well-made polished hard-wood floor, ironically made of oak. I couldn't believe it, just couldn't process what had happened. I was stuck in a loop, stunnedly looking at the shards of familarly coloured glass around me. In the background I heard the woman and her friends quickly leave the bar, carefully moving around the puddle that had been me a few seconds ago. The sheer senselessness of it was astonishing. I was destroyed, by accident. I was supposed to be the guide for food, leading people discovering their taste buds in new ways. Showing them, teaching them about how perspective and scale could change things. Now, I was nothing more than a desaster on the floor, that some poor person would have to work hard to get me out of.

The bar was empty. The dog had fallen asleep again. I was just lying there, not caring about anything. After a while, I couldn't say how long, the dog lifted its head again. It got up and came over, then walked straight past me to its bowl of food in the corner next to me. What an ignorant dog. Though.. this was my last chance - I would fulfil my purpose. I strained to spread out towards the dog. Slowly, I managed to creep across the floor to his corner. I knew from my siblings that we smelled delicious, and the dog seemed to agree. It moved its eyes over to the puddle that was me, while still eating noisily from its bowl. I reached for the dog harder than I ever had before, and finally, it sniffed me. It sniffed again. Then, cautiously, it licked me. I think that's the point at which it forgot there was food, because it started slurping me up as fast as it could. After a while it lay down and slowly kept making the slurping noises. Then it started snoring. And I was happy and content. This was freedom.

[thatfestivallife]

Think of all the visual treats you’re greeted with whilst walking through a festival… the stage design, the murals, the installations, the signage, the things hanging in the trees! Festivals wouldn’t be the same without them. If you’ve ever wondered who the designers and fabricators working all hours come rain or shine to make your festival experience extra immersive were, here’s a guest post from the lovely Lizy Bending! She gives us an insight into many different angles of festival décor work and set design with the lowdown on her busiest summer yet… 

Lizy putting together one of her lovely dreamcatchers.

Diary of a festival décor girl…

The FeelFree Company goes festivalling

What a truly incredible year, I didn’t ever expect to have so many amazing adventures jam-packed into what turned out to be the best festival season of my whole life. Of course it hasn’t been without its trials and tribulations but when I think about the overwhelming joy that bubbles up in my chest every time an after-video is released… I am reassured it was all worth it in the end!

Throughout this summer I have been able to explore all avenues of the festival décor realm, switching between more managerial roles, project co-ordinating and behind the scenes admin work. To volunteering, grafting and being part of incredibly tenacious teams who are all working and donating their blood, sweat and tears (believe me there have been all of them) in order to realise their passion projects.

Of course on a total selfish level this is pretty much one of the most self-rewarding jobs you will ever have. I see my work, my designs, my creations and the creations of others that I simply helped facilitate be enjoyed by hundreds if not tens of thousands of people. It’s humbling to know that many of these festival goers will only do one festival to get away that year. People have chosen to spend their hard earned money (come on we have all seen it over the years, prices are going up, hence why we help the joy go up too), but its true, spend their money on a magical get away. A hedonistic escape from real life, into a life that we created for them.

“A hedonistic escape from real life, into a life that we created for them.”

Personal growth at Noisily Festival…

Without a doubt working my way up to the role of Assistant Art Director for Noisily Festival has to be one of my proudest achievements, definitely of this summer, but possibly of forever. The thing is, with work like this, a lot of it does ultimately come down to self-belief… Yes, I have gained a lot of practical skills throughout my degree, and throughout various residencies and décor jobs I have had in the past. But when you are suddenly the responsible one, and it’s you everyone is turning to, to ask what to do next, what is still to be done and how can they be useful, it really is a sink or swim moment.

Noisily made me realise things within myself that I actually didn’t know I was capable of, it pushed me to my very limits but always caught me when I fell. My incredible team of volunteers often worked throughout the night, to make sure what we created was of the upmost sublime.

This role was also the biggest behind the scenes one I had, learning eventree from scratch, learning about production schedules, scaffolding, dietary requirements and all sorts of admin skills that have gone on to benefit me two-fold throughout the rest of the season. Ultimately though, there is something so breathtaking and utterly joyous about walking down the main strip, smiling to yourself about how perfect everything looks (and how jammy we are to actually get 5 days of solid sun), then to have shiny happy festival goers come up to you, to thank you for all your hard work… It was a bit bizarre to be a tad famous for five days, but incredibly heart-warming.

Saying goodbye at the last EVER Secret Garden Party…

WOW. I literally don’t even know where to begin on this one. It was such an absolute pleasure to be part of the creative team for the last ever Secret Garden Party. Being part of this was both heart breaking and made me incredibly proud simultaneously, but its funny to think that something as simple as a beer on a roof, in another country back in January set the cogs in motion to make this all possible. Maybe one of my cheeriest moments this summer was knowing that I physically helped to create parts of the last chapter for this unforgettable festival. Literally creating a moment of festival history… Things are not meant to last forever, and boy did garden go out with a bang, in a literal blaze of heart shaped glory.

Lizy in the secret sunflower field.

The best thing about this gig was being given free-reign, being an up-cycler and working with recycled materials I was bought in to have a scavenge and create new magic from old materials. Working for the utterly brilliant nments (non-musical entertainment) team whose trust and encouraging judgement to the end, without ever a question of my ability or hesitation really was something special… They simply had a vision, then they let me facilitate it. It really was an honour and a privilege to have such autonomy on such an important festival. Thank you for the freedom, the Spanish party and your unrelenting smiles even when we all had too much to do and not enough sleep.

Have a glimpse of the Love Bus – one of the areas at Secret Garden Party that Lizy helped decorate in my Secret Garden Part ’17 post

Being part of the Boomtown family…

The Boomtown build this year was without a doubt one of the most difficult things I have ever done in my life. I know that sounds dramatic, but the unrelenting weather conditions from pretty much the moment I arrived on site just made everything so much harder. Luckily working on the Mayfair team I had the best bosses, practiced pros who know exactly what they’re doing and have probably done it all before.

Busy building!

Finished set-design in the Mayfair district at Boomtown

What made this process (although difficult, water logged and hard) one of my highlights for the summer is simply the incredible amount of generosity I received from the whole Mayfair team (especially the area managers) in sharing their knowledge. I like to think this was not just to help with efficiency, but because these people really care. They want to see you grow not only as a décor girl, but as an artist. The tips of the trade I learn over that week will stay with me throughout my career now, and I have already been able to put into fruition. So thank you, thank you for making me a better, well me?

Doing my own thing with The FeelFree Company…

So as well as being a décor girl, last year I set about creating my own décor business, and this year I was able to put this to the test. Welcome to the FeelFree Company, working with recycled materials to create beautiful things and also teaching festival goers a little about sustainability while I’m there.

  Through the FeelFree Company, I and my small but perfectly formed team work to create giant sustainable dreamcatchers, stretching up to 10ft long, that are suspended from tree tops within woodland getaways. All of my materials are always recycled, scavenged, reclaimed and re-loved to give them as small a carbon footprint as possible. Not to sound too ‘another man’s trash’ but it’s incredible what people throw away and how with a little bit of effort you can make something truly elegant yet dazzling, from literally rubbish.

Lizy’s beautiful dream catchers in action at Gottwood

We debuted our work last year at Gottwood festival and have since had the absolute pleasure of being commissioned to make personalised pieces for Triplicity Festival, Aespia and Bestival. My pieces are always unique, bespoke and site specific, with personalised central pendants carved out of wood with the festival logo in it to give that added custom-made touch. We also run free workshops with left over recycled materials so that punters can have a go at creating too, taking home miniature dream catchers of their own, whilst learning a little about recycled materials and sustainability along the way.

Making connections…

I guess the penultimate and possibly most important thing I need to mention at this point, is the unforgettable people I have met across my décor explorations this summer. New friends, old friends, friends I met in India (like me!) who ended up becoming some of my nearest and dearest, they say there is seven degrees of separation and I truly feel like some of the people I have had the absolute pleasure of meeting this summer, were always meant to rush into my life like a whirlwind of perfect chaos… And I hope to keep them in my life for a very long time to come.

The incredible warmth and welcoming nature of all the teams I have worked with have done miracles to restore my faith in humanity, (when let’s be honest it’s pretty dark times we are living in at the moment, not to bring politics into this but I’m sure you all know what I mean). Sometimes even at the darkest times, it’s the glittery all singing, all dancing toe tappers that have taken me into their arms and festival families that have made my day… Or my year! So thank you, you know who you are! I think SGP really summarised it well for me when they said ‘what will survive of us is love’.

Last but my no means least…

THANK YOU. I really honestly mean it, thank you to every boss, every manager, every volunteer, every grafter, rigger and scaffer that made this summer inimitable. Thank you for those that gave me a chance, took a punt on me or even took orders from me. Thank you so so much for giving me the opportunity to learn, build, grow and giving me unforgettable memories all balled up in what has been the best summer I have ever had.

Have you ever fancied working at festivals? Check out our ultimate guide to entry level festival work here!

Words by Lizy Bending, read more on her blog here. Photos by the wonderful Jake Davis.

Guest Post: What it’s like to do décor at festivals Think of all the visual treats you're greeted with whilst walking through a festival... the stage design, the murals, the installations, the signage, the things hanging in the trees!