#ot3 story forever in heart

[conundrumoftime]

Fandom grandma tales: how I survived canon ruining two of the ships I liked.

(Written after a discussion with some of my TROP fan pals about how canon can break your heart re: shipping, and how fandom manages. There are spoilers here for the entire run of Babylon 5, and for one story JMS wrote after it. yes, that story. sorry.)

Babylon 5 was a sci-fi space opera show that ran from 1993 to 1998. It is sci-fi of the era of 22-episode seasons, of huge ensemble casts with characters who get their own B- and C-plots, with an effects and casting budget that doesn’t always match its ambition, and - something it was quite pioneering in, at the time - grand pre-planned story arcs. 

It’s the first fandom that I was involved with in internet spaces as it was running, or at least when its final season was (there’s Discourse and drama from earlier years that I missed). Its showrunner, J. Michael Straczynski - ‘JMS’ - was very active in (non-fanfic) fan community spaces, and you always knew exactly what he was thinking about things because he was part of the discussion around them. There was also fanfic, which he didn’t stop but didn’t go near on the grounds of legal liability for story ideas. 

Most of the fanfic in the early days as the show was airing was focused around two big ships, of which one was canon endgame (Delenn/Sheridan) and one was canon all-ends-in-despair (Marcus/Ivanova). I, as a teenager discovering a developing online fandom for the first time with all the overwhelm and excitement that causes (ask me anything about what reading fic was like before the days of tags/ratings/warnings!) got into Marcus/Ivanova and also into one of the minor ships, Delenn/Lennier.

Delenn/Lennier was never, ever going to happen in canon. This is obvious; it clashes with Delenn/Sheridan which was JMS’s baby darling OTP, the show’s big love story. Delenn is married for the later part of the show. Lennier is her diplomatic aide, is absolutely devoted to her, and they have a very intense mentor/student relationship, which it seems is kind of standard in their culture (when Delenn’s own mentor died she went briefly insane with grief and started a genocidal war over it) but is still Very Intense. He is canonically in love with her, but that’s as far as the explicit canon statements go.

However. HowEVER. Canon also gives us, for that relationship, some wonderful ship fuel. Lennier knows about every bad thing Delenn has done, including all the stuff she doesn’t/can’t tell her husband. He’s her link to her previous world and culture and stands by her even when they kick her out. She says at one point, “without him, I would stumble and fall and never get up again.” 

And then… we had Season 5, the final season.

Season 5, for various complicated production reasons, was operating a little outside of pre-planned story arcs and in this season the Delenn/Lennier stuff ramped up about three gears in one go. It was still very obviously never, ever going to be canon, and was almost certainly not intended by the creator (who wrote most of the episodes himself) to look like there was even anything there. At this point Delenn is married; any relationship with her aide would not only be going against the show’s OTP, but going against it in the sense where she’s cheating on her husband, and there is Just No Way JMS would have gone there. And yet! Season 5 gave us:

A scene where Lennier says he can’t stay, it’s too painful to be around her now she’s married, and she’s devastated and has the following conversation with her husband about it:

S: I got your message about Lennier. Is there anything I can do?

D [snapping]: Almost certainly not.

S: Is it because of me?

D: In part, I think so.

S: Yeah, I was afraid of that. Well, as we say back on Earth, three’s a crowd.

D: On Minbar, three is sacred.

S [slightly uncomfortable laugh]: Well, I don’t think I’m ready to handle that one, Delenn.

Delenn then calling Lennier back to the station to do some secret mission thing for her, which involves her sneaking out of her bed while her husband sleeps to meet Lennier in a darkened alley behind a bar, where she tenderly strokes his face and they have a whole conversation about whether her husband understands her or not.

A scene where Lennier comes back from his secret mission to meet both Delenn and Sheridan, Delenn goes to greet him with a hug, and Lennier does this very pointed step back and nod in the direction of her husband, and she pulls back and just sort of pats him on the arms instead. 

I MEAN.

But, the issue here is not what fans did about it but what canon did about it. Canon did the canon equivalent of dragging that ship outside and shooting it in the head. 

In the final few episodes of the entire series, Lennier tries to kill Sheridan, runs away in shame, and then someone finds his diary in which he’d been writing for ages about what a bad decision he thought Delenn had made and how her whole marriage was an awful idea. Even to this day, it’s fun/awful watching people go through a first-time watch when they get to season 5 and hit that. ‘Character assassination in the form of a diary’ was a whole thing for a while. It’s been 20+ years and the actor who played Lennier is stilll mad about it (not because of shippy stuff, but because he - correctly! - thinks Lennier absolutely would not have done that). 

What *fandom* did, on the other hand, was Fixed The Problem.

Delenn/Lennier was not at all a big ship when the series was airing, and for a few years after. Then the fandom dynamics started to change. With less pressure on what canon was going to do, it felt like fandom had more space to play around with things it didn’t do. Fanfic got less interested in trying to fit within the overall story being told and started spinning off in all its own directions. And *this* ship started getting bigger and bigger. People did really interesting things with it, canon divergence went in all directions, everyone wrote a fix-it story of some variety, some authors did a great series of connected stories based on an idea that Minbari have three genders, the quality of the writing has been brilliant. And I think without that absolute whiplash feeling of what happened in canon, there would never have been this feeling of “well I’m not having THAT” which led to all this.

We did not need canon! Canon had done its thing. And canon had broken our hearts enough ways with many of the other stories it told (entirely on purpose) and we weren’t just going to sit back and let it ruin us forever.

By comparison, the other ship I was into was Marcus/Ivanova. This is entirely doomed. Susan Ivanova’s love life is just perpetually doomed. The first partner of hers we meet is an ex who’s interested in getting back together, but then it turns out he’s just using her to infiltrate the station for the fascist terrorist group he’s secretly joined. Then she falls for an archrival of hers, Talia, who works for Psi Corps, the organisation she loathes most of all things - but it’s okay because it turns out Talia is starting to question them too! Maybe these crazy kids can make it work! They have one night together and then OOPS turns out Talia was being secretly controlled by a sleeper personality implanted in her by Psi Corps the whole time. Ivanova’s love life is doomed. 

So for two seasons, she has this sort-of-flirty, sort-of-bickery, sort-of-friendship going with Marcus, who is on the surface of it very much “why not fall in love at first sight like a true romantic, YOLO!” but it turns out is actually deeply messed up himself and full of survivor’s guilt and pain and, you get the clear impression, would have died of shock if she’d actually called his bluff on the OTT flirting and said “yeah, let’s go for it”. And then he sacrifices himself to save her life. It is a very tragic ending, it is absolutely the way he would have wanted to go, she wakes up both furious and absolutely distraught, says that the last thing she heard was him saying “I love you”, says she wishes she’d at least slept with him once, and says that in a way all love is unrequited. PAIN. 

So, lots of fix-it fanfic, lots of ‘Marcus comes back to life’, lots of canon divergence AUs where he doesn’t die and they live happily ever after and both get over their huge levels of unresolved pain. Pretty standard for that kind of pairing. And as a pairing it doesn’t get in the way of any big canon pairings, it doesn’t imply anything icky like mentor/student power imbalances or adultery. And JMS clearly quite liked it. So that’s better, right?

NO. It was WORSE.

JMS wrote an Marcus/Ivanova story himself, published in one of the sci-fi magazines, to try to give them a happy ending. This happy ending involves Marcus, many many years in the future, waking up from the cryogenic suspension he’s in (it’s sci-fi, keep up, keep up). Ivanova is long dead, but he isn’t about to let this get in the way, so what he does is to *create a new Ivanova* by getting some kind of DNA + computerised memory/personality bank thing, finding a doctor who will clone her, putting himself back into animated sleep until the clone reaches the age Ivanova was when she died, then - THEN, I’M STILL GOING - takes her to a distant planet where, with her memories wiped and their spaceship having deliberately been crashed BY HIM so there’s no way back, they live out their lives in peace.

WHAT.

That pairing still does okay in fandom but it’s not really taken on a post-show world of headcanons and riffing on other people’s ideas and tropes in the way that Delenn/Lennier has (and we all just pretend that story never existed). 

So! This has been my experiences in the field of What We Do When The Show Has Thoughts On That Non-Endgame Ship We’re Into. Fandom manages. Fandom will see you through. And in the words of Susan Ivanova:

Babylon Five was the last of the Babylon stations; there would never be another. It changed the future, and it changed us. It taught us that we have to create the future, or others will do it for us. It showed us that we have to care for one another, for if we don’t, who will? And that true strength sometimes comes from the most unlikely places. Mostly though, I think it gave us hope that there can always be new beginnings - even for people like us.

[ahmadwaleed555]

My 14th birthday during the War

Hello, my name is Ahmad. I’m 14 years old, and I want to share my story with you—one that comes from the heart of Gaza, a place I call home.

A year ago, our lives changed forever. The world around me grew dark, and the sounds of laughter turned into echoes of sirens. Every day became a struggle for the basic necessities: clean water, food, and safety. I watched as our once-vibrant community faced unimaginable sorrow, losing loved ones and friends—a total of 41,000 martyers, including 16,000 children. Some of them were my friends.

On the eve of my 14th birthday, I sat in our small tent with my little sister, Rema. She smiled at me, her eyes glittering with a hope I wished I could share. “We can celebrate, right?” she asked. My heart ached because I didn’t know how we could celebrate amidst the chaos.

The morning of my birthday was filled with joy, even in the midst of difficulty. Rema and I sat together, sharing the simple but precious feast we had. As we ate, I closed my eyes, making a wish. “I wish for peace,” I whispered. Layla squeezed my hand, and we dreamed together of a future where families like ours could reunite without fear, where children could play and laugh again.

I want the world to hear my story, to understand that even in the darkest times, there is still a flicker of hope. My home may be caught in the storm of war, but our dreams are strong. Each story shared, each voice raised in unity, brings us one step closer to the peace we long for.

So, I speak for myself, for Rema, and for the children of Gaza. Let our voices echo across the world, so everyone knows that we are here, hoping for a brighter tomorrow. Together, we can create a future filled with laughter and love, a future where every child can dream without fear.

@sar-soor @appsa @akajustmerry @annoyingloudmicrowavecultist @thatdiabolicalfeminist @sayruq @tortiefrancis @flower-tea-fairies @tsaricides @riding-with-the-wild-hunt @vivisectionmoth @belleandsaintsebastian @kordeliiius @brutaliakhoa @raelyn-dreams @troythecatfish @ot3 @the-bastard-king @pcktknife @4ft10tvlandfangirl @queerstudiesnatural @northgazaupdates2 @90-ghost @skatehani @awetistic-things @baby-girl-aaron-dessner @variantsofblue @schoolhater @thedigitalbard @socalgal @paper-mario-wiki @ibtisams @magnus-rhymes-with-swagness-blog @nabulsi @lesbianmaxevans @transmutationisms @buttercupagere @malcriada @dykemarcille @dlxxv-vetted-donations @paparoach @neptunerings @newporters @postanagramgenerator @alivehouse @meshugenist @mangocheesecakes

[eldritchdiplomacy]

Bottom Table OT3: The Playlist

We, like Jinnah, will mourn our lads forever

(click for song explanations!)

Take Me Out To The Ball Game - Ed Meeker

"Eldritch Harrahs," He says, fingering the bright red laces on a baseball like a rosary

Team - Lorde

Classic poly theme, living in ruins.

"And everyone's competing For a love they won't receive 'Cause what this palace wants is release."

Ravenous - Autumn Orange

Impeccible vibes.

Eat Your Young - Hozier

Post-war heroes left in slums with their ghosts

"Come and get some Skinnin' the children for a war drum Puttin' food on the table, sellin' bombs and guns It's quicker and easier to eat your young"

Rhiannon - Fleetwood Mac

A shiny jade jewel in said slums

"She rings like a bell through the night And wouldn't you love to love her? She rules her life like a bird in flight And who will be her lover?"

Boats & Birds - Gregory & The Hawk

Children without souls

"If you'll be my boat, I'll be your sea A depth of pure blue just to probe curiosity Ebbing and flowing and pushed by a breeze I live to make you free, I live to make you free…"

Hearts a Mess - Gotye

Sean Fucking Finnerty

"You have lost too much love To fear, doubt and distrust, it's not enough You just threw away the key to your heart Don't get burned 'cause nothing gets through It makes it easier, easier on you That much more difficult for me To make you see."

Love In The Time Of Socialism - Yellow House

Teenagers all in love with each other

"But I am home wherever you are near There's no life in anything When you're not here."

Whatever Fits Together - Skullcrusher

I mean…

"Do you ever look back? Does it all fit together? If we're here, does it matter? (If we're here, does it matter?)"

Marked For Death - Emma Ruth Rundle

Marion & Jean

"Who else is going to love someone like me that’s marked for death? Who else is going to be with me when I breathe it all?"

Here I Dreamt I Was An Architect - The Decemberists

Marion & Sean

"And here I dreamt I was a soldier And I marched the streets of Birkenau And I recall in spring The perfume that the air would bring To the indolent town Where the barkers call the moon down The carnival was ringing loudly now And just to lay with you There's nothing that I wouldn't do Save lay my rifle down"

Hard Times - Ethel Cain

The Exorcists' Daughter

"Tell me a story About how it ends Where you're still the good guy I'll make pretend 'Cause I hate this story Where happiness ends And dies with you."

Edith's Theme - Crimson Peak

The Lighthouse

Say Yes To Heaven - Lana Del Rey

Sean & Jean

"If you go, I'll stay You come back, I'll be right here Like a barge at sea In the storm, I stay clear 'Cause I've got my mind on you I've got my mind on you…"

Sunlight - Hozier

Sean & Jean & Marion

"All the tales the same Told before and told again A soul that’s born in cold and rain Knows sunlight, sunlight, sunlight And, at last, can grant a name To a buried and a burning flame As love and its decisive pain Oh, my sunlight, sunlight, sunlight."

Your Protector - Fleet Foxes

The Circle of Needle & Thread

"As you lay to die beside me, baby On the morning that you came Would you wait for me? The other one would wait for me."

The Mother Road - Chelsea Wolfe

The doc who knows she'll never lead a normal life, have a normal love.

"I do not have a child But I'm old enough to know some pain And I'm hell-bent on loving you Women know what it is to endure."

Running Up That Hill - Placebo

All too stubborn to let each other die.

"Oh, come on, baby Oh, come on, darlin' Let me steal this moment from you now Oh, come on, angel Come on, come on, darlin' Let's exchange the experience…"

A Vampire's Heart - Peter Gundry

Doplegangers

Cosmic Love - Florence + The Machine

Jean, Sean, & Marion

"I took the stars from our eyes, and then I made a map And knew that somehow I could find my way back Then I heard your heart beating, you were in the darkness too So I stayed in the darkness with you…"

Oh, To Dream Of Such Eldritch Things - Autumn Orange

The Compromised Lightkeeper

A Shot Rang Out - Emily Jane White

Sean FUCKING Finnerty, Marion, Jean

"Dreamers we aren't few But I don’t want to bury my dreams with you."

The Ghost On The Shore - Lord Huron

Man down

"Die if I must, let my bones turn to dust I'm the lord of the lake and I don't want to leave it…"

Call Your Mom - Noah Kahan

You can't do this to Peggy, bud.

"Medicate, meditate, save your soul for Jesus Throw a punch, fall in love, give yourself a reason Don't wanna drive another mile without knowin' you're breathin' So won't you stay, won't you stay, won't you stay with me?"

Funeral - Phoebe Bridgers

War boys wearing the same face, so many hearts.

"And last night, I blacked out in my car And I woke up in my childhood bed Wishing I was someone else, feeling sorry for myself When I remembered someone's kid is dead…"

Francesca - Hozier

Jean & Marion re: Sean

"Now that it's done There's not one thing that I would change My life was a storm since I was born How could I fear any hurricane?"

Is Your Love Strong Enough? - GWTDT

"Just one beat of your heart And stranger than fantasy I knew from the start It had to be the place for me Someone that I would die for There's no way I could ever leave."

Death With Dignity - Sufjan Stevens

The Survivor

"Spirit of my silence I can hear you, but I'm afraid to be near you And I don't know where to begin And I don't know where to begin…"

My Love - Florence + The Machine

The Next Step

"My arms emptied, the skies emptied The buildings emptied…"

[ahmedfreepalestine]

My story and some pictures, please read them:

https://gofund.me/708653bf

https://gofund.me/708653bf

https://gofund.me/708653bf

https://gofund.me/708653bf

https://gofund.me/708653bf

https://gofund.me/708653bf

https://gofund.me/708653bf

Hello, everyone

can I take two minutes of your time to read my story that made our lives lifeless and without the colors that decorate our lives as they were before? I am Ahmed from Gaza, 29 years old

The whole world has witnessed the tragedy that befell our lives in Gaza, where my family survived many previous wars. But today we are facing the most dangerous and fiercest battle in the current war. We are in dire need, as we have nothing left, and we cannot secure our basic needs of food, water and safe shelter.

This is our story - On October 7, our lives changed forever, as my family was evacuated several times in the hope of returning soon, but this was not destined for me. It was a new house that I built before the war, and my shop and shoe store cost me a lot of money and I could not be happy with it. It was besieged, burned and then completely destroyed.Our home, store and shop that was once a bastion of hope and work, and my family’s livelihood, now lies in ruins, a stark reminder of our shattered dreams.

What I heard from my family. The sounds of bombing were everywhere, making a loud noise that seemed to pierce our souls. Each explosion shook the ground like an earthquake, sending waves of fear through our trembling bodies. We were filled with fear. The smell of destruction and blood hung in the air, making it difficult to breathe. When dawn came, they saw the devastation all around them.

In Gaza, we are facing genocide and famine. It is horrific, and we need your help for our family. This donation is a beacon of hope, our only lifeline in the abyss of despair. With a heavy heart, I ask for your generosity as we go through this inexplicable ordeal. Your donation could mean the difference between survival and oblivion for my family, and for that, we are eternally grateful.

@90-ghost @heritageposts @gazavetters

@neechees @butchniqabi

@fluoresensitivearchived @khanger

@autisticmudkip @beserkerjewel @officialspec

@xinakwans @batekush @appsa @nerdyqueerr

@butchsunsetshimmer @biconicfinn

@stopmotionguy @willgrahamscock

@strangeauthor @bryoria @shesnake

@legallybrunettedotcom @lautakwah

@sovietunion @evillesbianvillain @antibioware

@akajustmerry @neptunerings

@explosionshark @dlxxv-vetted-donations

@vague-humanoid @buttercuparry @sayruq

@malcriada @sar-soor @northgazaupdates2

@feluka @dirhwangdaseul @jdon @ibtisams

@sawasawako @memingursa @schoolhatergirl

@toesuckingoctober @ot3 @lapithae

@ryo-yamada @opencommunion

@anneemay @tamamita

[thirdeyeblue]

🩷🩷CLICK HERE if Ao3 is down and you’d still like to enjoy some smut🩷🩷

Note: Currently, all of my stories (except for one) are rated Explicit. I take plot and buildup seriously, but feels-heavy smut is at the heart of everything I write. Also… all of the tropes.

AO3

Deviantart for my fanart (lots of nsfw)

Pillowfort for my fanart without login restrictions (warning: includes rarepair content)

Latest Updates: 10/26/24

Added No One's Gonna Love You (David x Billie RPF; Multi-Chapter)

Previously: Updated The Purpose of Repose

* = Work In Progress

Bloodstream

Main tags: Shag-Or-Die, Romance, Action/Adventure, First Time

Length: 200k

Chapters: 27

For All We’re Worth

Main Tags: Truth Serum, First Time, Sharing A Bed

Length: 30k

Chapters: 4

Mending

Main Tags: Injury, Sonic Screwdriver (used as a sex toy), First Time

Length: 22k

Chapters: 3

The Doctor’s Brilliant Idea

Main Tags: Oral Fixation, Cunnilingus, Asexual Doctor, Eventual Romance, First Time, Crack Treated Seriously

Length: 23k

Chapters: 3

Peppermint Tea

Main Tags: Sick Fic, First Time

Length: 20k

Chapters: 2

With Love & Luck

Main Tags: Intoxication, First Time, Group Sex (but Ten and Rose only shag each other), my follow-up to ‘The Stone Rose’ by Jacqueline Rayner

Length: 35k

Chapters: 4

🌋 Explosivity *

Main Tags: Shag-Or-Die, Fake Marriage, First Time

Length: Currently 40k

Chapters: 4/6

Wrong *

Main Tags: Shag-Or-Die, First Time, Amnesia

Length: Currently 10k

Chapters: 2/5

Extemporary Intimacy

Main tags: Virgin Ten, First Time, Romance, Fluff

Length: 28k

Chapters: 4

Fated to Stay *

Main Tags: Aphrodisiacs, Magical Healing Cock, First Time, Romance, Multiple Orgasms

Length: Currently 25k

Chapters: 4/5

Ordinary Gifts

Main Tags: Sex Pollen, Bittersweet, First Time, Canon Compliant

Length: 15k

Part 1/3 of my Love On The Other Side series

Remedial Needs

Main Tags: Angst, Hurt/Comfort, First Time

Length: 13k

Exposure

Main Tags: Huddling For Warmth, First Time

Length: 11k

Apples, Coffins, and Hearses

Length: 10k

Main tags: First Time, Halloween, Dry-Humping

* = Work In Progress

Washed Up Together

Main Tags: Mutual Pining, Domestic Fluff, First Time

Length: 20k

Chapters: 3

Every Lovely Little Thing

Main Tags: Romance, First Time, Cunnilingus, Dirty Talk, Vaginal Sex

Length: 20k

Chapters: 3

Never Letting Go Again *

Main Tags: Whump, Romance, Angst, First Time, Graphic Depictions of Violence

Length: Currently 4.5k

Chapters: Currently 1

Resolutions In Satin

Main Tags: Lingerie, First Time, Jealousy, UST

Length: 23k

Chapters: 2

Light from Beyond the Hills [New!]*

Main Tags: First Time, Emotional Sex, Multiple Orgasms, Post-Episode: Journey’s End

Length: Currently 1.7k

Chapters: 1/3

A Clever Touch

Main tags: First Time, Premenstrual Cramps, Romance, Hurt/Comfort

Length: 14k

As Soon As We’re Alone

Main Tags: Established relationship, edging, rough sex, jealousy

Length: 11k

Loving The Insatiable

Main Tags: First Time, Sex Pollen, Phone Sex, Rough Sex, Dirty Talk

Length: 16k

Forever, But Better

Main tags: First Time, Sick Fic, Romance, Hurt/Comfort

Length: 15k

Potential For Brilliance

Main Tags: Established Relationship, Wall Sex, Idiots In Love, Dirty Talk

Length: 3k

Part 2/3 of my Love On The Other Side series

Snapped

Main Tags: Halloween, Semi-Public Sex, Established Relationship

Length: 1792

Part 3/3 of my Love On The Other Side series

🧇 Up The Wrong Tree

Main Tags: Fluff, Smut, Crack, Established Relationship

Length: 8k

Vintage Incognito

Main Tags: Pregnancy, Baby Shower

Length: 2k

Rating: T

So Much For Sleep *

Main Tags: Vaginal Fingering, Road Trips

Length: 3k

Chapters: 1/2

Miscellaneous Fics:

No One's Gonna Love You *

David x Billie RPF

Main Tags: Infidelity, First Time, Intoxication, takes place in 2023

Length: Currently 10k

Tiny Lights Below *

Tentoo/Rose - Ten/Rose OT3 (heterosexual, absolutely no anal or Tencest) 💖

Main Tags: Slow Burn, Romance, Action/Adventure, First time(s), Whump, OT3, Eventual Happy Ending, Het, Threesomes

Length: 160k

Chapters: 18/19

Dead Dove; Do Not Eat fics:

(Hiding my rarepair-related content down here, as I recognize this is a tender topic)

The Purpose of Repose *

! Ten/Rose �� Ten/Martha !

Main Tags: Angst, Friends With Benefits, Complicated Relationships, Dark!Doctor, Romance, Canon Divergence, Hurt/Comfort

Length: 130k

Chapters: 15/20

Can’t Shift the Tide *

(Companion piece to The Purpose of Repose)

[the-marron]

Shipper Tag Game

Tagged by @forerussake , thank you 🥰

1. What ship were you completely obsessed with when you were a teenager, but now you don't care about anymore?

Hmmm, a hard question right off the bat, because even if I am no longer actively seeking the ship content out anymore, usually I retain a lot of fondness for it, so there are precious few ships I used to be into and that I am simply meh about now, but I think it would be ShikaIno, from Naruto. Canon came at me hard, so while I have some fondness for it, it is what it is, and I am not that much into Naruto anymore either way, so it doesn't hurt much.

2. Which ship would you consider your first one?

Simba/Nala? Lol 😂 but in all seriousness, I think it would be BatCat. Or Aragon/Arwen, I am very hazy on the details when exactly I imprinted on those, the timeline is not clear

3. Your first fanfic was about which couple?

Read or written? Read: no idea, I think it might have been some self-insert into Inuyasha universe? Written: Sirius/Remus

4. Do you remember the first couple you saw fanart of?

Nope. When I discovered the internet I discovered all of it at an alarming pace, but my bet would be on either Sirius/Remus or some couple from W.I.T.C.H

5. Have you ever gotten into ship discourse?

I try not to. I have opinions, yes, and I like discussing them with friends, but I try not to make it anyone's problem - everyone will ship what they want to ship and find different dynamics compelling, so I don't think it necessary to crusade one way or another because one ship is superior to another. It's all very subjective.

6. Did you use to have any NOTP or have one currently?

I have quite a bit! Funnily enough I have some canon ships I absolutely dislike and can go off about whenever I catch a poor, innocent victim to listen to my rant.

But my general rule is that I don't like OT3s. In any fandom, in any form, it's just not for me at all. To make matters worse, I am a monoshipper at heart, which usually means that I have a dynamic/ship that I like with characters A and B, and it makes me lose interest in all the other configurations with them. So maybe not an active NoTP but very unlikely for me to read A/C if I committed myself to A/B.

Special shout out to Weilanzun, because this is my most recently acquired NOTP.

And to Batman/Talia Al Ghul which is my longest reigning one.

7. Who were the couple in the last fanfic you read?

Zhou Ying/Bai Ling from Tai Sui 🥺 my poor white half-demon, hopelessly devoted to his prince... And so few fics with them ;_;

8. Currently, do you have any OTPs?

Plenty. I don't abandon old ones, I just collect them together in my jar of ships and rattle it from time to time, to see how they sparkle together.

But from my most recent and long-term commitments: Weilan, Luolin, Heixie, Luo Qingeng/Jiang Yang (do they have a name???) and BatCat, forever and ever

9. Is there any couple that, to this day, you are extremely mad about not getting together?

Well, the story is a story, so as long as it makes sense that these characters do not end up together, then I am okay with it, that's what we have fanfiction for, right?

BUT

I am still not over that wedding stunt DC Comics pulled with BatCat. Months of teasing, of promising the wedding, the freaking wedding albums being released and then the WEDDING DIDN'T HAPPEN. They broke up instead because Batman has to be the dark, sad, lonely something something and you can't be a hero if you have a wife. 50 years and DC Comics is going backwards in this regard :/

10. Is there any ship you used to dislike but now you think they are kind of interesting?

Not sure? Nothing comes to mind. But I am very open to being pulled into/converted into ships as long as they are not on my black list, and even then I try to keep an open mind, in case something clicks.

11. Do you have any ship that, in the past, would've been considered normal but now you would be cancelled over?

Hah, a lot, because I got into shipping as a teenager. So reading romances about other teenagers felt normal and all but now I don't feel the need to revisit them.

12. What is your favorite crack ship?

Ha. Not today, Satan. One moment I am joking about a crack ship and the next I have 10k words written about it and like 3 sad headcanons and a shipping chart ready.

13. What is the couple you read the most fanfics about?

Oh wow, good question. If I like a ship, then I tend to read through the entire Ao3 tag of theirs, sometimes more than once because what if I missed some gem in the first go? So it would come down to the sheer numbers of fics, I think. So that would be either Sterek, Stucky or Eames/Arthur (fun fact: this is also the first fandom that introduced to me the concept of derivs)

14. What do most of your ships usually have in common?

Devotion. Very often the conflict between their feelings and their duties/ loyalty towards something they cared about before they met the other.

I like both sides of the ship to be competent at their respective fields and torn apart by their own choices and priorities. The 'I love you but do I love you enough to abandon everything I am'?. I like both answers more or less equally: both the 'yes, it's us against the world now' and 'I hope we won't meet on the battlefield' are set ups I enjoy immensely. But I also like smart-asses annoying each other into marriage one witty comeback at a time.

15. What you absolutely hate in a ship?

Imbalance of attachment. If the ship seems terribly one-sided, like one character is putting in all of the work and tries and tries, and tries while the other mercifully sometimes acknowledges them, then it's a no for me.

Same with the 'if you patiently wait for this person to like you, even though they told you 10 times they won't, then they eventually will' trope, like someone's love is what you earn through steadiness and hard-work.

I like both parts to be equally unwell about their partner, one way or another. They can be sickeningly domestic and gushing, or they can be crazy in that 'no one defeats him, but me!' kind of way, but they have to be in balance on the insanity scale. I like when characters grow into their relationship and both affect one another, falling more and more in love with each other as they go, but not when one person is a prize the other has to win/outwait/earn.

Thanks again for the tag, that was a nice bit of soul-searching there, very fun 👌😌

Tagging: @baiyubai , @babischlong-six , @mjsakurea, @mejomonster, @elenothar

[malkaleh]

Some more in universe fictional fandom discussion in the Tudors OT3 Cinematic Unvierse inspired by @nocompromise-noregrets and also some other things. @herawell

Pre Unmasked did you clock what was going on if you didn’t know the history?

niceiceblock

50,000 notes

I didn’t.

This isn’t actually a critique of the way the show depicted that storyline - they are making a story at base, not a history (though it’s beautiful and accurately done) and that means there are going to be some dramatic reveals, including with things like this that not a lot of people know because it’s such a recent revelation, though I think you could argue about whether they should have made it clear from the start, I don’t think so.

I think in a lot of ways us/fandom at large not getting it is making a point about the way predators like Norwich work - they don’t broadcast themselves with giant signs saying I Am A Monster - they often look like Rupert Graves! They are charming! They have what can look like chemistry with the people they abuse (thinking about the times people have said ‘but they were such a cute couple’ about a later to be revealed abusive relationship between public figures).

And also it’s about fandom and seeing two very attractive men (in particular men) together and going NOW KISS and kind of reverse engineering the interpretation that it has to be romantic and kind of…ignoring the layers going on. I’m indicting myself here as well - I was looking at things through a shipping lens and so I did not see say, the work that James Frain was doing with his body - the way he looked so so small around Norwich, the flinch/tension he was carrying, the way that Rupert Graves plays that possessiveness in Norwich’s eyes but James does that things where he’s just avoiding looking at Norwich directly - that dissociation where he’s clearly (when you look at it post reveal) avoiding the reality in front of him/back being a small child again. It’s the ‘you ruined any trace of me’ referring to the branding that so many people used in edits when the episode trailer came out.

But that’s in retrospect, for me.

coveryourtears

I got it but I don’t think that means I’m morally superior or anything (like is some of it painful person experience? Possibly yes). I didn’t know the history but there was just for me there was something so off about Norwich that I couldn’t put my finger on at all and then I went ‘…OH SHIT’ at the reveal (which I am so glad they put content warnings pre episode so people could make choices about their viewing) as much as anyone.

I am however morally superior to the people actually genuinely defending John Norwich though. Go step on legos and may you forever be trapped listening to a Restorationist video essay.

lareginatara

I knew the history and let me say it’s been An Experience biting my lip through everything. AN EXPERIENCE AND A HALF (thank you oh group chat and discord for bearing with my feels upon the subject). I had this Dread ever since the Norwich casting was announced because oh fuck the norwich thirsting is going to happen.

(To the people whining about how they were Deceived And This Was Problematic I just….I can’t. Sometimes Stories Will Pull A Surprise On You People)

semperlyqueerly

But it was a different time - people married young then - I wouldn’t defend John today but in the context and time in which he lived it would have been fine - you can see he took such good care of Thomas (all those gifts! You all love it so much when H8 and Anne give him gifts and talk about how it’s a love language. The fact that he gave him an education and took him out of poverty and away from his abusive father. And Thomas does consent - he said yes when Norwich asked him to ‘come to my bed Antonius’ - you can’t say he didn’t consent). John didn’t deserve to be abandoned so cruelly after everything he did for Thomas - my heart always breaks for him when I watch him see Gregory for the first time, that his great love moved on so fast.

antoniusandcaesar

Silence actual factual pedophile excuser and I don’t throw that around in fandom debates but that is what you are and I refuse to give you the time of day.

lareginatara

[sushiburritonoms]

New Fic: Don't Let Me Down (ETN)

Self promotion gives me hives, especially these days, but I need the world to know two very specific things about the fic I'm currently writing.

Firstly, chapter 3 was, hand on heart, the most fun I've had writing in forever. It probably isn't that good because I couldn't bear to remove things that I know make very little sense. This fic should have been split into two stories, but at the time I wrote it I thought I'd never publish it and now it's an overgrown monster and I don't have time to rewrite stuff, ok? But it was really, really satisfying and it's the reason I'm back on my shit, writing fics again.

Secondly, I watched so much GTLive to figure out how to write Matt that I accidentally influenced another person in my household to get an AirUp bottle. As in, Matpat Game Theory's used car salesman pitch was so overplayed, so constant and so annoying that it convinced another human being not obsessed with him to buy his Youtuber ad. I'm not proud, but I am impressed.

Yeah, so here's the thing, summary of fic is below:

Fandom: Escape the Night

Don't Let Me Down (explicit for sexual violence, attempted non con, Matt/Manny, Matt/Joey, Matt/Manny/Joey and Matt/Lucy (non con))

AU of Season 3, episode 9. What if Matt was the one put into the Collar of Control instead of Nikita? What if Lucy turned all her sexual frustration on her male captive instead of Mortimer? How would Manny and Joey, who are attracted to the poor Detective, react?

And finally, what if there was a way for all four of the final survivors to survive?

Ships: Yes its OT3, Matt/Manny/Joey. Matt/Lucy is attempted non con

Status: In progress. The fic is complete, and I'm posting a chapter a week as I finish editing (as of 11/13, chapter 3 of 4 is up, should get the final chapter up by Thanksgiving)

Sequel: God help me, yes. Very likely. Help.

[lasatfat]

dadwc prompt list/info

general info:

I'm most familiar with the Inquisition roster, and I've played Origins enough to get a handle on those guys, I think. DA2, I haven't played as much. I'd avoid Awakenings and Absolution for now, because I haven't got around to them yet. I also haven't played Veilguard, but I'm developing some Rook ideas.

Please specify the prompt list you're using, if you can, so I can link back to it. Don't worry if you can't.

I'll be reposting stuff to AO3 by default, but if you'd rather I didn't repost for your prompt, I will absolutely respect that.

OT3/poly prompts are welcome, cracky ships are welcome, rarepairs are welcome. "LI swaps" are welcome (e.g. my Surana romances Alistair in my game, but you can request her with Morrigan, for example. Or a non-romanceable character. Anything you like). Nothing really grim, though, please.

If you send me prompts for platonic interactions, I will love you forever. I will give you a little digital kiss/hug/handshake/high five/wave.

If you send me something that I have a real mental block against for some reason, I will let you know and you can send in another prompt, if you want to.

If I combine prompts, I'll post one with a screenshot of the other(s), and privately answer the other ask(s) to link you up.

prompt fills

Blood of the Crow || Two Hands Longing (For Each Other's Warmth) || Tempting Fate || An Unfriendly Wager || Shadows and Tall Trees || Sanctuary || Easy Like a Sunday Morning || Scathefire || A Rose Upon a Thorn || Let Me Walk (Before They Make Me Run) || Risk My Hands to Pick Up Shards || Fair Game || Safe Under Cover || The Beginning of All Things || The Safest Place to Hide (NSFW) || You Will Find Him Next to Me || Don't Look Back Into the Sun || The Nug King's Prize

prompt lists

I have a whole tag for story prompts and ask games HERE; this is just a selection of various types and topics. Again, please include the name of the list if you can, but don't panic if you're on mobile or just forget.

dragon age artefacts

unusual words and Raleigh's lost words

adventuring party dialogue pt. 2 and pt. 3

50 wordless ways to say "I love you"

touches ask game and romance of hands and touch

five love languages

smut prompts and dirty talk

platonic sentence starters

fluffy sentence starters

hurt/comfort dialogue prompts #1

angsty sentence starters

two-part drabble game

my ocs

canon protagonists:

Eireann Surana, Hero of Ferelden - City elf mage, arcane warrior and spirit healer, wielder of Spellweaver. Mother of Farah. Radically kind, values honesty, wishes she didn't have to keep so many secrets. A good tactician. (she/her, bisexual)

Rian Hawke, Champion of Kirkwall - Human hedge mage, force mage. On the diplomatic side of sassy, or the sassy side of diplomatic, depending on your view, but always aims for compassion. (they/them, pansexual)

Gideon Lavellan, Herald of Andraste - Dalish storm mage, Knight-Enchanter. Twin brother of Athim, brother of Aisling. Cunning, and good-hearted, a great believer in uplifting the downtrodden. His title is a burden, but he tries to use his power for good. (he/him, gay)

my other characters (I made characters to try out most of the Inquisition romances, and ended up shoving them all into my canon for funsies):

Athim Lavellan - Dalish mace-and-shield reaver. Twin sister of Gideon, sister of Aisling. Honest and inventive, good with problem-solving. Shares her brother's dry humour. (she/her, bisexual with a preference for men)

Kali Lavellan - Dalish dual-dagger tempest, sketches anything and everything. Perpetually anxious, and hides it well until she doesn't. Always goes the extra mile. (she/her, bisexual)

Sigyn, the Lady Archer - City elf mage of the Kirkwall Circle, escaped at the age of fifteen. Mother of Camile. Isn't used to being around people. Angered by injustice, will always protect those in need, but still building her social confidence. (she/her, grey-ace)

Farid Adaar - Tal-Vashoth mage, shapeshifter. Level-headed and kind-hearted, until a game board or cards come out. A friend to all living things. (he/him, aroace)

Basvaarad Adaar - Tal-Vashoth rift mage, freed saarebas. Says little, and chooses his words carefully. Painfully shy, but loves deeply and well. (he/him, they/them, bisexual)

Nanna Adaar - Half-dwarf Vashoth, two-handed warrior, non-verbal. Brash and hot-tempered, but easily mollified. A lover of all physical contests. (she/her, lesbian)

Torunn Adaar - Vashoth archer and midwife. In-game she's an artificer, but in my heart she's a bard. Emotionally intelligent and always eager to learn new things. (she/her, bisexual greyromantic)

Farah Surana - daughter of Eireann Surana and Alistair Theirin. Gregarious and inquisitive, she could make a friend in an empty room. (she/her)

Camile - adopted daughter of Sigyn. Shy and quiet, but always eager to help. (she/her)

Aisling Lavellan - baby sister of Gideon and Athim Lavellan. She's brought to Skyhold to live with them after their parents are killed in the fighting in Wycome. Still finding her feet, but curious about everything. (she/her)

my 'ships

As I said, I'm up for trying most any ships, but these are all the ones I have in my verses:

main verse:

Gideon Lavellan/Dorian Pavus

Eireann Surana/Alistair Theirin

Eireann/Alistair/Kali/Cullen

Kali Lavellan/Cullen Rutherford

Rian Hawke/Anders

Rian Hawke/Varric Tethras

Athim Lavellan/Solas

Rian/Athim/Varric

Sigyn/Blackwall

Basvaarad Adaar/the Iron Bull

Nanna Adaar/Sera

Torunn Adaar/Raleigh Samson (quasiplatonic)

Kali Lavellan/the Iron Bull (FwB)

Gideon Lavellan/the Iron Bull (FwB)

Carver Hawke/Merrill Sabrae

Cole/Krem Aclassi

Fenris/Isabela/optional Zevran Arainai

Josephine Montilyet/Leliana

Raleigh Samson/Ser Thrask/Ambra

probably more I can't remember right now

the Lion and the Hind AU:

Torunn Adaar/Cullen Rutherford (whom the AU is named for!)

Athim Lavellan/Josephine Montilyet

Basvaarad Adaar/Cassandra Pentaghast

Gideon Lavellan/Solas

Kali Lavellan/the Iron Bull/Dorian Pavus (Bull is romantically/sexually involved with both Kali and Dorian, but Kali and Dorian are completely platonic)

other ships I enjoy but don't have anywhere specific to put, really

Basvaarad Adaar/Solas

[amikoroyaiart]

Hello again 🙂

Got a question for you. I thought about this the other day.

If Trilla lived, how would the story of Jedi Survivor play out? Similarities? Differences?

I'm curious to see what you think would happen.

Thanks!! 😃

Hi there!

My Trilla brainrot is going crazy with all the ideas what role she could play in Survivor.

I will put them under the cut because it will include SPOILERS FOR THE GAME JEDI SURVIVOR

I like to think that Trilla, if she survived (she will be forever alive in my heart) she would stay a bit with Mantis but then she would probably leave them to find a place for herself in the galaxy.

She would definitely help Cere with the path. Since I love The High Republic I like to think that maybe Trilla was fascinated by that period. Sinee her master was Cere and Cordova, I think she was a history lover like them and maybe this was her favourite period.

So they would call her when the compass appeared because she has the knowledge about THR.

And I feel like she would immediately recognize Bode's intentions and she would confronted him alone abou this because she could relate. She knows how Empire can mess with your head. Maybe her presence could avoid all the disaster. She would definitely help free Kata if Bode asked for help because she is so done of seeing kids suffering for the mistakes of the adults.

Also since she loves High Republic, I like to imagine Cal showing her all the chambers from the game.

So many ideas, I like to play with the canon in my head with how would Cal and Trilla relationship look like, and maybe even Cal with Trilla and Bode, I love this ot3 too haha

Thanks for asking, gotta cut it here before I write a whole dissertation.

[victorluvsalice]

AU Thursday: That Three-Player Childhood Friends Valicer AMA AU I Mentioned Briefly Before

So -- as per the title, I've talked a bit about this idea before, in the tags of the "Childhood Friends" prompt story I did for OT3 Week earlier this year, and as part of explaining why I chose to reblog the "Take Me Home To My Heart" Corpse Bride fan video for Song Saturday recently. But now it is time to give this AU a Proper Explanatory Post! *thumbs up* So here we go --

-->The basic conceit is that this is a Valicer twist on my old "Somebody I Used To Know" idea (where Victor and Alice were childhood friends before Alice got committed, and when Victor learned about what happened to Alice and started visiting her in Rutledge, he got sucked into the events of American McGee's Alice, going through that game with her. And then Victor managed to accidentally trigger the events of Alice: Madness Returns in the middle of Corpse Bride by inviting her to his arranged wedding to Victoria, accidentally marrying Emily, bringing the corpse bride back to meet Alice in the hopes they could somehow find her family down there -- the shock threw Alice back into Wonderland early, and this time she dragged Victoria and Emily in along with Victor, causing them to all have some interesting revelations about themselves and Barkis Bittern along the way, along with figuring out Bumby's damage). In this world, things are kicked off by that party in the "Childhood Friends" prompt, with Alice, Victor, and Smiler all making firm friends hiding out under one of the banquet tables, sharing stories and snacks and building card castles. Nell Van Dort and Dr. Kelman aren't initially happy that their children spent the duration of the party under a table -- but end up changing their tune when they learn Alice is the daughter of the distinguished Dean Liddell and his wife. So the trio are allowed to stay friends, with the Liddells tolerating the Van Dorts' and Kelman's presence in their lives for the sake of their younger daughter.

-->The trio have a lovely time together, becoming thick as thieves, with Alice introducing Victor and Smiler to Wonderland and them coming up with their own ideas for domains (Victor, who loves playing explorer and trying to hunt down new butterflies, naturally comes up with the Butterfly Jungle, while Smiler, who wants to live in a place where everyone is actually happy and not being tormented by their dad for not being "socially compliant," comes up with Smile Street). Alice and Smiler eventually agree that they both want to marry Victor when they grow up, and Alice designs a house for them all to live in when they're older (it looks like a mirror-flipped version of the Liddell house, with space for Victor to have a butterfly garden and Smiler a chemistry lab). She also makes bracelets for them all to wear out of spare yarn and some red, yellow, and blue beads she salvaged off an old worn-out pillow, because she couldn't find any toy rings and she thinks the bracelets are more fun anyway.

-->And then the Van Dorts host the Kelmans and the Liddells for a visit, and Alice, Victor, and Smiler all have a play wedding with their favorite toys where Alice hands out the bracelets and they all vow to love each other forever and always be friends and such. They then happily go down to tea, and when Nell questions the bracelets, Victor cheerfully informs her that they all got married --

Cue Nell Van Dort and Dr. Kelman both loudly objecting to this (Nell because, while being friends with the Liddells is good for their family socially, Victor can't marry the daughter of a mere Dean, never mind that they're all eight and it's all pretend, while Dr. Kelman is more focused on the whole "you cannot marry more than one person at once and boys can't marry boys, Marmaduke, I don't care what you say you are" side), and all three sets of parents getting into a huge fight, which ends with the visit being cut short and the Liddells and Kelmans heading home. Dr. Kelman gives Smiler the business on the way back and tosses their bracelet out the window of the carriage; Nell Van Dort tells Victor he is not going to embarrass her like that ever again and to get that bracelet out of her sight (prompting him to hide it in his dresser drawer instead of throwing it away in a small rebellious act of technical compliance); and the Liddells comfort Alice as best they can (while also gently explaining that you can only marry one person at once, which Alice thinks is stupid), with Arthur finally going, "Well, at least we won't miss Bonfire Night back home."

-->Yeah, cue the Liddell Fire, and poor Alice being chucked into Rutledge without Victor or Smiler knowing. And, of course, losing her bracelet in the process, because she wasn't wearing it in bed. :(

-->Fast forward to roughly ten years later -- Victor, feeling very anxious about the fact that his parents are shopping around for a wife for him, finds the bracelet in his dresser again and feels inspired to try and reconnect with his childhood friends. He decides to start by writing Alice and asks Mayhew if he could help him secretly deliver a letter --

Cue Mayhew spilling the beans on where Alice has been the last ten years, and Victor, horrified and furious this was kept from him, decides he's going to see her, come hell or high water. He thus sets out from Burtonsville to Rutledge before his parents can stop him, and arrives at the same time a doctor and his child do, with the doctor explaining he's here to help treat a patient. Victor ends up sitting in the waiting area with the kid while the doctor talks to the nurses...

-->And, when the kid gives him a tentative smile, abruptly recognizes them as an older Smiler. The two delightedly reconnect (with Victor being startled by how deep Smiler's voice has gotten, while Smiler is similarly startled by how tall Victor's gotten), and Victor asks if Smiler and Dr. Kelman are here to see Alice too.

Revealing Smiler ALSO had no idea what had happened to Alice and causing them to become similarly furious that no one told them. They inform Kelman that they're seeing Alice along with him -- Kelman is annoyed, but the nurse at the front desk says that if Smiler is a childhood friend, it might help, so he reluctantly allows it. Victor and Smiler thus go in to visit Alice together, and while they're initially shocked by her conditions, they do their best to reach out to her. At first, it doesn't look like it's working...

But at the end of the visit, when they go to leave, Alice does turn to look at them. Dr. Wilson, who has been observing all this, is pleased to see any reaction out of her and encourages the two to keep coming back to see if they can get her any further out of her catatonic state.

-->Cue Victor and Smiler staying near Rutledge and visiting Alice on the regular, hoping to break through to her (the Van Dorts arrive at one point to try and drag Victor back home, but Victor, with Smiler's help, successfully convinces them that he's making them look good by being so kind to this poor mad orphan that has lost her family and gets them to let him stay for a little longer). The pair recount old stories, read books to her, and generally do what they can to hopefully get a reaction -- and in the process, start reconnecting themselves, talking about their lives and where they've ended up (Victor telling Smiler about how his parents are looking for a socially-advantageous match and how he'd really rather be allowed to go to art school or something, while Smiler talks about Dr. Kelman trying to turn them into his successor and how they wish they could strike out on their own as a traveling alchemist or something). For a while, nothing much seems to be happening with Alice --

-->And then the incident with the orderlies spooning porridge all over Alice's beloved bunny happens. Victor and Smiler arrive for their visit in the middle of the whole mess, and while trying to stop the orderlies from retaliating against Alice's attack, see Alice go at her wrists with the spoon. Horrified, Victor screams at her to stop while Smiler tries to get the spoon from her --

Cue Alice looking up and apparently really seeing them for the first time, and collapsing crying in their arms. Dr. Wilson comes and tends to everyone's injuries, then -- once Alice is quiet again -- asks if Victor and Smiler wouldn't mind feeding her from now on, as he thinks they would get better results. Victor and Smiler are agreeable, and indeed Alice almost eagerly eats her gruel when they're the ones holding the spoon. They slowly become more and more involved with her actual care, with Smiler double-checking Wilson's various concoctions so he doesn't accidentally kill Alice while Victor helps keep the superintendent from making a fuss using his family's cash --

-->And then, one stormy day, they're both just hanging out with Alice when Nurse D returns Mr. Bunny after a cleaning. And shortly after she leaves, they all see the rabbit doll turn to Alice and beg her to "save us."

-->Cue all three of them dropping into Wonderland without warning (Victor and Smiler ending up unconscious in the real world, with the frightened staff unable to wake them). Alice is naturally rather startled to have her childhood best friends with her in Wonderland, while Victor and Smiler are naturally rather startled to be in Wonderland. They have a confused reunion before Cheshire urges them to chase Rabbit, and the trio find that Wonderland is in a very bad way thanks to the Queen of Hearts, and it's up to them to set things right...

-->And so the gang travel through Wonderland, going through all the events of American McGee's Alice in a three-player format! With the most notable changes and additions so far being --

a) Alice, rather than wearing her standard blood-spattered blue dress, is in the Ash Dress from the original take on Alice: Asylum (because while I was never a big fan of the various A:A concepts, I loved that dress); Victor is in a dark blue suit that doesn't look that different to his real-life clothes; and Smiler is in a plain pale yellow suit -- though they do also get their glowing yellow eyes and purple-tipped hair to go with it (Victor and Alice are like "???" while Smiler is like " :D ")

b) While I'm not 100% on everybody's weapons for this game, particularly Smiler's, I know we definitely get the trio of the Vorpal Blade, Fork, and Spoon, and Smiler's attacks are still more about stunning people than about actually hurting them

c) While traveling through the various domains, the trio come across a dead and dried jungle that none of them recognize...until Victor finds a weakly-glowing butterfly under the remains of the foliage and realizes to his shock that this is the Butterfly Jungle -- it basically died along with his dreams of being an explorer when he grew up :(

d) Similarly, they also encounter a cobble street with a bunch of unfinished houses and a dried-up fountain at the end -- Smiler clocks it after seeing the spiral clouds in the sky as their old Smile Street, guessing that it never got properly completed after they lost their friends :(

e) While going through the Land of Fire and Brimstone, the trio eventually clock that the Liddell house on the top of the volcano doesn't look quite right -- in fact, it seems to be a mirror image of the real house. Cue one of them (currently I generally have Victor as the one to make the connection) finally realizing that it's not the Liddell house -- it's their house, the one Alice made for them when they were small. Cue them redoubling their efforts to reach it, and finally going inside and getting to enjoy a space that is all theirs --

For about five seconds, before the Jabberwock arrives to burn it all down. >( And then hit them all with their guilt about being the only survivor of the fire (Alice), and not even trying to find out what had happened to Alice earlier (Victor and Smiler). Because the Jabberwock is an asshole.

f) Which makes it even more satisfying when, during the second boss fight against him, the trio all grab the Jabberwock's Eye Staff and just ultra-blast him with its awesome laser >D

g) At some point, the bracelets come up again (probably after Jabberwock Part I), with Alice and Smiler mourning the loss of theirs -- and then Victor revealing he still has his, offering them comfort that at least ONE of the damn things survived

h) Undecided currently if Alice insists on facing the Queen of Hearts alone, or if Victor and Smiler come with -- I mean, the Queen is a very personal enemy for Alice, but at the same time, it feels weird to have Victor and Smiler sit out such an important fight... Hmmm. Maybe split the difference -- have Alice insist on doing the first part of the fight alone after Cheshire gets beheaded to try and spare her friends, only for Victor and Smiler to come help her back on her feet after the Queen's speech and join her for the second phase? Yeah, I rather like that, let's go with that. :)

-->Once the Queen is defeated, everyone wakes up, and Victor, Alice, and Smiler all share a big real-world embrace while the doctors and nurses (along with the Van Dorts and Kelman) try to figure out WTF just happened. XD Alice is eventually pronounced well enough to leave, and the trio finally go their separate ways (the Van Dorts insisting that Victor has to come home now; Dr. Kelman wanting to get back to his own Sanctuary with Smiler; and of course Dr. Bumby arriving to take Alice to Houndsditch), though they vow to stay in contact this time, no matter WHAT life throws at them.

-->...and this is where I run into a bit of a roadblock, because I'm not actually sure what to do with the A:MR/CB portion of the AU. I mean, it's gotta be done, Bumby cannot be allowed to get away with his bullshit, and not only do we have to expose Barkis's murders, we also have to expose Kelman's horrific brain surgeries on innocent people (I in fact already have an idea where Alice's Rutledge hallucination from the second game ends up overlapping with Smiler having a bad time in a hallucinatory Sanctuary, revealing Kelman as a monster in the process)...but I'm not entirely sure a post-AMA Victor would actually go along with being forced into an arranged marriage. Dude would have had to have gained some confidence after fighting all those monsters, right? Though I have had the thought that maybe he would make a deal with his parents to marry whoever they picked without a fight in order to keep seeing Alice (a deal he starts regretting after he starts realizing he's in love with Alice and Smiler post all the nonsense), which would put him in a position to do the Corpse Bride stuff...and would allow me to get Victoria and Emily in on the fun like in the original "Somebody I Used To Know" idea. Go big or go home, right? :p I'll figure it out eventually, I'm sure.

Whew -- that was longer than anticipated! But I hope you enjoyed it. And can maybe offer up some ideas for the A:MR/CB parts of the AU. :p

[moinstar]

❗ OT3 content ❗  DiaMamMoin

Fluff Xmas fic gift from kaeaea_ko (from Twitter). Thank you so much for the wonderful story for them!  Added some drawings just to see how cute they all look together.

A peal of laughter rang down the corridor and into Diavolo’s office where he remained attending to all the perpetual duties that came with his position. Barbatos, positioned across the room and attending to his own tasks, did not even look up at the sound - but Diavolo paused and looked longingly at the closed wooden door, somewhat akin to a fornlorn puppy.

He’d long since opened his home for Moin to come and go as they pleased even before they were engaged, and then later down the line that offer had extended to Mammon too while in Moin’s company; while Diavolo could not empathize with the notion of having his loved ones around too much, he was sympathetic to the fact that Mammon was often on the receiving end of his brother’s over-eager... ‘teasing’. So had opened his castle and home to Avatar of Greed, more importantly - the dearest friend of his beloved. Barbatos still kept a keen eye on all the castle’s contents, of course...

Another outburst of jubilance, further yet from the studious pair, and the Demon Prince refocused on his work with a long sigh. The two visitors were generally very conscientious and rarely disrupted anything; but how could he begrudge interruptions like this? Moin and Mammon’s friendship seemed to bloom forth in a steadfast, wholesome joy. Diavolo remained quietly envious, a secret lament that he held deep within the recess of his heart. He’d never tell a lie - but there were some truths that would never spill free. And that playful, unburdened loyalty that Diavolo couldn’t hope to duplicate, forever conscious of all his duties and responsibilities at play.

More than once early on the demon had thought that it would be kinder to ‘let Moin go’ - free from his love, and an inevitably somewhat trammeled future. But at the root of it all, he was a demon,  and all demons coveted. Moin was his greatest light in a land untouched by the natural sun. He believed that he would let her go should the fates ever be as cruel as to turn her heart cold towards him - but while she did he would be holding onto them with all he had. That compulsion drove him to provide Moin with all that made her happy.

A cleared throat and Barbatos’ mild amused look pulled him back to the moment - refocusing on work indeed.

“Young master, are you quite well?"

Amusement bled into the butler’s tone too, and Diavolo huffed good-naturedly. “Oh fine, fine. I have reports burned into my retinas, but otherwise fine.”

“Hm. Perhaps a break is in order the? It would only be proper for you to go and greet your guests also, no matter how often they are here."

An unexpected encouragement that did not need to be expressed twice, and far exceeded the appeal of attempting an escape from his work via the balcony. Diavolo put his work down (or rather dropped it in a manner that had Barbatos straightening things in exasperation), followed the sounds, and found himself tat the top point of the staircase, looking down at the scene below. He did not announce his presence; acquisitive of the seconds he was merely a witness to. He’d go as far as to call the sight salubrious, mood and exuberance lifted by even this.

The foyer was adorned in Christmas decorations - another human tradition Diavolo wholeheartedly adored - and the heart of the display was the enormous tree decked with baubles, lights and tinsel, the latter being the apparent source of amusement. Mammon had pulled a rope of gold tassels from the tree and had wrapped it around himself, posturing and preening at Moin who sat on the large velvet couch, clapping and encouraging him. Despite the obvious and foolishness of the action Mammon still held himself in just a way, truly it was no wonder he found such success in modelling.

Unable to resist any longer he started down the stairs and called, “is this a new signature look, Mammon?”

Mammon’s face paled and he scrambled to return the tinsel to the tree, resulting in more of a clump of gold near the bottom than any semblance of order, and Diavolo was content to let him scramble while he and Moin shared amused looks. That smile he loved so much sent his way, his own wide one returned in kind. It would probably be quite the sweet moment were it not broken by what could best be described as a squawk.

“Hey Dia UH I mean Lord Diavolo! Just uhh, checking you had ya decorations on right! Looks erm...” Mammon seemed to trail off as he reached behind himself and awkwardly patted the tree, “yep all looks fine. Ya welcome!"

Diavolo shook his head fondly and descended the last of the steps. He stopped beside Moin and pressed a kiss into their hair at the crown of their head, leaving his large hand resting on a delicate shoulder.

“Oh? It looked to me as though you were parading about in the Christmas decorations. Haha, I can see why Lucifer calls you his cutest brother.”

Mammon turned a bright red at that comment, puzzling Diavolo slightly; was he still so sensitive to compliments? He didn’t pay it any more mind however as Moin was turning her face up towards him, sweet voice plying his attention with only a breath of his name. Without a thought he leaned down to press his lips against her pliant ones that opened against his with a gasp. Too quickly Diavolo pulled back, his own cheeks dusted in red. They were no strangers to intimacy in this home yet typically not so blatantly in front of company. He couldn’t say he was sorry, because that would be a lie. “That was inappropriate,” was verbalized instead, “I apologize.”

Moin laughed softly, glancing up, and Diavolo looked too; there above them hung a lush sprig of mistletoe, somehow in the perfect location.

“I’d better not be caught under there with anyone!!”

Diavolo could not help but laugh at Mammon’s indignant tone, his own contrite expression disappearing in his mirth. He looked at the younger demon again, and for reasons he could not hope to decipher he asked, “what if you were caught under it with Moin?”

For a moment the question hung suspended in silence. Diavolo could feel Moin’s eyes locked on him, yet he kept his own impassive gaze on Mammon. Motive aside, Diavolo could soundly say it was not impulsive. He’d seen how Mammon looked at Moin. It wasn’t anything Diavolo could hold against him; the Avatar of Greed seemed to go against his nature and remain content with Moin’s friendship, and Diavolo found himself wholly trusting of both of them and the bounds of their loyalty. And yet. Mammon looked at Moin with a consuming longing at times, and she seemed entirely oblivious of it.

There was even the chance that Diavolo was simply projecting - the notion of another being in love with Moin was entirely believable, they were, in Diavolo’s opinion, the perfect partner. Who would not yearn for that? Any potential feelings that Moin may have for Mammon outside of the realms of friendship the Demon Prince could not lay any claim to knowing, but he did know how happy the two made each other. Mammon was already such a fixture in their lives, and as surely as the lineage of Demon King flowed through his veins, Diavolo knew if there was any potential to increase her happiness, he would gift it to her without reservation. Diavolo was not immune to possessiveness; somehow this sudden errant thought did not incite that consummation.

Mammon was steadily paling again, terror building in his eyes - ahh, perhaps he had taken that comment as a threat? Quickly to rectify, Diavolo smiled wide, eyes crinkling into half-moons. “I wouldn’t mind. If it were you. If Moin wanted to.”

Another long pause; pregnant with anticipation and not a small amount of shock.

“W-what? I don’t wanna- I mean, Moin wouldn’t- what??”

“Hmm. Well I would never push anything of course. I know you two are beyond dear to each other. I hold you rather fondly too, Mammon, after all this time.”

It would seem his company were speechless. Why was he going down this road? He was more than content, more than happy in his relationship with Moin. What compulsion was this, to maintain this terse moment instead of breaking it with a joke, or an alternative comment-

“Moin. You are very quiet down there.” Attention turned solely back to his love, Diavolo let the silence draw out, no filling it this time.

“Maybe?”

“Maybe...?” Diavolo prompted back.

“Maybe I would like it?”

Moin and Mammon were both blushing to the roots, and Diavolo thought he almost deserved a medal for maintaining his own gentle but rather bland expression. Perhaps more of a prompt was needed.

Gesturing Mammon over, and who could deny the Demon Prince’s summons. The other demon stepped forward until his knees bumped against the couch, making him stumble forward and catch himself on the armrest and back, effectively trapping Moin against it, Diavolo himself still at her side. A squeak came from one of them, unclear whom, but Moin’s attention was ensnared by Mammon and Mammon’s by them, leaning towards each other like a timid gravity pulled between them. Barely a brush of lips, shy and fumbling, noses bumping - Diavolo knew that standing by and watching would not be easing this development in any way, yet if this were to come into being, he would need to be there, even if just a witness. Such a delicate thing, and Moin his to protect. No one could hurt you like the ones you loved, and Moin loved Mammon so very much. All that potential for heartbreak, all the more for undicovered happiness.

When no comment from himself interrupted, Mammon pushed forward again. His hands were gripping at the couch and Diavolo felt he could excuse the claws that he could see tearing into the fabric; amused and impressed that Mammon was so steadfastly holding himself back from holding Moin as he kissed them.

Soon, two quick breaths pulsed in the room. The mood hung charged and fragile. Diavolo winced apologetically when his DDD started ringing, Lucifer’s name flashing on the screen. A quick conversation with the other insisting on Mammon’s return to home, and he ended the call. Moin and Mammon were still pink, uncharacteristically silent, and staring at anything but each other. Diavolo felt as though his heart would burst from all the fondness he felt.

“Ah Mammon, unfortunately... Lucifer has called you back to the House. You’d best be on your way in a hurry.”

Mammon stammered his acknowledgement, Moin jumping to her feet too, with an aborted movement to hug the other demon before simply grabbing her hands together tightly instead.

“Oh and Mammon?” Diavolo called as Mammon was halfway out the door, “Moin and I are having a Christmas Eve dinner together tomorrow. Please join us?”

A quick nod, a slammed door, and Moin and Diavolo were left alone in the foyer. Softly and gently, Diavolo pulled Moin into his arms and pressed kisses atop her head, over and over. Her arms gripped him back tightly. Reassurance at this point was necessary, explanation could come later when they had worked through the moment. “Anything for your happiness, Moin. If either of you don’t want that, it will never be mentioned again. If you do want this, the door is open. You have my blessing; I know I hold your heart and I have no fear of losing it. But you deserve all the love you crave. I do love you so. Anything, anything, for your happiness.

... And you both do look so adorable with rose blushed cheeks.”

[walker-extended-universe]

Cordell Fanfiction Masterlist

This is going to be a long one guys. A collection of fics that have Cordell Walker as a main/major character. I've split them up into Series and Stand Alone stories.

Series:

Walker OT3- A collection of stories exploring the beginnings and relationship of Trickidell

Walkercest of the Cordaugust Variety- A collection of stories exploring the Cordell/August ship. Loose relation to canon

Walkernatural- A series exploring the clash of Supernatural and Walker in which Cordell is Sam's long-lost twin brother.

Dog Tags Verse- A collection of stories exploring an alternate universe where Cordell Walker and Trey Barnett met as soldiers on opposing sides of a war

Henry Winchester 'Verse- An AU of Walkernatural in which Cordell and Sam grew up as Winchester twins

A Rose By Any Other Name- An AU in which, rather than dying, Emily is exposed as a serial killer and the Walker family is turned upside down.

Crime Family Walker- An AU in which the Walkers are a crime family that run Austin with an iron fist

The Little Things- A supernatural crossover where the Walkers adopt a hunter's daughter

Sam and Dean Walker- Supernatural/Walker crossover AU in which John leaves Sam and Dean with Cordell and Emily after Mary dies

Stand-Alone Stories:

This is Probably A Bad Idea But....- Texas Ranger Cordell Walker can't seem to crack this case. He gets some unwanted assistance in the form of the eccentric Malcolm Bright

New Boy- Cordell Walker meets a man named Dean Winchester at a bar. Before the night is over, his life has changed forever. But will it be for better, or worse?

Camping 101- You know that infamous 2017 camping trip that August insisted required double-checking all the supplies on the list for because they left the tent at home that year? Yeah. This is that.

It Wasn't Supposed to be You- Death was inevitable. Cordell was only well too aware of it in his line of work. Death was also unpredictable. He always forgot that part.

Don't Cry- One day they would understand. At the very least, they might find it in their hearts to forgive.

Family Matters- He froze at the end of the entryway. It was her. It had been fifteen years since he last saw her, but he'd recognize her anywhere. He never thought he'd see her again. But there she was, standing on his front porch. Smiling at him like she hadn't abandoned him and their kids all those years ago. "...Emily?"

A Killer By Any Other Name- Cordell Walker is accused of twelve counts of first degree murder due to some damning evidence. Problem is, he didn't do it. Liam is determined to prove this so he calls on an old friend, Malcolm Bright, for some help. Meanwhile, Sam Winchester hears of the case and it doesn't take him long to figure out Waker has been pinned for one of their hunts. He can't sit by and watch an innocent man go to jail so he resolves to help in any way he can.

Just To Be Sure.....- Sam and Dean roll into Austin for a case and come across a (scarily) familiar face.

Secrets and Lies- It's amazing what a little lack of self-control can lead too….

"Duke" is a Dog's Name- The reader's family ranch has eneters some tough times and she enters the rodeo in the hopes of earning some extra funds to keep things going. While she's there, she meets an interesting character who calls himself Duke Culpepper. Little does she know that nothing will ever be the same after she meets the tall man with cheap aftershave.

Things They Never Show Onscreen- Just a little thing I wrote because they never show hospital scenes in shows like this and I needed a fix :)

The Long Road Home- Cordell Walker, Texas Ranger, was undercover for 11 months. He went dark for several of them. When he finally came back online, he wasn't the same man he was when he left. What happened and how will he recover? An alternate universe exploration of Walker coming home.

Don't Get (A)Head of Yourself- Cordell and Emily are taking a couples camping trip. Things don't go exactly to plan.

Cry For Help- Cordell knows something is off about how his wife died but he's not quite sure why. He turns to the internet in his time of need and finds an unexpected source of help.

Grass is Greener on the Other Side- An exploration of what might’ve happened if Cordell hadn’t listen to Liam during 2 x 04 (It’s Not What You Think).

It's Probably Nothing- “Listen, I don’t know who you are. I don’t know who Sammy is or why he left you but I’m not him.”///“Don’t worry, Sammy. I don’t know what happened to you but I’ll get you fixed up. You just need to remember me, that’s all. It’ll be okay. Dean's here now.”

Missed You- After a long day, Cordell gets a much-needed phone call from an old friend.

Here For You- It's not until late at night when Cordell has a chance to really process what happened that day. He's handling as well as can be expected. Micki's there to lend an ear.

A Series of Fortunate Events- A collection of alternative endings/events for 2x12

A Difference of Environment- Cordell Walker is undercover, not just as Duke Culpepper, but as an Omega. When his secrets are revealed, he's surprised to find acceptance rather than rejection. And maybe he finds a little something else….

One Last Checkup- Cordell knows what his kids went through today and he decides to check up on them before he goes to bed.

Going Home- Cordell Walker has been held captive for a long time. Now, he plans to escape. Or, a sort of speculative piece on how Cordell might escape the ones that captured him in the season 2 finale

In Another Life- What if Cordell Walker had told Twyla Jean the truth about his undercover mission before the last bank job?

Desperate Measures- What if August had been taken instead of Liam? A little exploration on how he might have handled that.

Groundhog Day is Just a Movie- In which Cordell finds himself stuck in a time loop

Hiding in Plain Sight- 15 years after Cordell ran away from home, he returns to Austin with his wife and new life. He just wants to live his life without worrying about what he left behind. Unfortunately, he moved in right next door to his little brother.

Basic Instinct- In which Cordell storms down to Desert Speed Wars to pick up his kids and his car. Shannon and her buddies have varied responses.

We Just Need to Talk- Liam has a nightmare about his time in captivity and goes looking for comfort. After witnessing Cordell have a nightmare too, he decides enough is enough. They don’t have to talk about what happened, but they are going to engage in some brotherly cuddles and at least acknowledge that there’s a problem.

Worst Kept Secrets- James is worried about Cordell and talks to Micki. Micki tries to talk to Cordell.

The Smell of Fear- Alpha!Cordell has an extreme reaction to seeing his omega brother in cuffs and bruised. He goes feral, kills a few guys with his bare hands, the usual. When rescue finally arrives, he’s still in feral mode and won't let the rescue team near them, so Cassie has to go in and try to cool him off. Eventually, they tranquilize him and keep him under until the feral has worn off.

Paradigm Shift- But there was one more thing Liam needed to get off his chest. He just wasn’t sure he had the guts to do it.

Under Duress- In the cage, Liam was unwillingly turned into an Omega via special pills that were outlawed decades ago. When he goes into heat, Cordell fears for his life and does what he thinks is necessary.

When It All Comes Crashing Down- The Walker family's initial reactions to Abby's collapse

A Special Dinner- Cordell is making a special dinner for his and Emily's anniversary. If only she was coming…..

Behind Closed Doors- AU in which Emily groomed August and no one was the wiser, least of all Cordell. Cordell has to process what his wife did to his son under his nose and August has to accept what happened to him.

How We Get Here- In which Cassie figures out Cordell sent her on a wild goose chase and tracks the GPS on the impound vehicle to find him. She's not exactly happy to see him but they have bigger fish to fry at the moment.

Sweet Child of Mine- When Liam asks to go to the hospital for a checkup, Cordell agrees because he feels Off as well. Little does he know how serious his condition really is.

Parallels- Cordell Walker is finally home after being released by the FBI. His whole family is worried about him but he's a little more worried about August

Under Fire- Cassie and Cordell go down together in the line of duty and get a little too close to death for comfort. Here’s how everyone deals with it

Haunting Melodies- While working late at the Side Step, Cordell meets a lovely young woman named Lucia. They hit it off really well, but Cordell seems to be the only one who sees her.

Confidential Details- Julia is in town for a job. Cordell has some information that would be helpful. If only he could share….

Uninvited Guest- “Oh look who's girlfriend showed up to the crime scene before any other journalist did. Again.”

Wait For Me- Julia's work takes her all over the world at a moments' notice. Cordell just wishes he would have a little more heads' up.

Taking Breaks is Important- Julia is stressing over planning their honeymoon. Cordell uses creative methods to get her to take a break.

About A Boy- In which Cordell decided to be the older brother Kevin lost to the war

Daddy's Girl- Sometimes Cordell wonders if Sadie can suck cock as good as her dad used to

Unexpected- Cordell learns some new things during family movie night

Like a Phoenix, We Rise- Cordell and Hoyt have lived impossibly long lives over and over again. Cordell starts to get bored by the same old pattern and tries to live at least one lifetime with meaning. This ends up with him becoming a part of the Walker family, starting with Abigail in Independence all the way through Abeline and Bonham in modern day Austin. He knew falling in love was risky. He knew having kids was risky. He just wishes he knew how to make it all work after he lost the person that made it all worth it.

It'll Be Okay- Because there's no way that little trailer got pelted with bullets and the only thing that got hit was Cordell's hat

Devil on Your Shoulder- AU in which Hoyt was around during 1x18 and plays the devil on Cordell's shoulder

[hekateinhell]

Hekate's Greatest Hits, 2022

No, actually, these aren't all my greatest hits lmao just some stuff I had the most fun with here in VC fandom since I joined earlier in the year! Inspired by @desertfangs' post, and I thought it would be fun for me to look back on since this is my first time ever being actually active in a fandom (RIP). I did lurk on the VC sites (LJ, DA, spec sites) back when I was a tween but that was the extent of it. So thank you for having me and for indulging me, vcblr. Some of my now favorite people are the ones I've met right here. 🖤

Some of My Favorites Stories I Wrote This Year: 

Forever Young [Armand/Louis | T | 3k | COMPLETE]

Vampire Fic: a baby orphan finds her way to Trinity Gate; Louis and Armand recalibrate. Just something sweet and fluffy tbh. The first chapter of the sequel is up and hanging out in limbo until I get my act together, but I love them, and this is such a soft universe for me to visit.

Our House [Armand/Daniel | E | 22k | ONGOING]

Human AU: Armand announces he wants a baby, Daniel immediately flashes to all the million-and-one reasons why that may be a fucking terrible idea. By far the most consistent I've managed to be with a fic this far, and it's been an angsty melodramatic blast.

Insatiable An Appetite [Armand/Lestat | E | 5k | COMPLETE?]

Human AU: Lestat's never had to work for it in the bedroom, for obvious reasons. It's starting to affect his personal life, so he hires a professional to show him a few tips and tricks to being a better lover. This one is just light-hearted corny smut, a rom-com without the romance necessarily. Ngl, it exists solely because I was anxious about never having written a proper beat-by-beat sex scene before and decided to rip off the Band-Aid in a low-stakes rarepair one-shot. But I had a lot of fun with it and have new notes for a second chapter sometime (this is obviously the ship I go when I want to experiment -- first fic ever, first smut ever, etc).

Some of My Favorite Headcanon Posts

The OG Armand/Daniel (aww baby's first HCs)

Did Armand Ever Learn to Drive? (Properly)

Halloween at Trinity Gate

Armand/Lestat + Bonus Fast Food Meta - "Why I Think This Would Be a Great Ship Post-Canon"

Some of My Favorite Mildly Meta Posts & Other Stuff

Armand & Lestat's Mutual Marius Issues™️ Part I, Part 2

'Orphans of Ticking Time': Armand in Academia

Armand's Mommy Issues

Trinity Gate & The Armand/Louis/Lestat of It All (in which I accidentally make the case for my OT3)

The Official Armand/Daniel Song, According to Anne Rice

[caparrucia]

1 and 23

1. favorite fic you wrote this year

The best fic I wrote this year is resurgence (Malos-centric, Malos/Jin, Xenoblade Chronicles 2), which I know is a niche fandom and a niche story, but it's dear to my heart just because it really IS the best thing I've written in quite a while, like prose-wise.

But my favorite fic as far as "this is my baby" feelings, it's gotta be so we made the hard decision (Regis/Aulea/Titus, puppyverse AU, FFXV), which is a fic no one asked for, and therefore not a lot of people cared about, but goddammit, I've been meaning to write about that OT3 for literal YEARS and I finally got around to it. It's my favorite ship and my favorite OT3 dynamic and there's a lot of fun thoughts about disability, polyamory and just a ton of biting from three dysfunctional dipshits that, nonetheless, really fucking love each other. They deserve their happy ending even if their happy ending is full of biting each other til eternity.

I'm currently very happy with maelstrom soul, heart of stone (Zhongli/Childe, dragonheart AU, Genshin Impact) and a lot of it is "current fic" syndrome, but it's shaping up to be one of my favorites, too.

23. fics you wanted to write but didn’t

I'm treating this as a haven't yet, as a opposed to a didn't and never will: but there's companion fics for the other Genshin regions, that take place in the sake universe as the Zhongli/Childe fic. I started on the Zhongli/Childe fic, but once I'm done with that one, I'll pick up any of the other four.

The 4ggravate polycule fic I'm really looking forward to, mostly because Wanderer+Kaveh friendship is hysterical and Wanderer accidentally forcing the polycule to include Alhaitham without really realizing that's what he's doing is hilarious. It also includes my favorite scene which is Kaveh wholesale defenestrating Alhaitham right in front of Cyno, who always really thought if he ended up arresting a lover, it'd be Tighnari's ACAB ass.

There's an Inazuma fic I've been chewing on that's mostly Ayato casually dismantling the tricommission system to basically bully Ei to actually do her job and actually fucking RULE for once, and it's mostly a back and forth between him and Yae with the entirety of the Inazuma cast unwittingly or unwillingly playing the role of chess pieces. It also features a really fucking hilarious Ayato/Kokomi political marriage subplot and no one can't tell who started it or if they're pro or against it or if at any given time they're working towards or against it, and it's driving Gorou and Kujo Sara to drink heavily.

I have a few ideas for a Fontaine fic, but I'm waiting for the archon quests to wrap up before I start figuring out where the pieces go. Mostly it's about Neuvillette needing quite a few hugs, Wriothesley and Clorinde being the definition of BBF (Bisexual Besties Forever), Furina getting to be a person and failing miserably before she gets the hang of it and an eventual sappy, ridiculously saccharine Navia/Furina that triggers the "must protect!!!" instincts of anyone who happens upon it.

And there's of course the MondsDONT polycule shenanigans which is halfway done, and it's mostly Diluc navigating the codependant mess that is his partners, their partners, and Venti. Oh god, Venti. Fuck him. It's a mess. Beds are literally set on fire. Twice. It's fine.

[urheartsamess]

hey i’m really curious and looking for recommendations so can i ask what are ur favorite korean dramas? 🙏🏻🥺

hiii sorry it took me a moment to answer but *deep breath* sure hehe! gonna give u my top 5 and try to not scare u away by diving into deep analyses on why i love those so much! i tried to keep it simple!

my all time favourite is beyond evil it’s a thriller romance drama where a hot young man (juwon) is being coaxed towards the brink and almost ruins his life for a 40yo man (dongsik) who suffered more than jesus himself and the two of them occasionally solve crimes! im making a joke out of it but their dynamic is very meaningful and profound! it’s bitter it’s sweet it’s full of tension and compassion and understanding and Love is at the core of it all. it shows u that despite the misery despite the cruelty despite the sins and despite the violence choosing love but also life is the bravest thing u can do. it will change the trajectory of ur life! also acting legends yeo jingoo and shin hakyun deliver thrilling performances in it which will make u unable to look away! this show means the world to me!

then nr 2 comes my mister! it’s a drama to watch for healing and hard times! it’s a quiet and delicate love story between a man (donghoon) and a woman (jian) who make the other one want to Live again. it teaches u that u don’t need a reason to be kind in ur life that a simple act of kindness could mean so much to someone. their love is shown through actions through listening through subtle glances. it’s very poetic it also deals with universal themes like brotherhood friendship loneliness altruism depression vulnerability and perseverance. it fundamentally changed me as a person when i watched it the first time and it also solidified the immense love and admiration i have for iu.

nr 3 the red sleeve! the best sageuk ever made it’s abt a court lady (deokim) who values her freedom and making her own choices above all else and the future king of joseon (san) whose duty always comes first and the two fall intensely in love. it’s harrowing bc wanting them together u know u’re inevitably pushing deokim towards her downfall to sacrifice what she values most which is her free will so the drama tackles the power play btwn them bc san is often a fool and their respective love language is the opposite of what the other needs hence it’s just so good so tragic so heartbreaking! lee junho even won a baeksang last year for this role hes just so graceful and mesmerising in it and genuinely too good at acting! also deokim (played by lee seyoung) is one of my all time favourite female characters she will stick with me forever!

nr 4 strangers from hell it’s a horror romance drama where a tall hot dentist (moonjo) (played by our one and only god lee dongwook) gaslights and gatekeeps a broke aspiring writer with violent tendencies (jongwoo) into joining him so they can become gay cannibals together barely a day after jongwoo moved into their very shady residence full of psychos! closet made of glass for moonjo since he even makes jongwoo a wedding ring (a musty human teeth bracelet)! it’s insanely good i havent moved on since 2019! deliciously gory and creepy it’s aesthetically flawless on that part as well!

nr 5 is the guest! a little bit too underrated if u ask me which is a shame because it does so much for the horror genre! im grateful that the show introduced me to the ot3 of all time: a girlboss detective an overly kindhearted taxi driver and a hot priest (kim jaewook!!! screams!!!). the characters slowly bound with each other through their shared trauma and dedicate their whole life to defeat an ancient and powerful demon. so the power of their friendship is kinda everything and is the heart of the show. also the men are a little….. u know……. like episode 16 has one of the most beautiful scenes i’ve ever seen that is forever engraved in my memory! i hate them! i love this show so much just. so much!!!!!