#post-apocalyptic wip

[glitterandstarshine]

THESE MONSTROUS WAVES——a WIP

Ailis Lockheed has grown up on the ocean. Ten years ago, the waters began to rise, erasing the shoreline and forcing the citizens of their tiny coastal town to become isolated in houses built on stilts, rising above the waves. For ten years, the people of Terrow, South Carolina have lived been alone in a world of water.

When Ailis’ older brother Maverick spots something unusual through the lens of his telescope, it’s Ailis who convinces him to tell the leaders of their small community. Maverick thinks what he saw is something long thought impossible, so he isn’t believed—but Ailis believes him. It believes that Maverick really did something dangerous and strange.

And if those sea monsters are coming for Terrow, they’ll all need to be ready

A post-apocalyptic oceanfaring fantasy horror exploring life alone above the waters, the importance of community, and what happens when that community is threatened by eldritch deep sea beasts.

AKA—mags really likes sea monsters and the ocean!

STARRING—

Ailis (ay-lish) Lockheed, 17 years old, they/it. Ailis barely remembers the shoreline that their home was originally built on, but they hold what they do recall dear.

Maverick Lockheed, 20 years old, he/him. Ailis’ older brother. Loved outer space as a child, and as such is the only person in Terrow to own a telescope.

Devroux LaChance, 48 years old, he/they. MaryLynn Drake, 42 years old, she/her. Luka Brown, 36 years old, he/him. Community leaders in Terrow, well-respected and listened to, though the leadership is informal.

And more!

Art credit: Shipping in a Storm by Jean-Antoine Théodore Gudin

[nightingale-the-lurker]

Hic est nihilum

[DEMO] Last update: 19/04/2024 | [ROMANCE OPTIONS]

SYNOPSIS

Hic est nihilum is a 16+ fantasy story set in a desolate, post-apocalyptic wasteland. Assume the mantle of the Omen, a rebel who endured a harrowing betrayal. Embarking on a perilous journey through the lifeless Abysm, you must rescue your allies from the clutches those who'd sooner see you dead and stop two loving, loathing gods from taking control of your mind.

PLOT

After a lifetime of enduring the Matriarch's iron grip, you dared to defy her tyranny. Empowered by the enigmatic Sud the Time's End, the smiling harbinger of death, you led your forces to reclaim a portion of the desolate, lifeless wastes of the Abysm. Victory seemed within reach, until betrayal shattered your ambitions.

Left for dead in the unforgiving desert, your survival now hinges on an ambiguous mission from your divine benefactor. As you navigate this treacherous path, the fate of your allies hangs in the balance, while the Matriarch's dominion remains unchallenged.

Yet, amidst the chaos, whispers of alternative powers echo through the Abysm, offering salvation at a steep price. Will you bend to the will of fate, or forge your own path to freedom? The choice is yours, but in this land of turmoil, nothing comes without sacrifice.

FEATURES

Play as a male, female, or non-binary character and choose your sexuality.

Customize your appearance and personality.

Decide on your skills, weapon, and fighting style.

Gather a patchwork group to rebel against the Matriarch.

Interact with two gods who want to take you as an ally, servant, and saint: Erichea the Drowned Maiden and Sud the Time's End.

Decide how you'll lead your rebellion: Will you be a ruthless rulebreaker, an idealistic liberator, or a pragmatic diplomat?

Don't lose your mind. Or do.

ROMANCE OPTIONS

Faz Sharaan is a tech expert who mysteriously appeared at your doorstep, offering his expertise. Though invaluable to your cause and a man with a heart of gold, his past remained a tightly guarded secret. It's as if he emerged fully formed from the desert sands.

Yuan Lixue is your steadfast ally and fierce protector. From the outset, she dedicated herself wholeheartedly to your cause, her loyalty to freedom unwavering. Yet, the crucible of battle has left its mark, turning her into a hardened warrior with an appetite for blood.

Rhys Dariann is exactly what he says: A flesh-eating demon. Yet he seamlessly transitions into kind town doctor and devoted chaplain. His reasons for aiding you are veiled in secrecy, but one thing is clear: an old hatred towards the Matriarch fuels his every action.

The Angel is an enigmatic and inhuman celestial being sworn to your cause without explanation. Their price? To never again take a life under your command. You've always wondered, however, if they're fallen from grace or merely overlooked by the gods of the Abysm.

[fir-fireweed]

STORY UPDATE! CHAPTER 11 IS LIVE!

Happy Veterans Day and Remembrance Day, everyone! And also happy Chapter 11 day!

Those of you on Robin’s route, enjoy. 😉

Some people mentioned having trouble playing from a previous save when I added chapter 10, so you may have to restart the game with this update, I'm not sure. Apologies if you do.

There are a lot of branches and variables I had to take into account in this chapter. I’ve tried to test as many routes and combinations as possible, but I wouldn’t be surprised if I missed something. Please feel free to report any bugs, screenshots are helpful.

I've been updating monthly but I'm afraid I'll be unable to keep that up. Chapter 12 is a doozy with several branches and variables. I won't be able to finish it by the end of the year as I had planned, especially with the holidays coming up. Rest assured it won't be a huge delay, and I hope this sustains you until then.

Thank you all for your support and encouragement! I can not express enough how much I appreciate it, thank you!

[talesofthemilkmen]

Grerky prep!!!

[iamnowhere-if]

I am Now Here // To Nowhere

I am Now Here // To Nowhere is an in-development Sugarcube Twine Interactive Fiction written for the Smoochie Jam 2024.

You are a cowboy in the post-apocalypse, tasked with the important job to deliver the mail across the ice-sheets and endless polar desert of a frozen earth. Following the shortwave radio signals of forgotten towns, and the occasional helpful traveler, you and your partner navigate this wasteland for a hope of humanity at dawn.

Features + Semi-Customizable Player Character; appearance, pronouns, gender, sexuality. Play as a middle-aged person navigating a world you no longer recognise. + A singular, established romantic relationship with your pardner. + A focus on building platonic and professional relationships with others; finding that balance between work and self in a world that no longer has the luxury to separate each. + Name your horse.

Characters

Intros

Davi | Your partner in life and in the wasteland amab . they/he 47 . 5'8" | 173cm

Cinta | A familiar scavenger afab . she/her 52 . 5'9" | 178cm

[arthropod-concoctions]

Has my luck turned?

Day eight at the mall, and Tango had to say, he was getting pretty comfortable. The fourth floor contained an electronics store, a furniture boutique, and a big supermarket with fridges that were miraculously both still functioning, and still stuffed with food and drinks. Most of it wasn't healthy, of course, but victims of the apocalypse couldn't be choosers, and with the amount of running from monsters and crazy people he'd done in the past year, Tango felt he'd earned the right to have instant burgers and soda for dinner for a week. He sat down on a soft chair with his freshly microwaved cheap meal, reached into his backpack, and grabbed the radio that he'd taken from the electronics store. He turned it on and twiddled with the frequencies until he found the only channel that still worked: the one where someone who'd broken into the radio station had been rambling whatever came to his mind into the microphone for at least the last week. Tango listened to today's story, seemingly an anecdote from the guy's high school life, as he ate.

“...so, yeah, that's how we got crowned 'cutest couple' in the yearbook despite being literally one week from a breakup.” the man laughed. “God. I'm getting loopy, I need to find something to eat. Signing off, i have been Martyn Littlewood as usual, and if... if you're an actual person hearing this, please come look for me at the radio station in Midcanyon. Please. I need to know I'm not losing my mind here. Alright, bye by-”

A crack, and then Tango was alone with the static and his lukewarm meal again.

Briefly, he considered going out to find the radio station, but he quickly discarded the idea. That sounded like something a competent and heroic person would do, and if there was one thing he'd learnt the past year, it was that he was neither of those things. Well, that wasn't entirely fair. He'd been pretty heroic when he joined team BEST. And he'd done some good things in the-- what was it, a month?-- where they were actually helping people. And it was hardly his fault that brain demons had started to show up, and one got to Bdubs, and then to everyone but Tango, and then- Tango exhaled through gritted teeth. Replaying it all in his head wouldn't help now any more than it had the past hundred times. That chapter's over now, for better or worse. He finished eating, stuffed the radio back into his pack, then got up to put his plate into a garbage bin that hadn't overflown yet. Maybe he should try emptying the bins at some point. Then, at least he could say he was still some kind of positive influence on-

The ground rumbled.

“Oh, god, not again!” Tango dropped his plate on the ground, and looked around frantically. He didn't see anything breaking just yet, but the rumble wasn't getting any softer, and earthquakes were not common occurrences in the area. Whatever was happening now was almost certainly another Disaster. After probably a few seconds too many just standing there, Tango made a decision: he had to get out of here. He began running to the exit of the store. As soon as he crossed the doorway into the main hallway of the mall, the entire building shuddered, and Tango distantly heard windows shattering. Tango yelped, but didn't stop running. Stairs, stairs, he had to get to the stairs- He reached the stairs and ran down to the third floor. He continued on to the second floor, but then slipped and fell down the last three steps like an idiot. He hissed, partly because his knee hurt, partly from frustration. Alright, no time to feel sorry! Keep moving! He got to his feet again, heaving heavy breaths, and stepped down the next stair- A flow of honest-to-god lava sloshed at the bottom of the staircase, seemingly coming up from a crack in the ground. Tango skidded to a halt. Oh. Well, nevermind then, Tango thought. Guess I'll just die in here. He felt a wave of heat from the lava and instinctively stepped back up the stairs. He turned, around, stepped back into the hallway, and- Something feathery crashed into him from the side. Oh, great. There were monsters as well. Tango fell down, wisely used all his breath to scream at the top of his lungs, and reached for the pistol that he'd pilfered from somewhere months ago and had just been hanging uselessly on his belt since then. A gun wouldn't do much against lava, or the other nonsense he'd dealt with, but it'd probably deal well with a feathery monster. Although, looking up again, the figure that crashed into him didn't look too monstrous. Actually, that just looked like a person who'd also been knocked to the ground. A blond man, with yellow feathers growing out of his face and arms, with wide eyes and his hands raised.

A canary. Right. Some people were having an even worse time with the apocalypse than Tango.

“Oh, you're a person!” Tango said, though not much sound came out of his throat. He immediately took his hand off the gun again. “Sorry.” He hadn't seen anyone else in this area for a while.

The canary mouthed something in response, and got up. Tango watched him approach the staircase, go down one step, and freeze, exactly as he'd done.

“Yeah, no. That's not the way to happiness. We're sort of screwed here,” Tango said, as he got to his feet as well.

The canary turned to Tango and said something, pointing his thumb backwards.

“What?” Tango said, like a fool. Canaries couldn't speak during Disasters. That was pretty much their whole thing. “Sorry, I don't know any sign language.”

The canary repeated the gesture, pointing and mouthing more exaggeratedly this time. After a second, he just turned around and began jogging down the hallway. Tango decided to wager that he was probably saying 'follow me', and followed. That proved to be harder than expected; the floors shook irregularly, making it hard to keep his balance, and his knee still hurt. Tango was panting again by the time he caught up to the canary; the man had been waiting at an emergency exit.

He opened the door when Tango reached him, and the two left the building onto a metal staircase. Tango looked at the scenery outside. The mall looked out over a massive parking lot leading out onto what used to be the road network, but was now just a slab of asphalt intermittently cracked by dandelions-- having broken through slowly but steadily for the past year-- and lava, which was doing the same thing in the span of minutes. It seemed to be seeping out of the ground from cracks which were expanding in length, but not in width. In fact, one of the cracks was snaking dangerously close to the foundations of the mall...

A horrendous metallic screeching snapped Tango out of his stupor. Right. He was supposed to be escaping. He followed the canary down the staircase- Ah. The cause of the horrible noise had been the bottom stairs curling upwards, getting bent out of shape by the heat and the pressure of the lava coming up at the exact place where the staircase touched the ground. Or in other words, right in the middle of the only route of escape the two of them had.

Tango laughed. What else was he supposed to do? He'd gone from having a lovely life in a giant mall ahead of him to almost certainly dying in the very same mall in, what, five minutes? The building shook again. Tango looked over at the canary, who was gripping the handrails of the stairs with both hands, leaning over.

Tango walked over to him and slapped him on the shoulder. “Well, it was nice knowing you, friend. Sorry about the-”

The canary suddenly reached over and grabbed Tango's hand, clearly wanting to get his attention. Tango looked at him, and he mouthed something; again, Tango didn't know what, but it seemed like the last word was 'back'. His eyes were wide.

“We can't go back, dude,” Tango replied, hazarding a guess at what the man was trying to say. “There's just more fire and sadness back there.”

The canary shook his head, frustration visible on his face. He brought a hand to his forehead and closed his eyes, still muttering something. Tango shrugged apologetically.

Then the canary took a deep breath in and out, grabbed both of Tango's arms, and... wrapped them around himself?

“Oh. Uh... okay,” Tango stammered, now hugging the man. “Look, I know this is a heated moment and all, but-”

The canary spread out his arms and jumped backwards, pulling Tango with him; then they were falling.

“HEY!” Tango yelled, now holding on to the canary for dear life. He'd seen how far above the ground they were; too far to survive a fall like this unscathed. He really hoped the other man had a plan- The man waved his arms, and their descent slowed considerably. Surprised, Tango turned his head to the side; the yellow feathers which had been laying flat on the man's arms earlier were now standing straight up, and apparently catching a good amount of air. He continued flapping, and they were definitely still falling, not flying, but it seemed like they might...

Tango heard the canary's legs hitting the ground a moment before he felt his own landing; bolts of pain shot through both of his legs this time. They buckled, and he fell forwards, his fall being unfortunately cushioned by the canary's body.

He rolled to the side until his backpack stopped him, then let out another scream for good measure. “What is wrong with you!?” he yelled in the canary's direction.

He didn't respond; his eyes were squeezed shut, and his face contorted with pain. Tango immediately regretted saying that. “Nevermind. Sorry. Thanks for saving my life. uh...” he stood up and swiveled his head around to look at the lava, which was still coming up from the ground all around them. The heat was already making Tango sweat. He held out his hand to the canary. “Can you walk? We should probably get out of here.”

the canary nodded and took his hand, and Tango pulled him up. Then they hobbled their way out of the molten labyrinth, as fast as their aching legs could take them.

* * * * *

The disaster ended almost as abruptly as it started; pretty soon after Tango and his new buddy had made it out of the parking lot, the lava seeping from the ground slowed, then stopped. When the ground had properly stopped rumbling, the canary slowed his pace, then all but collapsed onto the soil. Tango decided to follow his example.

“Whew,” Tango exclaimed as he sat down. “Guess that's my exercise for the day done.” He looked over at the canary, who was panting just as he was. He held out his hand. “I'm Tango, by the way. Hi.”

The canary looked at him, grinned, then took his hand and shook it. His lips moved, but sound still wasn't coming out.

While most of the disasters that kicked off the end of the world had been unique and highly localised, the emergence of canaries seemed to have been a worldwide phenomenon. Tango hadn't actually met any in person up until now, but he'd heard enough accounts of it to know how it happened. On the 17th of June, 2022, for no apparent reason, about one percent of Earth's population lost their voices and suddenly had yellow feathers burst out of their arms and faces. A few minutes later, hell broke loose. It turned out their mutism wasn't permanent, but rather only happened when in proximity of the Disasters that would plague the world constantly starting the very same day. The 'canaries', as people began to call them, were blamed for the Disasters at first, even as they swore to have nothing to do with it all. People thought they were aliens, or demons, or even experimental super-soldiers created by the government; whatever would fit into their desperate attempts to explain the end of the world. Tango never really bought any of those explanations. Life's a bitch, is what he'd say, and it seemed to him like the canaries were just exceptionally unlucky people on an even unluckier planet. And having met the man sitting next to him only solidified that perception.

Tango's mouth was dry. He reached into his backpack and pulled out a plastic bottle full of water. “Lugging this thing around for a week is finaly paying off,” he said, took a few sips of water, then offered the bottle to the canary. He took it eagerly and immediately drained almost all the water that was inside.

“Wow, thanks for leaving some for later,” Tango said flatly. Then he saw the canary's face drop and quickly backpedaled: “Oh, don't worry about it! There were plenty of bottles in the mall, I can go back and get some more...”

He looked back towards the oversized building. It was now standing slightly crooked, one half of the top few floors had collapsed, and there seemed to be flames flickering in the busted windows. “Yeah... I can totally just go do that. Won't be a problem.”

And indeed, Tango went to do that. It wasn't as bad as he imagined; a good amount of the mall was still accessible, and right at the entrance there was a shop who's aisles-- and floors, thanks to the earthquakes-- still held anything you might need on a 24-hour drive, or a few weeks in anarchy if you camped out here. It was kind of eerie, how untouched everything was. Like the world had been just fine until yesterday. But whatever blessing or curse had kept everything that way had been broken today, along with every fridge in the building. Tango wouldn't be able to survive here much longer. So he ventured as far into the mall as he could, trying to decide what necessities to take with him. The canary quietly followed him along. At first Tango tried to make some conversational comments as he went, but it was hard to stay quippy with an audience that couldn't respond and an imminent relocation hanging over your head, so eventually they just continued in silence.

While they were making their way across a particularly messy corridor, the canary tripped over something and exclaimed in pain. “Watch your step, dude,” Tango commented. Then he registered what had actually just happened and spun around. “Hey, your voice is back!”

A smile appeared on the canary's face. “I can talk!” he exclaimed; and his voice caught Tango off guard.

“You're British?” he asked, before he could stop himself.

“I-” the canary paused for a moment, a baffled expression on his face. Then he tilted his head backwards and began laughing.

“'You're British',” the man repeated between wheezes, leaning against an aisle. “We can finally properly talk, and that's the first thing you say to me. Oh my gosh.”

“I... I wasn't expecting that, is all,” Tango replied weakly, pressing a hand against his neck. “Sorry, that was rude.”

The canary raised a hand to stop him. “No, dude, don't worry about it. It was funny.” When he'd recovered from his laughing fit, he opened his eyes and looked at Tango. “My name's Jimmy, by the way.”

Tango nodded. “Jimmy. Alright, cool,” he said. “Uh...”

Okay, the excuse of his conversation partner being mute didn't work anymore. Maybe Tango was just socially incompetent.

“Right,” Jimmy said. “Well, I guess we'd better continue packing. Anything else you need?”

“Hmmm...” Tango glanced into his now bulging backpack. “I dunno. I guess just as many cans and bottles as will fit in here.”

Jimmy shrugged. “Looks pretty full to me, not gonna lie.”

“Yeah, i guess, but-” Tango sighed. “I dunno. I have no idea when my next chance to restock like this is gonna be, so I don't wanna waste anything, you know?”

“Plenty of people have set up farms and ranches and stuff around the countryside. You could probably stop by one of those and get more stuff in exchange for chores or something,” Jimmy said.

Tango nodded along. “Yeah, you're probably right. And it's probably better not to travel too heavy...”

“Hey, on the other hand,” Jimmy interjected, making a finger gun motion with his hand, “If you bring a couple extra cans you can throw them at raiders.”

Tango barked out a laugh at that. He appreciated the joke-- and the advice. It was nice having somebody to talk to, even if only for a little while.

“Well, that's a plan then. Alright, how about one more meal in here before we... go on our ways?” Tango asked.

“Uh... yeah, that sound good, yeah,” Jimmy replied. Tango thought he sounded a bit disappointed, but he decided not to read into it. The canary seemed to know what he was doing, and Tango wasn't about to just... insert himself into the guy's plans.

The two of them made their way over to a soft sitting spot in the mall's hallway, bringing two more cans of food from the shop to eat right now. As Jimmy cracked them open using a shard of glass, Tango pulled his radio out of his backpack. “You listened to the radio lately?” he asked Jimmy.

“No. Is it still working?”

“There's just one guy who broke into a radio station, I guess, and he just rambles into the mic now,” Tango explained, and again he turned the knobs on the radio until he heard some barely-on-key singing:

“You gotta knoow, you have to fiight, learn to play, there's monsters day and night~”

Tango chuckled, but when he looked at Jimmy to see his reaction, he wasn't laughing. His face had gone pale.

“That's- I know him!” he exclaimed, pointing at the radio.

“Wait, really?” Tango replied.

“Yeah, he- he's a friend of mine. I lost track of him after the apocalypse happened, I thought he- oh gosh,” Jimmy continued, then clamped his hand over his mouth.

“Jeez,” Tango said. “You know, he keeps saying- he keeps asking people to come and find him at the radio tower in Midcanyon. I wasn't gonna do it, but maybe-”

“I have to go find him,” Jimmy finished the sentence, while turning off the radio. “I have to. W-” Jimmy stopped himself, and looked Tango in the eyes.

And Tango-- look, he just said he wasn't gonna insert himself into Jimmy's plans, but that was a decision made mostly out of self-preservation. He doubted Jimmy would want to continue dealing with him, and if he was gonna have to spend the rest of his probably short life wandering around alone, he'd rather do it with pride than thinking back to an embarrassing misunderstanding the whole time. But looking at Jimmy now, he was starting to think that was a stupid decision.

So he made the gamble: “Do... you want me to go with you?”

Jimmy's shoulders visibly sagged with relief. “Yeah, I- I'd love that, actually. Thanks.”

“Not a problem, dude!” Tango replied quickly, cheering internally. “You saved my life, I've gotta repay that somehow, and if- honestly, this seems like a better deal for me than it is for you.”

“Are you kidding!?” Jimmy exclaimed. “You're the one with food and a radio- and a gun! You've got it all figured out!”

Tango laughed. “If that's what you think, you might regret this arrangement real soon, just a warning.”

Jimmy chuckled at the joke-- and it suddenly hit Tango how long, before meeting Jimmy, it'd been since he had seen a genuine human smile. Team BEST had been a joyless group, in its last couple days, and then he'd been alone for god knows how long. But now he was hanging out with Jimmy, and hopefully, with Martyn soon.

Look at me, making friends and having goals in my future! Tango thought as he scooped dry vegetables out of the can Jimmy had handed him. Maybe my life won't be as futile as I thought.

[bekkachaos]

🍂🍂💞💞

🍂 post apocalyptic buddie au

loosely based on the book all that's left in the world, it's the apocalypse, and Eddie stumbles across Buck after injuring himself. He just wants to get back on the road, but he kind of needs to accept Buck's help before he can do that.

Eddie let out a sigh, his leg was already throbbing just from the lightest pressure from before. As much as he hated to admit it, he really could do with a few days to rest it and make sure it was on the right path for healing before he went back out into the wild. A cabin like this was a far better alternative to the cold loneliness of the forest.

"Fine," he grumbled. "Just until it doesn't hurt to... breathe."

"Good," Buck said barely, and Eddie fought the urge to have the last word. "Well, if you want to get comfortable, did you want a shower?"

Eddie's features went slack and he looked back at Buck with his head tilted and raised a brow.

"A shower?" he asked incredulously, and the corner of Buck's mouth curled in a smile as he gestured up to the roof.

"Solar panels get me at least a few minutes of hot water," he said, and Eddie gave him probably the most genuine smile he'd done since they met.

"You should have led with that."

(tagging Meegs because she likes the apocalypse au 💕 @thelikesofus )

💞 the buddie soulmate au

You can't lie to your soulmate, so Eddie just doesn't lie. Because he doesn't ever want to know. If he does, it's just something else he stands to lose.

"You don't want to talk about this with me Eddie," Buck said, a hint of annoyance creeping into his features.

"Okay, you're going to have to tell me what I did here," Eddie folded his arms over his chest, his own frustration beginning to peak.

It looked like Buck shook his head, still refusing to meet Eddie's eyes.

"Because this," he gestured between the two of them before firmly tucking his arms back in. "This is not normal. You never shut me out like this. So tell me, what did I do?"

"It's not about anything you did Eddie," he said, tone exasperated.

"So you're just being a dick for what? Fun?" Buck narrowed his eyes back at him.

"You really have no idea why I might be putting distance between us?" he asked.

Eddie didn't answer him, he just looked back and felt a lump rising through his chest.

No, he thought as he swallowed it down, he couldn't say it, but he didn't want Buck to know.

"I want you to tell me what's wrong," he said instead, making Buck scoff.

"That's not an answer."

pick a wip, and make me write!

[plague-of-insomnia]

WIP Wednesday: Sebardagni Post-Apocalyptic Domestic Sickfic AU

I know no one cares about this idea aside from me, but this is the first thing I’ve been able to write in months, and I really fucking need the escapism of Sebastian having two men taking care of him even when the world has fallen to pieces.

I have a few scenes for this written I may end up posting on AO3 later, but for now, enjoy this scene.

The concept for this AU is this: the world ended a few years ago, and Bard, Agni, and Sebastian have been surviving together. Sebastian is chronically ill, so he and Agni mind the homestead while Bard goes off on excursions for supplies. It’s not an easy life, but overall, they’re happy.

~#~

Sebastian balanced carefully. The forearm crutches Bard had fashioned for him fit better than anything he’d managed with since the world collapsed and meant he wouldn’t do just that onto the floor—even if his muscles were weak.

He’d finally managed a few hours’ sleep, exhaustion and one of Agni’s herbal treatments helping to ease his breathing long enough to dream.

And what a dream it was. He couldn’t wait to hurry out of the small bedroom they shared in this tiny mountain cabin and tell Agni about it. As bittersweet as it was, it had felt so wonderfully real, he could almost ignore the perpetual tightness in his chest.

“Agni! Agni!” Sebastian cautiously eased the door open.

The cabin was cozy, a main room with a fireplace, kitchen, and sitting area, a bedroom and bath, and a cellar Sebastian couldn’t access—too many stairs— where they stored food for the winter.

The fire illuminated the room as Agni worked. From the way the orange sun had colored the bedroom, Sebastian suspected it was evening, which would mean Agni would likely be busy prepping their dinner.

Things had been harder lately, since Bard had been gone for weeks now—73 days, exactly, not that Sebastian had been counting—but they made do. Agni wasn’t as skilled a huntsman as Bard, but between their garden, preserved stores, chickens and goats, they managed. Agni had to coax Sebastian more often than not to eat as it was, so he barely dented their food stocks.

“I dreamed Bard came home and he found me medicine, and—“ Sebastian’s voice cut out immediately as he realized he heard Agni speaking to someone. And then he saw him. “Bard?”

The man was perched on a stool at the kitchen island, looking ragged and thinner than Sebastian remembered, but very much not a dream or a ghost.

“You’re alive?!” Sebastian’s eyes filled and he pushed himself to move as fast as he possibly could, dropping his arms from his crutches so he could throw them around his lover. “Agni and I were worried you were never coming home.”

Bard’s strong arms supported Sebastian in their embrace so he wouldn’t lose his footing, enjoying this connection. He smelt like tobacco and sweat and days out on the road, but more than anything, like hope.

Sebastian didn’t even care if Bard hadn’t been able to find any medicine for him. He was just so relieved he began to sob as weeks of emotions he’d been damming up broke free.

“Hey, hey, you’ll make your breathing worse. I’m all right. I missed you both and thinking of getting back here to you kept me going. You know I don’t die easy.”

Sebastian’s legs ached, and Bard sensed his growing instability and helped him sit down beside him. A moment later, Agni set a steaming mug in front of him. The frothy liquid was green. Another one of his herbal concoctions?

“It’s matcha. I lucked out.” Bard scratched his cheek. “Got caught in a bad storm a couple towns over and took refuge in a partly burned-out old asian market. I moved some shelves to help create a barcade and found a whole supply of the stuff that had been overlooked by scavengers.”

“The caffeine will help your breathing,” Agni said with a warm smile. “It’s not medicine, but it was a good find.”

Sebastian tried not to frown as he took a sip. It was bitter, but Agni had added some of the honey from the bees he kept to sweeten it. He didn’t want to ruin their happy reunion by suggesting, again, that maybe it was time Agni and Bard moved on and left him behind. He was too frail to travel, and Bard was having to spend more and more time on the road, detouring farther and farther from their home base in order to find any medicine to help ease Sebastian’s symptoms.

Even before the world fell apart, Sebastian had been ill. But after, the stress and lack of medical care meant his condition had deteriorated significantly, and if they hadn’t found this cabin by chance, he knew he probably would have died years ago.

Sometimes, he wondered if that would have been better for both Agni and Bard, even if he kept his mouth shut as he listened to them talking, Bard regaling some of his adventures while Agni finished prepping their food.

They’d have rabbit stew tonight, thanks to Bard’s catch, and Sebastian cherished the warmth of the mug in his hands as he tried to enjoy the limited happiness of this domestic snapshot.

He did like it here, in their little cabin. The woods shielded them from most of the horrors of the dying human world, and the fresh, dry air eased his breathing some. He loved their little home and garden, and enjoyed helping Agni with the animals when he was well enough to venture outside. He thought, despite his illness and the reality of their new world, he might be content, if Bard didn’t constantly have to put his life at risk for Sebastian’s sake.

Sebastian shivered as one of Bard’s coarse hands played with his long hair, curling a strand around a finger.

“I missed you both so fucking much,” he said. Sebastian could see the fear in those blue eyes, that he’d probably worried he might not make it back, or that by the time he did, only Agni would be waiting for his return.

~#~

Reblogs appreciated as always!

Liked this? You can see more of my writing on AO3.

[noodlev2d-gorillazfan]

sneak peak of the apocalypse au redesigns!!

They’re all still a wip but yk

[arimakes]

Fill My Lungs With Sweetness

Chapter Three: I Wants To Stay Here

Post-Apocalypse Hanahaki | Steddie | E

Read from the beginning

[theeccentricraven]

Happy Storyteller Saturday 💜

This is your invitation to share a snippet of your writing that you love, and talk about why you love it.

Thank you for the question! TBH, it's hard for me to pick a chunk of writing I love because I'm so self-critical. However, there's a romantic moment of silly back and forth jabbing that I feel proud of. This is from my YA Dystopia The Blood Cleaners. I wasn't sure if I should give context or not. I'll just say that Justin and Joselyn had a nice date that ending with a lot of teasing and the momentum didn't end when they went to work. I love it for how it's the kind of romantic scene I would be a sucker for 💕

“Jus, you’re not doing it right,” Joselyn said teasingly. “Jos,” Justin said teasingly back, “you’re just saying that because you won’t admit that I do it right while you don’t know what you’re doing.” “Jus, you care more about your pride than doing the job right.” Joselyn didn’t drop her smile. “Jos, you know I get the job right all of the time. Do you think I’m foolish enough to let my pride risk the lives of those who depend on us?” “Jus, you’re proving my point about your pride.” Justin grinned broadly. “Jos, how do you know you’re not the one with a pride problem?” “Juuuuus.” “Jooooooos?” “Jus!” “Jos!” “Jus!” “Jos!” “Jus!” “Jos!” “What’s going on?” said the voice of Charla, experienced blood cleaner in her late fifties who worked in the lumber sector. “Nothing,” Joselyn said innocently. She and Justin snickered. Charla frowned.

Thanks again for the question ����

[oddcryptidwrites]

A floorboard creaked beneath the carpet, and Piers leapt a mile in the air, heart racing. Whipping around, they scanned the hallway behind them. No one else was there. [...] Their last shred of common sense screamed at them to get out of there, that they’d seen too much, that someone was- The cold metal of a pistol pressed against their skull.

General Information:

Genre: A weird mix between politics, sci-fi, and a thriller

POV: Most likely 3rd limited

Setting: Post-Apocalyptic Georgia (as in the US State) in the year 2211

Content warnings: severe injury/gore, death, graphic scientific experimentation, paranoia, drug use and abuse, alcohol use, child abuse (physical, verbal), relationship abuse (verbal, manipulation), sex (consensual), cannibalism

Synopsis, Characters, and more below the cut!

Synopsis

Although originally planned as a standalone novel, NYTF has now expanded into three separate books: Knight of Dawn, Queen of Noon, and King of Dusk. There's an additional collection of short stories/untold stories planned as well, tentatively titled Pawn of Midnight.

Knight of Dawn

Piers Hall is the newly crowned monarch of the post-apocalyptic State of Georgia, after their mother, Queen Adele, was declared unfit to rule. Despite meaning well, they find themself unprepared for the role, especially as political rivals, like North Carolina’s President René Dubois and Councilmember Shanna Miles, close in on their tail, seemingly threatening to topple their rule. When various palace staff start to show where their real loyalties lie, it seems like Grady Yensey, Commander of the Royal Guard and their closest friend, is the only one they can trust. Piers and Grady must scramble to uncover the truth behind Queen Adele’s questionable associates, Piers’ missing past, and President Dubois’ shady activities

Characters

Monarch Jillian "Piers" Hall (they/them)

Piers (19) is a primary character within Not Your Typical Fairytale. They are the newly crowned Monarch of the State of Georgia, a title inherited from their adoptive mother, Queen Adele Hall. After having studied and trained for the role for years, Piers knows exactly what they have to do, but struggles following through in practice. In political and personal matters, Piers is extremely manipulative and controlling, yet somehow appears personable (and the textbook presentation of ADHD). They regularly get in the way of their own objective to fix what Adele broke. Adele's legacy leaves them with a lot to work through, both politically and personally, driving most of their internal conflicts and growth. Through all this, their long time best friend, Grady, sticks by their side no matter what. They would do anything for her, knowing she'd do the same for them. As the story progresses, and their own paranoia about the situations surrounding them and their past builds, Grady becomes the one of the few people they perceive they can trust.

Commander Grady Juniper Yensey (she/her)

Grady (22) is the other primary character in Not Your Typical Fairytale. She's the youngest ever Commander of the Royal Guard Special Operations, and she will do anything to keep her prestigious military position. She can be extremely tight laced and controlling when on duty, fearing failure and the fact no one will take her seriously. Grady feels an obligation to do her best, and refuses to accept anything less from herself, often leading her to break down when alone, unsure of her purpose when not on duty. When with friends, she is notably softer and kinder, but pushes them to achieve at the highest level like herself. The only thing she cares about more than her job is her best friend, Piers. The two are inseparable, and they are one of few people Grady feels she can be vulnerable around. As Piers' life is put in danger through the story, Grady makes sure to always cover their back and keep them from harm, knowing they'll always do the same for her.

Palace Residents

Queen Adele Hall (she/her)

Adele is Piers' adoptive mother, and can be credited for most of how Piers behaves. As the former Queen of the State of Georgia, Adele stripped many social programs and left the state in ruin, for seemingly no rhyme or reason. She bullied and manipulated the Council to her whims, a trait which Piers has somewhat picked up on much to the dismay of the Councilors. Her personal life was fraught with grief and poor life decisions, which is oftentimes credited as the reason for some of her behavior. Piers and Adele's relationship is strained, as Piers recognizes the negative effect their mother had on their people and on themself, but simultaneously idolizes her as a mother figure, as they never knew their biological parents. Adele isn't present for most of NYTF, but her presence is felt throughout.

HoPS Marcella "Marcie" Olson (she/her)

Marcie is Adele's closest friend and the Head of Palace Staff, a role she's served in since she was 18, after the death of her mother. Of all the characters, she is the one who has truly seen the good and horrible Adele's entire life, but also tends to ignore Adele's faults at the same time. Marcie is a very motherly character, having two kids of her own with Gavin Johnson (Gretel and Hansel Olson) and practically raising Grady and Piers as well. She ALSO tends to be pushy, controlling over Palace matters, and constantly talks down to others. Marcie just wants everything to stay the same, and to keep her own family safe, which occasionally puts herself and Piers at odds. However, when it comes down to it, she cares about Piers and wants to see them succeed.

Dr. Charoen Panya (xe/xir)

Dr. Panya is the very well-trusted Royal Physician and one of Adele's old friends. During xir youth in Athens, Dr. Panya studied to become a medical doctor, before falling in with the wrong crowd. After being given a second chance by Adele, xe has never looked back and faithfully served the Royal family and other high ranking officials since. Dr. Panya tends to be erratic and reclusive, confining xirself to the basement of the Palace. If not actively providing medical care, xe can be found dissecting the corpses of plague victims, searching for a more accessible cure. The only person xe allows to assist them is Marlowe, who xe has bonded with over the past ten years. Piers trusts Dr. Panya to an extent... but in the way two crazy people do.

René Dubois (he/him)

René is the Former President of North Carolina and an old friend of Adele's, and he arrives at the Palace near the beginning of the first book. Having never met him before, Piers immediately has suspicions, especially as he seems to know Marcie, Adele, and other palace residents very well, despite none of them ever mentioning him. Those suspicions grow into outright paranoia and hatred as he plays their exact game back at them, refusing to answer questions and seemingly turning their allies against them. René, like Piers, is manipulative and controlling of others, although he hides it better, which has served him well in his career. During his time in North Carolina, he served as both Senator for several years and President for seven years, before resigning. He keeps his personal life private, and has no family he mentions, besides his husband, Darcey.

Gretel Olson (she/her)

Gretel is the oldest of Marcie and Gavin's kids and works as a pastry chef in the Palace's kitchens. She has a similar attitude to Grady, constantly pushing herself to be her best, but takes care of herself better and knows her limits. While Marcie desires that Gretel follow in her footsteps, Gretel doesn't care to become HoPS, instead setting her eyes on becoming the Executive Chef of the Palace's kitchens, like her maternal grandfather. This often puts her at odds with her overbearing mother, a situation her father, Gavin, is not willing to get involved in. While friends with both Grady and Piers, she's definitely sister-close with Grady, and not so much with Piers. Gretel is romantically involved with Marlowe, although no one besides Dr. Panya knows (unbeknownst to them).

Hansel Olson (he/him)

Hansel is the youngest child of Marcie and Gavin. He loves fashion and currently works as a tailor, serving primarily Piers but also others within the Palace. Despite how much he loves his role, Hansel has his sights set on a bigger one: Head of Palace Staff. Marcie refuses to see him potentially fulfilling the role, instead placing her hopes in Gretel. Most characters, including Marcie, see him as ditzy, disorganized, and too childish to make any real impact. Piers, however, sees themself in him, and recognizes Hansel as both a trustworthy friend and a valuable asset to their information gathering, entrusting him to listen in on whatever is being said while working with the Councilors and other political leaders within the palace. Hansel doesn't have any friends beyond Piers, although he was the only one of this generation (Piers, Gretel, Grady, Hansel) to attend a public school (in the Royal District).

Royal Guard

Captain Charles "Gavin" Johnson (he/him)

Gavin is the Captain of the Royal Guard, a rank he achieved after his brother, David, became Councilor. After years of being under his brother, both in rank and academics, Gavin is glad to finally be able to be himself and show what he's capable of. He's very warm and fatherly, but also knows what he's doing and when to act, making him a great leader. Most people in the Palace love him and he's easy to get along with, compared to most of the other people here. His relationship with Marcie can get rocky at times, as they really are friends not lovers, but in the end, they would die for each other. Gavin is the father of Gretel and Hansel, and the adoptive father of Grady.

Commander Mateo Lopez (he/him)

Mateo is the Commander of the Royal Navy, and quite possibly the only person who doesn't like Gavin. As the longest-serving officer of the group, Mateo thinks he should have become the next Captain, and was betrayed when David, his close friend, promoted Gavin instead of him. Despite all this, Mateo and Gavin have continued to hook up for the past 15 years, behind the backs of the other officers. (Marcie knows. She knows everything.) Mateo ranked out of the Academy at 19, and quickly worked his way up to the Navy Commander due to his excellent strategical abilities. Mateo is one of very few characters here to not be born in a Zone, having come from the Brunswick settlement, a daughter settlement of the Savannah Zone of Safety. He can be difficult and a bit of an asshole. That's it.

Commander Giaan Sei (he/xe)

Giaan is the Commander of the Royal Army and Councilor Adel's husband. He's a bit of a silly guy but he knows what he's doing and can be trusted to stay loyal to the Palace. He followed a more traditional military track, ranking out of the Academy when he was 20 and working his way up to serve as the Army Commander. He and Nyla have three kids, the youngest of which just ranked out of the Academy and is a low-level Army officer. He and Nyla also took part in raising Grady when they were around the Palace, as they are the only high ranking Palace figures to live outside the Palace (in the Royal district of ATLZoS).

Commander Bexley Benjamin (he/him)

Bex is the Commander of Royal Guard Perimeter Operations, the least prestigious of the four commanders. Nevertheless, Bex does his best to keep the seven Perimeters of the Zones up and running, as the first line of defense against invading forces and mindless plague victims. He is most often in Command Central, sitting cross-legged in his rolling chair and constantly monitoring all the Perimeters. The other three commanders and Gavin swear that the man never sleeps. Bex has an off and on relationship with Meghan, which is known by the other commanders and Gavin. Piers isn't so sure what to think of Bex, but throughout the story he proves himself to be a vital player in Piers' game.

Darcey Olson (he/him)

Darcey is a former Navy officer, and now serves as a military advisor. He grew up in the Palace with his older sister Marcie, but was unjustifiably blamed for the death of their parents when he was 13. He grew angry and violent, often lashing out physically. David pushed him into enrolling in the Academy when he turned 16. Darcey turned his life around and ranked out in a record year and a half. He served under Xavier as Captain, before fleeing when he was 25 due to an "incident". Once arriving in North Carolina, he established a new military career for himself, eventually meeting René thanks to Marcie's intervention. The two have been inseparable since, with Darcey serving as René's Secretary of Defense. Softspoken and kind-hearted, you'd never know what kind of past Darcey has.

The Council

Councilor Shanna Miles of Savannah (she/they)

Miles is the Councilor of Savannah and serves as the head of the Council as its now-longest serving member for the past 22 years. She was first elected as Mayor when she was 37, and served in the position until her election to the Council when she was 42. During their tenure, however, Miles has been consistently bullied and picked on by Adele, and in return, became the biggest thorn in her side. After her abdication, Miles is fully prepared to take out years of pent up rage on an unsuspecting Piers, who she views to be an extension of everything she hated about Adele. Piers feels similar, knowing only their mother's side of things during her disagreements with Miles.

Councilor Marlowe Sidney of Athens (they/them)

Marlowe is the Councilor of Athens, and also its "Blessed Heir", the next of the Sidney Family destined to govern the Classic City. After their grandfather was murdered and their father ascended to the Chancellorship, Marlowe took over Councilor duties in Atlanta at age 19. Marlowe grew up sheltered within the cult walls of Athens and didn't spend any time outside the city until becoming Councilor, causing them to feel out of place and betrayed by the state of the world outside. Their history studying genetics led them to meet Dr. Panya, who they quickly bonded with due to their mutual histories in Athens. As they've been exposed more to the outside world, Marlowe has created a new persona, one they can't take back home to Athens without repercussions from the Chancellor and their stepmother, Dr. Levine. Marlowe and Gretel have been romantically involved for the past few months, but Marlowe knows that it won't last as soon as they're called home to become the next Chancellor.

Councilor David Johnson of Atlanta (he/him)

David is the Councilor of Atlanta, elected to the position only two years prior by the people of ATLZoS. Although the newest Councilor, David has been a longtime presence in the Palace, having served as the Captain of the Royal Guard and Commander of Special Operations prior to his current role. It was his steady and very frugal hand in these positions that earned him the respect of military and civilians alike in Atlanta. David has never been married, although he and Adele had a close romantic relationship during the last few years of her life, unbeknownst to most. David and Gavin respect each other's military strengths, but David does tend to hover over Gavin's shoulder frequently, as he misses being part of the military. While coming off as grumpy and cold, David has a heart of gold. Piers trusts his judgement for most matters but still has reservations about his intentions.

Councilor Fantasia Mason of Macon (she/her)

Mason is the Councilor of Macon. She is extremely socially conservative, which puts her at odds with the rest of the Council. No one likes her, not even Miles, not even Adele, not even Meghan. The only reason she can't be ignored is due to Macon's position as an economic and population powerhouse. Piers would do anything to get rid of her (and they aren't alone, most of the Council would like her gone).

Councilor Callum Meghan of Valdosta (he/him)

Meghan is the Councilor of Valdosta and is quite a charismatic figure. He was elected at age 30 to serve in the Council, and has held the position ever since. Unlike most of the others, Meghan is a strong anti-monarchist, which earned him his own personal hell from Adele. Now, with Piers in charge, Meghan has changed his strategy just a little bit, trying to weave his policies into those he knows Piers will like. Piers sees right through him, but appreciates the effort and gives him credit where it's due.

Councilor Nyla Adel of Albany (she/her)

Nyla is the Councilor of Albany and a former Commander of Royal Perimeter Operations. She served under David's captainship, before being elected to the Council by her native Albany. Unlike David, Nyla truly fits into the world of politics and has been serving for six years. She and Giaan have three kids, and she hopes all will follow in their parent's footsteps, although only her youngest has attended the Academy. Grady respects Nyla quite a bit, recognizing the role she played in Grady's achievements. Grady often goes to her for military advice (and political advice when she's trying to help Piers).

Councilor Esther Green of Rome (she/her)

Green is the Councilor of Rome, the newest of the Zones of Safety, serving for all 12 years. She often misses Council meetings, working to help stabilize Rome's city government after a recent political attack. When she is in meetings, she often is busy working on other things or sleeping and just votes alongside whatever Miles is voting. Piers really isn't sure what to think of Green.

The Others

Lennox (they/he)

Lennox is an outsider who Piers happened to befriend when sneaking out of the Palace and Perimeter. The two almost killed each other out of fright during their first meeting. Since then, the two have developed such a tight bond, and would do literally anything for each other. Lennox is oblivious to a majority of what's going on politically, and doesn't even know who Piers is, much to their relief, allowing them to relax and be themself around him. Piers knows Lennox works as an assassin, but it allows them to keep tabs on whoever his boss is, while simultaneously not knowing who they are. Outside of murder, Lennox creates a variety of art, preferring fashion design and music composition the most. He dreams often about moving somewhere where he doesn't have to hurt anyone anymore and can just create art for the rest of his life.

Louise Ledet "Lou" (she/they)

Lou is another outsider, who is a little less friendly to Piers. The two have had several encounters. All Piers knows is that she carries a shotgun and rides an electric motorcycle. She is great at appearing from nowhere and seems to be a motherly figure to Lennox. Lennox, however, doesn't like to talk much about her (and doesn't seem to like her).

Jules Ledet (she/her)

Jules is an old Academy friend of Grady, who was discharged on Conspiracy Against the Crown charges, barring her from military service. Since then, she's been working as a hired gun for various people, before approaching Grady after being hired to kill Piers. She's a bit of a tortured soul, hiding behind a flirty goofball persona. Piers takes a liking to her, somewhat trusting her after she tells Grady about the plot.

Dr. Bergeron (he/him)

Dr. Bergeron is the mysterious former research partner of Dr. Panya. Not much is known about him, as Dr. Panya is hard to talk to, let alone get information out of.

Worldbuilding

The Plague

The Plague, or Incarnareum repartus is the cause for the apocalypse. It resembles most zombie diseases from fiction, however there's a weird thing within the NYTF universe around calling them "zombies". The fungi was created in a CDC lab as an experiment in the early 2030s, but escaped in 2035. The initial "apocalypse" happened from 2036-2040. Survival rates are low without extensive (and very expensive) treatment, causing revolts among the lower and middle class which overthrew several governments (including the United States, which fractured into its individual states). By the mid-2040s, the world settled down and began to adapt, using preventative measures and concentrating populations within "Zones of Safety" (in Georgia). These Zones have strict rules but provide safety and sanitation which keeps the plague victim population at bay and outside the Perimeters. By the time of NYTF, it still exists, and their are occasional outbreaks, but it's not actively causing an apocalypse.

The State of Georgia

The State of Georgia is the third post-Apocalyptic iteration of Georgia's government. The first was run by corporations and was overthrown by David Greene. Greene's dictatorship lasted only a year, and was ended with the Second September Revolution. This was led by James and Kylar Hall, who were instated as temporary leaders. After proving themselves to be worthy, they were made kings. Until Adele, the Hall Royal Family has actually been very productive, democratic, and well beloved by the people of Georgia. Within Georgia there are 7 Zones of Safety, who all receive representation in the Council, the democratic body which is supposed to "check" the monarchy (however, Adele gutted their power). There are also 14 settlements, which don't meet 3/5 requirements to become a Zone, although some of them are on their way.

Atlanta Zone of Safety (ATLZoS)

Status

42k/100k, currently in the second iteration of the modern era

Further Commentary

Oh hi! Welcome back to the chaotic world of Not your Typical Fairytale! This story has been going for a long time but I really polished up some shit this time around and it's more cohesive. With that said, here's a few notes I have:

Yes, the intermissions are back

Characters who use multiple sets of pronouns will most often be refferred to using the one which is the most clear writing wise (EX: Using she for Councilor Miles when she's in a scene with Piers, they for when they're in a scene with Grady)

Yes this is going to be three books + a collection of untold stories

London Larson = Lou. I had to change her name for my sanity

Also June = Jules. Another name change for my sanity that JUST happened so if you see June in things....sorry :(

Athens has gotten SO much weirder. Be prepared for cannibalism.

More will be added soon to worldbuilding, I'm just tired from characters.

Here's some character art!

CHAPTERS

The Prologue

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

New chapter published each Friday!

Tag List (reply or dm to be added or removed; I pulled from the old tag list + the call post): @author-a-holmes, @soul-write @flowerprose @ceph-the-ghost-writer @theglitchywriterboi @when-wax-wings-melt @thechaoticflowergarden @lyralit @penspiration-writing @samatedeansbroccoli @charlesjosephwrites @italiangothicwriteblr @thetruearchmagos @pineapple-lover-boy @unilightwrites @sanguine-arena @bardic-tales @joshuaorrizonte @blind-the-winds @circa-specturgia @hymnonlips @aloeverawrites @the-stray-storyteller @writeblrsupport @starlit-skys @kyuponstories @guessillcallitart @magic-is-something-we-create @talesofsorrowandofruin @writingonmymind @imslowlydisintegrating @worldsfromhoney

[coarsely]

(art; x x)

Anti-Chronicles; a WIP introduction

Set between the warring states of Bronze Eden and Nod, Anti-Chronicles is a non-linear, non-chronological anthology of stories taking place in these respective lands, aiming to explore the culture, history, politics and society and how they have changed over the years. Bronze Eden is a heavily controlled theocratic state filled with forced surveillance and religious fervour, led by the Potentate Dynasty who have been ruling Eden for millennia. Nod is the neighbouring anarchist state, post-apocalyptic and is completely free of any organised government or laws, dealing with the fallout of a nuclear weapon that distorted local time and space dropped on them by Bronze Eden.

STATUS; 1st draft, lore-building.

P.O.V.; 3rd person limited, with occasional chapter-specific exceptions.

GENRES;

Fantasy

Steampunk fiction

Post-apocalyptic science fiction

THEMES;

Religion as a tool of survellience and power

The politics of monarchies vs anarchism

War's impact on citizens

Nuclear post-apocalypse

Time-travel

Human connection in spite of hardship, violence, and colonialism

POTENTIAL TRIGGER WARNINGS;

Violence

Swearing and derogatory language

Sexuality

Religion and religious trauma, specifically Catholic based

Puritanism

Disordered eating

Child abuse

Cultural homophobia, misogyny, racism, etc

Death

Ableism

Potentially more which will be outlined when relevant.

INSPIRATIONS;

Love, Death + Robots

I, Robot by Issac Asimov

Æon Flux

Dishonored (video game series)

Bayonetta (video game series)

Akira

The Real and the Unreal by Ursula Le Guin

CHARACTERS;

by nature of being non-chronological and non-linear, we have a lot of characters! some are kept to their own corner of the world, others move around. here is a short list of the more familiar faces, but there are many more you'll meet as we develop. To meet the entire cast, please refer to this post!

The Potentate Dynasty, the rulers of Bronze Eden who are said to be descended from the Empyrean Itself. Currently ruled by the aged Potentate Magnus, who has fathered six children during his reign. Living in the floating palace in the center of Bronze Eden, they keep to themselves, but their power is absolute.

The Imperators are the divine soldiers of Bronze Eden, also with a link to the Empyrean who are trained from a young age to be the protectors of the Temple and of the Potenates and priests who live within.

Sal Soloman and Ed Edwards are two scientists in Bronze Eden, who's meeting and relationship is both legendary and tragic.

Nod's warriors are disorganised and many, but by far the most prolific is Ucalegon, a native of Old Rhapsody. She works with her own agenda in mind, but nontheless has Nod's best interests in mind... for the most part.

Lady Jezebel is a radio presenter, activist and DJ who's voice has become synonymous with the Land of Nod. She is a pillar of Nod culture and beliefs, hugely influential though nobody knows her face or who she is outside of her radio work. If you want to know of the latest news or listen to the blossoming music scene, her radio is who you tune in to.

Vítor Cadogan is a resident of Golden Glimpse, one of the cities in Nod. Known for running a youth center, he was once a vigilante detective who sought to fight the crime that grew in the golden city's underbelly. He's had a change of heart and has dedicated the remainder of his life to supporting the youths of Golden Glimpse, but many hold his crimefighting past against him.

Other names you'll want to remember are Saccade, Helene, Ive, Cerebellum, Hendrix, the Praeceptor family, and Niles Clarke.

Please feel free to ask in the replies, my inbox or my dm's if you would like to be added to the tag list. This means being tagged in snippets, character profiles, lore dumps and graphics, and anything else related in a major way! I will not tag you in ask games, picrew chains and the like, as I wouldn't consider these notable to the actual tangible lore. You can ask to be removed at any time.

[aystay]

some wips and sketches (to post at least anything)

[autisticauthorxyz]

WIP: Radioactive Love

Revenge Fantasy drama

Art by durkknesss https://www.instagram.com/durkknesss?igsh=MW92bXhvZHFjdGJtcg==

[geschrie-sixtyne]

I finished the render of the face, now I am missing the clothes and the small renders