#some of these are working titles of fics i've already posted but still hey i'm glad to offer what i can

[elephantlovemedleys]

WIP ask game!

tagged by the lovely beatrice (@the-sparkling-diamond-satine), thank you so much ❤️

Prompt: Make a new post with the names of all the files in your WIP folder, regardless of how non-descriptive or ridiculous. Let people send you an ask with the title that most intrigues them, and then post a little snippet or tell them something about it! And then tag as many people as you have WIPs.

just to remind people, this year *majority* (well let's be honest, all of them) of my WIPs / fics posted have just been christiansatine fics, i've enjoyed writing about them a lot and i'm still continuing to do so (and i hope i keep this energy going on and on!), which means i'll be listing down the titles of what i've got written on my doc about them and it's a mix of what i've posted vs what i haven't yet

we'll be fine

(not) a quiet night

being with you feels like a dream i don't ever want to wake up from

flowers

snow drop

always and forever

missing garret scene

getting flirtatious

i can't stop thinking about kissing you

after the honeymoon fades

the only words i know are lost inside your body

rain kiss

domestic cs with their kids

imperfect for you / modern au

If I knew loving someone would hurt so much, I still would've loved you.

nowhere i'd rather be than in your arms

missing scene when they sneak out before zidler sees them (he goes down on her he has to)

i've been waiting for you

modern au / the polaroid photos

down at the ball / cinderella au

rain kiss

sleeping beauty au

let me wipe your tears away

tagging: @mihrsuri @gingerpeachtea @greenfinchwriter @satinechristian @galacticwildfire @cromwelll @elvisqueso @islayandlochs and anyone else who wants to do this!

[milksnake-tea]

hey all !! normally i wouldn't engage in something like this on my blog, but considering that it's happening to a friend of mine, i felt i had an obligation to speak out. sorry for clogging up the tags/interrupting your scrolling 😭

tldr: @/hxveneru has stolen the works of my good friend @lowkeyren not once, but twice and is deleting any comments calling them out.

edit: they've changed their user to @/yneri; if you've blocked them already, this doesn't really matter bc they're still blocked :) reminder to not engage with them, they're just looking for attention. block and ignore!

i know. fun stuff. proof is under the cut.

please note that i'm doing this of my own accord, and the only involvement ren has had in this post is me asking for permission to post it since, well, it's an issue mainly affecting her.

also i should say beforehand but. don't ??? send them death threats please 😭 we are better than that. i'm mainly making this to spread awareness about the issue :)

reblogs are appreciated to spread awareness.

first stolen work is ren's oneshot "drunk words, sober thoughts!" for aventurine here.

as you can see, it was posted on June 15th, a little over two months before hxveneru posted their own oneshot.

for reference. hxveneru is a new blog and all of their posts are in the month of september, proven here via their archive.

and here's the two oneshots side by side, with ren's on the left and the stolen one on the right.

notice how the oneshots are exactly word-for-word except for the title and synopsis? even the author's note is exactly the same. obviously i can't fit the whole thing here, but this should be enough.

honestly it's. i have to laugh at the audacity to just copy and paste like hello???

and here's the second work that was copied, with hxveneru's "diff scenarios w hsr men" taking from drabbles from two of ren's works.

these are the two fics that were stolen from, with their dates attached. both are posted far before september. links are here and here if you want to double check..

now let's look at the drabbles that were - once again, copy and pasted. first is blade's, again with ren on the left and the stolen one on the right (ren's is circled bc they didn't take the hcs part).

and here is the sunday drabble that was stolen.

so far, those are the only works posted on their blog. i was also informed that they had apparently stolen from @/exuvianen's post here but deleted it, but since said post is deleted, we don't have evidence for that so take it with a grain of salt.

but yeah! just wanted to let yall know out there, especially since the plagiarized works have already gained some traction and have 100+ notes on them. i've talked about them vaguely on my blog before, so if this sounds familiar, yeah this is them.

plagiarism is shitty, i shouldn't have to say that. it is not that hard to just write your own stuff. i know validation and publicity make you feel good, but stealing someone else's hard work is not the way to go. writers already have enough to deal with. just don't do it. what's the point of getting validation if it's not even your work?

again, don't send death threats, please. that's a bit far, and they likely won't even do anything since the plagiarizer has already been called out before and this was their response.

not a single ounce of remorse or shame. people have gotten way too comfortable on here.

also "who the hell is ren anyway" bestie you blocked her 😭😭 and ignored her ask to you. that's why ren can't dm her to sort it out privately btw, in case you were wondering.

anyways! that's all i have to say, thanks for sticking around this long and have a great rest of your day. hxveneru if you see this. hi ig ?? id say smth to you but i doubt you'd take it seriously so i won't <3

[lostfirefly]

Watching it come true, it's taking over you, oh, this's the greatest show

Happy New Year!

We'll jump back in time a bit and see how Catherine first came to Buggy's show (in one of the chapters of the original "You've got the same dream as me" series, he invited her to the circus). I know that readers usually don't like stories about OCs, but I worked on this fanfic for more than half a year. Not kidding. All the settings and songs were created by me personally and were reworked many times. The inspiration was "The Greatest Showman" movie. I hope Eiichiro Oda will forgive me for such arbitrariness :) English isn't my native language, errors may occur. Feel free to share your thoughts! :)

Masterlist is here, also this fic is posted on AO3

Description: Catherine visits Buggy's show.

Warnings: Jokes, dances, songs, musical vibes!

Words: 7.933

Buggy x OC from my “You’ve Got the Same Dream as Me” series.

The title is taken from "The Greatest Show" by Benj Pasek / Justin Noble Paul / Ryan S. Lewis.

✎﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏

by @thoraeth

✎﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏

“Who knows, maybe this girl will leave with me today after the show!” Buggy grinned as he reached a hand toward Catherine.

“Who needs you? Have you seen yourself?” An old woman barked from the back row. “A freak with a clown nose.”

“I don't know how I got involved with him. I've had better men.” Catherine’s voice cut in sharply. Her tone was cold, almost venomous. “Okay, let's be honest, I'm with him just to have some fun. I’ll dump you, just like your precious Shanks did.”

Buggy froze. His face paled.

“Oh, did I make you sad?” Catherine sneered, leaning closer. “Nobody wants to be with you, clown! Wake up already. Wake up, Buggy.” Her voice turned sharp, her fingers snapping close to his face. “Do you hear me? Wake up!”

“Buggy! Buggy! Wake up!!” 

Buggy’s eyes flew open, his chest heaving. He was met with Catherine’s face, her expression full of concern and fear.

“Hey, hey! Are you okay?” Catherine murmured, her hand already stroking his hair in soothing circles. “You were shaking, mumbling to yourself... something about leaving, being abandoned. And you said a name, someone with an S. I couldn’t wake you up.”

Buggy stared at her, his eyes glassy and distant. He didn’t speak.

“You’re scaring me, Buggy. Say something.” Her hand moved hesitantly to his shoulder.

“You’re here!” he finally whispered, relief flooding his voice.

“Of course I’m here. You were snoring loudly like a chainsaw and I barely kicked you out onto the couch. You came back. I kicked you out onto the couch again, but you came back again. I wanted to go to the cou-.” She paused, her attempt at humor faltering. “Buggy... what’s wrong?”

Buggy suddenly wrapped his arms around her, pulling her close. His grip was almost desperate, and his body trembled against hers.

“You’re here,” he murmured again, his voice breaking. “You’re not leaving me?”

Catherine’s voice softened as she cradled him. “What happened, little bear?”

“I asked you a question, didn’t I? Why couldn’t you just answer me?” Buggy’s voice was low, strained, almost angry.

“Buggy, don’t get mad—”

“Fuck,” he muttered, clenching his fists. “Just... one shitty thought stuck in my head.”

Catherine’s lips brushed his temple in a gentle kiss. “I want to kick that thought’s ass,” she said, pulling him tighter and stroking his back. “Bad dream?”

Buggy nodded.

“I left you in the dream?”

Another nod.

“Why are you so afraid of that?” Catherine’s voice was barely above a whisper. “Has it happened before? Someone leaving and... hurting you?”

Buggy didn’t answer. He just shook his head.

Catherine’s arms tightened protectively around him. “I swear, I’d rip their heart out if they hurt you. No one messes with my clown.” She kissed his head again. “Is there anything else you want to tell me?”

He shook his head again.

“You know you can tell me anything, right?”

He nodded, but he still wouldn’t meet her eyes.

“Who was this person you mentioned? I only caught something with an S.”

“I don’t want you to leave,” Buggy finally muttered, his voice trembling.

“Oh, my silly clown!” She tilted his face up so their eyes met. “I’m not leaving. I’d never leave you. Well...”

His eyes widened in panic.

“...Maybe to see my sister, you fool.” She grinned. “But I’d come back to you. You know this is my home now, right?”

He nodded slowly.

“Do you want some tea? Or water?”

He shook his head.

“I’ve got chocolate chip cookies in the drawer. Want some?”

This time, he nodded.

Can you do your chop chop thing and get me a box from my drawer? I don't want to let you go." 

Buggy sent his hand for the cookies and brought the pack to the bed. 

"Woow! Your abilities are so amazing! Thank you. Here.” Catherine gave him three cookies. “I won't leave you. And you know why? Because I love you and I don't want to be without you.” 

“Love you too.”

“Yay! You said it! I’m so proud of you!” Catherine kissed Buggy in his head. “You know, I'll make you a delicious breakfast in the morning, to cheer you up. I don't know about you, but bacon always cheers me up. Do you want bacon?”

Buggy nodded. 

“My blue-haired glutton. Let's eat some more cookies and try to sleep. Okay?”

He nodded. That night, Catherine never let him out of her arms for a second.

“Tasty?” Catherine asked, a soft smile on her lips as she stroked Buggy’s head, watching him devour his breakfast with unrestrained enthusiasm.

“Yummy!” Buggy exclaimed, his eyes lighting up as he speared another sausage with his fork. “Sausage? Perfect! Bacon? Even better! Have you tried dipping the sausages in those weird eggs? It’s genius! This is delicious!” He slurped noisily, swallowing a sausage coated in golden yolk with exaggerated delight.

Catherine rolled her eyes, stifling a laugh. “You’re such a fool, Buggy. Those aren’t ‘weird eggs’; they’re poached eggs. I’m terrible at cooking, but thanks to all those internet cooking videos, I managed to make you breakfast.”

“Well, cotton candy, those videos were worth every second. I haven’t had anything this good in ages.” He licked his lips, gesturing at the plate. “Everything you cook is amazing.”

“Sometimes,” Catherine teased, sipping her coffee, “I think you love food more than me.”

Buggy shrugged nonchalantly, his grin mischievous. “You and a good dish are on the same level, to be honest.”

Catherine gasped in mock indignation. “Wow! I’m so honored to share first place in your heart with eggs. Like my biggest dream come true.” She set her cup down with a smirk. “So, tell me.. Do I need to dress in anything special for the show tonight?”

Buggy leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms lazily. “I’ve told you a million times, I don’t care what you wear. You could show up to my circus naked for all I care.”

Catherine giggled, shaking her head. “I can’t come naked. You’d kill your entire audience. Damn! Can’t wait to see your show, though. I know it’s going to be perfect. Do we have plans after? Maybe ice cream and a walk home?”

“Fine!” Buggy groaned, dramatically rolling his eyes. “Let’s go on your stupid walk. Okay, cotton candy, I gotta go. We still have a dress rehearsal to do.” He threw his fork on the table and leaned to peck her on the lips. 

“Ugh! Buggy!” Catherine squealed, pushing him back with a giggle. “Your lips are covered in yolk and sausage grease! Eat, wipe, then kiss me. That’s the rule!” She grabbed a napkin and wiped his mouth. “Yes, I have a lot of work to do here.”

The morning spiraled into their usual chaos. Catherine followed Buggy around, watching him get ready for rehearsal and grumbling about how she was distracting him. Then Buggy followed Catherine around while she made herself coffee, and now she grumbled about Buggy was distracting her. 

Before long, Catherine was back in the kitchen, making sandwiches with salmon and cheese for Buggy. She poured him a cup of coffee, handed him the food, and walked him to the door. As she kissed his cheeks repeatedly, Buggy mumbled half-hearted protests, though his smirk gave away his enjoyment. 

Once the door closed behind him, Catherine spun around with a squeal. “Okay, outfit time!” she announced to herself, darting to the wardrobe. 

“Maybe jeans and a t-shirt with ducks? No! No, Catherine! Today's your special day! You're going to Buggy's performance after all. This is your first visit to his show as his girlfriend. Secret girlfriend. You gotta look special.” Her cheeks flushed as she muttered the words aloud. “Oh!” She grabbed a green dress, holding it up triumphantly. “Perfect! This green dress, just like his eyes! And this blue bag matches his hair color!”

She danced around her room, pulling the outfit on before twirling in front of the mirror. “You look fabulous, Cathie!” she told her reflection with a wink before grabbing her things and heading out for a walk before the show. 

Catherine strolled along the promenade, savoring her ice cream as the salty breeze tousled her hair. The closer she got to the circus tent, the more the atmosphere buzzed with excitement. Crowds gathered in clusters, the sound of children’s laughter filling the air. Kids in bright red clown noses and plaid scarves darted between the colorful tents, their giggles contagious. She slowed her pace, her eyes taking in the scene as she eavesdropped on the conversations around her. The air was thick with the scent of popcorn and cotton candy, and long lines snaked toward vendors selling candies and drinks. Catherine hadn’t expected such a massive turnout.

“Mom, we’re going to see the clown! The real clown!” a boy shouted, tugging at his mother’s hand.

Catherine smiled to herself, grabbing a coffee from a nearby stall. She wandered over to a wall covered in bright posters, Buggy’s exaggerated grin plastered across one of them, his vibrant blue hair almost glowing. She sipped her coffee, amused by how surreal it felt to see her boyfriend’s face staring back at her in such a larger-than-life way. Catherine overheard a conversation between two girls who were obviously talking about Cabaji. 

"I'll have to tell him about that." She giggled, sipping her coffee. 

It was a little strange and unusual to her that she now knew him, and certainly more unusual that she was sleeping with the leader of this circus. 

Her amusement was interrupted by a familiar voice behind her. “Hey!” 

Catherine turned, her face lighting up as she recognized him. “Cabaji!” she greeted warmly.

“Huh, from the look on your face, you obviously weren't expecting to see someone else, not me.”

“Don't say that. I’m glad to see you.” Catherine hugged him lightly. They still had a little tension from when they first met. “Everything looks so beautiful.. so Buggy. The candy, popcorn, all the colors and lights. Oh, by the way,” she gestured toward two blonde girls giggling at a nearby table. “Those two over there? I overheard them talking. I’d bet my coffee they’re here for you.”

Cabaji raised an eyebrow, following her gaze. He noticed how Catherine stood slightly on her tiptoes, her eyes scanning the crowd. He sighed dramatically and rolled his eyes. “Oh, Cath. If you’re looking for the Captain, he’s not out here. He’s in his green room.”

“I’m not looking for him!” Catherine shot back, though her cheeks flushed. “I’m just… looking around, that’s all. I haven't been to the circus for ages. And I don’t want to distract Buggy.” She hesitated, then added, “But if you see him, tell him I love him.”

Cabaji snorted, shaking his head. “Here we go again…” he muttered, rolling his eyes. “Of course, I’ll tell him. I’m heading there now.”

“Tell him I love him!” Catherine called after him, her tone a mix of teasing and sincerity.

“Yeah, yeah,” Cabaji replied, waving a hand as he walked toward the green room.

The green room was dimly lit, the faint glow of a single overhead bulb reflecting off the mirror where Buggy sat, his expression unusually tense. His leg bounced restlessly, his boot tapping against the floor, and his fingers drummed on the tabletop. He picked up a brush, stared at it, and then tossed it back onto the table with a frustrated huff.

Cabaji pushed the door open, his footsteps light but purposeful. “Captain. Are you okay?”

Buggy’s head snapped up, his frown instantly shifting into a scowl. “Yeah, why do you ask?”

Cabaji leaned casually against the wall, crossing his arms. “You look like a man about to walk the plank. Nervous, maybe?”

“I never get nervous, Cabaji,” Buggy snapped, though his twitching leg betrayed him. He threw the brush down with more force than necessary. “Have you been out in the hallways? Is everything okay? Candy? Popcorn? Drinks? Do we have enough of everything?”

Cabaji smirked, enjoying the rare sight of his Captain unraveling. “Relax. Everything’s fine. Long lines for sweets, families everywhere, kids running around. And, I saw… oh… her.”

Buggy froze, his eyes narrowing. “What about her?” he asked, though the slight twitch of his lips betrayed a hidden smile.

Cabaji chuckled, shaking his head. “I knew it. You’re nervous about her. Buggy the Clown, a terrifying pirate captain, has a crush and doesn’t know what to do with himself.”

“Shut up, you asshole,” Buggy growled, though the flush creeping up his neck betrayed him. “I’m not nervous. I just want everything to be perfect tonight.” He ran a hand through his hair, clearly flustered. “Why didn’t you bring her here?”

“She didn’t want to distract you.” Cabaji grinned slyly. “Oh, it’s hilarious. She’s out there pretending she’s not looking for you, and you’re in here freaking out about her. And let’s not forget—your big romantic gesture. Making us cover a song for her? No, no! Not just a song! The whole show! Who are you, Captain?”

“Hey! Watch your mouth,” Buggy snapped, his cheeks red. “She’s not some girl. And the song is a masterpiece.”

“Okay, sorry.” Cabaji leaned back on the sofa, his grin widening. “Our life isn't that bad. We earn good money, girls are into me. You know, maybe your girlfriend isn't so bad. She said that there were two girls who came for me. See? For me.” He pointed at himself. “And she said this to me. To me. Who knows, maybe Cabaji will have a fun night tonight.” He giggled.

“Shut up, jackass. And anyway, it's time for us to go on stage. Ready?” 

Cabaji smirked, standing and stretching. “Always.”

Catherine settled into her seat, her gaze drifting around the bustling arena. The air was thick with the scents of popcorn and sawdust, the buzz of excited chatter filling the space. As she adjusted her coat, the voices of two women seated behind her cut through the din.

“My kid dragged me to this show for the fifth time,” one woman complained, her tone dripping with disdain. “He loves the clown. Look at him! He even put on that ridiculous red nose.”

The second woman snickered. “I can’t imagine how anyone could like him. I bet he’s ugly and unpleasant under all that makeup. And if that nose is real—ugh, even worse. Can you imagine? A freak with a real clown nose!”

Catherine stiffened, her hand tightening around the armrest.

“Right? Who would ever go anywhere with him? Like, who’d want to be seen with someone like that?” the second woman added with a cruel laugh.

“Hey, you two!” Catherine spun around, her voice sharp as a blade. “Shut up!”

The women blinked in surprise. “What?”

“Wash your ears and learn some manners, bitches!” Catherine snapped, her eyes blazing. “Insulting someone you don’t even know? That’s as low as it gets!”

One of the women smirked, leaning back in her chair. “Are you the morality police now? We’ll insult whoever we want.”

Catherine leaned closer, her voice dropping to a dangerous whisper. “Go fuck yourself. I hope a lion eats you tonight.”

“Mommy, are you going to be eaten by a lion?” a child’s voice piped up, trembling with genuine concern. “I don’t want you to be eaten by a lion.”

Catherine almost laughed but held back, her focus on the now-flustered woman. She opened her mouth to retort again but was interrupted as the arena lights dimmed. A collective “woooah” rose from the crowd, and Catherine turned her attention to the stage, her irritation dissolving into awe

On the stage, several shadows appeared, clapping their hands and stamping their feet in rhythm with a drawn-out, resonant “woooah.” Catherine squinted, her heart skipping a beat as she recognized the silhouette of her clown—Buggy—moving in perfect unison with the troupe, his every step exuding confidence and charisma.

“Woooah, Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the circus. Woooah, We know you came here for one purpose. Woooah, Get ready for a spectacular performance. Woooah, You will never forget if you see it just once.”

The voices swelled, and Catherine felt her breath catch as the shadows leaped into the spotlight. Acrobats tumbled, jugglers spun flaming pins, and the arena erupted into a kaleidoscope of motion. The crowd clapped along, children singing the lines with pure, unfiltered joy.

“You’ll be giggling, clapping, eating cotton candy, While we’ll make you smile, laugh, and happy. Jugglers, acrobats, magicians, everyone came to you to say hello. Welcome to the Big Top show!”

Catherine’s jaw dropped as the final line echoed through the arena. Slowly, she began to clap, her eyes wide with admiration. Her gaze locked onto Buggy as he strode into the spotlight, arms spread wide, soaking in the thunderous applause. He was handsome. Confident. Exuberant. With a showman's smile and a scoundrel's wink. 

Buggy walked to the center of the stage and gazed up at a lantern suspended above him. “They didn’t forget today that I hate sharing the spotlight,” he quipped, earning a roar of laughter from the audience.

As his eyes swept the crowd, they landed on Catherine. For a split second, his grin faltered into something softer, more intimate. She raised a hand hesitantly, waving at him with a shy smile. He winked at her, his signature scoundrel’s charm making her cheeks flush.

“Well, well,” Buggy purred, pacing down the rows of seats like a predator stalking its prey. “I see a lot of familiar faces out there tonight. But also…” He paused, bowing theatrically to one corner before making his way to Catherine’s row. When he stopped in front of her, his bow was deeper, his movements slower, as if the moment were meant only for her.

“I see a new pretty face among us,” he said, his voice dropping just enough to make her heart race. “I hope you enjoy the show, miss, because the magic is just beginning.” With a wink that could melt ice, he straightened and moved on.

Catherine sat frozen, her heart pounding in her chest. She clutched the edge of her seat, torn between wanting to squeal in delight and hide her burning cheeks. She felt as though the entire arena had disappeared, leaving just her and Buggy in that fleeting moment.

Her lips curved into a soft smile, her mind repeating the words she couldn’t quite say aloud. My blue-haired love.

Act 1: The Bar Scene

The lights dim, and a warm, golden glow spills across the stage, mimicking the flicker of lanterns in a rustic tavern. Shadows of hanging mugs and bottles sway along the walls as if caught in an invisible breeze. The faint murmur of chatter and clinking glasses hums in the background, setting the lively yet intimate atmosphere.

Jugglers step forward, their movements precise yet chaotic as they toss tankards and liquor bottles in perfect harmony, creating the illusion of a bustling bar. One juggler, Buggy himself, takes center stage, grabbing a wooden stool with a dramatic flourish. He flips it into the air, spinning it like a top, then catches it effortlessly, bowing to the imaginary patrons with exaggerated flair.

Above, an aerialist glides onto the scene, suspended on a golden hoop. Her movements are languid and playful, mimicking the sway of someone caught between tipsiness and grace. The light shifts, following her as she twists and tumbles through the air. For a fleeting moment, her silhouette eclipses Buggy, casting him in shadow as he continues his show-off routine with exaggerated confidence, earning laughs from the imaginary crowd.

Suddenly, the lights in the arena go out, leaving the audience in suspense. A soft glow appears on one side of the stage, illuminating tall library shelves stacked with books. A girl steps into the light, her fingers trailing over the spines as she searches through the volumes. Her movements are thoughtful, almost melancholic, as if weighed down by an unseen burden.

Catherine leaned forward in her seat as Buggy’s voice broke through the silence, clear and melodic, with an undercurrent of vulnerability:

Buggy (reflective and melodic)

“I lived so quietly, I couldn’t see, The twists and turns life had for me. I never dreamed, I’d find such bliss, Through shadows deep, I found this gift. Through dark, through pain, Through endless night, I danced with shadows, But now there’s light.”

The girl at the shelves pauses, her hands hovering over a book as if hesitant to leave it behind. The spotlight shifts, illuminating the opposite side of the stage. There, Buggy sits at a bar, slouched with one arm draped over the counter. His vibrant blue hair catches the light as he gazes into the distance, a half-smile playing on his lips.

The girl looks over her shoulder, her voice rising to meet his as she begins to sing, packing her bag with deliberate movements:

The girl (soft and resolute):

“My friends said, my friends said, ‘You’re out of your mind.’ They couldn’t see what I needed to find. I had to go, I had to leave, For my sister’s voice was calling to me. I left it all, I broke away, But in my heart, I knew the way.”

The girl steps away from the shelves, her footsteps light but purposeful as she begins a slow, deliberate dance toward the bar. Her movements are graceful, blending curiosity and hesitation as though she’s being pulled by an invisible thread. Catherine’s gaze flickers to Buggy, who rises from his seat, his eyes locking onto the girl.

Buggy approaches her, confidence radiating from every step. He extends a hand, and she hesitates only briefly before placing hers in his. With his other hand on her back, Buggy gently twirls her into a slow, elegant dance. The light shifts to a soft amber, enveloping the pair as they sway in unison. Their voices rise together, harmonizing in a heartfelt chorus:

As the song builds to a crescendo, two clowns enter, reenacting Buggy’s exaggerated version of meeting Cathie: one playing the suave, larger-than-life Buggy, the other a skeptical yet intrigued Cathie. Their comedic antics draw laughter as the real Buggy leaps onto a spinning barrel, balancing while juggling flaming bottles. The lights pulse in time with the music, bathing the stage in shades of red and orange, mirroring the energy of the unfolding romance.

Together (harmonious and hopeful):

“Each sleepless night, alone with my fears, I never thought love could dry my tears. And suddenly, My heart’s aflame, A spark of joy that burns my name. What lies ahead, no one can say, But I hope a million dreams will light our way.”

Act 2: Desert Duel

The stage is bathed in an amber glow, mimicking the blazing heat of the desert sun. Sand-colored fabric ripples across the floor, creating the illusion of shifting dunes, while a massive painted backdrop of endless sands and distant pyramids sets the scene. A faint hum of wind fills the air, eerie and foreboding, punctuated by occasional bursts of whistling, as if the desert itself is alive.

As the music begins, performers dressed in flowing desert robes sweep across the stage. Their movements are fluid and acrobatic, their leaps and spins resembling swirling sandstorms. The amber light flickers, casting long shadows as they move in mesmerizing harmony.

Suddenly, the music shifts to a tense, sharp rhythm. A towering figure emerges from the shadows—a menacing performer portraying Crocodile. His gleaming hook glints under a narrow spotlight, the metallic sound of it dragging across the stage echoing ominously. The ensemble scatters, their flowing robes billowing like fleeing sand, leaving Buggy and the girl alone at center stage.

The performer dressed like Crocodile steps forward, flanked by two henchmen. The lighting turns darker, with shadows stretching ominously across the sand-colored floor. His exaggerated movements heavy stomps and the sharp swish of his hooked hand establish him as a threatening presence. His voice booms (possibly through a voiceover or live performance), taunting Buggy and the girl as he circles them.

(Crocodile - taunting, smooth and sinister) “Oh, the desert is cruel, and so am I, Its winds will howl, its sands will fly. Your little muse, so sweet, so frail, What will she do when the storms prevail?

You think you’re her hero, her savior, her knight, But under this sun, there’s no room for light. Your laughter fades, your tricks grow old, In the desert’s grasp, her heart grows cold.”

(Choir - haunting harmony) “The sands will twist, the storm will rise, Her fate will rest in Crocodile’s eyes. Beware, beware, the hook, the claw, The clown will fall to desert’s law.”

Buggy springs into action, his movements exaggerated and theatrical, leaping onto a high prop designed to look like a crumbling desert ruin. He grabs a staff-like prop from the set and begins spinning it, deflecting Crocodile’s strikes in a choreographed sequence that blends combat with acrobatics.

(Buggy - defiant and furious) “You can laugh, you can scheme, but hear me, Croc, Your threats are nothing but empty talk. You dare to touch her, you dare to try, I’ll cut you down beneath this sky.

She’s my fire, my spark, my muse divine, And no hook, no storm will cross that line. So come, Crocodile, face me and fight, For love’s a flame that burns too bright.”

(Crocodile - mocking and threatening) “Oh, how noble, how sweet, how bold! But your fire’s no match for the desert’s cold. Her cries will echo, her tears will fall, And you, my clown, will lose it all.

The sands will bind her, the winds will sing, While I clip the strings of the circus king. Dance, Buggy, dance—your tricks are done, The desert’s claimed her; you’ve already lost, clown.”

(Choir - ominous, building tension) “The desert roars, the battle’s begun, The sands consume as the shadows run. For Cathie’s love, he’ll take a stand, Against the storm and Crocodile’s hand.”

As Crocodile lunges with his hook, Buggy picked up sand from the ground, throwing it into Crocodile’s face while his legs trip one of the henchmen. Spotlight on Buggy as he catches a long rope, using it to swing across the stage. He lands between the girl and Crocodile, blocking the hook with a loud metallic clang. 

(Buggy - bold and determined) “Your words are weak, your threats are vain, You’ll never see her in pain. For Cathie’s laugh, for her embrace, I’ll face you here, any time, any place.

I’m the clown who’ll never fall, This circus king will end it all. So swing your hook, bring on your fight, Her love’s my guide, my endless light.”

(Crocodile - dark and mocking) “The desert’s wrath, the storm’s wild cry, No clown escapes when the sands run dry. But fight, Buggy, fight, you pitiful fool, You’re nothing more than a jester’s tool.”

Buggy and Crocodile face off as the lighting dims, focusing on the two of them. Crocodile swings his hook in wide arcs, while Buggy uses his agility and comedic timing to outmaneuver him. At one point, Buggy’s kick Crocodile’s legs, causing him to trip and fall onto the sand.

As Crocodile struggles to stand, Buggy leaps onto a high platform, holding a makeshift weapon. He delivers a final blow tossing an oversized “treasure chest” prop onto Crocodile, pinning him to the ground. The music swells triumphantly as Buggy strikes a victorious pose, his foot on the chest and his arms spread wide.

(Buggy - fierce and victorious) “I’m more than tricks, I’m more than jest, I’ll strike you down and prove I’m the best. For Cathie’s safe, for her smile so sweet, This desert battle, I won’t retreat.”

(Final Chorus - climactic and triumphant) “The sands may roar, the winds may bite, But love’s the flame that fuels his fight. Crocodile’s schemes will come undone, For Buggy fights ‘til the war is won.”

The girl rushes to Buggy, her arms flung around him. The lighting shifts to a warm golden hue, highlighting the pair as they embrace. Buggy grins, brushing sand from her hair. “Told you I’d keep you safe, my red-haired pie,” he quips, his tone both smug and affectionate.

The ensemble re-enters, performing celebratory acrobatics around the pair—cartwheels, flips, and synchronized leaps—as the music reaches its triumphant conclusion. The backdrop shifts to show a glowing sunset over the desert, symbolizing their victory and unity.

As the lights dim, Crocodile’s hook emerges from the sand one last time, twitching ominously before disappearing, leaving the audience with a mix of relief and anticipation.

Act 3: Campfire Scene: A Quiet Realization

The stage darkens, except for a soft orange glow illuminating the center, where a small campfire crackles gently. The flickering light dances across Buggy and Cathie, who sit on opposite sides of the fire. Buggy leans back casually against a log, his hat tilted slightly over his eyes, while the girl sits cross-legged, absent mindedly poking at the fire with a stick.

A quiet melody begins to play, a gentle tune carried by a single violin, underscored by the distant hum of a harmonica. It’s a moment of calm after the chaos of their adventures. The sound of the wind gently blowing through the desert adds to the stillness.

(Choir, soft) The fire flickers, the night’s so still, The desert whispers, the stars they spill. Side by side, though words don’t flow, Our hearts beat softly, a love they know.

The girl tosses a twig into the fire, watching the sparks rise into the night. She glances across the flames at Buggy, his face softened by the firelight, devoid of his usual bravado.

(The girl, soft) A glance, a sigh, the embers glow, Do you feel it too? I wish you’d show.

Buggy’s smirk falters, and for a moment, he’s quiet. He picks up a small rock and tosses it into the darkness beyond the fire, the thud echoing softly.

(Buggy, soft) Oh, the silence speaks where words can’t go, In the warmth of flames, our feelings grow. A love untold, a quiet tune, Beneath the stars, beneath the moon.

(Together, soft) Your eyes catch mine, then drift away, But in that moment, there’s so much to say. Your laughter lingers, your courage shines, And somehow I wish your hand was mine.

(The girl, soft) The fire hums the song we hide, Do you feel it too, here by my side?

(Chorus, soft) Oh, the silence speaks where words can’t go, In the warmth of flames, our feelings grow. A love untold, a quiet tune, Beneath the stars, beneath the moon.

(Together, soft) The scars we carry, the battles we’ve braved, The bond between us, the love we’ve saved. Yet fear keeps us from crossing the line, But in this moment, your heart feels like mine.

(Chorus, soft) Oh, the silence speaks where words can’t go, In the warmth of flames, our feelings grow. A love untold, a quiet tune, Beneath the stars, beneath the moon.

(Buggy, soft) So here we sit, as the fire dies, A silent love, but it never lies. Someday soon, I’ll find the way, To tell you, Cathie, what I couldn’t say.

Act 4: Treasure Hunt Adventure

The stage transforms into a cliff under the glow of moonlight. A spotlight shines on a tightrope stretched high above the stage, where an acrobat delicately balances with a rolled-up map in hand. The lighting shifts dramatically, with flashes of blue and white mimicking lightning as fire performers emerge, their flames crackling like hidden traps in the treasure hunt. A daring duo swings in from ropes, spinning mid-air before landing on the a cliff, their synchronized moves symbolizing Buggy and Cathie’s teamwork.

As the music builds, a performer leaps from a high platform, diving into a chest-shaped prop that bursts open with golden confetti. The stage floods with warm golden light as the performers celebrate the "discovery" of the treasure, their movements jubilant and wild.

(Buggy, victorious tone) Oh, the map’s in my hand, and the wind’s at my back, We’re chasing the gold, and there’s no turning back. The sea was our stage, now the desert’s our show, Every step that we take makes the treasure chest grow!

(The girl - playful febuttal] But what about traps? And the quicksand below? You’re dreaming of riches while I’m watching us go— Straight into chaos, straight into doom! The treasure’s a prize, but will it fit in my room?

(Together) The map, the gold, and the glory await, With danger around every twist, every gate! We’ll climb every mountain, we’ll cross every sea, The treasure is ours if we dare to believe!

(The girl, with worry in her voice) The sun’s burning hot, and the dunes never end, Is this all for treasure—or just to pretend? But still, there’s a spark when you’re by my side, Through the trials and traps, you’re my unpredictable guide.

(Buggy, boastful) Ha! Unpredictable? I’m a pirate with flair! While you worry, I laugh—I’ve got skills beyond compare! The quicksand can’t stop me, the traps are a joke, I’ll dazzle them all with my legendary cloak!

(Together) The map, the gold, and the glory await, With danger around every twist, every gate! We’ll climb every mountain, we’ll cross every sea, The treasure is ours if we dare to believe!

(Cave, tense harmony) (The girl) What’s that? A shadow, a whisper, a sound? The danger’s too close—it’s closing us down! (Buggy) Relax, Cathie-pie, it’s a test of our wits! We’ll outsmart the traps and escape from the pits!

A dramatic musical interlude featuring percussion-heavy beats as the stage lights flicker. Acrobats perform on tightropes and swinging ropes while juggling flaming props, symbolizing the intensity of the treasure hunt.

(Together) (Buggy) The treasure is near, I can feel it—so close! (The girl) But what of the risks? They’re what matter the most! (Buggy) The risks are the thrill, they’re the reason we fight! (The girl) And together we’ll find it—the gold shining bright!

(Together) The map, the gold, and the glory await, With danger around every twist, every gate! We’ll climb every mountain, we’ll cross every sea, The treasure is ours if we dare to believe! (The treasure is ours!) (If we dare to believe!)

(The girl and Buggy, soft, playful) (The girl) And if the treasure’s a bust? (Buggy) You’ve got me, trust is a must. (The girl - laughing) Oh, I hate you, Buggy….

The stage lights fade to a golden glow as Buggy and the girl pose triumphantly, silhouetted against the backdrop of the treasure chest.

Act 5: Cathie’s Near Departure

The stage is dark except for a soft, single spotlight on an aerial silk descending from above. The fabric glimmers faintly under the dim, icy blue light. An aerialist, representing Cathie, climbs gracefully, her movements slow and deliberate, as if weighed down by indecision. On the ground, shadow performers act out Buggy’s frantic attempts to stop her from leaving, their exaggerated gestures illuminated by faint amber light. The interplay between the cold blue spotlight above and the flickering warmth below mirrors the emotional distance growing between them. A tightrope walker enters, balancing precariously, a visual metaphor for Cathie’s internal struggle. Each step is deliberate, her arms outstretched, the tension in the air palpable. The shadows grow larger as the spotlight begins to shift, finally centering on Buggy standing below the silks with arms outstretched, ready to catch her.

(Buggy) The world was calling, the plane was near, But my heart was louder, I had to hear. Through crowded streets and endless skies, I found my way to your blue-red eyes. No distance could break, no storm could hide, The love I’ve carried deep inside.

(The girl) I ran to you, across the night, Through doubts and fears, to hold you tight. No turning back, no more delay, I’m here to love you, here to stay.

(Buggy) You stood there frozen, your eyes so wide, I saw the love you couldn’t hide. The world disappeared, just you and me, In that moment, we were free.

No need for words, I see it clear, In your arms, I have no fear.

(The girl) I ran to you, across the night, Through doubts and fears, to hold you tight. No turning back, no more delay, I’m here to love you, here to stay.

(Both) I’ve fought the winds, I’ve chased the tides, But nothing’s stronger than what’s inside. You’re my laughter, my foolish grin, The piece of my heart I let you in.

(The girl) I ran to you, and now I know, This love will bloom, this love will grow. No turning back, no yesterday, With you, forever starts today.

Grand Finale

The stage was alive with energy, bathed in dazzling lights that spun in vibrant reds, golds, and blues. Performers filled every corner of the stage—acrobats flipping through the air, jugglers tossing flaming torches in intricate patterns, and magicians making bursts of confetti explode into the audience.

At the center of it all stood Buggy, his arms spread wide, his signature grin shining as brightly as the spotlight that followed him. The ensemble gathered around him, their voices harmonizing as they launched into the final song.

“Woooah, Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for coming to the circus. Woooah, We knew you came here for one purpose. Woooah, We hope you enjoyed a spectacular performance. Woooah, You will never forget if you see it just once.

You were giggling, clapping, eating cotton candy, While we made you smile, laugh, and happy.

The audience roared, clapping along to the rhythm as the performers joined in, creating a swirling, unified movement across the stage. Acrobats somersaulted over each other, their costumes glinting like jewels, while the fire jugglers formed a blazing ring around the edge of the stage.

(Ensemble): Jugglers, acrobats, magicians, everyone came to you to say hello. See you on the next the Big Top show!

The music reached its crescendo, and Buggy leapt onto a spinning platform at the center of the stage. With a triumphant flourish, he tossed his hat high into the air, catching it perfectly as the fireworks exploded behind him, showering the stage in golden sparks.

The audience erupted into thunderous applause, the sound echoing like a tidal wave through the tent. Buggy bowed low, sweeping his arm theatrically as the rest of the troupe followed suit.

“Thank you, thank you!” Buggy called, his voice booming with joy. He raised his arms once more, grinning as he scanned the crowd. His eyes briefly found Catherine in the front row, her clapping the loudest of all. She mouthed, “I love you,” and Buggy winked back, his grin softening just a little.

The curtains began to close, the performers waving wildly at the cheering crowd. Buggy stood tall, his silhouette framed perfectly against the golden light spilling from the stage.

“Until next time, ladies and gentlemen!” he shouted as the final note lingered in the air. “The Big Top awaits!”

The curtains shut with a satisfying swoosh, and the roaring applause swelled once more, sealing the magic of the night.

Catherine shot to her feet, clapping enthusiastically, her voice ringing out above the crowd.

“Bravo!” she shouted, her cheeks flushed with excitement.

It felt like an eternity before the spell broke, and she came back to her senses. Behind her, two girls whispered loudly enough to catch her attention.

“What a beautiful, chaotic love story they’ve built together! I bet he dedicated it to me.”

“No, to me!! Why would he dedicate this act to you?”

Catherine giggled quietly, wiping her eyes as they began to water again. She noticed the girls glaring at her from their seats, their whispers turning into pointed stares. Before she could respond, Cabaji appeared, darting out from backstage and heading straight for the girls. They stuck out their tongues at Catherine in mock defiance before giggling and disappearing into the hall with Cabaji leading the way.

Still smiling, Catherine left her bag on her seat and wandered toward the stage. The lingering warmth of the performance filled her chest as she climbed onto the aerial hoop, grunting softly as she sat down. She trailed her fingers lightly over the hoop’s smooth surface, her touch reverent.

Her feet swung lazily as she got lost in her thoughts, completely unaware of Buggy sneaking up behind her. He poked her side with his fingers, startling her.

“Fuck!” Catherine yelped, nearly falling off the hoop. She shot him a playful glare and punched his shoulder lightly. “You scared me, you idiot! Hey!”

“Hey.” Buggy smirked, crossing his arms as he stood in front of her. “So? What did you think?” he asked, his voice laced with an unusual nervousness.

Catherine blinked at him, her eyes softening before she threw her arms around his neck with a squeal. “I knew it would be amazing, but I didn’t expect it to be that amazing!” She peppered his face with kisses. “I’m so, so proud of you!”

“Geeez! You're gonna suffocate me, Cathie-pie.” Buggy groaned, though his hand instinctively rested on her waist.

“I don’t care!” Catherine giggled, planting another kiss on his lips. “My jaw dropped from the very beginning, Buggy. Those acrobats rolling into the arena on flaming wheels? The dancing, the songs! I didn’t even know you could dance and sing!” She kissed him again. “I knew you were a romantic at heart.”

Buggy’s face twisted into mock indignation. “Who? Me? Romantic? I’m a grown and scary man, cotton candy. I don’t do romance.”

“Yeah, yeah,” Catherine teased, narrowing her eyes. “And that song about us? Totally not romantic at all, right?” Tears welled up in her eyes as her voice softened. “Nobody’s ever done anything like that for me before, Buggy. That song… it was perfect.”

Buggy coughed, looking away. “Song about us? Nah, that was just some random story about a girl from the library. We’ve had that act forever. You’re just seeing it for the first time.”

“Liar,” Catherine whispered, her smile widening. “But fine, I’ll pretend to believe you.” She giggled. “I’m sure all your fangirls in the audience thought that song was for them, but I know it was dedicated to me.”

“I don’t have fangirls, stop mocking me!” 

“No, you have! I saw them! Oh, oh!! When the acrobats started spinning around on those things and the whole crew was stomping around below. And then the fireworks! And then the acrobats! And then, and then…” Catherine was gesturing wildly, trying to collect her thoughts. 

“I'll try to help you put all your thoughts together. Want a drink? I brought you wine.” Buggy sent his hand for the bottle and poured her a glass of her favorite wine. “Here.” 

Catherine accepted the glass and drank it in one gulp. “That was amazing! You’re amazing!” And then Richie got so on his paws… That was amazing! I'm speechless!” 

“Speechless? I’m impressed. You're such a chatterbox!” Buggy smirked, picking up a bottle of whiskey for himself. 

“Go to hell, clown. You're bigger chatterbox than me! Oh, wait!” Catherine laughed as she snatched his hat and plopped it onto her head. “Well? How do I look? Does it suit me?”

Buggy froze, staring at her for a moment. He took a slow swig of whiskey, his gaze intense. “You did a very dangerous thing, cotton candy.” He stepped closer, his hands sliding around her waist as he leaned in toward her neck.

“Buggy!” Catherine protested, laughing as she gently pushed him away. “What are you doing? Someone might walk in!”

“I don't give a shit!” Buggy muttered, leaning in again.

“Nooo!” Catherine pushed him back once more. “What the hell, my love? You seemed so sweet earlier, and now you’re acting like a total pervert!” She kissed his nose and returned his hat to his head.

“I’m not a pervert. But have you seen yourself? This dress, that hat.” 

Catherine slapped his hand away as it crept toward her knee. “Behave!”

“Fine, fine,” Buggy relented, raising his hands in mock surrender. “But for the record, I didn’t even touch you yesterday. That’s what I call a self-control.”

“Lucky me!” Catherine laughed, gripping the hoop with her hands and narrowing her eyes playfully. Her smile was mischievous, the kind that made Buggy’s heart skip a beat. “I spent the evening in pants!”

Buggy smirked, stepping closer to the hoop. He reached out and began to gently twist it, his eyes glinting with amusement.

“Well, tell me, clown, how often did you have girls staying here after the shows?” Catherine added with a dramatic sigh, swinging her legs like a carefree child. “You must have had hot sex in your office often.” She leaned back slightly, her spine arching gracefully, her hair catching the dim light like a halo.

Buggy’s smirk faltered for a moment, his throat bobbing as he swallowed. He kept twisting the hoop, slower this time, his gaze lingering on her silhouette. “You really love mocking me, don’t you?” he said, his voice a touch raspier. “For the record, there was no one in my office. Nobody goes there. That’s my territory.”

“I probably look like a sack of potatoes right now. I'm far from the grace of your beautiful acrobats.” Catherine arched even lower and laughed, tipping her head back, the sound like a bell ringing through the empty space. “Your territory? I see. Wait! If nobody’s allowed in your precious office, then what about me? You let me in there.”

Buggy rolled his eyes, but there was no hiding the soft smile tugging at his lips. “Because you’re not a girl,” he said, his tone laced with mock annoyance. “You’re a little red-haired devil, Catherine Mitchell. And you’ve done something to me.”

Catherine squealed in delight, kicking her legs and standing up on the hoop with surprising agility. She jumped off, landing gracefully before running toward him. Without hesitation, she threw her arms around his waist, squeezing him tightly. “I knew you loved me, my Buggy Bear!” she said, her voice muffled against his chest. “And guess what? I love you too.”

Buggy chuckled, resting his chin lightly on her head. “Well, then,” he said softly, brushing a hand over her hair, “shall we go home?”

“Oh, wait! I have an idea!” Catherine exclaimed, pulling back to look up at him with a mischievous glint in her eye. She lifted the hem of her dress and spun around in a playful twirl. “First of all, I’m wearing this gorgeous dress,” she said with a grin. “I want to make you jealous when all the guys stare at me. And secondly,” she added, leaning closer with a conspiratorial whisper, “I want to spend more time with you. We’ve only been living together for a week, and I want to know you better. And”, her grin widened, “Cabaji went to the bar with two girls. We have to see that disaster unfold. You guys are hopeless when it comes to talking to women.”

Buggy raised an eyebrow, feigning indignation. “What are you talking about? I know how to talk to girls. I charmed you, didn’t I?”

Catherine burst out laughing, swatting his arm. “Charmed me? Oh, please. There was no charm involved! You pissed me off and then tried to leave me in the desert!”

“I didn’t leave you!” Buggy shot back, his voice rising dramatically. “Fine. Let’s go to the bar.”

“One thing, my Buggy Bear.” Catherine tilted her head, her eyes sparkling with mischief.

“I’m listening, my Cathie-pie,” he replied, his voice dripping with exaggerated patience.

“Stop grabbing my ass!”

[fountainpenguin]

Riddle watches New Wish - Post #2

Episode begin! Title card gives us Hazel with wings, so I'm liking where this is going. Gives me "Mile In My Shoes" vibes, and this 100% sounds like a first wish a kid would make.

Cosmo and Wanda are on their 4th godkid in a row with damaged teeth (though in Crocker's defense, his changed later). I was going to say "bold move for giving Hazel the same teeth design as Chloe," but I'm pretty sure Chloe just has a chip, not an entire missing one.

omfg HARTMANVERSE HAS A BROWN-EYED CHARACTER!!!! We get them on occasion (I think some of the classmates in "Bunsen Is a Beast" had them, I think Willy Moore and maybe the tall girl?), but they are SO RARE and now we have a MAIN CHARACTER!

Usually, purple or pink is subbed in instead, even for humans (Exhibit Flappy Bob). Oh, this is exciting. This makes my heart happy.

!!! The title card !!! has Cosmo and Wanda with their OG designs! Even though they have new outfits now! That is super clever, and they're starting us off by giving us Hazel in FOP style too, for the card. That's fun.

Let's begin!

Oh, heckin' yes, we're gettin' a townhouse! Or... whatever this building is. I am already excited about writing 'fics about that roof.

Waxing crescent moon! I am already back on my moon obsession. But oh no, they put stars in it.

Oh, that is a bold move giving Hazel a toy named Rhonda when Wanda's about to enter the scene.

WAIT I KNOW HIM!!!

... Okay, it's not the same cat, but I was very close (and yes, I have this in my files; I have a Francis-centric work that's been in my drafts a few years, though I'm not sure I'll get to it at this point).

I am FASCINATED with the possibility that the photos depict characters in 2D while their bodies are 3D. Jimmy Neutron is gonna lose his FLIPPIN' MIND.

Who is Hazel's VA, do I know her...? /Looked her up- I've seen a few of the relevant media, but I wouldn't have nailed her down in this first sentence.

She's a sibling! Oh, finally... Only rarely do we get siblings in the Hartmanverse. I was so robbed by Mikey's clones in "Mikeyplication." When we saw the sneak peek of geeky Mikey, I thought there was a chance.

Plot twist, Antony pulls a Katty Katswell and shows up for a face-off.

I'm liking the direction this is going for Hazel having a lot of big life changes: Just moved to a new place AND just said bye to her big brother who's gone off to college.

Hazel talks to herself exactly the style I do, I love her.

SLKDFJSDKLFJS she does Chloe's classic squint, I love that for her.

Her first hypothetical wish (before fairies show up) is unlimited wishes. Oh, Jorgen's gonna love you.

Her dad calls her Hazelnut :)

crying, this poor girl wants to see her brother so bad that she thinks he's "visiting early" even though there's no possible way that's true.

Note to self, Hazel's room is last in the hall, to the right, with... wow, that's a lot of doors around her.

Oh thank GOODNESS we got lightswitches. Hey why are the doorknobs so low. Is that how they build them in this universe of chronically tiny children?

OH! Mom's outfit is reminiscent of Timmy's mom's! I like that. Wow, this family loves colorful shoes. Yeah, you goofballs must be new here. We don't do that in FOP.

T'was an apartment! Not a townhouse.

First Cosmo and Wanda sighting!! I paused instantly, but Wanda's definitely gonna point out that Cosmo has his crown still up. Hers has gone down for human disguise.

And OH YEAH, BABY! We get a back view of their hair? This is the show that keeps on giving.

Time for a Post #3!

[overly-verbose]

UPDATE: NO LONGER 'SHADOWBANNED' WOO YES

(Apparently the blog was wrongly flagged for spam, but Staff fixed it so woo yea)

My (new, everything until now doesn't seem to) stuff will actually appear in the carefully curated tags, and reblogs, and stuff just woo yeah I'm no longer invisible

(Also I can answer comments normally instead of in the tags woo yeah again!!)

Also I just realised I have no link from here to my fic's Main Series proper lol

Full title: "SIkuna's guide to not fucking up perfectly good children (look at them, they could get anxiety!)"

Ao3 whole series summary:

(alternative title: "SIkuna's guide to catching a cyclops cat by the throat in the KFC parking lot at 3am")

'Holy shit someone needs to hug those kids. Some adults too, to be honest', once thinks a fan of Jujutsu Kaisen, the definitely and absolutely only fictional franchise

Then, he abruptly finds himself at the beginning of the story as Sukuna, mister Basically The Devil, of all things

Completely blindsided by the weird cards given, he tries his best to prevent some things from affecting the characters-turned-people he already cared about even before they turned real

To better or worse results.

.

(It's an ongoing (there's still a LOT to go through lol) fix-it fic for the Canon Series so I feel like I'm contributing a little bit to the prevention of Lobotomy Kaisen getting even worse rn lmao)

I'm gonna leave the old Pinned Post for archival purposes/context of what's up with the tag-answers though

[Old pinned post under the cut]

I made up a way to answer comments here

(though it's annoyingly limited and inefficient and doesn't give notifications)

whilst I can't do it normally

(hey Tumblr staff I've been waiting on that email back for like three months now! :D)

- IN THE TAGS!

yeah it's kinda oof but modern (hellsite shadowban for no reason) problems require modern (hellsite shadowban for no reason) solutions!

*perishes*

[sloanerisette]

Fic For Odaiba Day 2024: You Need A Promotion, I Want A Shake Up, So Let's Get Married!

Hello everyone! Happy Odaiba Day! 25 years of Digimon! It's incredible to think about! I'm so happy I've gotten back into this show and this fandom because it's been so wonderful!

I know it's not Odaiba Day in America but it IS Odaiba Day in Japan so I'm going to post the FIRST of my two fics I'm osting for Odaiba Day!

Title: You Need A Promotion, I Want A Shake Up, So Let's Get Married! Summary: A newly 30 Mimi Tachikawa has it all: great friends, her dream career, and tons of fans, but she's missing one thing: a relationship she isn't allowed to have because of an overbearing manager.

Jou Kido is living a simple life: he goes to work at his father's hospital, he comes home, he goes to sleep and does it again. However, pressure from his father has him needing to live up to his lofty expectations to one day secure a promotion that will make all of the work he's done in his life worth it.

When the two of them get in touch after so many years and learn of each other's struggles, they decide on the obvious solution: pretend they're married. Big thanks to Camp Digimonth and zuz-senpai for all the support and excitement for this fic! I'm so happy to have this first chapter out and I hope you all enjoy! I'll post a blurb here under the read more, but you can view the fic on AO3 HERE!

Bright lights shined in her face, which a make up artist was currently patting foundation on. Mimi Tachikawa sat in a chair, curlers in her hair, phone held gingerly in her nicely manicured hands, and she tapped through it and looked through her contacts..

In three days it would be her thirtieth birthday, and she couldn’t be more excited. She was excited to reach a new milestone in her life— not that turning thirty was a particularly big one, anyways— and more than that, she was getting the finishing touches set up for her big birthday party. She rented out a fancy Italian restaurant at one of the nicest hotels in the area, one that had a beautiful view of the bay, and a bunch of her friends would be there to celebrate with her. Though the invites she sent out already were for fellow models who she worked with and became friends with since her late teens and early twenties, an old photo popping up on her phone reminded her of another group of friends she needed to invite. She tried to keep it small at first, but, well, she was Mimi! How could she keep an event like this small when she had so many friends? Especially friends.

And though she hadn’t had a chance to spend as much time with them as she wanted to for years, they were old friends and classmates who meant the world to her: Yagami Taichi, Ishida Yamato, Takenouchi Sora, Izumi Koushiro, Kido Jou, Takaishi Takeru, Yagami Hikari, Motomiya Daisuke, Inoue Miyako, Hida Iori, and Ichijouji Ken.

Twelve extra people was going to be a big ask considering she already had, what, twenty some other people going? But she couldn’t leave them out. It had been a long time since she sat down with most of them, but they were still all friends to some degree.

“Tachikawa-san? I need to apply your lipstick real quick,” the young woman who was doing her makeup told her. Mimi’s eyes flicked up to her and she smiled.

“Of course! What color?” she asked.

“It’s this,” the girl said, holding up a lipstick tube that was colored a beautiful, deep, rich burgundy.

“Oooh, that looks great! Go ahead!”

Mimi puckered her lips, and as the make-up artist started to apply the first coat, she glanced back down at her phone, adding each of them to a group chat. Once the makeup artist finished the first coat of lipstick, Mimi started rapidly firing off messages.

[Tachikawa Mimi]: Hey everyone! It’s Mimi!

[Tachikawa Mimi]: I’m having my 30th bday in a few days! And you’re all invited!

[Tachikawa Mimi]: Sorry for it being so late notice! I’ll send you all the time and location!

She sent the RSVP from her calendar, unable to stop from feeling giddy, practically bouncing in her seat. Her phone immediately buzzed like wild, and she couldn’t wait to check on it after the shoot.

The girl finished the second coat of lipstick, and Mimi looked at herself in the mirror as she then removed the curlers, letting her hair fall down in loose curls and waves.

“Is hair and makeup done?” a man’s voice called from the other end of the room.

“Yup!” the make up artist chirped back. Mimi popped up from the chair. She gave herself a once over, turning to one side, then the other, to appreciate the midnight blue evening gown she had on. Combined with the lipstick and her honey brown hair, she looked like a real stunner, if she said so herself.

“This looks great! You did an incredible job! Thank you so much,” she beamed, before heading over to the set.

[midnight--capricorn]

There was a proper title here but I didn't like it so there is no longer a title

this is not an AO3-worthy post but I decided to finish it and post it anyway. It's that type of fic where I can't really do much but it's there. Not sure exactly how I feel about it it has been sat in my wip being for like a week but still. It's here, it's sacred stones, honestly I don't mind if you give me your opinions tbh I am very self-critical

I would give details but I'm not sure how, actual plot under the cut:

"There you are, Forde."

Kyle marched up the hill, the gently waving grass rustling beneath his boots, the soft yet cold wind from the steel-grey sky stroking his face with its icy touch. Silence blanketed the duo- Forde, silent and still, his golden ponytail caught in the wind and gently fluttering, the ends of the red ribbon holding it dancing with it- the solitary piece of red without any of his armour.

"Forde?"

"Hm?"

Forde looked up from the thing he was staring down at and turned his head. His green eyes, like sunlight on a patch of grass, looked duller than usual.

"Oh, hey, Kyle."

"I was wondering where you went to."

Forde turned back to what he was looking at, a chuckle forced from his chest.

"You do that a lot, you know?"

Kyle inched closer to his friend, peering over to see what the object of Forde's attention was. A small block of stone, dark in colour. The inscription on it was hard for him to make out. "Oh."

"Is something the matter, Kyle?"

"I forgot it was that time of the year."

Kyle fell silent for a moment, running his thumb over the bright green armour covering the back of his hand.

"This is something you do every year, isn't it? You always disappeared for a while around this time of year."

Forde nodded, still not taking his eyes off the stone.

"It's a promise I've made to myself- to visit her at least this time of year. I forgot the exact date, but I remember it being around this time."

Kyle put a hand on Forde's shoulder, looking down at the tombstone himself.

"You'd normally take Franz with you, how come you've stopped doing that?"

Forde gazed up at Kyle, a melancholic smile painted on an already gloomy face.

"He has his own life now. Plus, would he still grieve someone he doesn't remember?"

"I'm sure he would, even if he doesn't remember."

"I also tend to bring some of my paintings with me when it comes to this time of year, to show Mother what I've been doing."

Kyle's hand moved from one shoulder to the other, then down to Forde's arm, pulling him slightly closer.

"She would have enjoyed seeing them in person."

Forde nodded, letting silence grow between them. It crashed down on Kyle, drowning his heart in the deluge. It choked the words inside his throat, washing away more in his mind. It flooded his body for what felt like an eternity, before Forde spoke again, draining it away. "Hey, Kyle?"

"Hm?"

A soft rain started to fall, its gentle patter upon the grass and trees, adding to the gentle, natural chorus.

"You asked me to teach you how to paint, didn't you?"

A forced chuckle. A wobbly smile.

"Perhaps we can both show her our work."

Kyle nodded. Words weren't coming easily to him now. Not with that distant look in Forde's eyes, like the raindrops on the grass.

"For now, though, can we stay here? Just a while longer?"

Kyle pulled Forde in closer, keeping his arm wrapped around his back. He let Forde's head rest on his shoulder.

"Of course."

[brilla-brilla-estrellita]

An ask game for writers to procrastinate working on you WIP(s)

Whoaaaa thank you for the tags @shrekgogurt, @bookish-bogwitch, @thewholelemon, @cutestkilla, @monbons, @drowninginships, and @blackberrysummerblog! I'm pretty sure that's everyone! I love being tagged in shit.

1. 🦈Tell us the name of your/ one of your WIP(s): So you just like... have names for them? Before you post them?

I will say that for once, a name did come to me, so one of them is tentatively titled Fettuccine and Foreplay, but I might change it because Foreplay is misleading. I'm sorry to say that it is not smutty, and the events are questionably even foreplay. But the alliteration. And Fettuccine and Flirting just doesn't have the same ring to it.

2. 🍄Describe your WIP/one of your WIP(s) in the format of “___ + ___ =___” God, why am I so bad at this?

Nevermore Academy + Penny = offensive assumptions, defensive students, and a magical breakthrough waiting to happen

3. 🌍What tags or warnings will one of your WIP(s) need if you intend to share it? uhhhhhh. I don't usually think about tags until I'm ready to post, so I am not prepared for this question... I can't really think of anything. Which makes me feel like my stories are hella boring.

Update after finishing and rediscovering an old wip: fluff! yay fluff.

4. 🧭An alternative title to one of your WIP(s)? Alternative titles??? So not only do you have titles, you also have extras laying about????

I guess I already talked about it in #1, but Fettuccine and Flirting. I do not like it.

5. ⚠️Which WIP you're most likely to finish or update next? Probably the Fettuccine one. It's a one-shot and a good portion done (almost ready for a beta, I think?). I like to write the whole story before I start posting, so the Wednesday x CO crossover is going to take a goooooood while. Idk how many chapters it is yet, I just know it's more than 3.

6. 💾What is your document of your WIP/ a WIP called? (not the stories actual title but what you’ve saved it as) I think my most interesting one is called Sundays With Gran. It's more of a drabble that I might work into a story at some point than it is an actual WIP though. But my actual WIPs have uninteresting names.

7. 🖍Post Any sentence(s) from your WIP.

It’s especially hard to believe in this reality when there’s a glow, a sparkle, a buzz around even the most mundane of sights when Simon is involved.

That's not even from a WIP I've already mentioned. I rediscovered this one while looking at document titles for this post!

8. ♻️A scrapped idea for your current WIP. I have one fic, the one from #7, where I originally wanted musings from each of the main 4, which each describing what's happening through focusing on a different sense or set of senses. Like Simon would be taste or touch, Penny would be sound, Baz would be sight, and Shep would be touch or smell. But that felt too restrictive. Senses are still a big part of it, of course, and there may still be strong affinities for one sense over another for each character, but they'll experience with the most appropriate sense for the moment.

9. 🤔What’s a story you’d love to write but haven’t even started yet? I really want to write more CO x Heartstopper (which we're calling Snowstopper because we're so clever) fics, but I'm making good progress on these other two and I'm afraid I'll lose the momentum if I start on the next Snowstopper idea. So I'll leave that for Kat to start in the meantime.

10. 🤡How many WIPS are you actively working on? At the beginning of this post, 2. As of #7, 3!

11. 🛠Is there a scene or anything in the WIP you are struggling with right now? So many! I think I need to rewrite much of what started the Wednesday x CO fic. The entire first two chapters don't feel quite in character for Penny.

And then most of this rediscovered fic, for now called Tiny Dots. (Hey look! A title!) Like I said before, it's character musings, and I'm not sure how to string them together in a way that feels cohesive.

12. ❤️Not a question, just a second Kudos to send.

I feel like I procrastinated on this procrastination game for so long that everyone else has already done it! I'm sorry if you've already been tagged 100 times, and especially if you've already done it and I missed it, buuuuut: @onepintobean @martsonmars @facewithoutheart umm... if you haven't been tagged, but want to be tagged, consider yourself tagged (or tell me and I'll update this post with your tag and no one has to know).

[crow-raven-crow]

Hey there crowvyn 👋

I'm just wondering if you saw my request (Dom Donna x sub reader ). This is no rush. I understand everything completely.Its just you know,it's been very long,so I just want to know.

-wish you a lovely day 🌹

𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐨, 𝐝𝐨𝐯𝐞 - tldr and message for you at the bottom of this post xx

im going to use this as my next little update post since i finished all of the requests in my last update ehhe

I currently have three requests in the works right now - one of which is yours ! I actually made the decision last night that I would be pushing yours up to be the next fic out

i'm doing this because i need to rekindle my passion for the lovely Larissa Weems. I still think about her, but after writing SO many fics about her over and over, it made me feel a bit mechanic and i hate feeling like that - i'm going to pick her requests back up after this Donna fic, so don't worry weems anons

these are the ones in my notes, but i'm focusing on the top three (which are on my masterlist)

★ In terms of requests, I have (in order from top to bottom):

𝐁𝐞 𝐀 𝐃𝐨𝐥𝐥.. - Donna Beneviento x Reader, dom!Donna, heavy teasing from reader, prob punishment sex, plot is established

𝐎𝐟 𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐞, 𝐒𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐭 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 - Larissa Weems x Reader, virgin reader, first times, soft, plot is established

𝐎𝐧𝐞 𝐒𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐓𝐨𝐮𝐜𝐡 - Larissa Weems x Reader, hand kink!! <3, reader loves Larissa's perfume, plot is established

𝐀𝐥��𝐚𝐲𝐬, 𝐅𝐨𝐫 𝐘𝐨𝐮.. - Brienne of Tarth x Reader !!!, fluff ehehe, small angst because im crazy, soft smut, Brienne comes back after being away for a while - this one.. ok im not far in Game of Thrones so accuracy is kinda meth but like im excited hehe - plot is established

𝐔𝐧𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐓𝐢𝐭𝐥𝐞 - Larissa Weems x Reader, Larissa finding out reader has nipple piercings, reader has an innocence about them so it comes as a surprise, plot undecided

𝐔𝐧𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐓𝐢𝐭𝐥𝐞 - Larissa Weems x Reader, soft, cute, fluff yayay, reader stops taking antidepressants for a bit but goes back on them, really bad serotonin syndrome, concerned Larissa - i did some research on this already, but if anyone has any tips/points they can send me about this so i can know more about it then it would be very much appreciated, especially if it's from the anon that requested it ! - plot undecided

What's above is in the request. I work in sections, and the titles of what I'm working on will be added to my masterlist and placed with/under their character section as I get to them. Again, titles are subject to change, but it's unlikely for this section.

★ In terms of series (in the works, not coming out for A WHILE):

i figured I'd update about these since they were in my last update. UHHHH;;; no clue when they're coming out LMAO. I'm working on them every now and then, but they'll likely be worked on when i have a longer break from school (which kills me high key). Oh.. there's also a new series idea I have written down.. it's actually really goof but I want to watch the show before I really establish anything

This is just what I can do with my time and focus (which is important)

★𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐢𝐭 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐦𝐲 𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐚𝐬:

That idea that I mentioned being Brienne, Larissa, or Lucifer in my last update ACTUALLY ended up being the Alcina Dimitrescu one I posted yesterday LMAOO. I loved that idea smmmmm like gods it was so fun to write. Still around the 6-ish personal ideas. But (again) I do prioritize my requests.

★ 𝐎𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐍𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐬:

i work in sections, my masterlist will be updated with the current title under/with the character that I'm working on

look at my requirements before submitting requests. i've since updated a few things and will continue to do so

my posting schedule is non-existent due to school and work

please remember that I'm in college taking a 5 class course load AND i work, so things can get backed up and i heavily apologize about that. However, this is a hobby for me and I do it on my free time. Sometimes I'll post a lot and other times I'll be taken off the face of the earth.

I'm entering final exam season.. This means I'm not sure if requests will pick up for me or slow down;; it really depends on the schedule and how I feel about the class in question. I'll post another update when the time comes

There are other requests in my inbox that were not listed above.. That doesn't mean I'm not going to do them, it just means they're not in the current section of focus. I'm getting there, I swear

if you wish to interact with me more, i’m very active on twitter

TLDR: Those are the requests I'm working on currently - first three are my main focus. Series are completely on pause until I can find the time/focus to really work on them. Check my masterlist every so often - it's updated with that I'm currently working on, the character it contains, and what kind of fic it is. I'm slow, but I'm getting there.. I promise

🤍For the lovely anon:

I'm sorry it's taken me so long;; School, work, and travel definately caught up to me, but I'm glad you understand. It will be out soon, and I'm actually really excited to write this one! I missed the RE8 brainrot. I hope it was okay that I updated so heavily haha

Any questions like these/any posts containing updated will all be under the same tag (second tag down below)

x,

~ 𝐜𝐫𝐨𝐰

˗ˏˋ ★ ˎˊ˗

[that-one-gay-writer1227]

30-Day Writing Challenge: Day five, Protecting and Comforting You After a Bad Day

A/N; Hey everyone, I just wanted to let y'all know that today's submission is very self-indulgent. I've had a harsh few days and so I made this fic into a bit of a pick-me-up for myself. Also, I apologize for the late post, I guess I should work on my time management a little bit more lol, but to make up for it I wrote this one to be extra long. Remember, take time for yourself, stay happy, drink water, and I love you, you lovelies <3

Warning: cussing, a smidge of angst, your co-worker is a jerk who should be arrested (physical fight), people are jerks, mentions negative self-image/thoughts.

~~~~~~~~~

Today you were late again. It wasn't your fault, you got preoccupied with some hilichurls on your way. Though you might not be the strongest or flashiest fighter, you still knew enough that it kept you safe on days like this.

Once you finally arrived at work, your co-worker was livid. Yelling at you for the first half hour of your shift, as if he didn't have his own work to be doing. It was one thing for there to be a snide comment every now and then, you'd learn to expect it. But a whole 30 minutes of hearing about the ways "you failed the company" is where you draw the line.

You had walked into the building, and went to grab your uniform to start commission work when suddenly you find that co-worker-kilo was standing at your desk, a sour look very present on his face. You took a breath and walked over not knowing what you'd gotten into.

"Where. the hell. have you BEEN y/n?! Do you really think we have time to wait almost 40 minutes for you to show up late? Seriously. I'm disappointed. Makes me wonder why the company keeps you around sometimes." His face was red and his breath heavy. He pinched the bridge of his nose and scoffed disgustedly. "I hope you know you're only around cuz' you got lucky. You didn't earn this nor are you worth the title so don't act like Lei won't replace you."

Wow. You hadn't even sat at your desk and this asshole decided to start talking down to you. Normally this kind of talk didn't bother you as much as today, but something about how he worded it really hit you where it hurts. You felt a lump in your throat and opened your mouth to talk but no words came out.

"Exactly. Good job. Now you're starting to see. But hey since you wanna be late all the time, why don't you make up for it by picking up some of the loose work around here." Kilo said walking to his desk not too far from yours, picking up a few client files and dropping them onto your already mountain high pile. "These are due by the evening by the way."

As he walked away to start his own work, you took a seat and began sorting through the papers that you had taken home the night before to work on.

It took a little less than an hour, but you were finally finished with the stationary paper-pushing part of your job. You picked up all of the files that weighed a ton, and put them in your side bag, then headed out the door.

Your first client was a younger woman who lived just outside of town. You made your way down the path to her family abode. You looked at the exterior, feeling a slight tinge of jealousy. It was much larger than your apartment and from what you knew is that your client was around your age. It made you wonder what you were doing with your life, feeling a little down about what was said earlier.

You shook the thoughts from your mind, remembering you had a job to finish. You walked up to the front door fully and knocked on the door. An older man who looked to be in his late 50s opened the door and stared at you absently.

"Hi sir, I'm y/n from Lei's tailors. I am here to see ms.-" But he cut you off by holding a hand up to you. He sighed and stepped to the side, allowing you to walk in. He guided you through the entrance, to a room on the left.

"Wait here a moment" Is all he said to you before he left. You took this opportunity to look around. The furniture was white with this white lace embroidery pattern, and most of the decor consisted of glass or porcelain. The walls had this wallpaper of white with gold trim and designs. To be honest, it made you a little nervous standing in there since everything was so clean. There was a small, older-looking desk that you walked over to. The wood was smooth and looked worn, but not in any way that would be considered tacky. More or less like an antique desk would.

"Mx. Y/n, This is lady Jing. Lady Jing, This is the artist commissioned for your dress." The man who led you to this room earlier broke you from your thoughts. You turned around and looked at Ms. Jing.

Ms. Jing looked to be slightly older than you. Not by much, maybe a year or two. She had long cascading black hair and bright green eyes. She had a slim frame, and was much taller than you are.

You felt your face heat up when you realize that you were staring a little too long. You began apologizing quite but profusely, but Ms. Jing only chuckled. "It's quite alright. Shall we sit down and discuss designs?"

You nodded in response, and let her lead the way. You both walked into another room next to the one with the white and gold theme, and out another door to a patio. The patio was still white and gold, but the columns and beams were covered in well-kept green vines.

The two of you sat at a round glass table. You pulled out your sketchbook and flipped to a plain page.

"Ms. Jing, were there any specifics you'd like to request for your design?" You asked, breaking the silence. Ms. Jing nodded curtly.

"Yes. You see, This is for a presentation event my father has planned in a few weeks.. He sells weaponry at a few shops you might've seen in liyue harbor. He recently made a new line of bows he'd like to present. My fiance is coming with us on a date and he's decided on wearing purple formal wear. I need something tight fitting and a medium purple like this so our clothing matches." She reached into her pocket and pulled out a small purple cloth. The purple wasn't very vibrant, but a medium shade of imperial jasper.

You gingerly took the fabric and began sketching. It took you about 30 minutes, but after you both were talking about shapes and styles, you'd draw a tight-fitted, purple cheongsam dress that had light purple flowers towards the hems. The dress had a neat slit on the left side that went from the hem to around 3/4th of the way up. You turned to draw around and Ms. Jing's whole face lit up. "Oh my archons! This is beautiful. You really are quite talented!"

You smiled feeling very proud of your work. You said a quiet thank you as you gathered your materials into your bag. You pulled out her file and settled payment methods rather quickly.

This led to you exchanging goodbyes and on your way to the next client. His house wasn't too far from Ms. Jing's so you'd begin walking.

This client wasn't nearly as kind though. He was incredibly rude the entire time. Telling you about how "shitty your work was" or how he hated every design you had made. Eventually, after an hour of his insisting on rambling, you made something he was content with and practically shoved you out the door after payment was settled. This is similar to how all the rest of your clients were. rude and insensitive to your work.

It was later that evening when you finally made it back to the shop. You had made it through over 12 clients, each taking anywhere between 20-40 minutes except for one, which isn't too terrible.

By the time you made it back, the sun was setting and you still had to submit the designs and files after logging the information in the archives. Well, the only problem with this was the fact that kilo was the only one in the office since everyone else's shift ended.

You were sure that he stayed behind to belittle you more, simply because that's what this deadbeat did normally. You set your bag down next to your station and opened your bag, pulling out the files, you walked over to the archive room ignoring kilo standing to follow you.

The room was dimly lit by a single lantern, coasting across all the bookshelves and file cases. You walked to the appropriate stand and began working. 

Kilo was walking behind you. Just as you went to turn, he slammed you into the table locking either side of your body with his arms. "Nuh uh, your ass isn't going anywhere honey." He leaned in staring at you with absolute disgust. "I was thinking about earlier, and I wanted to apologize. I should've been a little more clear with what I meant." 

You leaned away and try to push him off of you. "Get the hell off me kilo. " 

"No, you're gonna stop!" He slammed a hand over your arm, pinning it to your side and growling at you. "Listen here you little bitch, you act so entitled and I think you need to be taught a lesson-"

You interrupted him but kicking him in the shins and running out the door, forsaking your paperwork. At this point you only had one thought in mind: run. 

Racing past the desks, and through the doors, you moved as fast as your exhausted legs would take you. Making it down the pathway, you felt beyond exasperated. 

Now, during the most inconvenient moment of all time, you remember that you haven't taken care of yourself at all today. You hadn't eaten and you only drank a cup of (f/d) to start your day. Maybe that had a part in why you now felt so tired after only running a few minutes. 

You couldn't keep moving, your legs were burning and you were sure that you'd made enough distance. You found an alleyway on the other side of town. Slipping in you slid down the wall and sat there catching your breath.

You felt hot tears falling down your face. You honestly just wanted your boyfriend at this point. Xiao always seemed to brighten even the darkest of days. Remembering him and his comfort, you remember what he always said 'whenever you need me, call my name.' You knew you shouldn't bother him, especially for something as small as this, But you couldn't stop his name from falling from your lips as your cries grew harder and more sorrowful. 

Within a flash, he appeared in front of you. Xiao looked ready to fight to the death of whatever foe stood in his way of protecting you. It took him a moment to realize that you were not in physical danger right then and there, but he also took notice of your crying and shaking figure. 

His eyes widened for a moment before he crouched in front of you. Now bear with him please, he's never been exposed to any comfort like what you need, so he kind of has to guess at this moment. He took both hands to cup your cheeks and look into your eyes. 

"What happened?" Was all he uttered, his tone beyond gentle and caressing. He gently glided his thumb under your cheeks to catch your still-flowing tears. You went to speak but all that came out was strangled words and sobs, leading to you giving up on talking and just hugging him. 

His body stiffened for a moment before he wrapped his arms around you, letting you cry out everything you needed to. 

Without realizing it, he teleported both you and himself back to wangshu inn. 

It took you some time, but you were finally able to calm down enough to talk. You told him about everything that had happened today, explaining how you felt and even the fact that you forgot to eat that entire day. Xiao was a good listener. He soaked in every word attentively. (Plus he was internally planning on teaching kilo a few manners) by the end of it, he even gave you a rare smile. 

"You are stronger than you accredit yourself for. You shouldn't listen to the darkness around you. It will crawl into your soul and consume you. You need rest. I'll get you food when you awake." His comfort, although it isn't helpful in terms of advice, was still warm enough to hit your heart and make you feel happier than you did earlier.

You went to hug him again, and this one he returned almost immediately. Placing a hand around your waist and a hand in your hair. 

"Thank you Xiao, I would be lost without you."

[aprillikesthings]

oh god oh god

HEY GUESS WHAT I'm down to the last two episodes of She-Ra in my rewatch

On a related note, should you desire to read them all starting from s1ep1 for some godforsaken reason, here's the link. Please be amused at my claims that I would not do this for every episode and my repeated attempts to cut back on how much I copy/paste dialogue and/or explain the entire plot instead of just making jokes and commentary

If, somehow, you are New Here, I've been rewatching all of the 2018 She-Ra, ostensibly for fic-writing reasons as I had forgotten huge quantities of the plot. I have since become deeply obsessed, as one does.

I make a lot of adult jokes, random asides, references to other things, commentary, and a lot of cursing and crying. I love Catradora and I love Catra especially and have a tendency to add a screenshot every time they so much as look at each other. It seems silly to warn for spoilers at this point, but yeah, this is a RE-watch. It's just that I forgot a lot of it because I watched it the first time as it was coming out (pun intended). The shit I did remember is so fucking random tho lol

The last time I tried to do a two-parter in one post the number of times I had to reblog it because tumblr only allows 30 images per post got real stupid, so while I do still assume I will have to reblog multiple times per episode, I'm doing each episode separately.

HERE WE GOOOOO

s5 ep12 Heart (pt 1)

jfc i'm full of adrenaline lol

Also I have a beer, it's a citrus IPA because I live in Portland and it's required by law

(not really I just genuinely like them. that and IPA's that taste like gnawing on a douglas fir. also fruit sours.)

LOL I was so anxious I looked away from this post and consumed most of my beer this is gonna be hilarious

ALSO my goal is to finish these two episodes before the Easter Vigil service tomorrow night at 8pm

Theoretically I should be able to watch two episodes of TV in a day and a half, right? AHAHA

Bow should play Wonderwall

she always looks so soft with her hair down

but also having that thing just floating in front of your chest like that has gotta feel weird

ON A RELATED NOTE I know I made the joke in the last episode about how many people have the failsafe as a tattoo but the PROBLEM is that now I literally LIVE with a tattoo artist whose work I like--I already have two tattoos they've done, here and here, and the temptation is extremely high?? but I don't have any other obvious fandom-related tattoos (unless you count the title of a Björk song) so it feels weird to start with this one???? Like I don't have any LoTR or BBC Sherlock or SU or K/DA tattoos (to list off a bunch of fandoms I was devastatingly obsessed with at the time) so getting one for THIS fandom feels kinda weird. But like, also, if I got it kinda small on one wrist it would look kinda cool and be a nice loud DID U KNOW I'M GAY kinda thing. Gyahhh.

She's struggling to do She-Ra, and I'm sitting here YELLING because IT'S BECAUSE CATRA LEFT and UGH I want to murder Shadow Weaver

(eyyyy I won't have to, ha ha oh god)

Oh she manages to transform anyway. Without making any noise or glowing lights, just pop, She-Ra

awwww but also lol

related aside but like, every culture that figured out bows and arrows invented at least one kind of string instrument. Literally archers just fidgeting with their bows and going "oh this makes a nice sound, what if I put more strings on this thing." So many different places and cultures invented things like a guitar or like a harp or like a violin. But also I want to know who the FUCK figured out the hurdy-gurdy??? oh my god I just looked up the hurdy-gurdy and I'm cracking up because one of the earliest depictions of it is from the 1100's, in the Santiago de Compostela cathedral. A place I have been. Because I did the Camino last year.

oh right plot

I would like to take a moment and be grateful for the people who put together the transcripts on the fandom wiki for saving me typing up long bits of lore-heavy dialogue

She-Ra: "Prime is getting closer every day to figuring out how to access the Heart of Etheria. If he succeeds, he can use it to destroy worlds, galaxies, maybe even the entire universe. The Failsafe is our only chance at stopping him."

"His hold over them grows stronger every day they're chipped. If we don't free them now, we might lose them forever. Prime holds every advantage in this fight. He'll be ready for us. But we have a plan. Entrapta?" Entrapta: "I finally succeeded in cracking Prime's signal pattern. If I get access to his Spire network, I can use it to broadcast a jamming frequency that will disable all of the chips on Etheria, freeing everyone at once!" She-Ra: I need you all to get Entrapta to the Spire and keep Prime's forces distracted while she jams the signal."

"We're going to make sure that Prime can never hurt anyone ever again. We're ending this today. For good."

oh lord so Shadow Weaver is still there, sulking and looking away, and she looks over at her and starts almost losing She-Ra and being Adora again

have I mentioned how much I hate Shadow Weaver >:(

Adora goes outside...and looks around. I know who she's looking for. *sobs into a pillow*

NO. she's LOOKING for her GIRLFRIEND

I made that joke and then Glimmer literally says "Any sign of Catra?" I have to remember that at this point in the story literally everyone knows how in love they both are. Except them. Of course.

Adora: "She's not coming back." ;_;

Adora: I mean you don't have to come with me this could be dangerous Bow: the fuck are you talking about of course we're going

And she turns into She-Ra again, roll intro

Okay so they go to the Crystal Castle thing where Light Hope was

it doesn't look so good

but also that's creepy

anyway they tell the hologram (not Light Hope, the other one) that they're looking for the Heart of Etheria and that they're Friends of Mara. She-Ra gets scanned and then a door opens into a passageway. Bow and Glimmer take her hands and they walk into the hall but:

she's still looking for someone

I have to deal with another episode and change of her looking for Catra ghghggh this hurts meeeee

OH SO OF COURSE they literally switch to showing us Catra

bahaha okay so she sits up and looks behind her kind of sadly, and Melog just skids to a stop so hard they throw Catra off

And Melog looks at Catra like she's fucking nuts. Catra's like, wtf is wrong with you??? and Melog looks back like BITCH WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU??? Catra what did you think was going to happen when you got a therapy animal that can literally read your moods. Melog knows you're being a dumbass and has NO reason to pretend to believe your surface "I don't give a shit" act!!

Melog does airplane ears at that. And then just pounces Catra.

Time for pressure! Just like a real therapy animal. Big weighted blanket!

oh shit I forgot about this bit

Catra just immediately starts crying.

Catra: "You saw what happened! Adora chose Shadow Weaver, okay? Not me!"

*sobs into hands* you useless fucking dumbass that is your abysmally low self-esteem talking literally every living semi-sentient thing in the galaxy knows Adora's in love with you EXCEPT YOU

I can get frustrated with AU fics where these two both pull this "but what if she doesn't like me back" thing for ages while everyone around them is face-palming in frustration, but like. You have to admit. It's accurate to canon.

(It's also accurate to lesbians in general, lbh. Either fucking on the first date or doing the "but what if she's not into me" thing for months-to-years. Sometimes both, including in some of the fics I've written, heyooooo.)

Melog purrs and licks her face. A clone approaches and they both go invisible and then follow it.

MEANWHILE

the rest of the rebellion is attacking Horde Prime's ship thing

Wrong Hordak helps Entrapta get into the spire. The whole point of this fight (which I didn't bother screenshotting lol) is to give Entrapta time to disconnect everyone's chips from Horde Prime.

Lol once inside Entrapta does another one of those "holy shit this stuff looks so cool...OMG FOCUS" things

Back at the Crystal Castle Glimmers like "omg are you scared" and She-Ra says "No, I just hope this works." Liar.

Bow: "It'll be okay. And when we get back, it'll be a whole new world."

this poor girl. she's so heartbroken.

(meanwhile the plot of my fic-in-progress is literally them breaking up. (not forever.) but it's hilarious of me to get SO UPSET over this scene when I'm going to force them to repeat it. like it's a mutual decision in my fic but it doesn't make it hurt any less.)

PFFT I unpaused it, and IMMEDIATELY:

I just said OH SHIT out loud lol

oh god I saw someone talking about this in a youtube video right around when I started my rewatch

It's a hologram, she's not actually there. And Catra goes through multiple other ages, including her kid self, being chipped on Horde Prime's ship, when they were Horde cadets, etc; before going back to looking like she does now.

Adora's sharp little gasp of shock here

Adora goes to touch Catra's hand and the hologram disappears

(good lord she's beautiful here)

And I think I agree with the youtube video: Adora knew she was upset about Catra running off, but this is the moment she specifically realizes she's in love, and it breaks her heart into tiny pieces.

(Hah, I actually say a very similar thing in part of my fic that they mention in the video--that previous to this, she refused to let herself want this or even think about it. "I didn't even realize this was something I could want.")

BUT ALSO so like is this a remnant of Light Hope's programming that tortured them with childhood flashbacks in season one (in order to drive them apart) or what

LOL NO

I know I made this joke before but I'm suing Nate for emotional damages

She-Ra: "We need to be careful. It looks like this place can still project memories."

oof

A still-invisible Catra follows the clone to where Horde Prime's ship is and is visibly terrified and shaking. A clone who might be Hordak turns around with that white in his eyes that means Prime is using him to see, and Catra just tries to be quiet and not move but she's obviously triggered, and I mean that in the literal PTSD sense.

Horde Prime (via Hordak?): "My brothers. The time has come at last. No longer shall She-Ra stand in my way."

oh okay so Horde Prime's actual ship is still in space (just orbiting Etheria I assume) and the planet-side thing is him speaking through one of the clones via the hive mind.

"Begin the acquisition process!"

are they just gonna straight-up drill into it?

apparently yes

the whole area lights up with that sickening green light, including all the lines that characters kept noticing on the ground that looked like some combo of circuit boards and First Ones' writing.

meanwhile, Adora keeps slipping out of being She-Ra for split seconds and is clearly stressing The Fuck Out and possibly walking in the wrong direction in her distress, only to walk into another memory/hologram.

And I've predictably hit the image limit, but 13:30 to go which is better than last night pfft okay gonna reblog

[intothegreat-wide-open]

Hey, saw the writers’ asks meme and thought id send a few~ Absolutely no pressure to answer any of these ofc! - 4; 8; 14; 16; 22; 23; 29; 30<3

hey hi thank you for the ask and sorry for the late reply!!

4. a story idea you haven't written it

vermont is for lovers. the scandal au. president morgan and his fixer/mistress mr. ackles. i have been rotating this in my mind for forever but it seems like a lot of work and most of y'all haven't even seen scandal so i guess this one will have to wait.

8. if you had to write a sequel for a fic, you'd write one for...

lmao all i am writing is sequels at the moment, tbh. currently working on part two for on my own terms, part three of the wild side, part three of can't buy me love, part two of wisteria lane and part idek for french verse

14. where do you get your inspiration?

hell if i know. some ideas just appear to me fully formed, others develop over time. sometimes it's triggered by something i've read or by a song or by a completely irrelevant mini-scene on a tv show... like I am not actively doing something to be inspired it just happens to me lol

16. favorite place to write

i don't really have one? i do a lot of writing on my phone actually bc that's the one thing that's always around if i get the sudden urge to write.

22. do you ever worry about public reaction to what you're writing? how do you get past that?

OOF. yeah, all the time. i know i mostly create niche things that even within that niche are pretty niche so i have struggled a lot with lack of feedback and/or people being unnecessarily mean about it not matching their preferred vibes and tbh I still don't know how to get past that. I have gotten better at reminding myself that i'm writing the stories *I* wanna tell and that it's not for them but for *me* but yeah I'd say a big part of my writer's block and time spent not creating is due to me not having found the right crowd yet.

23. pick three keywords that describe your writing

feelsy. soft. but sometimes also creepy-dark.

29. how easy is it for you to come up with titles.

very easy or very hard, there is no in-between. like, the scandal au already has a title although I haven't written a word, other wips, I'm 6k into and I don't have a clue or I'm ready to post and being taunted by the blinking cursor in the AO3 title field.

30. share a fic you are especially proud of.

so here's the thing. the fic I am actually proudest of is still a wip and it's the only one I haven't shared with anybody yet past the summary.

so I'm just gonna go with published stuff

*insert obligatory my name engraved on your heart here* (which is probs the answer everyone expects)

i really like how there are worse things i could do turned though, it took me a long time to finish that one and i really think it turned out great.

[forabeatofadrum]

an ask game for writers to procrastinate working on your WIP(s)

Thanks for tagging me @wellbelesbian! Better late than never, eh?

1. 🦈Tell us the name of your/ one of your WIP(s):

Just Some Guy and Ljubili se. Those are my "active" WIPs now, because if I had to list all of them... oh boy. Although I'm working on Just Some Guy more.

2. 🍄Describe your WIP/one of your WIP(s) in the format of “___ + ___ =___”

Outsider POV + Chosen One shit = disinterest

Queer journey + long distance = chaos (I think???)

3. 🌍What tags or warnings will one of your WIP(s) need if you intend to share it?

For these two, none. I know Matt is MCD, but it stands for Matt Christopher Davis.

4. 🧭An alternative title to one of your WIP(s)?

I don't really have alternative titles, but they do have nicknames. I call Just Some Guy "MCD" because it's just funny to me and Ljubili se "Klaine in Ljubljana 2" which is ridiculous cause they're no longer in Ljubljana.

5. ⚠️Which WIP your most likely to finish or update next?

Just Some Guy. I only need to finish one more chapter and I've been updating it weekly.

6. 💾What is your document of your WIP/ a WIP called? (not the stories actual title but what you’ve saved it as)

Ljubili se is in "drabbles and oneshots" and Just Some Guy in "Non-glee drabbles and oneshots" because I am chaotic and put all my writing in those two docs, unless something becomes too big, then it gets its own doc.

7. 🖍Post Any sentence(s) from your WIP.

I’ve heard stories of physical fights between them, but I kind of don’t care. Just let me play chess in peace. If they want to knock each other’s brains out, be my guest. One time I walked to class and Simon almost shoved Baz against the wall in anger, and I just passed them. I think more students are kind of used to their escalations. So, no, I don’t care. Arnold says it’s rude of me to think that way, but it’s not out of malice. It’s out of disinterest. “Really, I don’t get politics,” I sigh.

8. ♻️A scrapped idea for your current WIP.

I scrapped two scenes in Just Some Guy. The whole premise of the fic is that Matt honestly doesn't care that much about what the fuck is going in with Simon Snow and entourage. Originally, the kidnapping of the Mage in the 6th year had an entire scene where he, Leslie and John discuss it. And in the 8th year, there was an entire scene where Matt and his dad learn about the Mage's death, because once again, John and Leslie show up to discuss it. But in the end, I realised that Matt just... doesn't care. And those two scenes therefore felt very forced and it dragged the chapters down. The snippets aren't bad. They're just woefully unnecessary. I was like "I need Matt to acknowledge this" and I realised I didn't. I put both of them under the cut at the end of this post.

Hey, it ain't spoilers, cause everyone who's read Carry On knows what happens to good ole Davy.

9. 🤔What’s a story you’d love to write but haven’t even started yet?

Unfortunately for me, my mind's already started planning for this year's Klaine Advent/December Fanworks Challenge. Why is this unfortunate? Well, I still have to finish the 2023 one, Ljubili se.

But this idea is pretty neat. It's inspired by J.M. Frey's Accidental Turn series. That's all I'm sayin.

10. 🤡How many WIPS are you actively working on?

Actively, 2. Maybe 3, since bamboo ceiling is rotating in my brain. Don't ask me about the others in my WIP Hospital.

11. 🛠Is there a scene or anything in the WIP you are struggling with right now?

I AM FUCKING STUCK ON LJUBILI SE BECAUSE JUST LIKE LJUBIM TE I JUST FIND KURT'S POV HARDER/LESS INTERESTING TO WRITE.

12. ❤️Not a question, just a second Kudos to send.

Kudos back!

I think this post has been passed around in the Snowbaz fandom, so I am passing it to the Gleeks: @thnxforknowingme @caramelcoffeeaddict @coffeegleek @quizasvivamos @bitbybitwrites @shame-is-a-wasted-emotion @rockitmans @special-bc-ur-part-of-it and whoever else!

Year 6: Mage's kidnapping

When I come home from Christmas break, something is definitely up.

“Did I miss anything?” I whisper to Leslie. We’re walking towards the Dining Hall to meet up with the others.

Leslie looks around.

“I heard this from John,” she leans in, “that the Mage got kidnapped over Christmas.”

“What?!” I exclaim.

“Shut it,” Leslie hisses. Some people are indeed staring at us. “The Coven is keeping it quiet at the Mage’s request. He cannot afford to look weak in front of the Old Families and the Dark Creatures.”

“Then how does John know?” I ask, but I think I already know the answer. John just knows stuff. And so far he’s always right. Maybe he’s a Seer, or something. Not that those are real, but damn, John is a strong contender.

And yes, Leslie tells me that John just knows.

Leslie and I enter the Dining Hall and John waves. Everyone’s already here. I look to Leslie to say something about it, but she’s already run to Sam to catch up. I shrug. Leslie can be mysterious as well.

I sit next to John and I inquire about the Mage’s disappearance.

“Yeah, Simon Snow saved him and all that jazz,” John says quietly.

“Shouldn’t the Mage be the one protecting him, not the other way around?”

“You’d think, huh?” John sighs.

I look around. I assume others know as well, but no one discusses it openly. Even the Old Family kids don’t taunt Simon Snow about his mentor allegedly being kidnapped.

“Why did you tell Leslie?” I ask.

“Because I knew she’d tell you.”

“Why is it important that I know?” I ask, “You know I don’t care about Chosen One stuff.”

I care more about the pudding that’s in front of me. Fuck yeah, pudding. Both my mum and my dad are decent cooks, but they have nothing on cook Pritchard.

John shrugs.

“I needed you to react to it for story reasons,” he says.

“… Okay,” I say and I scoop some pudding on my plate, “Did it work?”

John nods with a smile.

“Yes, it did.”

--

Year 8: Mage's death

“Okay, so, the Humdrum attacked the Pitch Manor, where Simon Snow so happened to be. The day after, it attacks Watford. Simon and the Mage are there. Simon defeats the Humdrum and lost his magic. He kills the Mage. Is that… all?”

“In a nutshell,” Leslie says.

“Why would Simon Snow kill the Mage?” my dad wonders out loud. That is indeed the most surprising part, not even the fact that the Mage killed Ebb, the goatherd.

“The investigation is still in its beginning phase,” John says, “But it sounds like the Mage maybe wasn’t a good man after all.”

“Huh,” my dad says. That’s all. But it summarises it perfectly. Look, my dad and I are just some guys. We don’t have big opinions on the status quo, so we never really questioned how things are.

“So, what now?” I ask.

“There will be an inquiry into the Mage’s death,” Leslie explains, “Mitali Bunce is interim headmistress. Rumour has it that Simon Snow’s magic hasn’t returned, so who knows if he’ll come back to school.”

Damn.

This dude just saved the world, and he has to think about school?

I mean, I do too, but I am no Chosen One.

Bruh, it must suck to be Simon Snow

[queenofbaws]

these weeks just...just keep comin, huh??? like they don't stop or something ;P

another quick update from queenie hq: things are going to c o n t i n u e to be sporadic and strange on my end for the next couple weeks. i'm going to be hosting family, again, until roughly the end of the month, so alas, i'm not anticipating a ton of writing time. or relaxing time. or time where i'm not gritting my jaw and screaming internally. SUCH IS LIFE!

however, i'm totally psyched to report i fiiinally got to cross one long-running wip off my list (the tale(s) of the champion), and oooh the feeling of seeing a complete checkmark for that baby over on ao3 is fueling the fire for me to wrap some others up too ;P my plan for the time being is still to try and get out a chapter or two of like wringing blood in the near future, but i'm also going to be working on finally wrapping of mummy men & bathtub soup so i can open the door for other CREEPs projects. we shall see.

as always, i've thrown some snippets under the cut - strictly supermassive projects this time, hehe - and i hope you're all doing well <3

of mummy men & bathtub soup

“Uh huh. Look. I’m sure you guys have something hilarious planned for me tonight. Another A+ jumpscare courtesy of Washington Pictures, Inc. And I’m also sure that the more of this crap you get me to gobble up, the antsier all your cloak and daggers bullshit makes me, the funnier it’ll be when I fall into a swoon or whatever, but it’s not happening. Am I the brightest bulb in the lamp? No! I’m not! Am I the sort of moron who gets bit by a dog and tries to pet it a second time? Also no!”

Sam had barely started shaking her head when Fliss joined them, an unspoken question in her eyes. She latched onto her instead. “People keep talking about last night. I've heard someone mention weird stuff happening on at least three separate occasions already, so if anyone could give me just a little context, that would be so great.”

“Weird is…one way to put it,” Fliss said. “It’s not the word I would’ve picked. Freakish, maybe. Terrifying, definitely. It must’ve taken you guys forever to set that up! It was—”

“Oh no,” she breathed, dropping her head into her hands. Conrad almost expected her to sink into a nearby chair or go full-on crisscross-applesauce on the floor, so intense was her reaction. She didn’t: If anything, she set her shoulders and squared herself off, assuming the air of a battle-hardened soldier. “Okay. Okay. Okay. Listen to me. I know you think this is about you because you think everything’s about you, but I am telling you, it's not."

upcoming CREEPs project with a title that 100% spoils ALL the surprise of it and thus will not yet be included asdlkfjalskjfklsjdf

“Any word from our housetergeist?”

“Uh, not unless they suddenly share yours and Josh’s love of absolutely inscrutable inside jokes,” Ashley called back, equal measures relieved and disappointed to see the fridge decorated with the same message the guys had put up before their trip: DO THE BARTMAN. Rolling her eyes, she pulled the door open and rummaged around, making a happy little sound when she spotted what she’d wanted. “Hey,” she called again, “are you gonna be upset with me if I drink the last cream soda?”

“Josh might be!”

“I wasn’t asking about Josh, you dip! I was asking about you!”

“Oh. Then, yeah, heartbroken. I-I-I don’t know how I’ll survive! I might have to reassess this whole relationship thing. Honestly, I can’t believe you’d do something as heinous as drink the last cream soda! I thought I meant something to you!”

She grabbed the can and shut the door, groaning, “Ha ha,” before stopping cold.

The fridge magnets had moved.

a fic that started as a joke post but now has almost 40k words written for it

“Hey,” he said, giving the grate a hard shake. They all winced, pulling even farther away until they pretty much fell on top of each other. “Chill. They’re fuckin’ dead. Shit’s fine. Don’t be weird about it.”

Good deed done, he turned back around to rejoin the guys, and—fuck.

Right away, Bobby knew he didn’t like the way Chris was sizing them up. He didn’t know why he didn’t like it, he just knew it spelled trouble, one way or another.

Jack seemed to agree with him. “No,” he said long before Chris even opened his mouth. “Whatever it is you’re brewing in that snowglobe you call a skull, quit while you’re ahead. Or while you still have a head.”

“Your plan didn’t work.” For someone who usually stayed at base during their hunts on account of ‘not wanting to die the world’s stupidest death,’ Chris sure was sticking his finger awfully close to Jack’s face. That was biting range. And Jack could move quick when he wanted to. “Your plan worked even less,” he continued, moving that finger to Travis’s face instead, and Jesus Christ, that was worse!

Travis didn’t answer him. Not at first. He sucked his teeth, though. Stared at Chris’s finger. Probably thought about breaking it off if he didn’t get it out of his face. “If you don’t get that outta my face, I will break it off, so help me God.”

Yeah. Checked out.

[lordnochybaty]

4 and 12 for the fic asks, i'm so sorry i think i forgot to ask you in return 💛

Hi! Thanks for the ask, and no worries, you did send it before! I just had some tech issues while trying to reply and then of course forgot 🤦‍♂️ So here are all the answers:

4. How many WIPs do you have right now?

Tricky question, but fic wise, considering only WIPs that I still consider WIPs and not abandoned projects - I'd say 5. This year I planned to work on various projects for nano and just add some words to any WIP I feel like at the moment and I picked five active fics. (In the end I'm focusing on only one of them after all, but hey, better than nothing.)

7. How many ideas for fics do you have right now?

Aside from the ones I've started, none really. I had an idea for an OFMD fic but procrastinated until season 2 came out and ruined the whole premise. 🤣

8. What project(s) are you currently working on?

As mentioned above, I ended up working on one of my oldest WIPs (please don't ask how old, recently I did that math and I'm still terrified). It's a Star Trek AOS fic of a working title "Yes We Khan". It's over 100k words and I've now decided to change the last chapters because one plot point I believed was developed too fast. (90 pages. It was 90 pages, dammit.)

12. Do you have a playlist for your current WIP(s)? Share it!

I do, though if I were to post it I'd probably edit it heavily. At the moment it involves a lot of songs that get me into right headspace to write this story, but don't always fit exactly.

[LINK]

29. Share a bit from a fic you’ll never post OR from a scene that was cut from an already posted fic. (If you don’t have either, just share a random fic idea you have that you don’t plan on getting to.)

Fenris only hummed in response. Apparently way too smart and well-traveled to even try the ham. Or perhaps he was just waiting to see Varric's reaction first, judging by the smirk when Varric subtly turned away and spit out the offensive meet into the shrew.

"Not enjoying the taste of despair?"

"Not really no. And who's despair is it? The cooks? The servants? The poor pig whose body was so sacrilged? Mine for eating it?"

"The Maker's? For seeing this creation?"

(It's from a WIP that is abandoned, mostly because I have no idea where I was even going with it, but I have one scene with Fenris and Varric mingling at a post-wivern-hunting Orlesian party.)

[Fic Writing Ask Game]

[mcalhenwrites]

We're still not ready for the "there are plenty of queer creations out there, and if you supported them, you'd see even more" conversation, are we? Seems like we're not. This extends to f/f content as well. It would involve supporting indie creators more, and the goals are more often "I want my queer or f/f ship to be canon and have lots of fanart" or "I want people to really like the work I make and for everything to center around my ideas of what should exist" and not so much about celebrating queer creations we might enjoy. (And let's face it, we won't always enjoy some of it.) But let's paint it as other people having moral failings or being hateful in some way, right? /sarcasm

I favor m/m in my writing (both original and fic). I'm a trans man and have been out since before I dipped my toes in fandom. I came out as trans in late 2003. I didn't know what yaoi was. I barely had any access to representation, and I latched onto the scraps I could find. Sunday nights, I huddled in front of a muted 13" television screen in a corner of my room, closed captioning on so I knew what was being said, using a blanket hanging from my bunk bed to hide it in case my mom decided to walk in. What was I watching? Queer as Folk. (US version.) It honestly changed my life. Getting online more and more later on introduced me to fandom, and that introduced me to a whole world of queer works. I was thrilled! It didn't matter if I didn't like some of it. I would sift through yaoi and yuri until I found the stuff I did like. But guess which one I spent more time on? I write a lot of BL. It's not really anyone's business, though. It shouldn't be the sole indicator that there's a moral failing here or that I hate f/f. I write too much f/f for that to be true, but I'll go into why saying that doesn't actually matter in a little bit. I have a hard time listening to people who make up excuses for why they never read books or even sometimes other people's fanfiction, but oh hey, here's my writing and it's actual representation, and I wish more fanart of my ships existed! And then they cry that there's nothing out there. And claim the love of BL as the true enemy.

...So fun fact, I own a lot of queer books. A lot of books in general. But lots are queer.

This is a haul of like 90% of the books I got last year:

It'll be tough to see a lot of the titles in this giant pile, but... There are a lot of queer relationships depicted in these books. This is barely a chip in my wishlist of queer books I'd like to read! (Most of these were gifts or secondhand, because I'm pretty broke.) And out of them, wow, some f/f happens to be there! Either as main characters or side characters. As canon ships. (But even if there wasn't any f/f there, you don't know who I've kissed in my life, the people I've loved, the people I wish I could've been with. You don't know my personal values, the improvements I want for the world. You don't know shit about me by finding out I like to read, write, and watch BL. And I don't owe you any of the reasons.) The point of this post and that image, however, is to say that queer creations fucking exist in large numbers. There's hardly a shortage. I'm crying at how little I can keep up with it these days, especially in a scary world with book bannings and little shits wanting the Hays code back. And here's the deal: creators get shafted. Sometimes, they have to quit creating (as much or at all) just to make a living. Some post on AO3 (cough) because fandom is wonderfully transformative and we have some itches to scratch. Being supportive is always better than tearing them down. And when you start uplifting the work you like, instead of yelling about the stuff you don't, suddenly there are publishers and film makers taking note. They're recognizing what's in demand. In many ways, they've already started to. (Although you should probably keep supporting artists and be wary of companies, but sometimes companies uplift important artists and that's cool too.) Your friends and online circles are seeing these titles and characters and ships and might even find themselves intrigued. But when you just yell about stuff that's not going the way you want it to, it's actually satisfactory to deny it to you. I'm not big on giving entitled people the content they crave. I do what I want, and I have been known to keep my work to myself because of demands and complaints. I don't stop creating, but it's not yours to have, it's mine. Some people just get tired of the harassment and sweeping generalizations about the kind of person they are, because innocuous creations are blown out of proportion by people with their own agendas. Some people create more of what you might hate out of spite. Others give up sharing, because while everyone is focusing on all the things they hate, that person's creations that might've been up your alley gets fucking buried. Ignored. And then they don't really see the point in sharing. In a world that is brimming with hate, where some people do using writing to profit on hate (jerkoffrolling), maybe your enemy isn't... people (queer or not, none of your business btw) creating queer art!