#tagging individual ships that get lil specific moments

[logical-little-lies]

Challenges for The Cookies- Little Vlogs (Chapter Eight)

A/N: This is like, a fairly short chapter. I apologize for any typos or whatever, and the fact that I haven't updated this story in two weeks. I hope you guys like it though, it's my first time actually showing them recording a video for the channel, which is weird because Patton's channel is such a huge element/plot device in this book. Anyways, hope y'all enjoy!

Chapter Summary: Patton acquires his boyfriend and two crushes to participate in a video challenge for his channel. Many shenanigans and cute clips ensue.

--

"But-...Daddy said that I'd get to do it!" Patton pouted, looking at Virgil. Patton had started this video big, and was obviously regressed before they really got into the video plan. He knew that if needed, he could be big for a whole video. But the whole point of being open as a little online was that he didn't need to do that.

"And daddy is now saying to let Vee do it," Logan decided, taking the package from Patton and giving it to Virgil. Patton was pouting over opening a box, as if it really mattered that much. Virgil tried to take it from him because he was obviously in the mindset of a toddler, and he'd get frustrated if he couldn't open it quickly.

"Yay!" Patton cheered once the box was open, and Virgil handed it back to him.

"You never told us what we are supposed to be doing for this video," Roman spoke up, leaning so that he was looking at Patton from the other side of Logan.

"You didn't!" Virgil's eyes widened, "You just turned on the camera with no explanation. What the hell did we sign up for?"he narrowed his eyes, somewhat worried that the toddler-minded boy had pulled them into something crazy.

"No cursing around the little," Logan motioned to Patton, before looking at the boy, "But yes, what are we doing?"

"We're decorating pacis again, because you guys-" Patton pointed directly into the camera with a giggle, "said dat you guys liked it last time!"

"So is that what's in the box? Some plain pacis?" Logan didn't track whatever Patton ordered for videos, so he wouldn't know for sure. He trusted Patton not to spend money on stupid things.

"yes, yes, yes!" Patton bounced a bit in place, "But dis time, we are making them however the cookies want!" Patton absolutely loved referring to his fans as 'the cookies', he thought it was cute and creative, and they seemed to like it.

Patton started explaining the rules of the challenge, "okay, here's how dis is gonna work. Three of us are given very simple requests for decorative pacifiers, all from the cookies, and then the fourth will judge them when we are done! Oh, and it's on a scale from 1 to 10, and the highest scorer wins and gets to be the judge to the next round!" Patton spoke really fast, somehow not stumbling over his words whatsoever, and continuing to speak in his cute little voice.

They split up to grab the pacifier decorating supplies, setting up what they needed on the coffee table. "Twinkle, twinkle, little star, how I wonder what you are! Up above the world so high..." Patton sung softly, setting the Generation One pacifiers in a neat row across the coffee table. Logan, who stood behind the tripod, used the camera and zoomed in on Patton, who looked up.

"Hello, Daddy! And hi to all da cookies too!" he scrunched his nose,giggling a bit. He set down the pacifier in his hand before softly waving at the camera.

"You gonna finish your little song, Pat?" Virgil questioned, setting tubes of super glue on the table, next to the small organizers of plastic gems and letter beads. There were three of them, and they were divided into little squares, each square holding different colors of plastic gems, letter beads, or charms to go on the centerpieces.

"Oh! Um...up above the world so high, like a diamond in the sky. Twinkle, twinkle, little star," Roman joined in and sang with him softly, Logan putting the camera on Virgil for a bit before zooming out to catch both of them.

"how I wonder what you are!"

Patton looked at the camera, thinking after a few moments. "Do nursery rhymes have copyright? I hope not..." he seemed confused, and more aware that there was a camera on him.

"I can confirm, nursery rhymes do have copyright, but most of them have passed into the public domain-" Logan started talking from behind the camera, getting interrupted by Roman, who was returning to the living room with smaller plastic gems.

"Shut up with your facts or whatever, we are gonna start the challenge!" Roman climbed onto the couch before lowering himself on the ground, between where Roman and Patton were sitting.

"Patton asked a question and I was just replying to it!" Logan defended, pointing the camera at Roman, who stuck his tongue out.

"Patton asked a question and blah blah blah. Can't you see we have a challenge that is much more important to begin?" he mocked Logan voice for a bit before quickly dividing up the smaller plastic gems between the three dividers. After a few seconds of silence, Roman looked up at the camera and laughed,

"Sorry Lo, I'm joking!" he apologized quickly, giving a soft pout as he waited for a response.

"You better be, little prince." Logan teased, Roman rolling his eyes and ignoring him.

Patton spoke up before any of them could say anything, "Okay! So the first paci request is...." he scrolled on his screen, his eyes glancing over a few words before he read them aloud, "From babykitten14 on twitter, 'how about a space theme?'"

The gears in Roman's head seemed to be turning, his eyes glancing between the different supplies in front of him quickly. "I can definitely work with a space theme." he assured, obviously excited to attempt to win this little challenge.

"Okay, let me set the timer!" Patton started tapping on his phone, Virgil's eyes widening.

"We're being timed?!" he seemed panicked, obviously thrown off.

"Yeah, I wasn't aware we had a time limit!" Roman dramatically exclaimed, both of the other boys obviously taking this more seriously now.

"Mhm! I thought that was obvious....have you never watched a youtube challenge, ever? If you don't set a time limit, the video will never end!" Patton set his phone in front of him on the table, speaking calmly as the other boys seemed a bit stressed now. It was a simple challenge, and they were probably exaggerating a bit for the camera, but they were being TIMED? This was absolutely outrageous.

...Okay, not really, but a bit shocking. "How long do we get, then?" Roman questioned, looking over at Patton. Logan stayed silent, just standing behind the camera and recording their interactions.

"Ten minutes!" Virgil and Roman's eyes widened, but before they got the chance to protest, or ask for more time, Patton started the timer and they immediately started grabbing different supplies. Throughout the video, they held four rounds of this challenge. Roman managed to win the first, with a simple dark purple pacifier with silver and white gems, the button being decorated with a black star charm. He spelled out, "Baby Star" on the handle.

Virgil ended up shyly asking if he could have the pacifier Roman made for the first round near the end of the video, and of course, Roman handed it right over. The next round had to do with a 'royal theme', and all three of the contestants made pacifiers related to princes. Roman declared Patton's baby pink pacifier, with dark red and gold gems, as the winner. On the button, was a little red crown sticker, and the handle read 'little prince'. Patton offered it to Roman, and he took it.

The third round simply was supposed to follow a "pastel theme". Patton probably would've won that one if he wasn't the judge. Logan won it though, and that pacifier went to Patton. The final round was supposed to follow a 'edgy baby' theme. As expected, Virgil won that round by a landslide.

Patton had them sit down to close out the video. "Okay, so each of us won one round. That's pretty good, I think!" Patton said, looking at Logan beside him on the couch, who nodded. "I want to clarify that all the pacifiers made today, besides the ones we claimed for ourselves, will be going to some of my agere friends, so they aren't going to waste at all!"

"Who is gonna claim the messy pacifiers that we had ten minutes to make?" Roman questioned from the other side of Patton. Virgil smacked his arm, rolling his eyes.

"I'm sure someone will," Virgil assured. "Most of them aren't that bad."

"Yeah, says the 'pince' paci." Roman rolled his eyes, teasing Virgil for his mistake earlier. Virgil somehow managed to forgot the 'r' during the Royal Pacifier round, and Roman had been teasing him endlessly about it throughout the video. Patton laughed before finally saying his outro and moving to turn off the camera.

All of the boys could genuinely say that they enjoyed filming videos for the channel, and the fans could say that they liked watching the content. It was a win-win situation, and Patton got to keep doing what  he loved with the man...

with the men he loved.

Yeah, all three of them definitely had a special place in his heart, they all cared for him endlessly. He liked that they genuinely cared about each other, too.  And the fact that they were willing to give up time to take part in his little hobby, and that they'd do almost anything to make him happy?

He liked that even more.

--

A/N: aka, patton has fallen in love with an idiot prince and his emo internet best friend. anyways, the next chapter might be more agere based, continuing to follow the path of logan getting to know the others while little (ft. lots of cute fillers and logan being a good cg). then I will loop back to the romance part and maybe write in a few more dates before I make them “officially” begin dating and what not. okay i’m done spoiling the plot of future chapters, but I hope y’all liked this one! Feel free to sends asks to my inbox with reactions to this chapter and stuff, I’d appreciate it!

Taglist: @stimmingsides @smollilsanderssides @novacloudcat @analogical-agere @fairyhuman2000 @aphandgflover@softastarlight @littlesapphygem @softflowerinmyheart @virgietheprincess @babeyalstar @b3an-spr0ut @babeyvoid @because-were-fam-ily @lonelysoul43-0 @lgbtqiaemo

[blackbird-brewster]

Friday Fic Rec (Special Edition)

Fic rec ask game

(Taken from @illegalcerebral)

I saw a thing earlier lamenting the fact that people don't make lists of fic recs any more so for Motivation Monday I've decided to start a game so we can spread some love! So make a new post and compile a list of the following fics:

An ongoing multi chapter fic you are excited to get updates for right now

turn the world to gold by sunshineandguns

(Criminal Minds, JJ/Emily)

I am so in love with this one! Cannot wait to see how it ends. IT's just such good and agnsty Jemily

(If Loving You is Wrong) I Don't Want to be Right by ambiguousem

(Criminal Minds, JJ/Emily)

If I could unhinge my jaw and eat a fic like it was a meal to be consumed, this fic would UNDOUBTEDLY taste like all of my fave comfort foods individually and simultaneously. I literally don't know how to explain my love for this angstt fest.

A completed multichapter fic that you can binge read

Fooled Around (and Fell in Love) by w00t4ewan (me)

(Criminal Minds, JJ/Emily, JJ/Tara, Tara/Emily)

Yeah, I'm hyping my own work bc this is what I'm currently reading to my partner (I read out loud to them every night) and it's been such a joy for me to read it for the first time (since writing it). We constantly lament that there's not a TV series of this AU bc GOD THERE SHOULD BE ITS SUCH A ROM-COM

A oneshot you think everyone should read

Steps by Phoenix_Falls

(Criminal Minds, JJ/Emily)

DID YOU KNOW: This is the highest read Non-Smut Jemily fic!? IT IS!!! AND YOU SHOULD READ IT BC THE FLUFF IS UPSETTING

A fic you have re-read more than once

Dreams, Schemes and In-Between by Phoenix_Falls

(Criminal Minds, JJ/Emily, Derek/Penelope)

One of my FAVVVEEEESSSSS. I have read it so many times over the years bc it's so light-hearted and the entire fic is four idiots trying to get each other to fall in love. It's an entire fic about best friends being Meddlers

A fic you first read over a year ago that you want to spotlight

I Want to Believe by Trancer

(Criminal Minds/X-Files, Emily/JJ)

It's an X-Files Jemily AU. AND YOU WILL LOVE IT

A fic that introduced you to a new ship/character/fandom

With a Little Help From My Friends by phoenix_falls

(Criminal Minds, Emily & Luke )

THIS FRIENDSHIP!! Luke needs to be protecc at all costs and this really turned me on to the idea of Luke and Emily being bffs and gay idiots together. I love it!!!

A fic you'd recommend to someone new to your fandom

Depends on why they're here! I exclusively write/consume Criminal Minds femslash so here's my recs based on the assumption you just watched CM for the first time and said "THESE WOMEN ARE VERY QUEER!!!"

"Oh my GOD JJ and Emily are SO GAY TOGETHER?!?"

Start Here: [Take My Hand and Show Me the Way] by mjduncan

"UHHHHHH Tara Lewis just met Emily and THEY REALLY EYE FUCKED EACH OTHER RIGHT IN FRONT OF MY SALAD!!!"

Start Here: [Caution to the the Wind] by thelarkascending

"Do you ever think about the way JJ and Tara look at each other? Like that one overly specific moment when [JJ looks at Tara] (when Tara has her hand on JJ's shoulder) and JJ's eyes basically say OH FuCk I HAvE It SOOO BaDDD FOR TARA LEWIS!!!"

Start Here: [Here is Home] or [Between You & Me] by w00t4ewan

A fic you would recommend to the person who tagged you in this game.

I wasn't tagged and I don't even know if you (@illegalcerebral ) really read a lot of femslash BUT based on your likes in my notes and your icon, here's a lil something as a treat

Pray by w00t4ewan

Criminal Minds, JJ/Emily (Past JJ/Elle)

This is basically a JJ origin story coming off the back of Elle leaving the BAU and JJ trying to get over being in love and feeling betrayed that Elle left so abruptly

Optional: Wildcard choice of a fic

Unwinding by PepperSpicedLatte

This is just a REALLY well-written Je T'Emily threesome that always gets me FLUSTERED bc holy shit it's so so so good

Tag You're It (If you want to play!):

@gaelic-symphony || @cargopantsprentiss || @carasynthiart || @pagetvaleriebrewster || @doctor-whothefuckknows || @puddlejumper9

[hasquetzorkukudoneanythingwrong]

Divine duo part 1

Rex had woken up full of energy, because today was a special day. He and his wife were going to visit another universe's chaldea, specifically Faye's. They had to get ready soon, they were spending the morning there then bringing Faye and her girlfriend Ereshkigal to their chaldea. They had been planning this for a bit, both pairs were excited.

They had to wait for the opportunity tho, since they were messing with the multiverse itself things had to be just right. The two Da Vincis and Sions needed to make sure there were absolutely no problems whatsoever, because otherwise the risks could be too great. Just the other day the two groups were finally able to coordinate a good day to do it and now it was that day.

Rex and Quetz went to the control room to prepare to go to the other chaldea. Da Vinci and Sion were in contact with their counterparts to make sure things go well.

Sion: ok you two! Ready?

Rex: yeah!

Quetz: si!

Da Vinci: ok, sending you in! I'm 3... 2... 1!

And while in their coffins Rex and Quetz are sent into the other chaldea to meet up with Faye and Eresh.

It's dark for a short while then everything lights up. Rex and Quetz found themselves in the other control room with Faye and Eresh standing not too far.

Faye: hey you two!

Eresh: good to see you again!

Rex: heyyo!

Quetz: so far everything's the same as ours.

Faye: I mean, I doubt much can be changed with just a different master.

Rex: do not doubt the influence we can have on our chaldeas.

Eresh: you probably have more influence on your chaldea then Faye does.

Faye: so where to first?

Rex: cafeteria! I'm starving! Haven't eaten at all yet!

The group goes to the cafeteria and sat down at a table together. Each master sat next to their respective partner servant while face to face to each other. Faye and Ereshkigal had relatively normal meals for their breakfast. Meanwhile Rex and Quetz had huge meals both with a big stack of pancakes.

Faye: my, you two are healthy eaters.

Rex: well we train for lucha a lot so we need the energy.

Quetz: si! Can't have mi amor tire out on me while training!

Eresh: oh you like lucha too Rex?

Rex: well not at first, but Quetz got me into it! I'm training to be her lucha partner one day!

Faye: oh that sounds so fun! A huband/wife lucha duo!

Quetz: si! We actually did have one match together before!

Eresh: really?!

Rex: yeah... in the final match-up for the last Christmas Quetz's original partner Bradamante couldn't fight because of an injury but because it was the final match-up they let me sub for her!

Faye: what?! She got injured?!

Rex: yeah... I imagine things went differently for you then.

Eresh: yeah, in fact at the last moment Bradamante had became like this super Santa I think? And had defeated the other Quetz in the end.

Quetz: oh! That's very different!

Faye: how did you manage to fight the other Quetz?! She was Quetz's more violent bits so how did you even survive?!

Rex: it's still Quetz tho! She loves me no matter what! She couldn't actually give it her all against me!

Quetz: si! Even when training I don't want to hurt mi amor too much! I love him too much to see him injured, especially by my own hands.

Eresh: so it was like the power of love basically!

Rex: yeah! It was hard for me to fight her too tho, since it's still Quetz but since I needed to beat her to make Quetz whole again I managed to defeat her in the end.

Faye: aaawww! It really was the power of love! And lucha.

Rex: yeah! Honestly tho it didn't feel like THE match for us. Y'know what I mean? Like... since our opponent didn't give it her all and didn't have a proper partner it wasn't the right match-up for us.

Eresh: it's not the perfect match for your husband/wife team?

Quetz: si... and mi amor wasn't fully prepared for lucha. He still needs more training. I don't know if we would've been able to win if she went all out honestly.

Rex: yeah... I'm still training.

Faye: I'm sure you'll get there one day! And I'd love to see that perfect husband/wife match-up when it finally happens!

Rex: yeah, but that's enough about us! What have you two been up to?!

Faye: actually not long ago we had another double date with a different universes' master and servant pair!

Quetz: oh! Who was it?!

Eresh: it was Maya and Helena.

Rex: ah, lil miss horny. Did she convince you to do anything risqué?

Faye: yeah... we played a game of strip poker.

Quetz: strip poker?! How'd that go?!

Eresh: she was trouncing us! She always saw through our bluffs! I ended up naked first! It was so embarrassing!

Rex: oof! That sounds like hell.

Faye: it wasn't so bad...

Quetz: well we'd never agree to such a game!

Rex: yeah! Only I get to see mi corazon's body!

Quetz: si! And mi amor's body is for my eyes only!

Faye: that's nice to hear!

After a bit the pairs finished their meals and so the tour could start proper.

Rex: so what do you wanna show us first?

Faye: oh I know! Let me show you my goddess' place of worship!?

Rex: oh you got one too!?

Faye: yeah! She's a goddess after all so she needs a temple!

Eresh: but Faye you only gave me one. That line of reasoning implies places for the others.

Faye: I mean... you're my goddess so you deserve it the most!

Rex: yeah, same thing in my chaldea. I've got a huge room dedicated just to Quetz! But she deserves it the most!

Quetz: mi amor! You're making me blush!

Quetz then proceeded to take Rex's face in her hands and give him a kiss. Which had the other pair turn a bit red.

While on the way to the temple of Ereshkigal the four ended up meeting a very interesting individual.

Irkalla: oh my! Is this the other master you mentioned Faye?

Faye: yeah this is Rex and his version of Quetzalcoatl.

The other death goddess eyed the new pair a bit. Despite her looks she had a very different vibe to her when compared to her counterpart. She definitely felt more intimidating then Ereshkigal.

Irkalla: hmmm, interesting. Not really sure what Quetzalcoatl sees in him tho. I've seen better.

Quetz didn't like that, but instead of attacking her she just flashed her signature toothy grin and said a few words.

Quetz: now what's wrong with mi amor?

All of a sudden Irkalla got nervous. Not as much as Eresh would've but you could tell she didn't want to deal with the lucha goddess.

Irkalla: er... anyways I've got to go. See you later Faye.

Faye: seeya! Huh... never seen her like that before.

Eresh: Quetzalcoatl is a very scary woman. I got nervous when she made that face.

Quetz: ehehehehe, well I don't like people being rude to mi amor.

Rex: it's hard to believe she's also Ereshkigal.

Faye: are the other Quetzes closer to the original?

Rex: well... mostly? Hard to say without them here.

After a bit of time they were in Eresh's temple room.

Rex: impressive!

Quetz: si! It seems perfect for Ereshkigal!

Faye: thanks! Only the best my goddess!

Eresh, turning red: yeah, it's pretty great.

Then all of a sudden a familar voice is heard.

???: hello?! Is the other master here?

And in came someone else, it was the Quetzalcoatl of Faye's chaldea.

Faye: oh hey! What are you doing here?

Other Quetz: I wanted to see the other master, and I figured you'd bring him here.

The other Quetz came up to the group and looked at Rex.

Other Quetz: my what a cute lil master! I almost want him to take me back with him!

Faye: woah! I dunno if we can do that!

Rex: what would you do if my Eresh said the same?

Faye: uuuuhhh...

Faye was turning red with the question.

Rex: because I'd trade!

Faye: wait! You can't just say that! You already have like 5 of her!

Rex: you don't want 3 Ereshes?

Faye: pls! Let's drop the topic for now!

Rex: fine...

Eresh: Quetzalcoatl, how come you don't seem angry like normal?

Quetz: I think I'm getting used to other me's loving mi amor. At least it makes sense.

Eresh: that's kinda concerning.

Quetz: si...

After a bit it was almost lunch time, which meant it was time to switch chaldeas. The group headed towards the control room to go to Rex's chaldea. They got into the coffins to head to their destination.

Sion: ok! Just like before! 3... 2... 1!

A/N: ok! There's part 1 of this RexCoatl/FayEresh crossover! Next time it's my chaldea's turn! And Faye will meet all the other Quetzes and so on. Hope you guys like it!

Credit to @hasereshdoneanythingwrong for letting me use their beautiful ship! Hope it's accurate!

Tags

@hasishtardoneanythingwrong @haspaulbunyandoneanythingwrong @hasabbydoneanythingwrong @hasbbdoneanythingwrong @haskamadoneanythingwrong @hasnightingaledoneanythingwrong @hasspartacusdoneanythingwrong @castlecsejtespeakertechnician @renmeo @kierakaz @valiantstrawberrymilk

[hamaon]

JGY or WWX?

I feel like a fair disclaimer to give before getting to Wei Wuxian is that I watched the Untamed despite, not because of, wangxian! I originally checked out the beginning of the animated series because someone I followed was getting into it, but I already had an inkling that the main romantic relationship in this romance wouldn’t be my cup of tea. The Untamed followed, more than half a year later, really only because I had hit the gorgeous soundtrack on youtube.

How I feel about this character Part of the reason I presumed I wouldn’t be into wangxian was because neither of the main players really spoke to me, and on this account I am happy to have been proven wrong! When I finished the show, Wei Wuxian was probably my favorite character. There's something very satisfying about a surface-level heroic main character hitting his absolute lowest points and starting to be actively harmful to himself and others. “This is all I’ve ever wanted for the class clown type of character”, I think I said at some point. Let it all burn.

I go back and forth on whether I find the flightier parts of his personality charming or annoying, but it’s a spectrum. The Untamed version is my favorite, character-wise.

All the people I ship romantically with this character Nie Huaisang, in the sense that, what with their roles in the plot, it would be fascinating to see how things would play out if this was the main romance, instead. Especially because romance would not be Nie Huaisang’s priority. What would the relationship trajectory even be, teenage sweethearts, ending with a definitive breakup by the finale? I've never sat down with the idea long enough to do anything with it, but sometimes it comes back to me. The main reason I'm into it is because hey, it's the main character & the main driving force behind the story! this is an intellectual puzzle to work out!, but they also had nice, easy chemistry when they were young and seemed to enjoy each other's company, which was something that was... not present in the actual main ship as far as I could see, and apparently my only kink is obvious mutual interest and stability in a relationship. I don't think they really had romantic/sexual chemistry in particular, but hey.

Wen Ning. I just think ningxian is cute. Also has lots of potential for difficult and uncomfortable exploration re: consent and autonomy.

But I think at the end of the day, the only relationship he has that just by the actual shape of it would be something I'd be interested in seeing turn into a romantic and/or sexual relationship is with Wen Qing, which, uh. Yeah. The fond push-and-pull, the two leaders, it’s good stuff. Just a physical relationship during their hunkering together time would be fun, too.

My non-romantic OTP for this character Jiang Cheng. I remember originally being pretty peeved about the fact that the romance (censored or not) is treated as the main focus when the Yunmeng duo is, to me, the real heart of the story. Let Lan Wangji be a supporting character.

I'm not sure if I really want a reconciliation between them, personally, but I want to note that it’s not because I think it would be fundamentally impossible, or because one or both of the characters is genuinely better off without the other. I think it would be very good for them if they managed some sort of genuine healing together!

I don’t want a reconciliation because thinking about their complete and total failure to communicate and consequently never making up makes me experience genuine agony in a very satisfying way. I have in the past gone into people's tags for the two of them and managed to work myself into a sobbing mess within five minutes. It is extremely cathartic.

My unpopular opinion about this character That time when he walks into a Jin party and starts throwing threats 3-2-1, part of me is going “fuck yeah” and part of me is looking at all the collateral damage servants trying to stay out of the way in the background, who never asked to be terrorized by this very powerful man. It’s not something that makes me dislike the character in any way or form, as stated before if anything it just makes him more interesting to me, I just don’t think that it was an uncomplicatedly ‘cool’ moment.

One thing I wish would happen / had happened with this character in canon The man should be actually responsible for his own misdeeds. I’ve heard people say that this was a censorship thing, but I have no sources on that.

And A-Yao gets to go under a read more.

How I feel about this character Continuing down the nostalgia lane, my initial reactions were “this man smiles very deliberately” and, towards the end, “man, fuck the gentry, you should get to win”.

I, hm. It feels sometimes like there are two kinds of opinions that fans have, and I don’t connect with either of them! There’s the “this character is an unrepentant asshole and I’m proud of that, you don’t need to make up sympathetic motivations for villains” which, while I agree that he can justify a lot to himself, just doesn’t ring true to me. I think that many of his actions were either forced by the circumstances, or understandable, or sympathetic and made with decent intentions, or not particularly bad compared to shit that other characters and their society as a whole gets to.

Obviously there are all these breakdowns about the specific acts of altruism that he does that in-universe are rare from someone that high up in power, and those are great, but even without all of that, he was a stable, peaceful, competent ruler who wasn’t doing any large-scale nasty shit after a series of complete nightmares on the throne, and upsetting that long-standing balance should bring about repercussions for several social classes that does more harm than anything he was individually doing at any point.

As for the other take, there’s the “oh no he’s so small and so cute and should be pampered so much” which I don’t... get, emotionally, and additionally it is reaaal hard for me to see the character as someone who either wants or would even particularly enjoy being the one being taken care of. Usually my response is-

There’s that part during Nie Mingjue’s capture in Empathy where he’s just, running the whole show? Like, on one hand it is very important that he’s probably the weakest person in the room, and might lose in a direct confrontation against even the random soldiers standing to the sides, and if he plays his cards wrong or even sub-optimally one of the two big strong cultivators in his vicinity is going to pulverize him, and also aware of all of this at all times and living in low-key terror. But also -- he pulled it off.

If I’m working myself toward some emotional response with “A-Yao small” it doesn’t end with “someone should hold him 🥺” but with “and doesn’t that just make it all the sweeter that he sat on that throne”. (I have two kinks, and the other one is power reversal.)

All the people I ship romantically with this character Only Lan Xichen, really, but there are some tentative side paths to take!

Qin Su, in that the initial attraction would be fun to explore, and then it becomes less about the relationship dynamic and more about the underlying horror.

Nie Huaisang, in a not-particularly-serious, one-sided, never-happened-and-now-it-never-will kind of way. The ideal would be Jin Guangyao thinking of Nie Huaisang as a tiring but cute little brother figure (he doesn't have those, all of his family relationships sans mom take a weird turn at some point! this one sure is about to!), while Nie Huaisang has a lil crush, and then it goes all the way to hell. ...And I know that I set “won’t happen” as a precondition, but I guess if there was a character who keeps the (fierce or not) corpse of the late Chief Cultivator close in an effort to feel alive post-canon, Nie Huaisang is the one I’d want for that role.

Jiang Cheng, because that family unit is so under-explored in canon, and because out of a handful of favorite characters these two are usually my number one, so watching them interact with each other can be fun just because of that. But in my heart of hearts I want Jiang Cheng to stay forever single by choice, and really I'm just here for platonic family shenanigans with Jin Ling. (I've written some of this, but out of everything it's probably the least likely to ever see the light of day.)

But really only Lan Xichen. When I was watching the early episodes and didn't remember the characters well and in my head these two were only “the disturbingly handsome older brother” and “a bit part soldier (lol) from some other sect” I really imprinted on that goodbye scene, like damn, look at these characters who are friendly with each other and showing obvious interest. It's only the circumstances that are getting in the way! If I were to ever read fic from this show, it would be these two. (This was all a counter-reaction to early wangxian haha.) But increasingly it goes to show that what I'm really into is people having mutual and mutually recognized affection for each other, the negotiated part in the relationship being less about whether it'll happen and more about how to go about it. More romances that start with getting together instead of ending there.

I am laughing at my past self here though, after actually finishing the show my thoughts on xiyao were that it was nice that it was both there and stable (until, you know) and unknowable, whatever the shape of their relationship in private they are aware of it and have made their peace with it, and that's all I need to know, and now I'm sitting here with several WIPs, wondering if this is what finally pushes me to start publishing fanfiction.

My non-romantic OTP for this character Lan Xichen. No, I’m not interested in a non-romantic* read on their relationship, yes, I just want him here, too.

Also, the only other relationships of note here are with Meng Shi, Jin Ling and Qin Su, and using ‘non-romantic OTP’ for any of those feels off to me. Meng Shi and Jin Ling are at too much of an uneven level, Qin Su doesn’t reach OTP levels even if the romantic filter is off. Su Minshan and Xue Yang might be a better fit, but again, OTP level is too high. Early-canon Nie Huaisang... maybe.

*non-sexual is fine. never officially getting together w/mutual acknowledgement is fine.

My unpopular opinion about this character I think I already went off, so. The hat is fine, and the hate sounds performative and weirdly ignorant at times. I don't love the Untamed version, but it’s fine and the ones in other adaptations are fantastic, even. The warm yellow-brown combination looks really nice. More of the characters should wear hats, actually! Which I realize is an opinion influenced by historical Japanese and Korean dramas, which are of a different genre altogether (also not Chinese, but hats in official settings are a constant in all of these cultures). Nevertheless.

I wish it was used only post-timeskip in the Untamed, too, though, for more variety in costuming and to further differentiate the pre- and post-timeskip versions of the character.

...................................and a specific xiyao pet peeve also: I am becoming increasingly wary of the... either super common or I just happen to keep finding these, take where he’s some sort of unwilling/particularly hesitant participant in this relationship. Like I went back to watch parts of episode 4 (to figure out why it was that I was so sure Meng Yao would be swinging a sword around in future episodes and my conclusion is: because everyone else was swinging theirs) and even the initial interactions in the goodbye scene are like-

Meng Yao literally runs up to a guy waaay out of his league like “Hello I am bringing myself Forth because I have the audacity to assume you might Personally Want to Know that I am leaving and here are some pretty personal reasons why (gosh you really are lovely)”

Reactions I’ve seen to this: look at the little dude running away from his emotions

Me: w h a t

And then the natural conclusion here is that Lan Xichen is there to love him (with his dick and/or sunny personality) until he’s forced to accept it [serene face emoji] and it makes me. Not enjoy it much.

Ofc this doesn’t include normal human hesitations one might have about... anything and everything in life, really, but when it’s treated like this automatic character/relationship hurdle I’m just hhhh

One thing I wish would happen / had happened with this character in canon I'm pretty satisfied with things as they stand? Just like the relationship between Jiang Cheng and Wei Wuxian makes me feel cathartic agony, Jin Guangyao's fate makes me feel cathartic rage. Look at the low-born bastard child go down the stairs of life, one last time!

......Sometimes I have my weak moments and do wish he had gotten away in the end, though.

[nightglider124]

2020 Creator’s Self-Love Extravaganza/Creator Tag Meme/8 Favorite Works

Tagged by @tarisilmarwen  - Thanks for the tag, gurl! <3

Rules: It’s time to love yourselves! Choose your 8 favorite works you created in the past year (fics, art, edits, etc.) and link them below to reflect on the amazing things you brought into the world in 2020. Tag as many writers/artists/etc. as you want (fan or original) so we can spread the love and link each other to awesome works!

Well, shit. I have uploaded practically nothing in 2020 LOL. Like... I’m cheating with my answers but hey, we’re gonna count my favourite robstar week oneshots as individuals cos otherwise, I don’t even make half of the 8 lmao.

1.) Subscribe

Ahh, my current main multi-chapter AU fic that I actually started in August 2019 but I reckon it has seen most updating this year, tbh. It’s honestly one of my favourite AU concepts that my brain has ever birthed. A YouTube AU with Gar as the channel owner just feels like such a Gar thing and I’m so excited to keep going with it in 2021. 

2.) Nova 

I actually love this oneshot that was completed and submitted as part of my involvement in the dickkory zine that was created early 2020. I only posted the excerpt on tumblr which you can find by clicking ‘Nova’ as I thought I’d keep the whole thing just as an exclusive thing for the zine. But, I really loved writing that and felt my final piece was pretty great considering there’s a word limit and a specific theme to follow and it was such good fun, all in all so loved that one. 

3.) Simulation

I actually forgot about this oneshot until I was scrolling through my tumblr tags like ‘wtf did i even write this past year??’ and I remembered the atrocity that was JLD: Apokolips War and how the burning need to write a fix it fic for all my dickkory pals was literally overwhelming. I was actually pretty happy with the final product, despite it’s length. And also, it gave me the dcamu dickkory ending that I wanted lmao.

4.) Robstar Week - Day 1: Star-Aligned/Destiny

I think I was actually pretty negative about this when I initially posted it for Robstar week but since then, I have come to appreciate that writing anything during this last shit show of a year is a miracle so y’know, we’ll take it as a win lmao. I actually really did enjoy writing a oneshot that’s mostly between Dick and Wally and talking about Starfire cos it makes me smile. 

5.) Robstar Week - Day 3: Tamaran

Another addition for Robstar week that I actually really enjoyed reading as I love writing little moments such as these between the two dorks. Anything that is remotely adorable and intimate in a fluffy way is like heaven to me; whether I’m reading it or if I happen to be writing it XD.

6.) Robstar Week - Day 4: Fantasy AU

My absolute faveeeee for Robstar week, to the point, I am now in the midst of planning a whole AU multi-chapter fic around it. I fell in love with the idea of Dick basically being akin to a Witcher and being paid to ‘deal with’ Kory, a magic user which is prohibited in the lil made up world. I honestly vibed with the idea so much and even now, I love it. There’s so many more details and plot I wanna add into it so it will eventually be a whole fic but... it’s been shelved for a little while til I get Bound and Subscribe updated to where I want them. 

7.) Robstar Week - Day 6: Wedding Bells

I may start to sound like a broken record but this happens to be another submission from robstar week that I really smiled at whilst writing. It was great to take a fairly common prompt and just do an actual wedding so it was fun to slightly spin that around for how I wrote it instead. 

8.) Robstar Week - Day 7: Constellations

I already mentioned how I love writing Robin and Starfire in these little cute and intimate moments that are filled with sugary fluff. This is kind of another one. I really do believe they would have these little games or things between them such as a game revolving around constellations and guessing. Idk I just really enjoyed this one as well.

________

I honestly did not think there were gonna be 8 to list lmao. I wasn’t overly active in 2020 due to... *gestures around me* the state of the world for the majority of the year. I’m hoping 2021 will be a more productive year for me in terms of updating current projects as well as bringing some new things to the fic table. 

I taaag: @fireflyxrebel-writes @loubuggins @stefanotis @ships-bynoa and @spaceprincessem + anyone else who wants to jump in on this!! <3

[xviicprc]

10 Favorite Characters

Tagged by @pinkafropuffs​ (girl this are so fun to do, thank you!) about my 10 favorite characters so here we go-!

(y’all are ready to see how basic i am?)

1- N (Pokemon)

When will he return from the war-

Ferriswheel shipping flashbacks because honestly? When will Pokemon give us a character as good as N again

2- Edward Elric (Fullmetal Alchemist)

Ah, Fullmetal is basically responsible for me being a weeb lol

While everyone else can do an analysis of his complexity, I simply will say Edward is the sort of character I love as protagonists of anime-

Love how he isn’t either too serious or too goofy. Hmm it’s hard to me to say what I like specifically about him lol. 

Maybe it’s just nostalgia

3- Edmond Dantes (Fate Grand Order)

Ah yes, the current husband of mine- discount Komaeda. 

By seeing my art you should realize how much i love him lol

4- Nanami Kiryuu (Revolutionary Girl Utena)

YOu see, normally I DESPISE characters like Nanami, even after they develop as characters since most of the time they end up being “mean because inferiority complex” HOWEVER Nanami doesn’t have that, she is great and she know’s it!

(Also most of the time, these types of characters aren’t really used comically- and I don’t mean in the sense of “Haha the bully girl got what she deserved!” but instead of this character getting themselves in comical situations)

But it’s the way she matures across the show what made her my favorite among the cast. I love the cast and the show as a whole- but if I had to pick one character among them, it’s Nanami.

5- Akihiko Sanada (Persona 3)

I’VE BEEN WAITING FOR THIS-

But jokes aside Akihiko is my favorite character in Persona 3 (well....close tie with Shinjiro BUT).

He is just (lies on the floor) THE character I always romance because his route is just so cute and makes me feel warm and fuzzy having FEELINGS-

And I remember distincly rejecting his advances on accident and then realizing what I did and going “D:!!!!”

THis man right here was my REAL introduction to HAVING FEELINGS for anime men and I’ll never forgive HI-

6- Xion (Kingdom Hearts)

Shoutout to the firsts characters who I made deeper that the author intended.

If you ever have to fight agains me set it to Vector to the Heavens- if you have to avenge me set it to Another Side while you fight. 

Do you fucking know how I was at 12 years old?? No friends, no homework playing KH 358/2 days??? How much I got attached to Roxas and Xion as a lonely girl who was just discovering things about friendship?

so I’ll ramble on about my interpretations on them because i’ll make it as deep as i want-

The way in which they form a friendship related on both knowing about the keyblade and having no memories from their previous life and the way in which it all comes tumbling down thanks to things outside of their control and how much they try to stop it- 

The way Xion is willing to sacrifice herself for a greater good fully knowing that what the Organization is doing is bad and would endanger the worlds at large and how she, on her own accord, chooses to return her memories to sora even if it means dissapearing from the memories from everyone and truly dying in every sense of the world- all while having to run away from the organization because she would drain all the life from roxas because that was how she was created as a puppet-!

And the final clash! the way in which xion uses all of her power left to fight against the control of the organization because she wants roxas to slay her because she would rather die and lend her power to roxas instead of killing him and being used by the organization!

The way that final fight got integrated into the story! how she warns roxas when she will attack, or how she screams at him “STOP HOLDING BACK!” as her last efforts as an individual hanging to the remnants of their bond-!

As an extra note I’m so glad they didnt “end up together”- it was a good showcase of two teens who had a solid friendship that didn’t need to be turned into a romance because they already love eachother as friends!!!

So as you can see i have a lot of feelings for Xion-

7- Kishinami Hakuno (Fate/Extra)

SHOUTOUT to my favorite protagonist in the Fate Franchise she is so good and I just,,,,,,,,,love her?????

(if you pick Male Hakuno you are absolutely invalid)

So I completly love how she ends up inderectly being a subversion of the “amnesiac character self insert” because she NEEDS to start in a black slate for her to grow.

Love how sassy she can be in the dialouge options and SHE ALLOWED SABER ARCHER AND CASTER TO GROW AS PEOPLE and-

Play Fate/Extra

8-Kcalb (The Gray Garden)

He is so good :c when will he return from the hiatus.

Honestly he is the best character in the game and I love his interactions with Etihw and honestly he defined what 14 year old me loves in character design. AESTHETICS

9-Sonic (Sonic the Hedgehog)

Of Course I had to add the one who started this mess.

Sonic the Hedgehog deserves a better writting team than the one he has! SONIC’S CHARACTER PEAKED IN THE FICKUGGN SIDE GAME SONIC AND THE BLACK KNIGHT BUT EVERYONE IS LIKE “HAHA WHAT A BAD RETELLING OF ARTHURIANA”-

So anyways- Sonic the Hedgehog in the GOOD games with story is someone who never gives up no matter how hard or grim everything may seem, and how he shows kindness to those who needs it, who does what HE feels is the right thing, no matter what everyone else may say and maybe I’m reading too deep but this lil fucker whas the first videogame I ever *emulated* owned and had been a part of my childhood since I learned what the Internet was- I pirated the entire anime and took a REAL liking to drawing thanks to him.

Everyone out there in early 2010 tracing anime while I traced Sonic X screenshots lol

10-Steven Quartz Universe (Steven Universe)

I have a lot of feelings for Steven Universe as a show- and especially his protagonist.

When the show started everyone complained how annoying Steven was- but I never found him annoying? I really like how he has “traditionally femenine” traits and powers (healing, shielding, crying a lot) and isn’t shamed for it? The show has MANY problems but it I LOVE it.

And, since the start of the series I liked Steven, I love how he develops in the show, and honestly so many moments I saw myself in him- and then came Steven Universe Future which he explores his trauma after the events of the series- just everything about him just hit’s home- even more than I expected (the cactus Steven-)

How Steven goes from viewing the Gems as these all knowing powerful mother figures- and how he feels as if he has to live up to their expectations, and the impossible barrier set up by his mother at the start of the series-

(How later he view’s himself as a fraud- and how he doesn’t “pay the consequenses” and he is just “as bad as his mother”- the internalized self hatred, his drifting friends and represed trauma- I’m glad the show does this- I don’t think I would have self reflected as much as I did without this show)

Steven Universe is a show I hold close to my heart, so do I with it’s protagonist.

 Haha I don’t feel like tagging people after that lol

[sagemoderocklee]

Hi two questions! If you’ll take them. Question 1. On your blog it says Boruto free-zone, but do you like Gaaras son? Idk his name, I don’t watch the show but I would like to get on opinion on him. Question 2. I’m writing a LeeGaa fanfic and was wondering if you had any tips about writing them. I’m a little worried about making them OOC, like I am all fics honestly but I really want to get this right before posting. And tips? Thanks, love your blog!

Hi, anon! Sorry for not getting to this sooner. It’s been a long week to say the least. I hope I can give satisfactory answers to your questions because I’m still exhausted and a lil bit sick from my move this past weekend.

As far as Gaara’s son, Shinki: I think he’s a good kid, but it’s very unoriginal writing in terms of his origins and his personality. He’s Gaara 2.0. I have nothing against him and I think he’s an adorable lil goth child, but as with all the Boruto kids they’re just different versions of their parents with slightly different backstories and in a lot of cases a lot less trauma. I don’t really think there’s anything compelling about the series–the stakes seem pretty low compared to Naruto, the writing is just not good, and I was always more invested in the original Naruto characters. Boruto is a cash cow–it’s piggy-backing off of Naruto’s success to keep making money off people emotionally invested in the series. 

Now, the big question: Since I don’t know what you’re writing, all my advice is going to be pretty generic, but obviously you’re welcome to ask more questions and even send me private messages to chat. 

So I think it can be really dependent on the fic in question–like if you’re writing a modern AU, you really have to figure out what makes the characters who they are and what is the inherent draw between the two of them, then divorce them from all Naruto context. They aren’t child soldiers, they don’t have ninja magic, there’s no tailed beasts, etc. Any AU is going to be a little more complicated because you have to think about how you’re approaching the characters more creatively. 

If you’re writing in canon, then it’s a little easier because you don’t have to take them out of Naruto-world and put them elsewhere while still maintaining the characters. 

I have recently answered a similar ask about this sort of thing, though it was specific to the characters, which is of course important, but if you haven’t looked at this post, it’s a good place to start in terms of who Gaara and Lee are, because ultimately if you’re not writing the characters correctly, the relationship will also suffer in terms of the writing. This is also a good post in terms of general writing advice, and you can also go through my gaara, lee, or gaalee tags to see any other asks I’ve answered about these two and this ship to get some of my perspective on the characters and their relationship. 

Here’s a good breakdown on what I think a good GaaLee fic, canon or AU, needs to have to be successful, which I’ll extrapolate on under a cut: 

A Solid Foundation

Individuals

The Law of Attraction

Balance

Avoid Contrivance

Be Creative

The Journey

So now that we got the main points presented, let’s break this down.

1. A Solid Foundation

The biggest road block to a successful GaaLee story is laying a foundation. We don’t get a lot of their friendship in the actual series because of the pacing of the series, so we need more of a foundation for a believable, compelling romance.  

For me, I’ve always personally preferred slow burns, but with certain ships, slow burns feel more necessary–I need to know why these two are close enough to form a romantic relationship. I need to know what groundwork the story I’m about to read is laying for them. A solid foundation can be anything, but it needs to be there. I need to know that they’ve had more than a handful of interactions. While the Gaara vs Lee fight, and Gaara rescuing Lee from Kimimaro are both very good pieces of their shared history, I still want to see more than just that and I think that ultimately it strengthens a story and strengthens the relationship you’re presenting when we have a good foundation. 

Gaara especially needs a good foundation to develop a romance with someone and rushing right through the building blocks makes it harder to see him forming those feelings and pursuing that relationship, so it’s vital when approaching a GaaLee fic to keep in mind the way this character can and will fall in love. Lee is more prone to developing crushes on people at first sight, and while that crush can develop into a deeper love, Lee doesn’t only need to have insta-crushes on someone to fall in love with someone. With Lee, there’s a lot of options for how you approach romance, whereas Gaara is more limited. 

When building a foundation for these two ask yourself what the starting point is–set aside the Gaara vs Lee fight, set aside the Kimimaro fight; we already know about those fights. What is the start of the foundation for your story? What’s the spark? What’s the thread that ties them together? Figure out what the building blocks are for your story, and don’t rush through building that foundation. Don’t limit and weaken the romance by forgetting to build it on top of a good foundation; don’t forget that a solid romance is built on a foundation of friendship and trust. 

2. Individuals 

An important and often forgotten aspect to writing ship fics in general, is the fact that you’re writing a story about two different people coming together. They are two separate, individual people with their own desires, ambitions, beliefs, motivations, etc. They do not cease being themselves once they enter into a relationship, but often times, much like with the lack of a foundation, people forget to allow these characters to maintain an identity outside of the person they are in a relationship with. 

Lee’s whole world shouldn’t revolve around Gaara, and Gaara’s whole world shouldn’t revolve around Lee. Give them depth, give them a life outside of the relationship they have. Don’t lose who they are as individuals, because then you lose who they are as a couple as well. They share their stories with one another, but their stories shouldn’t only be about one another. 

And, along these lines, if you don’t have a grasp of who these characters are as individuals, then you’re not going to have a grasp of who they are as a couple. Always ask yourself simple questions when approaching road blocks in your story: who is this person? what do they want? why do they want it? how will they get it? That tells you a lot about a character either in the moment or as a whole. Who is Rock Lee? What does he want? Why does he want it? How will he get it? You can also ask yourself the opposite: who isn’t this character? what do they not want? why don’t they want it? how will they avoid this? Who isn’t Gaara?–meaning what sort of person is he not, (ie callous and cold) What does he not want? How does he avoid this outcome? Also knowing how far a character is willing to go to either get or avoid what they want can really help. 

An example scenario: Gaara loves Lee, but the only way he and Lee can be together is if he gives up being the Kazekage. Gaara cannot and will not give up being the Kazekage. Being the Kazekage is a part of who he is. As much as he loves Lee, he cannot give up his village and he will give up Lee over his village. 

So, building around that gives you a lot of options to talk about who they are and what struggles they face as individuals and as a couple. What they value and how it can cause tension, etc. 

Again, one of the most important things, in my opinion, is having a story outside of these two; giving them motivations outside of each other, giving them relationships outside of each other, etc. 

3. The Law of Attraction

With writing romance, there are a couple of things to consider in terms of why two people might be attracted to one another–from physical to emotional, the choices you make in building the romance itself need to be grounded. What do they see in each other? What attracts them to one another? And is it compelling enough to build a story around?

Everyone has something they find attractive in someone else from looks to personality. Did Lee feel a spark the first time Gaara smiled at him? Was it the green of Gaara’s eyes that first made Lee stop and stare? Was Lee’s kindness and determination what first made Gaara’s heart skip a beat?  

Find those moments that draw them to one another–it’s like gravity, and it should keep pulling them closer to one another until their orbits are so tightly connected that interference with that orbit would be devastating. The stakes don’t necessarily need to be high from the outside world, you can have your modern AUs and still have an intense emotional connection between the two, but it has to come from somewhere; the attraction needs flow naturally. Often times, the best and most natural expression of attraction in stories is done subtly. Sometimes, we’re not really aware that we’re drawn to someone until we’re already caught up in their orbit–and I think that’s a good way to present Gaara and Lee. Both kind of oblivious until it’s glaring them in the face.

So find the gravity between them and let it grow. 

4. Balance

One thing that I personally love about GaaLee is that they are such polar opposites that they balance each other out. Not too long ago, I answered this ask about Gaara and Lee and the symbolism of the tiger and dragon from their fight–it’s pretty apt though to think of the way they impact each other as yin and yang. It’s a balance. They become better for having each other in their lives. 

In general, when talking about a healthy romance, it should be enriching; it should feel like it compliments both people. Gaara and Lee compliment one another, and I think that should come through in the story itself, even before the romance is explicit. Gaara calms Lee; Lee excites Gaara. Where Lee goes left, Gaara goes right, and together they make a perfect circle. 

Finding where they differ, will help you find where they create balance within each other. 

5. Avoid Contrivance

One of the things that always sticks out to me with GaaLee fics is that it feels like people don’t know how to get them together. How do we get Lee to Suna? How do we get them to fall in love? etc. There’s always this like confusion, this sort of floundering to think up new ways to make it happen because I think everyone’s stuck on the idea that Lee has to be in Suna for them to fall in love. Obviously, in more recent years, there’s been an upswing of Gaara visiting Konoha as a premise, but even with that context it feels like grasping at straws for the how and that leads to contrivance, and most importantly to falling back on that one fic from ten+ years ago as a building block for a GaaLee fic. 

Let’s face it, if you don’t want them to do long distance, yes Lee will inevitably end up in Suna. But he doesn’t have to always be in Suna for them to start a relationship, and if you’re gonna have him be in Suna, it probably shouldn’t be because he’s a diplomatic envoy. Lee isn’t a diplomat. He is so far from being suited for politics and diplomacy it’s honestly hilarious. I’ve done it. We’ve all done it. But he’s not gonna be an envoy for diplomatic liaisons between villages, and that needs to be acknowledged. Lee is a man of action, not words, and definitely not the sort of games that politicians play. 

So when you inevitably decide that Lee’s gonna go to Suna, be creative. And outside of that, think of ways to get them out of Suna and Konoha! There are endless possibilities! Don’t limit yourself! 

There are other contrivances in fanfics, but that’s always the one that gets me because it often feels like people are placing Lee in Suna because they just don’t know what else to do. I have Lee in Suna a lot for the fics I write, but there is always a good reason for it. Make sure to have a good reason that fits in line with who Lee is and why he might be there. And tbh Gaara and Lee are friends! It’s totally okay for him to decide to make a stop in Suna on the way home from a mission to see his friend! 

Aside from that, I feel that the other biggest contrivance is that Gaara is always… immediately into Lee and it’s just… not realistic. Allow them to take time with their relationship, don’t just shove them together. Gaara taking one look at Lee and being like “yes, that one” is just… it’s not who Gaara is. Like it’s not always applicable if we’re talking about like AUs, but people all too quickly forget that Gaara underestimated Lee. He took one look at Lee, thought he was a weird, weak kid and dismissed him. Then promptly got his ass handed to him by Lee. Gaara did not take Lee seriously at first in canon, and it is heavily contrived when his first glimpse of Lee in an AU is a love at first sight kind of thing. 

Another note, a big thing that frustrates me is Gaara not having like any concept of things like sex, romance, etc. Like he’s not some shut in who’s never heard the word sex, and I’m deeply tired of seeing his “sexual awakening” because it’s always like really gross and lowkey homophobic because there’s always this sense that people want to make him asexual but they make him sex repulsed (as if that’s the only way to be ace) and don’t know how to do it without being like “eww sex with another man!?!?!” Like there are ways to write asexual characters without being gross, but you wouldn’t know it the way fandom writes so just be careful with that sort of thing. 

In general, sexual awakenings often feel contrived, but that’s just my onion.

6. Be Creative 

I know I said this already in number five, but it bears repeating. Be. Creative. I wish like… any of my fics were finished so I could like point to them as examples of the many and varied ways you can tell a GaaLee story, but trust me, I have like 20+ WIPs/fic ideas and each one of them is different from how they meet to how they fall in love so I know it’s possible. I think a lot of people get sort of bogged down by the lack of fic content and by the fact that everyone and their mother won’t shut up about that one fic from 10+ years ago. But I promise you can be original, creative, and groundbreaking. This fandom doesn’t exactly have a lot of ground to break, but you can still do it! Think outside the box! Don’t limit yourself to Lee going to Suna! Don’t limit yourself by making it love at first! Don’t sell yourself short by forgetting to take your time developing them, their story, their relationship! 

Think of something completely out of left field and then just fucking run with it! Figure out how to make it work for these characters, within this world! But go for it! Don’t be afraid to make mistakes! I promise you I have GaaLee fics that I wrote from 8 years ago that SUCKED. But it helped me learn how to write them! It helps me grow as a writer! So take a chance and be creative! 

7. The Journey 

One final note, the other thing that I have found that trips people up with writing–and this is honestly general advice, but I’ve noticed it a lot with GaaLee fics which is why I bring it up: The pacing. 

People are so in a hurry to write a GaaLee fic to give this fandom that’s so desperate for fic content something that they just… rush right through the story. Like I’m gonna be real with you, I don’t care that Gaara and Lee end up living happily ever after. I wanna know HOW they get there. I wanna know how they even get to that first kiss. I want the journey. The journey is the payoff, and I know I’ve pretty much been saying this the entire time but it’s just so important. The amount of times I’ll see a fic that’s like 12 chapters in but only has like 20k words… I’m like ???? what’s even happened? what’s even drawing me in? what’s compelling me to keep reading if you’re 12 chapters in but only have 20k words. 

And don’t misunderstand, you can say a lot with a small number of words, but if you’re telling me a story and you’ve got 12 chapters and only 20k written, then you’re pacing is off. Pacing is vital to executing a story well, and if you’re pacing is off then you’re either rushing through the journey or, quite simply, the journey isn’t there to begin with. Like it’s painfully obvious to me when a writer wants to skip all the messy in between bits and just get right to the shipping. And sure it’ll get you views and comments, but you’re missing out on the best part.

If the journey isn’t the pay off, then you’re not telling a story; and while this is general writing advice, it is so important to the integrity of this ship. They need a story. They need epics. They deserve epics. So stop thinking about that final kiss, and start thinking about what happens in the moments before that kiss. Think about the space between the kiss, not the kiss itself, because that is where the story is. The kiss is just ‘the end’. 

Anyways, I’m gonna wrap this up because it’s taken me… like three days to write this and I’m tired from work and moving and just everything lol I know this isn’t like super specific, but like I said, if you have specific questions feel free to ask on anon or message me privately! 

[kiiruna-aa]

answer the following for your muse so people know how shipping works on your blog. REPOST. don’t reblog.

WHAT’S YOUR OTP FOR YOUR MUSE?: like, i love ALL my ships, which sounds horribly cliché but i really wouldn’t HAVE them if i didn’t love them. each of them can make me cry from both sadness and from joy !! on top of my head though, i will always have my oldest ship, KRISTOFFER & ANDREW, as something very, very important for this blog and it’s development in general. 

WHAT ARE YOU WILLING TO RP WHEN IT COMES TO SHIPPING?: most things ?? i love to explore things about ships, and the more ships i have the more ideas i get about another ship that could develop differently, or meet differently, or have a different dynamic! one thing that makes me uncomfortable is cheating plots, as long as it is my character or the other character cheating, and not our muses cheating on an “npc”. i don’t think there’s anything wrong with writing plots where one muse cheats on another muse, but i just get really emotionally involved in a bad way when that happens, i have noticed. so yeah !

HOW LARGE DOES THE AGE GAP HAVE TO BE TO MAKE IT UNCOMFORTABLE?: i don’t know... i don’t think mind-gaps really matter so much when both muses are above 20? and especially not if they’re 25+! like, i wouldn’t mind shipping a 25 year old with a 35 year old, but i remember a person wanting to ship with me when their muse was 18 and mine 28, and that just... didn’t work with me. for teenage muses though, i still think a 4-year gap is okay? but that might be bc i used to be in a relationship like that. 

ARE YOU SELECTIVE WHEN SHIPPING?: i think i am? but that’s not because i don’t love shipping, but because i really need ooc chemistry to work too, one way or another, and i am an extremely anxious individual which makes it difficULT FOR ME TO GET ALONG WITH OTHER MUNS. it’s not as much as being selective as it is me being a lazy shit tbh. i am so lazy ?? it happens i rly struggle with first interactions, or i get SUPER EXCITED and then my rp partner gets dead muse after a week---- it just never seems to work out well.

HOW FAR DO STEAMY MOMENTS HAVE TO GO BEFORE THEY’RE CONSIDERED NS.FW?: for me it’s when you start writing out names on genitalia. as fast as i use a word for genitalia in my reply, i hope i remember to tag it as nsfw. boner too... but maybe not in this context specifically omg. nothing before that though? 

WHO ARE OTHER MUSES YOU SHIP YOUR MUSE WITH?:  at last half of my muses i ship with aven over at @faithbound / @stckhlmr omg, like, if you follow me you should have noticed this. i also have a few ships with tala over at @minugahanax !! these are two great friends of mine and i’ve been shipping with them for YEARS now omg... we’re so old.

DOES ONE HAVE TO ASK TO SHIP WITH YOU?: not really... actually unless we like scream in the tags about how these two interacting is super cool, i’d prefer if no one ask?? unless my reply HINTS to that my character might have a lil doki at yours, or more than that ( all muses work differently ) it will feel very forced on my end for someone to ask me about that! like, i get the thirst but it has to w o r k.

HOW OFTEN DO YOU LIKE TO SHIP?: I LOVE TO SHIP 24/7 DUDE, but i just as much love cool interactions between new friends etc! a mix is what makes my roleplaying experience feel complete.

ARE YOU MULTISHIP?: since this is a multi-muse blog i got some muses who are singleship, some who are dual or tripleship! that’s my highest ship count on one muse though, or else i’m scared it’ll feel impersonal and/or get overwhelming! 

ARE YOU SHIP OBSESSED OR SHIP MORE-OR-LESS?: obsessed. but mostly because i do have so many good, thoroughly developed ships here on this blog? if i was back on my solo-muse blog i would n o t want this many of my interactions to be ships, but right now they’re all just very awesome and i love writing them/talking about them!

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE SHIP IN YOUR CURRENT FANDOM?: i’m not really ?? in any fandoms ?? i am mostly obsessed with even x isak in SKAM at this very moment though. 

FINALLY, HOW DOES ONE SHIP WITH YOU?: interact with my available muses !! see if they click !! scream with me in tags !! see what happens !! it’ll be fun i promise.