#that's artsyunderstudy

[iamamythologicalcreature]

Six Sentence Sunday! The sequel!

So... Yes. I am still working on this little (I hope it's little) "What if Baz succeeded in stealing Simon's voice in 5th year?" fanfic of mine. Because. Um. I like the potential for angst? So much angst. Also other feelings. But for the purposes of today's little snippet: ANGST.

Since I missed last week (and might miss next week if I can't manage to write something new between now and then), you get 12 lines instead of 6! Also because the snippet wouldn't have worked so well cut in half.

You already know the premise of my fic, so this shouldn't come as too much of a shock: Baz did a bad thing, and he remembers it too well.

He didn’t start our would-be confrontation with any of his usual questions or accusations. He started with my name. "Baz—" That single utterance morphed into the most terrible sound I’d ever heard. Would ever hear. Snow choked on it, because it wouldn’t stop. It twisted and writhed in the air after clawing its way out of him. It became an unrecognizable, fading wail. Only I knew. I never stopped hearing my name. My name on Snow’s lips took forever to die. And as awful as that slow death had been, the silence that followed was a thousand times worse.

(Yeah. Canon divergence begins here. I did say I'm here for maximum angst XD)

Side note: Looking for brainstorming/writing buddies so I don't overwhelm the ones I already have. Ahem. If this story idea intrigues you and you'd like to let me babble at you a lot (I am happy to accept return babble if you also have a WIP), let me know. It's the only way I get anything done, apparently.

Bonus picture of my pile of notecards, mostly to prove I'm doing something, under the cut, along with tags!

(I am posting this at 7-ish am, then going to bed, so if you've posted already all you lovelies in other time zones, consider this a friendly wave hello! Will read stuff tonight!)

@nightimedreamersworld @cutestkilla @hushed-chorus @alleycat0306 @artsyunderstudy @aristocratic-otter @prettygoododds @you-remind-me-of-the-babe @supercutedinosaurs @martsonmars @fatalfangirl @thewholelemon @raenestee @ileadacharmedlife @ivelovedhimthroughworse @ic3-que3n @facewithoutheart @rimeswithpurple @erzbethluna @ebbpettier @ionlydrinkhotwater @whogaveyoupermission @theearlgreymage @philaet0s @scone-lover @youarenevertooold @whatevertheweather @brilla-brilla-estrellita

(Want tags? Don't want tags? LMK!)

[skeedelvee]

From Someone Wicked by @artsyunderstudy

Then, a few feet down, there’s a half-finished sculpture, a spiral of hammered sheet metal curved at the edges like the petals of a flower.

A rose. He’s making a rose.

And in the midst of grey steel hangs a thin chain of gold.

———

This is one of my all time favorite fics and I’d been dying to make some art inspired by it. I thought for a little bit that I might try to make the sculpture from the final chapter, but in the end I don’t think that would have screamed me, y’know? So I made this linocut, and to give it a flair of Simon’s artistry, I repurposed some aluminum from my recycling as an inlay

I hope you like it, Ashton! And let me know if you’d like me to send you a copy! 🌹

[j-nipper-95]

2024 in review

Thanks for the tags @artsyunderstudy and @nausikaaa

Wow. 2024 has been ... a year.

I've spent this last year flip-flopping between periods of intense creativity and intense burnout. I've barely posted anything on here, and even less over on AO3, but I have been writing, and the plot gremlins have been working overtime when it comes to planning out where the WIPs are going.

Object permanence and keeping timelines straight in my head are things I struggle with, so I can't remember exactly when I actually achieved any of these things, but I did, and that's all that matters.

Huge thanks as always to Ashton for the incredible artwork in this fic, and for the beta help along with my editor Zoë, @cutestkilla and @iamamythologicalcreature

I posted one chapter of The Trails We Blaze, my 2023 @carryonthroughtheages fic, which is a SnowBaz/The Road to El Dorado au.

Simon and Baz have been through a lot together. Growing up as criminals on London's streets; surviving the Great War; dealing with a lot of repressed feelings. But after their latest con goes wrong, they're left with nothing but an ancient map, a signet ring of unknown provenance or value, and promises of a city that doesn't even exist.

Thrust into a world of adventure with danger at every turn, they're forced to decide how far they're willing to go for a myth, a fortune, and a chance at love.

This fic is going to be a real labour of love and I have big plans for it going forward. If you haven't started it yet, here's what to expect:

adventure across post WW1 England, France, and Spain

exciting action

political machinations

idiots in love pining for each other

epic romance (when they eventually get their shit together)

I know roughly how this is going to end, and I have a first draft up to the 'It's Tough to be a God' sequence (if you know the original film), but I'm currently trying to rewrite a large section of that draft. Discovery writing has been a massive learning curve for me, but I'm excited to get back to this fic and the characters.

Again, massive thanks to Ashton for the stunning artwork of Lauren. I never stop geeking out over the fact I get to call this incredible woman my friend, and that I get to actually look at my chaos gremlin MC anytime I want!

Most of my time writing this year has been spent on approximately the billionth rewrite of my original novel, A Survivor's Revenge.

I am desperate to get this story into the hands of readers, whether that's though trad or indie publishing, and so far I've had good feedback from my editor and alpha reader on the previous draft. But me being me, I couldn't leave it at that.

So now I'm rewriting the book and completely changing the way it's written. The shift from 3rd person/past tense to 1st person/present tense has finally got things moving in terms of developmental edits; the plot flows more smoothly, character interactions and growth are coming more naturally, and for once the villain motivations and plans are becoming clear! Praise the chaos gods.

Lauren Atkins is many things. Student. Daughter. Friend. But at her core, she’s a survivor. And she has one thing on her mind … revenge.

For the lovers of genre spanning sci-fi, morally grey main characters, full spectrum queer identities, and found family, A Survivor’s Revenge will have you asking, how far are you willing to go to protect the ones you love?

I went back and looked at some super old drafts of ASR a couple of months ago; after a conversation with my alpha reader decided to reinstate an old plot line that I'd shelved, and I am super excited to get back to this one. Lauren has become even more morally grey since I last handled this plot line, so things are going to get very bloody very quickly.

So the last two months have been spend sporadically rewriting this behemoth, and I'll be continuing that into January. Originally I was doing this as part of the PaWriCo writing challenge, but I don't think I'll manage to finish the full draft by the end of January. Currently it's sitting at 27.3k words, and if I wanted to hit par I should've been at 65.2k. So, likelihood of hitting 100k by 31st January is minimal.

This little floof is largely the reason for me falling behind.

Benjamin has been back in the vets consistently since the end of November for scans and surgeries, and now for an ongoing infection following the most recent surgery. It's safe to say my nerves and wallet are strained to the maximum, but he's 100% worth it.

So yeah. 2024 may not have been the most productive year for writing, but things have been happening behind the scenes, and I'm hopeful that I'll be able to share more in the new year.

I've missed interacting with people on here, I'm tired of just lurking. This chaos gremlin is back, baby!

Tagging (sorry if you've already done something like this):  @aristocratic-otter @blackberrysummerblog @bookish-bogwitch @cutestkilla @emeryhall

@hushed-chorus @iamamythologicalcreature @ic3-que3n @ileadacharmedlife @letraspal @orange-peony

@shrekgogurt @skeedelvee @theearlgreymage @you-remind-me-of-the-babe 

[valeffelees]

Hey dear. I'm so sorry to see what happened with your Davy post but glad to know so many reached out to you with love in the aftermath. I've been thinking of you and worried about you.

I'm actually so fascinated with Davy as a character and writing an entire Davy pov side plot for my current fic and honestly would love to hear your meta as I navigate how I'd like to write him. So if you ever felt like sharing, I'd love to hear from you.

In the meantime, just know that you are indeed cared for even if there are assholes out there who don't know how to behave. We all connect with these characters for different reasons, and fandom should be a space to explore all of it freely and happily. I hope those who were unkind do some self reflection and choose to do better in the future.

Thank you for always being you, I love seeing you on my dash enjoying the things you love. It makes me love these things more.

my friends and mutuals showed up for me in an unbelievable way. i wasn't expecting any of this to happen. i don't know how to properly convey how thankful i am—for you, and everybody who reached out to me in some way to make sure i was okay, and sympathise with me, and reassure me i have a place in this fandom. so i guess i'll take this moment to say:

thank you, thank you, thank you. y'all showed up for me when i needed kindness and community more than ever, and that's gonna be true forever now. you're always gonna be the ones who did that.

[cr-amber]

have deleted instagram for the moment bc i was doomscrolling too much so now all i have is tumblr and my emotional support snowbaz smut (aka i’m rereading someone wicked)

[forabeatofadrum]

@artsyunderstudy replied to your post “Hey, hey, hey, thanks @cerriddwenluna for the tag....”:

you said this was definitely six sentences and I was like NO WAY but I checked and yup ahahaha. I love this, excellent use of run-on sentence. Ohhh the boy is a disaster (affectionate).

​I wouldn't lie on the internet, Ashton, who would do that!!!

I love myself some Blurty Blaine.

[flowerhawk-highinthesky]

Someone wicked by @artsyunderstudy

My first attempt at a paper cover and I have a lot to improve, but I wanted to share it anyway

[samalander01]

Time for my @coartremix piece! This is a remix of this beautiful piece by @artsyunderstudy . Ashton’s art was so sweet, I wanted more quiet moments! So here is a peaceful morning for them <3

[emeryhall]

Thank you @run-for-chamo-miles for the tag!

In 2024, I posted 9 fics totaling 339,207 words, which is fucking batshit even if some of those words were written in 2023. My most popular fic in terms of kudos is arsonist Baz and firefighter Simon 🔥. But in terms of bookmarks, it's Blood Sugar Sex Moony (wolfstar), which includes my favorite bookmark ever ⬇️

Fics listed below the cut, plus a heartfelt PSA ❤️

January

Blood Sugar Sex Moony (wolfstar, E, 63.6K)

A vengeance-fueled, Buffy-inspired, 90s high school AU with a 17-person body count, featuring amazing art by @spikesteaseasalt.

A Little Bit Deadly (snowbaz, E, 48.9K)

New York City firefighter Simon Snow mistakenly downloads Grindr instead of Tinder and falls for British arsonist Baz Pitch. Featuring DEREK JETER and the most heart-warming art by @letraspal.

March

The Tale of a Magic-Sucking Hoover and a Rat-Drinking Monster (snowbaz, E, 38.7K)

Ghost mums, sentient buildings, and sex toys. Oh my!

June

Only Creatures (snowbaz, E, 88K)

Sad poet Baz Pitch and dragon camboy Simon Snow. Featuring Baz's beard, the hybrid-creatures camming site, OnlyCreatures, and a cameo by Taylor Swift, as well as absolutely gorgeous art by @artsyunderstudy.

October

Sidney Snow Grimm-Pitch (snowbaz, M, 43.7K)

My delightful collaboration with @artsyunderstudy, and a gift for @cutestkilla whose fic What's Left inspired this getting together later in life mpreg. Yes, mpreg.

whatever beats beneath (firstprince, E, 5.1K)

My foray into the RWRB fandom, when I thought I was writing an omarashi fic for a Kinktober prompt, but instead wrote an exploration of grief.

November

Pink Salt (Saltburn, E, 23.1K)

Sometimes the greatest love story is between an undead baker and the man who didn't realize he was a necromancer when he fucked his grave.

Bound Together in Five Dimensions (snowbaz, E, WIP, 4.7K and growing)

My CORB collab with @stardustasincocaine! I won't say anymore because we're posting the next chapter very, very soon 🩷

December

Out of the Game (firstprince, E, WIP, 23.9K and growing)

Another RWRB, this time scratching my itch to write in the detective/spy thriller genre. In the spirit of the Will Darling Adventures, and featuring truly inspired literary works by Henry, and an Alex who is perhaps not to be trusted. But then again, maybe Henry needs a little chaos in his life.

And finally, a PSA, written as much as a reminder to myself, as to anyone else who feels like their writing doesn't quite fit anywhere:

When I posted my first fanfic (wolfstar), no one read me. We’re talking like four kudos in a fandom where fics go viral. And at some point I thought, maybe I should attempt to write things that people actually want to read? 

I love writing deeply romantic stories, but I love stories like True Romance or The Shape of Water. Two people who are perfect for each other, but one is mute and the other is a fish god from Brazil. One stabs Tony Soprano in the foot with a corkscrew and the other communicates with an hallucination of Elvis. 

Finally, I found the Carry On fandom who enthusiastically embraced my Baz who excelled "at both deep-throating cock and scorching motherfuckers like a vengeance demon in floral Tom Ford." And then finally, finally, almost a year after it posted, people in the wolfstar fandom started reading Blood Sugar Sex Moony. Now, almost every day, I get kudos and (sometimes delightfully unhinged) comments on my wolfstar too. 

I don’t imagine I’ll ever be really, really popular, but I’ve found a group of readers — or they’ve found me — who appreciate the way my brain works, and little old high school me, who always believed that the best love stories are the strangest ones, knows that they are not alone. 

So my PSA to everyone out there who feels like Nora Ephron trapped in David Lynch trapped in Wes Craven — or whatever your unmarketable combo may be — keep on doing you. One day you will find your people 🩷

Also, thank you to everyone who read, kudos-ed, and commented on my fics, and a special shout out to all of the wonderful friends I've made in the Carry On fandom. Y'all have brightened my 2024.

And now, tags!

@bookish-bogwitch @monbons @roomwithanopenfire @fiend-for-culture @you-remind-me-of-the-babe

@thewholelemon @mooncello @iamamythologicalcreature @rimeswithpurple @orange-peony

@messofthejess @alexalexinii @best--dress @ileadacharmedlife @ic3que3n

@hushed-chorus @rbkzz @noblecorgi @facewithoutheart @larkral

@euripidestrousers @r33sespieces @artsyunderstudy @cutestkilla @letraspal

Plus anyone who wants to play. (I imagine this can be done for art too. Or dolls!)

[blackberrysummerblog]

Thanks for the tag @bookish-bogwitch! I scrolled back through umpteen photos of my shelter cats and was pretty excited to find:

Looks like @artsyunderstudy’s beard!Baz is going to have his hands full with @thewholelemon and me 🤣

Tagging @valeffelees and @letraspal because their work were my next two saves!

last fictional character in ur camera roll just adopted u

(Yes I did do this only because I want him to adopt me. Fuck off)

tags: @cryptidwithaninternetconnection @reggie-the-inferi @gingerbreadeel24 @pickupstyx

and whoever the fuck sees this

[dearamleo]

Sneak peak of a Snowbaz bind I just finished 😊

It’s not a pairing I typically read but holy fuck was this story just insanely beautifully written. And the art on top of it??? Stunning.

@artsyunderstudy was kind enough to allow me to bind it and I’m so happy to have it on my shelf. Thank you! 💚💚

[j-nipper-95]

The Trails We Blaze

Rating: Mature

Words: 41,035

Chapters: 12/?

Summary:

Simon and Baz have been through a lot together. Growing up as criminals on London's streets; surviving the Great War; dealing with a lot of repressed feelings. But after their latest con goes wrong, they're left with nothing but an ancient map, a signet ring of unknown provenance or value, and promises of a city that doesn't even exist.

Thrust into a world of adventure with danger at every turn, they're forced to decide how far they're willing to go for a myth, a fortune, and a chance at love.

Prologue / Chapter 1 / Chapter 2 / Chapter 3 / Chapter 4 / Chapter 5 / Chapter 6 / Chapter 7 / Chapter 8 / Chapter 9 / Chapter 10 / Chapter 11

Thank you to @artsyunderstudy for helping to beta read this beast of a fic and for producing some amazing artwork! I'm so excited to share this COTTA2023 (@carryonthroughtheages) fic with you all!

[rimeswithpurple]

Art & Cake Roundup 2024

Thank you to @emeryhall, @monbons & @confused-bi-queer for the tags! I wouldn’t normally think to participate in one of these roundups since I’m not a writer, but I’m so glad I took a moment to appreciate everything I’ve accomplished this year.

Collaborations

The Naked Truth

Time Will Lie Down & Be Still

The Wedding Planner

Infinity in a Teacup

Fic Fanart

Basil Pitch's Diary

More Than a Footnote

Keep the Skates on

Bakes

Penny's Birthday Cake

Baz's Birthday Cake

Simon's Birthday Tea Spread

Carry On Countdown "Sweets"

Gifts/Events

Lingerie Simon & Baz

Carry On Art Remix

Ashton's Birthday Present

Carry On Through the Ages

Carry On Countdown

Secret Snowflake Exchange

I can sometimes get bogged down thinking that I still have so far to go in terms of skill and I forget to look at how far I've come. I've experienced tremendous growth as an artist and baker and I don't often give myself credit.

This year has also been a big year of making friendships and really feeling like part of a community. I had the pleasure of meeting a few fandom friends in person as well as connecting with others through friendship bracelets and holiday cards. It's been the highlight of my year!

At least in this corner of the internet, I look forward to what the next year brings!

Hugs and hellos: @talentpiper11 @messofthejess @blackberrysummerblog @valeffelees @artsyunderstudy @you-remind-me-of-the-babe @youarenevertooold @bookish-bogwitch @facewithoutheart @thewholelemon @larkral @run-for-chamo-miles @roomwithanopenfire @fiend-for-culture @cosmicalart @mooncello @that-disabled-princess @cutestkilla @noblecorgi @iamamythologicalcreature @best--dress @ileadacharmedlife @drowninginships @supercutedinosaurs @whatevertheweather @rbkzz @ebbpettier @cccloudsss @theimpossibledemon @katatsumuli @onepintobean @orange-peony @hushed-chorus @fatalfangirl @ic3-que3n @bazzybelle @palimpsessed @martsonmars @aristocratic-otter @shrekgogurt @alexalexinii @prettygoododds @ivelovedhimthroughworse @raenestee @skeedelvee @ivy-saurs @excalisbury

[noblecorgi]

WIP WEDNESDAY

Posted, as is tradition, on Thursday in Australia because I’m terrible but @rbkzz cracked the whip to post my WIP.

So, sneak peak from Ch 19 of On The Rocks:

I fumble with my phone, dialling his number with my heart in my throat.

It doesn’t even ring. Just straight to voicemail - his dulcet, resonant voice saying “You have reached Basilton Grimm-Pitch. Please leave a concise message.” His precise, RP becomes clipped and forceful on the word ‘concise’ and if I weren’t so terrified I’d laugh at the grumpy git.

Instead I immediately, stupidly, re-dial. And then again. And again. Ten more times. (I remember some probably bollocks Einstein quote about insanity being doing the same shit over and over and expecting different outcomes, and it’s not lost on me that I’m literally in the fucking nut house doing exactly that.)

@artsyunderstudy @alexalexinii @angelsfalling16 @asocialpessimist @whatevertheweather @edenalix @emjaydellyone @emeryhall @run-for-chamo-miles @roomwithanopenfire @raenestee @rimeswithpurple @thehoneyedhufflepuff @theearlgreymage @thewholelemon @you-remind-me-of-the-babe @youarenevertooold @ic3que3n @ichooseyousnowbaz @iamamythologicalcreature @ileadacharmedlife @palimpsessed @prettygoododds @philaet0s @pacey-bunce-loves-joey @stitchy-queerista @skee3000 @dani-vc @drowninginships @diamondmeadow @fiend-for-culture @facewithoutheart @hushed-chorus @hihimissamericanbi @jennandblitz @lonleyhumanbeing @letraspal @carryonsimoncarryonbaz @cutestkilla @cosmicalart @confused-bi-queer @beastmonstertitan @bookish-bogwitch @ninemagicks @nausikaaa @nightimedreamersworld @messofthejess @martsonmars @monbons

[forabeatofadrum]

Mwah hello darling thank you so so much for recommending my fic, and for giving it a shot in the first place considering its really so. so much smut. but tender smut! feelings smut! anyway, i digress, very very much thank you.

I wanted to let you know you know the title is Someone Wicked (you wrote something)----it HAPPYENS ALL THE TIME i just wanted to let you know in case you wanted to fix it but i didnt wanna respond on the post publicly like a jerk haha.

Anyway. seriously thank you, really glad you enjoyed it so far. and honestly really brave of you to start reading at this particular chapter. <33333

It's the tender smut and feelings smut that got me. I've actually had a post in my drafts for the past uhhhh 13 months (apparently) about smut yada yada so maybe I should write that huh.

And oof the "no beta, we die like men" mentality also strikes outside of fic writing. You didn't sound like a jerk and you also wouldn't have sounded like one if you did a direct reply cause I was just a dum dum.

AND I DIDN'T KNOW IT WAS GOING TO END LIKE THIS ASHTON. '

[monbons]

Stitches and Sentences Sunday

Thanks for the tags @martsonmars and @artsyunderstudy. I loved reading your WIP snips. As always, such delicious delicious words from both of you.

This is a long update with video and some mild NSFW, so I am slapping everything under the cut. Enjoy!

STITCHES I resolved to take it easy in the new year, so I have no big doll projects on the horizon. I've just been slowly plugging away at MRB Simon as I sat on planes and in airports for hours on end this break.

But Monica, didn't you make him for COC? Well, yes and no...

As soon as I started making things for COC, I realized the only way to make the project sustainable was to create what I now call "base Simon" and "base Baz." These consisted of a head, torso, and legs. Then, depending on the position required, sometimes I swapped out the arms (on one occasion the legs), and I always changed the clothing and/or accessories. As a result, MRB Simon was actually ONLY arms and some hasty pipe cleaner flowers.

After wrapping up the last post, I cleaned up the CHAOS that had exploded in my bedroom and the little disembodied arms sitting on my desk began haunting me. So, I decided to complete MRB Simon. Here he is in all his naked glory.

I would like to add the disclaimer that I didn't know anything about embroidery before this. Truly. I taught myself three simple stitches in one night from youtube just to have these arms made in time for COC. So, given that, I am pretty happy with how he's turned out. I am still waiting on shoes and a few accessories to arrive, but once he is finished, I'll give him his own dedicated post and mail him off to @rimeswithpurple as a thank you for all of her help with my COC Watford map.

SENTENCES As I said, I was trying to take it easy. Not so much a resolution as what I needed after all the madness. However, almost as soon as I made the decision, I was struck by creative lightning. I've learned that you never walk away from inspiration, so I've cranked out almost all of my EGF fic already and it is in the hands of my trusty forever beta.

I have nothing I want to preview just yet because it is the filthiest thing I have ever written while also not being very filthy at all??? I don't know how else to explain it then to share the comment I left @thewholelemon on my doc.

Perhaps I will feel brave enough to share more in upcoming weeks. Since it was inspired by a slutty doll accessory I stumbled upon and have since commissioned for one of my dolls, I may also illustrate my own fic. We'll see.

Hellos and high-fives from the smutty doll factory!

@alexalexinii, @argumentativeantitheticalg, @aristocratic-otter, @arthurkko, @artsyunderstudy

@best--dress, @blackberrysummerblog, @brilla-brilla-estrellita, @bookish-bogwitch, @confused-bi-queer

@cutestkilla, @drowninginships, @emeryhall, @facewithoutheart, @harrie-leithillustration

@hushed-chorus, @iamamythologicalcreature, @ic3que3n, @ileadacharmedlife, @katatsumuli,

@larkral, @letraspal, @martsonmars, @messofthejess, @mooncello,

@noblecorgi, @orange-peony, @prettygoododds, @raenestee, @rbkzz,

@rimeswithpurple, @roomwithanopenfire, @run-for-chamo-miles, @shrekgogurt, @skeedelvee

@stitchyqueer, @talentpiper11, @twinkle-twinkle-up-above, @theimpossibledemon, @thewholelemon,

@valeffelees, @whatevertheweather, @you-remind-me-of-the-babe, @youarenevertooold