#the musketeers oneshot

[justanoasisimagines]

Dear Beautiful

Hey Lovelies back with another love letter! Requests are open and my guidelines are pinned at the top of the page! Credit to cafekitsune for the banner and the divider!

I never realized how long the nights were until recently I looked up at the stars and wondered if you were looking at Aramis tells me that being apart from your love is one of the hardest aspects of being in love. Don't tell him but I'd have to agree.

Perhaps once you've read this letter could you look up at the sky, so I know we're looking at the stars together. Perhaps it brings us both some comfort.

I hope this letter finds you well. Please look after yourself. I cannot bare anything happening to you while I'm away. In return, I promise I will do everything in my power to return to you in one piece. Remember if you need anything whether that be supplies of someone to talk to you can always go see Treville or Constance You're one of us now.

Before I forget you might wish to see Constance so you can hae a new dress made. When I return home, the first thing I intend to do is make you my wife, so we can be together until our last breathes and our love will be for all enternity

All my love

Forever Your Porthos x

[anamariamauricia]

rediscovered an annamis wip i had completely forgotten about and it was like getting to read a whole new fic

[liebgotts-lovergirl]

All For One & One For All

Gallery II Taglist Application II Symbol Guide

Summary: In trying to tear them apart, Captain Sobel just accidentally brought them closer. A/N: Just a lil friendship flashback blurb thing that came to me while I was working on Chapter 11 & I figured I'd put it out there lol bc platonic friendships are important!! Taglist: @latibvles @softguarnere @brassknucklespeirs @wwhatev3r @mccall-muffin

6 Months Earlier: March 18th, 1944. Aldbourne, England.

“I’m gonna kill myself,” Don muttered, hauling what felt like the millionth pile of dirt over his shoulder. 

“I’m gonna kill him myself,” Alix replied out of the corner of her mouth, digging her shovel violently into the Earth with renewed vigor, as though spearing Sobel straight through the heart.

“Not if I do it first,” Skip mumbled back to her with a roll of his eyes. “Can you believe this is our fucking Saturday?"

“I don’t remember giving you three permission to speak!” Sobel bellowed from the outside of the ditch, pacing from one end to the other like a caged animal. 

“Sir,” Skip half-panted, in a tone of forced diplomacy. “We’ve been at this since dawn and it’s almost ten now. When can-”

“You will be digging these damn ditches until I tell you to stop, Sergeant Muck!” Sobel interrupted, nostrils flaring.

"Your times from yesterday morning's run were so pathetic that you should be grateful I didn't make you run beforehand!”

Well what did you fucking expect, Alix wanted to retort.

Don was sick as a dog, and both she and Skip were nursing hangovers on zero sleep, having spent most of Thursday night taking care of Malarkey after they returned from the pub.

What the hell did Sobel expect them to be after all that, Olympic fucking medalists?

Digging pointless ditches only to fill them back in was one of Sobel's favorite punishments and the three of them seemed to always be first on his shit-list: Alix for insubordination and her smart mouth, Skip for lateness, and Don seemingly just for existing. 

Don stopped digging to let out another hacking cough into his elbow and Sobel’s nose crinkled disdainfully.

Keeping his head tilted down, Skip still managed to exchange worried glances with Alix. 

Don's flu had only been getting worse under the constant training in the English rain, and his best friends both wondered silently how long Don could remain working before he collapsed.

Finally, the agent resolved to say something.

She couldn't let this asshole Sobel endanger her friend, even if it meant taking on more punishments herself.

“Sir, Mal can barely stand!" Alix protested, pausing from her work momentarily to wipe away the sweat trickling down her forehead.

She was trying her best to remain civil but it was a Herculean effort.

"Punish me and Skip all you'd like but Don is too fucking sick to be here. He needs rest and a doctor before he gets any worse!"

 

Sobel glared down at her for a moment and Alix could see the cogs turning in his mind before he spoke. 

"It's Martinelli, isn't it?" he asked finally, eyes narrowed as he scrutinized her. "Our Sparrow-in-Training." 

You have my file; you know damn well who I am, Alix wanted to snap, but she managed a "Yes sir" from between gritted teeth.

“Well Martinelli," he spat as though her name was a curse word.

"You don't give the orders around here. I do. And since you three had the worst times yesterday, you will be digging ditches until I tell you otherwise. Is that clear?" 

"Then let me dig Don's section," Alix pushed. "So he doesn't have to." 

"I can help!" Skip volunteered but Sobel ignored them, continuing on his tirade.

"Director Donovan and the OSS might see something special in you, Martinelli, but d’you want to know what I see?” 

Not particularly but I know you're going to tell me, Alix thought dryly but outwardly she held her tongue, glaring down at her shovel as she dug up another round of soil and threw it over her shoulder. 

He was deliberately trying to rankle her by ignoring her concerns about Don's health, framing it as though she were trying to give orders above her station. 

What a piece of shit. 

“I see a spoiled brat who thinks she’s too good to be here because Daddy paid her way into the OSS."

Alix set her jaw but Sobel was just getting started. 

"You may be Donovan's little princess back at HQ," he sneered. "But as long as you are positioned with Easy for your cover, you are under my command and I will not be allowing this type of insubordination to go unpunished. Get out of the ditch." 

Alix's brows knit. 

"Sir?" 

"Get. Out. Of. The. Ditch." he repeated, overenunciating his words as though she were a child. 

Once she'd climbed out, Sobel, who towered over her at 6 foot 1, regarded her as though she were an ant beneath his boots. 

"Count yourself fortunate that I can't kick you out, Martinelli," he all but snarled at her.

"Because I wouldn't hesitate. You're not cut out for the Airborne." 

"Good thing I didn't sign up for it then, sir." 

Shit. 

Alix's mouth moved faster than her brain sometimes. 

Most times, she thought ruefully. 

A snicker escaped Skip's mouth before he could stop it and Sobel's head whipped around, descending on him like a hawk.

"Do you think insubordination is funny, Sergeant?"

 "N-No sir," Skip choked out, trying to disguise his laughter as coughs. "Not funny at all, sir."  

Sobel was wearing a sanguine smirk, pacing in front of Skip and Alix's section of the ditch as though he were deciding what method of torture would be most appropriate for each of them.

The sadistic bastard was enjoying this. 

"Agent Martinelli," he announced, turning back to lock eyes with Alix. She could see a vein pulsing in his forehead but she kept her eyes focused, squinting in the morning sun. 

She would not be the first to blink.

"Since you seem to enjoy assuming a leadership role when it has not been assigned to you, you will be running the officers' course: 5 miles at full-speed and you will be timed. Your handler ran it in 35 minutes. Since you seem to think you rank even higher, let's see if you can run it in 25." 

Alix drew her bottom lip between her teeth to keep from yelling, biting down so hard that she tasted blood. 

He's insane, she thought to herself. He's officially fucking lost it. 

Another impossible task, and all because she had been a little tired during the morning run.

She could've screamed, especially when she saw the gloating look on Sobel's face.

"I may not be able to kick you out, Martinelli, but by the end of today, you will wish that I had."

"We'll see, sir."

"Muck, Malarkey" Sobel barked, turning his attention to her other friends. "Get out of the ditch." 

Skip exhaled sharply through his nose, as though he was releasing any hope of having a good day, but he too clambered out of the ditch before reaching down to help Don as well.

"Since I would hate to break up the Three fucking Musketeers--"

Sobel's voice was dripping with so much sarcasm that it left Alix seriously considered how much it would cost her to accidentally poison the man's coffee some fine morning.

"You two will be accompanying Agent Martinelli on the Officers' Course. But this is not a playdate, you three. You will be competing. The one with the slowest time will be filling in this unfinished ditch all by themself."

Alix cocked an eyebrow.

She knew the game he was playing. It was the same game that the headmistress played at St. Mary's: trying to pit friends against each other.

Sobel got a real kick out of being divisive and Alix suspected that whatever else was going on in his life, he wanted everyone else to suffer for it too.

Well, tough shit.

She might've actually felt sorry for him if he wasn't such a jackass.

But Sobel was the sort of man who would probably kick puppies for fun.

He was clearly banking on the fact that if they were busy fighting with each other, they'd be less effective against him so he was trying his damnedest to sow some discord between them.

But he didn't know Warren Muck, not like they did.

Skip was the glue that held everything together, the ever-patient mediator.

Don and Alix may have been quick to anger but never him.

Infinitely good-natured, the Skipper wasn't one to hold a grudge and he as well as anyone knew what Sobel's modus operandi was. It would take more than a stupid punishment from Sobel to make him truly angry at either her or Don.

"What are you waiting for?" Sobel shouted, seemingly morbidly overjoyed to watch them struggle through the course. "Get a move on! You're wasting daylight."

"Yes sir," Alix spit with as much venom as she had in her as the three headed off.

∆∆━━━━∆∆━━━∆∆━━━∆∆

"That man is the Devil in jump boots, I swear," Skip remarked from her right side at his usual bounding pace "I'd stake my life on it."

"You're not wrong, Skipper," Don wheezed through another loud cough, his speed starting to lag. "I'm pretty sure he's tryna kill me."

"Sure seems like it," Alix panted in reply, slowing down to match Don's pace. "Sorry I got you guys smoked too though. I would've rather it've just been me."

"No sweat," Skip chirped cheerfully, still practically skipping, true to his name. "Beats digging more stupid ditches!"

Don managed a small grin.

The bounce in Skip's step never seemed to fade, no matter how dark the day.

"And besides," Skip continued. "At least we're all getting smoked together, right? Builds character."

"Well by the time we're done in Aldbourne, we'll probably have the most fucking character of anyone in the damn whole company," Don joked.

"You're welcome," Alix snarked, the heavy footfalls of her boots sending clouds of dirt up like a small stampede.

"Guys, did he really call us the Three fucking Musketeers as an insult," Don laughed, which quickly turned into a sneeze.

"Or was that just a product of my flu-addled imagination?"

"No, it was real," Alix commented with a grin. "Not a bad book either, Les Trois Mousquetaires. I read it at St. Mary's."

"Hey, no kidding!" Skip's face lit up from beside her. "I read it in school too!"

"Weren't they also called--" Don broke off due to another coughing fit and Skip finished for him.

"The Three Inseparables, yep!"

"'We are never seen one without the others...Athos, Porthos, and Aramis, the Three Inseparables.'" Alix recited from memory.

"And D'Artagnan, the extra," Don added. "But he doesn't really count, does he?"

"I know Sobel meant it as an insult but is it terrible that I actually kinda like it?" Skip asked. "'S pretty fitting, I think."

Alix shook her head.

"It's definitely fitting," she piped up in agreement. "Plus, anything that Sobel hates is pretty much automatically my new favorite thing."

"Agreed," Don replied. "But now we need to figure out what're we gonna do about this stupid fucking competition. We'll be at the end soon."

Malarkey was right, Alix mused, trying to ignore the ever-increasing burning of her muscles as they ran.

They were nearing the end of the course and Sobel would soon be expecting two winners and a loser.

Since Malarkey was sick, most likely, Sobel was betting on him finishing last so that he could be forced to fill in the ditch, but neither Skip nor Alix were going to let that happen.

"Well, the answer's right there, isn't it?" Alix commented and both Skip and Don cocked their heads.

"Care to elaborate?" Skip asked at the same time Don managed to choke out "Share" in between a string of thunderous sneezes.

"'Tous pour un, un pour tous!'"

Skip shook his head.

"Sorry, no dice. Translation please?"

"'All for one and one for all,'" Alix answered brightly.

"We finish the race at the same time, together, that way Sobel can't make any one of us fill the ditch in alone. The work'll go much faster between the three of us!"

"'All for one and one for all,'" Skip repeated, a grin spreading across his face. "I love it. You in, Mal?"

"Of course I'm in!" Malarkey piped up. "Man, I can't wait to see the pissed off look on his face when he realizes we won't play his stupid fucking games!"

And Malarkey was right.

The sense of pure triumph and satisfaction that Alix felt watching Sobel's face turn red with fury as the three of them crossed the finish line arm-in-arm was enough to get her sore muscles through even the most strenuous parts of refilling the ditch afterwards.

[enbysiriusblack]

a kiss with a fist

definitely enemies to lovers dorlene. probably quidditch rivals, them getting in fights all the time and slowly start falling in love, fighting each other because its the only time the other will hold them. dorcas accidentally punches marlene's face, making her lip bleed and instantly feels terrible and takes her to the medical wing, holding ice to her lip. both of them struggling not to kiss each other.

[percervall]

it's a wonderful feeling

Pairing: Aramis x Queen Anne Words: 1410 Warnings: Fluff, mentions of cheating, mentions of divorce Request: Dancing to Christmas music ngl I struggled a little with this one. Started it back in September but got stuck on where to take it for a good two months

For @theflyingfeeling, merry Christmas babe! I hope you like it!

---

The last few weeks had been hectic to say the least. Anne sighed as she looked around the living room of her apartment. She had attempted to unpack, but it felt as if the boxes were multiplying; every time she had emptied one, three more seemed to appear. She sighed and tied her hair back into a ponytail before opening what would hopefully be the final box. She removed a stack of cookbooks and laid eyes on a picture frame. The photo made her stop in her tracks, and she felt her throat close with emotion. Putting the cookbooks down on the coffee table, she picked it up, running a finger over the frame as the first tear rolled down her cheek. Anne had no idea how her wedding photo had found its way into this box. The sight of her younger self looking so happy and in love had caught her off guard.

“Anne? Are you hurt?” She shook her head and looked up to see him in the doorway, worry and concern etched onto his face. He looked from her face to the frame still in her hands and was quick to make his way over to her.

“Oh my love,” he murmured into her blond curls as he pulled her against his chest. Anne allowed the tears she’d been holding back to finally fall freely, mourning the beguiled girl in the photo who had no idea she had just entered a loveless marriage to a jealous man. She was so proud of herself to file for divorce, wishing she’d found the courage to do so sooner.

“I’m sorry, Aramis, for not leaving him sooner… I was wrong to deny you being a father to your son and I-...”

“It’s alright darling, you had to make sacrifices to protect him. I will never blame you for doing what you did. After all, it gave us our son and how could I ever regret that?” 

Her husband –ex-husband, she corrected herself– was the heir and CEO of a large bourbon distillery based in France. Their marriage had resulted in her becoming CFO, which had made sense at the time seeing as she had a Masters in both Finance and Business. It also alerted her to the fact that her husband was using company funds to finance his affairs. In the months that followed, Anne had confided in her assistant and friend, Constance. Anne had also drunkenly confessed to one of the mixologists employed at the bar of the distillery and had ended up finding comfort in his bed. Seeing as the COO was more than happy to turn a blind eye to Louis’ escapades, Anne had seen no other option but to tell the board what she had discovered and had threatened Louis to tell the investors if he caused her any issues in the divorce. 

Aramis pulled back to look at her, wiping away her tears. 

“I’m so proud of you,” he whispered, his love and adoration evident in his voice. Anne smiled timidly, resting a hand on his wrist as he held her face. 

“Part of me feels like a hypocrite,” Anne muttered, wiping her nose on the sleeve of her hoodie. 

“No my love, he broke the law. He used company funds to take those women on exotic holidays. All you did was seek comfort, a way to mend a broken heart,” Aramis said, eyes searching hers as he checked that she understood the difference. Anne nodded, taking a deep breath. He was right. Although both her and her ex had cheated on each other, she hadn’t resorted to fraud. 

Aramis pressed a kiss so gentle to her forehead, it made her heart flutter. She was still amazed at how loved he could make her feel with such small gestures. 

“How about I get started on dinner and we decorate for Christmas afterwards? Those boxes will still be here in the morning,” he suggested. Anne nodded in agreement and dropped the photo back in the box. Knowing Aramis, the photo would be put away someplace safe before she woke up tomorrow. 

“Could you please take these into the kitchen? I’ll sort them later,” she asked as she pointed to the stack of cookbooks. Aramis chuckled and picked them up. 

“How does pasta sound?”

“That sounds delicious,” she relied, hearing her stomach growl at the mention of food. Aramis laughed and moved towards the kitchen. 

+

Anne had managed to find her faux Christmas tree and the several boxes of decorations in the time it had taken Aramis to cook dinner. Their son was spending the weekend with her brother and his wife so she could unpack and get the place ready for him. The little boy had just turned one and absolutely adored his uncle. When Louis had realised he wasn’t the boy’s father, he had been quick to relinquish his rights. A child simply didn’t fit in with his dreams and ambitions. Anne had been a little hurt in the beginning by Louis’ selfishness, but was grateful in a sense that the boy would now grow up knowing his real dad —Aramis. 

“Here,” he said, pulling her from her thoughts as he handed her a glass of wine. She gratefully accepted it and took a sip before placing the glass on the bookshelf to her left. Anne had already strung the lights in the tree and had sorted out the ornaments. Last year she had bought shatter proof ones to hang on the lower branches. Aramis connected his phone to the new WiFi audio system and soft Christmas music filled the room. Anne closed her eyes, letting the music wash over her. Aramis came to stand behind her, wrapping his arms around her. 

“I think we should leave the star for our little star,” he murmured, leaning forward to place one of the glittery glass ornaments higher up on the tree. Anne hummed in agreement and hung another ornament in the tree. The pair of them worked in relative silence, filling the tree with gold and navy ornaments. 

Anne took a step back to admire their work. They had managed to use up all of the baubles and the tree looked almost magical in the dim lighting of her living room. 

“Beautiful,” she said under her breath, taking the last sip of her wine. 

“Agreed,” Aramis said, but instead of the tree he was looking at her. She let him pull her closer, wrapping her arms around his neck. His came to rest low on her waist. He lowered his face to press a tender kiss to her lips. Anne thought she had known love before, but when her marriage started fraying at the edges she realised that it hadn’t been love —it had been convenience disguised as love. And it wasn’t until she found herself in Aramis’ bed, drunk on lust and about five bourbon cocktails, that she began to understand what love should feel and look like; it was quiet and steady, an all-consuming warmth. 

“Hey, you’re miles away,” Aramis murmured in her ear as he swayed them in time to the music. 

“I was just thinking about how lucky our son is,” Anne replied, looking up at him. Aramis smiled at the use of our. 

“He very much is, having you as a mother,” he said, eyes crinkling. 

“I hope so, but I meant that he will grow up seeing what love should look like. He won’t ever doubt how much his parents love him or each other. Thank you for giving us that,” she explained. Aramis kissed her again, lips moving against hers at a languid pace. She sighed into his mouth as he pulled her flush against him. The kiss left her more than a little breathless. Aramis’ kisses very much mirrored the way he loved his people; it was so deep she was sometimes scared she could drown in him only to realise that he was there, always there, to keep her afloat. 

Aramis kept moving them in time with the music, one arm around her waist while the other held her hand to his chest, right over his heart. Anne rested her head on his shoulder. 

“Will you stay the night? I’d like to pick him up together tomorrow,” she asked quietly. Aramis hummed, a sound she felt more than heard. 

“I’d like that very much, my love,” he replied, pressing a kiss to the top of her head.

Tags @football-and-fanfics @kostasstsimikass

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[rainbow-flavoured-skittles]

haunted monastery drabbles

I know I said this would be a oneshot, but I decided it's a bit too short to count as one. so instead it's just a bunch of drabbles that are very, very loosely connected.

tws for death, blood mentions, and injuries

~

The new one — Jay, his name is Jay — was sitting on the couch playing video games. Cole flopped down next to him and stretched.

Jay had just arrived at the Monastery a few weeks ago and was still settling in. It was interesting, to have a new person around. Nice to have someone to talk to, but annoying that he didn’t have the space to himself anymore. Cole watched the little characters on screen jump and kick and fight each other. Jay was winning, it appeared. Cole wasn’t sure. He should probably ask, if Jay even knew he was here.

“Are you winning?”

Cole knew what he looked like. He’d looked in a mirror, before, after all. Pure black eyes, bloody skin, constantly glitching and flickering like a bad TV screen. It wasn’t surprising that Jay screamed at the unknown voice and dropped his controller.

It still kind of hurt, though. Cole had always wanted a big brother.

~

Zane was in the kitchen chopping up vegetables. Cole sat on the counter, grinning in amusement whenever the knife went through his leg, or poking at the flames on the stove. It tickled. He didn’t knock anything over, though it might have been fun. It would have been mean to ruin all of Zane’s hard work.

“That looks good,” Cole chirped. He avoided the water that sprayed out from the sink, hissing in pain when it hit him. It stung like acid. But there was worse pain in the world, so he ignored it and focused on his big brother. His big brother who had just touched a red-hot pan without any problem.

Zane wasn’t human. Obviously. Humans had heartbeats and blood and flesh. Zane had none of those things. Cole wasn’t sure he knew it, though. Zane always pretended to eat and sleep like everyone else. Hopefully he’d figure it out. Then they could bond over being not-humans together, which would be nice. Except Zane had to know he existed for that to happen.

Zane would have to figure out two things, then. 

~

Cole didn’t like Kai. Kai was brash and angry and didn’t listen to orders. He was worried about someone, his sister, but he didn’t care about Jay or Zane. He didn’t want to help stop Garmadon. He just wanted to go back to his parents’ shop and make weapons.

Which was fine by Cole, really. Three was a perfectly good number. Zane, Jay, and Cole. They were a good team. Even if two of them didn’t realise there was a third member.

Maybe there was a reason for Kai to stay. Cole didn’t really want his brothers to get killed because they didn’t have the master of fire. And Kai didn’t like Wu, at least not very much, which was a win. They could team up to hide his incense and mess up his ugly teapot collection. If Kai knew he existed. Cole kept forgetting that no one knew about him.

“If you join the team, we’ll have to think of a new name. Four musketeers isn’t very catchy,” Cole told Kai. “You should ask Jay for ideas.”

Kai blinked and turned his head like he’d heard. He rubbed his eyes when he spotted Cole’s silhouette. “Huh. Could have sworn I heard something,” he muttered.

“You did hear something! Me!” Cole said, exasperated. Kai didn’t react that time.

~

Cole wasn’t sure why he tended to avoid Nya. She was nice, if a bit short tempered, and Jay liked her a lot. But something about her made him uneasy. Being too close to her or even spending a long time in the same room together made his skin itch.

It was like warning bells going off in his head every time she stepped close. Danger, do not approach.As if some deep part of him thought of her as a threat.

Yes, Nya could be scary towards her enemies. She was formidable — Samurai X was proof of that. But she wasn’t dangerous to those she cared about. Cole was pretty sure he’d count as one of those people.

That was why he sucked it up and spent the night watching movies with her. All their brothers were out, so it was just the two of them. Cole didn’t pay attention to the movie, mostly because it wasn’t really a movie, more of a documentary. He just wanted to spend time with his sister.

“Can I choose the next movie?” Cole asked. Nya didn’t respond, of course, but it had been worth a try. 

~

Lloyd was the best thing to have happened to Cole since Nya and Kai’s arrival. He was about the same age as Cole, which meant that they got along great. Not that Cole didn’t get along with the others, but it was nice to have someone his age. And it meant that he got a little brother, something he’d never had before. Because Cole had been born first, which meant that he was technically older, which meant that Lloyd was his little brother. 

Well, it had been nice to have someone his age. The tomorrow’s tea had aged Lloyd up to being a teenager.

Nobody was happy with that development. Everyone felt that Lloyd had been robbed of his childhood. And Lloyd himself didn’t want to have grown up so fast, to be forced to fight his dad so soon.

Cole didn’t really understand why Lloyd didn’t want to fight Garmadon. Garmadon was going to destroy the world, after all. Yes, he was Lloyd’s father, but he hadn’t exactly been a good father.

He’d still try to support Lloyd. Lloyd was his little brother.

~

His lungs felt like they were being stabbed repeatedly. He couldn’t feel his right leg, or both of his arms. They must have been crushed in the rockslide. His head was pounding — must be a concussion — and his nose was definitely broken. He couldn’t see out of his right eye, and what the other eye could see was all rocks and dirt.

Cole lay there for what felt like hours, and it might have been. He tried to call for help, but his voice failed him. No one knew where he was. He hadn’t told anyone, hadn’t left any notes.

Would Wu look for him? Was he looking right now? Maybe he was using that all-seeing incense, or whatever it was called. Or maybe he wasn’t looking at all, couldn’t be bothered to. Wu certainly hadn’t cared before. He was probably glad that the little brat he’d picked up was gone.

Cole coughed. He tasted metallic blood in his mouth. “Dad,” he croaked. “Master Wu. Please.”

He slipped into darkness.

[bluemirrorangel]

As for fic requests, this isn’t a fully fledged idea but I would love to read a fic where Neil is embarrassingly obsessed and head over heels in love with Todd, like we need more content of Neil being like “yes whatever you say” to whatever Todd says yet Todd is still somehow oblivious lmao. Hopefully that makes sense!

you're sooo real for this. I really liked this prompt so I hope you like this drabble :)

the look of love- Anderperry oneshot

Neil never expected this to happen. He’d be the first to admit that his friends were all at least somewhat attractive and he told them openly; Charlie with  charisma and the way his hair fell  against his forehead, Knox’s absentminded charm and his soft smiles, Meek’s eagerness to learn new things and the way his glasses magnified his doe brown eyes, Pitt’s quick wit and the way his jaw set when he was focused. Even Cameron could be charming, the slight crinkle he’d get between his eyebrows when he was determined and the pink flush that coloured his cheekbones when Charlie teased him highlighted his freckles and moles. 

So it wasn’t like Neil had never admired another guy’s looks before but it was different with Todd.

When they'd first met Neil noticed Todd almost immediately. He’d been struck by his deer-in-the-headlights expression as his parents set off for Nolan, Neil watched as Todd's mother dragged him behind her like a rag doll and watched the way he followed her body moving seemingly on its own accord as he stumbled over his own feet like a marionette.

Then they were assigned roommates so Neil had gone out of his way to introduce himself. He'd taken one look at Todd, quiet and unassuming Todd, and had known immediately that they were to be friends. 

Neil had a known tendency to ‘pick up strays’ as Charlie would say, he couldn’t help himself he’d done it with all of them. Neil and Charlie were childhood friends ready to take on Welton just the two of them, at least that was the plan until a ten-year-old Neil had brought a clumsy and forgetful Knox to their table at lunch. Charlie hadn’t minded at first Knox was nice enough and funny in his own strange way, they’d grown close too, the three musketeers, and all was well until Neil came to Charlie's room for study group three weeks later with two new boys in tow, a gangly brunette and a nerdy looking redhead he introduced as Pitts and Meeks. They’d made it work with the five of them. Neil, Charlie, and Knox being a little trio were fine because Pitts and Meeks were roommates and they were close as can be sure study sessions were a little harder now with how cramped the space was but it was fine, Meeks and Charlie became closer, the redhead took to tutoring the other in Latin, and Pitts and Knox followed Pitt’s dry sarcasm complemented the other boy’s odd humour well. So two became five and everything was fine.

Until Charlie got a New roommate in their third year; a pale redheaded boy with millions of freckles, bright green eyes, and a tendency to say the wrong thing. Richard Cameron was weird; he was smart like Meeks on;y twice as studious, he was sarcastic like Pittsie but lacked the other boy’s signature good-natured tone, he had Charlie’s stubborn nature but not his relaxed disposition and he often messed up social cues like Knox even though he tried harder to fit in. Charlie disliked him from the get-go, finding his people-pleasing tendencies and his know-it persona to be jarring, this was fine because Cameron didn’t seem too fond of him either, always rolling his eyes at the others' antics and turning away from Charlie when he tried to talk to him. You can imagine Charlie’s surprise and displeasure when he went down to the common room only to find Neil pulling Cameron away from his usual place in the corner and towards their table.

Neil had promised Charlie that he’d stop taking on charity cases. Lest their whole group become social pariahs. The group dynamic had only just become stable; Neil, Charlie, and Knox with Meeks, Pitts, and Cameron but Neil was sure Todd didn’t count they were roommates after all so it was imperative they make nice. 

Todd was quiet and thoughtful, a little melancholy. He slotted into their group so seamlessly it was almost like he’d always been there. Todd was a listener, always there; a shoulder to cry on or a soundboard always ready to spend his few words on good advice that was always half followed. As well as he blended in, there were moments where his late arrival was blatant, this was one of those moments they were all crowded into Neil and Todd’s dorm; Todd and Neil lay sprawled out on the formers bed to make more room for the other poets, They listened intently to some semi-interesting anecdote Knox was sharing about Chris hanging off his every word, But  before long Charlie and Knox began bickering with each other poking each other sides crinkling Neils bed sheets with their roughhousing causing Cameron to berate them from his perch on the windowsill, Charlie was questioning Knox’s credentials while Knox insisted they listen to him because he was the only poet with something that even slightly resembled a romantic relationship with a girl. And Neil knew none of the others had so much as flirted with a girl since starting Welton.  Six years with no female contact bred a special kind of anxiety within them, and  other than Charlie’s occasional dinners with a daughter of a family friend  the only other person who could even possibly have had a relationship was, “Todd you went to Balincrest, that’s coed right Do you have a girlfriend?” Meeks asked from where he sat draped over the desk, his legs thrown over Pitt's. Todd smiled a little sadly and shook his head “Girls didn’t really pay me much attention, the other guys said I was too plain.” The other Poets all nodded in sympathy letting out slight hums of agreement and understanding, all except for Neil Perry who lay there frozen next to Todd. As the others began to pack up for the night he tried to make his brain reboot because Todd not having a girlfriend was fine, good even, it made sense Todd was a nervous wreck the best of times let alone in front of a girl but Todd Anderson was anything but plain. 

Neil spent the next week in a permanent state of perplexity because Todd Anderson was one of the prettiest boys Neil Perry had ever seen. He’d known that the moment they met the first day back from summer break shaking hands for the first time in the courtyard, he’d found Todd striking with his sad watercolour eyes cheeks rosy from the September wind, endeared by the way his thin wrists poked out of the hand me down blazer he wore clearly one of Jeffery’s, couldn’t help but feel a little charmed by the sight of his light brown hair almost black from copious amounts of gel. This feeling had only grown upon knowing Todd more.  The moment Neil thought he had his admiration for Todd under control something would happen, like earlier today Neil had meant what he’d said he really  was concerned about how little their secret society meant to Todd, had wanted to see him truly moved by something anything really, but he was sidetracked by the look of trepidation in his baby blue eyes, by the way the autumn sun hit his light brown hair making it seem almost golden. he found himself promising to take care of the other boy and he knew deep down that he meant it.

Things only got worse as the days rolled by, Neil found it hard to concentrate on anything other than Todd, a fact the other boy seemed thankfully unaware of.  The poetry lesson with Mr. Keating had honestly been his last straw, the way the other boys mocked Knox’s poem had him growing restless like they’d hear his prose about angels with dark gold halos and sapphire eyes and read between the lines. Then Todd had gotten up and stunned them all with his talent, last minute and completely on the fly so obviously they’d all applauded him (such genius deserved to be rewarded.) and Neil was sure this memory would haunt his dreams; Todd standing victorious, beaming down at him,  lips pretty and pink. 

Neil called an emergency meeting that evening after dinner with the two people he knew who understood romance.

 Charlie and Knox sat on Knox's bed as they watched Neil pace around the dorm, he stopped dead in front of them “If you find someone attractive does that mean you like them?” he asked, Charlie scoffed “No, it just means you have eyes, if I wanted to date every cute person I saw on the street I’d get nothing done.” Neil shook his head “No you don’t get it, he’s the most attractive person to me like no one else competes” he tries to explain. There's a beat of silence before both Knox and Charlie decide to answer “no” “Yeah” they both say simultaneously. Knox turns to his left to look at Charlie, expression incredulous “What do you mean yeah?” he asks Charlie shrugs “I’m just saying it’s completely possible, I’ve seen it happen.” Knox folds his arms “Literally when? I need proof " he demands "Just look at Cameron man” Charlie says rolling his eyes like that explains anything “What?” Knox asks “Cameron, he’s super attractive but I fucking hate his personality.”

They spend the rest of their ‘meeting’ trying to convince Charlie that it is in fact not normal to regularly daydream about making out with his ‘arch nemesis’. Neil ends up leaving Knox’s dorm even more confused than before. He pulls the door to his dorm open revealing a tired-looking Todd clad in soft-looking pyjamas, he’s working at his desk, Todd looks up at the door when it opens, he smiles hazily up at Neil “You’re back” he says voice quiet and a little croaky from disuse. The dim lamp light catches his wet hair and flushed skin still damp from his shower, it casts shadows on his cheekbones from his eyelashes. Neil closes his eyes, takes a deep breath, and steps into their room, he shuts the door behind himself. 

Maybe Charlie’s right, maybe it is possible to find someone so attractive you’re borderline besotted with them without wanting to date them, not that that matters now to Neil because he’s clearly in too deep.

I hope this was ok :) If anyone else else any requests don't hesitate to ask :)

[antimony-medusa]

Fic Recs April '23

What did I read this month? As ever, it's mostly going to be Dream SMP, but I wander outside the fandom ocassionally, and we've got some QSMP and 3rd Life this month! You can keep an eye on my Ao3 bookmarks if you ever don't want to wait the full month, but here's a shor tlist (I tried to keep it short) of especially fun/intersting/good things.

The Fics - Oneshots

Human condition by InsomniWillow Fandom: QSMP Rating: Teen Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationship: Alexis | Quackity/Wilbur Soot, Wilbur Soot & Tallulah, Wilbur Soot & Phil Watson | Philza Tags: Alternate Universe - Everyone Lives/Nobody Dies, Fluff, Developing Friendships, Human/Monster Society Length: 1/1 chapters (this might be a multi-chapter though), 3,515 words

New to Qusadilla Island, Ordinary Guy Wilbur Soot brings his tiny daughter to the new school that's opened up. The school that is FULL of terrifying players and their kids. This is just super cute slice of life fluff and it's a fun setup to see Wilbur go "oh god, that's a demon, that's a shark god, is that Philza Minecraft?????" while he's trying to remain chill for his daughter.

where you hide your heart from me by 75hearts Fandom: DSMP Rating: Teen Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationship: Alexis | Quackity/Wilbur Soot Tags: Pogtopia, Suicidal Thoughts, Wingfic, Wilbur Soot Is Not Okay Length: 1/1 chapters, 2,223 words Just gonna grab the summary for this one cause it's perfect.

“I’ll fucking kill you if you pull a single feather,” Quackity says. “Don’t threaten me with a good time,” Wilbur says.

-

or: in Pogtopia, Wilbur preens Quackity's wings.

They're SOOO prickly and the situation is just two people full of broken edges hitting off each other, and you want it to be better, and at the same time this is the only way it could be.

you think they'll make it? by honeyblock Fandom: DSMP Rating: Teen Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationship: Niki Nihachu & Wilbur Soot, Niki Nihachu & Jschlatt, Niki Nihachu & Wilbur Soot & Jschlatt Tags: Alternate Universe - hadestown Fusion, Niki Nihachu-Centric, niki as orpheus and wilbur as eurydice, implied/referenced suicide. Length: 1/1 chapters, 7,968 words

Niki breaks into Hadestown to try and get Wilbur back. And then she meets Jschlatt, and then she goes spare. Oh man this is a beautiful and lyrical setup, and then Schlatt is just so odious and hateable, ad then Niki getting furious enough to take on a god is So Satisfying. Delightful.

Manna from Heaven by ResidentHesitant Fandom: DSMP Rating: General Audiences Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationship: Ranboo/Tubbo Tags: Married Ranboo and Tubbo, Domestic Fluff, Pesach | Passover, post-canon, slice of life, Found Family Length: 1/1 chapters, 3,152 words

Tubbo hosts his first seder. This is just a joyous slice of life with the whole community coming together to celebrate passover. A glimpse into other traditions for me, and full of love for the characters and for judaism. This fic is so happy. It's canon to ME. I love it.

take this life and hold it by the hand by Odaigahara Fandom: DSMP Rating: Teen Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationship: Technoblade & Philza, Wilbur Soot & Technoblade & Philza Tags: Alternate Universe - Fantasy, Crow Hybrid Philza, Piglin Hybrid Technoblade, Accidental Baby Acquisition, Happy Ending, Inspired by that video of Kestrel Dad. Length: 1/1 chapters, 2,292 words

Technoblade is just having a perfectly normal day with his family (who are polar bears) when his friend the crow shows up with— Phil, is that a BABY? What are we gonna do with it? And what does it eat? This is just so so funny. Techno and Phil are both so helpless with a tiny baby, they don't now how to feed this little one, at one point a dead mouse is put on the baby's face and everyone looks at him hopefully. It's so funny.

The Fics - Longfics

The Musketeers - SBI AU by Anarchy_and_Piglins Fandom: DSMP Rating: Teen Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationship: Wilbur Soot & Tommyinnit & Technoblade & Philza Tags: Alternate Universe - Historical, 3 Musketeers Fusion, BAMF Everybody, Tommyinnit Angst, Philza Angst, Angst with a Happy Ending, Fluff and Humour, Emotional Hurt/Comfort Length: 2/4 chapters, 8,086 words

TommyInnit is on a mission of vengance to kill the man who murdered his father, with only his dying words that a man named Philip d'Athos is responsible. Philip, meanwhile, is trying to figure out who's impersonating musketeers. They are on a direct collision course in 17th century France. I'm sure this will go well.

missing or obstructed by skelew Fandom: Hermitcraft, 3rd Life Rating: Teen Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings Relationship: Grian & Rendog, Grian & GoodTimesWithScar, Rendog & Martyn InTheLittleWood Tags: Post 3rd Life, Angst and Hurt/Comfort, Watcher Lore, Amnesia Length: 4/? chapters, 13,890 words

Grian is back in Hermitcraft but he can't forget what happened in 3rd life. Unfortunately everyone else has forgotten what happened. Everyone except Rendog, who he remembers very strongly as his enemy. This one started as a character study and you can tell, it's very deliberate and mediative with the characters, and it's just slowly growing through the questions of what they do now, and what they do with these relationships they have to people they care so much about and also those people don't remember it.

See How They Run by Aard_Rinn Fandom: DSMP Rating: General Audiences Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationship: Tubbo & Tommyinnit & Ranboo, Technoblade & Philza Tags: Alternate Universe - Borrowers Fusion, Rescue, Captivity, Dark SBI, Dehumanization, Non-consensual touching (nonsexual), Tubbo-Centric Length: 3/3 chapters, 10,590 words

Benchtrio are Borrowers, and Tubbo gets caught by Emduo! Man, this starts with Tubbo falling into oil and not being able to climb out (he's eventually rescued by Emduo), and it's honestly terrifying. I really felt like I was a tiny creature clinging to a spoon. It continues to play with the fact that Tubbo is just so TINY and defenceless.

wasteland by chrysalizzm Fandom: DSMP Rating: Mature Warnings: Major Character Death Relationship: Dream SMP Ensemble Tags: Alternate Universe - Heroes & Villains, Hurt/Comfort, Disillusionment, Morally Grey Characters, Political Corruption, Systemic Bigotry, Unreliable Narrator, Alternate Universe - Superheroes & Superpowers, Mind Control, Bittersweet/Open Ending, Multiple POV, (and more! It's a series) Length: 11/30 fics, 72,431 words

MASSIVE sprawling superhero epic digging into power issues, morality, villainy, cohersion, sexism and other 'isms, marching towards an inevitable end. It all ends in tragedy, but oh my god the journey there is so rich and beautifully drawn. Each fic in the series is a different spot on the timeline and you see characters from so many different POVs, as events come into greater focus and you realize what the fuck HAPPENED to break people like that. This is very much a fic to read while spamming the sobbing emoji in the chat with a friend, but oh man I have to see how it all comes together and if ANY of my guys make it out. I don't know if any of my guys make it out! :SOB:

sharp temporary walls (the long-term cliff edge of the world) by Odaigahara Fandom: 3rd Life SMP Rating: Teen Warnings: Graphic Depictions of Violence Relationship: Grian & GoodTimesWithScar Tags: Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Ghosts, Memory Alteration, Corpse Desecration, Animal Death, Friendship, Horror, Angst with a Happy Ending Length: 1/3 chapters, 5,042 words

3rd life is down to two players, but they're both hurt. They decide to wait and heal before a final fight. The world waits around them. Just the tone of this one is so eerie and creepy. The world is just so silent and malevolent, while Desert Duo tries to heal, while also knowing that it all ends in death. I'm not gonna spoil it but what happens when Joel's dogs show up looking for their master is SO GOOD and SO BAD at the same time.

And They Were Ghosthunters | TNT Duo AU by commaclear Fandom: DSMP Rating: Mature Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings Relationship: Alexis | Quackity/Wilbur Soot Tags: Humor, Hurt/Comfort, Fish out of Water, Alternate Universe - Angels and Demons, Happy Ending Length: 21/21 chapters, 46,984 words

Wilbur Soot is a demon who's tired of being bored in Hell and decided to go to Earth, where he gets a job on a Ghost Hunting show run by a guy named Quackity. Surely he has lots of oppurtunity for sin here! Two problems though: Quackity is really cute and might actually be a genuinely good person and Wilbur is falling for him, and Love is toxic to demons. This one is legitimately so very funny and such a fast read. I sat down to read the first two chapters and then i looked up and I'd read 46k.

catbag by supinetothestars Fandom: DSMP Rating: Teen Warnings: Graphic Depictions of Violence Relationship: Wilbur Soot & Technoblade & Philza & Tommyinnit, Tommyinnit & Tubbo Tags: Alternate Universe - Superheroes & Superpowers, Villain SBI, Hero Tommyinnit, Child Abuse, Truth Serum, PTSD, Secret Identity, Found Family, Hurt/Comfort Length: 5/? chapters, 30,665 words

Okay so the summary for this one was:

Suspected of betraying the Hero Guild, Apprentice hero Tommy (A.K.A. Blindspot) is put under Security Protocol Catbag: a locked-on noise cancelling mask equipped with truth gas. His mentor, Dream, calls it a necessary teaching tool.

Meanwhile, SBI wants to know why their least favorite loudmouth little Hero has suddenly stopped talking.

And I read that and I was like "supinetothestars is going to get me back into reading tommy-centric superheros", and it's happened. It's so good, the characters are so thoughtful (and feel way more like canon characterizations vs fanon), and they run up against each other in really interesting ways. Wilbur is a paranoid bastard in a way that feels realistic and canon! The superpowers are interesting and interestingly played out (tommy's power is he can make himself unnoticeable!) and the relationships are adhering to tropes enough that they're like, oooooo, what happens next, I have a delightful suspicion, but they are pulled off well enough that they still feel fresh. It's really good.

Double Down by Onelituli Fandom: DSMP Rating: Mature Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings, Major Character Death Relationship: Dream & Tommyinnit & Tubbo, Ranboo & Tommyinnit & Tubbo, Dream & Sapnap & George, Tags: Alternate Universe - Imawa no Kuni no Alice | Alice in Borderland Setting, Rated for Language and Dark Themes, Mystery, Flashbacks, Slow Build, Emotional Hurt/Comfort, Heavy Angst, Grief/Mourning, No Villains just Antagonists, Bittersweet Ending Length: 11/13 chapters, 67,663 words

Oh man how even to explain this one. The Dream SMP ensemble is imprisoned in this post-apocolyptic setting where they have to compete in challenges to win cards. The higher the suit of the card, the harder the challenge. And people will die, they are dying, the challenges are killing them. They don't know why they're here or who is making them do this, but all they can do is try and make it together despite a structure that keeps trying to turn them against each other and destroy them. This is structured with lots of flashbacks and mysteries, and the mystery of what HAPPENED to these people is ever-present. And how on earth they possibly make it out of this challenge with even one person alive. This one is such a mystery, I don't know what's HAPPENING but I want to KNOW. And that's it for this month! I'll see you next time!

[ladylamrian]

Is there a fic concept you have that you'd like to just explain and share because you're not sure you'll ever write it? If so, what is it?

Yes, a lot!!!!! There are A LOT. Sadly not sure if I will EVER write them so here are my ideas 😭:

My Nightbound Fanfic To-Do-List

F!MC×NikRyder

After Lord Elric's death - scene

F!MC wearing a unicorn pyjama [Oneshot]

The 3 Musketeers AU [Oneshot]

F!MC & friends playing video games and having a game night [Oneshot]

F!MC participating in the Crystaval games (magic spells, dragon riding, archery, etc)

Tialo returning to take over F!MC's duchy

F!MC saving the LIs with Garrus, Krom, Ivy & Luc

F!MC turning evil 😈😭

The Winged Unicorn [Oneshot/Mini Series]

F!MC meeting @lawrencebarkley her F!MC

Actors AU

Body Swap [Oneshot] 🐱

Nik proposes to F!MC (finally!) 😍

Royal Fae Wedding in Lamrian 👑🌹

New OCs: Elissa, Jason, Prince Sky,...

Nik making Elissa bite a lemon piece 😂

...

F!MC×CalLowell

Cookies & Cal [Oneshot]

*any ideas? I just want to do something nice for Cal stans :)

[Last Update: April 26th 2024]

⚠️ These are only the titles, I haven't started writing any of these since I have other WIPs to do and focus on. Not sure if I will ever write them by turning these ideas into fanfics. I just hope so... But sorry, no gurantee. I just wanted to share my ideas and thoughts. Anyone welcome who wants to use these ideas to write something, I'll be interested to know. Sadly, I'm not so good writing for Male Main Characters. Idk sorry, I could try making the Main Character gender-neutral, buuut... no idea. Sorry, I don't know. I don't want to mess up.

[alightbuthappypen]

twenty questions for fic writers

As a treat entirely for me I get to do a meme. I wasn't tagged and I won't tag anyone but invite anyone who wants to do it to treat yourself too!

How many works do you have on AO3?

33, though 3 of those are posted anonymously (2 RPF that I'm not wholly comfortable having attached to my name anymore, 1 based around a Problematic Trope that I'm too chicken to own up to)

That's like an average of just under 2 fics per year I've been posting to Ao3, ha.

But I probably have about 20 wips for CQL alone, you know how it is

2. What's your total AO3 word count?

92,993 apparently.

3. What fandoms do you write for?

Pretty monogamous at any given time - obviously CQL right now, though I did slip out that cathartic Good Omens thing earlier this year.

Previous big hitters (by my standards) were Dragon Age and The Musketeers (BBC version, yes I know)

4. What are your top 5 fics by kudos?

From Now On (陈情令 | The Untamed (TV) (1,013)

The Look You Give (陈情令 | The Untamed (TV) (995)

Retrospect (陈情令 | The Untamed (TV) (552)

In the Quiet It Will Grow (陈情令 | The Untamed (TV) (507)

A natural liking (Good Omens - Neil Gaiman & Terry Pratchett, Good Omens (TV) (487)

5. Do you respond to comments? Why or why not?

I go through phases...I think it's polite to, and I do try, but also when I comment on a fic I don't actually expect a response from the author (though it's always nice!) so I don't angst about it. I obviously LOVE comments, it's not for lack of caring.

When I don't respond it's always because I end up overthinking what I should say, like does "thank you! <3" ten times in row look insincere.

Sometimes I go on a reply binge and start responding to really old comments, and that probably looks weirder.

6. What is a fic you wrote with the angstiest ending?

I think I gravitate towards bittersweet or melancholy endings generally, though not usually real downers. Stories that take place within an angsty point of canon are good for this, like

A Promise (X-Men: First Class)

A Kind of Cruel (BBC Musketeers)

Probably angstiest of all is the very short For the wounded (Dragon Age: Inquisition) which is set in a Bad End post-canon.

7. What's the fic you wrote with the happiest ending?

I feel like "happy endings" suggest some kind of narrative arc and most of my finished fics are too oneshotty to really have that. But I'd say my fluffiest, most angst-free are probably:

Safe Keeping (Dragon Age: Inquisition) 

Nights Bright Days (Good Omens)

A natural liking (Good Omens)

In the Quiet It Will Grow (The Untamed)

8. Do you get hate on fics?

I don't think I've ever got a hateful comment? If I have I've repressed it. I've had a couple that I wasn't sure what to make of, or which I felt misinterpreted what the story was about, but nothing mean.

9. Do you write smut? If so, what kind?

DO I. Smutty oneshots my beloved.

In terms of like, sex acts, pretty vanilla, though I think some of my favoured tropes could be considered Problematic (a bit of dubcon, Cloud Recesses arc smut). Whatever it is, it has to be extremely emotional. If the participants aren't experiencing heightened emotions of some kind and having them described in long introspective paragraphs it's not me.

10. Do you write crossovers? What's the craziest one you've written?

No, my tastes are deeply boring and I have zero interest in crossovers or most AUs.

11. Have you ever had a fic stolen?

Not to my knowledge.

12. Have you ever had a fic translated?

In the Quiet It Will Grow was translated into Brazilian Portuguese with permission, though I didn't realise it was going on wattpad and didn't think to ask (it's fine, but I do prefer the Ao3 "inspired by" function). A bit random, but still, flattering.

13. Have you ever co-written a fic before?

No, I kind of like the idea but I think I'm too precious about the process and have too specific an idea of what the final piece should be.

I do love the collaborative storytelling of D&D, but prose is a whole different matter.

14. What's your all-time favorite ship?

Surely it's whichever one you're into at the time of asking? So obviously right now it's wangxian taking up most of my brainspace, but really most of the serious ships I've had I still have affection for. But wangxian is the only ship I've done both art and fic for, and overall feels like the deepest cut.

15. What's a wip you want to finish, but doubt you ever will?

SO many unpublished wips, but Against your will is one of my two published wips and for that reason I would like to see it finished, but unless I get back in and refamiliarise myself with the canon again I don't think it'll happen.

Also I have all these other wangxian wips that are like...look at them, they're everywhere, spilling out of my pockets, strewn across the floor of every room

16. What are your writing strengths?

My method is usually to overwrite then trim back to the bare bones so I think my finished prose usually feels quite..."clean", and to the point. That might not count as a strength to everyone though!

In terms of things I most commonly get good comments about: characterisation, emotion, and clear description of action (people can easily picture what's happening)

17. What are your writing weaknesses?

Dialogue, maybe? I hope it doesn't feel weak in the finished story but it's definitely the thing I find hardest - I'm very conscious of dialogue feeling right for a character and it's usually the part I rewrite the most.

Also actually sitting down and drafting stories in the first place. Obviously.

18. Thoughts on writing dialogue in another language for a fic?

I mean, I don't speak any other languages and dialogue is hard enough so god, no, unless it's a word or expression that is used by the characters canonically.

I don't mind it in fic as a reader but if I'm having to copy-paste paragraphs into google translate just to figure out what's going on I'm probably not going to persevere.

19. First fandom you wrote for?

Oh, you mean the Buffy self insert fics I hand wrote in a notebook 14-year-old me kept under their pillow.

20. Favorite fic you've written?

This is hard because...I'm pretty happy with most fic I've published. I can definitely see flaws but overall if I've finished something and stuck it online I like it, and I've reread every one at least once (I am my own target audience).

Secondly, I think my favourite fic is usually the one or ones I'm in the process of writing. I'm always trying to improve and like to think the next one I finish will be the best I've done (unrealistic I know).

That said,

Keep Burning (Dragon Age: Inquisition) is a fic I'm still really proud of. It's far from perfect and I remember it being a tough experience to write but it came out mostly how I wanted in the end. It still feels like one of the most emotionally...honest things I finished. Also I know it made people cry, and I don't know if anything else I've written has done that.

Also There Grew Between is probably the CQL fic I'm most satisfied with, I just think the pacing and structure work really well and it's the one fic I wish got more love because I like so much how it came out.

[viola-halogen]

Thanks for the tag @prince-rowan-of-the-forest (ignore how long it’s taken me to get round to this I kept forgetting about it lmao)

1. How many works do you have on AO3?

22! I think I’ve written a decent amount but I’m always hoping to increase that number.

2. What’s your total AO3 word count?

167,433

3. What fandoms do you write for?

There’s not really a proper answer to this question cause I’m not writing regularly at the moment (life has been very hectic as of late and I’ve not had the energy or motivation.) The latest fandom I wrote for was Good Omens, which is a fandom I would like to write for more in the future.

4. What are your top 5 fics by kudos?

5. Away from Watching Eyes (57)

4. Time Well Spent (69)

3. Tensei Iida: What it Takes to be a Hero (70)

2. Here and There and Gone Again (93)

1. The Three Musketeers of Quirk-Related Chaos (206)

There’s quite a leap there from 2nd to 1st lmao

5. Do you respond to comments?

Yes I do! Although often I don’t really know what to say, I’ve written so many variations of “ah thanks :)” in my time.

6. What is the fic you wrote with the angstiest ending?

Probably my fic with the angstiest ending is Are There Still Beautiful Things? (from my oneshot collection Let There Be Light) although that one was sort of bittersweet too. If I had ever written the 2nd and 3rd parts to Everything We’ve Ever Done it would have caught up to Charlotte disappearing and the group falling apart so that would have had an angsty ending.

7. What’s the fic you wrote with the happiest ending?

Probably Tensei Iida: What it Takes to be a Hero. That fic was very angsty along the way but the ending I think was pretty feel-good (also it’s one of the only multi-chapter fics I ever actually finished.)

8. Do you get hate on fics?

I’ve never got like, proper hate, but there was one regular commenter on a fic once who basically disagreed with every choice I made in that fic and would always try to debate my writing with me.

9. Do you write smut? If so, what kind?

Nope. I don’t think I’d be very good at writing it and I’d be worried about it being awful. I’ll leave that to people who know how to do it.

10. Do you write crossovers? What’s the craziest one you’ve written?

The closest thing I’ve written to a crossover was my BBC Ghosts vampire AU which was very heavily influenced by WWDITS.

11. Have you ever had a fic stolen?

Not that I’m aware of.

12. Does not exist apparently

13. Have you ever co-written a fic before?

As they said in their response, I’ve written a few things with @prince-rowan-of-the-forest, but none of it’s ever been posted.

14. What’s your all-time favourite ship?

Yeah I don’t really have one seeing as I tend to change fandoms every few years, and though I do sometimes get briefly sucked back into old fandoms they don’t usually hold the same appeal to me anymore. That said, I have to mention Will/Lyra from HDM because they were one of my first ever ships, back before I knew what shipping was, and there is still a major place for them in my heart now.

15. What’s a WIP you want to finish but doubt you ever will?

I am so sad I fell out of the MHA fandom before I finished TTMOQRC. I had so much planned for that universe that I really wanted to write and it will forever haunt me that I never got to get it all out there. I also wish I’d written more for BBC Vampires because again I had loads of ideas but that AU got so little engagement it was hard to keep my motivation for it.

16. What are your writing strengths?

I think my dialogue is pretty good, and I think I’m quite good at characterisation. And I think I come up with a lot of good ideas (specific, I know.) I think I’m good at writing characters’ thought processes too.

17. What are your writing weaknesses?

Coming up with coherent plots can be ridiculously hard sometimes. I’m also terrible at sticking with WIPs which is why so many of my multi-chapter fics are unfinished.

18. Thoughts on writing dialogue in another language for a fic?

I think it’s really cool! And it’s something I’d love to do! When I was obsessed with 1899 a while ago I really wanted to write an Ángel/Ramiro fic with dialogue in Spanish because Spanish is probably one of my biggest special interests and I loved the idea of combining it with my current hyperfixation at the time.

However I do think it’s a really hard thing to pull off cause not everyone’s going to speak the language the dialogue is written in and I don’t want to alienate people. And having read some fics where the dialogue was in languages I don’t understand and the translations were included in the notes, I know that sometimes it just doesn’t work.

19. First fandom you wrote for?

Shadowhunters. It was written in a notebook and was about a bunch of OCs I made up.

20. Favourite fic you’ve written?

Probably Here and There and Gone Again because I was nervous to write for the Good Omens fandom because of all the amazing fics I’ve read and I was really pleased with how it turned out in the end. Everything We’ve Ever Done is also one of my faves because when I wrote it I was fixated so hard on those characters/that part of the story so it was a real passion project for me.

Tagging: @natequarter @ailendolin and anyone else who wants to do it cause I’m stuck for who else to tag.

[lovelythief]

[myalchod]

Tagged by @junkshop-disco — and I do indeed love a good bit of statistics!

rules: give us the links to your fics with the most hits, second most kudos, third most comments, fourth most bookmarks, fifth most words, and fic with the fewest words.

Most hits: Never and Always (BBC’s Musketeers, Athos/Milady) Milady turns around at Le Havre at the end of Season 2, and everything changes. Intended as a oneshot for a prompt, grew into the longest fic I have ever posted (and the start of a multi-part AU) ... all without ever addressing the original prompt. Oops.

Second most kudos: A Pear and an Apple (X-Men comics, Kitty + Storm) Kitty celebrates Tu b'Shevat during her first year at the mansion with some unexpected company. Written for Jewish Comics Day, deliberately using a less-known holiday.

Third most comments: echo (Fate: the Winx Saga, Farah/Saul) Every time Saul has a nightmare, Farah feels it through their bond. Alternatively: Charis once again writes all-ages-appropriate (and fairly gen) fic in response to a kink meme prompt, or "oneshot fail, part 3,724". I regret nothing, except possibly not ending with a +1 of pain.

Fourth most bookmarks: we have a tie! Penitent (BBC’s Musketeers, Athos/Milady) “Five years you were faithful to my memory ... but I leave for a week and you cannot even keep your hands off yourself.” A birthday gift that's pretty much 5k of filthy smut punctuated by Athos' inevitable issues. three times true (BBC’s Musketeers, Athos/Milady) Five times Athos surprised Milady, from pre-canon through the end of S2. A response to an anonymous prompt, exploring Milady's character over time.

Fifth most words: instinctively (Fate: the Winx Saga, Farah/Saul) Saul Silva and the terrible horrible no-good very bad flower. Mandatory sex pollen fic, where Saul reluctantly asks Farah for help and things escalate. Another kink meme fill ... that at ~7500 words definitely shows that I don't tend to write a lot of long fic.

Fewest words: Belief (Battlestar Galactica reboot, Roslin) Believing is preferable to thinking herself crazy ... A Roslin drabble that was one of my earliest forays into that fandom (and the start of a headlong tumble back into writing).

Tagging: (only if you feel like it!) @aserene, @somenamewithepineapple, @rxnefairs, @relentlessescapism, and anyone who wants to do this and tag me so I can see your results?

[nemmet]

i now have an ongoing collection of world's end oneshots up on ao3, as i'm trying to get into the habit of writing more regularly!

there are three so far - one about andy and gary going to see bttf at the cinema, one about oliver discovering that he's aroace, and one about the musketeers taking a trip to their local big tesco.

i hope you enjoy them, and stay tuned for more! :D

[lailaliquorice]

AO3 stats game

Tagged by @writingloud - lets fucking go

Rule: Give us the links to your wonderful words with the most hits, most kudos, fourth most kudos, most comments, most bookmarks, most words and least words.

Most Words & Most Comments

Always You Three - Harry Potter professors, 285k words & 112 comments

Back in 1942, the trio of McGonagall, Pomfrey and Hooch first walked the corridors together, forging friendships that would last for all their lives. Faced with misfired curses, dragon pox, Quidditch-related mayhem and Slytherin's monster, they'll need all of Minerva's quick intelligence, Poppy's incredible knowledge, and Rolanda's reckless daring to get them through their school years in one piece.

(This is not a JKR-friendly fic - step inside for inherently queer characters written by a queer disabled author. Trans lives matter!)

Most Hits

we’ll find a new place to be from - Umbrella Academy, 8.3k hits

Diego and Vanya had gone for supplies. Klaus had declared himself in need of modern-day takeout, Allison following him hastily when everyone expressed concern over what Klaus’ idea of a gourmet meal might entail. Luther volunteered to be the first to brave the shower. Five, on the other hand, had been bundled into an armchair the second they all fell into the motel room and forbidden from moving on pain of rumours.

Set post-season two, in a crappy motel room with six siblings hiding out from the rest of the world.

Most Kudos & Most Bookmarks

there’s a candle in the window and the kettle’s always on - ATLA Modern University AU, 975 kudos & 172 bookmarks

It was by pure luck that they all fell into becoming housemates.

Katara and Sokka had been put into separate flats in student dorms for their first year and knew they wanted to be back under the same roof. Aang had been one of Katara’s first year flatmates. Toph was both a friend of Aang’s from fresher’s week and a friend-of-a-friend of Sokka’s. And when the initial group of four found a house with a fifth bedroom, Toph dragged Zuko into the arrangement and refused to hear anything else on the matter.

[or, Volume I of Adventures in a Five Bedroom House - Zuko learns to let himself be happy]

Fourth Most Kudos

til touchdown brings me back around again - 13th Doctor post s11e5, 499 kudos

She keeps going until everyone else is safe. It’s only then that the Doctor has to let herself fall.

-

aka the author is hopping on the bandwagon and taking full advantage of that forgotten ecto-spleen injury.

Least Words

Roses - The Musketeers Modern AU oneshot, 749 words

Constance is the owner of a little flower shop, and her lonely Valentines Day takes a turn for the better when a new customer steps through her door.

Oneshot from a prompt that I liked a lot.

And because I’m the author and I’m in charge: the Underappreciated Gems Award

blue blood - Heathers Chansaw fix it fic, 13.5k words

For the first couple of days, Heather slept nearly constantly. Apparently that was something normal and to be expected, but Veronica couldn’t help but keep glancing over her shoulder while she tried to do homework. She looked so small in her sleep. Small like she’d done in her state of near-death. That image would haunt Veronica for the rest of her life.

-

In which Veronica acts quicker, Heather's life is saved, recovery is a rough journey, and they have time.

this is erosion - Wicked Gelphie fix it fic, 5k words

Briefly, Glinda was reminded of the first time she’d seen Elphaba bleed, a harmless papercut or something of the sort, back during their Shiz days. Glinda had wondered if the green girl would bleed red, or the golden ichor of the gods.

In which war brings a long-lost casualty to Glinda's window, and a chance to say what she should have long ago. Ask nicely and I might write a sequel.

Tagging: all my old friends from old fandoms who used to write with me <3

[brokenhardies]

new persona oc! (specifically for the currently running cr/persona 5 oneshot)

Name: Summer Hawthorn

Codename: Knight

Arcana: The Star

Faceclaim: Nodoka Toyoyama from Rascal Does Not Dream of Bunny Girl Senpai (real world), Jean from Genshin Impact (metaverse)

Persona: Hathor - Egyptian Goddess of the Sky and Dawn

Weapons: Rapier (melee), Musket (ranged)

Element: Bless

HP: 24

Stats (standard array)

STR 08

DEX 14

CON 14

INT 12

WIS 10

CHA 16