#this doesn't even count as an essay why is that the tag

[ask-the-rag-dolly]

// Why do you like Ragatha

(Unleash it. Type out the essay.)

// ... the essay warning tag really is going to apply here ^^

ragatha became my favorite character almost instantly the moment she appeared on screen . like i could remember even around the teaser for the show i was pretty fond of her , though i could chalk that up to me liking Any design that is remotely based off raggedy ann

she perfectly fits that oddly specific character type only I love , which is 'grown woman keeps failing no matter how hard she tries and it's marvelous to witness' , like i'm not sure how to explain it too well - she's not really a girlfail or a girlboss in my eyes ... she just . never wins ! and i love that , please keep fucking losing ragatha the amazing digital circus

to break it down , what's apparent in her approximately less than 7 minutes of screentime is that she's a goofy goober who's essentially the voice of reason . she's not emotional like gangle , unreliable like jax and zooble , or out of her mind like kinger . she was essentially the only one who tried to ease pomni into the circus instead of hard-hitting her with the reality as if that won't make her abstract on the spot . it's clear through her interactions with the other characters and how she talks to pomni that she acts like the Pillar of the group , with how compliant she is with caine's adventures and has a comforting presence .

the problem is ... that all of those 'positive' traits are ... Detrimental to her own wellbeing . like i'm sure a part of her positivity is genuine , but her optimism clearly hinges into toxic positivity and her selflessness is taken to the point of people-pleasing and neglecting her own needs . it's clear that she sees her own emotions as a burden that she doesn't want to put on other people .

and . she's dishonest . my girl is dishonest . she often brushes off things as not being as bad as they actually are , she picks her words to cause less conflict as possible , and it doesn't seem like anyone else is aware of her internal turmoil ... even when she's in Literal Pain she still brushes it off as being okay - and she stayed quiet instead of telling pomni that she's upset .

which is ... hilarious . there's just something about nice characters that tell the most lies to me . bonus points if it seems like they're the one who tells the most truths out of the entire group . everything about ragatha is Dishonest .

and it's funny yet again that these Really don't help her at all ! i think it's clear just from promotional material to the pilot that ragatha is meant to be a punching bag . her teaser shows a cleaver Being Thrown At Her , was tripped by jax and Literally Most Of Her Screentime In the Pilot Is Being In Pain , and that's not counting gooseworx's doodles . my girl's fucking Losing .

and it fits her avatar well since she's a Rag Doll ... she's basically never meant to win from the start . she was never the main character .

it interests me so much on how all of these will be taken in the full series since they're all very interesting setups , especially for the setting that the story is set in . i just need to see more of my girl and i wish that a lot of her content isn't limited to ship art . you guys do not understand how desperate i am to see content of ragatha interacting with either caine or zooble . i am Not normal about them .

also i want to kiss her on the mouth //

[woojungz]

their love languages! 💭🎀

❝ xikers x gn!reader

𓂃𓈒 finally wrote something for all 10 members(⁠；⁠^⁠ω⁠^)

word count: 1.5k

( likes and reblogs appreciated!♡ )

✧𓂃𓈒MINJAE.

i'm a firm believer that minjae is so huge on words of affirmation. he's already written roadys long messages before, like i’m saying 'essay long' messages, thanking us for keeping up with them and having fun last tour. he loves pouring his all through heartfelt words he tells you at random times of the day, whether it be through text or if you're hanging out together. tells you he loves you everytime he can, the members even cringing whenever he does that in front of everyone else. they don't let him catch a break😭 the other way around, i think he also likes receiving words of affirmation. remember that one fancall where he asked a roady why they love him? as his s/o, let him know how well he's doing as a leader please. he also incredibly cherishes quality time with you because as the group leader, he doesn't get all the time in the world to be with you even if he wanna :(

✧𓂃𓈒JUNMIN.

i'm not sure if this counts as words of affirmation, but i'll just say it is. junmin really loves updating you throughout the day, like i'm saying tons of messages consisting of his selfies, food he's eaten, and places he's been too. dude is gonna blow up your phone at this point😭 but you don't really mind. even though you're not right there beside him, you feel like you are, because it's like he tells you updates of every single move he makes for the day. you literally have a collection of his photos he sent you, in your gallery. you're actually suprised it's a lot more than the pictures you've taken yourself?! he also really loves to do acts of service for you, he's actually one of the members that keeps their dorm mess free. so if there were times you're stressed or too occupied with work that you weren't able to pay attention to other things around you, junmin will do his best to help ease your workload!

✧𓂃𓈒SUMIN.

i like to think sumin is really into gift giving, and the things he gives you are really personal which makes it a lot more special. he really enjoys having you as his subject in his paintings of drawings, and would love to gift it to you once he's finished. also, you can't miss the sweet messages he leaves you behind the paper of the drawings! everyone knows sumin owns a lot of keychains right, literally his keychains weigh more than the bag it's attached to😭 he'd let you take anything from his collection, and would sometimes even buy you new ones! aside from that, even though we see him sometimes reject physical touch with the members, he'd initiate it himself with you. if you guys are living together, you'd maybe wanna marry him already because this guy knows how to maintain a home. this paragraph is gonna get longer if i explain, so i'll have it at just that.

✧𓂃𓈒JINSIK.

he's kinda on the same level of sumin when it comes to gift giving. our jinsik is an artist right? so he'd spent most of his time making drawings for you so you can turn it into your phone wallpaper! or even does short animations for you, like that stuff takes such a long time and jinsik would just spend his whole day making it for you. sometimes you'd catch him drawing something, but he suddenly hides it from you because he says he wants it to be a surprise!! also this guy is a real enjoyer of quality time too. whenever his family would be going somewhere, he'd want you to tag along with them. it makes him so happy to see all his favorite people in one place together :(

✧𓂃𓈒HYUNWOO.

i don't know if this is kinda unexpected but if you look closely, hyunwoo really likes physical touch. this boy always needs to hug you everytime you meet. and those times where you thought he was making kissy faces to you as a joke so you never reciprocate it, yeah... he was being fr that he wants a kiss. you just realize it when he suddenly sulks beside you as if there was a random rain cloud that manifested on top of his head, that suddenly his mood got sad. but once you do kiss him then he's already back to happy! also, he really likes to backhug you. at first he might be kind of cautious with physical touch if the other members could see, because he's often the center of their teasing. but as time went on, he actually didn't care anymore, he's gonna hug you whenever he wanna!!

✧𓂃𓈒JUNGHOON.

our hoonie really loves quality time with you! everytime he's free from schedule, all he really wants to do is spend the time to explore food spots with you (he really enjoys eating). he'd drag you along to places you've never been to before so you guys could try the randomest food ever. oftentimes he doesn't really show much expression right, so you also love it when you get to eat with him because he gets very extra while eating. especially when the food is good, you'll get to witness a bunch of reactions from him! just like hyunwoo, he's suprisingly into physical touch with you. no one of the members expected that at all! he'd like to have his hand somewhere on you, just making sure that there's no one else around to see this side of him. it's like he doesn't even expect himself to act like that, it's just because he's so in love with you he unconsciously wants to touch you all the time😭

✧𓂃𓈒SEEUN.

he's just some guy that has a lot of love to give😔 i like to think he enjoys giving all the love languages to his s/o, he's really sweet overall as a boyfriend. he would wanna devote himself to you. he's really heavily leaning on physical touch though, like randomly kisses you in moments you don't expect (i mean, this dude kisses his members randomly and even kisses the camera itself when it's on him😭). he can't sit still without having his hand on you all the time. also this guy doesn't like being locked up in their dorms whenever they don't have any schedules, so he's quickly ringing your phone up to ask you to spend time with him, hence another quality time enjoyer.

✧𓂃𓈒YUJUN.

physical touch on top when it comes to him!! sometimes the members have expressed that yujun gets so touchy, and he gives the best hugs. such a cute cuddler you know. everywhere you guys are spotted together, yujun always has a hand around your shoulder, waist, or his favorite: entangled with your hand too. if he's standing near you, he's not gonna let a gap between you too happen, your shoulders need to be touching😭 sometimes how question if he can even exist without being beside you all the time. goodluck dealing with him because it seems like yujun has a never ending amount of energy. also!! quality time with him in the form of playing video games together.

✧𓂃𓈒HUNTER.

he actually said it himself when another roady asked him!! hunter really enjoys quality time. even before then, this guy really loves to travel to different countries. he tells you he'd love to take you there some time, doesn't really care if he's been there for the hundredth time, as long as he sees the smile on your face that you're happy to spend time with him. even locally, he enjoys hanging out at parks and aquariums so expect a lot of your dates to be at those places. another is that hunter loves to give you gifts. it's not just ordinary gifts, he loves to give you ones that he could always see you using. mostly it'll be clothes or accessories, and it makes him really happy to see you show up for dates wearing his gifts :(

✧𓂃𓈒YECHAN.

he's kinda new to this relationship thing, very awkward at first. a stark contrast to how you met him, he's really extroverted right. it's honestly kinda cute to see him try his hardest in doing all the couple things he thought he has to do, so let him know that he can breath sometimes and just be himself!! he tries to ask for relationship advice from his hyungs, sometimes it backfires on him because he accidentally understands it a different way. so then he resorted to asking his older sisters instead. he may struggle a bit with words (in the relationship), even though he's normally so talkative. so he likes to express his love through actions. he remembers your favorite things, would love to buy you gifts even though there's no really occasion. and mostly tries to help you any way he could!! please notice how hard he tries to show acts of service!

[leviismybby]

Once a thief, always a thief

Pairing: Levi Ackerman x reader

Warnings: Angst, fluff, there's a lot going on, it's very bittersweet.

A/N: I wrote this while doing my essay today, the idea seemed too good to just let it go, let me know if I should do a part 2! :))

Taglist: @the-milk-anon @youre-ackermine @levisbrat25 @yakaaamoz @levisgreyeyes @notgoodforlife @ackermendick @laraackerman If you want to be tagged just let me know!

Levi's eyes followed as the scouts trained, every single one trying to impress him more than the other. Next to him, Miche is doing the same, hawk-like eyes watching their every move.

"Levi." He hears Erwins voice behind him, already on alert by the sound of it. Levi turns around to face the blond man, arms crossed against his chest. "We have a problem I'd like to discuss with you."

Without a word Levi follows Erwin to his office, something is telling him that it's about you, again. As they enter his office, he sees Nile sitting in one of the chairs visibly upset.

Levi sits down opposite Nole, his face stoic. Once everyone has settled, Erwin turns to Nile, already annoyed with the man. "So Nile, please repeat to captain Levi what the issue seems to be."

"Name has stolen from us again, this is the fifth time in three months. She needs to be put behind bars for good." There isn't any mercy in Nile's words, you had been a pain in his ass for a while now.

"Why are you telling me this?" Levi almost scoffs the words out, he would lie for you again however this time, he really doesn't know where you are.

"You have lied for her before, I have no reason to see why you wouldn't do it again." It was about a year ago when you had stolen a pretty expensive necklace from one of the nobles, when shown a drawing of you, Levi lied that he didn't know you. Too bad for him, Nile had already caught on by then.

"I have nothing to do with her anymore and I don't fucking care that she stole from you. Train your dumbass soldiers better and maybe they would be able to stop one woman from stealing." But you're a tough cookie, always have been since Levi met you all those years ago.

You used to be kids in the underground, Kenny had thought Levi many things but not how to properly steal, Levi got that from you. Somehow, be it luck or skill, you always got away with it. He remembers when you stole a whole bag of fruits from smugglers without being seen, that was the day he was introduced to apples.

The two of you grew up together and he watched you grow into a woman. When you were taken by the scouts you took it well, even got praised by the commanding officers for your impressive stealth, until Furlan's and Isabelle's deaths.

That was where you snapped and the next day you vanished. Levi lost it all in a span of two days but he grew from it, learned to adapt to the scouts, and became humanities strongest soldier.

As soon as he heard that there was a mysterious robbery in a dress store, he knew it was you. He knows you like the back of his hand.

Arrogance was always your big problem, how many times has Levi had to save your ass because you were too stubborn to quit?  He could count on his finger just how many times he lied not only to the military police but to Erwin as well, all to keep you out of trouble. Yet you always manage to get yourself into bullshit and Levi is getting tired of it.

"How about we set up a trap? What does she like Levi?" Erwin turns his attention to Levi, noticeably curious about what his answer will be. "I don't know, anything that can make her a bit of money."

A lie. He lied again. You loved diamonds and different stones, you kept a shelf in your old room full of them.

"Something from the king, perhaps his robe, that would be worth a bunch on the black market." Of course, all of these suggestions by Erwin are for the benefit of the scouts again. If his plan works, he will be awarded by the government.

"The king? What makes you think he would want to help?" Nile's body is now tense, even though he wouldn't want the king involved in all of this.

"A skilled thief is on the loose, she got past your security what makes you think that she can't get through to the king?"

"The king doesn't interest her, trust me. She is skilled but she never bites off more than she can chew." Of course, you hated royals and their selfishness for normal people, while they starved, the king and his men ate like pigs.

"So what do you propose Levi?" Erwin's eyebrow slightly raises, he is interested in hearing what Levi has in store.

"We wait. She will strike again I'm sure."

Levi doesn't want to complicate things, he simply doesn't want you to get caught by the government. If it means that he has to come up with a plan alone, then so be it.

__________________________________

And so it was, Levi waited for three hours to see if you would be interested in the new jewelry shop that opened not far away from the capital of Mitras. It was dark, only moonlight illuminating the empty streets, the smell of after rain was present, creating an unusual atmosphere.

No matter how many times he has told himself to hate you, to forget you, he couldn't do it. You were his first everything after all. How many times has he hoped that he would see you somewhere happy possibly married and even with a baby in your hands. Levi would hate that man with his whole being but he would know that you are safe.

All of that is far from reality, Levi knew that you never even thought about marriage let alone a child. You weren't mature enough for those things no matter how quickly you had to grow up and fight for survival.

Finally, he sees a hooded figure climbing down from one of the buildings onto the roof of the jewelry shop. Every one of your steps is calculated, at the moment when you concentrated the most is where Levi had caught you off guard.

Suddenly you weren't walking anymore, instead grunting in pain as you felt your arms being pinned behind your back. You tried to wiggle yourself out of the grip but to no avail.

"Name stop." You stop moving, eyes going wide. Levi. When he sees that you have relaxed under his touch, he slowly lets you go making you know that he can catch you should you try to run.

You get up from the ground, taking your hood off. "Heh, I should've known you would be tracking me. I felt eyes on me for a while now."

"I wasn't tracking shit, I just happen to know you." As blunt as ever I see. "Good for you then. Now please excuse me I have a store to rob."

Just as you were about to walk past him, Levi grips your arm halting you in place. "Are you an idiot? Can't you see that it's a trap?" Damn it. He wasn't supposed to tell you that. It was what Nile came up with after he had left Erwin's office.

"No kidding." You smile sarcastically, breaking your hand away from his grip. "You knew."

"Of course I did. A new shop opens out of the blue in the middle of Mitras, do you think that I'm stupid?" Your voice is raised and you don't even notice it. For all that you thought would happen in the future between you and Levi, this wasn't one of them.

You have always thought that he would be your partner in crime for life, it seemed so before anyway. But things have changed, he has changed.

"So why the hell are you here? Do you want to get caught?" The answer was no and yes, no you didn't want to get caught, yes because you wanted to see if the military police have learned from their past mistakes.

"Even if I do, what about it? I'm just a thief aren't I?" Levi scoffs at you, after so long of not seeing each other, he thought you would at least be more responsible.

"Don't test me name." He says eyes searching yours. it's clear that whatever happens on this roof tonight, you two are far from over.

"Or what? You're gonna scold me?

"I'm trying to protect you. You brainless idiot." Levi almost spits out those words, how can't you see that he has been doing it the whole time?

"How nice. Somehow everyone you tried to protect is now six feet under." Those words make Levi's eyes shoot open, you don't seem to realize what you just said until you see Levi grow mad.

Before you can move, your back is already harshly pinned against the stone wall, breath is almost knocked out of you. Levi's hand is gripping your shirt, pulling it up until your noses are almost touching.

"How childish do you have to be not to understand that I have saved your ass so many times? Do you even know how close they were to locking you up? Do you know what it means to be behind bars as someone who is from the underground!?" His voice is harsh but he isn't yelling, it's a mixture of hurt and worry.

"And why do you even do it? I didn't ask that from you! You just joined the scouts, you didn't even try looking for me after I left! Do you know how hard it is to see you after all this time?" Levi softens his grip when he sees that your eyes have been filled with tears.

"Let me go Levi!" A tear rolls down your face, Levi is frozen, stuck between his heart and mind.

"Levi! I said let me g-" Lips suddenly crush to your own and you blink. Without much hesitation, your hands are in his hair and you are kissing him back.

Neither of you are thinking, the only thing you're focused on is Levi. You have missed him so much. His hands run down to your waist, pulling you closer to him.

And you let him, let him savor this moment while it lasts. Your hands wander from his hair to his neck, tongue entering his mouth. Levi moans softly, kissing you passionately.

You're teenagers again, the same ones that clumsily had their first kiss, the same ones that used to cause trouble.

Levis hands move down to your hips, squeezing them, a moan escapes your mouth when Levi pulls away and starts kissing your neck.

"Levi...." You take his face into your hands, kissing him once more before pulling away. "Not here and not now..." He nods, aware of his surroundings again. Pulling away from you, his cheeks grow red.

"You should go. The military police could be here any minute." You nod taking the opportunity to kiss him again and he doesn't budge, fully accepting your kiss.

"Here is my address." You slip a piece of paper into his belt before putting your hood on and running in the opposite direction.

Levi is left on the roof, mouth agape, still trying to process what just happened. Only when he hears footsteps is he brought back to reality.

He will make sure to see you again, he takes the paper from is belt but notices that one of his knives is gone, Levi smiles slightly.

Once a thief, always a thief

[ayjadasblogforeverything]

Fic Writer Q&A

Can you imagine that *I* got tagged at a *fic writer* q&a? Yeah, me neither! Thank you, @sirenofthegreenbanks!

Perhaps I should precede this with saying that I barely write, I have published 5 works or so. And when I write, it is very short, perhaps because I am a mathematician, perhaps because I talk so much on a daily basis. My longest work is <1k and three of the five works are drabbles (like, the old school 100-word pieces). Also, I can ironically already feel that this is going to be an essay. You were warned :)

How many WIPs do you currently have?

I usually don't have WIPs, or if I have a WIP, I usually only have it for a few days, as my pieces are very short. I have fragments that I wrote for myself that I do not intend to publish. There will not be progress there, so they are not WIPs. But currently I actually have not only one, but two fragments that I would consider WIPs! That's infinitely more than on average!

Which one are you finding the hardest to finish?

Most of my fics so far are based on more or less stupid jokes and are in general light-hearted, funny or cracky. I think in general, I find it hardest to write earnest stuff to a satisfactory level. Perhaps that is because that might be inspired by me projecting, which leads to things being too out of character. Perhaps I just find it hard in general to hit peoples' voices, which might have a greater impact in serious topics. Perhaps it's also that writing always feels like a striptease of my soul and I deal badly with the perceived vulnerability that it brings, which is worse when it is about more serious topics. So out of the two WIPs I have, I expect the one that deals with some insecurities to be the one that is harder to finish or to finish to my satisfaction, even though it is the shorter one.

What does it usually look like when inspiration strikes for you?

Öhm. If it is about how I find inspiration, I don't know. It either comes or it doesn't, and I am very chill about that because I am very much not ambitious with my writing. Once I have a situation in my mind, I aim to note the gist of it down on my phone, but I am a master procrastinator but also forgetful, so that will take some time.

Then if I feel like I want to get creative and challenge myself at some point, I look up my list of ideas and pick one that feels doable at the time. (Rarely, I sit down immediately to write up a first version, but it needs to be a special idea for that to happen.)

Do you curate playlists for each fic or is your process different?

No. With the length of my fics, it would take way longer to curate a playlist than I would have time to listen to it.^^ I tend to not have any music on when I am writing or only music without lyrics. I think I wrote the last few drabbles late in the night when I procrastinated going to bed or something and some invisible force possessed me to open my document with my drabbles and I just started writing and stopped when I had a decent not-quite drabble. I was just in this pretty weird, awesome mood you sometimes get into when it is in the middle of the night and you don't know what the time is even if you check the clock and you feel like you are the only alive thing in this world and it is just somewhat... tranquil? I tend to not be in the mood for music in this state of mind.

Do you go balls to the wall and write as you go or are you more organized?

With the length of my fics, there's no other choice but balls to the wall XD. I think this is also a big reason why I prefer extremely short formats - you don't have to plan. Sometimes, I picture the entire situation in my head and collect a few phrases I could use beforehand so that most of it is already in my head, in case that counts as being organized.

I used to have a list in my mind of situations that I wanted to collect in a longer fic, but I think by now, I forgot it all. Damn. Why did I not write it down? But then, the fic would never get written because I am still not creative enough for a some overarching plot to my collection of situations.

Overall, I feel like I am not enough of a writer to answer these questions, actually, but for that, I wrote a lot I guess XD

Of course, I am curious about @deneb-al-giedi's answers. And about everyone else's that wants to talk about their fic writing process.

[baldurspeen69420]

I know no one is following this blog for my non-BG3 related posts I keep yelling out into the void lately for some reason. I guess since I have some amount of followers now and the games been out for a while I'm increasingly finding myself wanting to put more of myself out into the open. To who I'm not really sure, though. I never tag these things much or expect many notes. Maybe I should have some sort of main blog I use instead at this point, but maybe it doesn't matter. Maybe I should stop making these kinds of posts entirely but I can't seem to resist the temptation.

I keep thinking about myself as a kid and the things I wanted to achieve. I really wanted to be an author, and sometimes I still talk about writing and pretend I'm a writer even though I've hardly made anything substantial in well over a year. I have written a book, fun fact. It's really bad but it is written. Published, no. To this day it's sitting on a poorly backed-up Word doc in my PC. I'm probably not going to go back to it and I think that's okay (maybe?). My girlfriend keeps asking to see it since I've left it to the dust but somehow I can't bring myself to send it over. Sometimes I open the document and scroll through a bit and close it again.

It's easier to reblog gifsets and other people's work than make anything of my own, I guess. But I never feel like the things I make are technically skilled enough to count or are lacking some kind of fundamental spirit of truth or whatever. Or both at once, usually. I get disheartened thinking I can practice my prose into the ground for decades and come out a more skilled writer in one sense but still have nothing meaningful to say or fail to communicate it at the very least. I don't even know why I think my work /has/ to say something, I enjoy a lot of dumb stuff that isn't really about anything in particular, but I feel restless nevertheless about it.

Sometimes I think I'd like to go to a mountaintop somewhere with no internet for six months and just force myself to sit and think and reflect but in actuality I know I'd probably spend all my time kicking rocks and eating wheat thins and leave with maybe two pages of solid work and a billion of things left unwritten. Time continues to go by, it's getting colder lately. Next year will be the same thing but a little different. And I'll say to myself, "I should write again". And then I'll log back in to YouTube and watch a four hour video essay about some people I don't know, probably.

[phil-lesterfan]

straightman count your fucking days

ngl i understand why g*iman might want to say heaven/god isn't homophobic in the sense that like "oh people love the g*mens 'verse and want to imagine a world without homophobia"; however, i think it's safe to say that, definitely by now, heaven are also bad guys. perhaps god isn't homophobic and fans could maybe take comfort in that, but heaven can be without that reflecting on god and ruining that illusion.

that being said, defensively shutting down an interpretation (coming from the "interpret everything however you want" guy) that makes the story even more meaningful than it already is, especially when focussing on the show's version of the story, which has definitively moved into "love story" territory, is such loser behaviour. you're allowed to tell fans things they don't want to hear, and fans should be allowed to recognise themselves and the things they've been through without being called delusional or wrong or whatever for it.

covering your ass with the sandalphon comment is hilarious too, because yeah, everyone totally thinks about everything but homophobia when they think of sodom and gomorrah. be serious for me for just one second, please!

no one even called him homophobic for the scene's inclusion (because duh, what you write about doesn't 1:1 reflect your values), but tbh, with the way he reacted, well . . . it's not a very good look, i think. saying "hey, this scene reflected homophobia experienced by gay people [in this instance, specifically gay men]" isn't at all the same as saying "you endorse homophobia" — imagine how impossible it'd be to write a story without any ~problematic~ elements — and if you interpreted g*yziraphale's statement as accusatory, you need to take a step back and do some serious reassessment.

(and the tags about "it doesn't even have to be 'boyfriend'! it could've been 'lady friend' or 'bosom friend'"? what? first of all, if only it were that easy to avoid homophobia! sadly [sarcasm], gay people exist. secondly, WHY DIDN'T THEY JUST SAY ONE OF THOSE THINGS THEN? if angels don't have an understanding of gender or sexuality, why didn't they use one of the neutral terms you suggested? and again, if a and c being just friends was enough to spark heaven's anger and if heaven really has no concept of sexuality — let's remember, s1 had their relationship hella ambiguous still, so if some viewers of the show couldn't pick up on anything between the two, you think 'i don't get sex' heaven would? — they should've just said "friend"!)

i hate that i've written an essay because i hate that i'm putting so much time and (emotional) energy into this, but i'm just so sick of gay people being called delusional or "looking too deep" for pointing out where stories parallel their own. also, nice little "actually *you're* the homophobic one for even noticing it!!1!"[1] there. really deserving of a glaad award, sir. (or is that yet another statement i'm not allowed to interpret?)

1 look, i get he could be acting like he's just got the gender version of colour blindness, but he's a grown up. he should know damn well how that line comes across.

[babblish]

20 questions of fic writers

Thanks for the tag @creativenicocorner!

Tagging: @dreamcrow @renee561 @megan0013 @ihateblocks I know it's NaNoWriMo so feel to ignore this one this busy season, but likewise if you're not tagged and wished to join in, feel free to do so. 🤔 I feel like I'm forgetting several people as it is.

1. How many works do you have on AO3?

20 (and 1 draft)

2. What's your total AO3 word count?

710,674 so far (it should be 717,602 once the draft is published)

3. What fandoms do you write for?

Tales of Arcadia, Dungeons and Dragons TTRPG, and this other one I won't share because I haven't finished the goddamn draft for yet and as such haven't published.

4. What are your top 5 fics by kudos?

Under the Wave

Primordial Awakenings

Whispers Within

Honey and Lemon

Primordial Awakenings - Deleted Scenes

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

Yes, always, and I try to give out as much as the commenter puts in. So an emoji gets an emoji, a paragraph gets a paragraph, a short essay gets an essay, etc. I do this because I think it's nice balanced response policy and I don't want to overwhelm readers who sent a short sentence of approval with a wall of text over how I think they're great (even though they are, in fact, quite great.)

6. What's the fic you wrote with the angstiest ending?

🤔Under the Sun: The White Rabbit.

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

Whispers Within.

8. Do you get hate on fics?

Not directly, certainly not in the comments of a fic. I know my ships and blorbos are not popular with everyone, but honestly this is how it's always been. I typically like writing the weirdos and cardboard cutout characters who get/got treated dirty in canon.

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

Yes I do now. I put it off for a long time because I wasn't confident writing it enough to share it publicly, but I started publishing that kind of thing last year in attempt to Get Good.

It's essentially a personal exercise routine, highly recommend this to anyone struggling with a particular element of writing. Obviously it doesn't have to be even remotely spicy, I know not everyone is comfortable writing that kind of thing and I certainly expect anyone to read mine. It's just I was struggling with interpersonal physical interactions, choreography if you will, and the easiest way to practice these was either smut or combat scenes, and combat scenes seemed kind of a massive downer.

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

To the best of my knowledge, I have never in my life written a crossover, nor do I currently have any wish to. The absolute closest has gotta be including a lot of OCs to fill roles that aren't quite filled in the canon cast, which as we all know is not quite the same. Full respect to our troops in the crossover trenches, I just don't think I have a brain that works like that.

11. Have you ever had a fic stolen?

I've definitely had art stolen (rip that one cute gnome PC I did for a friend), but never a fic... to my knowledge.

12. Have you ever had a fic translated?

No but I've had my grammar and spelling corrected once or twice when I attempted a language I am not fluent in and made mistakes. (I owe you my life.)

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

I have co-written before, back in the day, and I'm not taking about rp forums but the dark fantasy/sci-fi writing project I shared as a teen with my brother and friend at the time. For fic specifically I've only beta'd.

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

As a polyamorous multishipper this is a homophobic question. There's room on my top shelf for as many I want. 🤔 Many are Morticia and Gomez Addams shaped, or whatever the fuck was happening in The Road to El Dorado shaped, one has to admit.

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

Eugh probably The Homework Squad (a ToA fic with multiple PoV about Strickler's time as a teacher before he left that position.) Maybe I'll get to it one day, but I have so many other fics I'd much rather be working on now.

16. What are your writing strengths?

I've been told that I am very good at character voices and dialogue, and that I have the ability to control the tension of any given scene with pinpoint accuracy and twist the mood like a knife in the reader's heart without it seeming unnatural. This might be my dark fantasy background coming to the surface, ngl.

17. What are your writing weaknesses?

These are such things that gets mentioned less in feedback because it would be a dick mood unprompted, but speaking as someone with no beta beyond myself and an ereader, I know that sometimes my prose can be stiff and awkward, and my sentences err towards the unwieldy to the point that reading aloud can be difficult.

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

Sometimes different languages can be important to the plot and characterisation, and in these cases I do write dialogue in other languages but also include translation RIGHT THERE for the readers instead of clumped down at bottom notes of the chapter.

Otherwise I will include a helpful little note in the dialogue tag to indicate if the speaker has switched languages.

19. First fandom you wrote for?

Tales of Arcadia.

20. Favourite fic you've ever written?

It's probably Primordial Awakenings, but again I still have a soft spot for Whispers Within, and most if not all of my fics really. I pour a lot of myself into my fics, so they represent not just the fic themselves, but the particular time in my life when I was writing them.

[dracomalfoy7]

The Other Half | II

Draco Malfoy x Slytherin!Reader Fling!Marco Flint x Slytherin!Reader Harry Potter x Sister!Reader

Summary: Harry Potter's twin sister y/n Potter transfers to Hogwarts during the third year. With Harry being a Gryffindor being sorted into Slytherin was hard enough. Now having to battle the shadow that comes with being the twin of the chosen one. On top of being the only girl on the Slytherin quidditch team. In the notorious cold-blooded house, y/n leans on the Bronze 5. Eventually falling for the pureblood prince, himself Draco Malfoy.

Word Count: 1k+

Warnings: Retired Voldy AU, Angst, Fluff, Cursing

A/N: I'm sorry I took a while I was busy writing my college essay 😭 #23nior. I also wanted you guys to have a longer part plus I had a little writing block. But I started some one shots that I'll release soon 😌. I also made a google forms in my bio if you want me to tag you in future parts and/or one shots. Go check it out! ps. I don't own this gif

Mischief glitters in your eyes as you respond.

"No one told me how...charming the captain of the quidditch team was" you smile

You heard Draco peep a laugh, but it's drowned out by the music in the background. Thankfully, you send him a glare which he catches and returns an eye roll. Of course, you knew about the misogynistic history of Marcus Flint. But who are you to judge before getting to know him?

"Why don't we go grab a drink?" Marcus asks offering you his hand

"I'd love too" you return

Over at the makeshift bar you ask for a nice hardy cup of fireball. As you were drowning your weight in fireball a soft voice reached you.

"Would you like some herds? You look like you could use some the first batch is on me"

You turn and see Luna Lovegood sitting at a table selling "herbs" and good old fashion muggle weed. Sitting next to her unexpectedly is Neville Longbottom.

"Not tonight" you smile

"Oh, you're Harry's twin aren't you?"

"Harry's sister?" Neville turns

"Yup and your Luna and Neville, right?"

"Yes, we are" they both answer

"Ah so you're responsible for getting my brother so high that one time, he threw up so much he slept with a bucket in his arms."

You laugh and exchange pleasantries until a firm hand finds its way to your waist. You turn to see Marcus.

"There you are lost you for a second"

"Well, here I am"

"Actually if you don't mind do you have a pack of cigarettes by any chance?"

Luna smiles "Your in luck I always have a small stock for the boys and this is my last one"

"Thank you" you reach in the band of your bra for a bill but she stops you

"Please to make up for your brother"

You laugh "Fine but I'm paying next time" you affirm

You and Marcus make your way over to the couch and sit together. He talks about himself for what seems like a little too long. He then asks about you and Ilvermonry to which you then talk about yourself a little. As you guys talk, he finds ways to be closer to you, eventually putting his arm around your shoulder.

In the distance you see Draco standing at the beer pong table watching Pans and Blake play against Blaise and Enzo. You don't notice but his jaw tightens at the sight of Marcus with his arm around you. He doesn't even notice himself tensing up, his grip around his cup tighter. He doesn't like seeing you guys together but he doesn't know why. As you talk to Marcus about Ilvermorny he asks if you guys had quidditch to which you answer.

"I've actually been playing since first year"

"Oh really"

"Ya got on the team first year guess I'm kinda an ace they actually nicknamed me the Horned Viper"

"Damn I mean looks, brains, and quidditch you’re the whole package aren't you"

"I would like to think"

The evening continues with you and Marcus squeezed into the love seat couch deep in conversation.

As it hits 1 am people start leaving

Draco and the group walks over

“Hey Y/N/N we gonna head home if you wanna come”

Marcus stands up and helps you to your feet

“I'll walk you were in the same house anyways”

You smile “Here I thought chivalry was dead”

He gives you his arm and you take it head for the door with the rest of the group behind you. Enzo is holding a buzzed Blake hand on her waist in an effort to stead her. Draco and Blaise are walking with Pans in the middle, her arms around their shoulders. You and Marcus walk a few paces in front of the group. You're a bit more than buzzed but you try to walk on your own suddenly you stumble a little but Marcus catches you. He bridal carries you up the stairs into the shared dorm of Blake, Pans, and sets you down on the bed. Your eyes feel heavy and the last thing you hear before drifting off to sleep is “goodnight vip”.

The next morning you wake up groggy and in last night's clothes you get up and go to the bathroom. After a refreshing shower and some meds for the monster headache you see Pansy and Blake.

“Ugh what happened last night my head's killing me” Pansy says holding her head in her hands

“No literally it's a miracle we got home “ Blake agrees

“Well then you should thank the boys they were with you guys all night”

You guys get dressed and head to the great hall for breakfast. You walk in and spot the boys already at the table. As you guys sit down Blaise starts “good morning sleeping beauties how was your beauty sleep?”

“Killer” Pansy responds

“It's like I got hit by a train. How are you guys okay?” Blake cries out

Enzo responds “We didn't drink like animals that's how”

Draco looks at you and pushes a piece of buttered toast in front of you.

“Eat it'll make you feel better”

You mustier up a smile

“Thanks”

As you dig into the toast you feel someone come up behind you.

“Good morning vip, how'd you sleep?”

“Like a baby”

“Good I'm glad you were knockout cool when I got you home”

“Ya thanks for that by the way”

“No worries anytime” He winks

He puts a cup down on the table

“What is that?”

“Hair of the dog something muggles use for hangovers”

Draco contests “No she does not need more alcohol in her system right now she needs to soak it up”

Marcus turns to look at him “Relax Malfoy she'll be fine”

You stare at the cup “I don't know my hangovers almost passed”

You push the cup away “I'll just ride this one out”

Marcus eyes flash with what seems to be disappointment before it's replaced with his signature smile.

“No worries just trying to help”

“By the way vip you wanna play some quidditch later?”

You give him a smile “Ya definitely I'll be there”

“Great I'll see you later” He says before turning around and leaving”

Enzos is jaw dropped

Blaise is stunned but manages to say “I’ll be damned, how did you get Marcus Flint to eat out of your hand?”

Which Enzos adds on “Damn girl you work fast”

You just smile and say “A lady never tells” before breaking down in laughter with Enzo.

tags: @venomsvl @kaverichauhan @marplest

[aobawilliams]

20 questions for writers

I was tagged by @marcellebelle! Thanks for that!

1. How many works do you have on AO3?

15!

2. What's your total AO3 word count?

69,471 (eheh, nice)

3. What fandoms do you write for?

So on AO3 I got My Hero Academia, Detective Conan/Magic Kaito and Before the Coffee gets cold. Outside of AO3 I got some Naruto, FMA, One Piece, Bungo Stray Dogs, wips too (and there was that time I was writing crack fic about Mob Psycho here on tumblr with Panda, that was fun). There's probably some other I've forgotten too- oh yeah there was some Hetalia at some point.

4. What are your top 5 fics by kudos?

Noisy as the dead (495)

Who The F- Is This (432)

Nothing Wants To Suffer (375)

Who am I beating up? (131)

What it takes to survive (72)

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

I tend to but lately, I haven't really kept up with it. I am sorry. I should get to it at some point soon, but be aware every comment is read and enjoyed.

6. What's the fic you wrote with the angstiest ending?

Morituro, probably? Considering both All Might and Izuku died so, yeah.

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

I like to think it's Before The Coffee Gets Cold - The Sisters, since this fic is about closure after death.

8. Do you get hate on fics?

Oh! I got once a hate comment on who the f- is this, to which i answered with an essay or two. I probably shouldn't have but also it was really fun at the time. Otherwise I don't believe I do.

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

I can barely write romance, smut is way out of my reach. I also don't really have any interest in writing any, to be honest.

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

Crossovers are probably right after Time Travel in term of things I love. Not one I've written but special mention to that one time I dream about Zabuza from naruto/Reigen from mob psycho as a ship.

Don't know if it's the craziest but I had a The Rising of the Shield Hero/Naruto one started once, there was also that Detective Conan/My Hero Academia one started with Panda that the idea was so good. We should get back to it, one day.

11. Have you ever had a fic stolen?

Not that I know of.

12. Have you ever had a fic translated?

*squint* I don't think so (unless it was done without my knowledge) but strong maybe back in my ff.net era. Though I did translate some fics myself before (it wasn't done very well, but I did try back then, and it did help me a lot learning english. Problem was I'm not good at grammar stuff.)

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

Once again, there was that cracky Mob Psycho one here somewhere. Also, some projects with Panda that are really good except words hard for both of us.

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

...yeah no idea right now, come ask me another time. (It tends to change on the day, but also right now I'm on a no-romance streak so, better luck next time)

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

*crying* all of them.

Okay so, first of all, a wip is never dead unless I decide to bury it. Which doesn't happens. I still have hope one day I'll get back to them.

Right now I really want to work on Dad For All and the DCMK NOC AU except, word hard and planning harder. But I'll get there, one day, even if it's in 10 years.

16. What are your writing strengths?

I honestly got no idea? I probably got some I'm just not sure what it could be.

17. What are your writing weaknesses?

word hard. Also no idea how grammar works beyond "whatever feels right to me".

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

Eeh, I probably wouldn't do it because it's bothersome having to look up a translation while you're reading a fic, unless it's something that fits with the context or just a few words here and there. Also switching languages in the middle of thinking is so hard to do, why would you do this to me.

19. First fandom you wrote for?

Naruto, back in uuuhhhhhh probably middle school. It was a long time ago. Nothing is left of what I could have written then. (Also close to that time period was D.Gray-man).

20. Favourite fic you've ever written?

Huge huge huge fondness for Before The Coffee Gets Cold - The Sisters, probably because Im very fond of that universe and also when grief is explored and closure is sought. I also really like the flowers have water.

Who the f- is this and Noisy as the dead are my funny projects though, I have lot of fun working on them.

Tagging! @achairwithapandaonit @grolahvol @figurativepieceoftrash @bloustorm @fanfiction-artist-prototype @guesst and uuh really tbh anyone who sees this and feel like doing it! I just picked a few people off the top of my head but I know there's a lot more of you seeing this.

[byullielle]

Hanji Day!! // Han Jisung x Gn!Reader

—my precious han jisung, i love him so much and i hope that even if he doesn't know me personally he still feels my love through the powers of the universe. you deserve the world my han quokka.

tags: birthday fic! wholesome loving, established relationship, fluff!, kisses! all the kisses for han jisung!, short and sweet

Rated: Happiest Birthday to my Rockstar!

You nervously shake your leg as the guitar sits next to you, waiting for your boyfriend to move along and hurry up from whatever he was going. Han Jisung wasn't one to grandly celebrate his birthdays but you still wanted to make every single one with him count to the most of your abilities. And for this one? You pestered Chan and Changbin to (quickly) teach you how to play the guitar in order for you to play a simple song for him. Better Together by Us The Duo was the choice because it was fairly easy but the nervousness bit on your mind heavily.

Of course, you got him a little bit more than that, just in case the singing and playing backfired. He recently had been eyeing a pair of shoes and due to his busy schedule he hasn't gotten to buying them yet and you had to do everything in your power to fight against Jeongin who was planning to gift them to Han himself.

It was a battle well-won.

Nobody messes with your affections towards Han Jisung, even if it meant death (refusing Jeongin's puppy dog eyes and instead resorting to nearly biting you off).

"Okay, I'm ready," Jisung walks in as you jolt up in shock. "Oh!" you clear your throat and shakily take the guitar. You were confident in your singing voice, and after being heavily monitored by Chan and Changbin was quite alright to go but come on, it was Han Jisung. The man who has written more songs than school essays.

"I-If you somehow don't like it, please make me stop immediately,"

His hand immediately goes up to his chest, mouth gaping in shock, no sound coming from his lips. You take another deep breath and close your eyes, before doing a strum down, "There's no combination of words I could put on the back of a postcard," you start singing, "The song that I can sing but I can try for your heart," you then pluck the nickel string.

"Our dreams, they're made out of real things," you gently hit the back of your palm against the body of the guitar before starting to strum with your fingers affixed to a single chord, "Like a shoebox of photographs of sepia tone loving," you keep your focus on the strings, unable to look at Han as he has his hands places politely on his lap, fingers tapping along.

"Love is the answer at least, for most of the questions in my heart," a change of chords then a strum, "Like, "Why are we here?" and, "Where do we go?" And, "How come it's so hard?"" another hit on the upper bout.

You stop the strumming for a while, taking this moment to look up at his direction, "It's not always easy and sometimes life can be deceiving," your eyes soften at the absolutely mind-blown look on his eyes, "I'll tell you one thing it's always better when we're together," you bring back your hand on the fretboard, starting to strum along constantly changing chords.

"Mmm, it's always better when we're together," you sing along the strumming softly before ending it on a simple C-chord strum, "Yeah, we'll look at the stars when we're together,"

You stop and then set the guitar aside gingerly. The moment it's off your body you could feel Jisung suddenly tackle you into a fullbody hug, both your bodies landing on the couch. A laugh escapes you before you pat his back, the weight of his body comforting against yours, "Happy birthday, sorry if that wasn't the best,"

"No no, it was perfect," he sniffles before you pull off in worry only to see him absolutely elevated with tears running down his face, he leans down and presses a shallow yet reverent kiss on your lips. "Thank you. Thank you so much baby," he whispers against your lips before pressing another kiss on your lips, "You did great. This is the best birthday gift ever,"

"Well...I also got you some shoes," you chuckle, anxiety dissipating from your shoulders before pulling him for a hug, his body still atop yours. "Happy birthday, I love you,"

"I love you too, the shoes could wait, you're amazing baby,"

"Not as much as you," you chuckle upon feeling him pinch your side.

[lizzybeth1986]

An Ear to The Ground

Book: The Royal Romance Book 1

Characters: Kiara Theron (featuring my MC, Esther, and the ladies of the court)

Word Count: 3, 655 words.

Summary: To the rest of Cordonia, Lady Kiara Thorne of Castelserraillan is just another suitor, destined at failure in winning the Crown Prince's hand. Luckily for Kiara, that isn't why she's here. Part of the Petals and Thornes universe.

Tagging @choicesficwriterscreations for FoTW

A/N1: Basically I was torn between gushing over Kiara's observation skills in Book 1 (specifically Lythikos) through an essay or through a fic. Though a fic would present more of a challenge for me 😁

"Le Prince va tomber amoureux de moi."

Kiara Thorne doesn't have to look around to note the sniggers coming from the other ladies, even as the words leave her mouth. Even from young Penelope, the girl she'd been taking under her wing for years...since the minute she became the last Great-House-Heir of their generation to celebrate her debut.

No matter. They may have been friendlier than most ladies in court, but right here Kiara knows she can't be anyone's friend. If anything Penelope returning that favour only means she's taught the girl well. It's not like you grew pigs together*, Maman would say.

Kiara herself knows her statement to be a fib as tall as the Eiffel, but there is such a thing as making sure you don't throw in the towel on your very first day. If you don't project ridiculous amounts of confidence - even in front of this crowd you grew up with - they could eat you alive. Which is precisely what is happening to one of the newer girls right now.

Lady Hana - the rather elusive daughter of a barony pocketed away somewhere between Domvallier and Ramsford, run by Zoroastrians who had settled for two centuries in the Indian subcontinent before finding their way to Cordonia - turns scarlet as Duchess Olivia tears into her for what seems to be an...engagement that ended fairly amicably. Kiara has heard rumours, true, but Olivia seems intent on making it sound like Cordonia considers the whole situation her fault. Kiara bristles a little at Olivia's exaggerations, knowing that she's going to repeat the same in front of the press, and that they will instantly lap it up.

When she knows full well that if this were even remotely true across the board, a Madeleine Amaranth would hardly be able to show her face in public.

The lady of Bethulia makes quick her exit, blinking away tears. That doesn't surprise Kiara. Many women will crash and burn at the first event itself; you need nerves of steel and a blanket assumption that every mistake you ever made in your life will be amplified on a national stage...and not many fully understand what that entails until they've had to face it themselves. She can only hope that what she has heard about the woman's other gifts may carry her through.

What does surprise Kiara, though, is the other new girl's response.

Esther DuPont of New York looks at the Duchess of Lythikos square in the eye - her own brilliant sapphire ones giving nothing away. Kiara doesn't exactly expect much from her either - in Lady Hana's case at least you could tell she has trained herself admirably in their ways despite being brought up an entire continent away. This one just seems entirely clueless.

"You're acting like a child, not a queen," her voice is calm, but every word slices through the tense night air with the brutal clarity of a newly-sharpened knife. "If this is how you behave, I wouldn't trust you with childproof scissors - much less a kingdom."

A shame that Olivia doesn't often feel turns her cheeks a bright red. If you'd just called her a bitch she would have considered that more of a kindness. "I...you can't..."

Esther's eyes glitter, then darken dangerously. "I just did."

The steely edge in her voice makes Kiara shiver for reasons that aren't just the cool night air.

This social season could get quite... interesting.

--

The first rule of observing well, ya Babba, is to never assume.

Kiara always thought she fully understood what her father meant when he said that. Until now.

Two days. Two days and three events - and already a complete sea-change in the way the competition looks. She'd entered this competition aware that she'd be the first to go - she just never imagined the plucky inexperienced newcomer to pull ahead of them all!

And she will never be more grateful to her father, than for the lesson that sometimes you should just sit back and enjoy the surprises that being wrong can bring.

Yesterday's afternoon with the Queen was a revelation in more ways than one. Her family no longer having King Constantine's favour meant that chances to interact with the royal family are rare, and getting an individual audience with Queen Regina even rarer - but Kiara was transfixed at the sight of her measuring up each one of them; finding more in the things they hid than in what they said. She knew each suitor by name, listened carefully to their answers... skillfully parried each one with deceptively-casual utterances about politics and governance.

Penelope, who had just gossiped two hours before about Lady Esther's tardiness to win more of Olivia's favour, withered almost instantly under the Queen's scrutiny. Kiara felt her own attempts to subtly size up the competition, and observe the Queen, increasingly gauche and far too obvious.

What did comfort her, however, was the grudging look of approval she got from the Queen after she was done. She knew by the beginning of the Derby that her time in the competition was pretty much done, but it felt incredible to have made an impression on someone that formidable.

And what did surprise her, was the Mystery Woman of the season. That was what the press claimed to be Lady Esther's moniker - her answers revealing everything about her interest in Cordonia and Prince Liam, and tantalizingly little about herself - and their reviews, coupled with the Queen's glowing approval, have made her an instant favourite with the public.

(It probably helps that the Crown Prince himself had such a hard time concealing his heart-eyes the moment he caught sight of her, Kiara thinks a little wistfully. It's been over 15 years since she last spoke to him as more than a casual acquaintance, but she knows that the one thing that hasn't quite changed about him is his slightly dreamy, romantic nature. A nature he tries so hard to keep in check)

For all Lady Esther's inexperience and tardiness, it is clear that she's quite adept at reading the room and carefully moulding her answers to pique the interest of her listener, often making them forget any motives she may have in the process.

Kiara doesn't doubt that she's been learning the finer details of court etiquette from her sponsors, and perhaps Lady Hana (she could spot the two of them while they were dancing the Cordonian Waltz today, with different partners - two couples away from each other - their footwork and twirls almost identical). Lady Esther has been adjusting far quicker than any of them realized, to the point where she almost upstaged Olivia tonight at her own party, despite being deliberately kept away from the spotlight.

Kiara's mouth twists in annoyance at the sheer audacity of Olivia's antics today. It isn't uncommon for every hostess to use their power, as the one leading the ceremony, so they can monopolize the main guest's time - but it also isn't every day that one sees a display as brazen as this one. She could almost understand the desire to seat every other suitor at a smaller, lesser table - and to publicly insult the suitors you like the least - but to the point where you forget all propriety? Where you grab the prize of the season like he is some...some rag doll and kiss him without warning? Mock every other woman who would have willingly supported you?

Countess Madeleine, last season's winner and the latest suitor to join the season, haughtily raised her chin at the display later and proclaimed that she could never that unrefined or insecure (Kiara, who has heard of both the drunken displays of Duchess Adeleide, and of Madeleine's own behaviour - both sober and rum-fueled - at the height of her last engagement two years ago, now stifles a snort).

Lady Esther, whose only flash of emotion seemed to manifest when she danced with the Crown Prince, kept her face determinedly neutral as Olivia continued her display, raising her head in defiance, daring the Duchess to admit that she was the reason for such an ostentatious, reckless display.

Olivia made the mistake of meeting Esther eye-to-eye then, and in the instance their eyes met it became clear Olivia knew she had lost.

Not just this twisted game she seems to be having with Lady Esther. No, Olivia has lost far more than that tonight. The press around her now murmur her name in hushed, scandalized tones, several nobles can be seen shaking their heads, and Prince Liam is nowhere to be found. Kiara herself has used the rest of the night to seek out potential contacts and create an impression. If she's lucky enough to find people influential enough, interested enough, she could perhaps return home with some tempting offers at hand.

Lady Esther has just finished speaking to her sponsor now, nodding at what seems to be a suggestion from his end. From the slight inclination of the woman's head in her direction, Kiara can hazard a guess exactly who they're talking about.

Any moment now, Esther will turn this way. She will smile faintly at Kiara's side-profile, unaware that Kiara has been watching her too. She will come forward. She will speak a few words in French (do not let it be voulez vous coucher avec moi I beg you God, I can't believe why these many people find it so funny). She will mention the kiss. List Olivia's faults. Assure her of an alliance of equal footing.

Kiara already knows her answer.

It will be a yes. But not before she makes Esther work a little for it first.

--

Kiara greets the news that she is officially out of the running for Prince Liam's hand, two weeks before the Apple Blossom Festival, with a sigh of relief. She has always feared the long agonizing wait for the acknowledgement of failure than the failure itself, and its finality is a balm to her brain, which has already begun its pursuit for more networks, more connections, more opportunities. Already she's been approached for a few translation-oriented projects.

While she is still participating in the social season, she uses the little clout she has to promote Lady Esther. Fortunately for her, she isn't the only one. Penelope joined in singing Esther's praises immediately after the Regatta, guilelessly praising her bravery in the face of a vicious crab she had rescued Penelope from at the Capitol beach (she stopped repeating that story after the second week; Kiara still cannot place a finger on why this unsettles her).

She must admit Lady Hana must have been a smart one, to identify and pledge her support to the woman who is now the season's top frontrunner. The one who makes even a Countess Madeleine sit up and take notice. She must have seen something in her that none of them had, and Kiara almost envies her that sense of instinct.

The more Kiara learns about Lady Hana, the more intrigued she feels. There is no doubt in Kiara's mind that the half-Chinese half-Cordonian suitor is no wilting wallflower; you could tell how competitive she is just by seeing her play a simple game with the other ladies. Yet, she seemed to show little interest in the social season for herself...and threw herself wholly into helping and promoting Esther long before even Kiara did.

At least she was doing it at least partly in self-interest. Kiara is hard-pressed to find much self-interest in most of what Hana does. She'd asked the other woman once why she'd plunged herself headlong into that kind of support. Hana had looked her straight in the eye and said, "She stood by me when no one else did."

The naked adoration in her voice, even now, one week later, makes Kiara skin prickle.

It is their final night at Applewood before the famed Beaumont Bash is to begin. Kiara tries not to look in Hana's direction - she is deep in discussion with the one man that Kiara has been trying to avoid directly looking at for months, fearing the flush on her neck and the hotness on her cheeks. Year after year she prays for this futile desire to either die or be met, and year after year it only intensifies with little encouragement from its source. She knows if she does catch a glimpse of him - each denim-clad inch of him - she will not be able to look away. Kiara wraps her cloak around herself a little tighter, hoping her involuntary shiver could be attributed to the light breeze.

Right next to her, Penelope talks to Madeleine in small, halting tones, almost like she fears the older woman's response. "I think Lady Esther will make a wonderful Queen". She brushes her knuckle lightly over the space between her nose and upper lip, wiping away small sweat beads.

Penelope has been looking lost and distracted for three days now. She jerks at the slightest sounds, doesn't look the other ladies in the eye anymore. Just the other day she watched King Constantine from a distance, the strangest expression on her face. She never told Kiara why, even when Kiara tried to nudge an answer out of her.

A muscle seems to jump beneath Countess Madeleine's cheek. "Well," she says, her voice sounding honey-sweet, and like a veiled threat, at the same time. "I suppose you're entitled to your opinion".

The lady they were just talking about is standing just a little way away from the main dining table, talking to Lord Tariq. At a cursory glance Esther seems attentive, but Kiara doesn't have to stand directly in front of her to understand her eyes are probably glazed over from boredom. Lord Tariq thinks entirely too much of his own charm, and he has hardly encountered a person daring enough to let him know how downright tedious he sounds.

Madeleine has turned to her now, her eyes expectant of a more positive response. Till now she's only heard the occasional story about how entitled Countess Madeleine could get, and how much she has assumed herself a gift to Cordonian politics. It's so fascinating, seeing her realize for the first time that she has true competition in a woman that none of them had even heard of, two months ago. It's so illuminating to see her struggle to adjust to that truth.

At least in Olivia's case you could factor in her personal feelings for the Prince himself. Madeleine doesn't even have that. She saunters around like she is above the chore of talking to the man she may have to marry if she wins this - and Kiara can never understand the logic behind that strategy. Even she - who didn't want to marry the Prince in the first place - used the few opportunities they had to speak, to rekindle their friendship and remind him of her own family's close connection to his mother. Attempts that he accepted with open arms and a warm smile, regaling her with memories of his own. Madeleine simply assumed that showering exclusive attention on her aunt and her father's former best friend would be enough.

Kiara knows her answer will make the season's second-favourite frontrunner furious. And unlike Penelope, she can't quite bring herself to care.

She still will deliver the news kindly, though. Madeleine is still a rather powerful woman. No point getting on her bad side when you could deliver honesty alongside a small bowl of honey.

--

What was it again that Baba had said? About never assuming?

How is it that she somehow never seems to fully absorb this vital lesson?

Lady Esther seemed to have have had it all. The adulation of the press, the approval of the Court, the blessings of the royal couple themselves...the heart of the man who is now Cordonia's new king.

How did she manage to blow it all up that spectacularly??

As soon as the thought leaves her head Kiara knows she's being unfair. She doesn't know the facts, and she doesn't want to fall for the hungry sensationalism that the likes of Them magazine are likely to bring. It seems just as likely - if not more - Tariq had sprung this on Lady Esther, and a rogue tabloid journalist had just caught him in the act.

Of one thing Kiara is sure. Lady Esther can't have been comfortable with any of this. You can tell from the look on her face on that photograph. She looks wary. Astounded. Vulnerable. Anything but a willing participant.

And while some of the possibilities of what may have happened in that room make Kiara sick to her stomach, she knows she cannot dwell on them.

Lady Esther is gone. As are Lady Hana and Duchess Olivia, for reasons that will perhaps forever stay a mystery. The only women standing, giving the new Queen-to-be even a skeleton of a court, are her and Penelope. They're all that's left to represent the Great Houses, and Kiara knows without question that every move she and Penelope make from now on will be examined with a fine-toothed comb. By the press, by the Council, especially by King Liam's future bride.

Perhaps her, more than Penelope. Even as spectacular a failure as the other woman's performance in the social season was, the words used to describe her were always going to be Sweet. Innocent. Friendly. The words used to describe Kiara were always going to be Cold. Snotty. Calculated. And she knows instinctively that were their personalities reversed, Kiara would be called vapid and silly, and Penelope would be labelled a magnificent strategist.

That is something she has never begrudged Penelope, or the court. She stopped caring about what people said about her a long time ago. As long as she still gets the connections she needs and the projects she desires, they could call her Medusa for all it mattered to her.

But now that the season is over, and Countess Madeleine has offered to keep them both on as ladies-in-waiting, Kiara knows that both their reputations are now intricately tied together. They both need to work in tandem, present a unified front behind the new royal couple, and to Cordonia. The onus of bringing Penelope up to speed, of ensuring she can still manage to navigate court successfully even when Kiara isn't around...is now on Kiara's shoulders. If Penelope fails - both of them fail.

Kiara picks up her phone, preparing to type a message to her friend so they can meet up. The press and Twitter public are likely scouring through both their past tweets for some juicy tidbit about their opinions during the social season, even as she is typing. She can already imagine the articles from Trend and BuzzWord, pulling up their statements of support for Lady Esther from just one week ago and placing them under a magnifying glass.

Already she can anticipate the withering looks Madeleine will give them everytime they open their mouths - letting them know she hasn't forgotten that they'd started out supporting someone else. For all her talk of unity and friendly competition and rallying around the winner, the future Queen is a cauldron of resentments inside, and even the most innocent slight can spell disaster for you later on.

Not for the last time, Kiara wonders if the Queen-to-be that King Liam had wanted, would have behaved the same way.

Kiara presses her lips closed, trying hard to chase away that near-scandalous thought. This is no time to be thinking of might-have-beens. Her and Penelope...they can still come out of this not looking like fools. They still have ways they can spin this so it works in their favour. So their loyalty will never be called into question.

She just has to coach Penelope on how to fall in line.

If there is a wary voice at the back of her mind, reminding her that anything can happen in the space between an engagement and a wedding...she pushes the thought resolutely away.

After all, even Baba would have to agree - there will come a time when it would be foolish to second-guess an inevitable result, n'est ce pas?

N'est ce pas??

--

Notes:

On n'a pas élevé les cochons ensemble: The literal translation (used in this story) is "we didn't grow pigs together", and the meaning of the idiom signifies - "you need to respect me more, I'm not your friend, or we have no anterior relations". In this context, while Penelope and Kiara may be friendly, they're not close friends and Kiara figures she shouldn't be expecting loyalty from her. (Credit to @thecapturedafrique for pointing me to this idiom!)

Ya Babba - Among some Arabic families, parents tend to playfully call their children by their own parental title. I am not sure if this is common in Darija, which is the language Hakim often speaks with his children, but in the absence of a nickname I could think of at present, I have him call Kiara by the name she gives him, which is Baba.

N'est ce pas? - "Is it not?" in French.

A/N2: You see how great Kiara's observation powers are especially in Lythikos, Book 1 - when it becomes obvious in the "successful" playthroughs that the MC is fitting in to courtly life better than she anticipated. She is the first member of the court besides Bertrand and Regina to note this. I speak more about it in the latter half of this QT.

She is also extremely pragmatic - she understands very well that she is never going to be a frontrunner in her season, and as early as Lythikos, spends more time networking and angling for connections that may further a future career. A lot of the time when people criticize her for being opportunistic, they forget that she never promised friendship, and instead kept her end of the bargain as an ally for the social season. This fic is an attempt to expand on these qualities as they feature in canon.

While in Book 3 and TRH, the team itself is eager to mould her into the shape of the phantom this fandom was so eager to hate, Book 1...and to a small extent Book 2...do feature these characteristics of hers quite strongly.

[fitzrove]

Writer Asks

Tagged by @yallemagne (thank you<3) ages and ages ago... Inspired to answer because I just published a fic and feel good about it hjejejfjj

1. How many works do you have on AO3?

Undisclosed amount xD I've put a bunch on anon, especially from fandoms I'm not active in anymore (lbr, mostly Endeavour). Publically, it's 26 rn.

2. What's your total ao3 word count?

212040!

3. What fandoms do you write for?

Elisabeth, hopefully in the future Tanz der Vampire (I've been thinking about it for like five years), in the past Endeavour (TV).

4. What are your top five fics by kudos?

They're all Endeavour because those are older and in a (slightly) bigger fandom... Unfortunately I think they're not the best ones I've written, a lot of them were when I was 18 (no offense to 18 year olds) and had just started writing fanfic ajajjjd. Which is why the top 5 are on anon except for one LOL. I really do think kudos doesn't tend to accumulate "correctly" xD People like familiar tropes and time of posting also affects it, there are many fics of mine I consider "underrated"

My top five kudosed Elisabeth fics are: black as the earth (shortened title), Flights of Angels (todolf longfic), Dominion, Midnight Man & Starwalk. tbh deserved...

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

Yes, I try to respond to every single one of them so people will hopefully comment in the future too, especially if they're kind, funny or thought-provoking!!! However, I delete them if I don't like them or they're weird, boundary-crossing or TMI ahdjfjjf (has happened a handful of times - the joys of writing explicit stuff lol. PSA: do not tell fic authors about your sexual activities in the comments, i do not consent...)

6. What's the fic you wrote that has the angstiest ending?

I often do bittersweet, or "sweet but also has Implications" >:] Oh and I guess there's a lot of them where Rudolf dies at the end... I think the actual angstiest might be No Forevers (Endeavour fic) even though nobody dies in that one. Though I ruined it by writing a sequel to it, after the showrunner wrote one of the characters back into the show after like 10 years xD In my defense, this wasn't my idea!!!

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

Beams of Morning (Endeavour). I retconned one of my own DIY bittersweet endings whoops... 🤣🤣😭 It's sappy, even, but maybe that's allowed. For elisabeth it's Flights of Angels because the happiest happy endings are ones that feel deserved.

8. Do you get hate on fics?

No - I've gotten hate for my headcanons/meta and my video essays though (never to my face ;D) which can be fic adjacent. I guess it's because there's a better tagging system with fic, like, people won't be exposed to stuff they don't want to see as readily as with tumblr and youtube etc. And people also know how to leave other ppl alone!! Ajdjjfjf

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

Yes. The unpleasantly sexy kind 👀

10. Do you write crossovers?

Noooo, I don't really read them either. The kinds of crossovers I like are the ones that are crossovers "in name only"; ie. setting or tropes lifted from one work, characters/cast from another. Wildly incongruent characters showing up in each other's universes and interacting etc doesn't fit into my suspension of disbelief most of the time 😭

11. Have you ever had a fic stolen?

Luckily no!

12. Have you ever had a fic translated?

No, but I once helped someone translate theirs into English, which was cool. Oh, and recently I've been asked for permission to translate at least one of my fics - I hope it happens because it's always an honor!! >:]

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

I've collaborated on series, but I haven't co-written stuff on a deeper level. I think I'm too much of a control freak to get into it ajsdjjf, I can do stuff inspired by other people and am happy if my stuff inspires other people, but if I need to agree on plot/characterisation with someone consistently I don't think it'd work out, since no two people have identical takes and preferences with stories and characters.

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

For around 2.5 years it's been todolf, it captures a lot of stuff I've liked in fiction for a longer time already >:D I can't really say whether it will be the Ship of a Lifetime for me... I mean it did make me move countries (as one reason of a few) but if someone asked me in the summer of 2016 I would've probably said [checks ao3 reading history] um. h*milton x j*fferson... so like. IT CHANGES A LOT OK ajajsjdj

15. What's a wip you want to finish, but don't think you ever will?

I don't want to doom any of my current wips to the graveyard!!!!!! I am having worries about the fate of my todolf swan lake modern ballet au fic though. The original draft outline is complete but it doesn't really fit my character interpretations for tod or rudolf anymore, it's from january 2022... Idk maybe I can one day rework it somehow with different characterisations ajsjdjf but yeah mostly it's interesting concepts haphazardly tied together but no coherent plot

16. What are your writing strengths?

Imagination/coming up with ideas, metaphors, descriptions (usually), grammar and syntax, writing crown prince rudolf really well (XDD), rhythm/pacing (usually), the way it Sounds (my brain sometimes fixates on phonetics randomly because after all, English is not my first language, and sometimes there'll be like, a really pleasing/satisfying combination of sounds in smth I think to write and I think I'm good at picking up on that, like how it flows and sounds. Idk if those preferences are universal though or if it's just me writing what I think sounds pleasing)

17. What are your writing weaknesses?

Writing varied characters, writing varied speech patterns/"character voice" also in narration, vocabulary.... I am but a humble English as a second technically third language speaker,,,, (i'm doing an english language grad school degree rn lol so i think i'm no worse than natives, not humble abt this actually, but i'm on the level of like. a not so well-read native speaker. Because most actual fiction literature I've read in my life has been in Finnish, in English I've just read academic literature, fanfic and like 10 books max! I need to read more and become a better writer ahhdhhdhf)

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

No... Dialogue is a big no from me, it often feels cringe ngl ajsjdjdj. My personal philosophy is "if you need a translator's note for people to understand what's going on, don't put it in" 😅 A lot of the time different languages are also used in fic in nonsensical ways where it will look ok to a lot of people but bother the hell out of native speakers/ppl who speak the language. This is smth that can technically be done well but it's usually not aksldlldd. I think pet names and individual words can be fine but it needs to be done in moderation... I also obsess a lot over research, like, the nuances of the word need to actually mean what the author thinks it means :'D

19. First fandom you wrote for?

First published for Endeavour, first wrote for H*rry P*tter... (never-to-be-published fan comics and little stories as a young kid, like 8 years old).

20. Favorite fic you've written?

Right now it's vers l'onde souterraine... ;) I think I'm constantly improving as a writer and hopefully every fic will be better than the last!!

[lairn]

I was tagged by @gwenllian-in-the-abbey. Thanks, time to review some stats!

How many works do you have on AO3?

6

2. What’s your total AO3 word count?

13,400 (is there a non-manual way to do this?)

3. What fandoms do you write for?

Realm of the Elderlings and only RotE, haha

4. What are your top 5 fics by kudos?

When you only have 6 works this doesn't say much! Patience in Winter I'd Rather Die Alone Weak Willed Loomings or, A Short Tale of Woe Never Know Peace (surprised anyone even saw this one)

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

Yes, virtually always. If anybody takes the time to share their thoughts with me, I at least want to thank them.

6. What’s the fic you wrote with the angstiest ending?

I was just noticing all my stuff ends with a little bummer even if the tone beforehand was more pleasant. But probably Weak Willed.

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

Unfortunately, probably I'd Rather Die Alone. Or Patience in Winter.

8. Do you get hate on fics?

No, very few people read them to begin with! I'd be confused to receive hate, although it's not impossible it would happen.

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

A lot of what I've written is based on prompts. My default would probably be no smut and so far I've only written erotic (sub)text once. But maybe I'd write it if I got a request. It's just not my natural impulse.

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

Before I had an AO3 I started a NBC Hannibal/Minority Report crossover, haha! I only wrote a few paragraphs, and as soon as Hannibal showed up I quit. Much easier to write Will Graham's voice.

11. Have you ever had a fic stolen?

Not that I know of.

12. Have you ever had a fic translated?

I really doubt it.

13. Have you ever cowritten a fic before?

No, but I've done a little beta reading.

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

I'm not really a shipper. If I see enough fan-content of a ship, it wins me over but not passionately. Serizawa/Reigen is an example. But I do feel pretty strongly that Fitz and The Fool have a queer relationship. I'm more in the QPR camp, but really enjoy the romantic fitzloved shippers' works. And sometimes the thought crosses my mind, "Oh Fitz, you fucked that gold man."

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

I don't have any unless that Hannibal story counts. The recent Malta one took so long I thought I might not finish.

16. What are your writing strengths?

Mm, I think I can get a pretty good sense of characters and their voices. I'm not sure how clearly that translates to the page, but the clarity exists in my head.

17. What are your writing weaknesses?

I like including sense details (sight, sound, smell, etc.) but I'm not sure if they enhance things or are more intrusive. Dialogue feels bad, man.

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

I haven't and probably won't. If the characters understand it, I'd probably write in English and indicate it was said in another language.

19. First fandom you wrote for?

I wrote an additional chapter to add to the end of One Hundred Years of Solitude for a high school assignment. I think it counts because we had the option to do an analytical essay, but I was so excited about the book that I had to take the creative writing option. Nobody else did I think.

20. Favourite fic you’ve ever written?

Maybe Weak Willed. I feel like it's fun to read and someone did fanart of it!

tagging: @smalltownfae

[sidhewrites]

posessed by a spirit of writing part 2: how did this happen i've written 6k words in the past 2 days

Project Info

Previous Chapter | Next Chapter

tag list: @adaughterofathena @ambreeskyewriting @carnelianflames @halfbloodlycan @vigilantdesert @nadunacreates

The usual muffled weekend noise came through the thin walls of my apartment as I showered off, then decided that I didn't want to deal with the fact that Josie's things were still sitting in boxes on my kitchen table. A set of dowsing rods, cat treats, a few shirts and necklaces, and at least a few crystals. 

I have no clue why she believes in spiritualism like that, considering she's the one who taught me the origins of the west's understanding of eastern mysticism like chakras, third eyes and whatever. Make no mistake, I like shiny rocks as much as the next guy, but the idea that different colors of quartz could make you happier or more sexually active or ward off evil was as stupid as avoiding walking under ladders to avoid bad luck instead of just following basic common sense when it came to physical safety.

I know I sound like an asshole. Josie had told me hundreds of times.

It was still stupid.

Instead of dealing with her things, I carried my sorry ass down to the corner store for a pint of ice cream, bleach, and hair dye. My side-shave was due for a touch-up anyway, so it wasn't purely out of the spirit of emotional devastation and existential crisis that made me go from my typical black to hot pink. Admittedly, it was mostly because of an emotional crisis, but it wasn't the only reason, so I'm counting that as a win.

As the dye set, I put some music on and settled in on the bench by the window. By now, the rain was starting to recede, which meant people were no longer rushing to get from place. My apartment was just across the street from the graveyard, so I had a good view of the college campus, and I could spy on Mr. Ngo when he tried to do something a man his age shouldn't, like kneeling to weed the plants when his arthritis was acting up.

There wasn't much going on today. A few people walking across the grounds, either from the apartments to campus or vice versa, a few of the usual picnickers determined to enjoy an afternoon with their late loved ones despite the mud, or just get some time outside as the sun slowly started to emerge.

But there was someone else in the graveyard today. The small film crew had far better gear than the usual stuff Sutter College loaned out to its students. Even from a distance, their professionalism and organization was easy to see, and their mic operator looked very official -- not to mention a good twenty years older than students tended to be. I couldn't see their faces clearly, nor could I hear what they were saying, but it was all too easy to figure out exactly what they were doing, standing in the overgrown grass and pointing out significant historical graves.

Ghost hunters.

Like I said, the graveyard is old. Lots of people die in 150 years, and we have no shortage of local legends and folklore. The Barhop in [Old Towne Brewery.] Ms. Lark in the old public library. And the town's most famous, Lucille Bloom. According to history, she married the love of her life at nineteen, and lost him two years later in a freak logging accident. They weren't able to recover his body. She died of pneumonia and grief only six days after that, before the funeral had even been properly arranged.

According to legend, her spirit haunts the graveyard, waiting for her husband to be buried next to her as they'd always planned. She's allegedly -- allegedly -- an active spirit that can be spoken to, and often appears as a full-body apparition.

Look, just because I don't believe in Josie's ghost stories doesn't mean I didn't sit up watching documentaries and video essays with her as she went down rabbit hole after rabbit hole. I knew about the town's ghost stories, and I knew about the various teams of hunters and internet personalities who'd done videos on it. I'd even been contacted by them once, though they conveniently left out the fact that I'd never seen a single ghost in all my nights working in the graveyard when the video eventually came out.

If Josie knew they were here, she'd skip work entirely, watching them work and offering suggestions on how to do their jobs. Use this tool, don't put the camera there. She'd be having a blast.

The thing is, though, is that it's stupid. All of it is stupid. It would be to stand there with a radio, or even just a phone, and mess with their EMF readings, or whisper ominously behind the tree while their microphones picked up on sounds that could be anything from the wind to a bird flapping its wings. I could just go down there any time I wanted and mess with them.

I won't, though.

I'm not a child.

I have ice cream to eat, and misery to wallow in, and the hair dye has another ten minutes before I can wash it out. I’m not petty, and I won’t mess with innocent people just because I’m mad at Josie. I don’t even have to get groceries today, so there’s no reason for me to leave the apartment until tomorrow.

My phone buzzes, and my stomach drops. I'm still trying to unsubscribe to all the people Josie followed on my various social media accounts, but I'm still getting notifications one way or another.

New Announcement by the Haunted Archives Team -- [Town Name] Cemetery and the history of Lucille Bloom coming this week! Make sure to tune in next Saturday at 8pm EST for a live Q&A after the video drops.

The post featured a photo of the crew in a graveyard. My graveyard.

So that's who they were.I grit my teeth, and glare at the Haunted Archivists across the street. Josie loves these guys -- a pair of paranormal investigators that pride themselves on emphasizing fact over sensationalism, and using a variety of tools to find ghosts and blah blah blah.

For half a second, I feel bad for Josie. She’s got double shifts all week, so she won’t be able to get online in time. And then I think, Good. She deserves to miss it. I still have her dowsing rods and pendulum in my kitchen just waiting to be picked up, and reminding me of her every time I go to get a drink.

But that’s Josie. These people are just doing their jobs, minding their own business in a place that just so happens to be right across the street from me. I’m not going to go mess with people just because I’m angry and hurt and a skeptic who lives next to the graveyard.

I don’t need to leave my apartment.

I eat my ice cream, watching them putter around down there among the headstones.

I don’t need to go to the graveyard tonight.

[0nelittlebirdtoldme]

2022 Writerly Year Review

I was tagged for this by @frozen-fountain; I in turn tag the amazing @argyleheir, @bluecatwriter, @mikaharuka, @alpaca-clouds and @bleepbloopbotz.

Total number of completed works: 55, including the completion of Death's Sunrise (Was this really in 2022? It feels like it's been 84 years...)

Total number of WIPs worked on this year: Oof. Maybe like 5?

WIPs neglected this year: The same 5. Motivation to work on them honestly comes and goes in waves.

Fandoms I've written in: Anything Dracula-related, In the Heart of the Sea/Moby Dick, The Sandman, Interview with a Vampire.

Total word count: Published? Maybe like 120k? Chapters 42-67 of DS have been published in 2022, but I didn't note down the exact number, plus 26k and 10k for the Whumptober challenges. Written in total? Maybe 170-200k.

Looking back, did you write more than you thought you would this year, less, or about what you expected? More in terms of individual works (changing from just the one hella long fic (my first ever fic at all!) in 2021, to like 50 oneshots), rather than word count, but I am still happy with my results!

Did you take any writing risks this year? I always take writing risks lmao. The long fic was a risk - what if I am not good enough, what it it isn't well recieved, what if I don't pull through with it, what if the end doesn't pay off? But also the dark topics and whump I write at times. Speaking of whump; Trying for the Completionist title for Whumptober and Winter Whumperland was a risk, as well as trying to nail down 850 words every time.

Do you have any goals for the new year? Just the usual. Whatever I start posting (long fic, wip etc.), I finish. If I manage that, I'll be happy.

Biggest disappointment? Not getting through with the DS re-edit/re-write. Not even close.

Biggest surprise? The amazing feedback I got on my Whumptober series as well as the last few chapters of DS! Oh, and @argyleheir's surprise gift fic for my birthday and the loads of beautiful, stunning fanart I got from @mitsukatsu! (Thank you again, my dears, love you 🖤)

Most popular story of the year? Death's Sunrise will be properly my top 1 hit for another while. Apart from that, the Sandman oneshots did pretty well!

What's your own favorite story of the year? DS will always have a certain special place in my heart. But I am also currently really burning for the Dracula x Interview with the Vampire crossover The Gathered Night... which I started like 2 days before the end of the year, but still.

Story of mine most under-appreciated by the universe, in my opinion: Honestly, I cannot really complain. I'd love to get more feedback on the Harkula Tumblr Prompts collection Touch as Soft as Ice, just to know if the promptees actually liked them. But apart from that, I have been usually pleasantly surprised by how much engagement I got (Sidenote; why are you guys reading my stuff?? It still seems surreal to me on some days)

Most fun story to write: Again, I loved writing DS, no matter its dark themes and am currently really having the time of my (un-)life with The Gathered Night.

Most unintentionally telling story: Not sure I get this question. But I swear, I am alright.

My favorite part of fandom this year: Everything going on with Dracula Daily this year! So many amazing (new) writers and stories emerging, fanart and essays being written, and I thank you all for it! What a year it's been!

[lonely-shine]

40 for Ebis and Marcus 👀

For those who didn't read my tags, Ebis and Marcus are not Arcana OCs (they're Submachine OCs), but since a lot of questions are not Arcana specific I'm letting people ask about anyone ^^

40. What's their love language? How do they respond to receiving affection? How do they show affection in return?

(Hahaha, this turned into an essay, sorry xD)

Okay, so, something about Ebis and Marcus is that they've spent a very, very long time completely alone, without anyone to be with or talk to. When they meet each other they're absolutely touchstarved and crave human connection, so physical touch would be a very strong one for both of them.

Ebis is more open/quick to show affection than Marcus. Marcus was always kind of a loner, he didn't have many meaningful relationships, and generally kept people at a distance, and even if when he meets Ebis he's desperate for connection, old habits die hard. Ebis, on the other hand, was always more open (even if she can't remember), and her severe memory loss also means she doesn't have a reference of what's 'normal' or 'acceptable', so she goes with her gut.

Marcus is always vaguely surprised, at the start, whenever Ebis shows him affection or simple kindness. She always was the one to initiate at first, with gestures so simple as holding his hand to lead him through, or for comfort. It always took a moment for Marcus to snap out of his shock and react, but when he does he responds in earnest. With time, he too takes to initiating small gestures, taking Ebis' hand, keeping her close, resting against her when they sit down to rest next to each other... A funny fact, whenever they stop to rest or sleep some part of them is always in contact: maybe they're holding hands, maybe Ebis is resting her head on his shoulder, but some part of them is always touching. It's a comfort for them both.

Another strong love language for them would be acts of service. They both are very scarred people, and that trauma doesn't magically disappear when they meet or later fall in love, so they still face their own struggles with daily live. But they learn to compensate for each other, balancing their strengths and weaknesses, taking care of what they can and trusting that the other's got their back for the rest.

They also spend a lot of time together and talk plenty to each other, of course, but I don't know if I would count that as quality time/words of affirmation. I guess Ebis could maybe fall a little into words of affirmation? She's good at putting Marcus at ease with her words. Marcus definitely wouldn't tho. Man's not that good with words, and relies better on actions to show his feelings. And about quality time, I don't think either of them considers it a love language, as spending time/being together is just so ingrained in who they are/their relationship that it's just how things are for them. Even after they escape the Submachine, when they could technically go separate ways, it's just an absurd thought for them, why would they.

And that's all, whew! Thanks for the ask and sorry if this got long xD