#this was just a looong elaborate way of saying I 1.) love this fandom to bits ❤

[nessrealta]

Fic Writer Things & Tags

thanks for the tag @faceofpoe

1. How did you get into writing fanfiction?

I've done fanfiction in my head since I could read books, I was forever rereading my favourite stories and thinking of au's, gapfillers, backstories.... later I also did that with my favourite films and shows. Often my favourite characters weren't necessarily the main characters so I took what I could find about them and enhanced their stories. I never wrote anything down though, that is until The Wind That Shakes The Barley came along - I jotted down some notes and a few single scenes (never to be finished/published though).

I only ever discovered that fanfic existed when the LOTR films came out and that's when I started reading fanfic on LJ and Henneth Annûn. It took a looong time until I actually started writing (and publishing) - there was a group on LJ that had monthly writing challenges with prompts so I started with that, it was mostly drabbles and very short stories.

2. How many fandoms have you written in?

2, LOTR and Star Wars

3. How many years have you been writing fanfiction?

about 9 methinks but with big gaps in between

4. Do you read or write more fanfiction?

at the moment I hardly read at all so I actually write more but I hope that'll change soon because I just love reading and I love reading a good fanfic

5. What is one way you’ve improved as a writer?

Uh, hard to say. (Have I improved at all?) I think moving from drabbles to actual stories and that means to let go of pondering over every single word and just go with the flow sometimes (even though I still do a lot of editing)

6. What’s the weirdest topic you researched for a writing project?

I'll have to confess that I'm not a big researcher, if in doubt I'll stay vague or make shit up. That is probably one way I'd need to improve as a writer

7. What’s your favorite type of comment to receive on your work?

A comment telling me

that I wrote in character.

that the tone of the story feels right.

that a story is intense, when readers notice that I carefully chose words to fit in with the tone/theme.

that the angst worked

All those are really important to me

8. What’s the most fringe trope/topic you write about?

I guess writing Poe & Jess friendship stories

9. What is the hardest type of story for you to write?

long stories, elaborate plot, action scenes

10. What is the easiest type?

angst

much hurt, little comfort

drabbles and very short fic

11. Where do you do your writing? What platform? When?

using my laptop, LibreOffice Writer, usually at night when I've some time for myself

12. What is something you’ve been too nervous/intimidated to write, but would love to write one day?

long story, elaborate plot

some serious whump

13. What made you choose your username?

Ness is a character in a favourite book and réalta means star and I like stars

Tagging @rebelandrichgirl and @willowtree-888

[toss-a-coin-to-your-stan-account]

Do you prefer Show!Geralt/Show!Jaskier or Book!Geralt/Book!Dandelion or Game!Geralt/Game!Dadelion. I feel like they’re so different there’s lots you can explore with each pairing :)

Oooh good question!! I'm gonna just try to pick between books and the show, just bc I haven't played/watched playthroughs of the games enough to really get attached to their dynamic.

Honestly, I'm so torn between the books and the show because like... in the books, there's something so pure and genuine about Geralt and Dandelion's friendship, and I love the fact that they're such foils in the way that the world views Geralt as a monster/something "other", to the point where Geralt sees himself that same way, and Dandelion is the one that points out that humanity in him.

I really love how that balances the fact that the world sees Dandelion as this lovely, delicate bard who knows only delightful positive things like love and kindness...

While Geralt is not only the one who witnesses Dandelion's vices like greed/vanity (to the point of being so aghast that someone insulted his music that he wished death upon them)...

...But also isn't afraid to call him on it (while they're sharing a bed)

And I just love show!geraskier because... I think I have a bit of bias because it's the first version of geraskier/gerlion I saw. But putting that aside, I think a lot of the reason I love it is because of how Joey brought such a lovely bard to life! And made a foil to Netflix!Geralt "Grumpypants" of Rivia by playing such a cute, sunshiney bard!

(I mean just... look at how ENTHRALLED he looks when he sees Geralt for the first time. Those big blue eyes!!!)

And there are just... so many scenes unique to the show, like the "and yet... here we are" scene and the one where Jaskier asks Geralt to come away with him because he's "trying to work out what pleases him" (both scenes where Joey UNDERSTOOD THE FUCKING ASSIGNMENT and then went for EXTRA FUCKING CREDIT), that made me just... adore what Geralt meant to Jaskier (and imo, how head-over-heels he was for him).

Of course, the downside is... the way Geralt is to him in the show :(

But that brings me to another thing I love about show!geraskier: what the fandom has done with it! Like, as much as the mountain scene is devastating, the fix-it fics I've read for it are just AMAZING. I think the talented and amazing people that make up this fandom have taken the wonderful content that Henry, Joey, and the people at Netflix gave us with Geralt and Jaskier in the show, and just made it something so fucking lovely through fan content. The creators in this fandom are just so fucking talented! <3

...Aaaah! I'm so torn, anon! I don't know whether I prefer book!gerlion for the soft friendship between them, or show!geraskier for both Joey and Henry's portrayal and what the fans have made from it!

...

[shiroganeryo]

D.Gray-Man Tag!

I got tagged by my friend Violet to hop into this little game she made, and there are few things I love more than babbling about DGM, so let’s go! The rules are to tag three people to get the game going, so I’ll do it at the start because this will get looong. I’ll tag @14th-melody, @metzzi and @rudimentor0x0. Here’s the blank post. Sorry if you have already done it, I might’ve missed the posts ;;

⭐ What year did you first get into DGM? Hmm, actually, that’s a hard question because I didn’t get into it right away? If memory serves me right about what grade I was in high school when that happened, I was 15 - so, 2008. Pull a chair, I’ll tell you how that went. It was actually a recommendation from a friend of my best friend; we weren’t particularly close, I just knew he and I had a similar taste for anime/manga and I was looking for getting into a new series... but I wanted it to be worthwhile. So I asked my bestie if her friend wouldn’t give me a rec. He recommended me D.Gray-Man, and just like I do before watching any series, I watched the first opening to get an overall “feel” of it and I quite liked it: cool aesthetic, music was dope, characters were nice-looking. But, for some reason, I didn’t watch it and eventually forgot about it.

Then, one day on my way back home from school, I stopped by a nearby newspaper stand since here they also sell manga. They were all very cheap at that time, so I would often look for new volumes of the titles I was collecting (my allowance was enough to buy two or three!). I saw DGM’s first volume there, and went “oh! It’s that one series he had recommended me! I’ll take it and finally give it a shot.”

I fell in love.

I really liked it at first, but the point where DGM completely won my heart was during Lala’s arc. I had never cried with a manga before. 

⭐ Who’s your favorite character? This is probably very unoriginal, but it’s Allen! At the start I was very lukewarm about him, but as time went on, I felt like I could relate more and more to that kind-hearted boy and he became my role model. DGM has been with me through some of the worst of my life, and Allen’s resolve to keep going, keep walking, no matter how hard things were for him was what motivated me many times in past. It still does. Allen also taught me to be kinder and through him I realized being there for others makes me truly happy. Sadly, I also share with him the same trait of being unable to truly see how appreciated I am and all the good I bring others just for being there... But I’m working on that! He became the first character I felt like I could fully relate to, and I was surprised - but still very happy - to realize that, now that I’m an adult with more experience and maturity, I feel like I can understand him even more and better than before. Our connection didn’t wane with time, I feel so much closer to him now. He’s very special to me.

Standing at the second spot - because it’s also fair I would mention her -, is Miranda! I always say that if Allen didn’t exist, Miranda would be my number 1 since she stands so close to him hahaha After him, she’s another character I deeply relate with. My self-esteem isn’t the best out there so I’m quick to think I’m worthless or useless, just like her. Even so, she wouldn’t give up. Every time I felt like giving up because of auto depreciation, I would think “Miranda would try again, she would work harder”.

It’s like the two of them were walking me through the steps so I could move forward and keep doing my best.

⭐ Who’s your least favorite character? I’m going to say Chaozii. But, before we get to the usual “Chaozii slander” we’re used to doing in this fandom, let me elaborate. It has nothing to do with him not siding with Allen. As much as I love Allen, I know we’re able of sympathizing with his ideals because as the readers we have a plethora of information on his motives; if not for that, we would probably take the same stance as Chaozii has taken about him.

What riles me about Chaozii is that, unlike all of the characters, his mindset is either black or white, good or bad. Everyone seems to have a perfect mix of both, showing many facets just like, well, real, imperfect people. Chaozii is the only one who doesn’t have that. Being simple-minded is not a bad trait, but when that clouds your judgement, then it turns into a bad thing.

It all fell apart when he snapped at Allen when he refused to kill Tyki. That particularly bothered me a ton, even if I understand his feelings. Chaozii, who thought it was wrong and cruel to kill humans and was grieving for his lost comrades, was fine with killing a human whom he wasn’t even sure if was being forced to do things or not. Do you see the issue here? Chaozii never feels to me like he’s striving to do the right thing in order to bring justice, but instead, because he wants revenge.

I hope he does get to learn one thing or two in the future. He has potential to be a great character; but he needs a “redemption” first.

⭐ Who’s your favorite general? Tiedoll! Although I like all of them for different reasons. I really love Cross and differently from what some people think, he did care for Allen and I love their rather dysfunctional relationship. He’s a much deeper character than just a womanizer full of fishy shenanigans. He’s also really badass: former scientist, user of magic, (former) wielder of both an Innocence of his own and another person’s (Grave of Maria). I just happen to love Tiedoll a liiiittle more because I can’t take this guy! He’s just so sweet, and his doting nature makes him both funny and lovely. General Sokalo is really cool and all, but I feel like he’s just a cool guy to me. On a side note, General Klaud could step on me and kill me and I’d thank her. I hope we get to learn more about her Innocence sometime.

⭐ Who’s a character you would get along with? I would love to say it’s Allen, but he’s someone really hard to get close to. If I think about the characters I’d like to befriend because of shared traits or interests, I think I could get along well with Miranda, Krory, and Marie. The first two because they’re two softies who just happen to be really awkward, I feel like I would probably befriend them after trying to comfort them too often. And, the latter, because I’m a person who likes calm company whom I can have honest talks with.

⭐ What kind of innocence would you have? I honestly have no idea. If I had to pick one from the ones we already have, I think I would go with the Dark Boots. Being able to fly and maneuver in mid-air would be a dream come true, I feel the happiest when the wind blows against me. If I have to think of something “for me” specifically, I think I would like a long range Innocence. I particularly like firearm-like weapons like guns, so maybe a gun or dual pistols? Yeah, I think I’d really like the dual pistols.

⭐ What’s your favorite ship? Ah, to be in the DGM fandom is to be a multishipper; yet this is the part where I always get nervous at because my favorite is a rarepair. But!!! I’m building up the courage to be more open about (and less self-judgmental of) the things I like. It’s Allen x Miranda. I don’t really know when it started; from what I said before, you already know they’re both my top favorite characters and very special to me, so I naturally loved it when I saw them sharing screentime. When I realized it, I was looking at them and thinking “they would make such a cute couple together”. It just kinda happened.

To keep this short, there’s this blog I really like explaining about this pair’s dynamics. I think they have a great dynamic together and much potential. They could very easily have a wholesome relationship based in lots of patience and mutually covering the other’s weaknesses and helping them become someone better. These are the best kinds of relationships imo. I hope to share some of my headcanons for them (and even writing, hopefully!) sometime in here. I always picture Allen being older, so that gives me some free room for creativity; it doesn’t look like he has time for romantic love right now, and I don’t really feel comfortable with him being a minor for this ship, so both things go hand in hand.

Honorable mentions go to Link x Allen (again, older!Allen), Yulma and LaviLena, as I also get super happy when I see these particular shippings. 

⭐ What’s your least favorite ship? I actually have some, but it goes against my policies to publicly (consciously) say negative things about certain things if I can help it. I know I’m allowed to have opinions, but you never know who can stumble upon it and what I dislike can be something that makes someone really happy, you know? I tend to stay silent about such things when it comes to something as harmless as shippings.

So, I think I can say I’m accepting of everything as long as everyone respects each other! And, of course, if it isn’t distasteful (as in, illegal).

⭐ What branch would you want to be part of? We’ve only seen the European and Asian branches properly before but even if there aren’t many choices, this is still a hard question; I think both have lots of good things going for them. I think I would probably want to settle with the Asian Branch! I love how lively the atmosphere is and I also feel like there are way less science division shenanigans in there... Sorry, Komui. 

⭐ What’s your favorite arc? I have three! The Rewinding City arc came right after Lala’s arc - that had touched me a lot -, bringing in even more feels. It introduced Miranda and at the blink of an eye, made me care so much about her. The first activation of Time Record after she protected Allen, followed by his thanks to her hit so hard; I get really emotional talking about it. It was such a great, yet touching moment. I think everyone can relate to that; being worthy of receiving gratitude for something they did for someone.

Then, there’s Lulu Bell’s Invasion of the Black Order arc, followed by the appearance of the Level 4 Akuma. I can’t express into words how great the flow of the elements are there. The plot is focusing on multiple characters with their own background dramas happening, all at once, yet none of it feels out of place. Everyone gets their moment, everyone contributes to the big picture (saving the staff and defeating the Akumas). It all felt like one big collective effort of several parts uniting forces, no one was more or less important than the other. It was expertisely done.

And the last mention goes to the Searching for A.W’s arcs (Saying Goodbye to A.W also included). These arcs are being extremely painful but, at the same time, also extremely rewarding to go through. For the first time ever, we’re seeing Allen give in to his wants and acknowledge his feelings; he’s not honest with himself very often, and seeing him actually admit that he still wanted to go on - for himself -, that he still wanted to hold onto hope was something that I suddenly realized I had always wanted to see him do. It’s like I had been waiting for so long. Allen is growing up, and I’m loving to see the part Johnny and Kanda are playing in this. I could talk all day about how happy it makes me, to feel this much hope in the midst of such a difficult situation these arcs are covering. It captures very well the essence of D.Gray-Man imo: the bittersweetness of the hardships of life, and the good things it makes us realize we have had all along. The people we have by our side. The will to continue moving forward because we still have something we love and want to fight for.

Whew, I expected this would get long but guess I got too carried away; those were amazing questions to answer to! If you read until now, you have my most sincere gratitude and appreciation. I wish you have a lovely day! 😊