#this was written for a challenge so it had to be under 1k words but i hope to flesh it out in another fic so the wc doesn’t hold me back

[gingersxng]

Put It In Your Mouth

Pairing: f!reader x Mingi

Genre: smut 18+

Summary: being away from each other wasn’t the easiest for you nor your boyfriend but I guess he takes it a lil extra hard.

Notes: sub!reader, rough dom!Mingi, kissing, groping, pet name (darling), Mingi has a big dick duh, Mingi is horny as fuck!, blowjob, manhandling, dacryphilia, throat fucking, cummmm, unprotected sex (don’t do it), mentions of porn

a/n: writing this while being sick and nauseous was a bit of a challenge but I’ve never written something so fast before. and also a BIG THANKS TO 1K!! I can’t believe how fast this acc has been growing, love you all so much<3 been awhile since I posted a fic so hope you enjoy!

edit: so I saw today when I reread this that it was so strange somehow, I guess it’s the result of me being sick. I’ve changed the title and Mingis line so it actually adds up better omg

Words: 699

your boyfriend was working late in his studio… again. it wasn’t any news to you cause it happened most of the time, you didn’t mind it but it made you miss him more tho.

instead of being half asleep in your bed at home watching boring television you got up, grabbed the car keys and drove to the KQ building. it was almost midnight and the street lights guided your way to the front door.

you reached the third floor where you knew Mingi had his studio and gently knocked on the door. a deep groan came from the other side and you saw how a tall silhouette came closer and closer. when he saw you his eyes lit up immediately, he wasn’t at all expecting to see you. Mingi lowered himself for your 1,60cm frame and gave you a kiss on your lips, you placed your hands on his chest and you felt his hands slide down to grope your ass, something he used to do when he wanted you to jump up and wrap your legs around his waist.

“you don’t know how much I’ve missed you darling” Mingi groaned as he placed kisses on your neck down your collarbones. you tossed your head back and responded with a breathy “really?”

Mingi took a seat in his computer chair as you straddled him, he roamed your body as his hooded eyes scanned every curve and valley. he was very quite tonight, more than he usually used to be but that didn’t mean his body language was. as you had your hands on his chest you felt how his heart rate increased and his pupils got dilated, something poked you in your core as well.

“are you this hard already?” you whispered in his ear and moved your hips a little. a low moan escaped his throat and before you could blink he lifted you up from his lap and pushed you down on your knees in front of him under the desk. his sudden action took you by surprise, it wasn’t like Mingi to be this violent with you.

he was quick to unzip his pants and pull out his massive cock, the aching red tip was leaking so much precum and the veins on his shaft looked like they were about to pop. you looked up at him with big eyes and gasped, Mingi grabbed your chin and put some pressure on his grip only for you to whine out in pain.

“put it in your mouth” his husky voice sent chills down your core, he stuck his tongue out raising an eyebrow before pushing your head down on his cock.

his cock head reached far down your throat and you gagged pretty good on it, he held you down for a couple of seconds before releasing you to get some air.

Mingi grabbed a handful of your hair and guided your movements so he got satisfied enough. he kept his eyes on every bob you did on his dick, his moans and groans got lower and he started to still your movements so he could do the work himself.

Mingi fucked your throat and he mocked you when he saw you begin to cry, “is my little one crying for my huge cock? is it that good”

you let out a loud cry and he came just from hearing that, your mouth got filled with loads of his warm cum, it even dropped out on the corners of your mouth. you swallowed all you could and then tried to catch your breath from the harsh actions your boyfriend took out on you.

Mingi tugged some hair behind your ear and you looked up at him, his cock was still out and it was still rock hard, like you hadn’t even touched it. he helped you up and tugged at your skirt and panties, he pulled the panties to the side and dragged two fingers through your folds to feel if you’re wet enough. your boyfriend sunk you down on his dick and slowly stretched you out.

“what’s with you Mingi!?”

“only being able to watch porn for days does things to you I guess..”

[arcanefox207]

Relax, Miller.

QZ!Joel Miller x You | Explicit 18+ MDNI | 1k WC | AO3

Summary: In the Boston Quarantine Zone, you and Joel both find a way to get what you want.

Warnings: This is just smut and filth. Reader age undefined. Written as a female reader but could be anyone. Oral. Cum eating. Drugs. Not beta'd.

M A S T E R L I S T | A O 3

The satisfying sound of Joel moaning under your tongues handiwork should be payment enough, but you would never let him know that. 

His grip on your hair is fierce. His right hand tangles into your locks. His fingernails claw into you each time you do that thing he loves. 

Hearing his low growl as he tenses was a tonic for your ears. Inspiring you to do your worst.     

He leans back on his couch and places his forearm across his brow, mouth agape, panting as you hollow your cheeks. 

Joel was always so quiet, and you loved the challenge of getting him to vocalize when you had him in your mouth.

His dark and mysterious facade was eroding. Just a man after all. Much less intimidating when he was at your mercy. The only time he ever was vulnerable and it turned you on to orchestrate it.     

Your hands were pressing his thighs wide open for you, but you shifted between his legs to access more of him. You reach a hand to hold him at his base. Your pathetic fingers can barely wrap around his cock. The other hand cups around his balls and you make him groan as you massage him in his most tender spots, hitting the areas you know make him come undone. He twitches in your grasp as you work him just how he likes.   

You bob your head on the end of his cock, sucking with restraint at first. Behaving yourself. Relishing his skin getting taught. You can feel it stiffen more and more the harder you inhale him. You ease up and swirl your tongue around his tip and he moans as you lap up the drops of precum beading. Tasting his sweetness while you breathe in his musky scent. It was intoxicating.      

You loosen your neck and let him thrust into you. He tries to conceal his whimper as the tip of his cock nestles into your throat.

You don’t let him get too carried away and you know how much it turns you on to edge him. 

“Fuck..” he mumbles to himself under his breath. He was losing control and you didn’t want him to come just yet.

You pull back and let his length slide out of you, sucking on the tip before letting it pop out of your mouth with a wet squelch. He stifles another whimper and grits his teeth as he stares down at you with needy eyes. 

“Relax, Miller.” You scold him with a cunning tone, knowing full well you have him right where you want him.

You drag a finger playfully down his shaft, tracing the pulsing vein. His cock was gorgeous. Girthy and commanding. He was getting impatient with you riling him up.  

He restlessly repositions his grip in your hair and takes his other hand to grab at the side of your neck, urging you back to his cock. Pleading without words.   

He leans back against the couch and closes his eyes as you lick a stripe up the underside of his cock. When you press your lips back to the head you rip out a guttural sound from within him as you take him back in your throat. A crescendo praising your work and you smile wickedly at his coming undone. 

He bucks into you, writhing and groaning. His beautiful, incoherent sounds getting louder and more desperate. You feel his body tense all over. He goes to pull out of your mouth but you lock onto him and take him deeper. Your warm, wet mouth and tongue lulling him into a moment of ecstasy as he spills into you. The taste of his hot cum on the back of your tongue sends you into a frenzy as you drink him down. His spent body thrusts weakly as you empty him and then he stills. Finally at peace. Finally relaxed. 

He drags his cock slowly out of your mouth and winces when you kiss his sensitive tip. Still overstimulated by your doing. You drag your finger under your lip and wipe the cum and saliva that trailed out behind his cock. You lick it off your finger as you stare at him down, knowing full well how filthy he likes it. You catch the corner of his lip pull up just slightly. Pleased with your obscene display of satisfaction. You loved the taste of Joel.    

He loosens his grip in your hair and holds you tenderly against his thigh while he catches his breath. He brushes your hair behind your ear. His comforting and intimate touch juxtaposes the reality of the world you live in. There is no room for weakness or getting soft.     

This calm and fleeting moment of respite was such a rarity in the QZ. A Joel Miller at peace and unvigilant. A sight you never got tired of seeing and a sight you promised not to get used to.  

Too quickly the moment is over. He shifts his legs as you raise to your feet and adjust yourself. 

He zips up his jeans and groans as he stands up. He reaches into his back pocket and pulls out a tiny bag with white pills in it. He hands it over to you and you grab it casually, pleased with your compensation.         

You turn around to examine the pills and stow them away into your pocket. You feel him watching you, following you through the living room.

“Need the baggie back.” He reminds you gruffly, looming over you with his arms crossed as he leans against the open door frame. 

And you remind him that you know the drill. You wave the empty baggie between your two fingers and hand it over to him with a slyness.

“See you later, Miller.”

Tagging Friends / Mutuals / Joel People I hope will enjoy this <3

@magpiepills @legendary-pink-dot @exquisiteserotonin @youandmeand5bucks @for-a-longlongtime

@redhotkitchen @sparklefarts38 @pink-whiskey-woman @galaxyedging @mystickittytaco

@mischiefmanaged2 @aurorawritestoescape @beardedjoel @lotusbxtch @toxicanonymity

@moonlitbirdie @tonysopranosrobe @mothandpidgeon @604to647 @thebeldroramscal

@gasolinerainbowpuddles @survivingandenduring @milla-frenchy @sin-djarin @mermaidgirl30

@pedrospatch @pearlessance @sawymredfox @morallyinept @schnarfer

@strang3lov3 @itwasntimethatdidit40 @inept-the-magnificent

Thanks for all the love and support <3

[guiltyasdave]

glitch

pairing: Javier Peña x f!reader

word count: ~1k

summary: Prequel to nights are so starry, blood moonlit. How you and Javi became neighbors with benefits.

warnings/tags: explicit smut (-> 18+ only!), smoking, alcohol consumption, able-bodied reader, a hint of dom!Javi, unprotected p in v, kinda rough sex, ass slaps, dirty talk, oral (f receiving), Javi is a menace, a hint of angst and feelings because of who i am as a person

a/n: written for @iamasaddie’s writing challenge 2.0 with the prompt "never knew you were such a freak", and since my first story about these two was also part of one of aly's writing challenges, it just made sense to revisit them :)

dividers as always by @saradika-graphics <3

find my full masterlist here and follow @guiltyasdavenotifs for fic updates!

It had started out with fleeting glances in the hallway, quick greetings when your apartment doors opened at the same time, then short conversations on your adjoining balconies, late night talks with your feet propped up on the railing and his back leaning against it, sometimes exchanging a cigarette or a light, or occasionally a bottle of beer when one of you had run out. 

Of course you noticed the ridiculously tight jeans that really shouldn't look that good on him, the way his broad shoulders strained against his clothes, and the way his shirts always revealed a little too much of his golden-skinned chest. You couldn't deny the fact that your neighbor was incredibly attractive, and that he knew it. 

You probably should have said no when late one evening, after Javi had found you on your balcony, smoking and watching the glistening city lights, he invited you to share a glass of bourbon. Together. At his place. 

He had been flirting with you, which you suspected he did with every woman he met, and you had tried not to pay it any mind, but you were well aware of how this evening would end if you accepted. 

You should have said no, and a stronger, less lonely version of you might have, but you craved human contact, craved to be touched by someone else than yourself, and if the sounds that traveled through the thin walls from his bedroom to yours frequently enough were any indication, Javi knew what he was doing. 

You should have said no, because it became clear to you very quickly that Javier Peña would ruin you for all other men.

He was more gentle, more caring than you had expected him to be and he prioritized your pleasure in a way that you had never experienced from any man before. He took you to heights that you hadn’t thought possible before, and it was addicting.

You should have said no, but you hadn’t, and now you keep coming back for more. 

You keep coming back for the way his skin tastes under your tongue, for the way his lips press against yours, swallowing moans and whimpers, for the way his fingers and his cock reach so deep inside of you that you still feel him hours later, when you have said your good nights and crawled under the covers of your own bed. Never his, never crossing the line to a different kind of intimacy.

It’s another one of those nights, a soft knock on a door, a mutual understanding passing between you, gentle touches that burned under your skin until they got more demanding, until you both gave in to that pull that kept you coming back. 

He’s already made you come on his tongue twice, until you were dripping onto his sheets, his name the only word in your mind and on your lips. You’re on your hands and knees, limbs shaking, trying to accommodate his length and the harsh rhythm that he’s setting. 

“Taking me so fucking well,” he pants, running his hands down your back and over your ass. You chase his touch, goosebumps forming in its wake, your moans filling the air as he keeps hitting impossibly deep inside of you. 

His palm connects with your skin, nothing more than a playful swat, but the sensation sears through you, lighting your nerve endings on fire as you all but scream your pleasure into the softly lit bedroom.

“Oh?” His voice is low, rough in his throat. You don’t need to turn your head and look behind you to know that he’s smirking down at you right now. “You liked that, huh?” 

You nod eagerly, too far gone to be ashamed of the way your hips are bucking back against him, working desperately to feel him deeper inside of you. 

He slaps you again, harder this time, and you feel yourself clenching around him, feel the way a new wave of slick is coating his cock. His fingers dig into your shoulder and he pulls you up, until your torso is pressed against his, his mouth moving against the delicate skin of your neck. 

“Never knew you were such a freak, baby,” he whispers, his lips curling into a grin, teeth nipping at you.

“Shut up.” You try to hold your voice steady, ignore the throbbing need between your thighs, but he just chuckles and presses another kiss against the side of your throat before he loosens his hold and pushes you back towards the mattress. 

His hands grab your hips instead, pulling you into his thrusts, filling you so deeply that you see stars behind your eyelids.

“You want me to do it again?” You hate how smug he sounds, would love to deny him the satisfaction, but god, you do want him to. 

“Fuck– please, Javi.” You’re breathless, reduced to a mess of trembling thighs and desperate whimpers, and you wish that you could stay like this forever. 

He slaps your ass twice in quick succession and deepens his thrusts at the same time, punching all air from your lungs. His hand snakes down to graze your clit and you’re overwhelmed with sensations, pure pleasure coursing through your veins so suddenly that it’s almost disorienting. You collapse onto the sheets, your pussy pulsing around him as your body shakes through its third orgasm of the night and you’re whimpering his name as he buries himself deep inside of you and comes with a groan, painting your insides with his release. 

After more kisses, more touches, and a shared cigarette, you get dressed and eventually, his apartment door clicks shut behind you. You lean your back against the wall, closing your eyes and breathing deeply for a moment before you enter your own place.

Again, you know that you’ll be coming back for more. And that no matter how many times you come back, it will never be enough.

thank you for reading 🤍 if you liked this, please consider reblogging, leaving a comment or sending an ask, it truly makes my day every single time!

[retrosabers]

𝐏𝐘𝐑𝐀𝐌𝐈𝐃𝐒.

steve harrington x fem!reader

summary: just some good old fashioned riding with big dick steve

warnings: SMUT 18+. MINORS DNI. swearing, unprotected p in v, mentions of the female anatomy, riding, male & female orgasm

word count: 1k

based on the song “pyramids” by frank ocean.

a/n: this is the first complete smut blurb i’ve ever written, so please bare with! any feedback is greatly appreciated, hope y’all enjoy <3

𝐘𝐎𝐔 𝐒𝐀𝐘 𝐈𝐓’𝐒 𝐁𝐈𝐆, 𝐁𝐔𝐓 𝐘𝐎𝐔 𝐓𝐀𝐊𝐄 𝐈𝐓. 𝐑𝐈𝐃𝐄 𝐂𝐎𝐖𝐆𝐈𝐑𝐋.

the sight below you is ethereal. steve harrington, under the glow of moonlight, soft brown locks askew on the pillow, plump pink lips parted, and pupils blown wide with lust. he looks like a fucking god, and you’re more than willing to worship. his large hands find solace on your hips, rubbing soft circles with his thumb. the weeping tip of his cock presses against your clit, causing a small whine to escape your lips.

“come on baby” he encourages, voice dripping with desire. “you can take it.”

his length is unlike anything you’ve ever had before. you could barely fit him in your mouth when you sucked him off, and you were sure it was going to be a challenge for him to fit inside your cunt.

his name comes out in another whine, pleading and desperate. steve can’t stop the smirk that forms on his face. he loves knowing that he’s gotten you watered down to this, the strong, confident girl gone cockdrunk before he’s even slipped it in.

“baby” his voice is a little gentler now, one of his hands moving to stroke up and down your back. “i gotcha, okay?”

you trusted steve enough in every other part of your life to know that those two words were true as could be.

nervously, you plant your hands on his chest, wiggling your hips to get a better position, and his cock teased your folds. it’s a touch that makes up your mind. you need him, all of him, right now.

steve hisses out a raspy “atta girl” as you sink down the first few inches. the stretch burns deliciously, bordering on the line between pain and pleasure. you’ve never felt this full before, and just this bit of him has you whimpering and squirming like crazy.

“good girl”, he coos, tongue poking out to lick him bottom lip. “such a good girl for me.”

“jesus you’re big steve.” you manage between shaky breaths. his cocky smirk intensifies and it manages to make you even wetter, granting you access to slide even further down his cock. a moan escapes both of your lips, and steve’s grip on you tightens. he’s fighting the urge to buck up into you, but he knows you have to do this at your own pace.

“that’s it honey. take it. take it all.”

steve’s praise only spurs you on, sending him further into you bit by bit. the sting was slowly giving way to something warmer, and by the time he’s fully seated inside you, you’re convinced if he barely moves an inch, you’re going to cum.

“god you feel so fucking good” steve groans, squeezing the flesh of your ass with one hand. “s’like you were made for me.”

you moan unabashedly, still adjusting to his size.

“steve.”

he shudders. god you were insatiable and you didn’t even have the slightest clue. his hands go back to resting on your hips, an encouraging and gentle touch that gives you confidence.

“honey” he breathes, sounding just as desperate as you. “i want you to ride me, okay?”

you take a deep breath, before rising off him slowly, whining as you went, before taking his length in you once more. slowly, you rise up and down his cock, familiarizing yourself with the feeling before you pick up the pace.

as you begin to move faster, steve is embarrassed over the thought that he’s not gonna last long. between the way your pussy feels wrapped around him, the way your tits were bouncing with every roll of your hips, he was a goner. you’ve built up a steady rhythm now, the burning stretch long gone and replaced by the most intense pleasure you’ve ever felt. the only sounds in the room are both of your lust drunk moans and the sound of your soaked heat.

“that’s it baby” steve purs, his grip on your hips sure to leave bruises. “just like that, just like that.”

when steve starts lightly thrusting back up into you, an electric shock of pleasure courses up your spine. the way you moan his name in return is so pornographic it’s making his head spin.

you’re panting and whining, so lost in the feeling of him, and that ever familiar coil begins to form in your stomach.

“m’ close baby” you breathe out, sinking your palms further into the planes of his chest.

he meets your eyes. “yeah? you gonna cum for me pretty girl?”

steve cants his hips up at just the right angle, and you throw your head back in ecstasy.

“right there stevie, please don’t stop.”

and who would steve be if he was to deny your simple request?

your bodies move synchronously, vibrating with need and your orgasm begins to creep up the back of your neck. when you moan out his name this time, steve knows it’s coming. his pointer and index fingers find your clit, rubbing tight circles as he works to bring you over the edge.

“fuck! steve i’m gonna-”

before you can finish your sentence, your orgasm washes over you like a tidal wave. the feeling coursing through your veins is white hot, burning your every nerve . your mouth opens in a silent scream, body twitching as steve works himself up to his own orgasm. steve chases his high with your name falling from his lips like a prayer, hips stuttering into one final thrust before he cums inside you. aftershocks run through your body as he stills, body falling limp onto his chest.

you lay there for a few minutes like that, just bathing in the afterglow before steve eventually decides to pull out. you whimper at the loss of contact and steve holds back a groan at the sight of his cum still dripping a little bit out of your pussy.

“christ, you’re gonna be the death of me” he mutters under his breath, head shaking side to side as he wanders off to the bathroom. steve hears the sound of your laugh echo throughout the room and he can’t help but smile. when he returns with a damp rag, your heart inevitably warms up.

“you okay?” he asks, gently rubbing the warm cloth against the inside of your thighs.

“never been better” you breath out, a lazy smile spreading across your face.

“good.” steve grins, and leans over to plant the most feather-light kiss on the top of your nose. when it scrunches and you giggle, his heart skips a beat.

“always gotta make sure i’m taking care of my girl.”

[finelinevogue]

happy holidays

summary- an insight to the most perfect christmas

warnings: you already know it’s just fluff

word count: +1k

It had been a busy Wednesday, teaching five lessons today. You thought going into secondary school teaching would be a lot easier than primary, but maybe you were wrong. English had been your favourite subject growing up, so being able to teach it back to younger generations made your heart completely happy.

Even though the day had been long, you knew that comfort was waiting for you when you got home.

Harry had pulled all the boxes down from the attic, as you had asked him to last night, now sat in the hallway and waiting to be unboxed.

“Babe, I'm home!” You called out, taking off your red scarf and coat to carefully place on the hangers beside the door frame. It had been freezing outside, so coming inside to a toasty warm house made you feel very cosy. You didn’t have to look in a mirror to know that your nose and cheeks were now tinted red.

Harry came out from the kitchen door, a tea towel strung over his shoulder, with a smile on his face as soon as he saw you. He made his way over to you, careful of the mindfield of cardboard boxes. He reached his hand out to brush some hair from your face all whilst leaning in to give you a welcome-home kiss. You cherished moments like these, where he was so soft and simple. He didn’t force the kiss to be anything more than a simple ‘i’m-glad-to-see-you’ and you just loved him even more for that. He was the perfect person to come home to at the end of a busy day.

“Good day?” He asked, pulling back but keeping you close.

“Busy, but good.” You smiled, following him through into the kitchen after he’d nodded his head at you. “Joe King actually did his homework for once and Dinah Mite finally remembered that i’m a ‘Miss’ not a ‘Mrs’.”

“You say that as if you’re offended that Dinah called you a ‘Mrs’?” Harry teased, knowing you meant nothing horrible by it.

“They can call me ‘Mrs’ when it’s official.” You raised your eyebrows at him. Leaning on the kitchen side you watched him stir the bolognese he was cooking some more.

After long days at school, Harry had decided to pick up his weight more around the house and so he started to cook dinner. You’d known each other for 4 years now and when you’d first met Harry hadn’t even known how to cook toast without burning it, so to see him now perfectly cooking a bolognese you were proud - and slightly impressed.

Due to Harry not having your standard 9-5 job, thanks to being a mega-rockstar, he was often home a lot and so he liked to help as much as he could. Your chores now only included washing the dishes and drying them each day, and Harry did the clothes washing, hoovering, dusting and cooking. He was happy to do anything to ease your life a little and make you as happy as he could. Seeing Harry in an apron and cooking cupcakes, when he’s written songs like Watermelon Sugar, did make you laugh though.

“Was that a challenge, Miss L/N?” He asked slyly, bending down to check on the garlic bread in the oven. The kitchen smelt completely divine.

“Pull out a ring, ask me and let’s see.”

“Nice try.” Harry rolled his eyes, tutting you because you thought he’d ever ask you to marry him like this. “Now, come taste this for me.”

You pushed yourself off the side and waltzed over to him and the stove.

You were very lucky. You had gotten to design your house yourself from the foundations to what colour paint you want on the walls. Everything had been yours and Harry’s choice, along with some professional guidance too of course. Your favourite part was your kitchen however, because you’d taken a lot of inspiration from Dakota Johnson and designed the most perfect vintage green, cottage-core inspired, kitchen. The best part was your sage-green Aga, which Harry was currently cooking the bolognese on.

Harry brought the spoon up to your lips, blowing it cooler for you first. He kept a hand under the spoon in case any dripped, whilst directing the spoon into your mouth and letting the sauce embrace itself onto your tastebuds.

“Mmm.” You hummed in delight, letting the warm and tomatoey sauce soak its way all over your mouth. “Perfect.”

“Yeah? You must be a bolognese sauce too then, ‘cause you’re perfect.” Harry cheesily said, laughing to himself as he got back to stirring and turning off the heat.

“That was awful.” You laughed, leaning up to give him a kiss to his cheek.

Dinner was lovely. You couldn’t have faulted anything about the meal, all because Harry was becoming a five-star Michelin chef. Both of you caught up with each other over dinner, whilst also discussing plans for Christmas. You take it in turns to spend each year with your families, because you’re both so close to each other's family that wherever you are it always feels like home. This year you were spending Christmas in Holmes Chapel, since last year you’d spent it at your family’s.

Currently Michael Buble’s Christmas album was playing on the record player as you opened the boxes, filled with Christmas decorations, that Harry had brought downstairs earlier today. Every year, you both argue when you should put your Christmas decorations up. Harry always argued for the first weekend in December, but you like to decorate December 1st and if it wasn’t obvious already - you’d won. The boxes were ridiculously full with crap that you end up buying every year from various Christmas markets. This year you were going for a red and tartan theme, with hints of silver, since last year you had gold decorations.

Since you were a little girl, Christmas decorating has been your favourite part of Christmas because it really symbolises the start of the festive season. Harry never really got involved too much when he was a child, but ever since he’s been with you he’d decided that it’s his favourite part of Christmas too. He doesn’t really care for the tinsel wrapped around the bannister on the stairs, the Christmas card holder hanging over various doors or even the wreath hung upon the front door. What he really cares for is seeing that shining smile of yours as you watch Christmas come to life in your home.

“Babe?” You called from the living room, knowing Harry was out in the hallway wrapping fairy lights into the tinsel on the stairs.

“Yeah, love?”

“Need your help for the star.” You responded, not being tall enough to actually reach the top of your Christmas tree. It smelt so nostalgic and amazing, having argued with Harry for a real Christmas tree because nothing beats the fresh pine smell of a real tree. Screw the artificial ones.

Harry came waltzing into the room after a minute, giving a little shimmy as a jazz band solo came from Buble’s ‘White Christmas’. You laughed as he came over to you, thinking to yourself that this whole evening could be no more perfect. You handed him the star, but suddenly the song stopped and changed and on came Buble’s rendition of ‘All I want for Christmas is you’ - which, unpopular opinion, you have to admit you preferred over Mariah Carey’s.

He grabbed the nearest object to him, which happened to be a snow globe, before singing into it along with Buble’s. He harmonised, like the beautiful musician he is, before singing in duet.

“‘Cause baby all I want for Christmas is you.” He pointed to you and you shook your head in laughter, watching him be the Harry you absolutely adored.

He made some dramatic gestures and slid closer over to you, making some god awful shapes as he tried to dance. You kept on watching him as he kept singing, enjoying the minute concert he was putting on for you.

“Make my wish come true. You know that all I want, for Christmas, is you.” He got closer to you, and took your hand to twirl you around in a circle. He ended up pulling you closer and twirling you into his chest. You smiled as you let him finish his last line, before cupping his cheek and leaning up to kiss him softly. You made sure he felt your love for him as you kissed him, without any mistletoe - just because you could.

“I love you.” You whispered as you pulled away from his lips, giving him a quick second peck before breaking apart from him.

“Might’ve been my best performance yet, actually.” He turned his lips down in pride of himself and put the snow globe safely back down.

“I think that rendition of ‘Santa Baby’ you did in that really skimpy–”

“Okay, okay. Shut up. Don’t need to relive that moment anymore than I already do in my nightmares.” He shut you up, both of you now remembering Harry dressed in a short little Santa dress as he was dared to whilst he sang Santa Baby. It was the funniest Christmas karaoke that you’d seen, having been dared by your brother when you spent Christmas at your family’s last year.

“Think it lives in my nightmares too.” You laughed, picking up the star for the tree.

“Oh alright, yeah, love you too.” He said sarcastically.

“You wanna put the star on?” You offered an apology, holding the star towards him, even though it was the part of the decorations that finished everything off.

“No matter the amount of teasing from you will make me take away your favourite part of Christmas from you.” He said, turning you around and lifting you up from the waist so you gained an extra few feet. You easily reached to put the star on top of the tree and it looked so perfect sitting up there. You smiled and nodded in approvement.

Next thing you knew Harry was letting you down, but only a little so he could swing you around and hold you up. You connected your legs around his waist, locking your arms around his neck as he held on tightly around your waist. He leaned in to give you a kiss on your nose, but you tilted your head up so he reached your lips instead. He chuckled into the kiss, not leaning back as you pressed yourself into him. He tasted like peppermint, which let you know he’d been snacking on the sweets you’d left in a bowl on the kitchen table. You hummed in delight as you breathed him in completely, before leaning back to look at your beautiful other half.

“Y/N?” He speaks quietly, as if there were other people around to hear.

“Yeah?” You rested your forehead on his, enjoying the feeling of being this close to him.

“Thank you for being my forever Christmas.”

[nakachuchu]

CHAPTER TWELVE: BORN OF SIN

Golden Child series

SYNOPSIS: You were cursed since birth.

READER: female

WORDS: 1k

WRITTEN: 10/04/2023

You normally never dreamed.

"This isn't a dream, number 777."

It had to be a dream. The place you were in was dark and red with floating masses of rock above and below you.

"Welcome to Inferno."

You raised your eyes to the tall cliff-like throne until you met the eyes of a man with skin as red as blood and horns curved like a goat's.

You found yourself getting sucked into his eyes full of swirls and something oddly familiar yet terrifying.

"Don't look too long. You're not at the stage where you can match me, 777."

"I have a name," you said.

"Names are irrelevant for what I must achieve with my offspring."

"Offspring?" you questioned as you tore your eyes away to look at it a pebble instead.

"Yes."

"You're not my dad."

"How do you know that?" he asked.

All the hairs on your body stood up immediately. You didn't know that. You couldn't remember what your parents looked like.

"My dad was human," you replied, uncertain.

He laughed, shaking the world you were in like an earthquake. "Your stand-in father, yes. You see, your parents believed in something dark. They believed in me. They prayed to me with their cute little group, so naturally, I blessed them with an offspring made of me and your mother."

"You had your way with my mother?" you questioned, looking up at him.

"Every mortal woman I impregnate gives me their consent. They're lucky to have my offspring."

You couldn't believe what you were hearing. Your father wasn't your father. You had siblings made from a man who wasn't all man.

You fought back against the torment of his eyes full of colored swirls, memories of your childhood, and the screams of strangers.

He smiled as you struggled for some sort of control in his world.

"You're one of a kind. Others before have failed tremendously. A few made it past the seven challenges, but they quickly died. Live up to your expectations, 777, because you were created with a purpose. Do not think I gave you life to be anything but extraordinary."

Your eyes snapped opened and a wrenching scream escaped your throat as a searing pain enveloped your body.

The sheets and blankets tangled around your legs as you writhed in pain before tumbling to the floor.

You felt an invisible fire envelope your back as the demonic ritual branded you. There was no metal rod or physical mark, yet your nerves seared with agony as the number 777 was being branded onto your back. You screamed, writhing on the floor helplessly.

Satoru was quick to wake and get on the floor to support you as your hands clawed at your back, twisting and turning in an animalistic way.

He lifted your shirt and his eyes froze at the sight of a '7' being written. His brow furrowed in frustration as he realized this was no ordinary wound.

Scooping you up, he rushed to the bathroom and turned the shower on full blast. Icy water rained down as he stepped fully clothed under the showerhead, holding you tight against his chest.

You continued to scream and thrash in his arms. The freezing water provided only minor relief to the inferno raging through your body. Satoru held you close, getting thoroughly drenched as he tried helplessly to ease your suffering.

"I've got you," he murmured. "I'm here."

You clung to him like a lifeline, tears mingling with the chilling shower spray. The pain was beyond unbearable, but Satoru's steady presence kept you tethered. His grip never loosened, even as the frigid water soaked through his clothes.

His unwavering touch was the only thing keeping you from completely slipping away.

He didn't know if you stopped feeling the pain of the brand before you passed out in his arms. His fingers dug into your wet clothes and flesh as he cradled your unconscious body.

He leaned down to touch his lips to your hair as his bright blue eyes stared at the bathroom tiles in concentration.

Whatever had you so deep was never going to let go.

Satoru held your unconscious body, his jaw tight with frustration. He cursed himself for not being able to prevent this somehow. Even with all his power, he felt helpless against the dark forces tormenting you.

Gently he carried you back to bed, tucking the blankets around your chilled form. He wished he could take away your pain. Your life had been filled with such misfortune, and you didn't deserve any of it.

He thought back to when you first joined Jujutsu Tech, shy and haunted. Over time, you had started to open up and find happiness amongst the other students. But this demonic curse threatened to destroy everything you had built.

There was no one to blame but your parents for dabbling in evil rituals they didn't understand. Their selfish occult obsession had doomed you before you were even born.

Yet, all your memories of them were happy.

Satoru carried your limp body out of the shower and laid you gently on the bed. He found a towel in your closet and dried your body. Your skin was icy and pale, but the angry red brand still seemed to glow on your back. He dressed you in warm dry clothes before tucking you under the blankets.

He brought a chair next to your bed and sat in it. As you slept, he kept watch.

“What is this?” he questioned quietly.

He was leaning forward, elbows on his knees as his lips laid near his fists.

“She is property,” Ayumi answered, bringing her human finger to brush away your hair.

“She has potential, but she will die,” added Chiaki. “The expectations placed on her are unimaginable.”

“No,” murmured Satoru with a quiet laugh. “She's not allowed to die.”

His eyes were mad as his shoulders shook at the mere suggestion of your death. He leaned back and brushed his hair back with his fingers.

“Until I see with my own eyes, I am God. No Devil or Curse will harm what belongs to me.”

[FIRST ARC END]

TAGLIST: @sleepydang @nerdiel-has-no-braincells @the-fab-killjoy @kooromin @momomoswan @ameliabs-world @wtfbtsislit-blog

[onwesterlywinds]

Livvy's #FFXIVWrite2024 Wrap-Up Post

Hi all - we did it! Whether you wrote all thirty days, are still catching up, won't be writing all the prompts or were just spectating this year... we made it through September!

As always, I have to kick things off with a massive thanks to @sea-wolf-coast-to-coast for creating this incredible event and keeping it running every year. This is by far my favorite XIV event because it's such an incredible showcase of the talent and love we all pour into our own (and each other's!) work, and it couldn't be possible with Moen's absolutely massive investment of time and energy.

This was my SIXTH consecutive year completing #FFXIVWrite! Last year, I learned my lesson about not tempting fate by invoking all the previous life crises I had weathered each September that absolutely would not inhibit me from writing (and I lied in last year's recap, everything was absolutely not fine). This year, in lieu of breaking out the thirty pieces I posted across twenty different characters, I'm going to share some things I've learned this year about myself, my writing, and/or my characters:

I wrote some of my absolute favorite bits with five or fewer minutes until the deadline. Whatever lesson I learn from this will be the wrong one.

Ashe and Rosenheim tied for the highest number of prompts: they each came in at four this year. Rosenheim has historically been a really tricky character to write, because he's so stoic and introspective... but I think I was feeling the sad man hours this year. Ahtyn came in just below them at three prompts.

Ashe and Ilberd canonically fucked during 2.1 (before she and Edge got serious). (I already knew they had canonically fucked pre-2.0, but this new information is extremely important to me. I love my favorite war criminal.)

Ahtyn canonically crossfades.

Ahtyn is also working through some intense and complicated feelings about her legacy post-Endwalker. Getting to develop a new side of her character has been an incredible and unexpected gift.

I try not to track collective word counts for this challenge because I tend to put myself under way too much pressure when I do, and because I like the freedom of going back and editing some pieces after the fact, but I can tell regardless that I've written way more this year than in any year before: I've had more pieces with 1k+ words this time around than any other year previously!

My #FFXIVWrite pieces for this year can be found here! I'm thinking of posting some of them on AO3, so stay tuned for more info!

Thank you to all the wonderful friends who cheered me on, read my stuff religiously, offered thoughts or inspiration, and/or were even more excited about the prospect of an Ashe/Edge/Hien threesome than I was. It made a massive difference, this year and all years. ✨

I'm hoping to use this blog more often outside of September - stay tuned!

And if you're still reading this, if you participated this year, this is a direct invitation for you to send me a piece you've written this year that you're especially proud of. Yes, you!

[youre-ackermine]

✍️ Fic authors self rec!

When you get this, reply with your favorite five fics that you've written, then pass on to other writers you know. Let's spread some self-love! 💛

Hey Sunshine ☀️

Thanks for dropping by my inbox with this ask! Well, I won't tell you I'm not embarrassed to do this but let's go for a bit of self-promo 🫣

So far my stuff is mostly Levihan-centered but I'm writing for other SNK pairings & for Levi x Reader at the moment as well (still in my WIP though).

✍️

1 - SUNBURST // 2.2k words // Modern AU // SFW // read on Tumblr & AO3

The latest of my works. It's part 2 of my series It's not like I've got something grand to say to you & I wrote it in one go within a few hours but I'm rather proud of it, especially Levi's characterisation. A word about this series: it will be a bunch of "chapters" requested for a drabble challenge that I decided to write as parts of the same story.

2 - ECHO // 1k words // Canon Universe // N.SFW-ish // read on Tumblr & AO3

I love Terra's (@dont-f-with-moogles ) story Never Enough & I wrote this drabble inspired by the series as a gift for her birthday. Once again, Levi's turmoil inspired me.

3 - BEHIND THE SCENES // 2.1k words // Modern AU // Actor AU // N.SFW-ish // read on Tumblr

This one was requested by anon & it's a Pikuhan fic (with a side of Levihan, I can't help it!). Actor AU is really a good setting for stories, I love to see them all being alive & well! I had so much fun writing this one! There'll be a part 2 & there'll definitely be other SNK Actor AU drabbles. I haven't posted it on AO3 yet.

4 - DUMBSTRUCK // 1k words // Modern AU // N.SFW-ish // read on Tumblr & AO3

Part one of It's not like I've got something grand to say to you series, written for another challenge. Hange's POV for once. Well I mean, Hange's POV about Levi's body hehe. The first time I've been proud of something I wrote tbh.

5 - UNDER THE MISTLETOE // 1.3k words // Modern AU // SFW // read on Tumblr & AO3

Part two of my Levi x Reader series Love Language (side note: part one is one year old & it's crap tbh, but I posted it as a reference to see if my writing is improving with time). A bit cheesy but I kinda like it however.

✍️

I'm not a particularly good writer but I'm not that bad after all I guess lmao.

A big shout out to all those who liked/reblogged/commented/kudo-ed my silly works! It means a lot to me & I'm so thankful for your kind support!

Sending love your way Sunshine 🫶☀️

✍️

Please consider reblogging / commenting / kudo-ing fics on Tumblr or AO3 to support writers, it's really encouraging for them!

[thomasisaslut]

ERIS WEEK 2024 | AU’s

————————————————————————

Cassian and Eris have had a rivalry since the ginger-headed male joined the professional wrestling industry.

So, when Eris challenges the other faerie to a fight for his title—Prythian’s Wrestling Champion—which he’s had for years now, Cassian doesn’t refuse.

OR

Eris was encouraged to join the professional wrestling industry to help take a jab at his father, and to have a job he can do with his lover.

————————————————————————

WC: 1k | Fight and Sexual content | Casris

Wattpad: https://www.wattpad.com/1442857742-𝐀𝐔-𝐄𝐫𝐢𝐬-𝐕𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐫𝐚-𝐱-𝐂𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐚𝐧-𝐄𝐫𝐢𝐬-𝐖𝐞𝐞𝐤-𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟒

Ao3: https://archiveofourown.org/works/58925959

————————————————————————

“Remember our bet.” The gruff voice says before walking out, Eris unable to reply from the quick exit, to his introduction music—the melody was a mix of ominousness and metal, it left the audience in a state of excitement and suspense—speak of, the crowd was screaming and waving around colorful pieces of paper with Cassian’s name written in a dark, black ink on them.

One particular sign rambling on about how good his body was when he stripped off his shirt mid-fight. Eris had to agree with that sign, unfortunately; the two have been dating since before the Autumn faerie even signed up for professional wrestling… it was a way for him to silently rebel against his father.

By the time the Illyrian’s theme song ends, he’s in the ring talking about Eris; how his wrestling persona is flawed, weak, pathetic.

“And that’s why-“ Cassian’s speech is cut off, the mic with a wire now slashed in half—his head snaps to the entrance of the stadium where Eris now stands—eyes narrowing at the red-head.

The crackle of fire plays throughout the field, Eris’ entrance music was more elegant, but louder. It was attention drawing.

Without any other word, no mic time from Eris, he makes his way into the ring before tugging himself in it, standing up and motioning for Cassian to come closer.

A loud ring is heard, indicating the match beginning.

Within a second Cassian throws a punch, Eris guards with a small step back before swinging a strong, right hook to the other’s face; It lands.

His head snaps to the side, the Illyrian males face hardening from the stinging of Eris’ face.

“You little-“ Cassian whispers, the camera’s zooming in on his face so that the crowd can read his lips, he pulls back his arm again. “Brat.” He says before jabbing the male with his knuckles, hitting Eris’ ribs.

Eris winces before backhanding the other, the other side of his palm striking the males face.

Cassian stumbles back before grinning and continuing to move back, throwing his spinal area towards the ropes to propel himself forward—making sure not to hit his wings—before spearing the male; Eris fails to dodge.

When the larger male pins him down, hands on his thighs and pushing him flat on his back—Eris attempts to kick out, barely doing it in time to get the ref to stop counting, but he manages.

He then pants before looking to his opponent with a small smirk, “Try harder.” Eris says before standing back up and grabbing the males head, his fingers weaving through his dark, brown locks before tugging his head back—his free hand moving forward in a quick wallop.

“I will.” Cassian growls out, when Eris pulls back his hand for another hit, the other catches it—a smirk forming upon his own face.

The Illyrian stands, both now on their feet—Eris was forced to let go of the other, but his wrist was still caught in the other’s hand.

Cassian swings his hand again, hitting the others arm that he has caught—Eris glares before tackling the man, knocking him onto his back.

The Illyrian yelps, his wings flaring out from the sudden movement, though he quickly regretted it because it left his most vulnerable spot left open.

Eris quickly world, reaching under the man’s thigh and pinning him down to the ring’s floor. The ref slides down beside the two, hitting his hand down…

One…

Two…

Cassian looks down at his boyfriend before flashing him warning look, Eris pays no mind.

Three!

The bell rings and Eris stands back up, his breaths short and heavy, the ref grabs where the Night Court faeries hand was mere seconds ago and tugs it up into the air, announcing, “Winner!” He shouts.

The people in the audience stand up, cheering for the Vanserra male; many of Cassian’s loyal followers leaving the stadium from his quick loss.

The ref then grabs the title belt from one of the other employees, handing it to Eris who holds it into the air with his free hand. He then smirks down at his opponent, his boyfriend.

—

By the time the two males make it back stage, Cassian was fuming.

“That wasn’t part of the script!” He glares at the ginger-headed male.

“I brought up our bet to the higher ups,” Eris says, when his lovers face fades into an expression of horror, he quickly clarifies, “Not all of it, brute!” He glares.

“Oh.” He sighs out in relief before his hand grasps Eris’ side,” I was worried-“

“You should be.” The Autumn faerie replies with a small grin, “You’ve no idea what I have in store.” His own hand moves over the Illyrian’s one on his pelvic bone.

A shiver runs down Cassian’s spine, but he attempts to keep up his angry facade.

“Home.” Eris hums before grabbing his lovers hand, winnowing the two of them home.

—

The two are instantly back in their shared home, a sky-high penthouse with multiple balconies to accompany for Cassian’s wings.

“What do you want to do?” The Illyrian asks slowly, finally accepting that he had… lost their bet; he then strips off his sweaty clothes before plopping himself onto the large, king-sized bed.

“Ropes… some other things… some special things.” Eris shrugs before removing his own clothes. “On your knees.” He hums while reaching down and grabbing a rope from their toy box.

The Illyrian moves to this knees on the bed, eagerly looking at his lover when he bends over. “Eris.” Cassian whines.

“You were the one who made the bet.” He reminds coldly before moving in front of the male, slowly wrapping the rope around where Cassian’s thigh connects to his torso—wrapping it tightly around both before moving to tie it in a harness like structure.

“That-“ Eris’ hand brushes over his tip, he smirks. “Doesn’t count.” He whimpers.

“Hands.” He says firmly, Cassian then moves his hands forward, in front of his chest, and Eris binds the black rope around his wrists. “On your stomach.” The Autumn male commands.

Cassian obeys immediately, wings spread out on the bed as he moves to his stomach, his muscles flexing when he tries to move; this action causes a swat upon his rear.

“Behave.” Eris says warningly.

Cassian whines, moving his body back so his naked form is against Eris’ own.

“Make me.”

————————————————————————

Tag List: @chunkypossum, @molcat07, and @talibunny30

Other: @erisweekofficial

[anashins]

hi mina, happy new year! starting off 2023 good through sending u a request!! i dunno if you have done this but can i request idol!jaehyun x actress!reader? but rather than reader who's fangirling over him, it's the other way around. like jh has been watching reader's works, praised her acting n recommends few of her works n stuff on live. so when they get paired tgt for a drama, they make such a cute couple both off and on screen, constantly giving compliments to e/o, etc., the rest is yours to tell!! thank you!!

(this is my manifestation of actor jaehyun to make a comeback in 2023, hopefully 🥲)

Pairing: idol!Jaehyun x actress!reader

Genre: fluff

Word Count: 1k

A/N: HNY, dear! Let's manifest actor!Jaehyun in a romantic role that makes us all swoon 😍

“You did well - J.”

You twisted the card in your hands, inspecting the front and the back, but not much else information had been sent along with the flowers that had waited for you in the dressing room on your last day of shooting. 

It was normal for actors to get flowers and gifts once they finished filming, but you usually knew who sent them - staff, crew, friends, family members. There wasn’t a person in your narrow circle of acquaintances starting with the letter ‘J’ and not having written their full name on the cards except for the mysterious sender of the pink peonies. 

Out of all flowers, they were your favorite ones, that much they knew.

“Do you know who sent them?” you asked your assistant, but she also only shrugged.

“They got brought in with all the other gifts.” She paused and then widened her eyes as though she got hit by a sudden realization. “I bet it’s Jaehyun! How funny would that be?”

You blinked still in confusion. “Who?”

“Jaehyun from NCT. The one you’re shooting your next drama with? The lead? Hello?”

“Ah, you mean Jeong Yuno. I don’t perceive him as the idol he is. Under his real name, he’s only my co-actor.” 

You were only a casual listener to k-pop, but of course you knew NCT. When you had first gotten casted for this new coming of age drama, you were so happy to finally do something that wasn’t targeted to teens only that you didn’t care much about who the lead was, that was how much you trusted the respectful director. When it was announced that Jaehyun from NCT would do his second drama alongside you in this challenging project, you had been initially doubtful. He was an idol, not an actor, and idol dramas had quite the reputation you didn’t want to live up to. You hoped he too.

“I saw his Instagram live yesterday.” Your assistant was a certified fan with her bias being Doyoung. “He recommended your newest release and encouraged his fans to look forward to this one. He’s certainly such a fanboy of yours.”

“... he did?” You looked at the flowers and the card again. “He certainly got a lot of praise for his first drama.”

“I told you so!”

You allowed yourself to smile, getting caught up in a wishful thought that your assistant could be right and the flowers came from him, although you hadn’t even met personally yet. He was indeed very handsome, and from what you had seen, kind and respectful too, certainly a nice lead to act alongside with.

“Are we getting flattered, y/n?” she teased.

“No way!” you defended yourself. “Could be anyone else too. Quite a few celebs recommend my works, it probably has nothing to do with him.”

“Whatever you say, but that’s my guess.”

____

“Jaehyun, how was your experience working alongside y/n for your newest drama? She’s praised as the greatest actress of this generation.”

Jaehyun looked at the interviewer. He had been booked today for a photoshoot and an article with this magazine, of course questions about his latest work were inevitable. 

“She certainly is,” he answered. “She’s been in the industry since she was a child, so she has a lot of experience and could teach me many things since this is my second drama only. We practiced our scenes together a lot, so that the director would be satisfied and not many re-shoots were needed. She’s a capable and helpful co-actress.”

“What was an incident that stuck with you while filming?”

“One day, I came in sick, but we really needed to close this certain scene at the venue. Y/n waited for me with a thick blanket in which she wrapped me once I finished filming so that I wouldn’t be too cold. Aside from being a great actress, y/n is a great person too, always looking out for others.”

Jaehyun knew the last sentence was probably pushing it, but he got a kick out of it, wondering how much of it could make it through the editing process since he had read through the internet as well. Most of his fans were head over heels for such facts that supported their fictional ship. Truth to be told, he hadn’t expected such a positive reception, especially since they had quite a few kissing scenes too. 

“Okay…” The interviewer raised his brow over Jaehyun’s open attitude.  “You once admitted you were a fan of y/n or better say her works, even before shooting the drama. While filming, it was quite obvious that you got along well, not only during your scenes together, but also privately as you constantly talked and joked around. Would you say the fondness you had developed for each other on screen transferred to off screen? Fans would certainly be delighted. They even refer to you as the next Song couple.”

“This is not an appropriate question,” the manager interrupted. “I would ask you to stick to the questions approved beforehand.”

“Yes, but only this additional one… y/n recently got spotted wearing a shirt you once wore as well that wasn’t even produced by the designer anymore and was a bit too large for her. How can you explain this?”

“Please stick to the approved questions,” the manager chided again, obviously ready to throw hands.

“With an occupation in the entertainment industry, not as an idol but now also as an actor, I wouldn’t have so much time for a relationship,” Jaehyun cleared up. “In the future, I would like to continue concentrating on drama roles while simultaneously giving my best to contribute to the group. Please look forward to NCT’s comeback next month.”

“Thank you, Jaehyun.”

____

When Jaehyun had finished his last schedule for the day, he got into the car. It was already dark outside, but he still pulled out his phone to dial a certain number. She picked up right after the first ring.

“Listen…” he began and sighed, “I know you like wearing my clothes. But can you please not pick out one from years ago that people might recognize? They are sharp-eyed.”

She giggled at the other end of the phone. “I’m sorry, it looked so cozy. Are you already on your way?”

“Yes. See you in a few. I brought a gift.”

On the seat next to him, there was a bouquet of pink peonies.

[sgt-seabass]

𝒃𝒍𝒂𝒄𝒌 𝒄𝒓𝒐𝒘𝒏

✧˚ · . Tortured under King Lee's reign, you make your escape.

pairing — farmhand!Hal Carter x princess!reader w/c — approx 1k this is a dark fic. 18+ only. listening to — ♫black crown warnings —non-consensual king!lee bodecker x reader, non-graphic non-con, non-major character death, reference to suicide, skin scarring via candle wax, but it's all okay because Hal is a sweetheart a/n — written for @the-slumberparty's warm up drabble challenge. i got the word 'neck', which inspired this drabble. not beta read, we die like men.

The subtle amber glow from the candle on your bedside table casted a beautiful horizon across your quarters. The quarters which were once your mother’s.

You had been placed in them when she threw herself from her window, plummeting to her death instead of facing a world where her husband was dead and a new king would reign.

Her blood painted the white roses red. And you’d never been able to look at the expansive flowerbeds since.

King Lee had come into succession, bringing darkness with him, covering the whole castle in an ominous aura.

To the town, there was an illusion of grandeur, one your stepfather and his son, Prince Carter, were good at upholding.

Lee visited you every night. His cruelty never got easier, his hand heavy and cock painfully big. If you weren’t beaten, you’d be fucked – or sometimes both.

You were the king’s punching bag. The sole daughter of his dead betrothed.

Sometimes his son would visit too, and it’s on those nights that you truly wished to join your mother.

Perhaps you were cowardly that you hadn’t already followed her footsteps out of the window and into the garden below. But you still had an inkling of hope.

Hal had shown you the possibility of happiness. A sweet farm boy you met while sneaking into the town's markets. He’d given you a handful of fresh raspberries, a soft smile on his lips. “Pretty dames shouldn’t have to pay.”

He was the first sincere person you’d met. And he was your ticket to freedom.

Hal would be waiting for you in the gardens below tonight, and you would flee with him. You would be free. A bird to the wind with endless routes ahead.

The candle flickered as your door opened, the hinges groaning as you were met with the sight of your king, a nightly occurrence you dreaded. “Miss me, princess?”

Like muscle memory, you lay back on your bed as Lee pushed up your nightgown, hands rough against your sensitive flesh as the familiar dance begun. “Always so soft. Makes me just want to mark you more.”

Your gaze turned to the candle, listening to the slight crackle of the wood wick as Lee mounted you.

The wax had begun to dribble down in the catch below, droplets falling like a body from a tower.

Black crows cawed outside as you felt the painful stretch, your core stinging. It never got easier.

Lee spoke to you, but you just listened to the rustling oak trees outside as the candle burned lower, glazed eyes looking to your king when he ordered you to do so.

After tonight, you would be gone. No more blood. No more tears. Just life, the way it was meant to be lived. Free and without conviction.

Time passed, the pain didn’t stop, and neither did your king. You always cursed his stamina.

Eventually, Lee came with a shout, his seed spurting across your stomach. But he wasn’t finished with you.

He never was.

The candle had burnt nearly to the hilt, with a large reserve of wax at the bottom.

“Show me your neck, princess,” Lee ordered, forcing your head back before you could even heed his words.

The movement exposed your marred neck to him. Littered with scars and old burns, you wore a collar of pain.

While you may escape, there were some things you would never get back. Your dignity, your innocence, and your purity.

Lee took the candlestick, tilting it over your neck, so the smouldering wax dripped over your skin.

You cried out to deaf ears, writhing underneath your king as he tried to claim you. What Lee didn’t realise was while he may have taken your body, he would never have your heart and soul. They were for Hal only.

Your flesh warbled under the heat of the wax as it cooled and hardened on your skin, tears dropping down onto the cotton below. Lee always liked to see you cry.

“Cover this up tomorrow. We have a banquet in the evening,” Lee ran his fingers against your wounds, admiring his work for a moment before leaving you. “I will have a dress readied for you.”

Thankfully, Lee left, giving you a chance to prepare for your escape.

Ignoring your soreness, you dressed in a simple black dress, the same you wore to your mother's funeral. It was nondescript and would help if you needed to hide.

From under the bed, you pulled out the rope you had stolen from the knight's storeroom, securing it to a load-bearing pillar before throwing the rest out of your window.

When you looked down, you were met with the smiling face of your saviour. Hal stood below, dressed in a dirty tunic with a blade strapped to his back. Your knight in muddied armour.

You hoisted yourself out the window, trying your best to scale the side of the castle.

What seemed like an easy task was far from it, and two-thirds of the way down your arms gave way, letting go of the rope and your only lifeline.

The wind whooshed through your hair, and for a moment, you accepted this was where you’d die.

Your fall was broken by two burly arms catching you, allowing you to crash into him, sending you both to the ground.

“Hal! Gods, are you alright?” You quickly sat up, hands bracing on Hal’s solid chest.

He just laughed from his spot on the ground, holding your sides gingerly. “I’m wonderful. My dream came true. The gods have gifted me a beautiful damsel.”

“Oh, stop it. We could have died!” You gently whacked his chest before Hal got up, helping you to your feet.

“But we didn’t. And now we have the world ahead of us, princess.” Hal’s hands cupped your cheeks, pressing a chaste kiss to your lips. “Sorry, I couldn’t wait.”

“You can have a lot more kisses when we get out of here,” you smiled, body in a world of pain, but it didn’t matter. Your heart was content.

“Then let’s not waste time. I’m impatient to taste your sweet lips again, princess,” Hal said cheekily, grabbing your hand and beginning to sneak you through the castle grounds.

“I’m not a princess anymore. I renounce it,” you whispered to him, ducking behind a barrel when a knight walked past.

Hal’s eyes twinkled in the moonlight. “Ah, but you’re still my princess. The ruler of my heart.”

“You’re a sap.” You took a deep breath as you reached the edge of the property. From here, it was the open world. “I’m scared.”

“Me too. But the fear will guide us. We’ll get through this.” Hal kissed the back of your hand.

Hal pulled out a silk scarf from his back pocket, your eyes widening at the beautiful floral pattern. “Hal. How did you afford this?”

“Years of workin’, princess.”

The soft material was looped around your neck, covering your scarred skin and protecting it from the elements.

Hal secured it, his touch gentle and full for adoration, before you snuck through a hole in the castle walls.

Unbeknownst to both of you, King Lee watched from above, arms crossed with a smug look on his face. Freedom would not come without a fight. Nothing was ever that easy.

To be updated on when I post please follow @sgt-seabass-library and turn on post notifications.

[greenbriar-j]

Write 40k in 42 days challenge

via @the-wip-project

Week 1 reflection:

So when I initially signed up for this challenge, I didn't quite factor in some life events that I knew would be happening. More accurately, I didn't think they'd effect my writing as much as they did. For the first, oh, three days, I wrote nothing at all.

Then I tried to compensate for writing past the 1k a day goal - I tried to go for 1.5-2k a day. This worked for about two days (not enough to catch up) before I lost steam again.

In the end, I'm still happy with my progress bc any words are better than no words at all, and I am having fun! I'm starting to hit a turning point in the storyline, so maybe that will bolster me to bump this word count a bit more as the plot moves along. Of the five days that I've dutifully sat down and written, only one day actually ended with me writing under 1k.

So all in all, I'd call it a successful first week, even though I remain about 2k words behind from where I had aimed to be at this time. Cheers to another week of more writing!

[crystal-overdrive]

Towards Tyranny Post Mortem

I put it to a poll whether folk wanted to read my thoughts on TT now I've finished it and you said yes, so here it is! Under the cut, 1675 words. Perhaps some minor spoilers but I don't outright say what the ending is.

PROCESS

Towards Tyranny was my first piece of fanfiction and my first long-form piece of prose. I worked on Towards Tyranny for ten months, at a rate of a chapter or 2 -4l per week. I was surprised at my ability to continue a project for this long, as by three months I’m normally chomping at the bit when I’m working on other forms of writing. I think releasing serially and getting constant feedback was a huge motivator I wanted to give my audience something every week and I looked forwards to what hey had to say. I’m not sure I could have written the whole thing by myself without showing it to anyone.

Unlike how I normally work, Towards Tyranny was not edited. It would have taken me about double the time if I’d edited, and editing chapter-by-chapter isn’t particularly helpful to me, as I tend to do a structural and character pass before delving into line edits. I think my writing must have improved over the course of this project, as I don’t believe it is too noticeable that the first ten or so chapters have about four rounds of editing, and subsequent chapters have none. So that’s nice!

Plotting and outlining was pretty odd on this project. I am normally very much a planner, but the fic diverged from the original outline very quickly. At points I abandoned the outline and went chapter-by-chapter. I did make (several) more outlines during writing, but the main purpose of these was to prove that the work could actually be finished than a guideline for writing. Having a bit of room for the characters to speak for themselves was a good thing, and I think this has taught me that I can relax a little with my outlining and still complete long projects.

The pace I wrote this at was reasonable, but it was only possible because I didn’t have a full time job. I “stole” time from uni, and during September and October worked on it full time to get finished. One thousand words a day is my full time pace which, while comparable with professionals, seems to pale in comparison to other fic writers. With any luck I’ll have a full time job soon, and I think on top of working, a reasonable pace for outside writing projects is something like 1k a week. That means I probably won’t be writing a longfic like this again. If I do write something of this size it will probably be an original. I’ve proven to myself I can write at length, and I’d like the challenge of original work.

This doesn’t mean I’m done with fandom, it’s just more likley to be the odd one shot when I feel inspired rather than anything big.

PACING AND STRUCTURE

I think it is evident from the text that my outline was changing during writing, as the structure is odd at times. It feels like the front half is all romance, the back half all plot, and then there’s almost a resolution which is undone by my subversive ending. The way Towards Tyranny ends is pretty typical of my work, but I think part of me was channelling the frustration I felt with the project into the characters motivations by the end. Perhaps a more simple romance ending without The Cell or Astarion/Gasper would have made for a stronger ending.

If I was to do a structural edit, I would either remove or make more of the political plotline. The Hand of Baldur goes nowhere, so I’d either add that in or replace it with the Drains and Underways, because they essentially did what Tav suggested the Hand of Baldur would do in that parliament session. I’d also make more of Jannath considering where she ends up. These are fairly minor things to catch in a structural edit, but for a released work they’re not great. This is just a hazard of releasing serially and changing the outline as I went!

Another issue I have with the political plotline is that it often develops between chapters. I thought writing it was boring, and therefore reading it would be. This means we get a lot of telling not showing in regards to Tav’s poltical prowess. If I had leaned in here and done more political chapters though, the work would have been so long, and it would have veered even further from romance as a genre.

One thing I think I do do well with is foreshadowing and setting up characters and mysteries. This was less deliberate planning, and more “I need a character, guess I’ll pull a name I’ve used before”, but it worked. There is also a lot of nice dramatic irony on a second read — I particularity liked Enver telling Tav he “had to have her before she took the Gate from him” in chapter two. Like, you STUPID man, if you’d have left her alone she’d have been no threat! I

Generally, while too much happens off screen and the structure is a little odd, every plot point feel like it is set up and paid off, and we have a cohesive main plot in the Bane storyline. And the Bane storyline is kind of the big gotcha here. Towards Tyranny isn’t really a romance. The real story is about Bane and Tav’s decent into religious fascism, but that wasn’t my original intent, and it wasn’t until about chapter ten that I actually figured that out. If this was an original and I was writing to market, I’d probably be looking at turning it into a political fantasy with a romance B plot rather than the other way around.

In terms of pacing, the political plots are fine, but the romance pace is a bit weird. We got from quite tame flirting to really quite sexual advances in chapter ten which was faster than made sense on a second reading. Again, if I was to edit, I’d add another romantic scene before it that started to cross the line. I would also add another sex or romance scene before the final chapter that demonstrates that while the power dynamics have changed, Enver and Tav do still love one another, because right now I feel like their feelings could be read as ambiguous at the end. Also, I just think it’s funny that they went from flirting to married in basically two weeks. Time was all over the place in the fic, and juggling a lot of plot points made it hard to manage at times.

QUALITY OF PROSE

I don’t consider prose my main form of writing, so I’m largely happy with how the prose turned out. There’s some really lovely metaphors, similes and description near the beginning that grounds the reader in Tav’s head and world. This does fall off as I stop editing and being to write faster, but in my defence, by chapter thirty, we don’t need more description of Wyrm’s Rock! Some of the description in the later chapters feels overly simplistic—more like stage direction than the sort of description and action that also conveys emotion, theme, tone etc.

While I was writing I was concerned about the overuse of things like smiling, learning, smirking, said, because I tended to use these as fillers between dialogue and they are known as somewhat annoying, but when I read back I didn’t notice it at all as a reader, and though action and dialogue flowed quite well. Nearer the end, we start to get heads talking in the void. I had purposefully used less action and dialogue tags because I had noticed that I used them more than I found them in published work. Looking at it now, I think, no, I don’t need to tag every line, but I prefer (in my own writing at least) more tags and action than less.

I am very pleased with my dialogue. I think it is natural and consistently in character. Each character has a distinct register that I am happy with.

FANFIC VS ORIGINAL

If this was an original, it would have to have been far longer. Through I do a lot of worldbuilding as far as Bane is involved, the pre-established worlds and characters do so much. Without contextt of the Gods, the cults, the adventure, it wouldn’t make sense. An original would have needed flashbacks to the adventure, or perhaps this would have to come as a part two.

I really enjoyed getting to take an established world and pick at it and expand it. By mid-way, when the main cast were mostly OCs and the story had become about my take on the cult of Bane, it felt closer to an original, but the process was still very different.

It had different motivations from writing an original piece too. While I love interacting with readers via comments, and at times it did feel like I was writing for comments, I was ultimately writing for myself, and at points as a form of therapy. During writing I went through a religious crisis, dropped out of a PhD, got engaged and dealt with a lot of family drama. Wonder where half of the plot of the fic came from…

On that note, I back and forthed a lot about whether Tav was a self-insert. She was a lot of my character traits, personality quirks, and I sort of wrote from a what-would-I-do perspective for a while. As she turned more and more evil, more of a gap formed between us, and I think that made writing harder. I started to feel uncomfortable that I had identified with a character whose morals were so unlike my own by the end. In the last few chapters I embraced Tav as not-me, just some cool evil woman, and that was better.

Overall, I’m really happy with Towards Tyranny. It’s the longest thing I’ve ever written, I feel so proud of how I committed to getting this done, and I like the end result!

[sillyunicorn]

Twenty Questions for Fic Writers 💫

thank you @mostlymaudlin for the tag <3 tagging @facewithoutheart @martsonmars @cutestkilla and @you-remind-me-of-the-babe

1. How many works do you have on AO3?

68! Which is…wild. Six of them are songs though.

2. What’s your total AO3 word count?

126,027 - dang!

3. What fandoms do you write for?

Primarily the simon snow series and all for the game. I recently got into young royals so a few there as well, plus one each for a couple other shows I like.

4. What are your top 5 fics by kudos?

Like rory my top 5 are all andreil! aftg has a large and voracious readership. Better than Sex (4k, T) / Eating Well (1k, T) / Needing/Getting (3k, T) / Friendly Neighborhood Vamp (.5k, T) / Soak up the Sun (.5k, T)

Rest under the cut!

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

Usually yes! Sometimes I go through spells of not replying…but I’m grateful for every single kudos and comment, it’s amazing and wonderful <3

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

This is tough bc i love me a happy ending and i don’t really do angst anyway lmao. My joke answer is my crack andreil fic Monday, but maybe the real answer is my snowbaz fic+song Breakable bc I left off before things get fully resolved (but it is clearly hopeful imo).

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

The happiEST?? Hmmm. I think my overall Happiest fic might be like, Mon Chou? And Better than Sex. both of those are just like, gooey with happiness. And both have happy endings so I’ll say one of them. Actually from a different approach I’ll say my time loop fic has the happiest ending bc it’s probably the angstiest thing I’ve written haha so the ending is such a relief. 

8. Do you get hate on fics?

I have not!! Super grateful for everyone who leaves lovely warm positive comments on my work <3333 

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

Not on my own LOL. i do have some M/E fics in my works though thanks to some collabs (see Q13 lol) <3

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

I have not! I think about it sometimes….it’s just usually hard for me to imagine a world where all my blorbos live, even though I almost only write AUs…a mystery

11. Have you ever had a fic stolen?

Not to my knowledge!

12. Have you ever had a fic translated?

Yes, which is wild!!! I think several of my Vandrew fics and BtS have been translated into russian. Thank you translators, you’re incredible. 

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

Yes!! This was one of my most fun and treasured early fandom experiences with @facewithoutheart and @martsonmars <3 published results include The Chain (i was really just losing my mind in the doc while christina wrote tbh) and The Muse’s Waking which is probably the weirdest thing I’ve ever (partially) written hahah

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

Making me chooooooose ugh. Idk man i reread a snowbaz fic today and almost cried and they were my first fandom love so today i’m going to say them <3 

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

I recently picked up a fic i abandoned 2 years ago so now i’m like well never say never! But one that’s in my “this is in the past now” pile that i was just thinking about is my andreil Alex Rider (TV) AU. i actually had an idea for how to get around the bit i was stuck on while rewatching Alex Rider the other day sooo…. But likely still abandoned

16. What are your writing strengths?

I think, somewhat incongruously, 1) writing concisely and 2) setting a mood. I think both these things are true in say Weightless (andreil, 1k, T).

17. What are your writing weaknesses?

PLOT. plot is so hard. That’s too broad of an answer so i’ll say, keeping multiple storylines/arcs progressing at once. I don’t do it much. It’s a fun challenge though. I usually write little one-shot, single-conflict fics bc that comes easier for me. 

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

Love it. Not fluent in any other language enough to really do it justice but i’d like to.

19. First fandom you wrote for?

I think i wrote some hp and some jane austen fic before i ever got into Fandom Proper lol. First published fandom was for the Simon Snow Series <3

20. Favourite fic you’ve written?

I think the one i’ve gone back to the most is Weightless. I set it in one of my favorite IRL places and it has tender blood drinking so. How could I beat that, really?

[justsomeoneunordinary]

Fic authors self rec! When you get this, reply with your favorite five fics that you've written, then pass on to at least five other writers. Let’s spread the self-love ��

Tagged by @togaki-kun, thank you! 💕

I always feel a bit silly recommending my own work because I’m “just” a short one-shots writer and don’t do anything huge such as worldbuilding, but hey, any fic is creative work, no matter the length, so…

1. Simulacrum (Madara/Tobirama, 4.2k, NR)

Tobirama has memory issues.

I can’t really say much about this fic because no matter what I say, it would be a spoiler. All I can say is that I stepped out of my usual comfort zone and challenged myself with this—and that I pretty much nailed it. I am extremely proud of all the reactions I received :)

2. In Another Time (Bucky/Tony, 1k, T)

It’s the jokes and the smiles and the intelligence behind those bright blue eyes. It’s the way Bucky drawls when he talks. It’s their night walks in the dark under the stars and how the air between them seems to spark. And before Tony knows it, he catches himself staring at those cherry red lips, imagining pulling Bucky behind the trees to steal a kiss. Though as lovely the thought is, as heavy crushes reality upon him and reminds him where and who they are. This is neither place nor time Tony belongs to—he belongs to Rhodey and Pepper and Happy. To F.R.I.D.A.Y. and his bots. To the future. Or, How a chain of certain accidental events lead to certain unexpected feelings with an uncertain future ahead of them.

I just really like the style I wrote this in. The rhymes, the back-and-forth play with the past, present and future to the point that I had readers tell me they had to re-read it to fully grasp everything (positively), the flow of the fic and the way I put so much story into so little words. This one will forever be one of my favorite fics because of its uniqueness.

3. A Sensei’s Job (Does Not Entail This) (Koharu & Tobirama, 1.9k, G)

When Tobirama decided to set a good example by taking on the role of a Jounin-sensei to prepare young Genin fresh out of the ninja academy for the life of a shiobi, he had been a bit nervous, but on the whole, he had been excited and looked forward to the experience and sharing his knowledge with Konoha’s future shinobi. Nothing could’ve prepared him for this, however. “My body is betraying meee!” Or, Koharu struggles with puberty, and Tobirama struggles with a teenager going through puberty.

Honestly, I’m just proud of the pacing and the dialogue of this wee friend here. Those are the two things I struggle the most; my pacing is always off, sometimes more, sometimes less, but it’s just never truly right (except for short ficlets), and dialogue is something I fail so much at that I have multiple fics with no dialogue at all because it’s just so much easier for me to write that way. Here, though? Here both are just right. This fic is nothing special, it’s really just a silly little thing to make you laugh, but I love coming back to it because it just reads so smoothly like no other of my fics. And also, because re-reading it never fails to brighten my day.

4. Sternhagelvoll (Madara/Tobirama, 2.2k, T)

Senju Tobirama stands in front of his house in the middle of the night with a goat on a leash. Senju. Fucking. Tobirama. Stands in front of his house. In the middle of the night. With a goat on a leash. “Are you drunk?” “Like a skunk,” Tobirama confirms, promptly collapsing at his feet. The goat bleats.

Look, humor and crack are my thing. It’s what I write the most and it’s what I’m best at. This one is special tho because it’s hands down the funniest I’ve written so far. I cracked up so hard while writing that I had to take several breaks, and I crack up at the same lines when I re-read it again. I’m just really proud of how fucking funny this one is, and that’s it.

5. Captivated Hearts (Hashirama/Mito, 3.1k, M)

Tobirama repeatedly enters the Land of the Dead to steal Mito’s souls and reanimate them, confident that she won’t catch him, when in reality, it would be so easy for her to pull him in by the foot he so carelessly sets into her realm. But Tobirama has a brother. Senju Hashirama, also known as Inari, is the kami of agriculture, rice, sake and various other things—and he has the kindest eyes Mito has ever seen in a man. With his sun-kissed skin and blinding smile, the warmth he radiates from within, and the joy he brings wherever he goes, he shines brighter than Amaterasu could ever dream of. Mito wants him.

I just love how I wrote Mito and HashiMito here. This fic is really not one of my best written ones—I definitely have better fics—but I still count it to my favorites because as much as I love wholesome HashiMito, I really wanted something in a slightly more grey-ish, dubious area for these two, and I wanted to explore Mito differently than she usually is portrayed in fics. It’s nothing special per se, but it’s special to me, so I consider it one of my proudest fics.

Funny enough, my most popular story that makes me practically a one-hit-wonder didn’t make it on the list but to be honest, I don’t even know why that time travel TobiIzu fic is so popular. It’s one of my better ones, but personally, I don’t count it as one of my proudest xD

Tagging: @iam93percentstardust @pleasetakethis @madbuns and you if you would like to share your proudest fics as well! Please feel yourself tagged from me ♥️

[susiecarter]

WFZine Q&A! (Part 3)

More @wfzine​ behind the scenes! /o\ :D @gothamguts was kind enough to toss this question in specifically to give me room to flail about this, because o m f g, I CANNOT OVEREMPHASIZE how bad I am at editing stories in order to make them shorter instead of longer, and how ludicrously difficult it was for me to trim my draft down to size. Like, in a good way, I absolutely love how it turned out! BUT MAN. ;-; On a good day, I can hammer out somewhere north of 1k per hour—cutting words, on the other hand, I apparently do at a rate of about 20 per hour, and that’s a generous estimate. :’D Anyway, yeah, more of me wailing under the cut!

Q: What was challenging about writing your zine piece? (optional: and how did you overcome it?)

The big challenge for me was definitely having a maximum wordcount! I was so grateful to have been invited to participate, I couldn't believe it, and then the maximum wordcount came up and I was SWEATING, like, oh, god, countdown until the invitation is RESCINDED and I am KICKED OUT INTO THE STREET—

Anyway, yeah, I'm really bad at estimating how long a draft is going to be before I've written it, and that's because it's always longer than I'm expecting. ALWAYS. So I should actually be counting my lucky stars that my first draft came in as close to the max as it did! But it was still 600–700 words too long. :'D So I had to go over it ... god, I don't even know how many times, it must've been at least 20, looking for more words I could cut or something I could rephrase, and cutting, cutting, cutting, and then scrolling back up to the top and checking the wordcount, and learning I'd removed, you know, 18 words. ;-;

It was definitely a really valuable exercise—going forward, I'm planning to try to remove 100–200 words from every draft I write before I post, because I have an adjective problem and also an adverb problem, and having that target to hit, really thinking about which words were the most important ones in each sentence, was great! But after I'd cut like 500, and I STILL NEEDED TO TAKE MORE WORDS OUT ... ;-;!!! It was so hard, it was like MURDER. I'm thrilled with the final version, and I think the story I wrote is stronger in a lot of ways than it would've been if I hadn't trimmed it down! But it was still so ridiculously hard for me, omg. :'D