#trade secrets writing

[cerullos]

watching my favorite lesbian tragedy

[chimerafeathers]

there's an essay jumbled up in my brain about dunmeshi's beginning and how clever and deceptive it is as a sleight-of-hand trick that distracts the audience from the depth and scope of the worldbuilding and foreshadowing that's being set up the entire time by dangling zany characters and wacky dishes and biology fun facts in front of us, and how that serves to catch invested viewers off guard when those elements come to the forefront, but also how it works against it with other viewers wanting "more" and not seeing it because the plot bait isn't laid out up front

how people getting frustrated with the characters "not taking things seriously" is mirrored and refuted in the confrontation between Laios and Shuro. how the characters' attitudes aren't just a result of shallow low-stakes "comedy rules" where nothing matters, but are an extension of their personalities (Laios's nonstandard expression of emotions being offputting even to people he knows) and the world and social environment (adventurers being desensitized to death and injury because resurrection magic is commonplace). the way the party refers to "saving Falin" instead of "retrieving Falin's corpse," indicating that they still see her with full personhood, and how that phrasing leads to some readers/viewers believing that Falin is alive in the dragon's stomach, conscious of being slowly digested while the party carelessly fucks around "wasting time." how the weird tonal dissonance makes sense in-universe and yet is deliberately challenged more and more the deeper the party goes

all the character building and pieces of lore slowly weaving together the shape of the larger world, laying the groundwork for the major themes that will surface later. so much is right there in the "low-stakes" early episodes if you know what you're looking for (or pass the perception checks).

it can be so satisfying to see new viewers/readers pick up on the clues even in the earliest "simple" episodes, or notice new things and make connections yourself....and it can also be frustrating to see people dismiss oddities and dissonance as shallow or bad writing because they don't expect a "cooking anime" to have depth like that. why try to question and understand and peel back the layers when you don't expect there to be any layers?

why can't laios take things seriously for once?

[merakiui]

with this upcoming jade fic, i just realized i have written fwb fics for all of octavinelle now.....

[verfound]

Do you think that ML fics often turn the characters into complete jerks?

I'mma be honest, Nonny: I'm having trouble understanding what exactly you're asking here. Like...you understand how fics - how storytelling - actually works, right?

Yes, you have writers out there who dislike X or Y (...lol not sorry 😂) and use the fic as a means to convey that dislike. I feel like a lot of times that's how salt fic comes about? It can be intentional or unintentional: sometimes you focus on the negative aspects of a character, exaggerating them like you would a caricature. Sometimes those negative traits are already there and people aren't afraid to call X/Y out on 'em.

Sometimes it's because you don't like that character, but sometimes it's to suit the purposes of the story you need to tell? I'm currently working on a selkie AU that could be seen as putting Adrien in a bad light (I feel like I'm using what's already there and, like above, exaggerating it a bit to fit my needs), but it's what the story needs. Likewise, I know someone who's working on a fic where Tom and Sabine are painted as bad parents - something most of us would not at all claim but, for the purpose of the story, it works and makes sense. In both cases, it's not...well ok. Fine. It's no secret I don't like Adrien, but that's why I usually just avoid writing him; he fits the role I need for the selkies and drew short straw. But in my friend's case, it's not because they don't like T/S; its just a role that needs filled.

What I'm getting at: You really need to understand storytelling before you ask a question like this. It's not a simple yes/no. Most writers I know aren't looking to go "I'm gonna make A an asshole today!" We're writing specific stories with specific roles that characters need to fill. If your fav happens to fill that Jerk Role, it's nothing personal; it's just the story.

(...sometimes it is intentional. But, for example, painting Gabriel as a terrorist or Lila as a bully isn't exactly a stretch, right? We work with what the show gives us & build on it.)

[mikodrawnnarratives]

hc time: Maggie left the renegades bc of Callums death yes, she's convinced herself that "well i've tried out the hero thing (tried in HEAVY QUOTES), didn't work out, im better suited to villainyyy" and in another post i've talked abt how her tossing the helmet to Callum, and that resulting in Callum's death must have been.. a lot

But also, the idea of that kind of event cementing to her she shouldn't work with others. She's better off by herself, retreating into being selfish, but she also won't directly hurt anyone like this. Last time she worked with someone else she cared about? Welp look at him now. Six feet underground. Because of her

So imagine she doesn't want to work with others for that exact reason, last time it ended badly. Imagine her growing close to Max, but entirely refusing to fight with him on the field. If he's gonna throw himself into danger on his own, fine. (its not fine but) No blood on her hands. She's not the reason a partner gets injured or potentially dies

And that would be lots to unpack, anyone she partners up with KNOWS THE RISKS and its not her fault that callum died, but in a potential arc for Maggie im not sure i'll ever write based on all my hcs for her, thats something that would be hard to change her mind abt

Cuz like.. she was eleven when Callum was murdered. Right in front of her. And if that isn't addressed in the next book(s) Marissa Meyer writes I will write it myself godDAMMIT

She'd probably occasionally partner up with ppl, she can't do EVERYTHING by herself, but i'd imagine its only with ppl she doesn't give a SHITTT ABOUT

speaks volumes

[northern-passage]

Is sign language something the Order teaches?

After asking that, I realise that it's much more likely that Handlers learn it as part of their education (being the one who engages with the common folk out of the duo).

But what if a Hunter wanted to learn it? Would they have to request being taught as well?

And outside of the Order, how is sign language treated in the overall world?

it is, actually! sign language is pretty widely taught as a second language in Adrania. that's not to say that everyone is fluent, though, and there are different dialects just like in real life (ie ASL vs BASL) if someone is fortunate enough to receive schooling they will typically study common sign language (which is mainly used for trade and is very formal), but whether or not they retain it and can still understand it varies from person to person, and again there are variations that will differ from the basic common version taught in a school. with the class divide in Adrania, i also imagine there would be a drastic difference between the culture and sign of lower classes (who most likely will not have received any kind of education) and the upper classes.

and you're right, Lea is the one that is more proficient in it between the two, mainly because they are the one doing most of the talking. the hunter has a basic understanding and can typically interpret signs, but isn't the best at signing themself. if you go with Merry in Blackwater, you can see her, Mal, and Branwen all sign to each other, with Branwen actually being hoh. the hunter recognizes that Branwen calls Merry a bastard, but for the most part the three sign too fast for the hunter to understand. Merry and Mal will continue to use sign throughout the story, and they actually use a variation that neither the hunter nor Lea will recognize, even if they were signing slower; think of it like the thieves cant, but in sign.

[landboundstar]

Writing Related Questions

Am actually working on some of fics in progress (Day Pass, Trade Secrets, Ghoulies And Ghosties, random writing for NaNoWriMo)

So not just plot bunnies I am releasing into the wild, but thoughts actively being typed up. Answers are useful.

What are popular Gotham street foods? - Trade Secrets

What songs do the Batfam sing at karaoke? -Ghoulies And Ghosties, NaNoWriMo

Where would Catwoman and Riddler hang out? Without relapsing into stealing things. Was going to have them go to an art museum, but am debating the wisdom of this (Day Pass)

[liesandbrokenhearts]

There’s something so seductive and sensual about a glass of wine!

[enigma-the-mysterious]

A Fair Trade Ch. 1

Fandom: The Musketeers (2014)

Chapter Summary: A mission gone wrong. A missing agent. A wanted criminal on the run. Just another Tuesday for the Musketeers, the special unit of the French police force.

"These botched operations will go down in the Garrison's history as one of its most disgraceful moments, bested only by Savoy."

Read on AO3 here

My Winter Solstice gift for @unamoosedwerewolf Event organised by @musketeergarrison

[leatherbookmark]

adventures in research:

[yeonban]

After getting past the 30 layers of horror Kolya inserted into this particular performance... do you guys happen to notice anything amiss. like perhaps this man's... coat.

I'll write a separate post about this (and Kolya's ability per overall) when my brain brains more coherently, but here's a sneak peek for it: although Nikolai's ability is named "'The Overcoat", it isn't bound to the coat/cloak he uses. That's just his own touch, meant to fool people into letting their guard down by assuming he can only use his ability via his cloak (thus leading them to believe he's harmless without it). This is also why he actively only uses his coat in front of people and why no one has ever questioned his death, not even his fellow DoA members.

[cheesebearger]

*physically restraining myself from getting in yet another fucking argument about alchemical significations and the perception of alchemical language with someone who is only really versed in the scientific history of alchemy*

[fellstcr]

      UNPROMPTED  / @fatalmenace​ /  ALWAYS ACCEPTING !

to: byleth from: kronya

'let's continue on where we left at fodlan...' 'i won't tell you the place where we should meet.'

'here is a clue. a forest~'

⚔️ //  byleth  had  vowed  to  herself  that  she  would  NEVER  give  this  woman  a  response.  it   was  what  kronya  wanted  and  so  ,  was  the  LAST  THING  that  byleth  would  ever  want  to  give. 

         she  had  told  herself  ,  too  ,  after  the  day  she  split  the  heavens  into  two  ,  that  she   would  never  again  allow  the  newfound  emotions  that  thundered  within  to  get  the   better  of  her.  (  too  many  lives  at  risk.  too  many  hands  that  reached  to  hers  for GUIDANCE.  ) 

          only  ,  now  her  BLOOD  BOILED  the  same  way  it  had  when  kronya  had  first  showed  her  face  in  this  realm.  only  ,  her  chest  ached  with   the  gravity  of  a  thousand  suns.  the  silver  shine  of  her  sword  in  its  sheath  as  the  moonlight  filtered  in  from  above  hadn’t  looked  so  TEMPTING  since  . . .

          not  since  her  whole  world  had  been  ripped  from  her  with  nothing  but  blood  and  blade.

           she  stared  the  weapon  down.  she  KNEW  temptation  ran  amok  with  honeyed  lies.  she  KNEW  that  this  was  nothing  more  than  another  TRAP  FOR  THE  FELL  STAR  ,  the  same  as  before. 

            so  she  sat.

                       . . .  and  she  FELT.

            .  .  .   some  vows  . . . 

       they  were  meant  to  be  broken.

          [  text  ;  kronya  ]  I  will  not  be  late.

[pink-writer-girl]

Jara's Resurrection

Secret Halloween i did for

Redkittenco on discord

On a moonlit night shrouded in darkness, figures draped in cloaks gathered around a makeshift garden. The eerie atmosphere was reminiscent of a gothic nightmare, with withered plants and soil permeating the air with the stench of decay. They formed a solemn circle, their hands intertwined, as if encircling something, or perhaps someone, buried deep beneath the earth. Their voices merged in a haunting chant, a hymn that resonated through the night.

As their words shifted in tone, the moon above transformed, its pure white glow morphing into a foreboding blood-red hue. The crimson light cast an ominous glow on a sigil drenched in the same hue. While the chanting carried on, the moon’s color shifted again to a sickly green. Gradually, the soil beneath their feet emitted an eerie glow, mirroring the light above. Unbeknownst to them, or perhaps simply beyond their perceptions, a feminine figure materialized. The apparition observed the ritual with cold, unfeeling eyes. Her lack of reaction was understandable, for she had grown accustomed to such macabre events.

These vampires had changed Jara’s life forever when they destroyed her island and family. However, the loss she endured was overshadowed by the subsequent enslavement. She was consigned to endlessly serving them until they grew bored or her body rotted away.

She watched as they continued their ritual, preparing another vessel for her to inhabit. The bodies always seemed to crumble easily, but such was the nature of a living corpse. Leaving the circle, one vampire approached the main spellcaster, who stood hunched over in the center.

“Are you here with us, Jara?” The vampire inquired, scanning his surroundings. His manner of speech was sophisticated, a clear sign of a lifetime sprawling centuries.

“You know I wouldn’t be anywhere else,” Jara’s voice reverberated through the air, sounding otherworldly.

The man couldn’t suppress a chuckle, fully aware of her dependence on him for survival. “Well, be prepared as always, my dear,” he retorted, retreating alongside his companion. As the moon’s verdant glow bathed the soil, it shimmered in unison with the blood sigil sinking into the ground. Jara felt her soul being forcibly drawn into the awaiting body below. She experienced the sensation of being submerged beneath the earth, dirt against her skin, suffocating her as she struggled to breathe. Her fingers clawed desperately through the darkness, propelling her decaying body towards the surface. As she broke the surface, the dim light revealed that the early stages of putrification had left her skin green. Gasping and groaning, she crawled until she finally stood before her master, Lord Lucien, who wore a taunting smirk.

“Welcome back,” he greeted.

“It’s a pleasure, master,” she replied, her voice dripping with low sarcasm, as she struggled to catch her breath.

┍─── ☆ : . Fin . : ☆ ───┑

[jennaflare]

So Disco Elysium is the only game you've ever really liked

I get it! It's a phenomenal game with superb art and writing, and its themes are consistent and deeply explored. It sets a high bar for video games. But there are other really, really fantastic games out there. This is a list that is 100% my own taste of things that aren't necessarily similar, other than the fact that they're really fucking good. (A lot of these are on sale for the Steam Summer Sale until July 11 2024!)

In Stars and Time

In Stars and Time is a time loop game where you play as Siffrin, the rogue of a party at the end of their quest to save the day by defeating the King, who is freezing everybody in time! But something is wrong: every time you die, you loop back to the day before you fight the King. You're the only one who remembers the loops, so it's up to you to figure out why it's happening, and how to break out.

In Stars and Time is a heart-wrenching dive into mental health, friendship, and love. It's about feeling alone, and how awful it is when the people who love you don't notice (and how awful it is when they do). It's about falling deeper and deeper into your worst self and your worst tendencies, and how to come back from it.

The creator also did one of my favorite Disco Elysium comics ever, which is only tangentially relevant but worth mentioning.

Roadwarden

In Roadwarden, you play as the titular Roadwarden for an undeveloped and "wild" part of the kingdom. Monsters roam the forests and roads, and it's your job to keep people safe. On paper, anyway. Your real mission is to find out what is of value in the area, and how to take it from its people. How well you perform this task is up to you. It's an oldschool text-based RPG, and I take a lot of notes by hand when I play.

Roadwarden explores exploitation and industrialization by making you look in the face of your potential victims. You can only learn what your bosses want you to report on by getting close to the residents, after all. There are mysteries to be solved, secrets to be gathered, and hearts to win.

The Longing

The Longing is an adventure-idle game where you play as the solitary servant of a sleeping king. Your task is to wait for him, for four hundred days. Time in the game passes in realtime (for the most part). There are caves to explore, books to be read, and drawings to make.

The Longing is about loneliness and depression. It's about whether or not you decide to stay in that hole, and if you do, what you do with yourself while you're there. Maybe you'll wander. Maybe you'll stare at a wall. Maybe you'll just sleep until it's all over.

Papers, Please

Papers, Please casts you as a newly hired customs officer in a country that is rapidly tightening its borders as its fascist government tightens its fist. This game is stressful. Sometimes you intend to help out the revolutionaries when they asked, but then you got so stressed out trying to make your quota so you can feed your family and pay your bills that you didn't notice the name of the person they were hoping to contact while going through their papers. Sometimes someone puts a bomb in front of you and expects you to defuse it. Sometimes someone suggests you steal people's passports so you can get your family out, and with the horror you see daily, the idea tempts you more than you'd like.

Papers, Please is all about hard choices and testing your moral fortitude. Everything you do has consequences. Being a good person in this game is hardly ever rewarded, but not in a way that feels overly cynical. Papers, Please asks you what kind of person you want to be and what you're willing to sacrifice to get there.

The Return of the Obra Dinn

From the creator of Papers, Please, The Return of the Obra Dinn is a game where you play as an insurance investigator for the East India Trading Company. The ship the Obra Dinn has just floated back into port, its entire crew missing or dead. It's your job to figure out what happened aboard the vessel. For insurance reasons.

I don't know how to go into the themes of this too deeply without giving away too much, but the mechanics of the game itself make the game worth playing. You have a magic stopwatch that allows you to go back to the moment of a person's death, allowing you to try and figure out who (or what) killed them, and how. And the soundtrack is extremely good.

Outer Wilds

In Outer Wilds you play as an unnamed alien, and it's your first day going to space! Your planet's space program is pretty new still, so there's still lots to explore and discover on the planets within your system. There are ancient ruins from a mysterious race that once lived in your system, long before your species began to record history. Why were they here? Where did they go? How are they connected to the weird thing that keeps happening to you?

The fun of Outer Wilds is in the discovery and answering your own questions. The game never tells you where to go, and it never outright tells you anything. There are clues scattered through the system, and it's up to you to put them together and figure out your next steps. It's about the way that life always goes on, no matter what, even when it seems like the end of everything, forever. I'd recommend NOT reading anything else about this game. Just go play it. Seriously, the less you know, the more fun this is.

If on a Winter's Night, Four Travelers

In If on a Winter's Night, Four Travelers, you explore the circumstances of the deaths of four individuals.

This is a short one that took me about two and a half hours to play. If for no other reason, play it for the stunning pixel art. The game explores sexism, racism, and homophobia in the Victorian era and leans heavily into horror themes. Best of all: it's completely free!

Pentiment

Pentiment takes you to the 16th century, where you take the role of Andreas Maler, a journeyman artist working on his masterwork in the scriptorium of an abbey. When someone is murdered, Andreas takes responsibility for finding the culprit.

The game is set over 20~ years and you get to watch how Andreas' actions affect the village in various ways (who's alive the next time you come by, have people gotten married and had children...). It's an exploration of how the past affects the future, and what parts of that past we choose to keep or discard. It has beautiful art, and fans of both Disco and Pentiment often compare them.

Other games you might wanna check out

Night in the Woods, Dredge, Oxenfree, A House of Many Doors, Inscryption, Slay the Princess, Citizen Sleeper, Chants of Sennar, Loop Hero, The Cosmic Wheel Sisterhood, The Pale Beyond, Where the Water Tastes Like Wine, Elsinore, Her Story, Before Your Eyes, Pathologic (not delved into above because the venn diagram of Pathologic fans and Disco fans is basically a circle)

[lifeonmarz-blog]

The 12 houses explained: short word format

1st: Aries, Mars, Yang, Dragon, Bee, Face, Eyes, Eyebrows, Voice, Accent, First Glance, Passion, Drive, Self Esteem, 3rd Eye, Intuition, Hard on yourself, Mutable, Patience, Leader, Stoic, Muscles, Neck/Head tension, Animals, Intensity, Head scarf, Tender headed, Attracting energy vampires, Hard headed, Red, Purple, Sexual energy, Humor, Introvert/extrovert, Fear of child baring because loss of freedom, Judgement, Lymph nodes, Guitar, Fast talker, Sharp talker, Forward thinking, Warrior, Personality, Spine...

2nd: Taurus, Venus, Yin, Panda, Neck/Throat, Throat chakra, Mouth, Thyroid, Heart, Pink, Blue, Fluid, Security, Resources, Musician, Silent, Introvert, Nose, Scent, Taste, Parent, Singing, Arms, Dancing, Food, Breeze, Partnership, Sharing, Values, Luxury, Pleasure, Easy going, Soft spoken, Naivety, Split decisions, Indecisive, Moon, Father, Sturdy, Poker face, Children, Trustworthy, Grit, Victory, Horses, Trials...

3rd: Gemini, Mercury, Yin/Yang, Jack Rabbit, Hands, Feet, Speech, Tongue, Lungs, Fast pace, Exercise, excitement, Bounce back, Joy, Vigor, Youth, Fidget, Anxiety, Habits, Expressive, Musician, Storyteller, School, Journalist, Moral system, Networking, Group, Siblings, Questioning, Stocks/trading, Choices, Dedication, Picky, Options, Dare Devil, Flirt, Long lasting, Hopes, Trees/Forest, Art, Comedian, Chances, Materials, Time, Loyal, Boundaries, ...

4th: Cancer, Moon, Yin, Owl, Family, Mother, Compassion, Creation, Birth, Life, Regret, Sleep, Nipple, Breast, Anus, Stomach, Womb, Bellybutton, Heart, Sacral, Blue, White, Yellow, Ocean, Cold, Night, Cycle, Fly on the wall, Unspoken secrets, Pores, Suicide, Whispers, Distracted, Outsider, Alchemy, Caregiver, Chef, Guidance, Critical, Teeth, Passage/Gateway, Humming, Drums, Weight on your back, Pressures, Gratefulness, Gratitude, Obedience, Horse, Animals, Words that cut...

5th: Leo, Sun, Yang, Lion, Spine, Heart, Pets, Fun, Youthful, Children, Love affairs, Expression, Dance, Gymnastics, Loud, Bright colors, Short trips, Friends, Aunts/Uncles, Get togethers, Cars, Innovative, Actor, Protection, Magician, Gardening, Gossip, Alchemy, Adulthood, Relaxing, Bonding, Self destruction, Slick words, Hard work, Spotlight, Sharing, Rebuilding, Clothing, Renewed vision, Drawing board, Companionship, Grounding...

6th: Virgo, Mercury, Yin, Ant, Crane, Praying Mantis, Work environment, Routine, Structure, Time, Patience, Health issues, Hygiene, Nervous system, digestive system, Pancreas, Gallbladder, Notebooks, Writing, Movies, Home, Relaxing, Forgiving, Generous, Social Life, Bonding, Practice, Foresight, Letting go, Stable, Helpful, Tense, Pressure, Negative thoughts, Reminisce, Addiction, Sorrow, Indecision, Indigestion, Saving Finances, Strong will, Codependency, Maturing, Realizing, Criticism, Self Honoring...

7th: Libra, Venus, Yin, Dragon Fly, Peacock, Marraige, Partnership, Contracts, Joint endeavors, Kidneys, Bladder, Blood, Caring what others think, Voice, Accent, Culture, Rebuilding, Learning new ways to do, Home decor, Learning gratitude, Giving, Reseveing, Welcome home, Comfort, Jot, Warmth, Spring, Flowers, New thought processes, Building Legacy, Defending yourself, Possessions, Slower living, Connecting to nature, Center of attention...

8th: Scorpio, Pluto, Mars, Yin/Yang, Vulture, Jaguar, Phoenix Death/Rebirth, Fears, Dark, Dreams, Escaping, Running, Hoarding, Lack, Homelessness, Strength, Stamina, Restart, Hard work paying off, Legacy, Against all odds, Elimination system, Pelvis, All the holes in the body, Burgundy, Purple, Black, Sex organs, Releasing worries, Manipulation, Smothering, Misunderstood, Coffee, Over giving, Partnership, Friendship, Sensuality, Secretion, Body odor, Roses, Fruit trees, Chapel, Railroad, Balancing, Power, Unseen forces, Intimidation, Relaxation...

9th: Sagittarius,Jupiter, Yang, Donkey, Whale, Shark, Liver, Legs, Posture, Religion, Long distance, Foreign travel, New ideas, Creative thoughts, Energy, Witty, Nomad, Idealistic, Larger than life, Focused on success, Friendship, Gatherings, Social Life, Relaxing, Luxury, Boundaries, Tired, Mental Illness, Restrictions, Insecurities, Grandparents, Quiet time, Relationships, Sharing, Attention, Harmony, Rebirth, Hard work, Getting over, Time, Late night thoughts, Male role model, Weight on your back, Responsibilities, Greedy, Guarded, Proud, Protection, Unique, Lavender...

10th: Capricorn, Saturn, Yang, Sheep, Alligator Honey Badger, Cactus, Sterile, Marble, White, Grey, Cold, Winter, Snow, Reputation, Social status, Farming, Popularity, Bones, Skin, Nails, Hair, Sharp, Leather, Goat, Structure, Skin conditions, Over explaining, Hard on others/yourself, Violin, Holding onto the past, Hard choices, Seeing others happen, Collecting, Finding purpose, Unique interest, Creative ways to make money, Standing up for yourself, Tunnel vision, Sharing, Networking, Group efforts, Working on love...

11th: Aquarius, Uranus, Yin/Yang, Moose, Mongoose, Snake, Friends, Parties, Organizations, Goals, Hopes, School, Science, mutable, unique style, Different friend groups, Water, Lakes, Rivers, Driving, Circulatory System, Pituitary glands, Changing course, Fear of change, Social media, Learning to stand alone, Trusting intuition, Defending loved ones, nonchalant, Increasing expectations, Std, Dead tree, Sticking it out, Elders, Community, Taking a stand, Protest, Elections, Politics, Numbers, Releasing restrictions...

12th: Pisces, Neptune, Yin, Fish, Birds, Friends, More to go around, Letting go, Releasing Past, Decor, Eye for style, Luxury, Opinionated, Energy field, Subconscious, Mountains, Fog, Spa, Skincare, Hygiene, Safety, Frienemies, Luck, Protection, Unprovided jealously, Foreign, Secret, Being watched, Self expression, Confidence, Talents, Anxiety, Depression, Breath, Dreams, Sleeping, Ufc/boxing, Always wanting more, Magician, Plants, Sunshine, Exotic, Target, Maturity, Completion...