#troped: multifandom

[troped-fanfic-challenge]

We’re back, witches! It’s time to get ready for TROPED’s fourth annual Halloween Fanfic Challenge and the first Horror Trope Exchange! For this dual event of our TROPED: The Fanfic Writing Challenge, you can select the tropes you want to write and create the horror fic of your dreams or you can have someone else create a horror fic for you and you will write one for someone else (or you can do both, if you're feeling particularly daring)!!

How It Works: TROPED Choice Horror!

The first part of the event will be structured the same as previous Choice Events: tropes and theme list will be released, three weeks to write, three (3) days to vote; one quick round, done and done!

It’s a Multifandom Event! Write from any fandom you’d like! All Fandoms are welcome and there is no minimum participation required for this event! And no sign-ups necessary!

Choose a Theme for your fic from our list of Horror-centric themes! Ghost stories, urban legends, slasher fics, or mystery thrillers, you name it, we wanna see it! But, if Horror isn’t your thing, these fics do not have to be scary (“horror” just sounds better than “halloween”)! Any and all Halloween-themed fics are also welcome here! While we are definitely encouraging scary, spooky, horror style fics, any fic with a general Halloween theme that follows our guidelines and tropes would work great, from a slasher flick inspired horror fic to a soft and fluffy trick-o’-treating kid fic!

Choose four (4) Tropes for your fic from our list of tropes! (You can, of course, choose more than four, but only the first four tropes you list will be included for voting). For this challenge, at least one of your four tropes must be a ‘Horror’ trope, which are in a separate list from the other tropes.

Write your fic in 10,000 words or less! You will upload your fic anonymously to the AO3 Collection linked below. Make sure you put what your theme is and what tropes you used in your fic summary, or in the notes at the TOP of your fic, so we can keep our eyes peeled for them as we read them! (If you are worried the tropes/themes will spoil your fic, you may put them in the notes at the bottom, but please let us know at the top if you choose to do so, and be sure that all of your tropes and themes are in the same place!)

This event will be Optionally Anonymous! Because we want this event to be much more chill, and the writing period will be open for the month, we will not require this event to be anonymous! However, if you would like to have your fic be anonymous, we will be sharing a small tutorial on how to make your fics anonymous and how to remove them from being anonymous sometime soon, so keep your eyes peeled!

Read and Review! Once you’ve submitted your own fic, take a look at the others in the competition! Please try to read as many as you can! Take some notes, leave some kudos/comments for the authors, and help us vote on the winners! This is not a requirement for participation, but it is highly encouraged and helps make TROPED build a strong community!

Community Voting! The voting for this event will be pretty simple! We will keep a list of all fics submitted for each event, and then at the end there will be a voting poll! Voting will be based on the use of your chosen theme, your combined use of all four chosen tropes, the combined use of your theme + your tropes, and bonus polls, most unique pairing (which will count for both platonic and romantic pairings), best scary story, and best use of Halloween! The voting will be based on the fics as a whole, and will include all fandoms together! If you do not want your fic included in the voting, you can let us know, or you can simply upload your fic to our non-anon collection instead! We will still share it along with the other fics and it will be included in all masterlists! We will provide a link when voting begins.

How It Works: TROPED Horror Trope Exchange!

The second part of this event, TROPED: Horror Trope Exchange, is a double blind fanfic exchange, meaning you won’t know who you’re writing for, or who is writing for you! Here’s how it works:

It’s a The 100 Fandom Exchange Only!

Take a look at our Horror Trope list and pick four (4) tropes that you’d like to be included in your gift!! Remember, this event is double blind!! This is to help preserve that truly quintessential TROPED experience, where any writer can take the tropes and make something unique and surprising! Because of this, you wont be able to reach out to your recipient for any more info, and that means what you give your writer is all they have to go on, so try to be clear! If there is something you really want, or really don’t want, make sure to tell them during this stage of the exchange!

Sign Up & Keep Your Ask Box Open! After the sign-up period is over, we will match up all the assignments as best we can, and then we will deliver them to your ask box before the writing period begins! Please be sure to have your ask box open, and please be sure not to post the ask you receive, so it can be kept anonymous.

Write your fic! You will have about three weeks to write a fic that includes you given tropes, and fits into our holiday theme. You will upload your fic to the AO3 Collection linked below. Make sure you put what tropes you were assigned in your fic summary, or in the notes at the TOP of your fic, so we can keep our eyes peeled for them as we read them! (If you are worried the tropes will spoil your fic, you may put them in the notes at the bottom, but please let us know at the top if you choose to do so, and be sure that all of your tropes are in the same place!)

Upload your fic to the TROPED Horror Trope Exchange AO3 Collection only! Fics are due on Monday, October 30th at 12:00pm EST!!! Please be sure to have them in on time, because we will be reviewing them to make sure all your tropes are included! This AO3 collection is unrevealed, which means once your fic is submitted, you won’t be able to see it until we reveal them! If you’re worried about whether we received it or not, you can always DM us to ask!

Happy Halloween! Sit back and relax, we will reveal all the fics on Tuesday, October 31st!!!

TIMELINE:

Trope Exchange Sign Ups Begin: NOW!!!!

Trope Exchange Sign Ups End: 11:59 on Sunday, September 24th

Trope Exchange Assignments Released: Between September 28th—30th

Writing Period Officially Begins: Sunday, October 1st at 12:00am

Writing Period for TROPED Choice Horror Ends: Friday, October 27th at 3:00am PST / 6:00am EST

Writing Period for TROPED Horror Trope Exchange Ends: Monday, October 30th at 12:00pm

Voting Period for Choice Horror: Saturday, October 28th at 12:00am — Monday, October 30th at 11:59pm

Choice Horror Winners and Fic Exchanges Revealed: Tuesday, October 31st at 12:00pm!

RULES:

If you are a veteran to our TROPED Challenges, the rules for this Challenge are mostly the same as before, but any newbies joining the fun should definitely take a look at our full TROPED RULES!

For TROPED Choice: Horror 4.0, the Word Count is 10k or less, Ratings G through E are allowed, but No Smut, and All Fandoms are welcome to participate!

For TROPED Horror Trope Exchange, there is no maximum Word Count, but your fics must be at least 2,500 words! All Ratings G through E are welcome (We will be asking a question during sign-ups about whether you'd be comfortable writing or receiving smut. If your recipient is not comfortable receiving smut, please keep to M ratings or below). Sign-ups are required in advance! This is for The 100 Fandom only!

This event was created to help get creative and different fics out into the world, and to create a fun, positive fandom experience for everyone! In order to ensure that we achieve that goal of a positive experience, we reserve the right to disqualify anyone if we are reading and we think it violates any of our rules.

If you have any questions or concerns please send an Ask or DM a Mod ( @thelittlefanpire or @dylanobrienisbatman )!

HORROR LINKS:

TROPED Choice: Horror Challenge Info + Guidelines Google Doc: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1aZtaoXMGG4OidZhQkfTb4uHNI9ZXkt7sKWvID1p0m_8/edit

Sign-Up for the Horror Trope Exchange here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfcnMy3r8el0Tk-tZFMURNL2wXaL958_9b0Ml5pHLxxWL2jRw/viewform?usp=sf_link

TROPED: Horror Trope Exchange Info + Tropes + Guidlines Google Doc: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1CzcM3YG0D1xrI98Ga8nB0cd7syu8QlPE2hNZy0jdAo0/edit

[escespace]

Merlin and Arthur but someone help me I can't get it out of my head:

A threat, Merlin is going to face it, Investigate, fight, yadyadayada... The only solution is to make a deal that, in exchange for keeping Camelot safe for another day, Merlin must give up all the memories of his most precious person.

Obviously after running out of memories of ☆Arthur☆ He doesn't understand the importance of returning to Camelot, why is he still there if Gaius has taught him almost everything he can, Even kilgharrah isn't there anymore. For some reason, moreover, he feels that he often causes the poor physician more problems that should be... And all this without mentioning that before he wanted to see the world, he wanted to explore, to know and who knows? He might even make a name for himself... At least that's what he dreamed of as a child.

Again, why is he still in Camelot?

THEN HE GOES. JUST LIKE THAT

The next day Arthur can't find Merlin anywhere and we all know how he gets. He searches for him, he stresses, he screams... But it is not until night comes and he speaks with Gaius that the old man breaks his facade and Arthur notices the concern, that something is not right. He presses and presses until Gaius finally admits that he hasn't seen Merlin since the previous evening, that Merlin didn't sleep there and that he didn't even know where Merlin had gone.

It is canon that Arthur would immediately lose the marbles. As prince regent he order a wanted party. Nothing can stop him because *the power of the script*

Weeks go by with no sign of Merlin. Search efforts are dwindling as there are other priorities These priorities include certain strange occurrences in border villages.Some of these strange occurrences include a group of knights who were defeated by an entity they failed to see or recognize when they went to pick up an accused sorcerer. In addition, in the town next to that one, an entire family suspected of magic disappeared.

The council agrees that action must be taken or the people will begin to see those signs of weakness when it comes to responding to the law, with a sick king and having faced a mini conquest (I don't remember the chronological order of certain events, apologies); They must make it clear that Camelot is still the same as always...

Then, by the power of the script, the prince argues until he is the one who is designated to command the patrol of knights who will go to the villages in question (for honor, to make the people see him as a prince who executes his own orders or whatever)

Between surveys in the villages, some talks with peasants, follow clues... GUESS WHO THEY FIND?

Merlin has been wandering here and there, posing as a herb seller (because that must be good for something), Coincidentally, he has not left that specific town where the suspicious events occurred (he is that stupidly confident)...

He seems to vaguely recognize the knights. One of them he met in a tavern, another fighting a griffin, another is the brother of someone he met who-knows-where; and the other... He can't remember where he knows him from. That makes him feel strangely dizzy, there is a pressure in his head and there are pits that he does not want to question himself.In all this, Arthur does not stop shouting a thousand and one things at him. How stupid he is, how careless he is, how much work he has put in the backlog while touring every tavern in Albion...

Then Merlin says the three words that put Arthur's world Heel over head:

«who are You?»

[v-i-r-i-d-i-a-n]

Me when- me when something non-human learns how to be human 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️

[misspoetree]

You know what I've been thinking about?

The recurrence of this treat shot and its multitude of flavours.

[diwatakirsten]

Hello there 👋,

I hope this message finds you well. My brother Osama and our family are facing incredibly difficult times due to the ongoing war in Gaza. Osama's livelihood and dreams have been shattered, but he's determined to rebuild his life and continue supporting us.

To help in this effort, Osama has launched a GoFundMe campaign titled "Helping Osama Rebuild His Dream." Any support you can offer—whether through sharing the campaign or making a donation—would mean the world to him and to all of us.

Here’s the link to learn more and contribute: https://gofund.me/100da7db

Even a small donation can make a significant difference. Thank you so much for your kindness and support 💖

With gratitude, 

Anas Basil

Vetted by @90-ghost

Verified by @gazagfmboost

ahoy ahoy! 🍉

Please excuse some odd tags -- I am only adding such, so it can reach other audiences.

https://gofund.me/100da7db

[kathrahender]

Stop with the "shoot first and ask questions later" heroes. Gimme more heroes who don't attack the villain without thinking. Heroes who want to know more things about the villain, to discover why that villain turned into a villain. Gimme heroes who are willing to give villains a second or a third chance and they actually make an effort to redeem them. Gimme heroes who don't justify the villain, but they understand them.

Stop with the "evil, cruel, emotionless and merciless" villlains. Gimme more villains who care about their henchmen. Villains who'll do anything (good or bad) for their loved ones (wife, husband, children...) Villains who care about innocent people getting hurt. Villains who can empathize with the hero. Villains who "want" to hurt the hero but not to make them suffer (They could also not want to hurt them but do it either way because the heroes are in their way. That doesn't mean they would want to shatter them). Villains who are able to recognize when they have gone too far. Villains who have a moral event horizon, a line they wouldn't cross no matter what.

Stop with the "girl who wants two boys to break up" thing. Gimme more girls who are happy of them being together. Gimme more "They're kinda hot/cute together ngl" girls. Gimme more girls who help the two boys to be each other's partner. Gimme more girls who aren't jealous of their relationship.

Stop with the "straight hero with a crush" thing. Gimme more LGBT heroes. Boys falling in love with other boys. Girls falling in love with other girls. Heroes falling in love with whoever they want, not caring about their gender. Heroes falling in love with no one because they're not interested in romance or in sex. Heroes who are trans women or trans men. Heroes who don't identify as female or male. Heroes who identify as both.

Stop with the "female love interest whose life is only centered in her relationship with the hero" thing. Gimme more independent women who doesn't want to have romantic relationships. Gimme more women who rejects the hero because they don't feel the same. Gimme more women who doesn't follow her crush everywhere because "they're in love with them".

Stop with the "villain and hero hating each other until their deaths" thing. Gimme more enemies to lovers and more enemies to friends stories. Gimme more stories where they're forced to work together. Where the villain rescues the hero because deep down they care about them getting hurt. Stories where their relationship goes from enemies to reluctant allies to frienemies to friends. Stories where the two of them accept they're similar. Where they balance each other, just like ying and yang.

Stop with the "villains dying after redeeming" trope. Gimme more villains who redeeem and live. Villains who join the heroes and have to learn to fix their past mistakes. Villains who have nightmares because of their past. Villains who apologize to the heroes for hurting them. Villains who are protective of the heroes. Villains who make the heroes understand they don't have to be "strong" all the time. Villains who help the heroes to heal their wounds, physical or emotional. Villains who decide to be compassionate with other villains because they know it isn't too late to change.

Stop with the "strong hero who doesn't cry" trope. Gimme more heroes who show their anger, their fear, their pain, their humanity. Gimme heroes who aren't afraid to cry. Heroes who actually cry. Heroes who eventually break because everything is too much. Heroes who snap in front of someone, no matter who it is (the villain/their enemy, their rival, their best friend, their lover, their parents...). Heroes who not only cry but scream or have a panic attack, because the pain is unbearable. Heroes who don't want to worry their family/friends and they break in front of the redeemed villain (because they already saw them in their lowest point).

[fandombingo]

Fandom Bingo: Superhero Trope Flash

In celebration of reaching 100 followers on this blog, Fandom Bingo presents Superhero Trope Flash!

This is a super quick flash event focused on a trope instead of a fandom. For this round, we'll be going with the superhero/supervillain genre, so all prompts will be related to this theme in some way.

Like the mini-bingos, this is also multifandom, so you can write for any fandom you want. However, the one requirement is that the fanwork must be related to the event's theme somehow.

**Signups are open for one week, so this form will close on August 15th.**

General Rules:

You can interpret the prompts any way you want, so long as your fic has something to do with superheroes, supervillains, or anything else that you think falls under this genre.

All prompts can just be used as inspiration or a general fit, no need to actually include them word for word in the fanwork, and tenses and pronouns can be swapped accordingly.

You can use your card(s) for any fandom, including crossovers and original works.

You can combine multiple prompts in one fanwork.

Each submitted fanwork should be new and complete, but it can be a standalone, part of a series, or one chapter of a multi-chaptered fic.

This event is primarily geared towards fanfic, but any medium is fine if you feel you can do it.

For fanfic, the minimum is 100 words with no maximum.

You can use fanworks submitted for this event for other events as well, so long as it’s okay with the other side too.

While signups are only open for one week, there is no time limit for completing a card.

This event offers comic panel cards, so strictly speaking, it's not a traditional bingo format. There will be a total of 5-6 prompts per card, and you can sign up for a maximum of 4 cards (only one signup necessary).

After submitting a form, please give me up to a week to reply with your card.

All content and ratings are allowed but please tag everything appropriately, especially if there’s trigger-warning content.

Please be respectful of each other. If you see content tags you don’t like, just scroll past and move on.

All works must be your own creation. No plagiarism. No AI-generated works.

To Finish a Card:

Honestly, it doesn't really matter. Preferably, you manage to cross off all prompts on your card(s), but if you can't, that's fine too. I might open this again in the future, and even if you haven't finished your card(s) by then, you can still come and sign up for another.

There is no completion form for this event, although of course, if you make a masterpost after you finish and ping @fandombingo, I'll reblog that.

When Posting:

You can post your fanworks to this AO3 collection here.

If you make a Tumblr post for your fanwork, remember to ping @fandombingo and tag #SuperheroTropeFlash so I can reblog it.

On your post, please clearly indicate the Fandom, Prompt(s), Rating, and Tag(s)/Content Warning(s).

If you have any other questions, don't hesitate to send in an ask!

[waywardsou2]

Calling all Whump Writers

I have recently made a whump discord server. I was participating in whumptober myself but came in a little late but I still wanted to work on more whump themed fics so I made a sever to find a community of like minded people.

So if you're a whump writer like me then consider joining us. We are a depraved group of people, so you'll fit right in

All fandoms, all tropes, all levels of intensity

[narcosfandomdiscord]

Inverted Tropes List (for Narcovember #4 - Book of Uno-Card-Reverse)

✸ childhood sweethearts -> childhood enemies/rivals

✸ friends to lovers -> enemies to lovers OR lovers to friends

✸ mutual pining -> mutual passive aggression OR one-sided pining

✸ arranged marriage -> shotgun divorce (but for any reason) OR unarranged, even ill-advised marriage (passionately in love but it’s a shitshow or marrying causes couple to fall out of love)

✸ fake dating -> everyone is convinced you aren’t dating

✸ sharing a bed -> too many beds

✸ mind-control/brainwashing -> reverse psychology (brainwashed feigns victimhood to control captor)

✸ Mary Sue -> Mary Sam (character who can't do anything right)

✸ first time -> last time

✸ amnesia -> faking a fugue state I call this The Walter White

✸ huddling for warmth -> escaping to cool down

✸ love at first sight -> hate at first sight OR love at first kick/punch

✸ opposites attract -> birds of a feather

✸ deus ex machina -> diabolus ex machina (out-of-nowhere-win for Good!Guys vs out-of-nowhere win for Bad!Guys)

✸ star-crossed lovers -> star-crossed haters (unable to destroy each other due to fate and circumstance)

✸ will-they/won't they -> they will (or won't) like, immediately

✸ coming-of-age -> arrested development

✸ in vino veritas (drunken confession) -> in siccus veritas (we-are-not-drunk-enough for this confession)

✸ fix-it fic -> fuck-it-up fic

✸ royal AU -> serfdom/peasant AU

✸ high school/college AU -> nursing home AU

✸ fairytale AU -> nightmare AU

✸ miscommunication -> too much communication

✸ missing scene -> altering scene from canon

✸ true love's kiss -> true hate's kiss (only kissing the person you hate will save them and/or you)

✸ kidnapped by mafia boss -> you kidnap a mafia boss

✸ love triangle -> subverted jealousy (letting loved one go with other person bc you want them to be happy)

✸ sex!pollen -> strife!pollen (powder that makes ppl physically/mentally/emotionally repulsed by one another)

And anything else I haven't thought of! Feel free to put your own spin on these as well because a few of them can be inverted in different ways and I definitely did not list them all.

[puppyxaegon]

I have some questions.

What are all your favourite ships whether than are canon or not canon, from books, tv shows or movies.

What are all your favourite romance and character tropes.

Okay this ask is over a YEAR old but I never saw it so sorry lol,, that being said my all time fav ships in order of when I got into them include:

Frank/Gerard of MCR: This was the first ship I genuinely got super feral and invested in and learned all the lore and history and spent hours reading smut of them every night in middle school. I think this is the only RPF ship I still interact with to this day because they're just too perfect idk in an alternate universe they're together forever.

Stiles/Derek from Teen Wolf: My first love in terms of fictional ship, this one is very cutesy and nostalgic for me bc of my age at the time of watching, also my first time feeling the agony and evil of unfulfiled queerbaiting because WHY did Derek have that twink thrown up against the wall like that if not...

Marcline/Princess bubblegum from AdvT: One of my very rare sweet and wholesome ships,, I can't even think of them sexually I just love them and they make me cry

Carl/Negan from TWD: It feels weird to include this for obvious reasons but at the time Negan appeared in the show I was the same age as carl and that whole storyline rewired my brain and heavily impacted my sexuality lmao so that's that. I was just a silly little fujo and Carl was my self insert ahaha I was crazy back then

Ramsay/Theon/Reek from GoT/ASOIAF: To this day this is THE ship for me. I have never been more into a ship than Thramsay it's ruined my life a bit. Their whole arc in season 3 with Ramsays growing obsession and Theon's transformation into reek made me realize that there is something wrong with my brain bcs I was NOT thinking normal thoughts about them. Theon is also one of my fav characters like ever he's so tragic and beautiful and do I relate to him and see him as a self insert a bit too much?? Who's to say. I also think this ship is so adaptable and amazing in so many different AUs and also explores and psyches of both characters amazingly blah blah blah I could go on for hours about this so I'll cut myself off now but I'm always down to gab about these characters, as a ship or just in general.

Jennifer/Needy from Jennifer's body: I don't have as much to say about them BUT their dynamic is so ajshsksksis childhood besties who grow to be very different people but still grow up to be attached at the hip is something I love very much. Also they way they're like obsessed with each other and lowkey want each other so bad but neither of them understand it so they just end up destroying each other instead???? Spectacular I'll take 14 more.

Billy/Steve from Stranger Things (+Tommy if ya nasty): This is another ship that's like beautiful and perfect to me I think they go together so well their tension in the show is crazy and they just look so good together??? I was a Billy devotee from the start and lemme tell y'all when season 3 hit the streets????? and Billy was getting physically and emotionally destroyed every single episdose???? Trust me I was feeling things. Also regarding Billy being canonically racist,,,I'm black and I kinda dgaf I think that was kinda a random choice by the creators, its not integral to the character and its easy to do away with in fic! Also Harringrove is in the running for my personal best ship names ever.

Billy/Stu from Scream: WAITER??? MORE REPRESSED GAYS CLINGING TO EACH OTHER FOR SURVIVAL IN A WORLD THAT DOESN'T UNDERSTAND THEM!!! I love how goofy and chaotic and dramatic and immature they are, ellos son toxicos but they need each other I think. Also the fact that an actual QUEER CODED THIS (gay director) theres so much subtext and little things between them so theres just a lot of explore.

For romantic tropes, I'll make this section a lil shorter because I'm already writing a novel here but I very much enjoy: Tragic/doomed/haunting the narrative characters, strong power dynamics, mutual obsession, obsessive/emotional villans, secret relationships, captive/captor, childhood friends to lovers, opposites attract, unrequited crushes/love, rebounds, and lastly whatever the FUCK Theon Greyjoy got going on.

Honorable mention ships: Eddie/Buck (911), Stiles/Lydia (Teen Wolf), Byler (ST), Phan (youtube RPF), Reylo (Star Wars), Stucky (MCU), Rick/Negan (TWD) Loras/Renly (GoT), Ryden (band RPF), Klaine (Glee), Ben/Maddie/Ren (Siren), Dan/Herbert (reanimator)

Thank you for this ask and sorry its so late bc I love talking about my blorbos!!!

[troped-fanfic-challenge]

About the rule: "Must include Characters from your specific chosen Fandom" - just wanting to clarify if this means that a writer with multiple entries/fics in response to different rounds must stick to the same chosen fandom for all of them? Or can the different fics each be from different fandoms? Thanks in advance!

Hello!

You may definitely choose different fandoms for each fic and/or round! You do not have to stick with the same one throughout the event. Write for what you are inspired by most!

[escespace]

Arthur: I'm not a morning person

Gwaine: You're not an afternoon person either.

Arthur: I'm a night owl

Merlin: You're a grumpy 24/7

[spiderscribe]

soundrod, roleswap, enemies to lovers, political alliance, happy ending

When the Quintessons invade Cybertron, famed killer Decepticon Hot Rod and compassionate Autobot Soundwave form a shaky, temporary truce so they can free everyone from the Loop. It’s up to them and their ragtag band of clowns enemies to get past the multiple murder attempts on each other and save the planet.

[fanwork-exchange-promos]

Multifandom: Just Married - A Marriage Trope Exchange

Posted by: justmarriedmod Just Married is a marriage-themed multifandom exchange for marriage tropes of all kinds: convenient, accidental, undercover, arranged, forced, and so on. Participants will write a complete fic of least 1500 words and receive a complete fic of at least 1500 words in return. Fanart is also accepted in this exchange, and the minimum requirement is clean lineart on unlined paper. Podfic requirements are a complete recording of 1500 words or 10 minutes in length. Matching will be done on fandom, relationship, medium, and marriage trope freeforms. Links: Dreamwidth Community | AO3 Collection | Tag Set 2024 Schedule Nominations: May 24 - May 31 Signups: June 01 - June 09 (now open!) Assignments out by: June 11 Creations Due: August 11 Works revealed: August 18 Creators revealed: August 25 Just Married is currently taking signups. We hope to see you at the wedding! comments via The Fandom Calendar https://ift.tt/ETv7A9o

[voiceoffenrisulfr]

Paws for Applause - Chapter Two 'Basenji'

𝐏𝐀𝐈𝐑𝐈𝐍𝐆𝐒 -> James "Bucky" Barnes x Original Nonbinary Character (Soldierbug)

𝐒𝐔𝐌𝐌𝐀𝐑𝐘 -> Mars and Bucky go on a road trip, and Bucky makes a new friend.

𝐖𝐎𝐑𝐃𝐂𝐎𝐔𝐍𝐓 -> 4555

𝐖𝐀𝐑𝐍𝐈𝐍𝐆𝐒 -> (T) Panic attacks, nightmares, PTSD.

𝐀/𝐍 -> Check it out below, or on AO3 here! Dividers by us! Cards at the end <3

<- Chapter One Chapter Three ->

Prompts used;

– “I’m Telling You, I’m Haunted.” – @anyfandomgoesbingo; - ‘Popsicle’ – @buckybarnesbingo – B049; - ‘Rain on the Roof of this Empty House’ – Bug’s First Bingo; - ‘Sticky Notes’ – @eclipsingbingo (Dark); - ‘Post-it Notes’, ‘Stream of Consciousness’ – Gen Prompt Bingo; - ‘Refusing Help’ – @hurtcomfort-bingo – C042; - ‘Real Men Hate Affection’ – @multifandom-flash (International Day of Families);

- ‘A Day off or Procrastination’ – @julybreakbingo (Mini); - ‘Watermelon’ – July Break Bingo (Summer); - ‘Always Tired or Way Too Energized’ – July Break Bingo (5x5); - ‘Cheer’ – July Break Bingo (6x6); - ‘Mild’ – July Break Bingo (7x7); - ‘Poinsettia’ – @seasonaldelightsbingo (Language of Flowers); - ‘Humiliation’ – @lgbtqbingo;

- ‘You Are Better Than You Think You Are’ – Multifandom-Flash (Compliment); - ‘Sorry I’m Late’ – Multifandom-Flash (Global Forgiveness Day & Apologies); - ‘Purple Prose’ – Multifandom-Flash (National Writing Day – Troping in the Literary Field!); - ‘Damaged Soul’ – Multifandom-Flash (Round 2 – 2031); - ‘Fugitives’ – Multifandom-Flash (Team); - ‘Dirty Dishes’ – Multifandom-Flash (Thanksgiving – 7026); - ‘Mango Lemon Margarita Mocktail’ – Multifandom-Flash (Pour Me a Bingo – Mocktails).

I woke coated in my own sweat, blankets tangled around my limbs suffocatingly. I’d attempted to sleep on the bed, but jerked awake almost immediately, my muscles had seized in fear, breath coming in sharp pants as terror threatened to overwhelm me.

I’d quickly given in, dragging a blanket with me to crawl under the table, my sweat-slick body shivering in the chill coming under the ill-fitting door. It was there that I’d spent the largely sleepless hours until dawn, eyes wide and afraid, locked on the front door fearfully.

When I blinked my eyes open to face the scratched underside of the table, my brow furrowed, gaze landing on a post-it above me.

Meeting with Mars @ 9am - Paws for Applause; Going to get a puppy!!!

I frowned in confusion, one finger reaching out to touch the note uncertainly.

This… This isn’t my handwriting.

There was a pang of shy anxiety, the feeling distant but notable. Um… I didn’t want you to forget.

You did this? There was a quiet, hesitant sound of affirmation, and I paused. … How?

I’m… Not sure. I just… Did? You were asleep… I’m sorry; did I do something wrong?

My heart ached at the uncertainty and fear in his voice, and I shook my head quickly, letting my hand drop with a soft smile. “No, you did great,” I soothed reassuringly, chuckling under my breath. “I appreciate it, truly. … Are you, uh… Excited?” I probed tentatively. It felt odd, talking to someone who may or may not exist in my own head – but I couldn’t deny the flood of joy that overwhelmed my nervous system at the question, bringing a broad grin to my face.

Yeah! I like dogs. I like cats too, but not as much, I think…

I couldn’t help but grin, comforted by this childlike excitement. “I think I’d quite like a cat one day,” I mused aloud, letting the quiet joy ease my frayed nerves of the night. “… What about you, Soldier?”

I… Maybe I’d appreciate a bird. Flight fascinated me.

Blinking in surprise, I cocked my head, sightless eyes still on the note overhead. “… Why?” I’d never asked him a direct question about himself, and I winced guiltily at the wave of uncertainly that flooded my veins. “You don’t have to-”

It… Seems like freedom. The ability to go anywhere in the world without restriction, to be out of reach with only an endless sky for company… He paused, humming thoughtfully, only the faintest hint of embarrassment undercutting his words. That sounds like a nice way to live.

That’s beautiful, the second murmured after a moment, his voice full of tender wonder.

“It is,” I agreed, a newfound respect for the screaming, flapping bundle of feathers I encountered the day before overcoming me at the sentiment. “I’ll try to make it happen for you one day.”

He made a quiet, joyful sound, bringing a smile to my face. I’d like that.

We arrived at the store with five minutes to spare, leaning back against the brickwork as I smoked a cigarette while I waited, foot tapping with anxiety.

9am came with sharp, nervous breaths and trembling hands. The mild morning was fading into midsummer heat – still cool compared to the Wakandan weather I was accustomed to, but it contributed nevertheless to my claustrophobia, feeling sweat form along my spine.

It was almost ten minutes later before a door to one side slammed shut, a harried-looking Mars leaning against in with a heavy sigh. “Sorry I’m late – honestly, I can’t seem to get my brain in gear when I finally get a day off, it’s like I just-” They cut themselves off as they considered me, wincing guiltily. “Shit. Are you okay?”

My breath was coming in ragged gasps as I quivered, back plastered to the brickwork, my fingernails desperately clawing at the cement to find some form of grounding purchase. “Crap… Bucky? It’s okay- I’m here. Fuck, I’m so sorry…” They glanced around, glaring at anyone who dared as much as look my way as they passed by. My humiliation increased, and they bit their lip, offering their hand to me. “Come on. I’ve got you – let me get you out of here.”

I was barely cognizant as they bundled me into the passenger seat of a small car, hands finding the dashboard to brace myself, sucking in air desperately. They climbed into the driver’s seat, watching me worriedly and murmuring soft reassurances as I began my slow return to reality.

By the time I looked up, my face was slick with tears, body quivering with effort, embarrassment stilling my tongue. “There now… It’s okay. I’m here. I’m so, so sorry I was late.”

I shook my head weakly, offering them a lukewarm smile. “It’s okay. I-I just… Even other people just walking by made me- I mean, I didn’t feel…”

“Safe?” they finished softly, clucking sympathetically when I nodded. “Yeah… I know what that’s like. But you’re safe with me, okay? I promise.”

Their eyes shone with fierce sincerity, and I found myself relaxing a little, feeling secured despite myself by all five-foot-something of the person before me.

“I trust you,” I murmured, reaching out to squeeze their hand uncertainly. They smiled as they squeezed back, then looked around us pointedly.

“Well, we’re already in the car, at least, so… I guess we should get on our way, huh?”

They chatted aimlessly as they drove, telling me more about their life before the States – though they skirted around a previous relationship with an infinitesimal wince, moving instead to their sister’s tree-planting initiative.

We’d been on the road for half an hour, their incessant warbling effectively staying my anxiety, when they cut themselves off with a thoughtful hum.

“Fancy a cold drink?” they offered, gesturing at a passing advertisement with a glance toward me. I hesitated, and they smiled softly. “We can sit outside, if you’d like.”

With a relieved sigh, I smiled back, nodding slowly. “That sounds good.” The sweat was beading along my hairline, and I exhaled heavily, running a hand through the shoulder-length tangle. Their eyes shifted to me once more, and my skin prickled nervously under the attention. “… What?”

Shaking their head quickly, they looked back to the road, the faintest of blushes spreading across their cheeks. “No- Nothing. I just… I like your hair. You- You have nice hair.”

I arched an eyebrow, considering their features in profile, distantly amused at their steadily increasing blush. “You have nice hair, too,” I replied at length, reaching out to tug gently on the short ringlets that made up their ponytail. They blushed harder, turning onto the gravel road without looking at me, seemingly speechless for a moment as I smirked.

This is nice.

It’s been a long time since we flirted with anyone.

It’s been a long time since we felt comfortable enough with anyone to flirt.

The realisation left me dumbfounded, still staring in disbelief as they parked the car. Glancing curiously at me, they bit their lip, picking anxiously at the skin around their thumb when they found my eyes still trailing their features. “I- You’re, uh… You’re staring a little. I mean, it- it’s fine, I just- I wanted to make sure there’s not, y’know, something on my face, or something, or-”

“No,” I interrupted softly, offering them a gentle, soothing smile when their eyes flicked to me once more, wide and uncertain. “No, there’s not- nothing like that. I, uh… It’s been a real long time since we… Since anybody was nice to me, just for the hell of it.”

They paused before turning to face me, considering me for a moment, head cocked. “That sounds like a lonely way to live,” they volunteered at length, and I nodded shortly. “Well, I’ll always be nice to you, so you’ve got that now, okay?”

Their face split into a broad grin as I nodded again, letting out a quiet, affectionate chuckle. “Okay.”

I waited, stood leant against the car with a cigarette hanging from my lip, foot tapping nervously as Mars’ absence grew longer. It was quieter here, and my fear less overwhelming – but that didn’t stop me from eyeing the door uncertainly, watching for any sign of trouble.

You should have gone with them.

They told me I could stay out here…

They’re so small, so sweet… Anything could happen to them.

Aren’t they more at risk with us than without? We’re not… Safe.

And if anyone were to recognise us…

I shook my head hard, passing a  thick stream of smoke from my nose. “Look, I just thought-”

My jaw snapped shut at the sight of my companion pushing their way through the door, a drink in each hand and a small bag hanging from their pinkie. The way their eyes lit up and they beamed eagerly at the sight of me waiting made my own lips turn up in a smile, chortling as they offered me a clumsy wave and yelped in panic, the drinks tipping ominously.

“Nothing happened. You saw nothing,” they insisted breezily, offering me my cup with a grin, and I snorted.

“Mhm, sure,” I agreed readily, taking a long pull on my straw before releasing it with a quiet groan. “God, that’s good,” I sighed, head falling back.” I never expected Seattle to get so damn hot.”

They chuckled and nodded, taking their own sip before replying. “This is a particularly brutal one,” they admitted. “You got unlucky. Not a fan of the heat?”

“Not as much as I’d like,” I replied softly, thinking, just for a moment, of the endless icy wastelands of Siberia – of cold so intense that each breath was agony on the lungs. I wanted to love days like this, with heat so strong that I could feel my skin burning and bronzing the moment the first rays of daylight fell upon me.

But I hadn’t had a sunburn in a long time, and I never acclimated to the heat after spending the better part of a century – and most of my transformation from regular soldier to international assassin – in one form of ice or another.

Even my biothermal processes couldn’t forget.

“I know what you mean,” they agreed thoughtfully, taking a drag of a violently yellow drink that smelled so sickly sweet that my nose wrinkled from three feet away. “I’m half-Egyptian; I should love the heat! But nope – I’m a much bigger fan of rain , thanks.” They delved into their bag once more and withdrew a pair of plastic-wrapped ice lollies, liquid already beginning to pool around the base. “Aw, crap. Probably should have got these out first, huh?”

They offered me one as I chuckled, and I watched as they tore away the clear packaging carelessly, sticky juice immediately running over the curve of their fingers and racing toward the delicate dip of their wrist. With a squeak of surprise from them, and a fond grin from me, they chased the errant liquid with a small, pointed, lemon-tinged tongue, lapping up the fleeing droplets with a practiced precision that made me unexplainably happy.

Mars met my gaze, blushing at the sight of my smile and amused, arched eyebrow, and I reached out to pet their arm affectionately. “I didn’t see  a thing,” I assured them with a chuckle, earning a laugh and an affectionate elbow to the ribs for my humour. “How do you have so much energy? It’s so early.”

They shrugged, assessing their popsicle for a moment, falling quiet and pensive. “I have ADHD and insomnia,” they offered eventually, pausing to draw the frozen treat slowly between their lips in an unconscious gesture that made the back of my neck sweat. “I’m always tired, and always energised. It can be a frustrating combination.”

I hummed sympathetically, nodding, eyes lowering to watch my popsicle to drip slowly into the dust by our feet. “Yeah… I’m not unaccustomed to a lack of sleep myself – though I don’t think I’ve felt energised in longer than I care to remember.”

With a wan smile, they squeezed my forearm softly when my gaze rose to theirs once more. “A fellow insomniac?”

My hand waggled. “Hypothetically? No. I… Have bad dreams.” My response was weak, and it felt a pale representation of what I experienced – terrifying flashes of blood and screaming, half-remembered scenes from a life that was barely my own. Their pitying gaze made me blush, my arm pulling from theirs to push a hand through my hair shyly. “I, uh… I guess I’m a damaged soul, huh?”

My chuckle and light-hearted comment fell flat, smile fading at the sincerity in their dark eyes. “No… I think you’re better than you think you are, James.”

Snorting, I shrugged, shaking my head. “No, I don’t think I am. I’m telling you; I’m haunted.”

I hated acknowledging this part of myself – hated giving this kind, gracious soul a reason to look at me with suspicion and wariness earlier than they found one of their own.

But I couldn’t let them begin to think positively of me – it would only end in disappointment.

They watched me silently, mahogany eyes locked on mine, probing and intense. “… That part, I believe,” they murmured softly, scrutinising every millimetre of my face attentively. “I… Definitely believe you’ve got a few ghosts who won’t give you peace.”

I held my head high for a moment before looking away, jaw clenched. “I… Used to be in Army,” I offered, quiet and uncertain, fingers curled into fists inside gloves that made no seasonal sense. “I saw some things – and did some things – that I’ll… They’ll never… I’ll never be able to forget it. I’m not… A good person, Mars. That period of my life left me with a lot of damage, in every sense. You’d be smart to keep your distance from me,” I finished quietly, my gaze trained stiffly on the ground.

I hate this.

I know. But… They need to know. It’s better they run fast, and they run far, and the sooner that happens, the better it is for everyone.

I felt the third hum in agreement, and finally looked back to Mars. They seemed thoroughly unphased, dragging the remnants of their popsicle off the stick with their teeth and sucking thoughtfully on the ice before responding. “My mum always said I have no common sense.” They shrugged and grinned, lips tinged with that vibrantly yellow drink. “Look – if you don’t like me, or don’t want my company, or whatever, then that’s fine; I know I can be a little too much for some people. You can just tell me – I’m an adult, I can handle it. But if you think you’re doing some… Dumb attempt at chivalry? Then get over it, drink your lemonade, and let’s go find you a dog.”

They straightened up, leaning to drop their cup in a trashcan, while I simply gawked in silence at their vehemence. “I…”

“Yes?” they hummed, turning to set that penetrating gaze on me once more.

I swallowed and looked away, tossing my own trash into the can as a gentle heat rose in my cheeks.

“I guess we should go, then.”

We proceeded in a companionable silence, save the odd comment from Mars when they expressed enthusiasm about a particularly noteworthy tree, or went off on a seemingly spontaneous monologue without a clear cause, leaving me to smile fondly and wonder once more at the inner workings of their peculiar, intoxicating mind.

By the time we pulled up to a low brick building, my cheeks ached from laughing, any anxiety I felt about the process before me stripped away without my awareness by my companion. But my hands began to shake once more as I slid from the car, the far-off, muffled sound of barking painfully clear with my heightened senses.

“You doing okay?” Mars pressed softly, glancing at my trembling fingers with a sympathetic smile. I nodded silently, but when I didn’t move, they extended a hand to me – a silent, unforced offer of support, should I need it.

I barely hesitated before my fingers wrapped with theirs, only my thin glove acting as a barrier between metal and flesh. Distantly, I worried they’d notice the hard, cool material of the prosthetic – but their expression showed no change as they squeezed my hand gently before leading me forward.

I stood silently as they spoke to the desk clerk, lost in an overwhelmed haze, my gaze flicking between the large number of posters behind the desk, a heavy door off to one side, and a constantly rotating slideshow of tips for dog ownership – trying and failing to note everything of importance all at once. Mars tugged gently on my fingers, startling me from my panic and I looked down at them in surprise as they gestured over their shoulder. “I explained what you’re looking for, and they have a suggestion – they’re gonna bring him out to meet us, okay? So we’re just gonna take a seat here for a minute while they grab him.” I nodded again, tongue seeming thick and clumsy, and let them guide me across to the hard plastic chairs, their hand still firm in mine. “You okay?” they murmured under their breath, shooting me a brief glance as I nodded once more.

“It’s… A lot,” I acknowledged eventually, free hand gesturing toward the array of information on display. “How am I supposed to know it all?”

“Oh, you’re definitely not,” they snorted. “Even out of the things that actually relevant to you… About ninety percent will be ‘don’t feed your dog this’ and ‘don’t feed your dog that’. But, you know… Google exists, and you’ll retain some of the more common stuff over time. Basically, just don’t deliberately feed him anything you don’t know he can eat, and you’ll be fine.” They offered me a reassuring grin, and I returned a soft smile, comforted by their presence.

The second the door opened, I was smitten.

The gangly tan legs were flecked with dark stripes, leading endlessly up to a stocky body and enormous head, a tongue the size of my palm lolling between two rows of pristine teeth. A white blaze trailed from throat to chest before vanishing beneath him, intersected only by the lime-green strap of his harness. To this there was attached a short leash, the person on the other end straining to contain the furry bulldozer that seemed hellbent on reaching us, brown eyes fixed intently on my face as his thick tail lashed with an audible, dull thud against the attendant’s leg. The dark smear of his muzzle tipped up, and they winced pre-emptively as the maw grew wider. The bark didn’t bother me, much to my surprise, despite the booming sound making my oversensitive ears ring and my bones shake. But I could only laugh, leaning forward in my seat, bubbles of joy building in my

chest, captivated by those hyper-focused eyes still locked on mine with a single-minded determination and the non-silent jaws parted in a goofy grin. “He’s incredible,” I whispered, inching as near as I could without falling to my knees.

“Want him to come a bit closer?” Mars prompted, and I nodded wordlessly, barely conscious of them indicating for the attendant to approach.

They tried to take a step forward, but the slavering beast on the other end of the braided nylon had other ideas. He lunged toward us, straining and hauling against the leash, dragging the unwilling attendant along with him.

My hands were quickly filled with short fur and muscles trembling with delight, a broad tongue passing over my face in long, eager strokes. Mars moved beside me, concern creasing their features, but they paused when the giggles building in my chest bubbled between my lips, pressed against the colossal head clutched against me. “He’s perfect,” I breathed, glove-coated metal fingers curled against the brindle coat possessively.

“His name is Zeus,” the attendant offered, reaching to tousle the dog’s ears with a bemused, fond expression. I grinned up at them, and they smiled back. “He’s a good boy. He’s just… Too strong, for a lot of folks. Myself included,” they added, snorting.

“I can really take him home?” I clarified, landing heavily on my backside as I let the wriggling hound push me over.

“If you want to,” Mars confirmed, their own fingertips brushing over the dog’s head. I nodded hard, holding him to me with something akin to desperation, earning a chuckle and an affectionate tip of their head. “Then let’s sign some papers, hm?”

I let myself and my new housemate into my apartment, the mastiff mix barrelling through the space with reckless abandon. His feet slid on the laminate wood, claws skittering in a comical, delightful din, punctuated by the intermittent snorts and sniffs as he investigated this novel environment.

Mars stood beside me in the open doorway as we hesitated in unison, silence stretching between us to the backing track of Zeus’ exploration and the heavy rain outside.

“… I should probably-”

“… I don’t suppose you’d like to-”

Our eyes cut to one another, and we grinned simultaneously, shy and uncertain. With a deep breath and an uncomfortable rub of the back of my neck, I tried again. “Would you like to… Come in? Have a cup of coffee, or something?” I offered, feeling a timid blush creeping up my throat. With an equally shy flush, they nodded, offering me a sheepish smile when they passed me at my indication.

It wasn’t until they were further into the apartment that I winced and looked around myself, struck by how sparse the space was when seeing it while considering the eyes of another. I really did own very little – the stained, second-hand mattress sitting bare on the frame was the only sign of life aside from a half-empty box of personal effects on the dusty table.

That, and the copious dog-related items.

His blanket and bed were set up beside my own, despite my sheets still twisted and curled in on themselves in my sanctuary under the table. His bowls sat in one corner in their stand, his nose buried in the water bowl as he gulped and lapped noisily, slobber dripping onto the mat below and eliciting a chuckle from us both. There were leashes and bags and food on the counter of the kitchen in the corner, and a pile of soft toys and balls beside the sofa that was here when I moved in, the faux leather cracked and faded.

I glanced at them worriedly, checking for their reaction. The flicker of surprise was brief but definite, and I felt shame crawl up my spine, even as their expression settled into something more neutral. I cleared my throat, uncomfortable even as they turned their non-judgemental gaze to me. “Uh… Take a seat anywhere you’d like, I guess. I won’t be a minute.” With a nod, they moved to the beaten sofa, face splitting into a broad grin as Zeus dropped his heavy, still-dripping head in their lap, new tags gleaming around his throat.

He’d been perfectly behaved in the car, lying down in the backseat without complaint, large nose turned toward the warm air flowing through the open window and relishing the scents. But any sense of calm evaporated once more when we arrived at the parking lot beside Paws for Applause and freed him from the harness that secured him for the drive. The collar he wore, courtesy of the shelter, had all but choked him on the short walk to the car, and now it groaned and complained under the strain as he dragged desperately at the end of leash, wheezing with desire to consume the endless new aromas washing over him.

We’d already agreed on his need for a harness as we drove, and watching him struggle to breathe against my immovable grip on the leash only solidified the point. Mars motioned for me to let him run free once we entered the store, and he needed no further encouragement to explore the space, his coal-smeared muzzle stuffed everywhere he could reach. My eyes flicked worriedly to the store owner beside me, but they simply laughed, shaking their head fondly as the dog found a pig ear to chew on and settled contentedly on the floor.

His new lime-green harness was in the bag clutched in my hand- along with several other things he had dragged from shelves and I hadn’t the heart to deny him. I eyed the dirty dishes in the sink with a curl of my lip, dropping my gloves beside the bag to wash my only two mugs as the kettle boiled.

The clouds that had begun to gather since we left the store finally broke, and I leaned over the sink to open the window, deeply breathing the fresh air. The raindrops echoed on the roof of the empty house, and I

closed my eyes for just a moment, letting the feeling of quiet wash over me, hands stilling in their cleaning.

“James?”

The soft voice startled me, lids snapping open, and I jerked back, ashamed, angry at myself for having been caught to vulnerable. “Yes?”

“Are you okay?” They spoke gently, but their eyes assessed every inch of my face, intense and probing.

“Fine,” I replied stiffly, reaching past them to snag the tattered towel on the counter.

Too late, I realised my mistake, light catching on metal as I began to draw back. Their gaze followed the flicker, widening infinitesimally at the sight of the prosthetic before snapping back to my own, inquisitive and curious in an entirely new way. “I-”

“We’re out of coffee,” I interrupted sharply, placing the clean mug on the counter and sliding my hands into my pockets nonchalantly. “So, I guess you should be going. Thanks again.”

They blinked owlishly, startled, and I winced internally at the ripple of hurt that passed briefly over their features. “I… Y-yeah. Okay…”

My steps were directly behind their own as they headed to the door, pausing briefly to pet the dog and croon sweet, soft nothings to him, hesitating again only when they stood at the threshold, their brow furrowed in confusion. “Well… If you need anything, you-”

“We’ll be fine. We’ve got it from here.”

They flinched at my cold, dismissive tone, and guilt squeezed my chest, but I simply gazed at them impassively as they nodded once more. “Yeah. Okay.”

“Goodbye, Mars.”

“Bye, Bucky.”

I closed the door behind them with a growing, unplaceable sense of

unease, moving to sit on the sofa and staring down at my fingers until they were headbutted violently by my wagging companion. Smiling weakly, I trailed my hand over his neck. “Not sure what it is that’s got me so nervous, bud. All they said was ‘bye, Bu-’”

My blood ran cold as realisation hit, gaze moving to the door in fear and horror.

They know who we are.

[queerquaintrelle]

I love it when characters are so messed up they cannot even comprehend their own messed up-ness. Bonus points if they’re charismatic, or blonde and pretty. I love the horrors of trauma as a tool to unpack trauma. Also more bonus points if they’d be absolutely unforgivable irl and would get punched by me irl but are fiction so I’m condoning all their behaviour.