#wanting less romance and ESPECIALLY sex in movie is bad. THAT IS A BAD WANT TO HAVE.

[skullmoss]

people who say the issue with romance and sex in film is "it's shallow, it's unearned, when there's a man and a woman on screen they're expected to get together" the issue is NOT romance and sex in film and media

the problem you're looking at is patriarchal heteronormativity

hth

[jazzthatonewriterchick]

A First Time for Everything (18+ Short Fic)

Pairing: Poly Pro!KirishimaBakugouMina x Fem!Reader

Synopsis: You and your girlfriend Mina have been dating for three amazing years. You couldn’t ask for a better partner–someone who is supportive, loving, and willing to explore new things with you…including in the bedroom. So, after a UA High 5-year reunion when you run into THE Katsuki Bakugou and Eijrou Kirishima, two of the top pros in the game and your old crushes, you don’t expect those past butterflies to come rushing back. And when you find out Mina, Kiri, and Bakugou feel the same, you decide to embark on the journey of experiencing your first-ever foursome and possible polyamorous romance.

Warnings: Smutty Smut, 18+ (MINORS GO AWAY), Unprotected PIV Sex (WRAP IT BEFORE YOU TAP IT), Adult!KiriBakuMina (both are in their late 20s), Alcohol Consumption, Consensual, FOURSOOOME, Poly Romance, Daddy Kink, Deepthroating/Facefucking, Cunnilingus, Spanking, Hair Pulling, Clit Stimulation, Choking, Multiple Positions, Praise Kink, Light Degradation, Couch Sex, Creampies, Facials, Aftercare 

Disclaimer: I own none of the characters mentioned in this fic. However, as this is my writing, I do not give permission for my work to be reposted on any other sites that are not from my own accounts. Thank you!

Writer’s Note: Hiiiiiiii :) I’m back with yet ANOTHER smutty-ass poly short MHA fic cuz I’m a smutty-ass person. This fic is only seven chapters or so cuz I didn’t feel like writing all that lol. Anyhow, I hope y’all enjoy! I appreciate any comments or criticism so feel free to drop any. Love y’all! -Jazz 💋💋💋

CHAPTERS: ONE. TWO. THREE. FOUR.

AO3 Link HERE!

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CHAPTER ONE

You’d never felt more nervous than you do now standing at the threshold of Dynamight and Red Riot’s ridiculously huge and beautiful home, your hand wrapped tightly in your girlfriend’s.

The two top pro heroes’ home makes your and your partner Mina’s condo look like shit. Your eyes roam over the glass windows and balconies on the upper floors; the large pool and two large cabanas on the patio covered by the tarp to protect from the rain; the personal tennis and basketball courts you can see from your spot at the steps, facing the door. It is truly the epitome of wealth.

It also reminds you that you’re about to enter the home of two pros who you’ve also been crushing on since they hit the scene. It’s a stupid, schoolgirl crush, like the ones you have on celebrities and dreamy characters in books and TV shows. It’s one your girlfriend teases you about often, especially since she knows them so well.

Mina, with her gorgeous, golden eyes and supportive smile, glances at you as you stand together under the overcast clouds in the warm summer night. “Ready?” she asks gently. “We should go inside now before the storm starts. Kiri said we’re free to stay to wait it out later if we want.”

You haven’t even started the night yet and yet the talk of a “later” makes you flush in your light cardigan and sundress that feel soft against your bare thighs and legs. Mina had helped you pick out the outfit and you paired it with some nice simple flats. Your makeup is on the softer side, not wanting to go dramatic for a simple home-cooked dinner and movie.

Mina is much different. She went for a turquoise mini dress that hugs her toned body and shows off her legs, right down to her painted toes peeking out of her open-toed sandals. She looks damn good and you made that known to her during the car ride over with your hand on her thigh and your lips on hers.

The day leading up to tonight wasn’t as bad, with so many tasks and duties distracting you enough to not think about it. But with everything now coming to fruition, you’re less than ready, even though you had agreed to it with enthusiasm. Mina, noticing that you haven’t answered, drops your hand and twists you around. “You’ve got that look on your face,” she comments. You blink at her, confused. “What look?”

“That look you get when you’re deep in thought,” she replies, her tone firm. “Talk to me, babe. What’s wrong? Do you not wanna do this? Because we can turn around right now and–”

“No!” you immediately reply in a frantic snap. She blinks at you, surprised. You sigh deeply, feeling bad for acting like this. After all, you and she are really here because of you. For the past month since that UA High reunion, you and Mina have embarked on a very interesting and very intoxicating voyage that led right to Dynamight and Red Riot.

The reunion was sometime in late April and every person who graduated from UA was in attendance, including Class A-1. Mina took you as her date to celebrate your two-year relationship and to introduce you to old friends and teachers. You had seen some people you were excepting to come, but what you didn’t expect to see at all was Katsuki Bakugou and Ejirou Kirishima.

You had literally bumped into Bakugou while getting yourself a glass of punch from the snack table after an hour of dancing with Mina and the A-1 girls to the music that just seemed to get better and better with every transition. You didn’t quite see where you were going and bumped right into hard muscle and flesh.

“Oh, my God, I’m so sorry!” you immediately apologized. “I didn’t even see…” Your words died in your throat as soon as you looked up into the vermillion eyes and scowl of Bakugou who looked dapper in his burgundy button-down, suit jacket, and tailored pants. He was tall with piercings in his eyebrow and ear and his unruly blonde hair was styled into an undercut that fit him well.

“…you,” you finished, the word coming out of your lips like an exhale.

Bakugou didn’t say anything. He just continued to fix you with that look, similar to that of the old days. You expected him to start yelling at you and call you a dumbass as Mina said he usually did with people he thought were extras back when they were teens, and you mentally braced yourself for the public humiliation of knocking into Dynamight, pro hero number two.

But instead, Bakugou’s face broke as he began to laugh, throwing his head back. “Aw, man!” he cackled. “You should’ve seen your face! You looked like you were gonna piss yourself!” He doubled over, still laughing hysterically.

You stood there, not sure what to do or say. “Katsuki!” someone yelled from behind you. The voice was deep and raspy, similar to Bakugou’s but a bit higher and very familiar to you. You turned to see none other than Ejirou Kirishima in all of his big broadness. He wore a black V-neck that stretched over his broad chest and big pecs that should’ve been illegal, dress slacks, and a burgundy jacket that matched Bakugou’s a little too well.

As he got closer, you mapped out his features: his hair was long, pulled into a low bun; he had his own piercings as well, including in both ears, his eyebrow, and his nipples that you could clearly see through the thin fabric of his shirt; and he was rocking black stubble on his chin and upper lip that resembled a goatee that looked absolutely, ridiculously sexy on him. “Is he bothering you, miss?” he asked gently. “Sorry. He’s a little tipsy.”

You were at a loss for words, too shook to speak. Your heart hammered against your chest, as fast as a hummingbird’s wings. Desperately, you searched for words, but you were luckily saved by your girlfriend. “Kiri!” Mina shouted from behind Katsuki as she raced off the dance floor. “Katsuki!”

Kiri’s crimson eyes widened at the sight of his old friend. “Mina Ashido!” he hollered. “Fuck, girl, it’s been forever!” He swooped in to embrace her, taking her right off the ground. She squealed, wrapping her arms and legs around him before he put her down. “How have you been?” he asked happily. “Pro work treating you well? Fuck, you look amazing! You been growing your hair out?”

“Oi, shitty-hair,” Bakugou grumbled, nudging Kiri hard with his elbow. “Relax with the third degree, huh? You just ran into the girl.” He smirked down at her. “What’s up, shorty? You gonna give me a hug or what?”

Mina giggled and swooped in for a hug, earning a squeeze from Bakugou and his impressive arms. You were surprised at the spark of jealousy you felt seeing your pretty girlfriend get hugged by the two equally pretty men, wanting to feel their arms around you too. “Hey, you guys met Y/N, my girlfriend?” Mina asked once she moved away from Bakugou. She took your hand and brought you closer to the duo, smiling proudly.

“Oh, so this is her?” Kiri asked, grinning down at you. “It’s so nice to meet you! We’ve seen you a lot on Mina’s IG.” He stuck his hand out and you shook it, noticing how much bigger and rougher it was.

Bakugou stuck his hand out too, but you eyed it warily. “Do you really deserve a handshake after laughing at me?” you asked, and he raised a brow at your quip. Mina looked between you two, confused. “Wait, huh?”

As Kiri laughed, you smirked. “Long story.”

“Chill,” Bakugou sighed. “It was a joke. And it was kinda funny.” He stuck out his hand to you once more, smiling. “Come on. Truce?” You stared him down for a while until, finally, you gave in and shook his hand. “Katsuki. Nice to meet you.” He gave you a dazzling smile that nearly left you without your sarcastic front for a moment.

Mina let out a big sigh, shaking her head up at the guys. “Can’t believe the second and forth most popular pros decided to show up for us extras.”

“Hey, the number one is here too,” Kiri replied, referring to Deku. “By the way, congrats on your spot at number seven.” Mina grinned widely at the mention of her accomplishment. “Thanks! It was hard, but I’m happy. But I’m aiming for number six next year. Charge Bolt better watch his fucking back!”

“You guys wanna sit with us?” Kiri nodded at an empty table nearby, claimed by their jackets. “We just got here, so we were just making rounds until we ran this one.” He smiled apologetically at you, filling your stomach with butterflies. “Sorry you had to fall victim to Katsuki’s pregame.” Bakugou rolled his crimson eyes.

“Sure!” Mina answered before turning to you. “Is that okay with you, babe?” You could only muster a nod, too afraid to open your mouth and say something embarrassing. You could hardly believe it when Kiri and Bakugou walked you over to their table where a plate of snacks sits–cheese cubes, crackers and salami, fruit, and pastries. Kiri told you and Mina they were up for grabs as he and Bakugou sat down across from you.

“So what’s been up, stranger?” he asked, grinning at Mina. He sat back against his chair, slinging an arm over Bakugou’s seat. “Sorry it’s been so long since we’ve talked. With trying to keep crime off the streets, it’s been–”

“Hey.” Mina’s tone was firm, but her smile was kind. “No apologies. Life happens and besides, we’re all here now.” She put a hand over Kiri’s and grinned at Bakugou. “Just like old times.” Bakugou smirked at her and you envisioned them all as teens in high school, just like this.

“And we’re finally meeting you too,” Kiri said, giving you a sweet smile. “You pick ‘em well, Mina.” The compliment made you flush under the lights. “Well, she picked me, really,” Mina giggled, nudging you with her knee. “It’s hard to find people that aren’t trying to just fuck a pro in this world. Wanna know how we met?”

She began to tell the story of how you met at a speed-dating event that your friends forced you to attend after a dead-end relationship ended months into dating. Mina was there to meet someone after being tired of hookups or people wanting to date her just for the money or fame aspects. Out of all the dates you had, you clicked with Mina the most, regardless of her status, and picked her to give your number after the event ended. After going home, her eyes, like sunken treasure, and pink curls haunted your dreams.

After the story finished, Kiri asked what you did for work and you were happy to respond, going into detail for both him and Bakugou. “I love what I do,” you said. “And it pays well.”

“How’s it feel to be dating a pro hero, huh?” Kiri then asked, smiling playfully at you. You were happy to answer that too. “Amazing,” you cooed, holding Mina’s hand in yours and gazing into her eyes. “It’s been two years and I still feel like I’m getting to know her every single day.” Mina gave you a dazzling smile. “The feeling’s mutual.”

While Kiri audibly “aww”ed at you, Bakugou clicked his tongue against his mouth, rolling his eyes. “You guys are disgusting,” he grumbled before taking a sip of punch that may or may not be spiked with something.

“So what about you?” you asked, more to play with him than actually know. Bakugou glared at you for even asking. “Anybody have you wrapped around your finger? Or you, Eji?” Kiri glanced at Bakugou and a blush coated his cheeks. “Uh, you could say that…”

He glanced again at Bakugou who scowled back at him but it isn’t mean or cold. If anything, it was affectionate. Slowly, the puzzle pieces began to fit together. Wait,” you gasped softly. “Are you two dating?” The guys silently looked at you, neither saying yes nor no. “Seriously?!” you whispered, mouth agape. “I thought those were just rumors!”

For a while, there had been rumors of Dyanmight and Red Riot being more than just coworkers or friends.

“Nope,” Kiri replied, validating your suspicions. “It’s the real deal, but we’ve been keeping it under wraps since the damn paparazzi will make a story out of our dating lives than what we do as heroes.” Bakugou huffed at the mention of them. “Fuckin’ losers.”

You leaned in towards Mina. “Did you know?” you whispered in her ear. She leaned in, nearly knocking your forehead with hers. “Yeah, but they swore me to secrecy. They’d been dating since high school on and off ‘cause of Bakugou’s emotional issues.” She turns to her friends, smiling as Kiri tells Bakugou a joke and he tries not to laugh. “But I guess they’ve gotten stronger.”

You leaned away from Mina, clearing your throat. “So are you guys here together together or…?”

“Nah, just as friends,” Kiri replied. “Which we’re trusting you to keep a secret. Can we make sure you don’t go flapping your gums to some trashy tabloid?” He gave you a mock-serious stare that made your heart knock a little faster against your chest, especially combined with Bakugou’s intense glare.

Luckily for you, the alcohol was working its magic and you leaned in with a smile. “Boys, your secret is safe with me,” you slyly said, crossing your heart. “So.” You curled your fist under your skin, smiling at the attractive pro couple sitting across from you. “What’s been up with you pros?”

The reunion lasted for another hour, most of it spent with Kiri and Bakugou laughing, talking, and trying to get Bakugou to dance. When the night ended, you felt like you knew the couple well and felt yourself feeling sad without them as they walked you and Mina outside the school.

As Mina started the car with her keys, Kiri gave each of you a hug. You felt safe and warm in his muscular arms, those butterflies becoming annoying as he squeezed you to his hard chest. “You girls stay safe, alright?” he said. “We’ll follow you home if you want.”

You giggled as Mina rolled her eyes playfully. “Always the protective one.” Kiri shrugged, still looking concerned for you–it was cute. “Hey, what can I say? Crime is lurking around every corner.”

“Stop killing my buzz, shitty hair!” Bakugou growled after he started his sportscar. Mina laughed as she walked to the car, ready to go home and sleep. Before you could follow her, Bakugou grabbed your hand. Your eyes glanced at his hand in yours before looking into those eyes like rubies. “Mina can give you our numbers. You’re gonna call, right?”

Though his tone sounded rough, which you realized was just his natural voice, you weren’t intimidated at all. He sounded hopeful and his eyes almost held a plea in them that you couldn’t refuse. “Y-Yeah,” you stuttered out, surprised you could even speak.

Bakugou nodded once, looking pleased by that, before Kiri butted in and pressed an unexpected kiss to your cheek. “It was nice meeting you, Y/N,” he whispered, his peppermint-fresh breath fanning in your face. “We hope to see you again soon.”

And you hoped that too. God, did you hope that with all your being!

Mina seemed to want that too because in the weeks after the reunion, the four of you were talking nonstop in the group chat made for you, meeting up on lunch breaks, and going out for day and night activities. It was the most fun you’d had with other people besides Mina and after a while, in your stupid brain that seemed to love to torture you with your girlish fantasies, started to think of your activities as dates.

However, your feelings for Kiri and Bakugou transformed into something more intimate and sensual, not quite a schoolgirl crush anymore, when you all went out for drinks one Friday night after your shift ended. Kiri and Bakugou had picked you up at your office while Mina met you there later after her patrols ended.

You had been there for two hours when the drinks started hitting and everything seemed warmer and bubblier, and Bakugou’s story about his and Kiri’s nightclub romp with an obsessed fan that much funnier. “No way!” Mina shouted while you giggled uncontrollably.

“I’m telling you it happened,” Bakugou grinned as Kiri took a sip of his beer. “She fucking threw herself at Kiri and me butt naked and proclaimed her undying love to us.” He shivered at the memory. “That’s the last time we tried anything new, like that damn nightclub.”

“Aw, come on, Katsuki,” Mina cooed, sipping her third cocktail of the night. “Trying new things is good! Y/N and I do it all the time: new restaurants, new activities, new toys–” She covered her mouth immediately and you froze, your drink at your lips. “That slipped out,” she said apologetically to you.

You could’ve hidden in embarrassment at your tipsy girlfriend’s big mouth. Kiri and Bakugou stared you two down, eyes wide. “Wait, wait,” Kiri said with a guffaw, “now you have to finish that thought. What do you mean ‘toys’?”

“What do you think she means, dumbass?” Bakugou snickered. “Sex toys.” Kiri raised his pierced brow, surprised by delighted by your and Mina’s secret. “You two are freaky like that?”

“Sex toys aren’t even that freaky!” you laughed, the alcohol influencing your looseness. “And yes, we like to indulge in new things from time to time to spice up our sex life.” “Like any loving, long-term couple would.”

Kiri and Bakugou shared an unreadable look. “Like what?” Bakugou grumbled. “Name ‘em.”

Mina looked at you for permission and you nodded, a light, tipsy giggle on your lips. She hummed to herself, counting them off on her fingers. “We’ve done shibari, a bit of dabbling in BDSM, handcuffs, roleplay…” She glanced at you thoughtfully. “We forgetting something?”

“We’ve done all that too,” Kiri snickered. “Katsuki is fond of handcuffs.” Bakugou growled while you began thinking of him handcuffed to Kiri’s headboard, body on full display. “So what’s something you two haven’t tried yet that you’d want to in the bedroom?” he asked, glancing at you. “We’ll start with you.”

Then all eyes were on you, anticipating your answer. You flushed under their gazes and the heat of the lights above, suddenly regretting drinking the cocktails. “Um…” You stirred your straw around your glass, avoiding their eyes. “I’ve always wanted to have a foursome with another couple.”

“Really?” Kiri asked, sounding shocked. “Even with you being possessive, Mina?” Mina giggled. “Anything my baby wants, she gets.” Her pet name made you flush. “Plus I’ve always wanted to try it too. I’ll try anything once.”

“Same here,” Kiri replied, and Bakugou hummed in agreement.

“But we could never find any good couples to do that with,” Mina continued. “People are fuckin’ weird, especially to pros. Yeah, we’re celebs in a way, but we’re people too. You don’t have to constantly flaunt that you had sex with one.”

You nodded because yes, it’s been hard to really put your fantasy into action ever since you let Mina in on it. “So why a foursome, cutie?” Kiri asked, and you flicked your eyes up to him finally.

You wish you didn’t. His and Bakugou’s vermillion eyes on you felt too personal. Too intimate. You crossed your arms over your chest, trying to feel secure. “I don’t know.” Bakugou grunted, shaking his head. “That ain’t an answer.”

You sighed, realizing they wouldn’t let up until you gave them an honest, stripped answer. So, with a sip of your cocktail, you gave it to them: “Mina and I have been together for two years. When we met, we’ve always been adventurous and willing to try new things with each other to excite our sex life. I figured maybe being with another couple would be fun to experience together and maybe make our relationship stronger, I guess.”

After you finished, you peered at Kiri and Bakugou through your lashes, smirking. “Was that an answer?” you boldly ask. They didn’t answer you, but those hot gazes stayed on their faces.

You shifted in your seat, feeling warm–and not from the alcohol. “As pros, I’m sure you’ve had your fair share of rendezvous together, right?” you asked, your voice coming out breathless. Kiri shook his head, answering for Bakugou. “No?” you asked, shocked.

“We’re definitely not against it,” he explained. “It’s just not something we’ve tried before. Can’t say it doesn’t sound hot though.” He grinned toothily at you and it filled your body with butterflies.

He leaned back in his seat, exposing the stretch of his muscles in his tight, white tee. “Only problem is we’re both possessive, so if we have sex with other people, it has to be together.” He looked between you and Mina, eyes hooded. You passed it off as the alcohol’s influence. “And the partners we manage to rendezvous with have to be ours entirely. Feels better that way, in my opinion.”

Bakugou was fixing you with the same gaze, his eyes never breaking from either you nor Mina. “Agreed,” he softly growled.

A week after that conversation, you knew you were attracted to them. There was no denying it or keeping it from Mina any longer. So, one Saturday afternoon, you decided to go on a walk with Mina in your local park.

Hand in hand and away from the joggers, dogwalkers, and school kids out for the weekend, you got up the nerve to tell her your damning secret. “I have to tell you something,” you nervously began, “and I’m only telling you because I love you and I know that communication is key in healthy relationships.”

Mina stopped walking and stared at you, trying to hide her worry. “Okay.”

Under the blooming trees in the late-spring breeze, you allowed yourself to come clean despite the nervous pricks at your skin. You inhaled deeply and exhaled, “I’m feeling some type of way for Kiri and Bakugou.”

Mina blinked at you, never responding. “Not in a bad way!” you rushed to explain. “I like them a lot, but…just in a friendly way.”

Once again, she wordlessly blinked at you and you groaned, frustrated. “Fuck, I’m attracted to them! I don’t know how it happened, but every time we’re together, I just feel hot all over and I can’t focus on anything but them. And, of course, I’m attracted to you too, but now it’s like I’m attracted to all three of you. …Am I making sense?”

You stopped your word vomit momentarily to look at your girlfriend, screaming internally for a response. Finally, after staring you down, she replied. “Yes, and I feel the same way.” Now it was your turn to blink at her, shocked. “Y-You do?” you stuttered softly.

Mina toyed with the stray string on her oversized yellow sweater, shy. “I didn’t tell you this before,” she admitted, “but Kiri, Baku, and I had an FWB thing back in high school for a short time. It only lasted for a semester because we decided we worked better as friends, but…” She sighed, looking conflicted. “My crush on them never faded and I guess seeing them again only made it flare back up. I didn’t wanna tell you because it felt like I was cheating on you in some way.”

You swear you could’ve kissed her right there. Relief flooded through you like the cool spring breeze did in your lungs. “Me too,” you confessed. “I felt so bad that I felt this way about other people, let alone a couple.”

Mina’s shoulders dropped in relief and she reached for your hand, squeezing it. “I’m so glad we were able to talk about this,” you sighed happily. “Which brings me to my next topic…” You felt those nervous pricks again, that flip in your stomach nearly making you not say it. “Uh…you know how you’ve always wanted a foursome, but we could never find the right couple to do it with?”

Mina quirks an eyebrow. “Yeah…”

You flushed, biting your lower lip. “Um…w-well…I’m starting to think that maybe Kiri and Katsuki are the right couple.”

Realization cleared in your girlfriend’s gold eyes. “Y/N, are you saying you’d want to have a foursome with my best friends?” she asked lowly. You stared down at your shoes, waiting for her to refuse and break up with you. “Because if so, I’d happily go along with it.”

You stared back up at her, shook. “Wait, seriously?”

Mina laughed, the sound startling. “Shit, yeah!” she shouted cheerfully. “When I talk on the phone with the guys, you should hear the way they talk about you. And when we’re out, the looks they give you aren’t exactly subtle or friendly.”

She smirked as you flushed over her words. “I’ve been feeling this way for a while too, but I wanted to make sure you got to know them first before we really talked about it, y’know?”

You could’ve done more than kiss her at that moment. You could’ve fucked her right there in the park. “Babe…” Joy filled you, making you giggle deliriously. “I can’t believe this is real.”

“Believe it, baby,” Mina hummed, closing the gap between you both with a peck on your lips. “We can talk about it more, but would you want me to call the guys and suggest it to them? Though something tells me they’d be down for it anyway.” Her hands go for your hips, holding you close. “They wouldn’t know how good they got it, fucking a pretty girl at the same time.”

Heat pooled between your thighs at her dirty words and you wrapped your arms around her. “You mean two pretty girls at the same time,” you cooed. “Thank you, Mina, for this.”

She smiled at you, nudging your nose with hers. “Thank me when we get a yes.”

And a very enthusiastic and quick yes from both the guys is what you got. That week, you and Mina were going over boundaries and kinks with Kiri and Bakugou while out for coffee, the conversation barely sexual and serious. You wouldn’t have expected to have gotten turned on over a latte while Kiri and Bakugou listened intently to all your likes and dislikes, your ins and outs, as if committing them all to memory.

They had decided to invite you and Mina over for a date night before your fantasy took place. Bakugou demanded he cook while Kiri took care of the cleaning and picking the movies. It was a sweet gesture, especially given the context of the date night.

That is how you find yourself here now, facing your own fantasy head-on and feeling horrible for making Mina worry so much. “I’m sorry, Mina,” you sigh apologetically. “I guess I’m just a little nervous. I mean, fantasies are different from reality.”

Mina nods, squeezing your hand tightly. “I understand,” she softly says. “But remember, babe: this is about you. If you’re having second thoughts or you feel that you aren’t ready, please let me know. This can either be just a normal dinner or we can leave.”

You nod, exhaling deeply. Though her words comfort you, those damn butterflies still frantically flap their wings against your stomach, making you want to bolt. ‘No!’ you think, irked with yourself and your anxiety. ‘You’re not leaving. You have nothing to worry about.’

Mina suddenly drops your hand and comes up behind you, distracting you from your thoughts.

“But it’d be a shame to waste such an outfit,” she purrs into your ear as her hand toys with the hem of your sundress that stops mid-thigh. “I’m sure Bakugou would love to see you in this. He has a thing for your legs.” She giggles the hitch in your breath as her hand glides up and under your dress. “Just looking at your body in this dress is doing things to me.”

Her fingers glide across the naked skin of your thigh, dangerously close to your underwear. “Mina…” Her name is a nervous whimper on your lips, afraid that someone might see.

Luckily, you get a warning first when the front door to Dynamight and Red Riot’s home cracks open. Mina immediately snatches her hand away from you and grins at the very handsome and grinning Kiri that greets you. “Hey, you guys made it!” he cheerfully states. “C’mon inside before it rains.”

With a supportive glance your way, Mina grabs your hand and takes you inside.

[cto10121]

Finished watching that long-ass but well-done Contrapoints video on Twilight and it wasn’t clownish!!! It was literate!!! For once!!! Still, I have des Notes(tm):

Not sophisticated people like Contrapoints mixing up movie and book canon willy-nilly. 😑 Some of her analysis and argument, then, is greatly weakened by this, especially when she mentions Bella’s nightmare in Breaking Dawn (very different film vs. movie). Make it clear which one you’re talking about, sis!!!

By that token, her claim that the Port Angeles scene and the James fight in the ballet studio are examples of disavowal is not held up by the books. The would-be rapists are not described in any way, much less erotically; the focus is on Edward’s rescue and his fury. James is not even described as typically beautiful, actually average, and his framing is that of a typical villain

Re: Disavowal theory, Contrapoints misses the fact that Bella is a parentified teen of working class parents. There is even an in-canon explanation re: Midnight Sun as to why she doesn’t like birthdays (spoiler: her mother just dngaf). So Bella’s distaste for attention and parties and money is not an affectation or maidenly disavowal. It is a character weakness stemming from neglect. Her character arc is to accept her worth and to move away from disavowal and play-acting modesty, embracing her true self

She greatly undersells how much Twilight subverts typical gender roles and conventions. It’s Bella who wants vampirism, Bella who wants sex from Edward, Bella who comes up with plans and solutions, Bella who saved Edward. It’s Bella whose mind can’t be penetrated or manipulated, who develops an interest in motorcycles and loves her truck. Vampire Bella may be fully realized in her autonomy both physically and socially, but Human Bella did well with what she could do and worked hard to reach her goals (vampirism, sex with Edward). She was only physically weak.

Twilight also subverts the B&B/predator-prey dynamic just as much as it eroticizes it. Bella and Edward personality-wise are much more alike than different (there is definitely several shades of Romeo and Juliet there), so their physical inequality ends up being yet another obstacle to their romance rather than an inherent part of their dynamic. A big chunk of the reason why Bella wants to be a vampire so badly is because she knows it’s the only way to truly be with Edward, that this man-of-steel-woman-of-tissue situation cannot continue. The end of series sees Bella and Edward as explicit equals

Also, also, from the way the vampires are written in Twilight, becoming a vampire can be interpreted as very much an escape from patriarchal life. No need to cook or clean, male vampires can’t get you pregnant, and even if a male vampire threatens you, you have your own power to fend them off. Sex-based discrimination is impossible in the vampiric world. Only individual cases of misogyny can exist. So there’s that

For that token, there were and are hundreds of romance novels and erotica that do—or try to do—the same thing as Twilight. Before Twilight there was the Vampire Diaries and Buffy the Vampire Slayer. And yet, while highly popular, none of these were as great a phenomenon as Twilight. Unfortunately, Contrapoints doesn’t really delve into what makes Twilight different from the world of romance and erotica, only why it was a success

A+ meta on how romance novels work. It’s a little no duh, but she explains it so well and eloquently

The toxic radfem/political lesbianism theory section explains the pearl-clutching around Twilight and Fifty Shades and misunderstandings about Twilight but did we really need a whole section on toxic radfem theory???? Otoh, I agree that bad intellectual ideas are super entertaining

Pamela discourse!!! Yeah, I learned all about that in my Development of the Novel course, it’s all good ☕️. But I disagree slightly with Contrapoints in that Twilight is not following that tradition. Bella does have virtue and purity signifiers; in many ways she falls under the Beautiful Maiden(tm) trope. But once again, Meyer gives it a twist in that Bella is portrayed as a modern agnostic girl who wants Edward’s D—preferably without marriage. And the narrative essentially cheers her on. Pamela would never

That Kristen Stewart interview where she says she didn’t feel like she was playing a character made me die inside and wonder if she has read the books. Contrapoints implicitly agreeing with her that Bella is a placeholder character made me die inside and wonder if she has truly read the books

Not Contrapoints actually agreeing with St. Augustine, that African-intellectual-turned-religious-dumbass 😑 Yeah, no, I do not agree that lust is inherently perverted. For one thing, what is “perversion” and what is “normal”? Spoiler alert: It basically all comes down to cultural and religious bias. It’s true that the sex act involves crossing boundaries and penetration of some form, but that in and of itself not inherently violent. You can hurt yourself exercising; doesn’t mean it’s something horribly violent!!! So yeah, there’s my fuck-St-Augustine rant for the day

[moramaisis]

Characters: Ascended Astarion x Tav tiefling (Arsenia)

Pairing: M/F

Status: Happily evil together. Arsenia is Astarion's vampire bride. Keywords and warnings: Villain couple, dommy tav, heavy smut, biting, oral sex (m and f), rough/gentle, humping, dark humor, dark romance, unhinged horny women.

Gore & murder in the last chapter. This is horror smut with villains, so beware. If you watch horror movies you should fine.

Summary: Arsenia and Ascended Astarion are having a romantic moment in nature, when they are interrupted by robbers. Poor bastards have walked into a deadly trap without even knowing it. Arsenia decides to put up a show for her beloved vampire. A show that will be hard to forget.

Ao3

-----------------------

I find it especially funny that we're still stuck at camp. Astarion received Cazador's palace as his bloody inheritance, and yet here were are. In his tent. I do like it actually, the nature sounds are soothing, not to mention the smell of campfire smoke and the endless starry sky. I love the strong yellow cast of light that emits from live fire, our weary faces encircling the flame suddenly seem less dull.

Tonight, however, we're sitting away from the others. At the top of an old disintegrating tower, watching the tiny crescent moon. Astarion is sitting with his knees bent and i'm spooning him from behind. My arms envelop his shoulders and come to rest at his chest. I spread my legs to be as physically close as possible and so he's wedged between my thighs. His right hand is resting on my knee, gently caressing it with his thumb.

"So many things need to be changed once we move into that castle. The bats can stay, but someone has to become the designated poop scooper. Unless, you can train the bats to use a litter box."

Astarion's voice erupted in a trilling laughter.

"So that's why he kept so many fanatics! Cleaning shit and blood in hope of eternal life is a fate worse than death. But you're right. The palace is in need of a spring cleaning…and has been for a few hundred years. Especially now the biggest pest is gone. "

I smiled and rested my chin on his shoulder, his curls tickling my nose.

"I do like the torture dungeon though, that will come in handy. Not something easily found while house hunting."

"Excited by chains, my treasure? Already counting the cages and assigning shackles? I feel sorry for those poor fools that have crossed you."

"You don't have to go down there you know…. or see any cages." I rubbed my nose against his ear. "I'll make sure all the rooms with bad memories will be cleared out. Maybe even take down a wall or build a two."

Astarion glanced at me and i felt a squeeze on my knee.

"That is very sweet, but you don't have to worry about me anymore. I'm stronger, more powerful than i ever could've imagined. The pathetic past version of me is gone." He paused, adding with a low alluring tone. "I will keep you safe. You're mine."

I held his gaze as a pleasurable sensation fluttered up my loins. I wanted to kiss him, bury my claws into his shoulders and hear him scream my name. But, instead, i just marveled at his features, this gorgeous night, the choir of insects surrounding us. Savoring.

I brushed my cheek against his, smiling.

"Don't say that. You were never pathetic. I fell in love with that version of you, so, by saying that you're insulting me. You were beautiful, full of bloodthirst and revenge. A wolf who has broken its cage and is pacing restlessly. A hunter ready to strike. A hunter licking it's wounds…"

His eyes never left mine as i spoke and his expression changed ever so slightly, it was almost unnoticeable, but for a second he looked like that old Astarion. That one with the saddest eyes. Then it was gone, but he was intently listening, alert and curious.

"My greatest treasure, why are there bards in the world, if you could put them all out of work with just two lines?"

"And you were an asshole. I'm happy to see that never changed." I grinned since he knew i loved to tease him.

Astarion huffed with a smirk.

"Assholes look the best wearing capes and sitting on thrones. Don't you think I'm practicing for my grand finale?"

"You'll need a smaller cape or the crowds will mistake you for a bedsheet blown off the line."

I burst out laughing seeing his baffled face.

"You just had to ruin the moment, didn't you…you wretched little thing!!"

Astarion shoved me to the ground, which didn't take much force at all since i was still laughing. He turned around and climbed on top of me, pinning my wrists into prickly grass. Usually, this kind of move would've made me uneasy, but not with him.

He whispered softly, "only you speak about my past self in such a way. As if it was something worthy of loving. I don't understand why, but i appreciate it."

I lifted my head from the grassy pillow and kissed him, he replied more tenderly than usual. I made him part his lips and turned up the heat. Our kiss became fast and eager. My tail coiled around Astarion's leg, even though a large part of it was pinned underneath us, the squeeze was palpable. He pulled his lips away with noticeable reluctance and slid down onto my neck. My neck muscles bulged as i arched my back, inviting him closer. He didn't waste time and sank his fangs into my flesh. I uttered a faint growl, my body tensing as a sweet tingle of lust spread up from my loins. I thrust my hips against Astarion, wrapping my thigh around his waist.

In the heat of the moment he loosened his grip on my wrist and i broke free. I cupped the back of his head, held him, as he drank from me, i shared my body like a bountiful fountain of eternal youth and desire. My hips writhed in unison, relishing the delicate friction the body above provided. Astarion released my other wrist and moved his hand to my bosom, slid it down my body and slipped under my dress. I wore a long black gown with two slits just for this kind of occasion. His touch was keenly welcomed by my wet folds and he greeted them back by caressing the swollen bud. My hips thrust eagerly against him, my hands grabbing the fabric of his shirt and yanking with such force the fabric tore. His teeth were in my neck, his fingers were inside me and i was ecstatic.

"Oy, look what these ungodly wenches are up to, in plain sight and all!" A mocking voice arose from somewhere in the darkness, accompanied by chuckles and whistling.

My eyes fluttered open, they were hard to miss. Four men standing how far from us? Maybe 10 steps, maybe 15? By the looks of them, and the daggers hanging from their belts, they were here with a purpose. This wasn't my first encounter with peeping toms or robbers. My gaping mouth, that was gasping for breath just seconds ago, turned into a snarl of disgust. Astarion arched his back like an animal, released my neck, and averted his cold red eyes at the speaker.

The blond highwayman stared at him with a grin.

"Good sir, i'm sure you paid a pretty coin for that lass, but you have more than enough for all of us."

My eyes narrowed as i stared the men down, took note of their weapons. I was sure Astarion did the same. He stood up calmly, took my hand and pulled me onto my feet.

Two highwaymen moved closer, it was unclear whether they noticed there's something off about us or not. Their torches cast harsh shadows on our faces.

"Never seen a tiefling selling herself, at least not in these parts. Are they any good? Being so spiky all over?" a voice from the back chirped.

"Your pouch. Give it and you can carry on." The blond made an indecent gesture.

We looked at each other in silence, i could see the anger on Astarion's face. I could've torn through these men like butter, but i was curious to see Astarion's reaction. We were interrupted, i was still horny, wet and yearning for my eternal lover's touch. So, i half-smirked and gave my beloved a playful wink. Astarion's eyes gleamed with excitement, he knew i was up to something…something no good.

I hung my arm around Astarion's neck and kissed him like a widow kissing her resurrected husband. My thigh emerged from the slit, rubbing Astarion up and down, making sure to catch his hardened cock. Astarion's was dragging his nails down my spine, slowly, possessively - he knows how much i adore it!

I parted the kiss and said quietly, "I have a little party trick i'm dying to show you. Eyes on me. As for these fools…they need to die for killing the mood."

Astarion whispered, "Whatever games you're playing, my eyes are always on you, little dragon."

Astarion calling me his little dragon made my giddy with joy… and lust. I'm a draconic bloodline tiefling, so honoring my ancestors is very important to me.

I turned to highwaymen and caressed my breasts. "Tieflings don't sell themselves to just anyone. And this one here is out of your budget."

The highwaymen watched speechlessly, exchanging dirty looks mixed with arrogance. Finally, one stepped forward pulling out his dagger and stabbed me. The dagger didn't even touch my skin, it stopped a centimeter away. Astarion was holding his wrist, tightly enough the robber whimpered.

Astarion's gaze travelled around.

"If you're still here you're either exceptionally stupid or desperate. I'm guessing the first, since you haven't caught on who you're dealing with." Finished, Astarion snapped the man's wrist with a loud crackle. The man screeched and fell on his ass, his hand now flopping around like a meaty puppet.

"What in the hells are you?! Boys, take em, don't run! Take these monsters down!" the blond yelled at his remaining men, who were slowly backing away.

I took off running, my long black dress fluttering behind me, slits tearing, hair a wild mess and pure bloodlust in my eyes. I ran up to the nearest highwayman - his trembling hand gripped a large hunting knife. My reflexes were lightning fast, i kicked him in the balls and he fell to his knees, grunting like a feral pig. He tried to cover his family jewels, but i took a hold of his arm, stretched it out and kneed it from the underside, breaking the joint. The highwayman screamed like a banshee and i repeated the move on his remaining arm. Now, mangled and in horrible pain, the robber simply crawled around on his knees like some deformed animal.

As i was having fun with my prey, the third man tried to escape. Since we were in an overgrown tower there wasn't much coverage of any kind. The man thought the path was clear and sprinted towards an opening. Before he could reach it a cloud of black mist materialized before him. Astarion's face emerged from the misty tendrils - with a furrow on his brow and a grin.

"You wanted my money? So why are you running from me?" He grabbed the robber's throat and lifted his feet off the ground.

"You insulted my consort and that was the moment you sealed your fate. Now, excuse me, i have a surprise waiting for me."

Astarion tightened his grasp until his nails ripped trough the man's throat and he suffocated in a pool of bloody bubbles.

Astarion walked towards the center of action, calm and collected, his face splattered in red. I had cornered the blond one. He was in a state, sweat stains under his armpits, moist face, trembling hands.

"Curse you, demons, devils, whatever the hell spawned you! I'm going to gut you like pigs. You will pay for what you did!" The man jabbed his dagger forward, aiming for my stomach. He missed, i was simply too fast; barefooted in grass that will absorb all the blood. And sprout new leaves, new flowers, new life. These men were just compost.

"Remember, Astarion, you once asked how strong a tiefling's thighs are ?" i asked looking at him with a menacing smile. "I'll answer you today."

I made a quick step towards the highwayman, he flung his dagger at me, i dodged and kicked him in the face. He gasped and staggered backwards. I took off running again, pounced off the worn stone wall and landed on the robber's shoulders; his head now squeezed between my thick thighs.

Astarion walked closer, visibly thrilled by what comes next.

"Are we getting a demonstration? I hope so, for science…of course." Astarion tapped the highwayman's nose.

The robber mumbled, "please…have mercy…pl…"

I tucked the middle part of my dress behind my back, so the spectacle would be unobscured. Then i began squeezing my thighs together. My muscles bulged and danced like the strings of a violin in the hands of a musical genius. The highwayman began choking and sputtering, snot dripping from his nose, skin turning a shade of bright red, eyes welling up with tears. I steadied my hands on his shoulders and looked Astarion in the eyes. They were half-lidded and intense, the man could not take his eyes off me. I smiled, ran my tongue over my upper lip, and pressed my thighs together at full force.

The highwayman's mouth gaped, scleras red, as his blue eyeballs popped out of his face and my legs met with an earthshattering crunch. It was an explosion of blood, crimson red shower all over my dress, white hair, decolletage, face. I ran my clawed hand across my brow, trying to wipe off all the blood and pieces of gore. The body underneath me had collapsed and i was sitting in a buddle of blood. My dress soaked and clinging to my body, highlighting my curves, my sharp edges…. and my pleased smile.

Astarion observed me with an expression that was hard to describe - proud, amazed, enticed, aroused even. His eyes caressed by body from top to toe, as if he caught a glimpse of some rare beast basking in the sun. Me, dressed in blood and gore. Engaging my thighs with such force did nothing to ease the aching desire between my legs. It only intensified my lust. I beckoned Astarion closer while invitingly spreading my glistening bloody legs.

He put his hands onto my thighs and stroked them gently.

"That was quite the display of power, my little dragon. I'll make sure to never underestimate your beautiful thighs ever again." His voice was heavy from desire.

Astarion brushed my inner thigh and pressed his face against my skin. I exhaled loudly. He proceeded to lick the blood from my leg, slowly, with enjoyment, moving up until he was in my crotch. I gazed down to the tongue marks left behind and caressed Astarion's soft hair.

"You're right, but these are at your service," i said unapologetically whilst spreading my legs wider.

"Oh, you're magnificent. And you shall serve…" He spoke alluringly whilst diving into my crotch and brushing his tongue against my throbbing folds.

I gasped and thrust my hips upwards, yearning for more. To be played with. To be teased. He fondled my inner thighs, made sure to keep me wide open. His tongue was hard at work, licking blood off my pussy, inspecting every crevice, and he was thorough. I supported myself with one arm and used the other to sink my claws into his shoulder. My ears caught a faint moan. It was pure bliss, his tongue running across the bud over and over, giving it an occasional tongue flick. I started rocking my hips, the building pleasure driving me insane. Suddenly, he paused to move to my inner thigh and gave it a sharp nibble. I growled out in a lust filled rage. My fangs exposed, eyes glowing in the darkness. He smiled, pleased with himself.

A sound carried over by the wind, reaching my ears. It was a faint whimper. I turned my head and remembered that i had left something behind. The last two highwaymen were still alive. One was crawling on his knees - trying to get up, but struggling to against the stone wall, both of his arms dangling limply. The other was dashing across a field. I cackled, there was something so grotesquely funny about that.

I brought my hands above my head and channeled the magic, calling to my blood. In the distance two poor souls burst into flames and screaming commenced. My insides tingled with lust, i felt like a god… and i shoved my lover's head back where it belonged. He didn't resist me, his tongue danced around my swollen bud. I rocked my hips, feeling the build up of an orgasm coming. Moving my hips faster and faster, gasping, growling like a beast in heat, as the distant screams were dying down. My cheeks flushed and i threw my head back, a husky scream of delight escaped my throat. It was powerful.

Astarion rose, grabbed me by the hair and kissed me ferociously. His face was smeared with blood, his clothes soaked in crimson and pieces of flesh. I kissed him like i was ready to eat his face off. I wanted more, he was my plaything too. All mine, and also aching.

I grabbed his shirt and tore it open, his chest gleaming in the darkness. I fought free of his kiss and lunged at his chest, nipping it in various places, running my tongue over his nipple. His breath quavered, quickened even, and he yanked my hair. I stared him down and ran my tongue over the edges of my teeth, checking their sharpness, it was a warning. I wanted to make him come.

He pulled me into another kiss, using my hair as leverage, and my hands were undoing his pants. As we kissed my hand dove into his pants, stroking him. His breath trembled against my lips, his hand reached into my dress, grasping my breast. I started stroking him slowly and sped up until i had coaxed a moan from his lips.

Then i shoved him onto his back, being quite vicious, if i'm honest, and took his member into my mouth. It was my plaything, nobody could deny me my favorite toy. I edged him, teased him with my hot draconian breath; and when he was ready to burst, i let him finish. After everything was over i crawled into his arms and he squeezed me tight. Two immortals, coated in red and lying amidst mangled bodies. The world was ours to take.

[powerin]

I wonder how would you compare and contrast Miguel's love interests and his treatment of them? Somehow, I get the feeling the third movie in the Spider-verse trilogy will take him to task for his treatment of women over the years.

this better not be bait. kidding, but there’s some dude who likes to victim-blame and slut-shame dana in my tumblr DMs and it is Very Tiring to ignore him. hope you understand if this reply comes off as combative. 💖

dana’s obviously my favorite. “the virtuous and beautiful whore who sacrificed herself for the one woman she didn’t like.” she will always be my One True Love.

but i wish dana was smarter, less naive, and wasn’t preyed on by tyler stone. i wish dana and gabe stayed together and she didn’t cheat on him (miguel was not worth it). i wish miguel didn’t call her “stupid, deaf, worthless” and throw plates at her. clearly their relationship deteriorated after miguel became Spider-Man (a toxic entitled egomaniac becoming a superhero is a Bad thing? pinch me im getting megamind flashbacks). but dana saying that miguel should leave his toxic company and that she didn’t want miguel to feel any more pain… it hurts me deeply.

especially since dana was right: miguel should leave alchemax. and miguel is the one who causes dana so much pain.

moving on, i should like xina because i am ALSO a brainy tomboyish chinese woman. plus she’s miguel’s childhood sweetheart.

but more to the point, xina’s NotLikeAllGirls internalized misogyny irritates the shit out of me, and she forcibly changed lyla’s personality so lyla would talk badly about dana. lyla even says some misogynistic homewrecker bullshit like “ruin any relationships today dana?” and then says right after, “im sorry… i don’t know why i said that.”

plus when xina and miguel are alone… xina undresses in front of miguel to get him to sleep with her. but he just says (paraphrasing here), “not in the mood for romance plus you’re not that pretty.”

miguel literally calls xina ugly to her face. and xina still thinks dana is the problem. she irritates me to no end. if xina isn’t interested in romance, why is she so upset about the cheating and the engagement? me thinks she’s a dishonest actor. tbh, if i’d be more accepting if the cheating was just a one time mistake and miguel can Move On with xina. but given these panels:

dude did not cheat once. he did not cheat twice. he cheated over the span of 1-2 years (i’m glad you shaved like i asked, years ago). how much can miguel love xina if he’s always cheating on his childhood sweetheart?

keep in mind, when they meet, miguel rubs it in xina’s face that he’s engaged to dana. HE NEVER PROPOSED TO XINA AND HE DATED HER FOR OVER 10 YEARS. but suddenly dana comes along and he’s like “gotta wife that girl”?

you’ll never get me to be a miguel/xina cheerleader, but i don’t hate xina. i understand xina’s mad at dana for “taking miguel away from her” but miguel didn’t slip and fall on dana and whoops they’re together now.

for the majority of the 2099 fanbase to portray dana as some clingy, insane, desperate girlfriend in need of making miguel marry and have kids with her is taking a tragedy and twisting it into something that is frankly, deeply misogynistic and disgusting. they should be ashamed of themselves.

(not meant for you, by the way. i realize you’re here to have a discussion in good faith.)

lyla is lyla. she is cute, but she is also an AI. she cannot consent to a relationship nor sex. but idk. she’s okay when her programming isn’t being messed with by xina. she shouldn’t end up with miguel though. weird non-consensual things abound with robots and AI and cyberpunk that I Would Rather Not Talk About. but miguel treats lyla disrespectfully in the comics and the movie (played for laughs in the movie though? lyla does get him to say please.)

aaaaaaaand I haven’t read anything with tempest. i know she’s miguel’s canon baby mama and wife, and tyler stone fucks with tempest with some kind of mind-control parasite and forces miguel to kill her. i don’t know enough about tempest to have an opinion, but her design is… all right. i don’t dig the pink hair or the wings. maybe she’ll grow on me? does miguel cheat on her or throw plates at her or neg her? if not, she’s already doing leagues better than xina and dana.

[sunshinemoonrx]

but uh yeah we watched (rewatched for me) KR First/Next. Y'know what I like them more this time around. Still don't love them! But they're, y'know, they're whatever. Fundamentally they are extremely good at making me go "wow! I love it when kamen rider does a big kick" which is the main thing

The First definitely feels more like The Big-Screen Kamen Rider Reboot Movie, it presents itself more theatrically, it's got flourishes like the Miyauchi cameo, a snippet of the original OP and the Dr. Shinigami footage. Unfortunately, it also hews too close to the US superhero movie "everything revolves around how much the hero loves and wants to save the pretty girl [who will not even be mentioned in the sequel]" for me to find it much fun, and also it keeps cutting away to a completely different romance movie, which also isn't...bad, I guess, but doesn't link up at all until the very end.

The Next, meanwhile, feels more like a "let's do whatever the fuck" outing to stick on late-night TV and the DVD release...instead of a bombastic title card it just dives right into the ghost-slasher-movie subplot which...I also didn't feel super-engaged watching but that might just be because I'm a little baby (for as much as I dig the Rider body-fuckery and lonely-cyborg stuff, which for the record The First especially did really well!), but at least was actually part of the story this time. The tone does proceed like that, and I find the Inoue-isms the more entertaining kind here; instead of having a Hollywood Love Interest to fight over now Hongo is gay and pining and Ichimonji is homophobic and trying to have as much sex as possible before he dies. There's shots of Kazami Shiro showering moodily, bare Shocker Rider ass, and a lady kaijin topless with her helmet on. Also, Scissors-Jaguar is there.

But yeah they both have what are still probably the best Rider 1/2 suits (although I'll give Shin the coat-over-suit look as the best design, maybe), I love how textured and bolted-together they are. And there's truly incredible action going all-in on wires and somersaults, and frankly maybe Next didn't have less budget but just blew it all on that big sequence at the end where they have a big chase on trucks and cars and motorbikes flying-kicking each other off the road, then crash into a restaurant, then proceed to knock each other through every wall, floor and bar in the place until it's completely destroyed. So that's pretty good. Shame about the muddy brown filter over everything in Next. 2007!

Anyway no wonder Hongo lost his university post after First with a thesis like "water is alive". That's not correct man

[radlymona]

Fanfic anon again (I'm crypto). I would honestly like to hear more of your thoughts on AO3/fanfic if you want to share! Like I've been in fic fandom for ages and I can't tell if I've just gotten less tolerant of this stuff, if there's more of it, or if I'm in communities that are more prone to...I don't know, casually cruel nsfw written by 15 yr olds??

Sure! Personally, I started reading fan fiction around 12-13 years old but it was very PG-rated stuff. Mostly Harry Potter, Vampire diaries and a belated Twilight phase on fanfiction.net. It was mostly written by teenagers so obviously the quality was low but it was rarely ever just porn (ff.net had a lot stricter rules from what I can remember).

I never had a Wattpad phase because a) I wasn’t into one direction and b) the writing quality was so bad my 13 year old self could notice. Later on I hate-watched that god-awful After movie based off the Harry styles fanfic with my best friend, and then went to read the original wattpad fic. We couldn’t believe our eyes at how bad and how popular it was. I know I mentioned ao3 as being a bad influence on modern literature, but wattpad has had an even worse impact especially on modern het romance novels. The fact that a lot of teenagers girl were reading rather misogynist borderline rape wattpad fics instead of actual books has had a detrimental effect on literature and women’s sexuality as a whole.

*The one bit of quality fics that I saw was pre-2016ish marauders fanfiction. So pre Wolfstar takeover and written mostly by Millenials rather than the Zoomer modernisation of it.

Sometime around 2015-2017, ao3 became the main site and because they has no rules on what could be published, you saw a steady increase of more extreme content. What started off as simply being more explicit sex scenes, became more kink/bdsm driven. The newer the fandom, the worst it was. It’s probably the influence of video porn on people’s sexuality (nowadays teenagers are exposed to brutal sexual content they never would have been 15-20 years ago). Genshin being a very big and rather new fandom that blew up during lockdown was like the perfect specimen for this type of “fanfic culture”.

And you end up with this sort of this loop effect: of people write extreme sexual content in fan fiction -> young adult audiences want better quality literature than ff but demand the same level of sexual content -> published authors write whole books with an insane amount of sexual content with a barely-there plot to keep the readers interested -> people still aren’t satisfied with the amount of sex scenes in actual books and decide to write more extreme stuff in fanfiction and so on and so on.

Basically over the last decade fanfiction’s gotten exponentially more explicit and I doubt that’s gonna slow down anytime soon :/

[svartalfhild]

.

Listening to the album Tommy by The Who for the first time since I was a teenager has awakened long buried memories of the time I pretended to be someone's girlfriend in order to go see the 2009 Star Trek movie when it came out.

I really really wanted to go see it, like I was fucking obsessed, but my parents sure as fuck were not going to take me, and I had friends who wanted to see it too, but I'd not met them in person before because I'd met them over FB through a mutual friend, so I had to convince another friend to come with who had parents willing to drive.

Enter the friend I will here refer to as Collin.

I use the word friend loosely here. Collin was a friend in the sense of he was an absolute shitshow of a person who was one of the few people in school who didn't hate me and didn't give a shit about my bad reputation. Didn't hurt that he had some of the same interests. One of the things about him, though, was that he was constantly trying to get me to date him and I had absolutely no interest in him whatsoever, especially after having seen all of the previous drama of his love life. He was also the only person I knew who had had sex (we were in our early teens, so that was a big deal), so I knew that that was an expectation of his and that made the whole thing even less appealing, especially because I didn't really trust him (and I didn't know I was ace yet either). When I say shitshow of a person, I mean it.

Anyway, Collin told me he'd ask his dad if he'd be willing to drive us, and then later he was like "yeah, he will, but only if it's for a date, so you gotta pretend to be my girlfriend for an afternoon" and I was like "Wtf, really? And then what?" and he goes "Oh, I'll just tell him it didn't work out if he asks why there haven't been anymore dates." And I didn't see any holes in this plan and I could not bear the thought of not seeing this movie, so I was like alright fine I'll do it.

Plan went off without a hitch (although apparently my distance was sus, so I had to agree to sit close to Collin and hold his hand), but to this day, I still don't know if his dad really wouldn't have let him go to a movie with a girl without it being a date or if he straight up lied to me to trick me into going through the motions of a date with him, because either were entirely plausible. His family were a bunch of redneck Republicans from Mississippi, but also he very much went in with the vibe of "someday you'll date me for real". He had this notion that if he could just worm his way past all of my emotional walls and get me to let go of my relationship angst, I'd surely break down and let him date me.

There's a lot to unpack there.

First of all, if that really was his dad's attitude, that's its own kind of fucked up. It's the implication that romance is automatically far more important than friendship. It's the idea that boys and girls shouldn't just hang out together. Just...ugh, the intense heteronormativity and amatonormativity of it all.

(Silver lining! When Viva la Vida came on the radio and I was like "oh I like this song!" his dad turned up the volume and no one has ever done anything like that for me before or since.)

If it wasn't his dad's attitude and he'd just made that shit up to manipulated me, then that's, uh...pretty violating, especially because this scenario forced me to be physically close and have contact with him when I didn't want to. I'm glad it wasn't something I had to carry on with afterwards.

As the years went on, Collin's shitshow levels only increased. Less than a year later, he started bringing packs of beer in his backpack and showing up to class high as a fucking kite. His romantic relationships got increasingly messy and he got way too comfortable saying racist and homophobic shit. I had very little to do with him by the time we graduated. While I was in college, I heard he was in jail. Shocker. A few years later, he came in with his family at the sandwich shop I used to work at. We pretended not to know each other. Never seen or heard about him since, thank fuck.

Anyway, I think this may explain why I don't have a lot of enthusiasm for fake dating tropes most of the time.

[mermaidsirennikita]

ARC REVIEW:

3.5/5. Releases 10/8/2024 (in audio).

The Vibes: The Nightmare Before Christmas (you know this), rivals to lovers, fighting for the same girl but we really wanna kiss each other

Heat Index: 5/10

The Basics:

Nicholas Claus (otherwise known as Coal) is the Prince of Christmas. His father, the reigning Santa, has commercialized Christmas to the point that Coal is rebellious and and chafes at the prospect of duty... which doesn't mean he isn't obligated to marry his friend Iris, the Easter Princess (who Coal's brother is currently pining for). Problem: Hex, the Prince of Halloween, is here to vie for Iris's hand... except he really doesn't. Because Hex actually wants Coal. And also, they made out a couple of years ago.

The Review:

Well.... I really loved this in theory. In reality? It's solid, but it's another one of those "'twill be better for others than it is for me" books that I seem to be running into a good bit lately.

"But Caroline," you say. "Surely you didn't have high expectations for a silly, fun Nightmare Before Christmas but it's rivals to lovers book, right?"

I mean, I didn't expect it to be some sweeping epic romance, no. But I do expect to have a fun and sexy time, and while this is a fun and sexy time for many, I'm sure, it's not MY type of fun and sexy time. Because I do enjoy a silly book! I was so down for silly here.

It is fun and cute and all that, but it's actually way more in touch with reality (our reality) than I expected. With Christmas romances especially, I often want to be swept up into this Christmas world. The Christmas Notch series, for example, is a Christmas romance series set in our world that is still somehow SO. INTO. CHRISTMAS. It feels "Christmas realm but making out". This had some of that, but I really thought I'd get more.

This leans a lot into the daddy issues of Bad Cynical Santa, versus the potential cackling fun of Bad Cynical Santa. And there wasn't as much magic as I expected? Like, I expected the *creepy organ riff* Addams Family type intro for Hex, but alas. He's most notably wearing a corset. Which I love, but MORE. HALLOWEEN.

When you reference The Nightmare Before Christmas, I just expect... more camp holiday joy and less "let's reference Frozen". There is a Frozen joke, and that was JARRINGLY close to our real world. When you combine that with the capitalism commentary, which is a surprisingly big part of the novel, I'm like... But wait. I want like. Peppermint-flavored dicks, or something. Not OUR world.

That said. I love the holiday royals. I loved Iris. There is a lot of cute here. The concept of two guys trying to win a princess who doesn't want to marry either of them, really (but she will because Holiday Royal Duty) making out with each other on the low? Great.

I think I was just looking more for... more.

I also will say, this falls victim to another "this reads like a well-written book but does it read as romance-y as it could because there is one POV and we need both" situation. Being in Coal's head all the time honestly left me feeling like I'd spent more time getting to know Coal's friends and family than Coal and Hex as a couple. Which, again... doesn't mean it's a bad book. But it did keep me from investing in the romance.

I also do have something of a golden rule with romance novels, which is that... if you don't have everyone involved in the romance show up by 20% in, that's a deduction. Hex does show up early. Technically. But then we have a time jump, during which he and Coal never see each other, and then... it's a good bit before he shows up. Not a lot happens in that good bit, admittedly, because we're mostly getting to know Coal's platonic relationships. But I don't know, man. We needed more.

The Sex:

This is lightly steamy, I'd say. There's chemistry, there's Stuff, but it's not super descriptive or super frequent.

I do actually totally get the Red White & Royal Blue comparisons. If you enjoyed that book (I'm more about the movie version) then yeah, I totally see this working for you. For me... it was more of an "alright" experience. Solid voice performance from the narrator, no complaints there.

Thanks to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[loveconnectionhub]

How to Make Your Husband Happy In Bed - Intimacy Advice in Marriages

It can be very beneficial for your marriage if you know how to make your husband happy in bed. After the start of the marriage, things slowly start going down, and this is especially the case in the sexuality department.

When the intimacy starts to die down, first the sex gets worse, and then the love starts to die, and the marriage takes great damage from this.

However, there are many things you can do in order to make your man happy.

Since he is your husband, I am not going to teach you what he wants or doesn't want in bed - you should have an idea about this.

However, women usually assume that keeping your husband happy in bed is something that can be only affected by what you do in the bed - not outside it.

This is wrong. Learning how to make your husband happy in bed, to a great deal, has to do with the romance and love between you and him.

If you get closer to him mentally and romantically, you'll find out that the sex will get much, much better.

A good way of doing this is to try to rekindle the romance, like a kiss, or some alone time outside the house, just you together - like a movie and a dinner.

Be physically close to him as well during those nights out - small things such as holding his hands (and mildly squeezing them at times!) and a seemingly innocent kiss can reignite the fire in your husband so quickly and powerfully that he might find it hard to wait until you get home.

Another way to make your husband happy in bed is to keep things fresh and diverse. When you get married, the process of sex can get boring since you have done the same thing hundreds of times.

However, if you don't do "the same thing", then everything will be new and fresh, and this will do wonders in making your man happy.

Things such as showering together and trying different sexual positions can do wonders to "wake" your husband up again. Don't forget - your marriage has been founded upon the fact that you two are sexually attracted to each other.

If the attraction and the fire die down, it can bring the entire marriage down in no time. Take action now and you can prevent this from happening.

When trying to re-ignite the romance, some certain things you can do and say can literally force your spouse to feel the way he or she was when you were flirting.

And doing the wrong things might make your spouse even less attracted to you. If you want to learn how to do the former, I suggest you visit this helpful site and learn how I managed to do this myself.

It doesn't matter how bad the situation is now - even if your spouse has already asked for a divorce. You can get the situation under your control and use certain techniques to make your spouse naturally fall in love with you a second time. You can find out what you need to do by clicking here.

[project1939]

Day 43- Film: Son of Paleface 

Release date: July 14th, 1952. 

Studio: Paramount 

Genre: Comedy 

Director: Frank Tashlin 

Producer: Robert L. Welch 

Actors: Bob Hope, Jane Russell, Roy Rogers 

Plot Summary: The Harvard educated son of Paleface heads West to claim his father’s fortune so his gold-digging girlfriend will marry him. When he arrives in town, he discovers his father’s money is nowhere to be found, and everyone in the area is owed money by him. Junior befriends two lawmen, gets caught up with a gang of bandits, and is chased by Native Americans who want to kill him. 

My Rating (out of five stars): ** 

I’ve never not wanted to write about a film as much as this one. Virtually nothing in it worked for me, and precious little made it worthwhile viewing. I found Hope’s schtick unfunny, his objectification of woman annoying, and the treatment of Native Americans appalling. I usually give media from this long ago some leeway when it comes to our modern sensibilities. I try not to be a stick-in-the-mud, and I always try to put my complaints into context. But boy, this time I struggled. 

The Good: 

Harry von Zell made me smile. He had a small role, but he was really good! He’s the Carnation Evaporated Milk pitchman for The Burns and Allen Show, and I always find him so likeable. Next to Betty Furness, he’s probably my favorite pitchman. He is extremely natural on camera. 

Jane Russell. She’s insanely gorgeous and her curves are to die for. She looked great in her black bandit outfit especially. Unfortunately there’s wasn’t much she was able to do in the movie besides look good. Her character was just supposed to be eye candy essentially.  

There were fun cameos by Bing Crosby and Cecil B. DeMille. They were each less than 30 seconds long, but they were cute. 

The Bad: 

Bob Hope. I just don’t find a lot of his humor that funny. Most of his gags in the film didn’t even make me chuckle. I hate how he treats women- as things for men to drool over and little else. I know he was a notorious philanderer, constantly cheating on his wife, and you just get that vibe from him. His USO shows can be really hard to listen to, because between him and the soldiers, the cat-calls and whistles never stop. 

The story and plot were really thin. I think if I had seen and enjoyed The Paleface, I might have gotten more out of it, though. 

Women were really objectified in this. When the opening credits says “8 Beautiful Girlies (Count ‘Em)” you kind of know what you’re in for. There wasn’t even any real hint of romance, it was all about sex, basically. There’s a long scene that’s just supposed to be funny where Hope is trying to look through a keyhole as Russell is taking a bath on the other side of the door. He continually makes suggestive comments. This kind of thing got really grating. 

When a relatively central character was suddenly murdered, the movie barely blinked. I liked the character, so it was upsetting that they killed him off, but even more upsetting that it seemed to be only a plot device. 

How Native Americans were portrayed. I’m used to the way Hollywood portrays “Indians,” but this was nearly impossible to watch. They were so dehumanized, they could have been animals. By the 1950s, some films were at least trying to be more even-handed with Native Americans, but this one made not even the slightest attempt. Throughout the whole film a group of Indians who hated Junior’s father chase him down, trying to kill him. For some reason they only have bows and arrows and dress in war paint on horses, even though the film takes place in at least the 1910s or 20s. Some of the ‘Indians” were clearly white people in brownface, and they all talked in that horrible stereotypical broken English. They were shown as crazed, whooping, homicidal primitives. (Except for the girls, who were sexualized, of course!) At the climax of the film, we literally watch more than a dozen of them die, and we’re meant to cheer as Hope and the gang mow them all down.

A “gag” at the end happens when an “Indian” is shooting an arrow at Hope, but it ricochets back and kills him instead. That’s funny how? 

When I thought I had my fill of all of the above, Bob Hope literally made a “reservation” joke to a Native American guy. Twice. Like, the word “reservation” was the punchline. I almost literally lost my mind. 

[higuchisora]

Speaking as someone who watches anime, there are so many animes that don't even slightly indicate they'll have fanservice and boom, suddenly a half-naked teenage girl is in your face. Not saying "sex bad!!" But like. Time and place. Especially because, surprise surprise, not everyone wants to see someone's underwear out of nowhere!!! I've quite literally come across horror anime that's gone out of its way to jiggle a girl's tiddies AS SHE'S DYING. Not ecchi, not horror with ecchi subgenre, just completely advertised as some horror/thriller anime.

It doesn't make them a "prude", it's like not wanting gore in your romance book. The irony of people applauding Japan for this too, knowing the rampant sexual harassment and, ironically, very conservative values they carry IRL is hilarious. And before you come for me for criticizing another country/culture: I AM JAPANESE. Not in the "weeb" way either, in the "my mother is Japanese, it's my first language, I have a fucking Japanese citizenship" kind of way.

Just saying, it's genuinely difficult sometimes to find anime with premises I find entertaining AND doesn't include some random panty flashes, especially since its rarely advertised unless its straight up the plot (ex: ecchi or harem anime). Plus, its so prevalent that i almost feel like those who dont mind genuinely don't notice sometimes?

Which, with the (again) rampant sexual harassment issues in Japan (the panty stuff isn't as big of a deal anymore, but it was indeed a massive issue for a while and just took on different forms), just kinda leaves a bad taste in my mouth, if anything. Yeah yeah, fantasy vs reality or whatever, but reality often informs one's fantasies. Sexist guys often have sexist sexual fantasies- its not the fantasy that makes them sexist (you can have the same one and not be sexist), its the sexism that gives them the fantasy. There's a limit to separating art from artist. There's a reason the anime industry is not only mostly male dominated, but the fans are as well (in Japan).

The only genres they don't really bother with are explicitly geared towards women, which are often strictly shojo/romance (cute but not my cup of tea), slice of life (still sometimes has it, and isn't my taste) or some kind of empty fluff-only show (again cute, but eventually boring). This isn't to trash on anime with fanservice, nor am i trying to make an attack, but to act as if this is some bold move on Japan's part to put a half naked (often teenage) girl in a shounen Boys Club anime is kinda odd, tbh. It's about as revolutionary in my eyes as action movie #473049 having yet another Hot Girl clinging to the main man the entire time and contributing nothing. Again, like what you like, but dunking on others for expressing their frustration at something that ISN'T part of the genre expectation is... also kinda odd. I'd even call it a little lame, at the risk of getting someone up in arms about it.

Also at the risk of my opinion being absolutely discarded and invalidated, I'd like to say I'm asexual. NOT sex-repulsed, but either way I don't think I'd have to be any kind of aspec to just not be into constant fanservice? Or are allosexuals really just this consistently horny? Again, that's not an attack, I'm genuinely mystified at how something so banal can take up so much brainspace. I also think it's really hypocritical to tell people they shouldn't slut-shame/judge people because of sexual interests/etc. But then make fun of people and call them "prudes" for not being interested. It's like being pro-choice but trying to force someone into an abortion they don't want... and that's also as someone who's pro-choice. The point is the CHOICE. If anime did this, but with gore or violence instead of fanservice, I feel like the conversation would be a bit less... well, rude. I know I wouldn't appreciate random gore or other such content in my slice of life or lighthearted comedy anime, and it shouldn't be that different with sex, sexual content, or nudity either.

Anyway, this is escaping me. I have a tendency to forget myself and pick up unrelated points when I rant. Essentially, this isn't meant to be a call-out post, I don't want to hurt or fight anyone, but I wanted to get this off my chest because I've seen so many times people attacking others or making fun of them just for not liking sex or being interested in nudity/expressing frustration when they weren't warned ahead of time that it would include this content. I used this post above simply because it was the most recent one I've come across, I don't think this one's the worst or anything.

Have a good day, y'all.

non-weebs be like, “i don’t like all the boobs and ass in anime,” but then weebs be like, “okay but like which anime did you watch?” and non-weebs be like, “i can’t believe Big Titty Cherry Blossom Swimsuit Club had so many titties!”

[eiirisworkshop]

The Fanfic Author's Guide to Metatext

(As Used on Ao3) by Eiiri

Also available as a PDF here. This thing is 13,000 words.  The PDF is recommended.

Intro: What is Metatext?

Metatext is everything we fanfic authors post along with our story that is not the story itself: title, tags, summary, author's notes, even the rating.

It is how we communicate to potential readers what they're signing themselves up for if they choose to read our story, how we let them make informed decisions regarding which fics they want to read, how we get their interest and, frequently, how they find our story in the first place. A lot of metatext acts as a consent mechanism for readers, it's the informed part of informed consent.

Since most of us who write fanfic also read it, we understand how important this is! But, for the most part, no one ever teaches us how to use metatext; we have to pick it up by osmosis. That makes it hard to learn how to use it well, we all suck at it when we first start out, and some of us may go years without learning particular conventions that seem obvious to others in our community. This creates frustration for everybody.

Enter this guide!

This is meant to be a sort of handbook for fic writers, particularly those of us who post on Archive of Our Own, laying out and explaining the established metatext conventions already in use in our community so we (and our readers!) are all on the same page. It will also provide some best-practices tips.

The point is to give all of us the tools to communicate with our audience as clearly and effectively as possible, so the people who want to read a story like ours can find it and recognize it as what they're looking for, those who don't want to read a story like ours can easily tell it's not their cup of tea and avoid it, nobody gets hurt, and everybody has fun—including us!

Now that we know what we're talking about, let's get on with the guide! The following content sections appear in the order one is expected to provide each kind of metatext when posting a fic on Ao3, but first….

Warning!

This is a guide for all authors on Ao3. As such, it mentions subject matter and kinds of fic that you personally might hate or find disgusting, but which are allowed under the Archive's terms of use. There are no graphic descriptions or harsh language in the guide itself, but it does acknowledge the existence of fic you may find distasteful and explains how to approach metatext for such fics.

Some sexual terminology is used in an academic context.

A note from the author:

This guide reflects the conventions of the English-language fanfiction community circa 2021. Conventions may differ in other language communities, and although many of our conventions have been in place for decades (praise be to our Star Trek loving foremothers) fanfiction now exists primarily in the realm of internet fandom where things tend to change rather quickly, so some conventions in this guide may die out while other new conventions, not covered in this guide, arise.

This is not official or in any way produced by the Archive of Our Own (Ao3), and though some actual site rules are mentioned, it is not a rulebook. Primarily, it is a descriptivist take on how the userbase uses metatext to communicate amongst ourselves, provided in the interest of making that communication easier and more transparent for everyone, especially newer users.

Contents

How To Use This Guide Ratings Archive Warnings Fandom Tags Category Relationship Tags Character Tags Additional Tags Titles Summaries Author's Notes Series and Chapters Parting Thoughts

How To Use This Guide

Well, read it.  Or have it read to you.

This isn't a glossary, it's a handbook, and it's structured more like an academic paper or report, but there's lots and lots of examples in it!

Many of these examples are titles of real media and the names of characters from published media, or tags quoted directly from Ao3 complete with punctuation and formatting.

Some examples are more generic and use the names Alex, Max, Sam, Chris, Jamie, and Tori for demonstration purposes. In other generic examples, part of an example tag or phrase may be sectioned off with square brackets to show where in that tag or phrase you would put the appropriate information to complete it.  This will look something like “Top [Character A]” where you would fill in a character's name.

This guide presumes that you know the basics of how to use Ao3, at least from the perspective of reading fic. If you don't, much of this guide may be difficult to understand and will be much less helpful to you, though not entirely useless.

Ratings

Most fanfic hosting sites provide ratings systems that work a lot like the ratings on movies and videogames.

Ao3's system has four ratings:

General

Teen

Mature

Explicit

These seem like they should be pretty self-explanatory, and the site's own official info pop-up (accessible by clicking the question mark next to the section prompt) gives brief, straightforward descriptions for each of them.

Even so, many writers have found ourselves staring at that dropdown list, thinking about what we've written, and wondering what's the right freaking rating for this?  How do I know if it's appropriate for “general audiences” or if it needs to be teen and up? What's the difference between Mature and Explicit?

The best way to figure it out is often to think about your fic in comparison to mainstream media.

General is your average Disney or Dreamworks movie, Cartoon Network or Nickelodeon shows, video games like Mario, Kirby, and Pokemon.

There may be romance, but no sexual content or discussion. Scary things might happen and people might get hurt, but violence is non-graphic and usually mild. Adults may be shown drinking alcohol or smoking tobacco, and some degree of intoxication may be shown (usually played for laughs and not focused on), but hard drug use is generally not shown or discussed.  There is little to no foul language written out and what language there may be is mild, though harsher swears may be implied by narration. There are no explicit F-bombs or slurs.

Teen is more like a Marvel movie, most network television shows (things like The Office, Supernatural, or Grey's Anatomy), video games like Final Fantasy, Five Nights at Freddie's, and The Sims.

There might be some sex and sexual discussion, but nothing explicit is shown—things usually fade to black or are leftimplied. More intense danger, more severe injuries described in greater detail, and a higher level of violence may be present.  Substance use may be discussed and intoxication shown, but main characters are unlikely to be shown doing hard drugs. Some swearing and other harsh language may be present, possibly including an F-bomb or two.  In longer works, that might mean an F-bomb every few chapters.

Mature is, in American terms, an R-rated movie* like Deadpool, Fifty Shades of Grey, The Exorcist, and Schindler's List; certain shows from premium cable networks or streaming services like Game of Thrones, Shameless, Breaking Bad, and Black Sails; videogames like Bioshock, Assassin's Creed, Grand Theft Auto, and The Witcher.

Sex may be shown and it might be fairly explicit, but it's not as detailed or graphic or as much the focus of the work as it would be if it were porn. Violence, danger, and bodily harm may be significant and fairly graphic. Most drug use is fair game. Swearing and harsh language may be extensive.

Explicit is, well, extremely explicit. This is full on porn, the hardcore horror movies, and snuff films.

Sex is highly detailed and graphic. Violence and injury is highly detailed and graphic. Drug use and its effects may be highly detailed and graphic. Swearing and harsh language may be extreme, including extensive use of violent slurs.

Please note that both Mature and Explicit fics are intended for adult audiences only, but that does not mean a teenaged writer isn't going to produce fics that should be rated M or E.  Ratings should reflect the content of the fic, not the age of the author.

Strictly speaking, you don't have to choose any of these ratings; Ao3 has a “Not Rated” option, but for purposes of search results and some other functions, Not Rated fics are treated by the site as Explicit, just in case, which means they end up hidden from a significant portion of potential readers. It really is in your best interest as a writer who presumably wants people to see their stories, to select a rating. It helps readers judge if yours is the kind of story they want right now, too.

Rating a fic is a subjective decision, there is some grey area in between each level. If you're not quite sure where your fic falls, best practice is to go with the more restrictive rating.

*(Equivalent to an Australian M15+ or R18+, Canadian 14A, 18A or 18+, UK 15 or 18, German FSK 16 or FSK 18.)

Warnings

Ao3 uses a set of standard site-wide Archive Warnings to indicate that a work contains subject matter that falls into one or more of a few categories that some readers are likely to want to avoid.  Even when posting elsewhere, it's courteous to include warnings of this sort.

These warnings are:

Graphic Depictions Of Violence

Major Character Death

Rape/Non-Con

Underage

Just like with the ratings, the site provides an info-pop up that explains what each warning is for. They're really exactly what it says on the tin: detailed descriptions of violence, injury, and gore; the death of a character central to canon or tothe story being told; non-consensual sex i.e. rape; and depictions of underage sex, which the site defines as under the age of 18 for humans—Ao3 doesn't care if your local age of consent or majority is lower than that.

In addition to the four standard warnings above, the warnings section has two other choices:

No Archive Warnings Apply

Choose Not To Use Archive Warnings

These do not mean the same thing and cannot be used interchangeably. “No Archive Warnings Apply” means that absolutely nothing in your fic falls into any of the four standard warning categories. “Choose Not To Use Archive Warnings” means that you the author are opting out of the warning system; your fic could potentially contain things that fall into any and all of the four standard warning categories.

There's nothing wrong with selecting Choose Not To Use Archive Warnings! It may mean that some readers will avoid your fic because they're not sure it's safe for them, and you might need to use more courtesy tags than you otherwise would (we'll talk about courtesy tags later), but that's okay! Opting out of the warning system can be a way to avoid spoilers,* and is also good for when you're just not sure if what you've written deserves one of the Archive warnings. In that case, the best practice is to select either the warning it might deserve or Choose Not To Use Archive Warnings, then provide additional information in other tags, the summary, or an initial author's note.

Unless you're opting out of using the warning system, select all the warnings that apply to your fic, if any of them do. So if a sixteen year old main character has consensual sex then gets killed in an accident that you've written out in excruciating detail, that fic gets three out of the four standard warnings: Underage, Major Character Death, and Graphic Depictions Of Violence.

*(Fandom etiquette generally favors thorough tagging and warning over avoiding spoilers. It doesn't ruin the experience of a story to have a general sense of what's going to happen. If it did, we wouldn't all keep reading so many “there was only one bed” fics.)

Fandom Tags

What fandom or fandoms is your fic for?  You definitely know what you wrote it for, but that doesn't mean it's obvious what to tag it as.

Sometimes, it is obvious! You watched a movie that isn't based on anything, isn't part of a series, and doesn't have any spinoffs, tie-ins or anything else based on it. You wrote a fic set entirely within the world of this movie. You put this movie as the fandom for your fic. Or maybe you read a book and wrote a fic for it, and there is a movie based on the book, but the movie is really different and you definitely didn't use anything that's only in the movie. You put the book as the fandom for your fic.

All too often, though, it's not that clear.

What if you wrote a fic for something where there's a movie based on a book, but the movie's really different, and you've used both things that are only in the movie and things that are only in the book?  In that case you either tag your fic as both the movie and the book, or see if the fandom has an “all media types” tag and use that instead of the separate tags.  If the fandom doesn't have an “all media types” tag yet, you can make one! Just type it in.

“All media types” fandom tags are also useful for cases where there are lots of inter-related series, like Star Wars; there are several tellings of the story in different media but they're interchangeable or overlap significantly, like The Witcher; or the fandom has about a zillion different versions so it's very hard, even impossible, to say which ones your fic does and doesn't fit, like Batman. Use your best judgement as to whether you need to include a more specific fandom tag such as “Batman (Movies 1989-1997)” alongside the “all media types” fandom tag, but try to avoid including very many. The point of the “all media types” tag is to let you leave off the specific tags for every version.

In a situation where one piece of media has a spinoff, maybe several spinoffs, and you wrote a fic that includes things from more than one of them, you might want use the central work's “& related fandoms” tag. For example, the “Doctor Who & Related Fandoms” tag gets used for fics that include things from a combination of any era of Doctor Who, Torchwood, and The Sarah Jane Adventures.

And don't worry, from the reader-side of the site the broadest fandom tags are prioritized. The results page for an “all media types” or “& related fandoms” search includes works tagged with the more specific sub-tags for that fandom, the browse-by-fandom pages show the broadest tag for each fandom included, and putting a fandom into the search bar presumes the broadest tag for that fandom.  A search for “Star Wars - All Media Types” will pull up work that only has a subtag for that fandom, like “The Mandalorian (TV).” You don't have to put every specific fandom subtag for people to find your fic.

If you wrote a fic for something that's an adaptation of an older work—especially an older work that's been adapted a lot, like Sherlock Holmes or The Three Musketeers—it can be hard to know how you should tag it. The best choice is to put the adaptation as the fandom, for instance “Sherlock (TV),” then, if you're also using aspects of the older source work that aren't in the adaptation, also put a broad fandom tag such as “Sherlock Holmes & Related Fandoms.” Do not tag it as being fic for the source work—in our Sherlock example that would be tagging it “Sherlock Holmes - Arthur Conan Doyle”—unless you are crossing over the source work and the adaptation. Otherwise, the specific fandom subtag for the source work ends up clogged with fic for the adaptation, which really is a different thing.

By the same token, fic for the source work shouldn't be tagged as being for the adaptation, or the adaptation's subtag will get clogged.

The same principle applies to fandoms that have been rebooted. Don't tag fic for the reboot as being for the original, or fic for the original as being for the reboot. Don't tag a fic as being for both unless the reboot and original are actually interacting. Use an “& related fandoms” tag for the original if your fic for the reboot includes some aspects of the original that weren't carried over but you haven't quite written a crossover between the two. Good examples of these situations can be seen with “Star Trek: Alternate Original Series (Movies)” vs. “Star Trek: The Original Series,” and “She-Ra and the Princesses of Power (2018)” vs. “She-Ra: Princess Of Power (1985).”

Usually, this kind of mistagging as a related fandom happens when someone writes a fic for something that is or has a reboot, spinoff, or adaptation, but they're only familiar with one of the related pieces of media, and they mistakenly presume the fandoms are the same or interchangeable because they just don't know the difference.  It's an honest mistake and it doesn't make you a bad or fake fan to not know, but it can be frustrating for readers who want fic for one thing and find the fandom tag full of fic for something else.

In order to avoid those kinds of issues, best practice is to assume fandoms are not interchangeable no matter how closely related they are, and to default to using a tag pair of the most-specific-possible sub-fandom tag + the broadest possible fandom tag when posting a fic you're not entirely sure about, for instance “Star Trek” and “Star Trek: Enterprise.”

The Marvel megafandom has its own particular tagging hell going on. Really digging into and trying to make sense of that entire situation would require its own guide, but we can go through some general tips.

There is a general “Marvel” fandom tag and tags for both “The Avengers - Ambiguous Fandom” and “The Avengers (Marvel) - All Media Types.” Most of us who write Marvel fic are working with a cherry picked combination of canons from the MCU, various comics runs, both timelines of X-Men movies, and possibly several decades worth of cartoons. That's what these tags are for.

If your cherry picked Marvel fic is more X-Men than Avengers, go for the “X-Men - All Media Types” tag.

If you are primarily working with MCU canon, use the MCU specific tags rather than “all media types” and add specific tags for individual comics runs—like Earth 616 or the Fraction Hawkeye comics—if you know you're lifting particular details from the comics.  If you're just filling in gaps in MCU canon with things that are nebulously “from the comics” don't worry about tagging for that, it's accepted standard practice in the fandom at this point, use a broader tag along with your MCU-specific tag if you want to.

Same general idea for primarily movie-verse X-Men fics. Use the movie-specific tags.

If your fic mostly draws from the comics, use the comics tags. If you're focusing on an individual run, show, or movie series rather than an ensemble or large swath of the megafranchise, tag for that and leave off the broader fandom tags.

Try your best to minimize the number of fandom tags on your Marvel work. Ideally, you can get it down to two or three. Even paring it down as much as you can you might still end up with about five.  If you're in the double digits, take another look to see if all the fandom tags you've included are really necessary, or if some of them are redundant or only there to represent characters who are in the fic but that the fic doesn't focus on. Many readers tend to search Marvel fics by character or pairing tags, it's more important that you're thorough there. For the fandom tags it's more important that you're clear.

If you write real person fiction, you need to tag it as an RPF fandom. Fic about actors who are in a show together does not belong on the fandom tag for that show. There are separate RPF fandom tags for most shows and film franchises. Much like the adaptation/source and reboot/original situations discussed earlier, a fic should really only be tagged with both a franchise's RPF tag and its main tag if something happens like the actors—or director or writer!—falling into the fictional world or meeting their characters.

Of course, not all RPF is about actors. Most sports have RPF tags, there are RPF tags for politics from around the world and for various historical settings, the fandom tags for bands are generally presumed to be RPF tags, and there is a general Real Person Fiction tag.

In order to simplify things for readers, it's best practice to use the general Real Person Fiction tag in addition to your fandom-specific tag. You may even want to put “RPF” as a courtesy tag in the Additional Tags section, too. This is because Ao3 isn't currently set up to recognize RPF as the special flavor of fic that it is in the same way that the site recognizes crossovers as special, so it can be very difficult to either seek out or avoid RPF since it's scattered across hundreds of different fandom tags.

On the subject of crossovers—they can make fandom tagging even more daunting. Even for a crossover with lots of fandoms involved, though, you just have to follow the same guidelines as to tag a single-fandom work for each fandom in the crossover. The tricky part is figuring out if what you wrote is really a crossover, or just an AU informed by another fandom—we'll talk about that later.

There are some cases where it's really hard to figure out what fandom something belongs to, like if you wrote a fanfic of someone else's fanfic, theirs is an AU and yours is about their OC, not any of the characters from canon. What do you do?! Well, you do not tag it as being a fanfic for the same thing theirs was. Put the title of their fic (or name of their series) as the fandom for your fic, attributed to their Ao3 handle just like any other fandom is attributed to its author. Explain the situation in either the summary or the initial author's note. Also, ask the author's permission before posting something like this.

What if you wrote a story about your totally original D&D character? The fandom is still D&D, you want the “Dungeons & Dragons (Roleplaying Game)” tag.

What if there's not a fandom tag on the Archive yet for what you wrote? Not a problem! You can type in a new one if you're the first person to post something for a particular fandom. Do make sure, though, that the fandom isn't just listed by a different name than you expect. Many works that aren't originally in English—including anime—are listed by their original language title or a direct translation first, and sometimes a franchise or series's official name might not be what you personally call it, for instance many people think of Phillip Pullman's His Dark Materials series as The Golden Compass series, so it's best to double check.

What if you wrote an entirely new original story that's not based on anything?  Excellent job, that takes a lot of work, but that probably doesn't belong on Ao3!  The Archive is primarily meant as a repository for fannish content, but in a few particular circumstances things we'd consider Original Work may be appropriate content for the Archive as well. Double check the Archive's Terms of Service FAQ and gauge if what you wrote falls under the scope of what is allowed. If what you wrote really doesn't fit here, post it somewhere else or try to get it published if you feel like giving it a shot.

Category

What Ao3 means by category is “does this fic focus on sex or romance, and if so what combination of genders are involved in that sex or romance?”

The category options are:

F/F

F/M

Gen

M/M

Multi

Other

The F/F, F/M, and M/M categories are for stories focused on pairings of two women, a woman and a man, and two men, respectively.  These refer to sexual and/or romantic pairings.

The Other category is for stories focused on (sexual and/or romantic) pairings where one or both partners are not strictly male or female, such as nonbinary individuals, people from cultures with gender systems that don't match to the Western man-woman system, and nonhuman characters for whom biological sex works differently or is nonexistent, including aliens, robots, and inanimate objects or abstract concepts. There are some problems with treating nonbinary humans, eldritch tentacle monsters, sexless androids, and wayward container ships as all the same category, but it's the system we currently have to work with. Use Additional Tags to clarify the situation.

Multi is for stories in which several (sexual and/or romantic) relationships are focused on or which focus on relationships with multiple partners, including cases of polyamory, serial monogamy, strings of hookups with different people, and orgies.  A fic will also show as “Multi” if you, the author, have selected more than one category for the fic, even if none of those are the Multi category. Realistically, the Archive needs separate “Multiple Categories” and “Poly” options, but for now we have to work with this system in which the two are combined.  Use Additional Tags to clarify the situation.

Gen is for stories that do not contain or are not focused on sex or romance. Romance may be present in a gen fic but it's going to be in the background.  While rare, there is such a thing as a sexually explicit gen fic—solo masturbation which does not feature fantasizing about another character is explicit gen fic; a doctor character seeing a series of patients with sex-related medical needs following an orgy may qualify if the orgy is not shown and the doctor is being strictly professional—but such fic needs to be rated, otherwise tagged, and explained carefully in the summary and/or author's note.

Much like the warnings section, category is a “select all that apply” situation. Use your best judgement. For a fic about a polyamorous relationship among a group of women, it's entirely appropriate to tag it as both F/F and Multi.  A poly fic with a combination of men and women in the relationship could be shown as both M/M and F/M, Multi, or all three. A fic that focuses equally on one brother and his husband and the other brother and his wife should be tagged both M/M and F/M, and could be tagged as Multi but you might decided not to just to be clear that there's no polyamory going on. If you wrote a fic about two characters who are both men in canon, but you wrote one of them as nonbinary, you could tag it M/M, Other, or both depending on what you feel is representative and respectful.

When dealing with trans characters, whether they're trans in canon or you're writing them as such, the category selection should match the character's gender.  If there's a character who is a cis woman in canon, but who you're writing as a trans man, you categorize the fic based on his being a man. If there's a character who is a cis man in canon, but whom you're writing as a trans man, he is still a man and the fic should be categorized accordingly. When dealing with nonbinary characters the fic should really be classed as Other though, by convention, fics about characters who are not nonbinary in canon may be classed based on the character's canon gender as well or instead. When dealing with gender swapped characters—i.e. a canonically cis male superhero who you're writing as a cis woman—class the fic using the gender you wrote her with, not the gender he is in canon.

Most of the time, gen fics should not be categorized jointly with anything else because a fic should only be categorized based on the ships it focuses on, and a gen fic should not be focusing on a ship in the first place.*

*(One of the few circumstances in which it might make sense to class a fic as both gen and something else is when writing about Queerplatonic Relationships, but that is a judgement call and depends on the fic.)

Relationship Tags

The thing about relationship tagging that people most frequently misunderstand or just don't know is the difference between “Character A/Character B” and “Character A & Character B.”

Use a “/” for romantic or sexual relationships, such as spouses, people who are dating, hookups, and friends with benefits. Use “&” for platonic or familial relationships, such as friends, siblings, parents with their kids, coworkers, and deeply connected mortal enemies who are not tragically in love.

This is where we get the phrase “slash fic.” Originally, that meant any fic focused on a romantic paring, but since so much of the romantic fic being produced was about pairs of men, “slash fic” came to mean same-sex pairings, especially male same-sex pairings. Back in earlier days of fandom, pre-Ao3 and even pre-internet, there was a convention that when writing out a different-sex pairing, you did so in man/woman order, while same-sex pairings were done top/bottom. Some authors, especially those who have been in the fic community a long time, may still do this, but the convention has not been in consistent, active use for many years, so you don't have to worry about putting the names in the “correct” order. Part of why that died out is we, as a community, have gotten less strict and more nuanced in our understandings of sex and relationships, we're writing non-penetrative sex more than we used to, and we're writing multi-partner relationships and sex more than we used to, so strictly delineating “tops” and “bottoms” has gotten less important and less useful.

The convention currently in use on Ao3 is that the names go in alphabetical order for both “/” and “&” relationships. In most cases, the Archive uses the character's full name instead of a nickname or just a given name, like James "Bucky" Barnes instead of just Bucky or James. We'll talk more about conventions for how to input character names in the Characters section. The Archive will give you suggestions as you type—if one of them fits what you mean but is slightly different from how you were typing it, for instance it's in a different order, please use the tag suggested! Consistency in tags across users helps the site work more smoothly for everybody.

This is really not the place for ship nicknames like Puckleberry, Wolfstar, or Ineffable Wives. Use the characters' names.

Now that you know how to format the relationship tag to say what you mean, you have to figure out what relationships in your fic to tag for.

The answer is you tag the relationships that are important to the story you're telling, the ones you spend time and attention following, building up, and maybe even breaking down. Tagging for a ship is not a promise of a happy ending for that pair; you don't have to limit yourself to tagging only the end-game ships if you're telling a story that's more complicated than “they get together and live happily ever after.” That said, you should generally list the main ship—the one you focus on the most—first on the list, and that will usually be the end-game ship. You should also use Additional Tags, the summary, and author's notes to make it clear to readers if your fic does not end happily for a ship you've tagged. Otherwise readers will assume that a fic tagged as being about a ship will end well for that ship, because that's what usually happens, and they'll end up disappointed and hurt, possibly feeling tricked or lied to, when your fic doesn't end well for that ship

You don't have to, and honestly shouldn't, tag for every single relationship that shows up in your fic at all. A character's brief side fling mentioned in passing, or a relationship between two background characters should not be listed under the Relationship tag section. You can list them in the format “minor Character A/Character C” or “Character C/Character D – mentions of” in the Additional Tags section if you want to, or just tag “Minor or Background Relationship(s)” under either the Relationship tag section or in the Additional Tags section.

There are two main reasons to not tag all those minor relationships. The first is to streamline your tags, which makes them clearer and more readable, and therefore more useful. The second reason is because certain ships are far more common as minor or background relationships than as the focus of a work, so tagging all your non-focus focus ships leads to the tags for these less popular ships getting clogged with stories they appear in, but that are not about them. That is, of course, very frustrating for readers who really want to read stories that focus on these ships.

If your fic contains a major relationship between a canon character and an OC, reader-insert, or self-insert, tag it as such. The archive already has /Original Character, /Reader, /You, and /Me tags for most characters in most fandoms. If such a relationship tag isn't already in use, type it in yourself. There are OC/OC tags, too, some of which specify gender, some of which do not.  All the relationship tags that include OCs stack the gender-specific versions of the tags under the nongendered ones. Use these tags as appropriate.

For group relationships, both polycules and multi-person friendships, you “/” or “&” all the names involved in alphabetical order, so Alex/Max/Sam are dating while Chris & Jamie & Tori are best friends. For a poly situation where not everyone is dating each other you should tag it something like “Alex/Max, Alex/Sam” because Alex is dating both Max and Sam, but Max and Sam are not romantically or sexually involved with each other. Use your judgement as to whether you still want to include the Alex/Max/Sam trio tag, and whether you should also use a “Sam & Max” friendship tag.

Generally, romantic “/” type relationships are emphasized over “&” type relationships in fic. It is more important that you tag your “/”s thoroughly and accurately than that you tag your “&”s at all. This is because readers are far more likely to either be looking for or be squicked by particular “/” relationships than they are “&” relationships. You can tag the same pair of characters as both / and & if both their romance and their friendship is important to the story, but a lot of people see this as redundant. If you're writing incest fic, use the / tag for the pair not the & tag and put a courtesy tag for “incest” in the Additional Tags section; this is how readers who do not want to see incestuous relationships avoid that material.

Queerplatonic Relationships, Ambiguous Relationships, Pre-Slash, and “Slash If You Squint” are all frequently listed with both the “/” and “&” forms of the pairing; use your best judgement as to whether one or the other or both is most appropriate for what you've written and clarify the nature of the relationship in your Additional Tags.

Overall, list your “/” tags first, then your “&” tags.

Character Tags

Tagging your characters is a lot like tagging your relationships. Who is your fic about? That's who you put in your character tags.

You don't have to and really should not tag every single background character who shows up for just a moment in the story, for pretty much the same reasons you shouldn't tag background relationships.  We don't want to clog less commonly focused on characters' tags with stories they don't feature prominently in.

You do need to tag the characters included in your Relationship tags.

A character study type of fic might only have one character you need to tag for. Romantic one shots frequently only have two. Longfics and fics with big ensemble casts can easily end up with a dozen characters or more who really do deserve to be tagged for.

Put them in order of importance. This doesn't have to be strict hierarchal ranking, you can just arrange them into groups of “main characters,” “major supporting characters,” and “minor supporting characters.” Nobody less than a minor supporting character should be tagged. Even minor supporting characters show up for more than one line.

If everyone in the fic is genuinely at the same level of importance (which does happen, especially with small cast fics), then order doesn't really matter. You can arrange them by order of appearance or alphabetically by name if you want to be particularly neat about it.

Do tag your OCs! Some people love reading about OCs and want to be able to find them; some people can't stand OCs and want to avoid them at all costs; most people are fine with OCs sometimes, but might have to be in the mood for an OC-centric story or only be comfortable with OCs in certain contexts. Regardless, though, Character tags are here to tell readers who the story is about, and that includes new faces. Original Characters are characters and if they're important to the story, they deserve to be tagged for just like canon characters do.

There are tags for “Original Character(s),” “Original Male Character(s),” and “Original Female Character(s).” Use these tags!  If you have OCs you're going to be using frequently in different stories, type up a character tag in the form “[OC's Name] – Original Character” and use that in addition to the generic OC tags.

Also tag “Reader,” “You,” or “Me” as a character if you've written a reader- or self-insert.

You can use the “Minor Characters” tag to wrap up everybody, both OC and canon, who doesn't warrant their own character tag. Remember, though, that this tag is also used to refer to minor canon characters who may not have their own official names.

Just like when tagging for relationships, the convention when tagging for characters is to use their full name. The suggestions the Archive gives you as you type will help you use the established way of referring to a given character.

Characters who go by more than one name usually have their two most used names listed together as one tag with the two names separated by a vertical bar like “Andy | Andromache of Scythia.” This also gets used sometimes for characters who have different names in an adaptation than in the source text, or a different name in the English-language localization of a work than in the original language. For character names from both real-world and fictional languages and cultures that put family or surname before the given name—like the real Japanese name Takeuchi Naoko or the made up Bajoran name Kira Nerys—that order is used when tagging, even if you wrote your fic putting the given name first.

Some characters' tags include the fandom they're from in parentheses after their name like “Connor (Detroit: Become Human).” This is mostly characters with ordinary given names like Connor and no canon surname, characters who have the same full name as a character in another fandom, such as Billy Flynn the lawyer from the musical Chicago and Billy Flynn the serial killer played by Tim Curry in Criminal Minds, and characters based on mythological, religious, or historical figures or named for common concepts such as Lucifer, Loki, Amethyst, Death, and Zero that make appearances in multiple fandoms.

Additional Tags

Additional Tags is one of the most complicated, and often the longest, section of metatext we find ourselves providing when we post fic. It's also the one that gives our readers the greatest volume of information.

That, of course, is what makes it so hard for us to do well.

It can help to break down Additional Tags into three main functions of tag: courtesy tags, descriptive tags, and personal tags.

Courtesy tags serve as extensions of the rating and warning systems. They can help clarify the rating, provide more information about the Archive Warnings you've used or chosen not to use, and give additional warnings to tell readers there are things in this fic that may be distasteful, upsetting, or triggering but that the Archive doesn't have a standard warning for.

Descriptive tags give the reader information about who's in this fic, what kind of things happen, what tropes are in play, and what the vibe is, as well as practical information about things like format and tense.

Personal tags tell the readers things about us, the author, our process, our relationship to our fic, and our thoughts at the time of posting.

It doesn't really matter what order you put these tags in, but it is best practice to try to clump them: courtesy tags all together so it's harder for a reader to miss an important one, ship-related info tags together, character-related info tags together, etc.

There are tons and tons of established tags on Ao3, and while it's totally fine, fun, and often necessary to make up your own tags, it's also important to use established tags that fit your fic.  For one thing, using established tags makes life easier for the tag wranglers behind the scenes. Using a new tag you just made up that means the same thing as an established tag makes more work for the tag wranglers. We like the tag wranglers, they're all volunteers, and they're largely responsible for the search and sorting features being functional. Be kind to the tag wranglers.

For basically the same reasons, using established tags makes it easier for readers to find your fic. If a reader either searches by a tag or uses filters on another search to “Include” that tag, and you didn't use that tag, your fic will not show up for them even if what you wrote is exactly what they're looking for.  Established tags can be searched by exactly the same way as you search by fandom or pairing, your off the cuff tags cannot.

Let's talk about some well-known established tags and common tag types, divvied up by main function.

Courtesy

A lot of courtesy tags are specific warnings like “Dubious Consent,” “Incest,” “Drug Use,” “Extremely Underage,” “Toxic Relationship,” and “Abuse.” Many of these have even more specific versions such as “Recreational Drug Use” and “Nonconsensual Drug Use,” or “Mildly Dubious Consent” and “Extremely Dubious Consent.”

Giving details about what, if any, drugs are used or mentioned, specifying what kinds of violence or bodily harm are discussed or depicted, details about age differences or power-imbalanced relationships between characters who date or have sex, discussion or depictions of suicide, severe or terminal illness, or mental health struggles is useful. It helps give readers a clear sense of what they'll encounter in your fic and decide if they're up for it.

One the most useful courtesy warning tags is “Dead Dove: Do Not Eat” which basically means “there are things in this fic which are really screwed up and may be disturbing, read at your own risk, steer clear if you're not sure.” This tag—like all courtesy warnings, really—is a show of good faith, by using it you are being a responsible, and thoughtful member of the fanfic community by giving readers the power and necessary information to make their own informed decisions about what they are and are not comfortable reading.

Saying to “Heed the tags” is quite self-explanatory and, if used, should be the last or second to last tag so it's easy to spot.  Remember, though, that “Heed the tags” isn't useful if your tags aren't thorough and clear.

“Additional Warnings In Author's Note” is one of only things that should ever go after “Heed the tags.”  If you use this, your additional warnings need to go in the author's note at the very beginning of the fic, not the one at the end of the first chapter.  If your additional warnings write up is going to be very long because it's highly detailed, then it can go at the bottom of the chapter with a note at the beginning indicating that the warnings are at the bottom. Some authors give an abbreviated or vague set of warnings in the initial note, then longer, highly detailed, spoilery warnings in the end note. It's best to make it as simple and straightforward as possible for readers to access warnings.

Tagging with “Dead Dove: Do Not Eat,” “Heed the tags,” or “Additional Warnings In Author's Note” is not a substitute for thorough and appropriate courtesy tagging. These are extra reminders to readers to look closely at the other warnings you've given.

While most courtesy tags are warnings, some are assurances like “No Lesbians Die” or “It's Not As Bad As It Sounds.”  A fic tagged for rape or dub-con may get a tag assuring that the consent issues are not between the characters in the main ship; or a fic with a premise that sounds likely to involve lack of consent but actually doesn't may get a tag that it's “NOT rape/non-con.” A tag like “Animal Death” may be immediately followed by a freeform tag assuring that the animal that dies is not the protagonist's beloved horse.

Descriptive

There are a few general kinds of descriptive tags including character-related, ship-related, temporal, relation-to-canon, trope-related, smut details, and technical specifications.

Many character- and ship-related tags simply expand on the Character and Relationship tags we've already talked about.  This is usually the place to specify details about OCs and inserts, such as how a reader-insert is gendered.

When it comes to character-related tags, one of the most common types in use on Ao3 and in fandom at large is the bang-path. This is things like werewolf!Alex, trans!Max, top!Sam, kid!Jamie, and captain!Tori. Basically, a bang-path is a way of specifying a version of a character. We've been using this format for decades; it comes from the very first email systems used by universities in the earliest days of internet before the World Wide Web existed. It's especially useful for quickly and concisely explaining the roles of characters in an AU. Nowadays this is also one of the primary conventions for indicating who's top and who's bottom in a ship if that's information you feel the need to establish.  The other current convention for indicating top/bottom is as non-bang-path character-related tags in the form “Top [Character A], Bottom [Character B].”

Other common sorts of character tags are things like “[Character A] Needs a Hug,” “Emotionally Constipated [Character B],” and “[Character C] is a Good Dad.”

Some character-related tags don't refer to a particular character by name, but tell readers something about what kinds of characters are in the fic. Usually, this indicates the minority status of characters and may indicate whether or not that minority status is canon, as in “Nonbinary Character,” “Canon Muslim Character,” “Deaf Character,” and “Canon Disabled Character.”

Down here in the tags is the place to put ship nicknames!  This is also where to say things like “They're idiots your honor” or indicate that they're “Idiots in Love,” maybe both since “Idiots in Love” is an established searchable tag but “They're idiots your honor” isn't yet. If your fandom has catchphrases related to your ship, put that here if you want to.

If relevant, specify some things about the nature of relationships in your fic such as “Ambiguous Relationship,” “Queerplatonic Relationships,” “Polyamory,” “Friends With Benefits,” “Teacher-Student Relationship,” and so on. Not all fics need tags like these. Use your best judgement whether your current fic does.

Temporal tags indicate when your fic takes place. That can be things like “Pre-Canon” and “Post-Canon,” “Pre-War,” “Post-Captain America: The Winter Soldier,” “1996-1997 NHL season,” “Future Fic,” and so on.  These tags may be in reference to temporal landmarks in canon, in the real world, or both depending on what's appropriate.

Some temporal tags do double duty by also being tags about the fic's relationship to canon. The Pre- and Post-Canon tags are like that.

Other relation-to-canon type tags are “Canon Compliant” for fics that fit completely inside the framework of canon without changing or contradicting anything, “Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence” for fics that are compliant up to a certain point in canon, then veer off (maybe because you started writing the fic when the show was on season two but now it's at season four and you're not incorporating everything from the newer seasons, maybe a character died and you refuse to acknowledge that, maybe you just want to explore what might have happened if a particular scene had gone differently), and the various other Alternate Universe tags for everything from coffee shop AUs and updates to modern settings, to realities where everyone is a dragon or no one has their canon superpowers.

The established format for these tags is “Alternate Universe – [type],” but a few have irregular names as well, such as “Wingfic” for AUs in which characters who don't ordinarily have wings are written as having wings.

If you have written an AU, please tag clearly what it is! Make things easy on both the readers who are in the mood to read twenty royalty AUs in a row, the readers who are in the middle of finals week and the thought of their favorite characters suffering through exams in a college AU would destroy the last shred of their sanity but would enjoy watching those characters teach high school, and the readers who really just want to stick to the world of canon right now.

Admittedly, it can get a little confusing what AU tag or tags you need to describe what you've written since most of us have never had a fandom elder sit us down and explain what the AU tags mean. One common mix up is tagging things “Alternate Universe - Modern Setting” when what's meant is “Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence.”  The misunderstanding here is usually reading “Alternate Universe - Modern Setting” and thinking it means an alternate version of the canon universe that is set at the same time as the canon universe, but is different in some way. That's not how the tag is meant to be used, though.

The Modern Setting AU tag is specifically for fic set now (at approximately the same time period it was written), for media that's canonically set somewhere that is very much not the present of the real world. This can mean things set in the past (like Jane Austen), the future (like Star Trek), or a fantasy world entirely different from our own (like Lord of the Rings or Avatar: the Last Airbender). Fic for a canon that's set more or less “now” doesn't need the Modern Setting AU tag, even if the world of canon is different from our own. If you're removing those differences by putting fantasy or superhero characters in a world without magic or supersoldier serum, you might want the “Alternate Universe - No Powers” tag instead.

Some of the most fun descriptive tags are trope tags. This includes things like “Mutual Pining,” “Bed Sharing” for when your OTP gets to their hotel room to find There Was Only One Bed, “Fake Dating,” “Angst,” Fluff,” “Hurt/Comfort” and all its variants.  Readers love tropes at least as much as we love writing them and want to be able to find their favorites. Everyone also has tropes they don't like and would rather avoid. Tagging them allows your fic to be filtered in and out by what major tropes you've used.

Explicit fics, and sometimes fics with less restrictive ratings, that contain sex usually have tags indicating details about the nature of the sexual encounter(s) portrayed and what sex acts are depicted. These are descriptive tags, but they also do double duty as courtesy tags. This is very much a situation in which tags are a consent mechanism; by thoroughly and clearly tagging your smut you are giving readers the chance to knowingly opt in or out of the experience you've written.

Most of the time, it's pretty easy to do basic tagging for sex acts—you know whether what you wrote shows Vaginal Sex, Anal Sex, or Non-penetrative Sex.  You probably know the names for different kinds of Oral Sex you may have included. You might not know what to call Frottage or Intercrural Sex, though, even if you understand the concept and included the act in your fic. Sometimes there are tags with rectangle-square type relationships (all Blow Jobs are Oral Sex, but not all Oral Sex is a Blow Job) and you're not sure if you should tag for both—you probably should. Sometimes there are tags for overlapping, closely related, or very similar acts or kinks and you're not sure which to tag—that one's more of judgement call; do your best to use the tags that most closely describe what you wrote.

Tag for the kinks at play, if any, so readers can find what they're into and avoid what they're not. Tag for what genitalia characters have if it's nonobvious, including if there's Non-Human Genitalia involved. Tag your A/B/O, your Pon Farr, and your Tentacles, including whether it's Consentacles or Tentacle Rape.

Technical specification tags give information about aspects of the fic other than its narrative content.  Most things on Ao3 are prose fiction so that's assumed to be the default, so anything else needs to be specified in tags. That includes Poetry, Podfics, things in Script Format, and Art. If it is a podfic, you should tag with the approximate length in minutes (or hours). If a fic is Illustrated (it has both words and visual art) tag for that.

Tag if your fic is a crossover or fusion.  The difference, if you're not sure, is that in a crossover, two (or more) entire worlds from different media meet, whereas in a fusion, some aspects of one world, like the cast of characters, are combined with aspects of another, like the setting or magic system.

If the team of paranormal investigators from one show get in contact with the cast of aliens from another show, that's a crossover and you need to have all the media you're drawing from up in the Fandom tags. If you've given the cast of Hamlet physical manifestations of their souls in the form of animal companions like the daemons from His Dark Materials but nothing else from His Dark Materials shows up, that's a fusion, the Fandom tag should be “Hamlet - Shakespeare,” and you need the “Alternate Universe - Daemons” tag. If you've given the members of a boy band elemental magic powers like in Avatar: the Last Airbender, that can be more of a judgement call depending how much from Avatar you've incorporated into your story. If absolutely no characters or specific settings from Avatar show up, it's probably a fusion.  Either way, if the boyband exists in real life, it needs to be tagged as RPF.

Tag if your fic is a Reader-Insert or Self-Insert.

You might want to tag for whether your fic is written with POV First, Second, or Third Person, and if it's Past Tense or Present Tense (or Future Tense, though that's extremely uncommon).  For POV First Person fics that are not self-inserts, or POV Third Person fics that are written in third person limited, you may want to tag which character's POV is being shown. Almost all POV Second Person fics are reader-insert, so if you've written one that isn't, you should tag for who the “you” is.

A fic is “POV Outsider” if the character through whom the story is being conveyed is outside the situation or not familiar with the characters and context a reader would generally know from canon. The waitress who doesn't know the guy who just sat down in her diner is a monster hunter, and the guy stuck in spaceport because some hotshot captain accidentally locked down the entire space station, are both potential narrators for POV Outsider stories.

Other technical specifications can be tags for things like OCtober and Kinktober or fic bingo games.  Tagging something as a Ficlet, One Shot, or Drabble is a technical specification (we're not going to argue right now over what counts as a drabble). Tagging for genre, like Horror or Fantasy, is too.

It's also good to tag accessibility considerations like “Sreenreader Friendly,” but make sure your fic definitely meets the needs of a given kind of accessibility before tagging it.

Personal

Even among personal tags there are established tags!  Things like “I'm Sorry,” “The Author Regrets Nothing,” “The Author Regrets Everything,” and “I Wrote This Instead of Sleeping” are common ones.  Tags about us and our relationship to the fic, such as “My First Work In This Fandom,” “Author is Not Religious,” and “Trans Porn By A Trans Author,” can help readers gauge what to expect from our fic. Of course, you are not at all obligated to disclose any personal information for any reason when posting your fic.

The “I'm Bad At Tagging” tag is common, but probably overused. Tagging is hard; very few of us have a natural feel for it even with lots of practice.  It's not a completely useless tag because it can indicate to readers that you've probably missed some things you should have tagged for, so they should be extra careful; but it can also turn into a crutch, an excuse to not try, and therefore a sign to readers they can't trust your tagging job. Just do your best, and leave off the self depreciation. If you're really concerned about the quality of your tagging, consider putting in an author's note asking readers to let you know if there are any tags you should add.

You might want to let readers know your fic is “Not Beta Read” or, if you're feeling a little cheekier than that, say “No Beta We Die Like Men” or its many fandom-specific variants like the “No Beta We Die Like Robins” frequently found among Batman fics and “No beta we die like Sunset Curve” among Julie and The Phantoms fic. Don't worry, the Archive recognizes all of these as meaning “Not Beta Read.”

The Archive can be inconsistent about whether it stacks specific variants of Additional Tags under the broadest version of the tag like it does with Fandom tags, so best practice is usually to use both.  You can double check by trying to search by a variant tag (or clicking on someone else's use of the variant); if the results page says the broader or more common form of the tag, those stack.

There's no such thing as the right number of tags. Some people prefer more tags and more detail, while other people prefer fewer more streamlined tags, and different fics have different things that need to be tagged for.  There is, however, such a thing as too many tags.  A tagblock that takes up the entire screen, or more, can be unreadable, at which point they are no longer useful. Focus on the main points and don't try to tag for absolutely everything.  Use the “Additional Warnings In Author's Note” strategy if your courtesy tags are what's getting out of hand.

Tag for as much as you feel is necessary for readers to find your fic and understand what they're getting into if they decide to open it up.

A little bit of redundancy in tags is not a sin.  In fact, slight redundancy is usually preferable to vagueness. Clear communication in tags is a cardinal virtue. Remember that tags serve a purpose, they're primarily a tool for sorting and filtering, and (unlike on some other sites like tumblr) they work, so it's best to keep them informative and try to limit rambling in the tags. Ramble at length in your author's notes instead!

Titles

Picking a title can be one of the most daunting and frustrating parts of posting a fic. Sometimes we just know what to call our fics and it's a beautiful moment. Other times we stare at that little input box for what feels like an eternity.

The good news is there's really no wrong way to select a title. Titles can be long or short, poetic or straight to the point. Song lyrics, idioms, quotes from literature or from the fic itself can be good ways to go.

Single words or phrases with meanings that are representative of the fic can be great. A lot of times these are well known terms or are easy enough to figure out like Midnight or Morning Glow, but if you find yourself using something that not a lot of people know what it means, like Chiaroscuro (an art style that uses heavy shadow and strong contrast between light and dark), Kintsukuroi (the Japanese art of repairing broken pottery with gold), or Clusivity (the grammatical term for differences in who is or isn't included in a group pronoun), you should define the term in either a subtitle, i.e. “Chiaroscuro: A Study In Contrast,” or at the beginning of the summary.

As a courtesy to other writers, especially in small fandoms, you may want to check to make sure there's not already another fic with the same title in the same fandom, but this is not required. In large fandoms, there's no point in even trying. After all, there are only so many puns to be made about the full moon and only so many verses to Hallelujah.

It may be common practice on other platforms to include information such as fandom or ship in the title of a fic, but on Ao3 nothing that is specified by tags belongs in the title unless your title happens to be the same as a tag because, for instance, you've straightforwardly titled your character study of Dean Winchester “Dean Winchester Character Study” and also responsibly tagged it as such.

Summaries

Yes, you really do need to put something down for the summary. It might only need to be a single sentence, but give the readers something to go off of.

The summary is there to serve two purposes: one, to catch the interest of potential readers, give them a taste of what's inside, and make them want to know more; and two, to give you a space to provide information or make comments that don't really fit in the tags but that you want readers to see before they open the fic.

We've already talked some about that second function. When you put an explanation of the title or clarification about tags in the summary, that's the purpose it's serving. You can also put notes to “Heed the tags” or instruct readers that there are additional warnings in the author's note here in the summary, rather than doing so in the tags.

The first function, the actual summarizing, can be very hard for some of us.  It's basically the movie trailer for your fic, butwhat are you even supposed to say?

There are two main strategies as to how to approach this: the blurb, and the excerpt. Blurbs are like the synopses you at least used to see on the backs of published books, or the “Storyline” section on an IMDb page. Writing one is a matter of telling your readers who does what, under what circumstances.

Depending on the fic, one sentence can capture the whole thing: “Sam and Alex have sex on a train.” “Tori tries to rob a bank.” “If anybody had mentioned Max's new house was haunted, Jamie wouldn't have agreed to help with the move.”

Sometimes a blurb can be a question! “What happens when you lock a nuclear engineer in a closet with a sewing kit, a tennis ball, and half a bottle of Sprite?”

Of course, plenty of blurbs are more than one sentence. Their length can vary pretty significantly depending on the type and length of fic you're working with and how much detail you're trying to convey, but it shouldn't get to be more than a few short paragraphs. You're not retelling the entire fic here.

An excerpt is a portion of the fic copied out to serve as the summary. This, too, can vary in length from a line or two to several paragraphs, but shouldn't get too long. It should not be an entire scene unless that scene happens to be uncommonly short. It's important to select a portion of the fic that both indicates the who, what, and under what circumstances of the fic and is representative of the overall tone. Excerpts that are nothing but dialogue with no indication of who's talking are almost never a good choice. Portions that are sexually explicit or extremely violent are never ever a good choice—if it deserves content warnings, it belongs inside the fic, not on the results page.

Counterintuitively, some of the best excerpts won't even look like an excerpt to the reader if they don't contain dialogue. They seem like particularly literary blurbs until the reader reaches that part in the fic and realizes they recognize a section of narration.

Some of us have very strong preferences as to whether we write blurbs or use excerpts for our summaries. Some readers have very strong preferences as to which they find useful. Ultimately, there's no accounting for taste, but there are things we can do to limit the frustration for readers who prefer summaries of the opposite kind than we prefer to write, without increasing our own frustration or work load very much. Part of that is understanding what readers dislike about each type so we know what to mitigate.

Blurbs can seem dry, academic, and overly simplified. They don't automatically give the reader a sense of your writing style the way an excerpt does. They can also seem redundant, like they're just rehashing information already given in the tags, so the reader feels like they're being denied any more information without opening the fic.

Excerpts can seem lazy, like you, the author, don't care enough to bother writing a blurb, or pushy like you're telling the reader “just read the fic; I'm not going to give you the information you need to decide if you want to read or not, I'm shoving it in front of you and you just have to read it.” That effect gets worse if your tags aren't very informative or clear about what the plot is, if the excerpt is obviously just the first few lines or paragraphs of the fic, if the except is particularly long, or, worst of all, if all three are true at once.

A lot of the potential problems with blurbs can be minimized by having fun writing them! Make it punchy, give it some character, treat it like part of the story, not just a book report. A fic for a serialized show or podcast, for instance, could have a blurb written in the style of the show's “previously on” or the podcast's intro.  Make sure the blurb gives the reader something they can't just get from the tags—like the personality of your writing, important context or characterization, or a sense of the shape of the story—but don't try to skimp on the tags to do it!

Really, the only way to minimize the potential problems with excerpts is to be very mindful in selecting them. Make sure the portion you've chosen conveys the who, what, and under what circumstances and isn't too long.  You know the story; what seems clear and obvious from the excerpt to you might not be apparent to someone who doesn't already know what happens, so you might need to ask a friend to double check you.

The absolute best way to provide a summary that works for everybody is to combine both methods. It really isn't that hard to stick a brief excerpt before your blurb, or tack a couple lines of blurb after your excerpt, but it can make a world of difference for how useful and inviting your summary is to a particular reader. The convention for summaries that use both is excerpt first, then blurb.

If you're struggling to figure out a summary, or have been in the habit of not providing one, try not to stress over it. Anything is better than nothing.  As long as you've written something for a summary, you've given the reader a little more to help them make their decision. What really isn't helpful, though, is saying “I'm bad at summaries” in your summary. It's a lot like the “I'm Bad At Tagging” tag in that it's unnecessarily self depreciating, frequently comes across as an excuse not to try, and sometimes really is just an excuse. Unlike the “I'm Bad At Tagging” tag, which has the tiny saving grace of warning readers you've probably missed something, saying you're bad at summaries has no utility at all, and may drive away a reader who thought your summary was quite good, but is uncomfortable with the negative attitude reflected by that statement. Summaries are hard. It's okay if you don't like your summary, but it's important for it to be there, and it's important to be kind to yourself about it. You're trying, that's what matters.

Author's Notes

Author's notes are the one place where we, the writers, directly address and initiate contact with our readers. We may also talk to them in the comments section, but that's different because they initiate that interaction while we reply, and comments are mostly one-on-one while in author's notes we're addressing everyone who ever reads our fic.

The very first note on a fic should contain any information, such as warnings or explanations, that a reader needs to see before they get to the body of the story, as well as anything like thanks to your beta, birthday wishes to a character, or general hellos and announcements you want readers to see before they get to the body of the story. On multi-chapter fics, notes at the beginning of chapters serve the same function for that chapter as the initial note on the fic does for the whole story, so you can do things like warn for Self-Harm on the two chapters out of thirty where it comes up, let everyone know your update schedule will be changing, or wish your readers a merry Christmas, if they celebrate it, on the chapter you posted on December 23rd but is set in mid-March.

Notes at the end of a fic or chapter are for things that don't need to be said or are not useful to a reader until after they've read the preceding content, such as translations for that handful of dialogue that's in Vulcan or Portuguese, or any parting greetings or announcements you want to give, like a thanks for reading or a reminder school is starting back so you won't be able to write as much. End notes are the best place to plug your social media to readers if you're inclined to do so, but remember that cannot include payment platforms like Patreon or Ko-fi.

As previously mentioned, warnings can go in end notes but that really should only be done when the warnings are particularly long, such that the length might cause a problem for readers who are already confident in their comfort level and would just want to scroll past the warning description. In that case, the additional warnings need to go in the note at the end of the first chapter, rather than at the end of the fic, if it's a multi-chapter fic; and you need to include an initial note telling readers that warnings/explanations of tags are at the bottom so they know to follow where the Archive tells them to see the end of the chapter/work for “more notes.”

When posting a new work, where the Preface section gives you the option to add notes “at the beginning” or “at the end” or both, if you check both boxes, it means notes at the beginning and end of the entire fic, not the beginning and end of the first chapter. For single-chapter fics this difference doesn't really matter, but for multi-chapter fics it matters a lot. In order to add notes to the beginning or end of the first chapter of a multi-chapter fic you have to first go through the entire process to post the new fic, then go in to Edit, Edit Chapter, and add the notes there.

Series and Chapters

Dealing with Series and Chapters is actually two different issues, but they're closely related and cause some of us mixups, especially when we're new to the site and its systems, so we're going to cover them together.

Series on Ao3 are for collecting up different stories that you've written that are associated with each other in some way. Chapters are for dividing up one story into parts, usually for pacing and to give yourself and your readers a chance to take breaks and breathe, rather than trying to get through the entire thing in a single marathon sitting (not that we won't still do that voluntarily, but it's nice to have rest points built in if we need them).

If your story would be one book if it was officially published, then it should be posted as a single fic—with multiple chapters if it's long or has more than one distinct part, like separate vignettes that all go together. If you later write a sequel to that fic, post it as a new fic and put them together in a series. It's exactly like chapters in a book and books in a series. Another way to think of this structure is like a TV show: different fics in the series are like different seasons of the show, with individual chapters being like episodes.

If you have several fics that all take place in the same AU but really aren't the same story those should go together as a series.  If you wrote a story about a superhero team re-cast as school teachers, then wrote another story about different characters in the same school, that's this situation.

Series are also the best way to handle things like prompt games, bingos, or Kinktober, or collect up one shots and drabbles especially if your various fills, entries, and drabbles are for more than one fandom. If you put everything for a prompt game or bingo, or all your drabbles, together as one fic with a different chapter for each story, what ends up happening is that fic gets recognized by the Archive as a crossover when it isn't, so it gets excluded from the results pages for everyone who told the filters to Exclude Crossovers even though one of the stories you wrote is exactly what they're looking for; and that fic ends up with tons and tons of wildly varying and self-contradictory tags because it's actually carrying the tags for several entirely different, possibly unrelated stories, which also means it ends up getting excluded from results pages because, for instance, one out of your thirty-one Kinktober entries is about someone's NoTP.

Dividing these kinds of things up into multiple fic in a series makes it so much easier for readers to find what of your work they actually want to read.

If you've previously posted such things as a single fic, don't worry, it's a really common misunderstanding and there is absolutely nothing stopping you from reposting them separately. You may see traffic on them go up if you do!

Parting Thoughts

Metatext is ultimately all about communication, and in this context effective communication is a matter of responsibility and balance.

Ao3 is our archive. It's designed for us, the writers, to have the freedom to write and share whatever stories we want without having to worry that we'll wake up one day and find our writing has been deleted overnight without warning.  That has happened too many times to so many in our community as other fanfic sites have died, been shut down, or caved to threats of legal action. Ao3 is dedicated to defending our legal right to create and share our stories. Part of the deal is that, in exchange for that freedom and protection, we take up the responsibility to communicate to readers what we're writing and who it's appropriate for.

We are each other's readers, and readers who don't write are still part of our community. We have a responsibility as members of this community to be respectful of others in our shared spaces.  Ao3 is a shared space. The best way we have to show each other respect is to give one another the information needed to decide if a given fic is something we want to engage with or not, and then, in turn, to not engage with fic that isn't our cup of tea. As long as our fellow writer has been clear about what their fic is, they've done their part of the job. If we decided to look at the fic despite the information given and didn't like what we found, then that's on us.

Because metatext is how we put that vital information about our fics out in the community, it's important that our metatext is clear and easy to parse. The key to that is balance. Striking the balance between putting enough tags to give a complete picture and not putting too many tags that become an unreadable wall; the balance between the urge to be thorough and tag every character and the need to be restrained so those looking for fics actually about a certain character can find them; the balance between using established tags for clarity and ease and making up our own tags for specificity and fun.

Do your best, act in good faith, remember you're communicating with other people behind those usernames and kudos, and, most importantly, have fun with your writing!

[absolutebl]

This Week In BL - Many Cute Boyfriends & Japan is Bringing It

May 2022 Wk 4

Being a highly subjective assessment of one tiny corner of the interwebs. Organized by which ones (in each category) I’m enjoying the most.

Ongoing Series - Thai

What Zabb Man! (YouTube Sat) Ep 8fin - Having worked in the restaurant and beverage industry myself, nothing was more relatable in the post party scenes. In the end, this was the foodie romance set in the Thai Restaurant industry I have always wanted. The machinations of being in food service formed not just setting but also plot. Perhaps if Bite Me and some of the ones from Korea hadn’t disappointed me in this regard, I wouldn’t be so generous with this show. To be fair, it probably should get a 7/10 from me. But this show was made exactly for me so it has to get an 8/10. RECOMMENDED, especially if you like Thai food. Full review here. 

Dear Doctor, I'm Coming for Soul (iQIYI Weds) Ep 10 - Such a nice little twist on the heart knows trope, which is not one of my favorites... until this show. Also, most literal version of “my heart is with you“ ever? I think so. Side couple: drunken hook up is too relatable. Lastly KarnNut give GREAT KISS. Honestly, I can’t remember if their kissing in Grey Rainbow is this good, but in a year of good kisses this was one of the best I’ve seen - we are talking MewGulf or MaxTul level. Very impressive. 

Star in My Mind (Fri YouTube) Ep 8fin - The previous episode was actually the finale, this was basically an epilogue that didn’t add to plot just rehash things we already knew. But since a lot of Korean BL at ends rather abruptly, it’s kind of nice when Thai BL gives us short form (for them) but still that extra nugget of boys being domestic boyfriends rehashing their romance (honestly it’s very Jane Austen - books not shows). Ultimately these two are a bit sappy and Dao is too blushing maiden for such an aggressive uke, but that’s par for the course with GMMTV. All in all, this show was better than I was expecting and not as good as it could’ve been. 8/10 RECOMMENDED Full review here. 

La Cuisine (GaGa Sat) Ep 12 - Very sweet supportive friends and family and dealing with celebrity. We learn why everyone is so protective of lc. 

KinnPorsche (iQIYI Sat) Ep 8 - I’ve been kinda quiet on this show but this week I got shit to say. So buckle tf up. (Or have your hot mafia bf do that seatbelt for ya.) There’s a lot going on (the boyfriends, the sex, the bisexual identity grappling, the mafia, the bodyguards) that everyone else here on tumblr is already debating so I don’t feel like I have to. Here’s what I do think: the chemistry is good, the bisexual crisis is on point, I’m a little concerned by some of the kink components but less than I would be if this were a MAME offering. So I’m all in on those aspects of this show. Porsche and Kinn are cute together because their respective sexual experiences are unevenly matched, but their dating experiences are not. Their awkwardness around emotional chemistry contrasts nicely against the high heat component, which makes for a very modern narrative. The footie action under the table in ep 8 did make me bark laugh. THIS is the kind of humor I want from a show like this. And then they had to do the weird horror movie Porsche scared of ghosts going slapstick. It was not bad. I’m not saying it’s BAD. Apo is a perfectly serviceable comedic actor. But this kind of humor is a jarring disconnect. This is what is driving me nuts with this show. It’s good, and when it’s on point its great, but tonally? It’s all over the fucking place. It’s like the two  directors each have an entirely different point of view about what this show is doing, and as a viewer I can tell when we switch from one to the other. (It really makes me wonder if one directed for a while and then the other came on to do all pickups. Or if it was half way filmed when it switched studios or SOMETHING.) It’s got a bad case of production personality disorder. Honestly, the first half of this episode I was like “weeee” but the second half “qua?” That’s it, that’s how I feel about KinnPorsche. It’s not consistent and it feels like a production issue. (Incidentally the actor playing Tawan is Sorn from UWMA in case you also suffered from “holy déjà vu that-man?!”)

Before anyone asks me (and knowing I only judge based on the show, never the original y-novel), I’m getting a very weak seme/uke from Kinn & Porsche, and might even place them in the switch and verse categories as well. In other words, this show is reading more queer than yaoi. 

Meow Ears Up (GaGa Tue) Ep 7 - Evan & Faiyen are basically married at this point, they’re the only ones who haven’t figured it out yet. 

Close Friend 2 AKA I smell mothballs! (Viki Thur) Ep 4 - It’s basically dealing with two kinds of closet: the one imposed on us, and the one we impose on   ourselves. Honestly Pierce and Phoon are very mature characters for a BL couple. This is the kind of relationship that only OhmFluke could really portray, and they do it very well. That’s almost the problem, this is too well done and thus discomforting. if you don’t like realism in your BL avoid this show. That said drunk uke Besties is a fun trope.

That’s My Candy (Viki Tues) Ep 5 - Side couple Viking & TamTam are stealing this one. Star Hunter always does this thing where characters neither eat nor drink what they’ve ordered. Now it’s in this show too. Frankly, I don’t want Jing and Guy to stay/be together. So I’m not really invested in the primary story arc at all. 

Cupid's Last Wish (YouTube Sun) Ep 9 - I love a “smells like my boyfriend” visual but it is a bit rich occurring on a farm. I did like this twist to the body swap. It doesn’t save the series for me, but I am liking these last few episodes. Still, Win remains an impossibly difficult character to like at all, and I doubt I will ever get over that.

Triage (AISplay Mon) Ep 5 - didn’t get it in time for this post. 

My Secret Love (YouTube Sun) Ep 1 - it’s jock/nerd Nitiman meets Semantic error only so far not as good as either and already the side dishes are more interesting than the mains. 

Ongoing Series - Not Thai

Plus & Minus (Taiwan Viki *rec* & GaGa Fri) Ep 8 - How can they be so cheesy and so cute at the same time? Also, yay Taiwan pushing the consent bandwagon, I love that look on you - especially combined with no clothes. Such a nice take on a first sex scene. This episode was basically just lots of boyfriends being boyfriends, very cute but AWFULLY calm. Like still waters before the storm calm, so I'm a bit worried too. We still have 4 episodes to get through (maybe more, there’s confusion on this), what ARE they gonna do? The pacing of this series is good, but the beats of the narrative are really unusual, it's HARD to predict. 

Fukou-kun wa Kiss Suru Shikanai! AKA Mr Unlucky Has No Choice But to Kiss! (Japan GaGa *rec*  & Viki Fri) Ep 6 - Somebody please save him. Poor baby. Anyway, they are very adorable. In this ep everything gets cleared up and intentions are stated openly and we have boyfriends launched onto the sea of drama. 2 more eps tho so… what next? 

Getaway (Singapore Mon YouTube) Ep 1 of 5 - based on an original story from a gay creator featuring an openly gay cast. vacation romance. “After his coming out goes horribly wrong, Singaporean Sam jets off to Bangkok to search for his exiled gay uncle, where he stumbles upon Top, a hopeless Thai romantic unlucky in love.” Pretty classic start to a gay romance (not BL). This is a Singapore production but it’s set in Bangkok, Thailand. I like the way they speak Thai in the show, it’s really easy for me to understand. The lead is good but I’m not sure about the muscle boy love interest, his acting is a little… uh… bad. Still it’s amusing and enjoyable so far.

The New Member (Taiwan GaGa Weds) Ep 1 - Described as “the first rock n' roll musical.” No thank you, musical theater is NOT my thing. This seems to be a broadcast of a stage performance from 2019. DNF It didn’t even make the spreadsheet. 

Gossip

MUCH anticipated Pinoy BL sequel, Gameboys 2 (already airing?) has supposedly been picked up by GaGa for international distribution. Not yet listed. 

Unforgotten Night, the dumpster fire to end all dumpster fires (we hope), has been picked up by GaGa for international distribution coming June 22. Get your marshmallows ready! I might have to live blog that one. Here’s all about it. Not yet listed. 

Taiwan’s (not really a) BL Papa & Daddy 2 is coming to GaGa starring Melvin Sia (Damian) and Chiu Mu Han (new actor as Jerry) scheduled to be released on August 8 (Taiwan's Father's Day). Not yet listed. 

New Japanese BL Old Fashion Cupcake announced, adapted from the manga of the same name by by Sagan Sagan (trailer on FB). Seems to be a hyung romance: office set, employee/boss, age gap. About a subordinate with a crush on his boss - seems a bit Cherry Magic light? Locally to Rakuten so we’re hoping they get international too. Only 5 episodes, no listing yet. 

IN CASE YOU’RE CURIOUS: Yes, statistically Japan has definitely ramped up production on BL. This is odd, normally they don’t cater to the market like this. I did not think this was going to happen. 

Everyone’s favorite Vietnamese hottie Ba Vinh (O2 Productions: Mr Cinderella etc...) is bringing us a new BL, Want To See You AKA Muốn Nhìn Thấy Em, starts June 5. This one has distribution, so I’m not sure if it will go international on their YouTube channel like usual. 

Speaking of which, it does seem like Semantic Error is getting a movie version with deleted scenes (like Wish You did). THIS IS VERY EXCITING. No listing yet. 

New Thai HISTORICAL gay romance came outta nowhere (probubly not BL) Khun Chai, English title (right now) is To Sir, With Love. Does not look like it’s gonna end happy, but I’m still VERY excited! (trailer)

In Case You Missed It

Korea’s To My Star 2: Our Untold Story will be getting its international release to GagaOOLala - except Taiwan, Japan, Korea, USA, and Canada. We seem to be getting it on Viki. (So this is a Semantic Error situation.) A very concerning eng sub trailer here on YT. I AM SO SCARED. MY BABIES. (But also shouty babies giving anyone else WBL 2 teaser flashbacks?) It's a Korean drama and "a year later," that is basically code for a breakup. I'm thinking of letting some watchers braver than me go first so I don't have to suffer the tension. A year ago I would have said we were safe, because... Korea did HEA BL. But then they produced Peach of Time & Kissable Lips so now I don't trust them anymore. 

There’s movement on Japanese BL Senpai, Danjite Koidewa! AKA Senpai, This Can’t be Love! which is taking over Mr Unlucky’s time slot, and has been reported as picked up by GaGa for international, June 17. However, I’m showing it listed for Viki. 

DNA Says Love You ( GaGa) finished its run and I binged it. Here’s your mini review: 

While this is one of those series carried by the sunshine seme character, and he does a stand-up job, Erek Lin, who plays the love interest, Amber, is luminous. I found the twist entirely predictable, but knowing what would happen didn't spoil this show for me, in fact I think I sympathized more with Amber and understood his behavior better, because I knew. DNA is full of queer found family representation and an unexpected amount of domesticity, plus it’s Taiwan, so the kisses are great. The last few eps really are special and life/love affirming - and the ending is big-grin charming. No obvious triggers. 

Full review here. 8/10 VERY MUCH RECOMMENDED

Next Week Looks Like This:

Nothing new starting next week except the 2nd installment of Star and Sky: Sky in Your Heart from GMMTV. 

This week’s best moments?

Such boyfriends (Meow Ears Up). 

And the best “heart knows trope” execution award goes to... 

Dear Doctor. 

Mr Unlucky bringing us a great take on a classic possessive seme’s “I don’t wanna be friends, I want to date you.” 

Plus and Minus, our current #1 ridiculous manchild. 

Plus and Minus all cast, cute boyfriends, plus tiny family. YAY! 

Full on support-fam action in La Cuisine. 

CEO alpha bf activated in What Zabb Man. 

Thai captions for faen are evolving from boyfriend to partner or lover. 

Been there, done that. 

(last week)

[two-red-lungs]

This might be a divisive (if that's a word) question, but I gotta know. Do you hc that the Lost Boys, like David, Marko, Paul, and Dwanye actually like womyn? Like sure they flirt with their meals to get them to let their guard down, but like outside of that.

I'm just think about how buckwild everyone went over Michael, and like their interactions with Star was more or less her being brushed off and treated like an accessory at best or a nuisance at worse. It's so stupid omfg but I feel like bad for wanting to sexualize them because of it? If that makes sense? Anyways I just wanted to see another dead head's musings over these cruelly gorgeous vampire. Like I guess this is an ask over how probably you'd see them as wanting to at the very least smash and dash, or even like fall in love with a womyn? Sorry for the word vomit and please don't answer if any of these questions squik u out!

This is actually a very nuanced and interesting set of questions! I have many opinions, as usual. Let's get into it shall we???

Lost Boys Opinions/Hot Takes

Lost Boys: Attraction to Women

Okay, to blanket-statement start off, yes. I personally believe that all the boys are, on some level, attracted to women, because honestly I have yet to encounter a vampire in any media that didn't have bisexual energy.

But I think it really varies for each of them. Like, David? Almost completely uninterested in women. Like a men-women 80-20 percentage. He prefers men. Marko would be on the other side of the spectrum: I'd put him at a men-women 30-70 percent. Kind of a sex gremblin. Paul's smack in the middle at 50-50. Dwayne is a mystery wrapped in an enigma and who knows what goes on in that gorgeous head.

They're just not very... romantic creatures. Romance is probably the furthest thing from their minds actually. I imagine the Lost Boys live in their own little reality, disconnected from the world and from humanity, and that reality is all about eating and drinking and fucking and fighting. No slowing down, no nights off. No time.

ESPECIALLY for falling in love.

The Boys & Star:

I absolutely think the way they treat Star/how her character is handled is a direct result of the director's world lense. The dude was gay. Do I blame him for making none of the boys interested in her, because of that? Absolutely the fuck NOT. However, she was completely sidelined and essentially used as straight prop/beard and she deserved better.

I think if the movie was made in 2022, we would have seen a Hannibal/Will romantic dynamic with Michael and David, with Star and Laddie playing roles as story-movers only, no romance attached. Star and Michael may have even had a better platonic friendship, allied by the fact that they both wanted to be human.

She also low-key seemed miserable and didn't like any of the boys, either, and I think she'd come alive and have way more personality around fellow women.

David & Michael:

Again, unfortunately, 80s movie. This was a very gay-coded relationship. You can tell the directors/story writers wanted them to angry kiss.

But. BUT. I don't think Michael is David's first 'fascinating boy'. I think the boys collect things: trinkets and sexual endeavors and posters and stuff. David collects (or tries to collect) people, especially people he finds sexually attractive. But by nature of his vampirism (he's fucking insane and murderous) basically nobody survives his 'tests'.

If it wasn't for the Emerson heritage of vampire hunting, I think Michael would have died, a year or two would pass, and David would find another pretty, fascinating, young boy toy.

Are the Lost Boys Sexy???

BITCH YEAH THEY ARE!!!! They are beautiful beautiful twenty-somethings with glorious hair, skintight pants, and the ability to fly. That's hot!!!! Own it!!!! It's fine!!!!

My rule of thumb is, 'would a horny man feel bad about this'? No. So I'm not going to feel bad about it either. Women are allowed to find things sexy.

For your last bit of question, I think the boys bed all sorts of folks of all genders. It usually ends in murder, however, so. There's that. But Paul has totally been to a hippie orgy, and David has absolutely been to a gay leather club. I am so so so certain.

This is sad, but I think if any of the boys fell in actual love, it would be quickly taken away from them. Because the boys survive through being insanely codependent on one another, and them drifting away to 'love' someone might be seen as a threat to be eliminated.

Like if Paul suddenly got deeply infatuated with a beautiful woman and started sending her love letters, or going on walks with her at night, if David heard about it, within the month something terrible and accidental would befall her. Because to him, Paul is his. Part of his family. And David likes to collect.

[princesssarisa]

I find your posts on opera really interesting...even though I've never seen an opera! Do you have any recommendations for getting into opera (e.g. which are the easier ones to listen to, best shows to see for a first opera, etc)?

Thanks for turning to me for this question. I'm honored.

One opera I often recommend to newcomers is Hansel & Gretel by Engelbert Humperdinck (a 19th century German composer, not the British pop singer who took said composer's name as his stage name). The story is a familiar fairy tale, it isn't too long or complicated, the tone is a nice balance between dark and light, and the music is both easy to listen to and gorgeous. As your first filmed production, I'd recommend the Metropolitan Opera's 1982 Christmas Day broadcast, which stars Frederica von Stade and Judith Blegen in the title roles, and which is sung in English.

Although if you don't want to start with a children's opera, but would prefer a more "adult" choice, there are plenty of other other options:

La Bohéme by Giacomo Puccini is often considered the ideal "first opera." The plot is a simple slice of life, the music is sumptuous, the tone effectively balances comedy and drama (although the ending is tragic), and since it's about the lives of ordinary young people and their romances and breakups, everyone can identify with at least one of the characters. If you're not a fan of sentimental tragic love stories, though, I wouldn't recommend it. But if you're open to it, than I'd recommend either of the two filmed broadcasts of Franco Zeffirelli's Metropolitan Opera production (either from 1982 with Teresa Stratas and José Carreras or from 2008 with Angela Gheorghiu and Ramón Vargas), or else Baz Luhrmann's 1993 Opera Australia production with Cheryl Barker and David Hobson, which resets the action in the 1950s (and was an obvious forerunner to Moulin Rouge!).

La Traviata by Giuseppe Verdi is another good choice. It's also a tragic love story (based on the same novel as the classic Greta Garbo movie Camille, in fact, and even more of an obvious influence on Moulin Rouge! than La Bohéme is), but it's slightly less sentimental than Bohéme and more substantial in plot, with social commentary about "fallen women" and how they're treated. Until recently, I would have recommended Franco Zeffirelli's 1982 film version starring Teresa Stratas and Plácido Domingo – it is a beautiful, compelling movie. But given the recent #MeToo allegations against Domingo and his possible links to a sex trafficking ring, it's probably not the most comfortable choice to watch anymore. So I'll recommend the 2006 LA Opera production starring Renée Fleming and Rolando Villazón – especially because I attended it in person as a teenager and saw the cameras filming!

Then there's Georges Bizet's Carmen, probably the world's most popular opera, with absolutely iconic music (you're bound to recognize at least some of it from pop culture!), a tone that strikes an excellent balance between comedy and tragedy, and a simple yet compelling story. Some are turned off by what they see as the sexism and racism of the plot (it revolves around a sexually liberated Spanish Romani woman who seduces a young soldier, driving him to a life of crime, and then leaves him when she can't bear his jealousy, which drives him to murder her), but you don't have to view it that way. It can also be seen as making thought-provoking, valuable commentary about issues of gender, race, and social class, without portraying either Carmen or Don José as clearly "good" or "bad." Of all the filmed performances, I'd recommend the 2006 Covent Garden production with Anna Caterina Antonacci and Jonas Kaufmann.

If you'd rather start with a comedy, though, Gioacchino Rossini's The Barber of Seville (Il Barbiere di Siviglia) is the classic comic opera. It's hilarious, the plot is reasonably simple and easy to follow, the characters are likable, and the virtuosic music is truly sparkling, for want of a less clichéd adjective. Jean Pierre Ponnelle's 1974 studio film version with Hermann Prey, Luigi Alva, and Teresa Berganza is probably the best widely available version to start with, though if you can get a hold of the 2007 Met production with Peter Mattei, Juan Diego Flórez, and Joyce DiDonato (it's available from Met Opera On Demand for a $4.99 rental), that's also an outstanding version.

Of course my own first opera was The Magic Flute (Die Zauberflöte) by none other than Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. The plot is slightly complicated, and the libretto features all too much 18th century racism and sexism (which modern productions and adaptations usually downplay), but it's still a very enjoyable fairy tale, magical and funny yet heartfelt and thought-provoking too, and with magnificent music. To this day I'm slightly obsessed with this opera, with a Blogspot blog devoted to my musings on it, and as you probably know from my posts, I've written a gender-bent retelling of the story, An Eternal Crown, which I'm trying to get published as a novel. I'd recommend either the 1991 Met production with Francisco Araiza and Kathleen Battle (a gorgeous traditional-yet-modernist production with sets and costumes by the famous artist David Hockney, although unfortunately, it does have the slave characters in blackface), or the 2003 Covent Garden production (a slightly darker and less traditional production, but excellently performed, and blackface-free).

I'm sorry if I've gone on too long, but this is obviously a subject I care a lot about. I hope whichever opera you choose to start with is just right for you!