#wip: neon graves

[captain-kraken]

i COULD be writing but instead i spent a shameful amount of time making Zap's outfit LOL

[oddcryptidwrites]

Oc Bag Game

@anyablackwood tagged me in this and I'm gonna leave it an open tag for anyone to hop on and play!

Rules: Name five things (or more!) your OC would have in a backpack or any bag at school.

(Since I've already done this for IASH, and most NYTF characters don't carry bags, I'll move onto the Neon Squad universe, since I've been giving them love in my head recently)

Cassander (on his person, he doesn't carry bags):

Wallet

Car keys

Aspirin for his knee

Handgun + bullets

Cell phone (that is 5+ years out of date because he refuses to upgrade)

Felix (in a small cross-body bag):

Protein bars (at least 4)

Epipen (as many as he can fit)

Whatever the most recent thing he stole is (which Cassander will make him take back)

3 weeks old phone (the screen is already cracked)

Wallet (likely lost) with no money in it

Max (in a fancy messenger bag):

Notebooks (one for each class he's taking)

Exactly 3 random pens

Epipen (1)

His laptop (fancy) and charger

Phone with a built in wallet case (with his student ID in the front)

Expensive headphones

September (tote bag):

Jar of dirt (large)

Black cloth (about 1'x1')

Approximately $49.38 in cash and change in a coin purse

A flip phone

Bones (who knows where they came from)

A piece of paper with entirely incoherent writing on it

Briana (expensive purse):

Excessively large water bottle (empty)

Fifteen used tissues (shoved in a side pocket)

Three empty chapstick tubes (and one half-used)

Epipen (1) (Notice a trend yet? it's because they need the epinephrine, but not for allergy purposes. It's about to get excessive)

Sunglasses

Wallet and keys to her car, connected together with several key chains

Dead phone

Benji (also a tote bag):

Six tubes of lipstick in varying colors

Epipens (3)

Metal mint tin full of hair ties, clips, earrings, and 100$ in cash

A single rock

Two handguns, sixteen bullets between them

Drivers License (loose)

KiKi (bookbag which hangs on the back of her wheelchair):

Literally so many books and notebooks the bag hardly closes

Ancient laptop with a fraying charging cord

Ungodly amount of pens and pencils

Lab coat and goggles

Student ID (on a lanyard attached to the bag)

Phone without the notifications turned off

Wallet (somewhere)

Tylenol bottle (almost empty)

Several used and unused epipens

Dina (in a duffle):

Scarf pins

Chapstick (one tube, cherry flavored)

Epipens (6)

gym clothes

combo lock

Phone and chunky headphones

weightlifting belt and gloves

Cael (bookbag):

Sketchbook (mostly full)

Pencil pouch full of colored pencils, pens, graphite pencils, you name it

School-owned laptop and his personal laptop (both are dead and they have no charger)

wrist braces (2)

Dead phone

Loose SmarTrip card (almost empty)

[theroadtosomewhere]

Intro/Master Post

Started: 1stSept'24

hello, i'm jules, i write & draw but you'll only see one of those things. i mostly post to ao3 under roadtosomewhere, i also have bird app. i will now self-promo, thankyou <3

────୨ৎ────BSD

Multichapter:

Semi-serious plot

Where the Wind Blows -> Chuuya dies (or does he?)

Reciprocity -> skk character study

23 Minutes -> Chuuya activates corruption without Dazai and he has thoughts about it

"Okay is Subjective" -> Sicktember 2023

It's Golden Hour Somewhere Else -> obligatory beast fic (implied)

Chuuya Wants Some Goddamn Peace and Quiet -> 2024 SKK Gift Exchange

Fluff

Soul-> 5+1, entirely fluff (first completed fic my beloved)

You Could've Knocked -> 5+1, skk through the years

Call Me "Ane-san" -> Dazai wants a big sister and doesn't ask

Crutch -> Dazai and Chuuya post 109, Chronic pain Dazai

Just a Little Bit (In Love) -> Dazai pining over Chuuya (and Aya is there too)

Ribbons and Bandages -> christmas collab (bsdc) with Ami here or here!

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year (And Die Hard is not a Christmas Movie) -> 9k of domestic skk shenanigans

It Is Probable (That I knew Nothing of What I Had Said) -> bsdc Valentines Collection

────୨ৎ────

Oneshots

A Place LIke This -> Chuuya re-emerging into a world post 109

Grief, My Old Friend -> Chuuya grieves

There Was No Peace, Only This -> Dazai's jaw gets broken (projecting)

In The Name of Care -> Atsushi visits comatose Dazai and meets exactly who you’d expect at his bedside

────୨ৎ────

Twitter threadfics

MafiaBossChuuya!

You'll Succeed (But You'll Cry)

Should've been Him (But it wasn't)

A New Truce

One Call is One Too Many

One Grave is Enough for Me

Random (that i've posted on ao3, the rest found under my twt pinned)

Fighting for Life

────୨ৎ────

Unposted WIP List:

Five Years Away (I See Us) -> Dazai gets stuck in an ability that shows him a scenario he doesn't know how to accept (Dazai Osamu is Bad at Feelings)

Neon Streetlights to Guide you home -> Dazai discovers at what cost Amenogozen was beaten (Suffering Nakahara Chuuya)

I Want Him to See Tomorrow

Leaves Change with the Seasons

────୨ৎ────

offhand comment, if you police other ppl online, kindly~

╭∩╮（￣▽￣）╭∩╮

[phatburd]

I have a very rough idea for Bessières’ afterlife and it’s … not nice.

Inspired by the rambling I did on @impetuous-impulse ‘s posts I had an inkling of a marshalate fic idea that I probably won’t write because it has a bit of conceptual overlap with Night At The Marshalate and I need to poke that

But basically some kind of surreal dreamlike fic where Napoleon and the marshals are in a strange fairytale afterlife where their personas and appearances are shaped by their legacies and historical viewpoints, and the disconnect between that and how they remember themselves to be and yeah that’s another layer of inaccurate interpretation via me but we need to cut off that infinite regression

But also, and historical RPF shippingness ahead:

Napoleon would be grandiose, short, a towering conqueror, statuesque and beautiful but also monstrous and hungry

And you contrast this with Lannes who was struck down in his prime as the Roland or Achilles of the Grande Armee, a knight-hero beloved and flattened into bravery and tragedy

But even if Napoleon is an ogre or a tyrant or a beast or a mythologised marble statue, this knight-hero Lannes will follow him loyally even into the night

(And then you have Roi Nicolas Soult characterised by a slanderous tortured ambition, holding a crowned laughing mask over his scowling face

Fiery Ney burning forever in defiance, and how he haunts those who outlived him, a veritable Marley in chains of bravery and honour-

Haunting the “little drummer boy” Victor of the sunny face and guilty mind

Scintillating Murat who has been characterised as a foppish idiot who didn’t know what to do with power, looking into cracked mirrors

I could keep going on but look weird dreamlike fairytales is a genre I enjoy way too much)

And yes this is also inspired by fgo napoleon I think Murat is peak Rider and Lannes is peak Saber

[simplegenius042]

WIP Wednesday, My WIP as Stock Photos and OC NSFW Chart

Tagged by @noodlecupcakes @direwombat @socially-awkward-skeleton @voidika and @imogenkol

Invited to participate if I so wished by @la-grosse-patate for the WIP as stock photos.

Tagging @inafieldofdaisies @cassietrn @adelaidedrubman @shellibisshe @aceghosts @josephseedismyfather @icecutioner @derelictheretic @shallow-gravy @strangefable @rhettsabbott @josephslittledeputy @cloudofbutterflies92 @skoll-sun-eater @carlosoliveiraa @g0dspeeed @wrathfulrook @afarcryfrommymain @strafethesesinners @turbo-virgins @raresvtm @softtidesworld @starsandskies @ladyoriza @florbelles @minilev @yokobai @thewanderer-000 @omen-speaker @justasmolbard @alypink and @thesingularityseries + anyone who'd like to join.

WIPs for The Silver Chronicles and Life, Despair & Monsters and a stock photo recreation of my original WIP Wings And Horns. The specific WIPs I'll be looking at for the former two is the main FC5 fic Silva's Hope and my HOTD fic The Thorned Crown Of Iron Thrones. Also NSFW chart for Nadi Sinclair. Read below the cut:

It would be an understatement to say that Silva has a rocky and complex relationship with many characters in Silva's Hope. From her disdain towards Joseph to the overall romantic tension between her and Faith. However, the most complicated comes with her closest allies; that being Kamski Neon (the closest she has to a living remnant of her Tumultite past and Irene's father) and Gavin Turquoise (a lawyer she had befriended as one of her first friends in Hope County). Kamski, while he definitely considers Silva his top priority and cares for her, also doubts her decisions on numerous occasions, gaslights her and has gone out of his way to go behind her back or even outright sabotage Silva for "her safety". Gavin on the other hand doesn't really consider her a friend and more as a little social and psychological study he wants to keep around to pick apart, intentionally applying pressure on her triggers (without outright setting them off... yet). Here we'll focus on Gavin, from his POV when meeting Silva at the Jail in the Henbane:

When he stepped outside, the blaring sun blinded him with its shine and hounded him with its heat.

Once his eyes adjusted, he analyzed the state of the jailhouse courtyard. He grimaced at the damage, a frown set on his face at the bodies of the deceased and wounded, both allies and enemies, strewn about the dirt and grass.

Gavin had half-a-mind to be thankful to Charles for his permission to leave Schrödinger in the doctor's office. No child, especially his charge, should witness the results of a war.

He exhaled through his nose, wearily stepping over the bodies. Most would be burned anyway, especially the Angels, the poor bastards. A few Cougar fighters might get buried, though it's more than likely they'd be sharing a pit alongside a Peggie. He'd have to keep Schrödinger inside when that came to pass.

He expertly strode past the fighters that were doing head counts, singling out the dead from the unconscious. Deep blue scanned the scattering crowd, until he locked onto two figures out by the open gate.

One was Sheriff Whitehorse, the man he's been co-leading with ever since they picked him up from one of Faith's herds walking the "Path". Quite the advantageous decision, as his authority and trustful demeanor, combined with Gavin's charisma and organization skills, put a stop to the constant treachery.

The other was a surprise; Silva Omar, a suspicious and unordinary woman, now deputy, who consistently sought him out for companionship ever since they met. A rather unique opportunity he took advantage of, to gain her trust and dig out her secrets, while under the guise as her "friend". A tenuous process, but not unsatisfying. Though not enough.

If only I could get that close to Joseph Seed. However, Gavin had already buried his grave there when he targeted Eden's Gate. Not that he hadn't enjoyed the slander.

He noticed Silva was struggling to walk straight. Her dark hair tied in a loosened braid tail, the telltale slivers of silver dye running down the appendage. Her attire covered her skin, gloves not showing an inch of flesh. Dirt stained her clothing, Whitehorse dutifully supporting his deputy's side, guiding her towards the jail.

She was also dazed and unfocused. He decided to adhere to the role of a concerned friend, and paced up into a jog towards both sheriff and deputy.

Gaining closer, he could see the exhaustion written on Silva's face, breathing ragged and grey eyes fighting a familiar glaze. There was a bruise already darkening above her brow.

"Sheriff is she al-?" Gavin cut himself off as he put on a mask of shock, "Silva?"

Silva squinted at him, and familiarity etched into her expression, and weakly uttered out, "Gavin? You're here?"

Her speech seemed slurred, too soft for the likes of her. It wasn't her neutral low nor was it her recognizable bluntness. He angled his head in a tilt to better see her eyes as they struggled to remain open.

He was alarmed by the green glazed sparkles that shined in her eyes. She's met Faith, he deduced. Silva was a cautious person, and intelligent at that. He doubted she went up to smell a Bliss flower in spite of the cult's frequent use of them.

He attended her unoccupied side, glanced to Whitehorse and stated, "Let's get her inside for treatment."

Whitehorse nodded in agreement, "My thoughts exactly."

Supporting Silva, Gavin and Whitehorse were able to work swiftly in getting Silva past the gate. He gave a signal to Virgil, who gave a quick nod in understanding as he started to call out to two Cougar fighters to get the gate closed.

Gavin took note of the state of Silva's attire. He furrowed his brows when he noticed the dark bloodstains that seeped into her coat. His eyes wandered over her body, concerned over the potential loss of his favorite person to study, searching for any dire wounds.

His eyes laid on the stained knife strapped to her belt and the handgun splattered with specks of red. He internally sighed, realizing the blood didn't belong to her, and that she must have joined the fight at some point while he had been inside.

Chatter came their way, the crowd of Cougar fighters out in the jail's courtyard as their attention shifted to them. Or rather Silva.

Gavin raised a brow, listening in to the indistinct words that circled around the fighters as gossip ignited like a wildfire once again.

Here's the stock photos I have for my House Of The Dragon fic The Thorned Crown Of Iron Thrones and my original work, Wings And Horns:

Rules: describe your WIP in stock photos, the dumber the better.

THE THORNED CROWN OF IRON THRONES (LIFE, DESPAIR & MONSTERS [HOUSE OF THE DRAGON])

WINGS AND HORNS (ORIGINAL WORKS)

And have an NSFW chart for Nadi Sinclair from my Far Cry 5 and Call Of Duty Modern Warfare WIPs:

Template below:

[revenantlore]

. WIP Introduction .

In the crumbling heart of the metropolis known as Nocturna City, a sinister drug known as Noxiglow has taken root. Those who dare to indulge in its seductive embrace are transformed into a new breed of vampires—neon-bleeding creatures with supernatural powers.

This results in unspeakable carnage and alarm erupts throughout the city, leading to an immediate lockdown that few abide by despite the costs.

Detective Vektor “Vex” Graves, a jaded and relentless investigator, is thrust into the neon-lit abyss of Nocturna's underworld. With his AURAndroid partner, Detroit, they embark on a perilous journey to uncover the dark origins of Noxiglow and put an end to the escalating chaos and death it leaves in its wake.

As Vex delves deeper into the investigation, he infiltrates the illicit world of Nocturna's vampire nightclubs, where neon-blooded addicts revel in their newfound powers. Undercover as a hopeful vampire fledgling, Vex encounters Nokia, a captivating and mysterious vampire, and the lines between duty and desire blur.

Vex's attraction to Nokia grows, casting him into an emotional whirlwind as he grapples with the complexities of his feelings for a man he should view as an enemy and not a lover, on top of the confusion he endures over his “relationship” with Detroit.

The neon world is fraught with danger and temptation, and Vex must navigate a treacherous path to maintain his cover while unraveling the secrets behind Noxiglow's creation.

In a city where neon-lit darkness conceals deadly truths, Vex and Detroit must race against time to expose the malevolent forces behind Noxiglow and confront their own inner demons.

Characters :

Vektor “Vex” Graves

Vex's day doesn't truly begin until he's had his fifth cup of coffee, though his job seldom allows him time for more than two. Coffee is a constant warm companion, helping him stay alert during long nights on the job and tiresome investigations, and some days it's the only warm companion he allows himself.

Other days, he finds himself warm under the sheets beside his work partner, Detroit.

Despite his sharp mind, Vex struggles with impatience and indecision. He can be quick to jump into action but often finds himself overthinking choices, caught between a desire for immediate results and a nagging need to weigh every option. Having Detroit as a partner ready and willing to knock some sense into him is a blessing he sometimes takes for granted.

In and outside of work, Vex is drawn to the hidden corners of Nocturna. Urban exploration comes as both a passion and an escape, allowing him to immerse himself into the quiet mysteries of decaying buildings and forgotten spaces-occasionally stumbling upon an equally decaying body along the way. And despite his advanced mechanical eye, Vex prefers to capture the essence of this dilapidated world through the lens of an old, beat-up Polaroid he found at a junk-lot.

D3TRO-17 “Detroit”

D3TRO-17 is a top-of-the-line AURAndroid [Artificial Unification & Reconnaissance Android] hired on to work alongside Detective Vex Graves. Meticulous and prone to getting caught up in the small details, having a human for a partner makes work a lot easier.

Underneath the occasional biting sarcasm and unwavering honesty, Detroit harbors a soft side that manifests in his appreciation for life's smallest joys. He finds wonder in the most simple and mundane aspects of human life, the intricacies of insects, and possesses an endearing quirk for collecting seemingly trivial objects.

If asked, he would say dandelion wishes and pinky promises are his favorite aspects of life.

Though much of his knowledge is crammed into his internal database, Detroit favors tangible objects.

Much like a teenager from a time long past who might pin media posters to his walls, Detroit's walls are adorned with scraps of paper torn from history books, loose cards from old trivia games, and dried flowers he finds between the cracks of old buildings.

Detroit longs for a sense of belonging and humanity he fears he may never achieve.

Mattix Nysoth

Mattix Nysoth is an enigmatic hermit who exists on the fringes of society. They lead a transient life, wandering wherever the night guides them, finding shelter in abandoned buildings once full of life that Mattix tries to emulate through imagined scenarios brought to life with paint and calloused fingers.

Mattix's existence is an intricate dance with danger and survival, marked by a series of illegal and improperly installed implants that are both a lifeline and a curse.

Their body bears a patchwork of these hazardous implants, each representing a desperate attempt to gain an edge in a world that often leaves them behind.

While these enhancements provide occasional advantages, they come at a steep cost, in both health and legality.

Though Mattix's demeanor is often abrasive, it is more a defensive mechanism forged from years of solitude and abandonment than a representation of their true self. Trust is a rare commodity and they've learned to keep others at arm's length unless it serves them in some form or another. However, beneath this tough exterior lies a deep desire for connection.

nokia grimoire info to come eventually

[mysticstarlightduck]

Unusual Associations Tag!

Thanks for tagging me @kaylinalexanderbooks (here)!

Rules: pick an OC and describe what you associate with them in each category

I'll go with Jack Tithus, Valen Cassidy, Kye Thalax, and Quince Warren! (Those characters are from my WIPs Supernova Initiative - Jack & Kye - and Scrapyard Boys - Valen & Quince).

Jack Tithus

Seasoning - Cocoa (he loves chocolate)

Weather - A sunny day in the middle of spring

Color - Bright orange, red, salmon pink

Sky - The night sky is filled with stars

Magical power - He doesn't have one but I think that if he did have one it would either be Fire Manipulation (he has a very energetic, 'fiery' personality and has a generally fire-coded color scheme) or Shield Creation/Force Field Creation (he is fiercely protective of those he loves and would do anything to keep them safe and shield them from harm)

Plant - Snapdragon ("The snapdragon is a fiery and fierce flower that symbolizes strength, courage, and defiance. It is often used to ward off evil spirits, bad luck, and negative influences. The snapdragon can also express the determination and resilience of a person, a group, or a cause.")

Weapon - Stun pistol (traditional laser pistol, set to stun not kill)

Social media - He probably would have really liked Discord

Makeup - Vanilla lip balm?

Candy - HOT CHOCOLATE

Fear - 1. losing his sister &/or failing his friends/being unable to protect his loved ones, 2. being helpless, controlled, or trapped, 3. insectophobia (fear of insects)

Method of long-distance travel - Spaceship

Art style - Sketching

Mythological creature - Phoenix ("A universal symbol of resurrection, whether representing a character’s spiritual resurgence or their literal return from the grave. Also featured heavily in royal heraldry, the mythological creature is said to stem from Greek and Roman mythology".)

Stationary - Spray Paint

Celestial body - Red Supergiant

Valen Cassidy

Seasoning - Carolina reaper pepper

Weather - A heavy rainstorm with drastic winds and the constant crash of lightning

Color - Deep yellow, neon blue, pastel yellow

Sky - A dark stormy sky, streaked with yellow or blue lightning

Magical power - He actually does have powers and his superpowers are Electrical Conduction, Electrokinesis, and in extreme cases Storm Manipulation.

Plant - Petunias ("The petunia flower does not hold positive and happy sentiments. It displays deep feelings of resentment, anger, and trouble. They also symbolize perseverance and an unwavering spirit")

Weapon - Baseball bat, switchblade, fists (punches)

Social media - Valen doesn't really like social media but he does enjoy his setting's version of Spotify/Youtube

Makeup - Eyeliner

Candy - Cupcakes

Fear - 1. being weak, failing, being forced to comply by arbitrary rules, 2. aichmophobia/trypanophobia (fear of needles/fear of proximity to sharp, needle-like objects), 3. being worthless

Method of long-distance travel - Cars, trains, planes, motorcycles, bikes, etc. Most of our modern means of transportation but make it slightly more futuristic and cyberpunk.

Art style - Embroidering

Mythological creature - Sea Serpent (Sea serpents represent the eternal cycle of creation, destruction, and renewal, emphasising the transformative power of nature. Resilience and Adaptation: Sea serpents symbolise resilience and the ability to adapt to challenging environments.)

Stationary - Neon markers

Celestial body - Quasar

Kye Thalax

Seasoning - Rosemary

Weather - A cloudy day where the sky is covered by white or grey clouds but it isn't raining yet, preferably in winter

Color - Off-white, ice blue, pitch black

Sky - Cloudy

Magical power - He doesn't have an actual power in the story but if he did have some kind of superpower I think his would be either Poison/Acid Generation (he is a master of poisons and lethal chemicals in this story and his preferred method of killing his enemies is by poisoning them, so it makes sense his power would be that) or Mind Control (he has a tendency to be quite unreadable and will use people to get what he wants, as well as is an expert liar)

Plant - Burgundy Dahlia (This kind of Dahlia is typically associated with sorrows, death and a warning of betrayal. In general, Dahlias can also symbolize finding inner strength.)

Weapon - Poison, chemical grenades, pistol

Social media - Kye would probably really like Tumblr and would love having an art blog

Makeup - Foundation, mascara

Candy - Coconut Candy

Fear - 1. being unable to enact his revenge and get justice against those who commit terrible wrongs, 2. being unremarkable 3.athazagoraphobia (fear of forgetting someone or something, as well as a fear of being forgotten.)

Method of long-distance travel - Spaceship, hoverbike

Art style - Watercolor

Mythological creature - Siren (Sirens in Greek mythology were infamous for their captivating and melodious voices. They used their enchanting songs to lure sailors and voyagers. These melodies were irresistible, drawing sailors towards treacherous rocks and inevitable doom. The power of their voices was such that no human could resist their call, leading to many tales of shipwrecks and lost lives. The sirens symbolized temptation and the dangers that come with it.)

Stationary - Fountain Pen

Celestial body - Magnetars

Quince Warren

Seasoning - Cinnamon

Weather - A warm summer night in a cyberpunk city-scape

Color - Dark grey, crimson, violet

Sky - Night sky lit up by colorful neon city lights

Magical power - He actually does have powers and his superpowers are Blood Manipulation + Body Heat Manipulation, meaning he can control the blood inside people and even make people implode by boiling their blood from the inside out.

Plant - Astrantia (Astrantia, also known as masterwort, is a delicate flower with star-shaped petals and a spiky center. It symbolizes strength, courage, and protection. It is said to have healing properties and to ward off evil spirits. In the language of flowers, astrantia means “I have your back”.)

Weapon - Taser, his powers, gun

Social media - He doesn't really get social media really well but loves movie streaming platforms

Makeup - Lip gloss and perfume?

Candy - Pancakes

Fear - 1. being a monster, unlovable, broken 2. being sent to the Spectre Academy/Agency, or his sister being sent there 3. aviophobia (fear of planes, or flying in general)

Method of long-distance travel - Similar to Valen (Cars, trains, planes, motorcycles, bikes, etc. Most of our modern means of transportation but make it slightly more futuristic and cyberpunk. )

Art style - Music

Mythological creature - Vampire (the whole blood-related theme and his ability to use humans' blood against them, vampires feed on the living to remain immortal and Quince later discovers a facet of his power that is much like that - Energy Draining Capabilities. Vampires are also often transformed into monsters against their will, much like Quince believes his power did to him)

Stationary - Post-its

Celestial body - Black Hole

Tagging (gently): @sleepy-night-child, @kaylinalexanderbooks, @smol-feralgremlin, @oh-no-another-idea, @littleladymab,

@winterandwords, @eccaiia, @sarahlizziewrites, @illarian-rambling

@agirlandherquill, @anoelleart, @ray-writes-n-shit

@the-golden-comet, @writernopal, @anyablackwood, @unstablewifiaccess, @forthesanityofstorytellers

@i-can-even-burn-salad, @topazadine

@lassiesandiego, @thepeculiarbird, @clairelsonao3, @memento-morri-writes, @starlit-hopes-and-dreams and OPEN TAG

[kharonion]

I would like to hear about Purgatory 👀👀👀

[ ask about my WIPs ]

Whoof, this is probably the most Angsty and Rough WIP currently. It's already made me cry a few times... oops. Purgatory is the telling of the infamous Rooftop Scene, but for Vikt's specific canon story. And... it's as heart-wrenching as it might already sound. This happens near endgame, so Vikt is at a point where he is severely struggling to maintain even a granule of hope; he's exhausted all options, stuck with this death sentence he has no clue what to do about. It's ugly, frankly...

SNIPPET—WARNING, THIS IS ROUGH; TW for depression and dangerous ideation:

“V.”

“What.”

“Talk to me. Because I know you’re—”

“You don’t fucking know shit, Johnny.” 

He sulks in the cheap chair. Makes it creak under his weight, but hell if he cares. Doesn’t care about much anymore, brain fried to the point he can hardly register where he even is; the only clues it’s a rooftop are the faint whooshes of a breeze, the rare absence of the city stench. 

Johnny perches, overlooks the cityscape. He’s gotten more real by the day. His chrome now gleams in the neon lights. His eyes are a definitive brown—and they’ve not stopped looking at him. Big and sad, like a puppy dog.

Vikt can’t bring himself to return the gaze.

He’s a dead man walking, they say—some go so far as to throw out the word zombie. Pulled back from the brink enough times to count on two hands. People call him… lucky. Makes Vikt sick. Pisses him off. 

He sure as fuck doesn’t feel like it. 

Not when he’s lost damn near everyone his cold, dark heart has opened up to. When he now has to visit their graves, stare longingly at the names he can’t bring himself to delete from his contact list in the hopes they’ll pick up when he calls.

Not when he’s a monster of Arasaka’s creation who has ruined so many lives with his own two hands. When he’s worn innocent blood like a second skin and thought nothing of it.

Not when he sits here so close to death he tastes it on his tongue—a disgusting copper, so thick it’s leaden in his throat. A dread he can’t swallow. A hopelessness gnawing at the few nerves his brain has left. His heart aches, but it’s hard to tell if it’s from the cloud of despair or the way his heart struggles to keep him alive.

The pistol rests right there. Its metal is glittering like a beacon. His eyes won’t leave it. Vaguely, he knows his fingers twitch; they’re craving its weight in the palm of his hand. Something tugs at him, pulls his hand toward it ever so slowly… This is your way out. This is your solace, your release. This is what’s best—for everyone.

“Fuck you doing, V?” Johnny’s snap is enough for Vikt’s eyes to dart away and finally lock with the engram’s stare.

“Thinking.”

“Well, cut it out. You’re makin’ me nervous.”

Vikt scoffs. “What? What happened to just taking what’s yours, J? Wiping me out so you can live happily fucking after?”

[sweetmage]

WIP Wednesday 🎉

Heeeey I'm writing Disco Elysium fanfic for the first time! ✨I always get nervous and overthink it when I start writing for a new fandom so I figured I'd start small and casual for practice!😅

Anyway, this takes place a few weeks after the end of the game when Kim and Harry haven't had much of a chance to follow up with one another since then. A little cafe meet-up to check in before they get back to business.

Contains big spoilers for the end of the game, of course!

Little could compare to the satisfying kla-thunk of the Kineema's door, save perhaps for the steady whir of the engine when it roared to life. Kim hadn't been out in a while, it was all paperwork and boxes for the final stretch, calls between the 57th and 41st to square away his transfer. It was nice to be back behind the wheel. He could almost feel himself deflate in his seat. When the frost had left his windows, his foot hit the gas and he was on his way.

The roads felt unfamiliar when he wasn't patrolling them, like if he spaced out for even a moment he'd wind right back up at his former precinct or perhaps the world would spontaneously rewind and send him back to the site of his last case...

A deep breath. He flicked on the radio and tuned it to something mellow, letting the noise fill the car and quiet his mind a touch until nothing remained but but his destination. The legendary Precinct 41... he whistled long and low to no one in particular, then settled back like he hadn't.

He'd do fine there, he knew that—better than fine, if he could help it—but he still wasn't without his trepidation. His career as an officer of the law hadn't exactly been smooth sailing. Fifteen years forced to oversee delinquent teens while his peers were out there solving real cases... the 'real case' that netted six dead despite their efforts... He shook his head.

He wondered how Harry was doing. They'd kept sparse contact in the following weeks, recovery updates and the like, but he rarely let them stray too far from professional. Whatever anecdotes or personal tidbits he had brewing were best saved for today.

Quaint neon lights and humble bricks greeted him as he pulled in to the café where he'd agreed to meet Harry. After all, they'd be partners again, in a way. Harry would give him the lay of the land, get him acquainted with everyone (perhaps more a test of Harry's memory than any true orientation) and Kim would oversee his progress during his probationary period, keep him on track. He tried not to dwell on how much that sounded like another kid-sitting job.

He found his way inside and was met by the gentle warmth of a well-loved interior and air smelling faintly of berries and cheap coffee. There was already someone in the corner booth, a man with a large frame and wild hair who was asleep. The waitress gave Kim a nervous smile and pointed her pen at the sleeping figure.

"Sorry ma'am," he sighed "I'll wake him."

The waitress' face softened a touch, but she didn't look pleased. "Yeah. You do that." She shuffled back behind the counter and left him to it.

Of course, Kim expected the worst. Painkillers, alcohol, both maybe? He'd been injured after all, and gravely so. It would only take one little slip up and...

"Harry," he said, his voice firm as the hand with which he shook his shoulder. "It's time to get up. Have some coffee, you'll feel better." Harry mumbled something in his sleep, a name? A refusal? Kim shook him again and he woke with a start and a cough, hands splayed upon the scuffed table and eyes wide like an animal before he focused and relaxed, slumping into the booth like a deflated balloon.

"Whu-?" He blinked up at him, squinted, then blinked again. He was unshaven and his hair was unruly, but he seemed sober, if only a bit tired. "About time. Traffic must have been killer, huh?"

Seating himself across from him, Kim cleared his throat and adjusted his glasses. "I'm early."

"Heh, so am I." He grinned, though he looked sheepish even as he reclined casually and threw an arm over the back of his seat. "Trying to impress you with my punctuality, but I lost it there for a minute. Feel free to still be impressed, though."

"It's good to see you up and about," he said, glossing over his request. "How are you doing?"

"Great! Fantastic. Feeling really good."

Kim eyed the dark circles under his eyes, the slight hunch of his back. "Really?"

"Really really. I'm a changed man, Kim. Totally reformed. No more of that... y'know," he waved his hand, "nasty shit. I'm going to be the most perfect cop. You're gonna be proud, you're gonna tell everyone, 'hey, I knew this guy when he was a big fuck-up. Now he's a great cop. What happened, you ask? I fixed him. That's right, he's my prodigy.' That's what you'll say."

"I don't think I'll be saying any of that. But, yes. I'm glad to hear you're on the right path. You seem happier, like the lights have come on." He raised a finger to his eyes to demonstrate his meaning.

"Still dark as hell when I close my eyes," he said, doing so with a deep inhale but then his smile went crooked and the glimmer came back. "But I gotta keep shining, baby. Light up the sky, you and me, right?"

"Right, keep shining," Kim agreed, nodding sagely, the slightest of smiles tugging at the corners of his lips. "And how are your injuries?"

"Only hurts when I run. Or walk. Or sit down. Or stand up. So, pretty much always. The scar will look cool, though. Like I'm a badass." He mimicked a few gunshots with his hand then let them drop to the table. "So, yeah, not great. Still healing. Still sore. You know how it is." His eyes darted to the side, then back. "How are you?" There was an earnestness in his voice, and... something else?

"You should take it easy for now. Your leave is up in a week, and I'll need you to be ready." He didn't answer his question, and the waitress chose that moment to arrive, notepad and pen in hand. "Do you know what you want? I'll buy." It was unlikely Harry had the funds anyway.

"I'll have what he's having." He flashed her something between a smile and a grimace, throwing in a wink for good measure, he supposed. She rolled her eyes. Harry looked a bit put off but recovered quickly.

"Alright then." She turned her attention Kim, pen at the ready. "What will you be having?"

"Just a coffee, ma'am, thank you."

Nodding and turned to retreat, she was stalled when Harry's hand came down hard upon the table.

"Wait!" He called to her, "I'm changing my order." The waitress sighed, exasperated, but he forged ahead. "I'll have what he's not having. Gimme whatever. Surprise me."

"He'll have an omelette, ma'am," Kim interjected, then turned back to him. "Please behave yourself."

"I think I'm the least of your worries this time," he countered, leaning his elbow on the table and his chin on his hand.

"How do you mean?" Though he asked, he had the hair raising feeling he already knew the answer. This was Harry, after all, he had that way about him.

"You'll do great at the 41st, just like you did at the 57th. You're the type of guy who could walk into any precinct, start handing out orders, and people would listen." He spoke like this was a well known fact. "You'd be great anywhere."

"I... thank you," he replied, caught a little off guard. "I hope you're right about that."

[tired-inyxe]

WIP - Batfam/Dc Tag Masterlist

This is ridiculously long so m putting it under cut, m gonna add more (YES MORE. THERES A LOTTA CHARACTERS OK???) tags when I feel like it but I wanna finalize my main master post later

#bat anatomy -batfam masterpost (and everything else dc)

#going batty -batfam analysis (typically angry)

#mailing pipe bombs -enraged at dc's writers

#honey im taking the kids -stuff about dc's poor treatment of the batkids (they're mine now fuck u)

#the bat -abt batman in all its forms (persona not a specific character)

#the bird -abt robin in all its forms (ditto)

#the shadows -abt every other persona in all their forms(because normal ppl dont know em)

#bernards pegboard -crack headcanons

#sandbox -headcanons

#my story now -my personal batfam timeline/story (because dc sucks at writing

#shoved in mahogany 6 feet under -wasted potential of any/all characters

#revived wings -my view of a bat characters true potential

#case files -panels/pages that I use for evidence abt canon

#bamboozled -fun canon comic panels that make me laugh

#goth cake -batfam art

#dysfunctional worms -batfam writing

#cave screeches -rambles, usually angry

#bats and birds -any and all posts that contain any of em

#batcape -anything Bruce

#disco girl -anything Dick

#pride and prejudice -anything Jason

#skateboards and spite -anything Tim

#kittens and knives -anything Damian

#dayshift -anything Duke

#potato waffles -anything Steph

#ballet shoes -anything Cass

#spot of tea -anything Alfred

#all seeing snark -anything Babs

#handmade guns and gender envy -anything Harper

#jaded red -anything Kate

#lack the worms dc edition -any character i dont know/care about enough to make a custom tag for (m sorry)

#revolving door -Rogues gallery

#REFORM THE DAMN JUSTICE SYSTEM YOU BILLIONAIRE -me complaining about dc's inability to make Bruce use his fuckin money and power to change the city, also any arkham/blackgate rants

#i stabbed him hes dead -anything joker

#bats and hounds -anything Harley

#eco friendly -anything Ivy

#shot him he's dead too -anything Black Mask

#strawman argument -anything Scarecrow

#your wife is dead -anything Mr Freeze (sorry not sorry)

#bipolar ableism but gay -anything Harvey

#scared of seals -anything Penguin

#neon green twink -anything Riddler

#broke b's spine -anything Bane

#leather catgirl -anything Selina

#back in the cell -every other rogue I don't care about

#god forbid a woman have hobbies -anything Thalia

#withering gamer -anything Ra's

#magic mountain dew -Lazarus pit

#assassin gamers -League of Assasins

#competent idiots -Justice League

#its just an s -anything Clark

#unbreakable porcelain -anything Diana

#retired at the speed of light -anything Barry

#zooming with the big leagues now -anything Wally

#h in adhd -anything the Flash persona

#neon green with a ring -anything Hal

#weak to yellow -anything Green lantern persona

#blowing bubbles -anything Arthur

#he stole the braincell -anything Jhon (theres an accent mark somewhere in there ill fix it later)

#batson but not yet adopted -anything Billy

#cigarette ash -anything Constantine

#fics favorite magician -anything Zatanna

#hijacked the mainframe -anything Cyborg

#signature chili -anything Ollie

#screech metal -anything Black Canary

#under the roundtable -everyone else in the Justice League

#every band eventually -og Teen Titans (they broke up)

#saltwater bubble blower -anything Garth

#tectonic shifter -anything Terra

#red threads and all -anything Red X

#i exploded him yw -anything Slade

#stronger than steel -anything Donna (might change)

#shapeshifting greenbean -anything Gar

#goth girls inspiration -anything Raven

#international incidents the team -Young Justice

#test tube baby -Anything Kon

#meep meep -anything Bart

#girlbossed zeus -anything Cassie

#rags to the grave -anything Greta

#arrows notched red -anything Cissie

#mosh pit winner -anything Anita

#panic at the disco -anything Slobo

again, theres still more. dc is an 80 year long series theres so many guys. also not sold on some of these so various tags may be subject to change

[halestrom]

WIP Wednesday

ty to @spurious

So this week, I'm gonna do something different and look through my graveyard of fics I've kind of not worked on in awhile and see if something sparks. Or hell, just talk about them a bit bc they are my darlings and still technically WIP's.

State of the WIPs

Indiana Jones (Indy is John's Dad and Daniels his adopted brother, just go with it)

Angst Fest (Post Canon John is Alone and Atlanits has Feelings about it)

Dark and Stormy (Rodney crashes into John's fancy gate and gets stuck in his mansion)

Neon Graves (Vegas Sheppard verse)

OT4 Fake Dating (What it says on the tin)

Mensa (the Rod verse)

This week's ✨WIP Wednesday Theme✨ is:

Grab Bag!

A handful of emoji ask box prompts for your edification.

♻ If someone were to remix this WIP, what would you be excited to see them explore?

🎶 Share a song or a playlist!

🔢 Describe your wip in the format of “___ + ___ =___”

⁉ Share a snippet that contains a question mark or exclamation point (or an interrobang)

👉 Get to work! Work on your WIP for at least five minutes. Tell us about it!

[captain-kraken]

Happy STS! I hope this week has been good to you, and that your weekend is off to a great start 💕

Because I’ve had Dungeons & Dragons on my mind all week, that’s what this question is about! Let’s say your OCs all get together to play DND (they can all be from the same WIP or you can mix and match if you’d like!)

Here’s what I want to know:

Who’s the DM?

What kind of characters does everyone else create? Are they more into the roleplay, the combat encounters, or something else?

How does the first session of the campaign go? Any notable dice rolls, and most importantly, did everyone make it out alive?

Happy STS! Thank you for the ask :D

There is an equivalent of D&D in Blue Blood but I'm gonna do this based on our version.

I took one OC from almost all of my WIPs and I feel like they'd play characters very similar to themselves.

With Mahrias is the DM (as he has experience lol):

Sid from Dead Serious would play a chaotic rogue that won't stop creating messes.

Alexander from The Heist would be an artificer who asks a lot of questions about everything.

Kaz from Your Influence would be a warlock who helps Sid in his mischief.

Viter from Blue Blood would be a bard trying to keep everyone together.

Zap from Neon Graves would be a himbo barbarian who just wants to help everyone.

Hiro from The Unnatural would be a druid who tries to avoid conflict as much as possible (excluding combat).

If any of the characters die in the first session, it would definitely be Sid, in a really stupid way lol. Which is kinda ironic considering he's also the only dead OC at the table.

It would be a long session because Sid and Kaz would constantly be derailing it with random things, whilst Alexander would be squeezing as much info out of everything as he can.

Sid and Kaz would definitely try and do something absolutely ridiculous that Mahrias agrees to thinking they'd fail the roll, only for them to get a Nat 20 lol. The session only goes more chaotic from there.

[mangacat201]

WIP WEDNESDAY

Coming back with a new snippet of the Eddie vs. bondage fic, since I managed to transcribe most of what I've written so far and add some today in a truly unprecedented amount of daily words (for me) rn. This is a bit later than the Teaser Tidbit, but introduces my OFC whom I'm very excited to get to know better. Tagged is who interacted with my first post, which I've pinned now, so if you'd like to be added to and updated, interact with that one, I guess. OK, here goes nothing:

Upon closer inspection, it reads “The Sphere” in a gorgeous cursive neon-light script, but there is no bass hammering from inside the walls that would point towards a run of the mill dance club. His feet make the decision for him before his head catches up. The entrance opens into a short stairwell that goes down in near darkness and then leads into an open space bar that has Eddie stopping dead for the second time tonight if for vastly different reasons.

This… is definitely not his scene.

It’s all read and burnt orange indirect lighting, exposed bulbs and retro shades that give it the vibe of a prohibition speakeasy with a modern twist. The centrepiece is a gorgeous mahogany bar and the booths set back into the walls are decked out with velvet of such a dark shade of burgundy, it looks black in the shadows. There’s a reasonable number of patrons around, but it’s not terribly busy. In his ordinary jeans, t-shirt and khaki jacket combo Eddie feels… not underdressed precisely, but just slightly to the left of what seems to be the norm here. It’s almost enough to make him turn on his heel again, but the few eyes that glance his way sweep over him without judgement and a stubborn little voice in the back of his head tells him to <i>stop fucking running already, it’s embarrassing.</i>.

It’s a bar, they serve alcohol, presumably, which is what he’s looking for right now – that, and a little quiet. So he makes his body move, sits down on a barstool at the far side and orders a shot of top-shelf tequila just because he can and after having thrown it back, tells the bartender to make the next one a double, which he plans to stretch out into a good couple of hours of wallowing.

Eddie has been slowly sipping at his glass, shoulders a little hunched and vaguely people watching through the mirror behind the shelves of alcohol for maybe not quite an hour as the bar has filled up around him. Still, his fuck-off-vibes have been strong enough that nobody has approached him so far.

“That drink looks like it’s got a long story attached to it.”

The voice drifts in over his shoulder and Eddie feels himself involuntarily snap to attention – the impulse still not trained out of him by almost a decade of civilian life – as a body slides onto the barstool next to his. The woman isn’t touching him, not even leaning in. Still, her unbidden presence is somehow too close for comfort. Eddie debates ducking lower over his drink, pretending he hasn’t heard, but at the same time, the sudden attention creates an itch to be present somewhere that is not the inside his own head at the same time.

He turns his head just enough so he can take in his new companion – gorgeous, full auburn hair, (which has kind of become like a red rag to a bull for him, but hers is darker, shot through with flecks of brown, like fall leaves), laugh lines settled around her eyes and graved into her cheeks that put her maybe a decade and half ahead of him. Not the usual kind of LA beauty, but with a spark in her expression that draws you in. She looks at him curiously, clearly aware he’s just as likely to turn down her offer of conversation than take her up on it, but also telegraphing that she wouldn’t judge him either way.

Maybe it’s that kind patience, maybe it’s the need to tell <i>someone something</i> of what a shit show his life is right now underneath it all, but that he’s trying, god, he’s trying so damn hard to keep it together, and…

“Have you ever done the right thing, but it sucked so much going down that it feels like it’s coming back all the way around to being the wrong thing again?”

The woman leans onto the bar, half turned towards him, lifts her eyebrow and snorts:

“Oh boy. One of those ones, huh?”

Eddie sinks down over his glass, momentary impulse to share already depleting.

“I’m sorry, you’re definitely not interested in wading into my mess, trust me.”

“Oh, I beg to differ. I’m definitely interested. See, I love to delve into people’s stories. Pull on each thread until the knot slowly unravels and you get a sense of what the whole tapestry might look like. Or put it together into a completely new picture, who knows… And you”, she circles the finger of her free hand at him, “look like a particularly interesting knot.”

@911onabc, @monsterrae1, @rewritetheending, @giddyupbuck, @bahorell, @pirate-hunter, @spn20freak

[thelittlestspider]

🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹

some from a potential wip about the darlingtons called violent tendencies:

lisa: *calls her parents*

her dad answers the phone, breathing heavy anxious breaths.

lisa: dad?

lisa's dad: kitten, this really isn't a good time. daddy's a fucking mess right now.

lisa: what happened?

lisa's dad: well, your mother was playing mind games with a patient and it escalated. now we're being investigated by the FBI. oh god, i can't go to jail. i'm too handsome.

....

"at least i feel things. i'm not a robot like you."

preston shoots her an unimpressed look from where's he's feeling the softness of his face in the mirror. the vain bastard.

"i feel all the same things as you," counters preston. "i just don't care. you know what your problem is? you're impulsive like dad and sentimental like mom. that's going to be your downfall."

lisa feels a chill then. like someone walked over her grave.

"yeah right," answers lisa, trying to sound as arrogant and haughty as possible to cover her unease. "we'll see who dies first."

by then preston is ignoring her.

"you know you'll get wrinkles if you keep doing that."

"kill yourself."

...

preston: here's my card.

person: what business are you in?

preston: *smirks* meat.

warning: implied cannibalism.

preston: thank you lord for this meat you have provided for us. this body, this blood, this life that will be given up for our survival. *he looks down into the frightened eyes of the girl laying on the altar.* we appreciate your sacrifice.

fletcher watches preston raise the knife.

this is from the noir jazz cyberpunk wip

claire: you're the prettiest girl i've ever seen.

narrator: i bet you say that to all the girls.

claire: only the ones i like.

carry me

durant: who's sludge going with now?

malik: some hot blond just moved back from verona.

durant: man, if you told me sludge'd be getting more ass than any of us...

malik: are you saying you don't get enough ass? that hurts.

durant: baby...

malik: scotty you hear this shit? man's complaining he don't get enough ass when he gets plenty at home.

scott: *trying not to laugh* no comment.

durant: how's it going with your lady?

scott: *blushes* she's not my lady.

durant: oh c'mon scotty, everybody in BC with eyes knows you got a thing for rayray. it's like, in neon and shit.

scott turns pleading eyes to malik.

malik: no i'm with him. you're hopeless.

[saggiclowns]

🤲

A snipet from an ancient chase shipping wip starring demon Duke falling horns over heels when good boy Tristan Taylor replaces their broken shoes:

They had been mollified momentarily but Duke’s suspicion roused as they watched Tristan kneel down and reach again into the bag he held to retrieve his brilliant answer to Duke’s plight.

“What… are those?” They asked gravely.

Tristan held in his large hands what Duke could have assumed were two parts of some kind of midieval torture device were they not made of garish hot pink foam and stickered with a price tag. They felt a sinking sensation and it clicked quickly into place that they were known as ‘flip flops’ which were, in the loosest of terms, a type of shoe.

“They’re not Louboutins,” Tristan said as he pried apart the plastic hanger that connected the offensive footwear. 

“You don’t say.” Duke snorted. They willed the corners of their lips to turn down. A smile remained stubbornly on their face.

“But they cost five dollars and they’ll get you into an Uber.” He laughed and hovered a hand over Duke’s broken shoe. “May I?”

Duke nodded and held still while Tristan unbuckled the strap that crossed their ankle. He eased the shoe from their foot carefully and traded out the nine hundred dollar designer patent leather for a neon foam eyesore.

[revenantlore]

. WIP introduction .

a neon bloodlust spin-off / sequel

In the shadowy outskirts of Nocturna City, Vega Esperon earns his living by sentencing people to an early grave. His latest assignment from the syndicate narrows a target over the head of Prism Nightingale, the owner of Club Bloodlust and leader of the vampire coven nesting within its walls.

Vega is quick to discover that he is not alone in his pursuit of Prism: 86, a rival hitman with a cybernetic arm and fragmented memories, is always one step ahead, complicating Vega’s mission and temporarily redirecting his mark to 86.

Whatever it takes to keep Prism his.

Their rivalry takes an unexpected turn when they learn Prism is seeking the location of a technological artifact known only as The Ruby, an item said to contain the power to amplify Prism’s hypnotic abilities and potential to enslave both vampires and humans.

Faced with a common enemy and the looming threat of The Ruby falling into the wrong—or any—hands, Vega and 86 form a reluctant alliance. Together, they embark on a perilous espionage to infiltrate Club Bloodlust, navigate its bloodthirsty thralls, and uncover the truth behind The Ruby’s location.

As they navigate the perilous world of vampires and technology, Vega and 86 find themselves drawn to each other in unexpected ways, but will it withstand the challenges ahead once The Ruby is secured and their focus returns to eliminating Prism?

[more details on vega and 86 to come]

@winterandwords and @indecentpause probably want to know about this