#wip: this city our city

[stridingwriter]

Ares + Viktor (feat. The Cardinals + Alan)

Today! The first day of the year! And thus means, celebrating with the Cardinals a glimpse into how they're currently celebrating this time of year.

He’s not used to celebrating the New Years with just himself and the other Cardinals. Rather, he doesn’t think he’ll ever get used to it at all. The whole energy in Ares’ apartment is different with everyone socializing while he’s shut the door to his room because this can’t be real. 

It’s the first year he hasn’t gone home to celebrate the holiday, rather it’s also the first year Alan is skipping their family’s celebration as well. Viktor likes to think that his parents are disappointed in him, in what he’s become. At least then, it’s easier to sleep at night. 

Then the doorbell rings. 

He hears the door unlocking, Ares’ shout of: “Alan! We were waiting for you, come on in. Come on, we’re making some dumplings together–” 

Alan laughs a little, always a bit sheepish when he has to engage with the rest of the team. “I was going to drop something off, I know you all drink sake so I went out to buy some but I also got some beer if that’s more your taste.” 

“Oh you didn’t have to!” Shannon chimes in. “Really, we have so much alcohol from other celebrations.” 

“Technically we’re still working on them.” 

“Slowly, but thank you.” 

“Come on, we need as many hands as possible to help with the dumplings. The goal is to make sure no one can eat another bite after.” 

There’s still chatter in the kitchen, one that’s bright and fills the apartment with so much more life than before. 

Then, then– he opens the door to his room. Viktor knows he should go out, but it’s also far too much for him at the moment and he’s never been good at social gatherings. 

“Are you feeling alright?” Ares prompts as he gently sets the money tree on the table. 

“Thinking,” he easily replies. It’s not the explanation that Ares is looking for and he knows it. “I keep on expecting my parents to barge in, I suppose.” 

“They don’t know where I live,” Ares points out as he slowly walks towards the bed. Which is true, he’s paranoid all over at this time of the year. “Or where we live now.” 

“Thank gods.” 

Then: 

“You should join us,” Ares then says with one of his arms wrapped around Viktor. It makes some part of his brain think that everything’s going to be alright. “Everyone’s sharing stories and Alan’s brought over more rice wine than we’ll ever be able to finish.” 

“Of course he did.” 

But even still, all of this is enough to get him to leave his room, to face the music or at least those who have become his family over these years. Viktor wouldn’t trade anything in the world for them.

[stridingwriter]

Sacrificial Lamb

Foreign elderitch creature becomes obsessed with their doctor who does their health check bi-weekly

This City, Our City

Local man in a fit of grief attempts to unravel murder mystery for his dead partner, ends up uncovering the city's hidden trauma instead.

Can you introduce your WIP in one sentence?

[doodle-do-wop]

Perfect Mornings

Local Councillor too 'down bad' for ginger man with dimples

after much toil, tears, and a lot of hep from @frizzle-mcshizzle i present to you, Shirtless Kenric (ft. Oralie)

this is heavily based on my AU where Oralie and Kenric quit their jobs on the council and adopt Sophie after a very disastrous attempt at teaching Sophie basic elf stuff goes sideways and these two idiots finally bite the bullet and get together

is it the best decision in the world? No. But Oralie wouldn't change it for the world because she's got her man, her daughter, and nothing can go wrong-

(zoomins under cut)

the way Oralie was fighting *demons* trying not to listen to this stupid redhead and her (illegal) daughter AND STILL LOST Oralie Bellarose: weakness: redheads (also shoutout to Frizz for her marriage rings hc, i refuse to let it go)

[cherrybombfangirlwrites]

The City is Ours shitty comic sans intro weeeeeeeee-

I didn't make picrews for the villains bc I was tired of making them and the villians' faces are covered by masks 90% of the time anyway XD. These shitty comic sans intros are fun as hell, more of these for my other wips (including a couple of the backburners) are on their way!

Picrew used: Makowka picrew

taglists under the cut :D (idk if it just me, but tumblr's been really funky with tagging/not tagging people lately, so if you weren't tagged let me know)

TCIO Taglist: @friendlyneighborhood-writer @jessica-writes22 @rose-bookblood @yejidoesthings @space-writes @cljordan-imperium (send me a message to be +/- from the taglist <3)

General Taglist: @enchanted-lightning-aes @thatprolificauthor @wip-nook @writeblrsupport @outpost51 @dustylovelyrun @thelaughingstag @jacqueswriteblrlibrary (send me a message to be +/- from the taglist <3)

and @aritany of course, since you've been loving these :D

[landwriter]

2!

Hounds of Love by The Futureheads. Oh! What a gem!! I first loved this song when I was a wee bab and rediscovered it this past summer. It, along with all my top songs, was on a summer driving playlist which is why it is so insanely high haha. There's a sort of lovely pastoral wildness to this and I think that suits our lads so well.

An outdoorsy AU with competence kink out the wazoo, where Dream is a bird specialist at a wildlife rehabilitative centre, who becomes a minor TikTok celebrity (much to his enormous apathy) when the centre starts doing interpretive meet-birds events and the internet falls in love with this dour hottie who only smiles when he's talking about birds (Matthew, naturally, runs the account). Hob is a hunter - bow, mostly - who is regrettably very on TikTok, very on all social media - he hates the term but he is unquestionably an 'influencer'. He just likes sharing his knowledge and passion, alright? And the gear sponsorships are nice.

He sees Dream, and sees, mostly, a really great collab opportunity, so he messages him, and Dream (who is Matthew, and just shouted HOB FUCKING GADLING? IN MY DMs? at his phone when he got the message, immediately sets up a meeting at the centre. Then he breaks the news to Dream, specifically when Dream is holding Jessamy, so he can't be murdered.)

Dream, of course, expects Hob to be some like, swaggering font of red-blooded machismo talking points, and suspects Hob is only popular because he looks like an advertisement in Outdoor Living. (Matthew showed him pictures.) He disregards Matthew, who says Hob is actually super cool, because Matthew has terrible taste and would be the first to admit it. But his interest is piqued when Lucienne also knows who Hob is. It turns out Hob is deeply involved in nature and wildlife conservancy. Gives talks at schools. Gets involved with land protection initiatives. Teaches orienteering to youth. But everyone seems to expect him to hate Hob, which he would find faintly insulting except that he also expects himself to hate Hob. He doesn't. Not that much. Even when he shows up in a plaid shirt that is made of 'technical' fabric, because he's smart and excited to talk to Dream about birds, has an encyclopedic knowledge of the history of falconry, and most importantly, Jessamy takes to him immediately.

They run into each other again at a renaissance fair, another thing Dream hates but has been strong-armed into doing, and so they are both dressed in very silly clothes when it happens: the first time Hob watches Dream demonstrate falconry, the first time Dream watches Hob use a longbow made from a yew tree he fell himself, the first time they go from a wary sort of respect for one another to a wanting.

Dream, who has a recurring fantasy about running away from it all, listens to Hob tell tracking stories and thinks, If I went into the woods, you would find me. But he doesn't want to run from Hob - except sometimes, when he sees Hob chew on his lip consideringly before giving a thoughtful answer about the guiding industry, or when Hob grins wildly at the crowd after his archery demonstration, and most of all, when Hob phones him out of the blue one day - he doesn't text, he phones - sounding a little breathless with excitement, and asks Dream if he wants to come with him for a week in the mountains, on "probably a wild goose chase" and promises "all sorts of birds if nothing else." (Hob had meant to only share the news with Dream. Fuck, he thinks. I am so fucked.)

He says yes, for the birds, of course, and tells Matthew the next time he's at the centre.

"So what's the wild goose chase?" asks Matthew.

Dream plumbs his memory of the phone call and says, "Hob told me he received a bighorn sheep tag." Matthew gapes at him.

"Holy shit," says Matthew. "He's in love with you."

"He is certainly not."

"Uh, no, respectfully boss, he 'certainly' is. Lucienne!" he shouts, "Hob invited Dream to come out on his Dall sheep tag. What the fuck, right?"

Lucienne comes in and raises her eyebrows. "Oh dear," she says. She's smiling.

"What," says Dream. "It's a sheep. I don't understand."

Lucienne and Matthew exchange a glance.

"Him. I cannot believe Hob chose him," says Matthew.

"Love works in mysterious ways," says Lucienne.

"I am right here," says Dream.

Matthew turns to him, "Have fun in Alberta," he says.

this would ft. nights of wild stars, rugged terrain, type ii fun, sexual tension around a campfire, homoerotic form checks, tent sharing, dream glassing beautiful birds with hob's $3000 binoculars while hob stares at him in abject adoration, dream watching hob strip off his clothes and jump into an alpine lake, and refusing to join him out of pretended prudishness when it's really because he's suddenly so hard it hurts, camp coffee, confessions about themselves instead of confessions about their feelings for each other, sore muscles for a VARIETY of reasons, and lots of allegories about wildness and taming and running away from things, and SO MUCH COMPETENCE KINK, friends. so much. i would probably write it like - act one them leading their separate lives, their desires and aches etc., act two - meetcute and circling one another, act three - The Trip. this one has a very happy ending i can tell

[mars-behind-bars]

Asher Charming (he/they)

a city of mist ttrpg character- very similar to the persona games in that your powerset- and character in general- must model after an existing story- a myth, legend, fairytale, ect

In this game you have to balance out your normal life with your secret side- the logos and mythos of your persona. Logos being your daily normal life while mythos is your power/story coming to life in the part of town no one can see.

If the blonde hair and blue color scheme didn't clue you in, I'm sure the last two pictures would- he's my little Cinderella :3

Very much the definition of a girlfail. Look at how his shirt falls off his shoulder. Harlot.

He works at a rentable maid/butler service- he mostly gets stuck with janitorial work but he doesn't mind it! As long as whoever hired him doesn't treat him as "just the help" (and we all know how rich people are)

They live with their stepmom and two stepsisters, but contrary to the assumption, they have a pretty good relationship with all of them

In the mist, they're your royal highness- they can draw the crowds attention just as easily as they can hide in it. They're the jewel of the ball- and fucking slays his two outfits, his princely costume and his princess dress

His power is mostly to draw and lose attention at will, as his character troupe is the subversion type as the "prince in distress"

His powers work best on those who think they're above others, and with his illusioned appearance, his powers only fail when people can figure out his identity- which ties in to his second set of powers- the mobility troupe :3

They can summon a horse drawn carriage that can fit them and their allies, have pretty good parkour skills, and obstacles can appear around them to help them parkour away/ stop their pursuers

Downside is everytime they have to rely on their powers to get away, they leave something behind. How does the magic allow people to figure out his identity? Items he leaves behind :3c

I haven't gotten the chance to play him but we're SO close to starting the campaign Im so excited for everyone at the table to meet him

Fun fact: I almost made a Cassandra character (prophet cursed to never be believed) or Peitho (goddess of charming speech, persuasion and seduction) but chose Asher so that I could be a persona 5 royal reference. So far no one's noticed.

[gummybugg]

Happy STS! 🎉

What's your favorite bit of banter/general fun dialogue you've written recently?

Happy STS!

I've been here and there lately, so I apologize for the late answer! There's so much Banter I wish I could show, but alas it is all drafted and messy. Took me a Moment to find this mini scene, but here it is!

But first, here's a Short Synopsis that leads into this scene: Blair accidentally drops his knife from a bridge while showing off his tricks, then he and Elijah must find said knife, only they find it has impaled an innocent man below! Now, they are trying to ask the man for Blair's knife back.

...

“Blair, you can't just tell a man, who's clearly out of it, to suck it the fuck up because the world has already ended!” “Well, it's the truth! What do you expect me to say? That ‘Oh, it's alright. Salvation will come soon, you just have to believe’?” “No,” I tried to hold back my laughter. “Look, just help me get this knife out of his shoulder. This is all your fault anyway.” “My fault? I'm sorry I can't bend the laws of physics to spare an innocent bystander from my knife's fury!” Blair turned to the man, who had ceased mumbling, now curled in a ball, rocking back and forth. “You know what? Consider this a sign from the gods: a free acupuncture session. Now, what's the best way to pull this sucker out, Elijah?” “You're asking me? I'm not a doctor, I'm a—well, I'm an arcade employee, an electronics employee, a fry cook…” I counted on my fingers. “What is wrong with you people?” The man shot up to his feet, “I'm calling the police!” Me and Blair turned to each other in silent agreement, signaling that we really had to resort to Plan B.

...

Taglist: @writeouswriter @lyra-brie

[cherrybombfangirlwrites]

I'm late but here's my 3 big wips:

Fractured Stars Falling: dark queer fairytale retellings

characters including- gladiator cinderella and peacemaker prince, people pleaser snow white and her protective best friend/QPR partner, former mermaid pirate captain and hopeless romantic pirate woman, genre aware lord's son and the sauve flirty froggy prince, shy blonde bookworm boi and the lost princess with fire powers, the overprotective bodyguard and his danger magnet princess, and the chaotic burntout gifted kid wizardess.

They're a family and they have to deal with a vengeful witch corrupted by dark magic and a very pissed off death god.

The City is Ours: a bunch of chaotic teenage superheroes that become siblings and a team and do the most chaotic shit ever. so many redemption and villain arcs and sibling relationships.

characters including: team leader with ice powers who puts way too much pressure on herself, the dad friend who is also very gay, the token straight white girl who is super supportive and she'll hit you with her heel if you hurt her friends, a quiet art kid that's secretly chaotic with speed and invisiblilty powers, the team healer who is very tired and will lecture his friends when they do dumb shit that gets them injured, the shapeshifter and chaos instigator who also falls in love (accidentally) with a villain, the token team jerk that no one likes with fire powers and a superiority complex, and the tired team hacker and gadget builder who can and will mix coffee and soda and not feel any of it.

Galaxy Destroyer (previously Before the Stars Burn Out): a bunch of morally gray space criminals are thrown together for a job, accidentally adopt a baby, and become a family of fugitives.

characters including: 1000% done cyborg bounty hunter, the middle aged very tired uncle and self proclaimed leader that no one listens to, the rejected android turned smuggler with a resting bitch face, the sauve theif who is an asshole with a heart of gold, the crazy mad scientist who is a biology nerd, the quiet pilot who is the only one allowed to hold the group braincell (but xey are dangerously close to losing it), the conman who seems like he can't fight but turns out he's a badass with a sword, and the baby with superpowers that they accidentally adopt.

That... ended up having a runon sentence each with a rundown of the characters but oh well.

Thanks for giving me a chance to ramble @jacquesfindswritingandadvice !

Hey folks reblog this with a few sentences introducing your WIP. Whether badly explained, or in the form of an elevator pitch, I wanna know more about your WIPs!

Also tell me your genres / subgenres so I can reblog and tag them and boost you!

[jimblejamblewritings]

love letters and second sons | part 1.

Summary: The princess is finally ready to debut in society. But before she does, she decides to disguise herself and see the true faces of the ton.

Author's Note: Hello! Yes, I'm here with a wip before finishing my other stuff. The Bridgerton girlies have got me. Congratulations to you all. So before you read this, please read: I Hate Accidents by @i-hate-accidents AND Over The Garden Wall by @homeofthepeculiar AND The Ultimate Deception by @maximoff-pan. These stories are some of my favorites and really inspired this fic.

Warnings for the Series: light sexism in line with the times, light classism in line with the times, mental health stigma, shitty doctor care, smut, suicide attempt (will get it's own warning when the time comes),

Pairing: Benedict Bridgerton x princess!reader

Word Count: 5.4k

Author's Note: To those who have read my other works, you'll notice that the author Mercutio's stories are something special

My Dearest Ton and Wonderful United Kingdom, 

I am pleased to welcome you all to the start of another social season. Of course, people love and look for love all year round but each year the season just seems to invite love to blossom. I hope all of you find the match to your souls. Marriage is a business but can it not have love as well? A business built with love surely must be a business that tries to last. I ask our respectful citizens and subjects of the United Kingdom to make love a part of their search. 

I would also like to ask about businesses that do not involve marriage or love. How are you? In the business of health, is everyone safe from all sickness? In the business of finance, does everyone have enough to eat and clothe themselves without falling into poverty? Are businesses afloat even if only by a small margin? How are you? Truly, I want to know. If you would like to write to me, please do so. The royal mailboxes should still be in perfect condition. 

Of course, if you have something urgent then I am sorry but you must come to the palace and request an audience. My valets hold all letters for a day or a few out of safety for everyone. But rest assured, I read every letter once received. 

I would also like to say that I can feel the winds of the ton calling me to grace their presence and to stop being rude by ignoring them. Naturally, the wind is very rude to say this and then cut through my dress and chill my bones even when it is snowing. But I digress, the wind is right. The time for introduction must be soon. And a lovely time that will be. I cannot wait to meet you all. 

Yours truly, 

A Not So Young Anymore Youngest Princess Y/N Hanover (Truly, I need a proper surname and not just the name of my father’s house)

My Dearest Ton and Wonderful United Kingdom, 

Would you like to know what I have learned yesterday? I know the Americas are still a touchy subject for some but I hope you don’t mind me talking about it, just to share my studies. Philadelphia is the center of American debate. So many great men (and women that have probably gone unnamed but aided their counterparts in their quest of education) have lived and are currently still living there. 

Going to America simply for a debate sounds terribly dreadful. But what if we had one here that wasn’t relegated to just the universities. An entire city becoming a center of debate seems incredibly foolish, not to mention disruptive to its current residents, but buildings of debate do not seem like a bad idea. 

Even if some feel like they aren’t smart enough, they should participate. Ideas are nurtured by sharing them. May some debates lead to great compromise and understanding and maybe even propositions for laws. 

I, for one, debate with my father every day on which science is the most important to teach to young children and which science can wait until university should they like to pursue that path. He believes all of it. I believe that medicinal science is too much for a young mind and they only need to be taught how to mind their health until they can understand better. What do you think? I am delighted to hear your opinions. Maybe mine will be swayed. 

Yours Truly,

Youngest Princess Y/N Buckingham (I am trying out new surnames until one I like sticks)

My Dearest Ton and Wonderful United Kingdom, 

I apologize if my stance may be radical but nothing in society ever got done if the start wasn’t a little radical. I believe that young women should be properly taught about relations… let me just say it, sex. Not when they are children, no, but when they are about to debut. Consider it. You all know that as a royal, despite being a woman, I have been taught all things. Everyone is aware that I know what sex is. But if I and my sisters were taught sex so that we may be aware of malicious advances and be able to protect our virtue first rather than waiting for our virtues to be saved by someone and risk them being too late, then others should as well. Therefore, I implore all mothers and governesses to teach their young ladies about to debut what sex is. And to fathers who may be without wives, please find any woman to teach your daughters.

I shall return with more radical ideas for a better and more prosperous United Kingdom. 

Yours truly, 

Youngest Princes Y/N Kew 

The printed letters delivered to London, had everyone enthralled in the early morning. Some people that lived close enough to the central town square didn’t bother with the prints and went straight to the wooden pin board there to look at the princess’ handwriting on the original letters. Whenever the Young Princess or the author Mercutio Quick wrote, people stopped and paid attention. 

Princess Y/N was the people’s princess. The one who listened to their complaints and wasn’t cheap on her charitable acts. She was so much like her father, Farmer George. Even with his illness he still ran a good country… when he was in charge. So much better than her eldest brother, George IV. Then again, any royal sibling was better than their eldest brother, even if only by a very small percentage. Everyday the public hoped another child would challenge George the Younger. They would rally their support behind them. 

They were hoping that any day George IV’s daughter, Charlotte, would have an heir. If she was pregnant then it would be so easy for the public to support her and convince either George IV to step down or convince Parliament to present a motion to King George. They would have a ruler and an heir. Charlotte the Younger would be the easiest transition for George IV to understand.

But neither her father nor husband seemed to care about the lack of heir. But the thought of succession and coups and duels was forgotten for a moment to read the Young Princess’ letters welcoming them to the new social season with new balls, debutantes, and drama. 

In the Bridgerton house, the family ran around like chickens with their heads cut off. They were trying to get ready to present Daphne to the Queen while also trying to read the Young Princess’ letters. Benedict laughed as he slapped his copy of the letters. 

“Mother would have a fit if she had to speak with Daphne about sex.” 

“I’m surprised she would even suggest such a thing,” Colin said as he returned to reading the first letter, thinking he might actually write to the Young Princess about his familial concerns and wanting to travel desperately but being unsure about leaving them. 

Eloise finally smiled as she came downstairs with the rest of her siblings. “I for one think it’s rather refreshing. She is right. Our mamas should be teaching us more than just how to meet the Queen… Daphne! You must make haste! Do you think she heard me?” 

Colin rolled his eyes. “She most certainly did. But on the matter of the princess, what is wrong with a woman’s husband teaching her about sex?” 

“Everything is wrong with that.” 

“Hmm.” 

He looked down to reread the paper, wondering if he could understand what the princess actually meant. Even though the letters were left at home, talk of the princess never ceased. How could it? The monarchy’s youngest princess might actually be joining them. Everyone wanted to know what she would look like, not in the face of course. Even her fourth brother didn’t take off his mask until after five months of being introduced to society and he was the shortest time it took to see the royal children’s face. 

“Do you think she will be tall like her eldest sister or short? Plump?” Eloise asked as their carriages started their way towards the palace. “I’d imagine I’d be very lovely and plump if I could be stuck in a palace all day with the most wonderful food imaginable. Not that anyone should ever value a woman based on her body but Penelope has stated that her sisters are terribly upset because all the dress makers have started saying that plump is going to be in fashion once again in only a few years time and by the time they become plump it’ll be out of fashion again.” 

Daphne looked out the window. “I wonder if she’ll look like the Queen or the King. Oh, what makeup do you think she’ll wear? What mask did she have created for herself? When do you think we’ll actually see her face?” 

Violet touched the knees of all her girls. “Whatever she is like, do not be rude and gawk. The poor thing will already have the vultures’ eyes on her all night. If she even comes out tonight. Perhaps it will be at a ball this week. That would be quite a fantastic introduction. I do hope she at least meets us this season.” 

Francesca smiled. “I imagine her dance card would be quite full.” 

“She’d have bracelets of dance cards going up to her arm,” Daphne agreed.  

“But she isn’t coming into society yet. She’s just introducing herself to us,” Eloise said. 

“She’s still a princess royal. A very well-known one at that. There’s no way the men would pass on an opportunity to dance with her. They’d want to start making their intentions known now, get ahead of everyone else.” 

The boys’ carriage was speaking of a different matter entirely. The princess and Mercutio had written to the ton at the same time. With the presentation to the Queen taking up so much of the day, most people wouldn’t be able to read his work until later that evening. Colin and Benedict simply couldn’t wait. Colin sat with his brother as he drove the carriage and read the story out loud: 

“Arsehole,” Cecilia muttered. 

Ignoring the sharp stinging of her backside, she hopped off the bed to find something to put on. All she needed to accomplish was getting back to her room, clothed. She knew there must have been some spare clothes in their dressers. It was just a matter of sorting through which garments were hers and which belonged to the others. She had been sorely mistaken to ignore the three members of nobility behind her, thinking they hadn’t heard her. 

Lovell scrunched up his face, resembling a rat. “Is receiving another punishment something you really care for? Because this attitude you’ve acquired is going to earn you one.” 

“Piss off.” 

“Is that any way to talk to your dominants?” Madison asked, adjusting herself in Tommy’s arms. 

Cecilia scoffed as she walked towards the door, placing one hand on the doorknob. “Lavender.” 

The other three faces fell at the use of that forbidden word. Cecilia’s hand reached up ever so gently and wiped away tears. She wondered if the tears were for her former lovers or for finally realizing her mind was deluded to think she would be with anyone above her station such as Lovell. 

“I don’t want this anymore.” 

“Cecilia.” 

“You never believe that I don’t enjoy breaking our established rules. You only listen to Madison.” 

“Cecilia.” 

“It is clear you both like her more than you desire me. I am down.” 

“Cecilia.” 

“You shall see me around this manor, doing my job as I always have. But that is the extent of our relationship.” 

“Please, just give u—” 

“Good day, Lord Parham. Lord Newall, Lady Wilcher.” 

“Riveting,” Colin said as he finished reading. “Mr. Mercutio has done it again.” 

Benedict nodded. “Indeed he has. I was a bit worried when he announced that he wanted to dabble in the themes of erotic pleasures in his stories but this was just as enjoyable as all the others.”

“Agree… Oh, it says here that they have earned a publishing deal. The penny stories will still come out once a week, chapter by chapter but readers can also purchase a book if they would like to keep the story properly or are in a rush to read it. I for one will be buying the books.” 

“I second that.” 

“I wonder what his next story will be about. Actually, no, I wonder what our dear sisters and mothers can be talking about.” 

“The princess, no doubt.”

”Do you think any of our brothers will approach?” Eloise asked in the women’s carriage, more to herself than anything. 

That made Hyacinth’s face light up. “If one of them marries the princess does that mean we get to be princesses too?” 

“As if any of our brothers even could or want to.” Francesca pulled her face away from the window.

“If anyone is going to bring them to the marriage mart,” Daphne started as she fanned herself. “It would be the princess. Anthony would be a good match for her.” 

Violet laughed, thinking of the idea. “A viscount and a princess are a perfect match.” 

All talk of the princess stopped as they approached. The worst thing that could happen could be a footman overhearing them and mistaking their speech for malicious gossip rather than light-natured and report it to the princess or the queen or even worse, King George himself. They would forever be ostracized from society. 

From upstairs, you watched from a window where you knew no one could see you even if they looked up. How you desperately wanted to be down there. All the men were dressed up and looking like penguins. Handsome they were but still penguin-like in silhouette. And the women’s dresses. Some, while upper class, were of a lower social standing and wore older dresses that looked just as gorgeous as the empire and rather shapeless dresses of today. 

But today was not your day. You actually weren’t sure when your day would be. Your mother and father let their children choose when they would be introduced to society. Of course you all had to wait for a certain age and it had to be a date at the start of the social season but you could pick the day. And unlike your last sibling, you wanted it to be at a ball instead of the selection of the Diamonds. You didn’t even care which ball it would be. Perhaps it was selfish but you did want a day all to yourself or at least a day with you as the main focus. But that wasn’t this year. Or any year perhaps. 

You were excited to finally leave the walls of the palace if you were allowed, having proven yourself capable of not causing an incident. Unfortunately, you couldn’t say you had proven yourself without illness. You weren’t that lucky. You and all your siblings were locked inside until the royal physicians could observe and confirm that you weren’t sick with whatever madness your father had. They didn’t have to observe you. That was also why you picked a ball instead of today. You wanted to prove you didn’t need a chaperone literally holding your elbow. You wanted freedom like your siblings. Freedom to explore that you weren’t sure would get because of your illness. 

After a nearly fatal drowning in the lake — an event your siblings still get chewed out for at least once a month — you started showing symptoms like George did. For you it wasn’t about if you would be as sick like your father. It was about how bad and how quickly the illness would get. 

You didn’t get to see George as often as the others. The doctors thought you shouldn’t be around him for prolonged periods of time unless it was after an episode. They thought that too much exposure would make you more like him instead of better. They wanted to send him to Kew but you promised that you wouldn’t go to his quarters as long as he got to stay at Buckingham. 

Charlotte, silly as it may have been, had hope. They caught your sickness early. Nine was a very young age to almost go mad. Maybe you could be saved from a cruel fate unlike George. They were too late for him but not for you. Of course this only brought jealousy from your siblings who didn’t feel like they got as much affection anymore. Every time you even twitched, it became about you. They could never hate you. It wasn’t like you asked to be sick. But it was hard to be around you. Everyday visits became once a week. Still, you cherished those visits. Like the one yesterday. They expressed their sympathies and hopefulness that you would get to introduce yourself and maybe it could even be this year or maybe this month. 

You could have scoffed. After what you did just two days ago, you were unsure. The daylight came into your room before you were prepared for it and you had been convinced that Buckingham was on fire. You couldn’t be calmed down until you jumped into the water fully clothed. Immediately, you pulled yourself out of the trance but no one really cared. The royal physician had been called anyway and you had ruined all chances of attending the presentation to the Queen. 

“Your Highness!” a voice disturbed your thoughts and your eyes from looking at your siblings’ carriages leave in the morning. Your lady-in-waiting approached you with a paper, an entire pamphlet. “It’s already spread through the ton like a fire. We haven’t read it yet. We figured new literature would be a treat for you.” 

“Thank you, Pandora. Shall we read it in the kitchens this morning when we return home?” 

“Not your room?” 

“I’m so terribly sick of my room and the washroom and the balcony and the bedroom.” 

“You are getting restless.” 

“It’s only a matter of time. Maybe even tomorrow it’ll happen. And soon it will only be a couple of years at most before the mask is gone. By the way,” you said as the two started to leave. “Did you hear about the Feather girl that fainted? Is she alright?” 

“Oh yes, she’s fine.” 

“Good. Have someone send flowers to her tomorrow with an inquiry about her wellbeing after taking such a tumble. Oh and no flowers to the Diamond. I want to meet her myself one day. Now, let’s read about this… Lady Whistledown. She already sounds like an interesting woman.” 

Interesting it was indeed. The maids and kitchen staff hung onto your every word as you read the pamphlet. You weren’t exactly sure how you felt about the pamphlet yet but Pandora was right about one thing. It was literature. Lady Whistledown seemed bold enough to list subjects by name. By their entire name as if she wasn’t afraid of any repercussions. You supposed she wouldn’t be since Whistledown was obviously not her real name. 

It wasn’t the subject of what she published that bothered you. A lot of it was standard gossip that goes around during the social season but it was her personal opinion. She almost seemed to want the ladies she wrote about to have miserable ends like inquiring about Daphne Bridergton’s flame burning out quickly. The lady must know that what she published could ruin a reputation. Gossip is no longer gossip when publicly written down. It has the potential to become fact. 

You slapped the pamphlet against your hand. “Well, I suppose Mercutio Quick from York will no longer be the entertainment of the ton. Sad, and right as I earned a publishing deal too. Perhaps, I should take up a different art. Like making dresses for all my days or learning to play the harp and cello properly so it sounds better than a dying whale according to my brothers.” 

The cook shook his head. “Your stories are very entertaining. Even Lady Whistledown couldn’t stop that.” 

“Thank you for saying that. I am rather jealous that she is penning under a woman.” 

“But you have chosen a name based on your favorite characters, have you not?” 

“I have but maybe I should’ve chosen better. This Lady Whistledown might be making more change for women then I hope to accomplish.” 

At this, the staff scoffed. Pandora cleaned up your dishes from the kitchen island in front of you. 

“Your Highness, with the utmost respect, you are the one who is going to do more for women than this Whistledown. Everybody already wants someone other than your kind brother on the throne. They’re all praying your niece gives them any child so they may protest for her with the added benefit of an heir. They love her and what you write about in your letters make her seem even better. Hell, they love you and they don’t even know you. They listen to you. And with your words, Princess Charlotte the Younger will be on the throne and you will prove women are more than capable of whatever and we might have real change. Is she still on board?” 

“Yes. She hates her father as much as anyone else does. George is nice once you get to know him… sort of. But Lettie approves as long as I agree to be in her court. I said yes of course.” 

“Then it is settled. Thank God we might actually get change in our wretched lives. Now you must wash up and oversee the Bridgerton gowns before they are sent off. Shall we pick certain ones from your wardrobe?” 

“Give the Diamond the one with lace and her family’s colors. Pick whatever you want for the rest of them. Oh and patterns must be on the Feather mother’s dress. I noticed she wears the most ill-favored ornamented dresses but she seems to like them. And put in an order with the modiste, I should like to do this often if this first gesture goes well and the gift wardrobe will need more clothes than it has at present. Clothes for the lower classes as well, nothing that could get them attacked and the clothes stolen off their bodies.” 

“Yes, Your Highness.”  

“And, by the way, I already washed up.” 

“Yes, but now you’ve been sitting amongst smoke and smells.” 

You gave up your fight and nodded as you jumped down from your stool and began the walk to your room. No one was around today. They wouldn’t be for most of the social season as they had other duties, including watching your siblings. Despite your madness, you weren’t the biggest concern at all. It was your rakish brothers in brothels, your sisters constantly leaving their husbands or suitors, and all of them sneaking away. You paused for a moment before walking quicker until you reached your room. 

Why couldn’t you sneak out? Now would be the perfect opportunity. And no one was looking for you. It would be so easy to scale the vines up the garden wall and just have fun for a moment. You washed up quickly and put on a very simple dress — one more like the style of today rather than your father’s time. Grabbing a cloak and your mask, you put them down on the bed before sitting down at your writing desk to pen a letter. The slam of the door nearly made you jump out of your skin. You calmed as you realized it was just Pandora. 

“Oh, good. It is just you.” 

“I have the Bridgerton and Featherington dresses but what do you mean it is just me, Y/N?” 

You stood up, abandoning the letter now that someone was around. “I am going out to see the ton.” 

“What?” 

“It is still dark. I have a map, my cloak, and the mask. And I have a very clear destination with vehicles that will get me back in the most discreet of ways should I need to use them.” 

“Your Highness.” 

“Pandora. I am nearing my introduction to society. You will all have to let me go at some point. I know everyone cares for my wellbeing but my happiness is gone. I am seen as nothing but my illness. Before I have an episode in public like the king, let me meet the ton. Let me not be Farmer Y/N for a brief moment of my life before I am a farmer forever, before I stay in that garden just like Father.” 

Pandora’s mouth shut. She simply locked the door and unlocked the window. “You must return before your midmorning promenade and snack. Since you ate downstairs, I can convince them to overlook your absence of a breakfast request. And don’t take your mask. It’s better if they don’t know who you are at all.” 

She gasped as you hugged her. 

“Thank you, Pandora! Thank you! You are truly the bestest friend a woman could have.” 

“Just go so you can come back quickly and I can have my sanity back.” 

You closed the window, shocking Pandora as you pulled a picture frame off the wall to reveal a staircase that led outside. The door was hidden behind the trellis covered in vines and flowers. You pulled the hood over the cloak over you. The last thing you did was check for your bracelet and if your papers were inside. Until you were introduced to society, all the royal children had bracelets that couldn’t come off unless cut off. There were just in case measures with the eldest two but became necessary after so many nights sneaking out. The bracelet wasn’t going anywhere but you didn’t want to lose your birth certificate. It was your first safety measure. Even if you were kidnapped or harmed, you’d be returned to the palace for a pretty penny. You did pull your sleeves down so your bracelet wouldn’t be noticed.  

You couldn’t contain your smile at the excitement of being out. London was so different without all the noise. The brothels and pubs were starting to close down for their few hours of rest and relaxation. You stuck to streets where you could see all the action but wouldn’t be easily spotted. No one bothered you until you arrived at your destination. 

The footman stood to attention. “May I help you?” 

“Yes, hello. I bring a package from Buckingham House for the Bridgertons, courtesy of Princess Y/N.” You handed him a letter with your official stamp at the end of it. 

The footman’s eyes went wide as he handed you back the letter and ran inside. The Bridgertons looked up at the frantic knocking, pulling slips over Hyacinth and Daphne before telling the footman he could enter. The Bridgerton boys came upstairs after hearing the heavy pounding of their employee’s footsteps running up the multiple stairs. 

“Is there a problem, Marshall?” 

He panted before taking in a deep breath. “The Young Princess’ lady-in-waiting is here, bearing gifts.” 

“WHAT?!” 

The Bridgertons collectively yelled before the scramble happened. You tilted your head when you saw the windows open and a maid shake out some bedsheets. She squeaked when she looked down to see you. You laughed as she ran back inside. It couldn’t have been more than five minutes before you were escorted into the house by a very out of breath footman. The Bridgertons stood on the steps at the end of their entrance hall in chronological order with their mother starting the line at the very bottom step. Nervous smiles graced their faces when you finally reached them. You curtsied to which they curtsied or bowed back. 

You gave them a second to assess you before speaking. Even though it wasn’t true in the slightest, everyone thought the ladies-in-waiting and manservants were reflections of the royals themselves. Not in character or value but in appearance. They figured they could form some sort of picture as to what the young masked royals looked like. If you were ugly then surely the princess was too. You hoped they at least found you to be average looking in appearance. 

Anthony Bridgerton — the new head of house from what you remembered of your studies — stepped from behind his mother to greet you formally. He bowed once again, deeper, before offering up his hand. You settled yours in it to receive a chaste kiss. 

“To what do we owe this sudden pleasure, Mrs…” 

“Beckett,” you lied, just using Pandora’s last name. 

“Mrs. Beckett?” He didn’t recognize the name as one belonging to an upper class member of the ton. He wasn’t sure he recognized the name at all. 

“Apologies, I should explain. The princess doesn’t distinguish in her court, we are all there to work. All women are ladies-in-waitings, all men are valets. Regardless of station, regardless of marriage.” 

“So, I am to take it that my earlier statement was incorrect.” 

You nodded. “Simply Miss Beckett.” 

“Well that sounds like very forward thinking actually. All the same, it is our pleasure to meet anyone in her highness’ court.” 

Violet smiled as she watched the interaction. If her son was close to anyone in the princess’ court, especially someone that seemed so close to the princess as to be sent here, then he would be able to meet the princess with good graces. He’d be ahead of any man by leagues. 

“Princess Y/N has sent me on her behalf. She extends warm greetings to the Bridgertons and the Featheringtons whom I will meet after our encounter. The princess congratulates Miss Daphne Bridgerton for earning Diamond of the Season as well as congratulations to the Dowager Viscountess for raising such a fine woman and to Viscount Bridgerton for chaperoning and keeping the family together therefore allowing his sister to shine.” 

He cleared his throat and started to smile. “Please give the princess all of our thanks for the most kind of compliments.” 

“And she would like to assure Miss Bridgerton that I have not been sent on behalf of any princes. Her brothers will not be bothering you today.” 

They all chuckled when you laughed. 

You set the first box down on the table next to you and opened it. “The princess has brought new dresses for the ball. The Diamond and the rest of her family should have the opportunity to shine with the utmost and wholehearted respect and support of the Crown. Please, enjoy them.” 

The family ran to the table, picking out dresses and suits and matching them to the person’s name on the paper pinned to each garment. They kept singing praises and admiring the outfits. Violet turned back to you. 

“When are you planning on visiting the Featheringtons?” 

“In an hour or so, I must be back before the princess’ morning promenade. She has a very busy day afterwards.” 

“Will the princess be introducing herself this season?” 

“Hyacinth!” Anthony and Violet yelled at the same time. 

You laughed. “It is no trouble. I’m at liberty to answer as the princess’ head valet.” 

“Valet? I thought you said they were all men. They are usually all men.” 

“If the princess should become heir to the throne then she will receive a male valet alongside me. For now, it is just me. The Crown believes someone of the same gender should always be with her should she need to confide in someone about very personal matters.” You took a breath before testing the waters. “Such as affections of the heart.” 

It had dawned on you in that moment that you could spy on the ton. When the time came, you would still have to dance with all the bachelors of the United Kingdom but you at least you would have a better picture of them. You’d have to apologize to Pandora for the countless strokes she was about to earn from you but you couldn’t make this your only time sneaking out.  

Violet smiled, knowing she was right. “Well, would you like to stay for breakfast?” 

“Oh, I wouldn’t want to impose.” 

“It would be no trouble at all. We have more than enough room. Eloise, dear, if Penelope is to come over please request that she do so now.”

(part 2)

PERMANENT TAGLIST:

@venomsvl @peaches-n-sunscreen @summerellaz @supernaturallover2002 @sambucky8 @9daykrisr @thebitchinleo @23victoria @scarlets-widow @pagetpagetpagetpaget @lovexnatasha @awesomebooklover17 @1234-angelika @imatrisk @blackreaderatrisk @princess-jules47 @alexloveskili @a-marie-a @siriuslysirius1107​ @i-have-no-life-charlie @daykrisr999

[cherrybombfangirlwrites]

OC Questionnaire

tagged by: the lovely @kaylinalexanderbooks thank you!

tagging: Open Tag as usual, and softly tagging @thegreatobsesso | @mysticstarlightduck | @winterandwords | @chayscribbles

Your OC interview questions are: 1) What's your go to coffee order (or equivalent for a fantasy/sci-fi world)? 2) What is the first thing you notice about your appearance when you look in the mirror VS the first thing other people notice when they see you? 3) Who would you consider to be your closest friend and why?

My questions: 1) What is your stance on lying? 2) Do you enjoy people watching? 3) What is the best decision you ever made?

I'll answer with two OCs that are my absolute faves and two that I need to develop more: Princess Snow (FSF), Nickelle (TCIO), Astra (GD), and Tris (FSF).

Responses under the cut cus this is long XD:

Snow (Fractured Stars Falling WIP)

What is your stance on lying?

Snow folds her arms and says firmly, "Even if it's for a good reason I don't like it. My stepmother used lies to hurt me and others, I won't use them unless absolutely necessary, and even then I'm going to feel terrible about it the whole time. I refuse to be that kind of queen."

Do you enjoy people watching?

"No, not really. It feels weird to watch people without a reason to be doing so. It feels dishonest and sneaky to me."

What is the best decision you ever made?

Snow swallows harshly, clenching a fist as she holds back tears and avoids looking at the person who asked the question. "I finally saw through my stepmother's lies. I took over the throne and had her thrown into the deepest dungeon of the palace, after years of giving her excuses and too many second chances. But I was too late to... to save my best friend from getting killed by her because of my stupid mistakes..."

Nickelle (The City is Ours WIP)

What is your stance on lying?

Nickelle bristles at the question, looking at the person who asked suspiciously. Then she shrugs, picking at the glove of her superhero suit. "If it's for a good cause, I'd say it's fine."

Do you enjoy people watching?

She thinks about it for a moment, fiddling with the patches on her leather jacket. "From a distance, in the city yes. If you can get up to one of the rooftops and sit on the edge it's a great spot to watch people go by."

What is the best decision you ever made?

Nickelle looks around to see if anyone is watching or listening in. "I made a choice to protect this city and my team. Other people might not like my methods, but I'm doing what I have to. Hence why I have to do it under another identity, since other people might have... more negative feelings about my methods. I don't like it either, but this has to be done."

Astra (Galaxy Destroyer WIP)

What is your stance on lying?

Astra shrugs, and says like a true thief and space pirate, "Oh yeah it's fine. Sometimes it's the only way to get what you need. Especially in a galaxy where P.I.E. made everything so damn expensive. If I need to lie and steal to live, I'm fine with that."

Do you enjoy people watching?

Astra looks around for potential targets. "For a chance to make a little money off of an unsuspecting idiot? Absolutely, it's not just enjoyable, it's how I make a living."

What is the best decision you ever made?

Astra thinks for a minute, going through all the things she's done and stolen as a space pirate, and all the times she made a not so smart move. "Well one of the worst decisions I ever made was trusting another pirate on a job, he stabbed me in the back and left me high and dry. I don't know about the best decision though, maybe becoming a thief despite the mixed results? Mixed results yes, but I can't imagine being anything else, and the benefits outweigh the risks- in my opinion."

Tris (Fractured Stars Falling WIP)

What is your stance on lying?

Tris presses her lips into a thin line, her hand tightly gripping the hilt of her sword at her side. "Only if it's for a really good reason, and no one gets hurt. Otherwise, lying is just wrong."

Do you enjoy people watching?

She shrugs, the cloud of tight coils that make up her hair bouncing with the movement. "I never really thought about it. Kaye and I prefer to keep to ourselves most of the time. Watching people for no reason has never really interested me."

What is the best decision you ever made?

Tris thinks about it hard for a minute. "I'm not sure, maybe entering the fighting tournament for the prince's hand to get out of my stepfamily's... well it's my family's house but they were going to kick me out at some point anyway. Anyways, joining the tournament to get away from them... well it got me away from them, but I saw and did things in that area that I wish I hadn't... but on the other hand, if I hadn't done that, I probably wouldn't have had the chance to see Kaye again and spend more time with him. Despite the terrible circumstances..."

~

(apologies for the weird formatting on the taglists, I'm trying to make sure everyone gets tagged bc I think I figured out why tumblr was being weird with tags earlier)

FSF Taglist: @rose-bookblood @chalcid @evethenovicewriter @writing-is-a-martial-art

@mjjune @fiercely-raging-writer @wildswrites @corishadowfang

@surroundedbypearls @serenanymph (send me a message to be +/- from the taglist <3)

TCIO Taglist: @friendlyneighborhood-writer @jessica-writes22 @rose-bookblood @yejidoesthings

@space-writes @cljordan-imperium (send me a message to be +/- from the taglist <3)

GD Taglist: @fiercely-raging-writer @aesa @writeouswriter

[cherrybombfangirlwrites]

I’m gonna tell you about all three of my (introduced) projects if you don’t mind :3

I have three wip projects that I'm bouncing between right now- Fractured Stars Falling, The City is Ours, and Before the Stars Burn Out.

Fractured Stars Falling is my nine book series of dark and spooky fairytale retellings, with a huge and very diverse cast that includes queer rep, disabled rep (more specifically mental disabilites but there are physical ones as well), and POC rep. Each book has more specific themes, but the overall ones for the series is trauma, how we cope with it, and how we keep living when it’s so hard and painful with every step. I go into more depth in another post, but I'll give you a quick rundown here:

General Cinderella is the first book and my Cinderella retelling. It stars Tris, a black, plus sized trans woman who- instead of going to a ball- is going to a gladiator arena to fight in a tournament for the Prince's hand. Her love interest is Prince Kaye, who is bisexual, Hispanic, has OCD, and is a peacemaker born into a family of bloodthirsty warlords.

Snow Knight is the second book and my Snow White retelling. The main character, Princess Snow, is asian (specifically Chinese), AroAce, and in a QPR with her best friend Lan (who is south asian, nonbinary, and aroace-spec as well). Snow spends the entire book trying to overthrow her a abusive and tyrannic stepmother- the biggest obstacle being compassionate to a fault.

The Little Pirate is the third book and my Little Mermaid retelling. It focuses on pirate Captain Cassandra, a former mermaid who is mute, deaf, has chronic pain, and is trying to heal from the boy who broke her heart by ignoring it (plot twist, it doesn't work and only makes it worse). After her first love broke her, Cass is trying to avoid romance at all costs, and focus on her crew. Then she runs into Erica- an amputee (peg leg), Polynesian, lesbian, hopeless romantic and adventurous rookie pirate on the run with a dangerous map with an even more dangerous secret.

The Lord's Son and the Frog is the fourth book and my Frog Prince retelling. It follows Max, a son of one of Dryklan’s Councilors. He’s black, very gay but oblivious, has a severe case of genre awareness, and is a bit skiddish and avoids drama and trouble. Unfortunately for him, he gets dragged into the investigation of a mysterious and dangerous plot involving dark magic- by none other than Prince Monty, an adventurous and sauve prince who randomly turns into a frog.

Handsome and the Beast is my fifth book and my Beauty and the Beast retelling. The protagonist is Elliot, a scrawny, trans man with blonde hair, and shy bookworm from a small, superstitious village. After getting caught in a blizzard looking for his father, Elliot happens upon an abandoned castle. The castle is occupied by Princess Hestia, a plus sized, Latino mixed princess from a fallen kingdom with fire powers and anxiety.

Sleeping Beauty's Bodyguard is my sixth book, and my Sleeping Beauty retelling. It follows Princess Sapphire and her bodyguard Raven. Sapphire is a redheaded, free spirited, Demisexual, wild princess with ADHD, and no self preservation whatsoever. She’s also an adrenaline junkie. Raven, is very determined to do his job (his life and career in the army depend on it), Latino, bisexual, autistic (heavy masking), morally gray, and has an extreme soft spot for the princess- who is a danger magnet.

The last three books are where all of these stories collide and intertwine as half of the characters die before they are supposed to or fall under sleeping curses- and are trapped in the underworld and are attempting to escape as their loved ones are trying to rescue them.

The City is Ours is my low sci-fi series with (probably) five books. It features chaotic teenage superheroes, found family galore, villain arcs and redemption arcs that actually work, and domestic fluff in between the battles an spy hijinks. The main themes are: what makes good, good and bad, bad, are you the hero or villain, redemption and fixing what you’ve broken, and forgiveness. Here’s a quick rundown of the setting and main cast:

The setting is in a modern day American city I have yet to name (YES STILL. None of the names I’ve come up with are sticking or fit quite right 🤬) around 2020 or 2025, but not strictly that time frame. The city is inspired by a combination of New York, Chicago, and fictional cities like Gotham. The city is in Northern America by the Great Lakes area, and is a crime ridden city with a filthy rich mayor that doesn’t care and corrupt police department that also doesn’t care.

Nickelle is the leader of our team of superheroes, and like a big sister to a lot of the team members. She has ice powers, a punk style, is aroace, and Japanese American. She is also the lead singer in the cities most popular band and makes life in that city a little less shitty with her music. She/her pronouns.

Asher is the Dad Friend of the team. He has power to manipulate light and shadow, is a soft nerd, Latino with a big Mexican family, and very gay with a boyfriend- who is Damian, the Chekhov’s Civilian of the cast. He/him pronouns.

Gabby is the token straight white girl who is an awesome ally and the super girly but ready to throw down best friend of Nickelle. She’s white with long blonde hair, wears lots of pink and lace, and will give you a pep talk of you need it, or punch a bigot without hesitation. She has no powers, but is the team’s fashion designer who creates their suits to be fashionable and functional. She/her pronouns.

Kylee is the youngest teammate, and everyone’s little sister. She has invisibility and superspeed powers, long red hair, loves drawing and painting, is PanAce, and is nonspeaking autistic. They/she pronouns.

Bryson is the Team Healer and the token straight that’s on thin ice of the team. He’s a skateboarder, has healing powers (but he can’t heal himself), complicated family relationships at home, diabetes, and he is African American. He is the medic of the team that will lecture you on being more careful and practicing self care, while calling you stupid for punching a wall. He/him pronouns.

Vira, or V, is the team Cool Older Sibling. They are a shapeshifter, Muslim and Pakistani American, nonbinary, always has crazy ideas and is very impulsive, and plus sized. Pronouns are they/them.

Jason is the rich white asshole of the team with fire powers that only exists to be bashed. Thinks he’s special because of his daddy’s money, and inspired by Tony Stark (sorry not sorry Tony stans 😙). Will get offended if you ask for his pronouns, saying those are for poor people.

Chase is the Team Techie and Hacker. He has no powers, but is a genius when it comes to software coding and engineering. He is academically smart, but has zero common sense, is a grumpy sarcastic and cynical night owl, Romani American, PanAro, Jewish, and he has a lot of mental health issues to deal with- including OCD, Bipolar Disorder, anxiety, depression, and a whole bunch of trauma from shitty friends and the school system. He/they pronouns.

Before the Stars Burn Out is my high sci-fi wip, with space cowboys and a chaotic morally gray cast. Like all of my wips, there’s as much diversity as I can pack in there. It has everything you could want in a space adventure: space pirates, bounty hunters, laser guns, spaceships, weird species, Earthians being space orcs, space politics in the background, cyberpunk…. All that good shit. The main cast and a little about the setting of space:

The setting is roughly a hundred years after earth became to inhabitable, and the humans migrated beyond our galaxy and met other species in the vast universe. Most of the known universe falls under the government of P.I.E. Aka the Peace Intergalactic Expansion, which is meant to let planets and species do their own thing while having some sense of order. One of the branches of this government, the scientific division, has fallen under corrupt leadership which seeks to control and micromanage the entire universe. They seem to do this through a secret, all powerful weapon. And they plan on getting it through our main cast, a bunch of morally questionable mercenaries, criminals, and other wildcards. The Black Holes, a gang of space pirates, are also after the weapon, and have some connections to members of the party.

Corie is the main POV, and a bounty hunter. She is Earthian, with blue hair, stellar aim, a prothestetic eye, arm and leg, and a resting bitch face. She is very grumpy and cynical, and sex repulsed aroace.

Lannie is the old ex mercenary, and the 1000% done and grumpy uncle who has been left in charge of these crazy kids. He’s the self proclaimed leader (no one ever listens to him) and the token straight that’s on thin ice. And he’s a purple skinned with pointy ears and half Earthian.

Nova is a smuggler an an android, who’s payment from the government for this job is having her criminal record cleared. She had dark skin, is bisexual, thinks that flesh bags are selfish and stupid, and has epilepsy due to faulty wiring in her eyes.

Astra is the smug and cocky thief, her payment will also be getting off Scott free on all charges to her record. She’s a black Earthian, plus sized, a master at espionage, and a flirty lesbian. She and Nova have a rivals/annoyances to lovers romance (it doesn’t really have much plot significance, and since the story is mostly told from Corie’s POV the romance takes a backseat)

Pandora is the shady scientist that once worked with the science division hiring them. After getting fired for unauthorized experiments, she has become a big name in the intergalactic underground, selling his work off to the highest bidder. Pandora uses he/she pronouns, is a genius in biological engineering, and is a huge plant nerd. He is pansexual, Earthian, has middle eastern heritage, uses a hovering wheelchair part time, is pansexual, and has Tourette’s, autism, adhd, and wears a hijab like hood.

Castor is an acquaintance of Nova’s, and another smuggler, who also used to be member of the space pirates that call themselves The Black Holes. He's plus size, a redhead, quiet and closed off, a trans man, short king, and surprises everyone with how good he is with a sword.

Aries is a former member of The Black Holes, and a fugitive from the government while on the run from the Black Holes. They are agender with they/xem pronouns, a stellar pilot, and half human with pointy ears. Xey also fall in love with Pandora and they have a cute little romance in the background.

Then there's the "weapon", Hades. An infant of a race that has blue skin and horns, he has telekenetic powers, and was accidentally adopted by our ragtag group of space criminals.

FSF Taglist: @rose-bookblood @chalcid @evethenovicewriter @writing-is-a-martial-art @thatprolificauthor @mjjune

TCIO Taglist: @friendlyneighborhood-writer @jessica-writes22 @rose-bookblood @thatprolificauthor

BSBO Taglist: @fiercely-raging-writer @aesa @thatprolificauthor @writeouswriter @rose-bookblood

If you see this, tell me about your book

Whether it's a published book, a wip, or just something you're imagining for now, I want to hear about it! Share some art, too, if you have some!

Tagging a few people who I don't think would mind, but lemme know if you don't want to be tagged in the future! Fyi, to anyone seeing this, you can always tag me <3

@valeriestorm @rosantha-tindall @kittensartswriting

[critterbitter]

SUBMAS MASTERPOST

Hello, my name is Crit (he/them.) Welcome to my SUBMAS art blog, @critterbitter! It is sfw, but please take care if you are a minor, as I’m Old. Thanks! To reach my main blog, please direct your attention to @proxycrit .

This is a masterpost of all the art and comics I’ve done for the funny train men so far. Feel free to browse and definitely feel free to comment!

(Here’s my kofi as well! If you wish to tip. If you want wips, here’s my patreon!)

All work can also be found under #myart.

Comics/Art List:

A SUBMAS spotify playlist-- Post Hisui Muppet Council

Emmet and eelektross— you and your dog get sent to feudal japan

Ingo and lady sneasler— you weigh like a bag of grapes

Emmet, meet volo

tynamo and emmet’s first meeting (they become friends instantly)

Litwick and ingo’s first meeting (they become enemies immediately)

Aftermath of training

The starters perform care on full grown men

Committing war crimes on both eel and man

Submas kids— the Snack that smiles back, litwick edition

Box shenanigans (caricatures of the children)

Emmet and litwick come to a deal

The difference in starter relationships boggles the mind

Good morning, litwick (good night, lady sneasler.)

Ingo fights his inner envy demons with the communication stick

Coat flapping

You are Beloved, Lampent. That’s all. 

A jackie at gear station

Tynamo evolution blues (this is funny)

The imposter syndrome sets in (it is no longer funny)

Library blues (elesa should be paid for carrying books)

Sassy night light

Happy eel dog

The joyful ordeal of evolution

Eelektrik boa (a gold standard!)

Lampent discovers discourse. This becomes everybody's problem.

Nimbasa trio walk and talk

Couch party (it's poll time!)

SUBMAS AU: Conventional Starters

Lampent is an umbrella, if you squint

Happy Holidays!

Eel-esa outfit (cause, you know, she dresses like an eel. Get it? Get it?)

Scheming

Master of manipulation.

They left Lampent in a Deino's Parking Lot

"These are our Exoskeletons, Elesa."

Chance meeting

Forbidden Lore Unlocked

Introducing Elesa, the New Kid from Sinnoh

Elesa and Blitzle

Outside the crowd

Volume Control

COLLAB: Forgiveness is Electric

Volume Control (Reprise)

Food Exchange

Electric starters

Homesick

Metaphorical and Literal Rat Children

Trouble starters

Snapshots: Route 3

Snapshots: Castelia City

Snapshots: Virbank Complex

Snapshots: Desert Resort

Snapshots: Route 8

Snapshots: Nimbasa City

Snapshots: Celestial Tower

Snapshots: Pinwheel Forest

Snapshots: Route 18

Snapshots: Anville Town

Snapshots: Undella Bay

Snapshots: Flocessy Ranch

Snapshots: Route 10

Snapshots: Driftveil City

Snapshots: Twist Mountain

Snapshots: Relic Passage

Snapshots: Route 6

Snapshots: Opelucid City

Snapshots: Chargestone Cave

Snapshots: Dream Yard

Snapshots: Route 1

Snapshots: Striaton City

Snapshots: Black City

WORLD BUILDING

Giratina and Arceus

[wellspringrpg]

A preview: some cover drafts/thumbnails. From oldest to newest.

It’ll be a little bit until the cover is actually finished and finalized, since art priorities are elsewhere, but the first drafts and thumbnails officially exist.

[gummybugg]

These tags come from @sharraus. Everyone say hi!

See, actually, you're Half right. It’s called Crater City because a nuke hit the general Western U.S. region making this giant crater, and it's one of the few places that wasn't overcome with scary, irradiated animals. For obvious reasons!

But if one were to ask how Toxic the city is, I would ask what you mean by that. Toxic in terms of political power or radiation? Both! What fun, ahahaha!

[stridingwriter]

Oh that's on a more slightly more heartbreaking note because Viktor's partner (now deceased) used to be the main one keeping the city safe - given that most of the entities are sealed underneath it - but sometimes parts of them seep out. Ares just happened to be the one who most actively dealt with this threat and Viktor was his right hand. Which means with Ares dead, in theory, it's Viktor who has to take up the mantle (they were mentor/mentee for a while before becoming partners).

And it just so happens that the Main Big Seal is by the city so with Viktor being more or less the newest leader (with powers), it's kinda his deal to keep the people there safe since the government is more likely to make the whole thing go through a longer process.

Redwood: What's the biggest thing in the story, whether a thing, a place, or a problem, something that seems impossibly big?

Oh man, in general, because I set every single one of my stories on the same timeline in around the same place (area rather) they all have the foreboding problem of the fact that there are literally Elderitch Creatures living underneath their very feet. Especially under the main city area where the seal is giving away and wearing off over time. That's Viktor's problem mainly but if they break out, well, the whole city might get wiped out. (Although personally, Viktor's problem is his inability to move on from his grief of losing Ares which dictates every choice he makes because he Does Not Cope.)

Similarly it's also Leo's biggest problem in the small town of Springdale because if there's one thing that's true about this universe, it's how things feed back to each other. It's surprisingly circular because things from the city impact the town and things from the town feed back. So yeah, the Elderitch Creatures are Everyone's Problem despite being the old Gods in the day.

[suzukiblu]

WIP excerpt for Derpsheep; a fake cryptid and a real romantic. (( chrono || non-chrono ))

“Does Superboy still think you’re actually an actual cryptid city spirit thing?” Steph says, staring incredulously at him. “Did he think that when he made you the diamond? The heart-shaped diamond?” 

“. . . uh,” Robin says, still wincing. “He kind of just . . . showed up with it? Like. We never, uh, actually met before that? But uh, he knows the Bats kind of . . . stalk people, sort of, so I think he thinks it’s like our love language or something, so, uh, he was doing that? Apparently? And then he stopped Catwoman from robbing a museum and dropped her off on me and, uh. Had the diamond. And, uh. Gave it to me.” 

Steph stares at him a lot more incredulously. Then she grips his arm so she can shake him, just a little. Or a lot. 

She maybe nearly knocks over their froyo, but not the point, okay? 

“Robin, is Superboy a monsterfucker,” she demands. “Robin, you have to tell me if Superboy’s a monsterfucker. You can’t not tell me if Superboy’s a monsterfucker!” 

“I don’t know!” Robin hisses at her, sounding mortified. “I mean, maybe?! But like, considering some of the people who Cadmus has made and employed over the years and the fact Supergirl is literally protoplasmic goop with a personality and he’s half-alien, I don’t actually know how to judge that, okay? Maybe he just doesn’t automatically expect people to look human, I don’t know! He looked right at the Batman while he wasn’t bothering to pretend to have bones and didn’t even get weirded out or anything! And he made me a diamond specifically because he figured birds like shiny things and he offered to make me a nest when he found out I sucked at it and he caught Nightwing and called him ‘ma’am’ when Nightwing told him he was a ‘ma’am’ and he stalked me because he thought I’d like it!  And like, I managed to convince the Batman that he’s not a new Robin but I think now he maybe thinks he’s a stray cat or something? He called him a kitten. And like, scritched him. And Superboy didn’t even get weirded out by that!” 

“Oh my god, what is your life,” Steph marvels, putting a hand over her mouth as she grins in disbelief. This is the funniest friggin’ comedy of bullshit errors that she has ever even heard of. “You and the monsterfucker teen idol superhero you pulled by being a creepy little fake cryptid weirdo. When I’m your best woman at whatever freaky alien/cryptid-themed wedding you have, I’m telling this story in my toast. Fuck that, I’m telling the tabloids.” 

“Please do not,” Robin groans, hiding inside his wings again. “Look, he’s really–he’s nice, okay? He just has no idea what normal people are like and he’s also, like, trying to deduce what city spirit bird cryptids would think was, I don’t know, romantic specifically so he can hit on me and it’s just–it’s a lot, okay?! It’s just a lot!”