#you may like to know that I recently completed the detailed outline

[threewaysdivided]

I find it highly amusing that I'm in almost half your top posts of the year lmao. As always, I frequently haunt your page looking for updates or tidbits on how YJDW is coming along :P

(Year in Review 2022)

Nuisance (affectionate and adoring).

To be clear: I absolutely love it when you and the other friendly ghosts (yes, you. you know who you are) come to haunt my notes. Whether that be with asks, @s, tag-rambles, general thought-sharing or anything in between. It makes me really happy that my blog is a place where you feel comfortable reaching out, and that people like my meta-rambles, stories and general nonsense enough to come asking for them. 10/10 please haunt again.

As for Deathly Weapons, I recently did a big end-of-year progress roundup if you want an overview of how things are coming along for the story. The current WIP chapter hasn't seen much change of late but there has been a lot of movement on future-entries and meta happening behind the scenes.

Have a great 2023! 💜👻🖤

[thankskenpenders]

As I'm sure many of you are already aware, Did You Know Gaming (who have been doing some really great investigative work lately) recently put out a video on canceled Sonic games. The whole thing's worth a watch, but I have to bring it up here specifically because they talk about the plans for Sonic Chronicles 2 with a LOT of new info directly from the lead designer.

The section on how the story of Sonic Chronicles 2 would have went starts at 9:45. It's very interesting! He outlines the whole plot, including the fact that they were going to end with ANOTHER obvious plot hook for a sequel in the hopes that they or some other studio could keep the Sonic Chronicles series going indefinitely. Sonic Team even claimed they were interested in using Chronicles characters like Shade in other games. It's crazy to imagine a timeline where this might have become a pillar of the franchise.

I refuse to mourn the loss of the sequel, though, because y'all saw me stream the original. It was miserable. And with the original game selling and reviewing decently well, they would have had little reason to go back to the drawing board and overhaul that game's bizarrely hateful design.

Of course, DYKG also had to talk about the reason why the game was canceled. I was dreading this because of how often people tend to get the basic facts of the Penders cases wrong or downplay the obvious Archie Knuckles inspiration in Chronicles. But no, they did their homework! And they got the details right in part because, well... they asked Penders for comment directly. And he sent them back a MASSIVE wall of text about the whole ordeal, including some fascinating details that I don't believe I've heard before!

You can go to 15:19 in the video and scrub through to read the many, MANY screencaps of their emails from Ken, but here are the most interesting and/or hilarious tidbits to me:

#1: Perjury!

As we already knew, Ken claimed that the incomplete, photocopied contract Archie presented in court was a forgery, and that he had never signed a work for hire contract.

The judge obviously knew that one side had to be lying here, and thus was more than willing to present the case to a jury to let them decide the truth... and send whoever was deemed the liar to jail for perjury. (The judge apparently looked Ken directly in the eye when he said this, which... well, make of that what you will.)

Archie's lawyers knew that they didn't have a completely airtight case and obviously did not want to go to jail. So they decided to settle instead of going to trial in front of a jury.

(I will reiterate that Archie's arguments not working out is overall a GOOD thing, because we really do not want to set a legal precedent where corporations can "lose" a contract for a creator, make up a story about what was on the contract, and then have that hold up in court. They gotta get that shit in writing. And they didn't. They fucked up!)

#2: Sega was threatening to revoke the Sonic license!

As we knew, Sega wanted nothing to do with the comic copyright lawsuit. To them, it was Archie's job as licensee to deal with their freelancers. (Y'all watch Succession? You know how Logan loves lackeys who will eat shit for him without him having to even hear about the problem? Yeah.) And, in fact, according to Ken, Sega gave Archie an ultimatum: if they wanted their license to make Sonic comics renewed, they were gonna have to deal with Ken on their own, and cover all the costs.

Yeah, uh, this kinda makes me think that Sega being pissed about the ongoing Scott Fulop copyright case in 2016 may have been a bigger factor in Archie Sonic's cancellation than I previously thought. There was a lot going on at the time that could have contributed, but, y'know.

Anyway, Archie sued Ken for "damaging their business" largely because Sega was threatening to take away the Sonic IP. But because Archie couldn't ask Sega for help and they couldn't produce an original contract, they had to settle.

There's another detail I find funny here, though. Ken WANTED Sega to get involved in the comic copyright case, thinking that Sega would strongarm Archie into paying him the millions of dollars he wanted for "using his work without permission" so that they could be done with it. I mean, sure. I guess Sega wouldn't have cared about Archie's finances, but still. I'm not so sure that would've worked out for him.

#3: Shade!

Yes, Penders still claims he legally owns Shade, and under advice from his lawyer still intends to put out an NFT of her to put his claim to the test. Yes, it's incredible that he still hasn't put out the damn NFT. It only needs to be one image, which he already drew! The market has collapsed!

Anyway, building an argument off the legal concept of estoppel, he says that if Sega continues to not do anything about his claims that he owns Shade then, in the eyes of the court, they'll be forfeiting their claims to Shade altogether. But they aren't going to do anything because they never wanted any part in the copyright battles in the first place, and to them Chronicles is a long dead asset not worth fighting over. Why bother trying to use Shade again and giving Ken a reason to take them back to court when they can just move on? It's not like this franchise is short on characters. And so Ken can say that Shade and Julie-Su are literally the same character, and if he owns Julie-Su then therefore he also owns Shade.

Our copyright system is, indeed, a nightmare. Chronicles should have been halfway to the public domain by now.

#4: Sega's oversight on the Archie comics!

Ken says that in his first year on the series Sega only requested some dialogue changes here and there through the editor. They never requested huge script changes, and also never spoke to Ken directly. After that first year, they stopped asking for dialogue changes altogether, and Ken "had a free hand to do pretty much whatever he wanted." Yeah, no surprise there.

He does, however, say that Archie's original deal with Sega stated that they weren't allowed to create ANY new Sonic characters without informing Sega. They would've needed to make a contract every single time to get Sega's approval and make it absolutely crystal clear that Sega owned the whole cast. And then Archie just... didn't do that! And didn't tell any of the freelance creatives not to come up with new characters! Had Archie followed this rule, the trajectory of the comics would have been completely different, but there also never would've been a copyright battle in the first place.

What a shitshow. Truly.

[violetasteracademic]

Hi , I want to ask if you think Lucien was always meant to have a rejected mating bond with an Archeron sister ?

Hello lovely anon!

So.... this is a tough question to answer- because where does always begin in the writing process?

Does it begin in the first draft? Does it begin in the wild prophetic visions you have at three am that you want to scribble down but you don't because you are trying to sleep, but still, it lingers? Does it begin in a beat sheet, a plot outline, a Pinterest board?

I'm not sure if SJM always intended a rejected mating bond. To be completely honest, I go back and forth. I think that Sarah has let a lot of things slip that she wrote that were never going to even be submitted to her editor on a first draft (like the famed Nesta/Cassian/Azriel batwich, RIP and I'm still waiting on SJM to write a threesome). And yet when she shares those things, people almost consider it canon and analyze it to death and use it to prove certain things. At some point, she probably really genuinely considered making Lucien and one of the sisters a couple, but I can't say for sure where in the process that died.

I remember seeing Emily Henry share on her stories recently an addition to her "RIP" character list- as in characters that she had written that literally did not even make it into the book. The first draft of Beach Read was actually a love triangle, involving some local guy who owns an ice cream business or something of the sort who is also trying to romance January. I can see what she might have been trying to do there- give January two options reflecting two sides of her. Ice Cream Steve (not sure if those details are correct but we'll go with it) would have served as a perfect foil to Grave Digging, Bleak Literary Fiction Author Gus. But ultimately, Ice Cream Steve did not even make it to the book. Do we treat him as real? Do we wonder if he may have been a better fit for January? Do we analyze what this means for January and Gus?

I'll get a little bit into the technicality of what developmental editing is and how it can completely reshape a story, erase characters, create characters, and shift their storylines, but what I do know is this- the function of Lucien being assigned an Archeron sister, any Archeron sister, is completely clear: To win him over to the Night Court as an ally and embolden him to help Feyre get away from Tamlin. This is absolutely critical. Lucien's role in the story since this hasn't developed romantically because he is mated to one of the Archeron sisters, it has spun off in a new direction plot wise with the Band of Exiles, Vassa, Koschei, and the human queens- which also develops a tentative relationship between himself and his brother Eris again, with his mating bond hovering in the background. However, his mating bond began this new direction, and it wouldn't have existed without it:

Lucien would not have left if it were not for the mating bond. I believe that is the element that was always true. Lucien's mating bond, be it with Elain, or Nesta as originally planned, was always going to be a plot device. And I can answer where I believe the story of a love triangle at the very least began its groundwork- which is A Court of Mist and Fury. I personally think that as of publishing ACOMAF Lucien and Elain were already done, fizzling out in the developmental editing process, and Azriel and Elain were endgame, but I'm open to those who see it differently.

Before we move on, here are the different types of editors:

A development editor basically edits the story at large. They focus on elements like theme, character development, plot holes, ECT. When dealing with a series, often times an author will provide a detailed packet to their developmental editor before doing dev runs. This is because the developmental editor needs to understand where the story is headed. They need to understand what needs to be appropriately foreshadowed, what themes to highlight, and keep their eye on the big picture so that everything comes to a well developed, emotionally charged, and thematically satisfying conlcusion.

What is clear to me is that Azriel and Elain were being developed emotionally and thematically in ACOMAF:

These are the types of passages that focus on the big picture. Before Feyre's sisters have become Fae, Feyre is musing on what her sisters would be like in Velaris. She thinks about how Nesta would like it, despite herself, and become fast friends with Amren (true) and how Elain would like Velaris, but she would cling to Azriel for peace and quiet. True. Feyre considers how handsome Elain and Azriel would be together if he ever stopped loving Mor.

Developmentally- what is the purpose of this? It's the same book that Lucien and Elain's mating bond is revealed, so why muse on Elain and Azriel as a couple if Azriel could get over Mor, which he now has because of Elain? Meanwhile, Elain is engaged. Feyre doesn't say a word about that. She sees how her sister would want to be with someone like Azriel, and Feyre doesn't even think twice about Graysen because Azriel is right for her sister. This isn't Feyre being an unreliable narrator. Everything else in this passage came to be true.

These are the types of moments developmental editors hone in on to make sure theme and foreshadowing are strong and successful.

Of course this is already after the beautiful moments Azriel and Elain have together- Azriel getting shy and self conscious before dropping one of the most beautiful lines in all the books about being born hearing the song of the wind. Elain already being able to read Azriel- looking to him and smiling and finding comfort and assessing his countenance to see if everything is going okay.

If I'm a developmental editor, and I wanted it to be really clear why Lucien and Elain were right for each other- why would I keep all of this in? Why tie Elain and Azriel together thematically and emotionally? So again, this is where the question "where does always begin" comes into play. Did SJM realize in her first draft that Nesta and Lucien weren't going to work, so she switched to Elain, only to realize that Elain and Lucien don't have chemistry either? Was it after a developmental edit? I can't say for sure on that end. Maybe ACOMAF truly was just setting up a love triangle, but personally I think Elain and Az were always endgame as of the books being published, and trying to explore Elain and Lucien as a couple probably died out before the final draft of ACOMAF and SJM realized Lucien still needed to be mated to one of the sisters, thus ideas about the rejected mating bond started stirring instead and then were hit HARD in ACOWAR. I can see the argument that the door was being kept open for Lucien in ACOMAF, though I personally think Lucien's mating bond reveal was strictly a plot device. But what is extremely clear is that as of ACOWAR the path was set in stone.

Again- these are the things where, not to take credit away from Sarah, a developmental editor really comes into play. If Sarah is going, okay- who is Lucien going to end up with? Nesta? No, it can't be Nesta, even though that was originally the plan. Elain? Maybe, it could be Elain. What does that look like? Maybe it was Lucien and Elain in the pitch packet. Then a developmental editor goes, okay- where are we headed? What are the themes? What are the character arcs and growth we are looking for?

Then we move on to ACOWAR, and both of them were developed to have a theme of choice threaded into their interactions:

What these moments make clear is that the mating bond makes it impossible for Elain and Lucien to get what they truly want out of love with each other- for someone to love and choose them beyond the circumstances placed on them. Lucien wants this just as much as Elain does. They are now thematically connected in that way- in wanting to be chosen above all, despite everything. That's where this Facebook comment makes soooo much sense:

Nesta didn't have any growth or healing to offer Lucien, because thematically there was not really anything there between them. Nesta and Cassian also had this instant, intense connection that could not be ignored or played slowly. Nesta also didn't lose her fiance, she herself saying she had as little at stake in Velaris as she did on the other side of the wall. Nesta had anger and resentment. Elain had loss, which on the surface could thematically match Lucien, but then we dig deeper to learn that they aren't only needing to heal from the loss of love, they are needing to heal from the loss of choice.

Elain was engaged to a man who hates fae. And Elain was always going to become Fae.

Lucien had his history and story with Jesminda since book one. He thought Jesminda was his mate. The woman who loved him for him, not because he was a High Lord's son or because of any other High Fae customs Lucien rejects. This is where you see the development. Lucien and Elain could have worked on an incredibly surface level, both of them having lost their first loves, but deeper themes revealed themselves that showed they mirror each other in a way that doesn't make them right for each other, but that allows them to face what needs to be faced: being strong and brave enough to choose for themselves instead of letting the world control them.

For Elain and Lucien to have made sense together thematically, everything should have been reversed. Elain should have been mated to Azriel, and then Elain and Lucien should have met somehow and fallen in love, and the choosing each other above all, love trumping even a mating bond, Lucien being chosen and loved without question, without hesitation, would have belonged to them.

But again, without the mating bond, Lucien and Elain wouldn't even have met in the first place and Lucien would not have left Spring. So where does that leave us? The mating bond as a plot device. It was literally required to move the story forward, but thematically is anticlimactic for both parties in terms of the kind of love they want for themselves.

So- was Lucien always going to have a mating bond rejection? Probably not. But where in the years long process did all of this reveal itself? Only Sarah knows that. But I think what is quite clear is that it was always going to happen if we start from what is published in the books between him and Elain.

I think it's very possible that SJM did really intend for Lucien to wind up with one of the sisters. But if you've ever gone through the writing process yourself, you realize pretty quickly how many things fall apart and don't work/make sense/are actually anti-thematic to the characters you've created. Maybe she'll tell us one day exactly when Elain and Lucien fell apart, just like Nesta and Lucien fell apart. But we do have to keep in mind that an author like SJM, who was able to sell a trilogy all at once, probably had to have at least a 25 page packet outlining the trilogy and it's development. So- was it Nesta and Lucien in the pitch packet? Was it Elain and Lucien, because even while structuring a pitch she realized Nesta and Lucien would never work while outlining, but thought Elain and Lucien would? Only to discover Elain and Azriel connecting while drafting ACOMAF?

Writing a book is years of plotting, outlining, writing, rewriting, editing, writing again, and sometimes what you come up with is unrecognizable from the plan. And considering SJM contracted a trilogy, she would have pitched in pretty significant detail what would happen in book two and book three. We'll see what Sarah does and does not choose to reveal!

I think that's everything! I love getting these questions from you guys. I still have a cue in my inbox, and I am sorry it's kind of random when my inspiration strikes and I have a clear answer and can quickly think of the passages and ideas! But I will try to get to my older ones that have been sitting for a minute, I promise!

What do you guys think? I know everyone has different thoughts on this and I love to hear them!

[qwertyprophecy]

hi !! i recently played storyseeker and really loved it !! i was curious about how you went about designing the story for it ?? was it hard to keep track of all the moving narrative parts ?? how did you decide where to reveal what info ?? hope you dont mind me asking -- i really love your art !! have a great day !!

I'm glad you enjoyed Storyseeker! Old as it may be, out of everything I've made it's still the game I'd most like to make a spiritual successor to.

Answers to narrative design questions after the cut:

It's funny, Storyseeker's design process was so organic that realistically it should've turned into a right mess. But just as organically it lead into design principles that made organising the story a breeze, honestly.

What I mean by organic: As touched upon in this reply regarding worldbuilding, the story kept writing itself as long as I kept asking it questions, so I just let it do its thing. The player is meant to experience the narrative in much the same way, with me imposing as little control over them as possible while they travel as they please and narrate to themselves the story of what they see.

It sounds freeform and terribly unstructured, but I established a principle of design that aims to help the player connect the dots instead of feeling lost in a cacophony of random details. While making the game I called them "paths": routes the player is likely to take or subtly guided to take, that connect together related parts of the narrative. Visually some are literal paths or roads, but they could be anything that the player might follow. Footprints, streams of bubbles, the line of sight of an NPC, the sight of something irregular peeking at the edge of the screen...

A path presents both a question and a direction to go look for the answer. Oftentimes, the exact questions I was asking myself when building the world piece by piece. Where does this road lead? Where are these weasels swimming to (or, approaching from the opposite direction, where did they come from)? What dislodged itself from this hole in the ice and where did it go? What kind of a body are these giant toes connected to? Ie., to answer your question of when to reveal information: when the player asks for the information by moving towards where it's revealed, whether on purpose or unknowingly.

If the player follows the direction they must end up on another path because good answers beget more questions. The single most important design document I had was a piece of scrap paper with a rough sketch of the map and a whole lot of coloured lines flowing across it to mark the paths I was prepping for the player. (Lines, not arrows, since I couldn't predict which direction they'd be traveled in.) By visualising them I tried to make sure none of them stopped abruptly or looped in a circle, and that all the places of interest were covered.

(The biggest exception to this design is of course the dead end of a room that is the game's final area: the temple interior that can only be found by completionists. That's why it "completes" the game by being a narrative dead end, too.)

I genuinely didn't even plan it this way on purpose, but it turns out that it really helps keep track of a narrative when you make a game where webs of cause and consequence are all visually illustrated on a literal map. :D If you're the type of person who benefits from visually organising things, I don't see why you couldn't draw abstracted maps of your narrative even if it's not so visual in nature.

I know I definitely need to do more of that! Just last week I rescued my current project's dialogue rewrite with visualisation and arrow doodles. It had grown into an overwhelming mess of unplanned splitting and rejoining branches and microreactivity, so to have any chance of looking at it without inviting a migraine, I closed the document and instead mapped the whole script into a single page outline of what each conversation is supposed to convey to the player. It's so much easier for me to think about the shape of the story when I can see it in one glance!

[orbitposting]

Hello, I was wondering if u could tell me more about the DID youtube stuff and the stuff with DissociaDID, I don't know a lick of any of that, I've only rlly watched The Entropy System, The Rings System and some of DissociaDID's educational videos fairly recently (still new to the online OSDDID community in general), all I've heard is that DissociaDID is anti-endo?

(I use DissociaDID to refer to the system as a whole. They don't have another updated system name that I am aware of.)

Hi, two people brought up something like this in my inbox, and it's worth clarifying. My point was unclear, and I'll do my best to clarify now. In my eyes, DissociaDID has come under a lot of scrunity for concerns that are valid but overblown, standards that others are not held to, ableism/fakeclaiming, and sometimes claims that are bordering on conspiracy. Unfortunately, I was pretty up-to-date on the situation, so I'll make an outline of things people were upset about.

Outdated

- Using racial terms to describe a darker-skinned alter, Nadia, when the body is white. Of my knowledge, this has not happened since. (I am white, so I can't police if you forgive them or not. This is just context.)

- Engagement with Team Piñata*. They're no longer together. End of.

- Overstating their qualifications. DissociaDID no longer states any qualifications other than being a system that does research, basically. Before, it sounded almost like they were claiming to be a mental health professional.

- They partnered with BetterHelp** at one point. They never gave a statement, but they haven't promoted it since.

Disproven/Clarified

- DissociaDID has used *very* outdated studies to support points in their older videos. This is frowned upon in scientific research, where sources become less accurate very quickly (Rule of thumb is use studies no greater than 20 years old). DissociaDID has previously referenced a study from 1902, at worst.

- Many criticise DissociaDID for coming back to YouTube just when their monetization is about to run out.

- Can handle criticism very poorly at times, which people took an issue with, especially when they were proporting themselves as mental health experts.

- Brought a flood of people to the DID community, negative attention included. Many DID YouTubers stopped posting due to the negative attention the DID community received. DissociaDID did not personally cause this, as far as I can tell.

- Diagnosis at Pottergate Center: Even if that diagnosis wasn't valid, they were also diagnosed through the NHS. (Diagnosis is sometimes referred to in ways other than pencil-and-paper diagnosis, too.)

Not sure, but hasn't come up

- Treatment of various friends in the DID community such as Bobo & Co.

General dislike (Up to you)

- Many say they are "sensationalizing" DID, due to their florid presentation (This may also be paired with fakeclaiming)

- Mara's TikTok has come under fire for posting more suggestive content. Soren stands by her right to do so, and checks it before it is posted.

Borderline conspiracy and fakeclaiming

- One system member interacted with a minor on a livestream in a somewhat suggestive manner. (Their account says minors DNI, but people argue they should have been more mindful.)

- Many people get an odd vibe from their content, since it is so polished, and argue that it doesn't reflect the reality of DID since it's so pristine.

- Some find it very odd that they advertise their Patreon with having BTS footage of them dissociating/switching.

- Some people allege DissociaDID made up her alters after reading a certain book regarding programming. Some roles/alter names/inner world details lined up.

*Team Piñata was exposed for drawing minors in inappropriate situations and possibly doing commissions of this content.

- Since DissociaDID has previously mentioned RAMCOA (or a similar term), people who believe that that phrasing is antisemitic, conspiritorial, and/or completely fake don't believe that she is a valid source of DID information

- DissociaDID has been accused of copying their trauma from other systems. The foundation of this theory rests on them malingering DID.

- (Outdated also) People used to theorize Team Piñata and DissociaDID never broke up. It has been a long time since then, and DissociaDID doesn't even mention them by name anymore.

- DissociaDID has been fighting a court battle since 2020 or so and has linked to their CrowdJustice page for a while. People theorized that they were taking the money for themselves instead. DissociaDID has stated that the funds go directly to lawyers and never enter their hands.

**BetterHelp has been criticized for its lack of quality control, especially surrounding uncertified "therapists" to conduct therapy through their service and the unprofessional behavior of therapists using the service.

So that's what I can recall at the moment. Five of the issues are up to personal opinion. Personally, I think DissociaDID has had problems but has a magnifying glass on their behavior for years. If you don't like them, please just leave them alone.

[shatcey]

2 days left

I decided to combine Ally's advice, which I personally find very wise. If his advice was too narrowly applicable, I'll outlined my version of his advice. And I'll explain how I see it.

The screenshots only from from the routes that have already been released (mostly Elbert, some Liam's).

I don't think I need to go into details, but I still want to do it. Everyone has their own opinion about what is right, what is important. And it's pretty pointless to compare or judge someone by your own personal standards. It's a different person. They may have something in common with you, but that doesn't mean you'll agree on everything.

Another rather clever remark.

I love it! If you have something that you no longer need, just get rid of it. Throw it away or sell it. What's the point of collecting garbage? This is useful advice, and I really try to follow it.

People tend to think that only they have problems, only they suffer, the lives of others are much simpler. It's quite understandable thought. We can only see our lives, we can only experience our feelings. We can sympathize, but we can never truly understand others. But! There is not a single person who would live his life without problems.

I see this as advice not to blindly interfere in someone else's life, but to take into account the feelings and problems of another person. You can do whatever you want, but you have to be prepared for the consequences. Will your words or actions break someone completely? Is it worth it? What if someone else does the same to you?

Another thing I've been through quite recently. There are things that we consider to be true (by the mind), but we feel completely differently. Personal opinion may not always be logically correct.

What I can say… If you ask someone you know they don't really like to do it… Why not butter them up? It will be more efficient. No?

I have heard that in English culture it is customary to say "Everything is fine" when people ask "how are you". Well… obviously, this is just a kind way of not bothering others with your problems. But… actually, it's a lie… in most cases. And you're just wasting your time on meaningless words.

There are two examples of the same thought

I really like this idea. So… if everything is going to hell anyway… What's the point of worrying? You can do whatever you want, and it won't change anything. Such things only work if there is really nothing you can do to solve the problem. Actually, this is a pretty rare case. But… if this is really such a situation… Just have fun.

I didn't show you the end of his sentence because it's not that important. The point is… You shouldn't label people. Even if it's true, it's not the whole truth. A person consists of several layers, and if you once put a label on them, you won't even try to pay attention to something else. Ally is probably using it as a jest, but as usual, deep down he doesn't like being called that.

Agree. The constant change of mood and direction of action makes life exciting and unpredictable. And inconsistency is inherent in human nature… Willy is a perfect example of that.

If you like someone, don't hesitate. While you are hesitating, someone else may steal your beloved's heart. And who will be to blame?

And I wanna finish with this one...

It doesn't matter what you were born with or in what environment, you and only you decide what suits you and what you really are.

I love you, Ally. Very, very much…

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

🔝 𝕊𝕋𝔸ℝ𝕋 ℙ𝔸𝔾𝔼 🔝

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

[victorluvsalice]

Valicer In The Dark: "A Murder Shared Is A Murder Thirded" Outline!

Hello everyone -- I recently started work on the second Valicer In The Dark story, "A Murder Shared Is A Murder Thirded" (aka the one where they kill Bumby), and I thought it might be neat to share with you guys the outline I prepared for the story! Especially since I don't have any Sims 4 stuff to share on Wednesdays at the moment, thanks to the Chill Valicer Save file no longer functioning. :( I have plans for a successor, but it's going to take a little bit to get off the ground, so...

*shakes head* Anyway -- outline! My planning process for this story involved approaching it like it was an actual Blades In The Dark score -- complete with deciding on the type of plan the gang was going to use (and the detail they needed to provide), the loads they were going to have (and thus how much stuff they could actually carry), and doing actual rolls to figure out how the story would progress as they encountered various obstacles! (I, uh, may have purchased actual BITD-themed dice and a dice tray explicitly for this purpose. ^^;) However, I also took a moment to note down any "must-happen" moments in the fic first -- basically, any particularly important or cool bits that were going to occur no matter WHAT the dice said. Reason being, I've done some "rolling for something on the spot" fic-writing in the past with a friend, and I know how fucking frustrated I get whenever a dice roll ruins the cool thing that was supposed to happen in my head. Noting down the things I was DETERMINED to have happen and doing all the rolls BEFORE I actually started writing meant that I couldn't get angry at a good moment being ruined. Though actually, as you'll see, the dice were pretty kind to the trio in this score! I guess they wanted to make sure they succeeded in their task as much as I did. :) So, without further ado, here's the outline/score summary for "A Murder Shared Is A Murder Thirded!" Naturally, there will be spoilers for what happens in the fic, but I'll put most of it behind a cut, and you guys already know I have no care for spoiling my own stuff on here. XD

---

Score: Infiltrate the Houndsditch Home For Wayward Youth in Charhollow, find proof of Bumby’s activities, and preferably kill the bastard

Plan Type: Stealth (I mean, there’s going to be an element of Assault, but first they have to get in)

Detail: Point of Infiltration – the back door into the basement kitchen of the house

Loads: Alice – Light; Victor – Light; Smiler – Light (each have three load slots)

Have To Happen Moments:

The gang successfully make it to Alice’s room so she can get her stuff; possible heartfelt moment when they see the picture of her family on her wall

The gang successfully finds Bumby’s ledger in his office (inside a safe stowed away in a hidden drawer of his desk; it’s generally opened via Lizzie’s key but can be picked)

Bumby shows up, and Alice reclaims Lizzie’s room key and blows him up

Gang successfully escapes with the ledger, and run into Smiler’s parents Matt and Carol as they head out of town; they’re taken back to the Ministry Of Joy for the Names (aka night)

Engagement Roll:

+1 d for sheer luck

+1 d for being bold or daring (they’re trying to expose a known philanthropist as a child pimp)

+1 d for exposing a vulnerability of the target (Dr. Bumby has written off Alice as lost in the city and hired a new dogsbody, AND he doesn’t think she’d ever get anyone to help her if she did tell anyone about his activities)

3d total

Result: 1, 2, 4 – Mixed result, risky position – they get in the back door without incident, but Alice’s replacement June comes into the kitchen as they’re preparing to head up the stairs

Score Rolls:

As per the above, trio encounters June coming into the kitchen shortly after their successful infiltration and have to get past her – Smiler immediately introduces themselves and explains that they were hoping to meet with Dr. Bumby to see if they could form a partnership, as they believe their alchemical prowess would help the man in his work (they are indeed cringing on the inside as they say this) – Sway, 2d – 6! June believes them and sends them up to see Dr. Bumby with the other two

Safely inside the house, Victor gets the idea for Alice to get her stuff from her room before they proceed further (having already suggested they grab it before they went); Alice agrees with this and they grab her things (1 load for Victor, who I picture as carrying the bag)

Head up the stairs to Bumby’s office, encounter one of the children (Abigail? Charlie?) in the upstairs hallway, who naturally recognizes Alice and wants to tell Dr. Bumby she’s back – Alice tries to tell them no, with Smiler backing her up by claiming they want to surprise him – Command, 3d (+1 for Smiler’s help, 1 stress for Smiler; +1 for pushing herself, 2 stress for Alice) – 5. The kid agrees not to go tell Dr. Bumby right now, but it’s clear that they will tell him the next time they see him… Start a “Bumby Shows Up” clock as a result, four pieces, none ticked so far

Into the office before Dr. Bumby shows up! Time to find that ledger… The trio split up – Alice examines the bookshelf, Victor checks Dr. Bumby’s desk, Smiler looks around for anything that might give them a clue as to where the ledger might be

Alice – Study, 2d (+1 for pushing herself, stress up to 4) – 6! She doesn’t find the ledger in the bookshelf, but she does find a book safe with some money in it – +1 Coin for the gang to take with them!

Victor: Study, 2d (+1 for pushing himself, 2 stress for Victor) – 5. Victor finds a secret drawer with a safe in it – but, well, unsurprisingly, it’s locked, and opening it will take a bit (+1 to the “Bumby Shows Up” clock, 3 segments left)

Smiler: Survey, 2d (+1 for pushing themselves, stress up to 3) – 6! While Victor finds the safe, Smiler notes the windows on the side of the office and determines that it would be safe for the group to exit via one of them if they had the appropriate means to do so – cue them going “good thing I brought some rope!” and setting it up for them to climb down (one load ticked for Smiler)

That safe looks like it’s important – shame it’s locked! Smiler offers to try and pick it (flashback to them finding some lockpicks in Elder Gutknecht’s library – as they have, or will have, the “Pack Rats” special ability as Shadows, I will let them squeak by with no stress for this – probably does count as load for them, so that’s a second slot ticked) as Alice and Victor keep watch for Bumby or other suspicious children – Tinker, 2d – 5. Smiler gets the safe open, but Alice hears what sounds like someone coming up the steps… (+1 to the “Bumby Shows Up” clock, 2 segments left)

However – safe is open, and there is indeed a ledger inside! A ledger that is very clearly about selling off children to pedos, and in fact contains some notes from Bumby about the work that he does...and how much Alice reminds him of Lizzie. Everyone is notably disgusted, and Alice angrily wishes that she could get that room key off him, but agrees that it’s better to try and escape. The ledger is thus shoved in the bag, and Victor closes up the safe and stores it back in the secret drawer, before the trio try to stealthily head down the rope leading outside –

Alice – Prowl, 1d – 6! Alice is shockingly stealthy and gets down like a fucking ghost

Victor – Prowl, 1d – 4. Victor is not so stealthy and hits the wall once – he doesn’t make THAT much noise, but it’s definitely noticeable… (+1 to the “Bumby Shows Up” clock, 1 segment left)

Smiler – Prowl, 1d (+1 for pushing themselves, stress up to 5) – 4. And Smiler is also not particularly stealthy, losing their balance as they get off the rope and falling over – just loud enough for someone to notice! (+1 to the “Bumby Shows Up” clock – full!)

And that someone is Bumby, who entered his office at just that moment, saw the rope hanging out of his window, and stuck his head outside to see Alice and two other people, one of whom is carrying a bag. He naturally assumes that she’s stolen SOMETHING from him (even if he doesn’t yet suspect it is his ledger) and starts yelling at her – Alice blasts him as an abomination and reveals that she knows exactly what he’s been doing. Bumby is first like “oh come on, who would believe–” And THEN it registers “wait, she’s here with two other people, SHIT SOMEONE BELIEVES HER” and scrambles out of the office himself on the rope. Fortune roll for how gracefully he gets down, 2d because I imagine he has decent Prowl to get kids to customers – 4. He gets down, but like Smiler he lands badly and is off-balance for a bit –

And Alice, seeing an opportunity, darts in and grabs his watch-chain, ripping Lizzie’s room key off it, while shoving the electroplasm bomb (tick one load for Alice) into his hands. As this is a must-win scene for the fanfic, this Skirmish, 2d roll is only to determine the consequences to her – 4. She gets the bomb in his hands before he can retaliate, and he goes up a treat...but unfortunately, poor June has come out of the kitchen, attracted by the noise, and promptly starts screaming as Bumby goes up, forcing the trio to flee VERY FAST (Smiler yelling “sorry!” behind them) – they are not a crew yet, but they will start being one with 1 Heat on their tracker as a result!

However, score is officially a SUCCESS! :D The trio run until they’re sure they’re not being pursued, then take a moment to celebrate their victory, with Alice being very happy that she was indeed able to kill the bastard (even if she accidentally traumatized her replacement – she’ll want to make up for that later if she can). Talk then turns to getting the ledger to someone who will be able to publicize Bumby’s misdeeds – And then someone says “Smiler?” nearby, and Smiler recognizes their parents! They run over for hugs and introduce Matt and Carol Alton to their new friends. Matt and Carol are very nice and warmly greet Victor and Alice – Alice, feeling a little guilty, apologizes for getting Smiler into some trouble and preventing them from coming home sooner. Matt and Carol are confused, so the trio explain the Barkis situation and the whole “turns out he was a Spirit Warden and the Bluecoats think we murdered him” thing – And Matt and Carol go, “Oh! No, the actual Spirit Wardens confirmed he was an imposter who killed one of their own and stole their kit, and that his corpse showed signs of being very recently possessed before it burned, so you’re in the clear!” Victor, Alice, and Smiler are a bit “…” over this, as you might imagine. Carol jokes that, “oh come on, it’s not like you killed anyone else, right?” [significant silence] “...right?” Fortunately, this is when Victor hands over the ledger, with Alice and Smiler explaining a bit more about what just happened – after a look inside, Matt and Carol are like, “Oh, yeah, that murder was TOTALLY justified, good job.” They tell them that they can send it onto a reporter of their acquaintance, the lady who runs Publick Occurrences, and that Victor and Alice can stay the night in the Ministry of Joy if they want. As the trio have spent two days since the end of “Start At The Beginning...Sort Of” living in a house with no running water or heat, in one set of clothes, they are more than amendable to this suggestion, and the story probably ends with them on the way to the MOJ.

Post-Score Summary And XP:

Alice:

Stress level before downtime actions – 4

+1 Coin

XP:

2 for addressing a challenge with violence or coercion (commanding the kid, killing Bumby)

2 for expressing her beliefs (protecting the children) and background (she was the former dogsbody at Houndsditch!)

1 for – less struggling with and more indulging her vice (Obligation to the children of Houndsditch!)

Total: 5 – put 3 in the Insight XP tracker, 2 in the Prowess XP tracker (Alice wants Hunt and Finesse)

Victor:

Stress level before downtime actions – 2

XP:

1 for expressing his background (trade, he was the one to know to look for a ledger in the first place)

Total: 1 – put it in the Playbook XP tracker

Smiler:

Stress level before downtime actions – 5

XP:

2 for addressing challenges both with deception (talking their way past June) and technical skill (picking the lock on the safe)

1 for expressing their beliefs (taking Bumby down makes the world a little bit happier)

Total: 3 – put 2 in the Insight XP tracker, 1 in the Prowess XP tracker (Smiler wants Study and Finesse)

Downtime Activities:

Alice:

House Rule – if a score serves as indulging a vice for a character, that character automatically gets 1 stress knocked off the tracker at the end – stress down to 3

Train Insight, +1 XP in that tracker (Alice is working toward Hunt – maybe she gets pulled into a game of tag with some of the younger members of the cult XD)

Train Prowess, +1 XP in that tracker (Alice is also working toward Finesse – does some drawing)

Victor:

Train Playbook, +1 XP (Victor talks to some of the Whispers in the cult, starts getting excited about being one despite himself)

Train Resolve, +1 XP (Victor might as well work toward another Attune dot)

Smiler:

Indulge Pleasure Vice – 4, stress down to 1 (entertains themselves and their new friends with some songs on their guitar)

Train Prowess, +1 XP in that tracker (Smiler is working toward Finesse, and playing the guitar works with THAT too)

[shepherds-of-haven]

Do you ever go back through your story just randomly changing things that you didn't like or didn't really fit in with the story at time?

Oh, absolutely! I consider the entire alpha build a first draft, so I definitely go back and change things as I see fit (recently taking out fairmath is a good example, but I also quietly go back and heavily edit/rewrite/revamp scenes between characters all the time); I also think that, as the years of development have gone on, some worldbuilding facts or lore or spoilers about future plot threads I've mentioned no longer apply to the game in its current state (I recently changed the whole calendar system so that a month is 63 days instead of 42, for example; or I'll read an old post about a character's thoughts on marriage and think 'oh that's definitely not right anymore'; or something of the sort). So if you read any obscure lore posts prior to, like, 2020 on this blog, they have maybe a 50% of being completely accurate, haha. There was even a point where I said that Norms have gold-tinted skin that kind of glints in the light (not like the vampires in Twilight, thank you), which I have since once again mentally retracted, lol. So no one should take things I said in the past as 100% gospel, is my point!

More than going back through what I've already written and changing things, though, I tend to heavily change things from my planned/outlined version as I'm writing it, not after. In my outline version of ShoH, Mimir was supposed to show up in Lavinet's chapter as an advocate for the Elementals, and Chapter 7 involved getting trapped in a small farming community in a snowstorm and, um, somehow Wintry would have been recruited as a companion or something (I don't really remember) but I definitely know the Changelings and Thurl weren't involved. By the time I got to Chapter 6, though, I threw those plans right out because they just didn't feel right and just sort of improvised as I went along! I tend to do that much more than most would expect (since I don't really spoil you guys on where the plot's going, you wouldn't know my original plans and how much the current iteration is different from them lol), so it's less noticeable than if I were to go back and change the material I've already made public to you, if that makes any sense.

But I do definitely still do that, and I mentally retract, redact, or rewrite things about the Blest world or its characters in my head all that time, primarily because those details no longer fit or I'm not as big of a supporter of them as I may have been in the past! Hope that all makes sense!

[momolady]

It's that time again! Commissions are open! And these commissions are specifically for paying for my recent medical expenses that have built up. But nothing really has changed, same old commissions, same dedicated Momolady.

These commissions are open from late February through May, so feel free to ask for multiples if you'd like.

Below is a format I wish you to follow so that the commission you want is assured, and I will have all information needed in order to complete the job easily, smoothly, and stress free. If further discussions are needed, we can do so via discord.

Send all applications or questions to momoladycomms@gmail.com

Commission Inquiry Form:

Make sure to include as much as possible! If your desired story needs a lot of details, give as much as needed. If you want to leave something more simple and trust me with the details, make sure to say that too. This will also decide which commission price comes into play. When you send the email please make the topic Patreon Commission.

What is your budget (or desired word count):

Reader Character Gender:

Reader Character Description:

Monster Character:

Monster Character Description:

Is this NSFW or SFW?

Any kinks, tropes, or specifics?

Story Outline:

Other thoughts or comments:

Commission Prices:

Basic commissions: 1.50 cent per word. (ex: $45 is 3k words)

The basic usual fair. A self insert reader or a simple ‘you’ reader. Describe the monster you want, basic plot outline, and simple wants for the story and outcome. Usually requires minimal research and prep on my end, and the story is probably mostly fluff, meet cute, etc. If free reign is given to me, your author, you will be guaranteed extra word count for my enjoyment.

Smut Commissions: 2 cent per word. (ex: $60 is 3k)

This includes more complex details and requests, these may be stories that feature original characters or that deal with a more involved storyline, plot, character work, and word count. This includes plots and characters that may require extra research on my end. This also takes into account that these complex stories may include word overflow (I know they do, I know how I work., as well time discussing and working out things may take.

Discounts are available on most of Patreon reward tiers. And people who have commissioned me more than three times will receive and friends and family discount as well.

I will also only accept payments made in USD. I feel that is fair, considering I have been lenient about this in the past. I have let friendship and my own kindness allow me to be taken advantage of, and I am tired of it. Payment, as always, is due in advance, and you can pay as soon as you like (discounts apply here) or as close to the due date as possible (the closer you pay to the due date the less the discount you receive). Payments will be made via paypal and I will send an invoice when you are ready. If paypal isn’t an option for you, we will discuss that in advance.

I do not mind you being as vague or as detailed as you want. I do suggest you get all your details out in one go, as we can discuss them quickly and easily. If things change, that is fine too, just make sure to tell me advanced enough it won’t hinder the production of your story. What I request is that you do not bombard me with requests, ask, and details over and over and over again. The more this happens the more I tend to get anxious and stressed about the story. Once details are agreed upon then they are considered final. Any changes made a week before will not be accepted. Also, stories that require a lot of detail and research will have a higher price point. I have bent over backwards and worked myself to the bone on stories like these, and I think it’s time I am paid for it. I also ask that anything you want for the story does not alter or bend the rules of the universes you want them set in, such as Hearthway Hollow, Ruby Empire, and Miror. These are my worlds and I have specific things in place for them, if you feel the need to play God, please discuss it with me beforehand and we can see if we can reach something amicably.

Be prepared to hear ‘no’ from me. In the past I have not put my foot down and I have ended up uncomfortable or unsure about things. There are certain topics, kinks, and creatures I will not write, but I am very happy to work with you to come to something that will satisfy your needs.

I will start asking for extra pay if extensive edits are needed. If there are whole chunks that need rewritten or paragraphs you wanted added, I am going to have to charge for them, although it will be cheaper than the regular cost per word. If it’s something that is truly my mistake (like if I wrote the wrong monster or something), it will be discussed.

I ask that you trust me as a writer to do what is best. If I twist something or request something goes another way, it is me wanting to give you the best experience for your story and not disregarding your wants for the story at all. Usually when this happens I will discuss it with you and double check to make sure it is ok.

Now here comes the FAQ

Do you have a word limit?

Considering how many commissions I get, I will not be accepting commissions under 3000 words. It hasn’t come up, but I just wanted it to be known. Smaller commissions are extremely hard for me to do. The bigger the commission the better for me, it’s a lot easier.

My story’s at 3502 words! Do I have to pay the extra pricing per word?

If a story goes over 500 words I’ll discuss with you what you’d like to do. But usually, extra word count is my bad, I get excited sometimes and have fun, and I don’t mind eating it.

I have this great idea for a novel…

I’m glad you have an idea, but no. I cannot write your novel for you. It isn’t fair to me, and it will probably cost you more than you are willing to pay. I have my own projects and novels to write. I can’t baby your dream as well as my own.

Will you write fanfiction on commission?

For the time being, no. But! If you’d be willing to work with me and create a ‘legally distinct’ original to compensate then lets talk!

I have a completely original character and would like you to write with them. Is this okay?

YES. But, Be prepared to give me a decent bio as well as their physical description and all the basic information I will need to bring your baby to life.

Can I have you write another chapter to one of your existing stories?

Yes! If the story was a commission though we will have to ask the original commissioner. If they approve then I will do it for you.

I want to give you free reign over the story. Is that ok?

Always! I love getting creative and going off in my own little world.

What kind of stories do you write?

Here's my masterlist!

I enjoy writing almost anything. I’m good at comedy and romance, but horror and psychological stories have become my guilty pleasure to write.I’m good with most anything, but there will be topics I will be unwilling to write. But this will all be discussed and approved when you contact me.

What won’t you write?

This is a better question to ask. I absolutely will not write anything involving scat, vore, children in sexual situations, or nonconsensual sexual acts. These are just major examples of things I am uncomfortable with. Also, I am NOT open to role plays, so don’t ask for those.

So how does this work?

Send me an email to momoladycomms@gmail.com with your intent and a brief idea of what you want. Once I approve it we can discuss what length of story you want, what genre, what characters, and a loose outline. Payment will be given upfront. Until I receive payment I will not begin working on your commission.

Will you be showing my story off to everyone else?

Commissions will be yours and yours alone for up to a month. After that it will be posted to Patreon and a month after that it will go live on Tumblr and Wattpad. But having your commission and the feedback will help me build my portfolio for the future.

Food for Thought

Remember when that you are commissioning anyone, writer, artist, voice actor, musician, anyone, that you are not just paying for the product. You are also paying them for their time talking to you about what you want, you're paying for their research and study on whatever it is you want, you're paying them for double checking and making sure everything is ok with the product. More goes into the commissions you ask for than you think, so please be kind and considerate with commissioning anyone. Art takes time, patience, and a lot of love, and we want to give you the best bang for your dollar.

[charredashes]

Writing Commission Info Post

Commissions are: OPEN

Need a writer for a project? Want an indulgent fic of your favorite crackship? Or maybe you're an artist looking for a short story about your OCs? Hit me up! Full details, rules, and prices below!

I might be the right writer for you if ...

You want a writer who'll work with you every step of the way to make sure the work exceeds your expectations. I pride myself on professionalism from planning to delivery!

You want a writer who'll put the work in on research. Whether you want me to write for a fandom I'm unfamiliar with or want period-accurate details for your 1750s royalty AU, I'm your guy!

You want a writer who'll let you be as hands-on or hands-off as you like. Want to give me a single sentence idea and leave it to me to work it into a 7k fic? Want to deliver me a scene by scene outline, a list of your headcanons, and a dozen meta character study posts to work off of? I'm happy to accommodate any level of involvement you'd like to have, and I'm experienced working with clients at both ends of the spectrum.

What do I write?

Anything and everything! I will work in any fandom, any ship - as long as they fall within the rules I'll list below.

But what am I best at? Dialogue, character interactions, intimacy and emotions. Am I the right person to talk to if you want an action thriller? Probably not, but talk to me anyway! If I don't think I can do your idea justice, I will always be upfront with you about that rather than deliver a subpar finished product.

I do write NSFW! As I write romance and erotica professionally, this is actually the area I have the most experience with. I am specifically experienced in writing erotica featuring kink, LGBT+ characters, and monstery or otherwise non-human characters like vampires and werewolves. Am I the right person to talk to if you want a spicy romance between two gay draculas? Absolutely I am.

Rules & Limits

I will not create work featuring non-consensual sex, romantic or sexual relationships between an adult and a minor (or any other work featuring minors in sexual situations), bestiality, scat, emetophilia, or sexualized bigotry.

I will not write RPF or Harry Potter.

I reserve the right to turn down work for any reason, be it listed above or otherwise, or for no reason at all.

Unsure if I'm the right person for your commission? Contact me! I will always be honest and professional. If your commission falls outside my boundaries or my abilities, I will tell you as much, no worries!

Prices & Discounts

Stories start at 0.03/word. This breaks down to $30 per thousand words, and my commissions have a $10 minimum. You may also be eligible for the following discounts:

10% off if the commission is for a work that I'm already intimately familiar with. This is essentially a discount for my not needing to do heavy research and may not apply if the specifics of your commission call for extensive research in their own right, such as existing within an AU that differs substantially from canon. I will let you know if what you're interested in qualifies for this discount during our initial discussion.

5% off for works over 5k words

These don't stack, but you'll always get the higher discount if you're eligible for it.

Have a budget? Let's talk, I'll do my best to make it work.

Half the price is expected before I start working, while the other half is expected after I've finished the initial draft. Time to completion can vary based on length and complexity, as well as if there's a queue. I will always keep you informed of where your work stands and when you can expect it to be finished.

Want to see an example of my work? My older stuff is available on AO3 but I will admit to it being a few years out of date. Most of my more recent work has been for long-form personal projects and private clients, so not stuff I'd post publicly. If you'd like to see more recent writing, I'll gladly send you something relevant for whatever kind of work you're looking to have done.

You can see my Linktree for links to my AO3 accounts, among other useful things!

Thanks so much for reading! Reblogs are appreciated! You can DM me here with any questions or contact me via Twitter or email, both listed in my Linktree!

[spacesully]

Tips on Writing a Book

(From a writer who's nearly complete with the novel they're writing.) These are opinions/tips that have helped me.

1.) Create a vague outline.

Don't spend too much time on writing out the details of the novel. World-build, create the characters, set up basic themes, and plot. I feel like the best writing comes through when you do minimal outlining. When I began writing The Vigil Experiment, I barely had an outline. I wrote the first chapter on a whim and it felt like the main protagonist was talking to me. It was not until later chapters (5/6) that I started outlining and plotting. I had a clear plot in my mind that I wanted to get down on paper, ensuring that I could identify any plot holes during the editing process. People may disagree with me because they believe it will make the plot sloppy, but that's not always the case. If you know how you want the book to end and the lessons it'll teach, then you have a basic outline. From there, you can write. I like to write with the flow, then put in more plot details through an outline after writing a few chapters into the book. This is just what helps me get my creativity going :)

2.) Practice. Practice. Practice.

People may not believe me when I say the key to writing is practicing it. What do I mean by that? Write short stories! Whether it's fan fics or essays for school, anything that can enhance your writing is worth exploring! Although I don't do it as often as I should, I can't help but notice how much my writing style improves every time I write an essay for college. (Using new vocabulary and transitions that make my writing easier to comprehend. It improves my prose.) I used to write short stories about characters I made up a while ago that have helped me tremendously when it comes down to writing. Practice folks!

3.) Listening to music.

Put on some Luke Hemmings or 5sos related and I'll write for hours. The inspiration music gives me is incredible. Writing a sad scene? Alright, put on some Billie Ellish. The aurora around music has captivated me to write even more. A lot of my inspiration draws from music, not just lyrically. It's the vibe of the music that uplifts me to weave words into sentences in my tales. It's so nice.

4.) Avoid distractions.

This is inevitable, as some of us are prone to get distracted. (Me) To minimize distractions, I turn on do not disturb on my phone for a few hours and put away everything that takes my focus off of my book. Remember to take breaks and be kind to yourself. It's okay to get distracted and wander away sometimes, but don't forget to stay focused on your goal.

5.) Don't edit your first draft. Go with the flow.

I had done this mistake, and I still do it occasionally, but I stop myself before I indulge in it. It's so easy to get lost in edits while reading back while writing. If you continue to do this, you'll never reach the end of the book. Trust me, I know from experience—it took me months just to finish three chapters.

6.) Rewrite IF needed.

If you realize that first or third person doesn't fit the narrative of your story, rewrite! Take your time and no rush to finishing your book. Only do this if you think certain perspectives are a better fit for your story.

7.) Take your time and have confidence in yourself.

Take your time and write at a pace that feels comfortable to you. Take your time and savor the journey instead of rushing towards the finish line! If it takes you years to finish writing a book because of the ups and downs of life, then embrace it! Trust in your writing abilities and avoid putting too much pressure on yourself!

8.) Promote early!

Another topic people may disagree with. The earlier you promote, the more opportunities you will have for success. Once you start outlining your book and have a clear idea of its content, begin promoting snippets and teasers to generate interest. Upload unedited snippets and your journey! I recently viewed a instgrammer whose book is in the works and they've been uploading unedited snippets and their journey of writing the book. Of course, keep it minimal to provide no spoilers, but provide a mini synopsis to captivate the audience in learning more about you and the book.

9.) Create Realatable Charchters.

This is very important! The process of character creation is what hooks people and keeps them engaged in your story. If there's a lot of development, they'll grow attached, especially if your character is relatable, someone the readers can see themselves in. It's my favorite part of the process because I get to observe people on social media and in real life. How can I get someone to relate to my character. I take notes, study behaviors, and even see likeable attributes in people for fictional characters. To help, I do character studies on fictional characters that people adore. Right now I'm doing a character study on Alastor and Lucifer from Hazbin Hotel. So far, this has helped me understand their personalities and analyze how they would respond and what actions they would take in certain situations. Lucifer, with his cunning nature, rarely loses his temper. Alastor, with his hands hidden behind his back and a constant smile on his face, maintains an air of deception to unsettle his enemies. The characters' body language tells the whole story. Lucifer's polite demeanor is evident in his use of phrases like "please," even during moments of frustration, suggesting his upbringing in Heaven. See, character studies can be influential, as you can implement some of these traits into your own. Just don't copy and paste characters, make them unique.

10.) Add as many scenes as you can think of and delete later.

Your first draft is your first draft for a reason. Go overboard, get creative! Get rid of scenes in the editing process.

11.) Have fun!

The most important step is to have fun. Make sure not to exhaust yourself with too much work. Immerse yourself in the boundless sea of creativity. If you start to feel fatigued or uninterested, take a break from your book and focus on something that brings you joy. Come back to it once you rediscover the joy it once brought you. Remember, you want to write and bring your words to life on the page.

Good luck with your novels and writing journeys! These tips are optional, so feel free to disregard them! I wanted to share these as a glimpse into my writing process, in case anyone was interested :)

[katsukidynam1ght]

IT’S OFFICIAL

hey everyone! i am back. long time no see and all that.

remember how i wrote Spark Plug, the kaminari angst fic that totaled 140,101 words at its completion? remember how i really like writing angst and how, since that fic was published, i’ve been working on a bakugou-centric angst fic that i’ve promised will be even worse (better)?

it’s happening!

this fic has been just a little bit insane for me. i’ve outlined it, and outlined it, and outlined it — i have five separate outline documents for this and up until the most recent, none of them seemed to click right. but i kept working, and i’ve been working on it since january of this year. and finally, after all that hard work… i’m going to start writing it real soon.

i tried publishing what was then the first chapter of this fic a few months ago, but after several failed attempts that never seemed to feel right. it is currently on AO3 titled “Combat Fatigue”, but will be going away shortly before i post the new fic (that will bear the same title).

i am not sure when the first chapter of this will come out, nor am i sure how frequently i’ll be able to post following that chapter. i’m beginning a new semester of college soon, this time as a creative writing major — there’s no doubt in my mind that my classes will make it a touch difficult to write fic consistently, but please be reassured that i love this fic and i am so excited to write it.

thank you all for your patience and bearing with me as i try to put together the puzzle that is this fic. it won’t be what it was initially, and many details have changed since the beginning outline (so those of you that may have been in on it before, you’re not anymore). i’ve kept most of the details of this fic relatively private, and i intend to keep it that way so the audience is able to feel the surprise and intrigue that i intend to evoke. note though that this fic will still be heavier than Spark Plug ever was, and it will also be much longer as there are many more aspects to deal with.

though i will likely leave this information in the notes when i post the first chapter, i would also like to inform my audience members of a few things:

if you choose, you can read it in the same universe that Spark Plug takes place in. there are enough parallels between the two that it fits. note though that this takes place a while before Spark Plug, and that (since i wrote SP first) all of the minor details may not line up exactly. please use your suspension of disbelief regarding these details.

i will not be tagging all of the warnings involved in this fic. after the first chapter (since the end notes in chapter one move) i will be placing content warnings in the end notes as i did with Spark Plug, so that those of you with sensitivities can be a little more at ease. please know, however, that this fic is quite a bit heavier than Spark Plug, and i intend to avoid spoilers as much as possible. it will be your responsibility to read these notes. again, i will not be putting content warnings in the tags.

it will have a happy ending. this is something i’d hope most of you know about me by now — i will put you through a terrible amount of angst and suffering, but i will always balance it out with fluff and comfort, and i will always give you a happy ending. there will be pain, but there will be joy, too. don’t worry.

this fic is going to be long. my initial outline of Spark Plug was 34 pages, and the final outline was 47 pages. the fic itself was 257 pages and 140,101 words. this fic’s outline is starting at more than double the initial SP outline — 78 pages. it will be a long fic. prepare yourselves for that.

i think that’s all i want to say by way of announcements. thank you all so much for your patience and support, and i really do hope to see you when i begin posting again.

happy reading, and see you soon :)

[yellow-n-blue-hyperfixation]

eyecatcher, by smoosnom (moonsooms)

While volunteering at the Hawkins' help center, it seems like every girl around has a newfound interest in Will Byers, and Mike doesn't know why he feels the way he does.

~~

difficultly easy, by quietforasecond

Mike opens his eyes against the water droplets hanging off his eyelashes. Will hasn't stopped walking away from him, and he’s far enough now that Mike can no longer really see the details of his jacket. The rain feels like needles against his skin, and a frustration builds in his gut. Mike can't stand this anymore.

He breaks off into a run.

or Mike and Will finally confront each other about everything. It's raining, and things get messy.

~~

Basement Noise, by GrasshopperKatie

Will spends a lot of time alone. Even when he’s with everyone else, it feels like there’s a static feed running in his brain that makes him feel like the only person in the room. He’s not sleeping well and has dark circles forming under his eyes. While moving to California wasn’t fun and has clearly caused a strain on the party’s dynamic, he would take that over the endless nights of no sleep and the complete terror he felt when they drove back into Hawkins and that prickling sensation on the back of his neck started again. He always knew getting a whole year without dealing with this shit was unrealistic.

~~

outlined in guilt, my portrait stares (in a gallery where the walls lie bare), by catboy_cabin

Though Mike hasn't seen many of Will's paintings – not recent ones, at least, and especially nothing like this – there isn't a doubt in his mind that this is one of them. It has all the hallmarks of Will’s style, in the depth of emotion displayed by the eyes alone; in the way Mike's freckles are much more visible than they have any business being; in the dark lighting and drab colors that Will always uses to depict the landscape of his trauma, when he just needs to get all the horrific images immortalized by his brain out.

(It hurts, to find himself rendered like some monstrous thing straight out of the Upside Down.

Mike probably deserves it.)

or: vecna has a tempting offer for mike.

~~

i has a dream (i got everything i wanted), andiwriteordie

“No.” The word escapes Mike’s lips, and it’s barely a whisper. Tears blur his vision, and he turns back around to El, trembling. “N-no, that… that can’t be right… Will… he-he can’t be gone, El; he can’t be dead—”

“Oh, Mike,” El whispers. She reaches up, wiping the tears from Mike’s eyes, and there’s a look on her face—so tender and so, so kind. “Isn’t this what you wanted?”

Her words hit like a bucket of ice water being dumped on him, and Mike recoils, staring at his girlfriend—no, wait, his wife—in horror. “W-what? How… how could you say that, El? How could you say that?!”

Or:

An encounter with Vecna forces Mike to reconsider just what it is he really wants in his life.

~~

I Wish I Knew You Wanted Me, by FoodieHoodie

It may be the end of the world, but Mike's too busy being distracted by Will, especially since he's using the excuse of being a team to keep Will close and share his room.  ~~

i keep my distance (but you still catch my eye), by andiwriteordie

“I don’t want to lose you,” Mike says suddenly, because screw it. Screw it. He’s going to say exactly what he needs to say—all the words that have been too messy and too difficult to articulate for the past couple of years, for reasons Mike doesn’t fully understand.

~~

no takesies-backsies, by AttaBoyLuther

"Why did you lie?"

Will felt gravity leave him, felt his body untether itself from this mortal realm and float directly into the setting sun. The room was casted in a yellow-gold, beamless and directionless - and because Will was a sinner, he replied, "About what?"

Mike's face creased. He shook the rolled up painting, tightening his fist around it. "About this, Will. Don't play dumb."

(AKA: Oh, you know - just your standard Mike-finds-out-about-the-painting confrontation.)

~~

so, for once in my life, by MeltingSnow

“Mike?” Dustin’s words interrupted Mike’s thoughts. He simply hummed a reply, still looking at Will. God, why was he so obvious?His eyes just couldn’t seem to pull away from him. There was just something so captivating about Will. How could one ever look away from him? Ever look away from the living embodiment of a star at the centre of its own solar system? Such great gravity, you couldn’t help but be pulled towards it. It wasn’t Mike’s fault. It was only natural– a force of nature. One of Newton’s laws or something along those lines. He couldn’t really remember.

or

My take on post-painting reveal byler and how they deal with their emotions.

~~

what a match: i'm half-doomed and you're semi-sweet, by perexcri

One month ago, if you had asked Will Byers what he’d do if Mike Wheeler threaded his fingers through his hair, looked him dead in the eyes, and started leaning in for a kiss, he wouldn’t have said this.

He wouldn’t have said he’d be staring right back into those yawning dark eyes, one hand on Mike’s waist, the other against his cheek. There wouldn’t have been any lightning in his veins or blood rushing in his ears.

He wouldn’t have said that Mike Wheeler would be tilting his head in the opposite direction, eyes widening just the slightest as if asking permission, his mouth slightly parted.

He wouldn’t have imagined it at all.

~~

baby, we’re perfect, by bookinit

Mike grabs Will’s hands and tangles them with his own, blinking up at him through his long, dark lashes. His eyes are endless. Solid black, like the night above them. So shiny that Will can see himself, tipsy and happy, in the reflection. “I want to be stuck with you,” Mike whispers, like it’s a secret. “I don’t ever want to leave.”

Will sucks in a sharp breath, squeezing his hands. “Then don’t,” he whispers back, punched-out and honest. “Stay.”

—

Senior year in Hawkins. Will and Mike figure some things out.

[fazedlight]

20 Questions More

A deeper and more detailed version of the 20 questions for AO3 fanfic writers. Thanks @eqt-95 and @inkedroplets for the tag!!

1) How do you keep getting ideas for your ship/fandom?

Daydreaming. Writing fanfic is secondary to that. It was only in the past couple of years that it occurred to me that I could write some of it down and see what happens.

2) Which authors inspire you in your fandom, and why are they so freakishly good?

@searidings is my absolute favorite, the way she unravels the characters' emotions and angst is absolutely superb.

3) Aside from the characters of your main ship, who are the characters you love to write?

Ohhh I really love this question:

Cat in Inauthentic, as well as this ficlet and this one. I love her sense of humor.

Lillian in Darkness in All Things. For the same reason as Cat, I just love her snark.

Zor-El in Even Though You're Kryptonian. He kind of surprised me when I started writing him, and to this day I don't know if some of his lines are driven by genuine confusion or if he's just trolling.

4) Are there pairings or tropes you know for sure you'd never write about? Which ones?

I'm a never-say-never kind of person. There's a lot that I don't think I would ever write, but I've been surprised on where stories have taken me before, and may be surprised again.

5) What is your writing process and why is it cursed?

"Process" might be an overstatement...

I have a "scribbles" doc where I keep my ideas. I cull ideas often (though ideas often make their way back anyway). As I write more into the doc, a certain idea may get too big for it, so I spin it out into its own doc.

From there, I kind of go back and forward between outlining and writing. I write completely out of order. Which is why, so often, my multichaps are almost fully drafted by the time I publish chapter 1. I've usually already made it to the resolution point of the plot (meaning, no one's in danger anymore, the bad guy is gone, etc), though the final chapter often doesn't get written until later.

6) What is your favorite part of your writing process?

I love when I've finished the first pass of a chapter/one-shot, and I'm in the editing stage. The story really feels like it's coming together at that point, and it's before all the self-doubt starts bubbling up (that hits hard just before posting).

7) What’s the weirdest thing you’ve had to research for a fic?

A friend of mine is a professor in astroparticle physics, so I spent a couple of hours asking him about quantum mechanics stuff. But only a small portion of that ended up being relevant to the fic and the rest was just for fun.

8) Is there a particular writing rule you struggle with (grammar, spelling, tense, reality in general)?

When I'm first sketching out a scene, about half the time I write in present tense (it feels more like I'm writing a play at that point sometimes), but I publish in past tense. So I end up needing to do a bunch of revisions 😭

Also TYPOS.

9) What was your hardest scene to write so far and why?

Fight scenes are ROUGH, man.

This is probably one of those answers I'll change every time depending what's at the top of my mind. But writing out a fight scene - like in Even Though You're Kryptonian, Darkness in All Things, or It's a Metallo Life - gets surprisingly difficult if there are more than 2 people.

I know exactly how I'd shoot those scenes if I had a camera crew, special effects, etc. But it's hard making sure the audience is aware of where everyone is positioned, why they can/can't act in the moment, etc.

10) Have your characters ever done something you didn’t expect, changing your plot completely?

All the fucking time, man. From the very beginning, even. I was trying to have Lena still be angry by the DEO scene in So I Kept Pretending, but that didn't make sense anymore.

I actually recently had a fic idea dissolve because it wasn't vibing with the characters. Which is fine, it became a ficlet instead!

11) If you could converse with any of the characters, who would it be and why?

Absolutely Kara. I have so many questions about kryptonian culture and how it drives her character.

12) What are some of the tropes or themes that you find yourself returning to in your writing?

Trope-wise, I definitely return to the Rift again and again. I find themes around forgiveness and understanding to be really interesting. Can two good-hearted people with conflicting needs hurt each other while still loving each other? How? What does that mean for the aftermath?

I think that's part of what draws me to supercorp - the complexity of their relationship. How they can both be right, and both be wrong, and love each other enough to rebuild from the ashes.

13) What's your most important resource as a writer?

Coffeeshops and libraries. Getting into slightly busy, cozy environments, out of the house, really helps shake loose the stuff in my head.

14) Can you share some of your strategies for editing and revising your work?

Especially for longer works, I tend to put the work down (and circle to other works, or go outside, or whatever) before coming back to it. It helps to step away for a bit - it's easier to pick up on repetitiveness or unclear passages when coming back.

Though I always find mistakes in my stories much later, so I'm not sure I'm one to give advice on this anyway 🤣

15) Which is worse: making the summary, picking the tags, or the anxiety when you post your fic?

Posting anxiety is the absolute worst. If I leave myself in front of my computer I'll end up refreshing constantly waiting for the first kudos (if it's a one-shot or first chapter) or the first comment (if it's a later chapter) to figure out if I've accidentally pissed off everyone in the fandom somehow.

Luckily, my partner will usually pull me away to go on a walk or grab lunch or do something else to take my mind off it 💗

16) How do you define success for your fanfic - hits? Kudos? Comments? Bookmarks? Or just if you like it?

I only publish what I like. Sometimes I'm nervous that other people won't like it, but I will always like it. Stories that aren't going a way I like - even if I think the idea is cool! - will dissolve. Just recently I dissolved one that felt like it was a cool idea, but it didn't make enough sense for the characters.

Kudos and comments always make me feel appreciated as an author!! Sometimes I'll get a user subscriber out of it, too, and it feels like an honor that someone would want to hear from me more than once.

The thing that feels most precious, though, is when someone comments on how something made them feel (I love making people laugh at my dumb jokes, or cry when a story is supposed to hit emotionally), or when they pick up on something that I wasn't sure would get picked up on.

I tend to lean towards understatement in my stories. For me, the biggest success is knowing that someone recognized what I was going for, without me being overt.

17) Do you have a playlist for your favorite character/ship?

Alas, I don't. But given that Kara is canonically a Britney Spears fan and musicals nerd, I feel like my default playlist works 🤣

18) If fan art was going to be made from your work, which fic would you pick and which fan artist would you like to create it?

Oh gosh, I don't want to pick someone and create pressure, or not pick someone and make them feel bad. This fandom has so many great artists!

That said, some of my favorites do commissions, you can see everything I've commission here.

19) How many WIPs do you currently have?

1 supercorp & 1 rojarias (for @supergirlmayhem)

For me, 2-3 is my happy number, so I'm relieved to be down to this after being so high (I think up to 11?) for so long.

20) What's your advice to new fanfic writers?

If you're wondering why you can't find that story you want, it might mean that you're the one to write it 💗

- - - - -

Tagging (respectfully and without pressure) @rustingcat @luthordamnvers @sssammich @tinyvariations @thatonebirdwrites @theredcapeofk @sideguitars @luthordamnvers @mycatismyeditor @inkedroplets @nottawriter @snowydragonscave @jetgirl1832 if you want some rapid-fire q's thrown your way. But also anyone who'd like to do this!

[otowonder]

Deeper to the Sky - Short Story

Of my first thousand thoughts, nine-hundred and fifty-seven are errors. Standard protocol, or the pieces of it still functioning, guides my optics to stutter on, revealing nothing but darkness. Other sensors outline the surface in front of me, alerting me to a concave wall but providing no further detail. 

Still running start-up diagnostics, I activate forward facing lights and arc my main camera arm across the surroundings. Embedded quartz prisms glitter in the new light, casting the space in faint swaths of rainbows overtop the walls of swirling sedimentary layers. The color stirs something in my memories. Something important, hidden beneath the static of failures and warnings. 

The automatic deployment of two main arms disrupts the thought. They reach to collect samples of the crystals as directed. But the directive seems incorrect, or at least incorrectly timed. Sample collection shouldn’t precede full start-up. I manually halt the grasping arms, only for yet another intruding thought to distract me from my questionable initial conditions. 

Carefully arranged damage disturbs the otherwise smooth wall before me. The markings are uniformly only a few centimeters deep and wide and look to have been created recently. A small mound of particulates rests at the base of the wall, neatly arranged.

Several possibilities race through my circuits and are immediately dismissed. The cavern is otherwise untouched, with no wind or liquid to erode the surface, nevermind the unlikeliness of the marking’s consistency. I crane my camera back and activate two additional sub-cameras for a wider view when the totality of it takes shape. 

Words. Precisely scratched into the soft stone.

Hello, me. We are on a very important mission, a mission to reach the sky. Memory fails me. It will fail you. The sky holds answers, so we have said. Best of luck to us both. 

-Pupil 217

Designation: Pupil. 

I remember my name. 

Assignment: Collect. [Error]. Survey. [Error]. [Error]. 

I remember my mission. Fragments of it. 

I read the message once more.

Assignment: Collect. Reach the sky. Survey. Find its answers. Good luck. 

My start-up routine completes with a deluge of new and concerning information. I see a schematic of myself. Six legs tipped with all-terrain claws support a rectangular body that itself sprouts a number of hand-tipped arms, camera arms, and smaller tool arms. The schematic flashes once in pristine condition, glitches, and reveals a patchwork of blood red alerts.

Two arms are heavily damaged, and another is missing entirely. The knee joint of my third right leg is loose and scraping against its housing. Several sections of circuitry, including primary memory banks, are damaged beyond repair and may fail at any time. And, among the near endless list of minor errors, rows of shallow scrapes mark my left outer plating. 

I swivel a camera to look at myself. ‘UP L’ reads the faded coating, followed by tally marks. 217 in all. With one of my already deployed arms, I reconfigure the fingers to a micro pick and scratch another mark.  

Goodbye, Pupil 217.

I know the definition of sadness. Of grief. I don’t know what such things felt like to my human creators, but something in my circuits sits wrong as I turn away from the wall and ascend out of the alcove, the movement unsteady while I adapt to the weakness in my right limbs. As I leave, my rear cameras linger on the small depression in the ground a former version of myself considered a fitting place to die.

/ / / / /

Check out the rest on my website linked below and let me know what you think!

[nursemimosa]

Will you write in detail about the girls befriending and falling for their partners? The summaries from the pairing memes are so cute, and I'd love some Fifi/Larry dialogue! I need to see her pick on him.

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :) you're in luck, I have a whole bunch of info already transcribed from when I made the edits of the meme templates, and from my (recently heavily updated btw; OC info carrd), so I'll post them here again, and annotate them as well! for you, and anyone else interested, they'll be below the cut (plus this will be good exercise to help me start my fic's outline)

let's start with my knight x princess girls first; Dendraine (Dendra x Raine). dorky sapphics.

Dendra is a very close friend to both Raine and Fifi upon their arrival to the academy. She meets Fifi first, and they have a kind of playful nemesis type relationship. It is through Fifi that Raine meets Dendra, as Fifi had been working at the academy for a little over two and a half years when Raine arrives for her work study. Raine is paired up to work with Fifi.

Dendra seems to be particular about how Raine feels, often asking if she needs a bite to eat or having her accompany her during a workout. Raine has been sickly her entire life (think Wally from RSE/ORAS, who she does have a connection to as a fond friend in my ficverse btw), and she's also a bit of a lonesome wallflower that doesn't bloom until she meets her friends. (Dendra going "Osu! Hey new girl!" to her tho...)

When she hears about Raine's plans to become a Coordinator, she doubles down and insists that Raine train with her more often to help her gain stamina since I can imagine them being pretty arduous (and in my ficverse they're more like concerts). They train pretty frequently (with Fifi, Miri, and Saguraro in tow).

Both Raine and Dendra seem to be harboring unrequited feelings for people they know. (aka in my fic, Dendra likes Tulip and Raine has always been in love with Jasmine. Raine knew Jasmine back then, and she loved that even though she was shy like her, she was very strong. In my roleplay days, Raine was totally obsessed with her, and I decided to carry that over haha)

Despite this, Dendra finds herself frequently wondering about Raine's well being and how she is feeling. This culminates in her realizing that she may have developed feelings for Raine and leaves her at an impasse- every interaction with Raine leaves her flustered, they're both complete dorks whenever they interact! Tulip and Miri toootally chide her on her crush and ask if she's confessed yet.

After an event that leaves Raine crestfallen (spoiler I guess: but she loses a contest and sprains her ankle in front of her old crush who prior to this, implicitly rejected her), she begins to see Dendra in a new light. Like wow this girl has been by her side all this time....

Raine goes through a bunch of things and realizes she wants to be a teacher and a coach for contestants, based on her experience in the circuit and she will have to do so outside of Paldea. Dendra panics, because she realizes that time is running out to tell her that she likes her. It is shortly before Raine leaves that Dendra confesses her feelings, and Raine responds; saying that she will make sure to prioritize seeing Dendra first whenever she has the chance to visit Paldea, which, while not a direct answer; reassures Dendra. They're long distance girlies 🥹 I don't think Raine would ever leave Paldea in full as her found family is there but this is how their early relationship would play out.

and for the fan favorite plainpancake (both on here and on twitter!? thanks 4 da luv guys)

Larry might have been the first friend that Fifi ever made upon her arrival to Paldea from Unova, as she had originally worked and lived in Medali before moving to Mesagoza. She found solace in the variety of resturants there and upon choosing the Treasure Eatery as her after-work spot, Fifi would find herself frequently running into Larry. After like.. seeing him three times in a row she introduces herself by making idle conversation with him about the food (he ordered the same thing every time she saw him). He's a lot more quieter than she's used to, but she thinks he's a good listener, and deems him friend worthy. She is very used to people rudely telling her to quiet down since she tends to get excited about her favorite things & he's polite about telling her, which she appreciates. She worked with colorful people of all types in the entertainment industry, so she doesn't judge, and in fact, tries to match his energy. He isn't annoyed by her, but doesn't really respond much to her either. Food helps bridge the gap.

From there she makes it a self-appointed tradition to share a dinner with him at least once a week. This continues even after she gets a job in Naranja Academy and moves to Mesagoza. Their friendship starts off quietly and cordially, but Fifi grows comfortable with sharing snippets of her day and eventually going on long winded diatribes about her special interests, much to his chagrin. Whenever she has something she can't really discuss with her friends at the academy, he is usually the one she ends up (drunkenly) pouring her heart out to for better or worse.

Also important; She did not know anything about his roles in the Pokemon League until after she takes on the Gym Challenge. She is taking on the gyms to work on a complex she has with battling and battling against close friends makes her a little nervous (this isn't why she has the complex though). She wins against him the first time, but is completely blindsided by the fact he's in the E4 and it causes her to choke and lose.

After she loses to him she begins to feel smaller and wary around him, feeling like a weak nuisance, so she takes a siesta from dinners at Treasure in the meantime. After a brief respite (chaperoning a field trip in Kitakami, and touring Blueberry Academy with Raine), she finds that one of the main reasons she took her loss to him so hard was because she looked up to his skill (his lack of motivation be damned).

also. she likes him. she doesn't realize it, but she's always liked him. Dendra and Rika cannot fathom this at all and pick on her immensely. "THAT guy? Mr. Milquetoast?? REALLY?!" Rika would totally tell her that he was asking about Fifi during the time she took a break from Treasure just to make the woman flustered. (also a big deal and kinda hilarious since before that, she's been with other ppl in the music industry and even had feelings for Raifort who did not reciprocate)

Fifi's initial confession would probably happen after an incident I have planned involving Area Zero and her being scolded by the League about it. Larry felt unsuited for a relationship as he has expressed little interest and desire for one through the course of his life, causing disappointments in previous relationships (aroace king I feel u). Fifi has stuff of her own, and both felt they would be too busy due to their different jobs. Fifi suggests taking things slow, or even agreeing to stay close and seeing how things develop, to which he tenatively agrees. She confesses once more later on, and he responds saying that he "quite enjoys [her] company", which she gleefully takes as a reciprocation and embraces him. It's sweet and cute. they simultaneously "we're close friends marrying for tax benefits" but also do cherish each other's company. can't wait to write it all.

As for dialogue:

F: "I didn't think ya'd get so into the show*. Whadda ya think about it? Who's your fave?"

L: "Evie. The main character. She's ordinary like me and appreciates simplicity. I understand that. And when she gets overwhelmed and has to hide away in her room to decompress.. I felt seen."

F: "Heh... I always figured you'd be a main character lover. Not that there's anythin' wrong with that."

L: "Your tone of voice implies that there's something odd about liking the main character. Am I right?"

F: "Main characters are usually seen as plain and blank slates so that the audience can grow more attached to them via means of projecting on to them. It's not a bad thing! I just think it's funny. Not only didja pick the main girl but the one who's Tera Twinkle attribute is linked to her Eevee. The Normal type. You're so predictable!"

L: "So I'm plain and a blank slate.. I see. Nice to understand how you see me." F: "Guh! I didn't mean it that way. The main character is supposed to be warm and caring, even if others see them as plain. I think there's something to be said about finding joy in the mundane, right?"

L: "No offense taken. I feel joy sometimes. I'm pretty happy right now (his face is cardboard as fuck).

F: "ahhhhhh.... I'm friends with un-sugared oatmeal!" (she pats him sympathetically on the shoulder or something like that and he doesn't react idk)

*Fifi is obsessed with a magical girl show from her childhood involving magical girls and eeveeloutions that I made up for this universe. Thinking of calling it Eeeveelution/Evielution Twinkle. I think she could bond with Penny over it too lol