#zan writing

[safe-from-sharp-teeth]

consider: bug preds

you want variety? insects represent 40% of all living species. have a cuddly isopod pred or a scary praying mantis, ur choice

having an exoskeleton means their insides are extra squishy! maybe!

(and you feel extra protected inside :) )

crazy anatomy. extra arms, extra legs, the stomach is always in some wacky location

there is something sobering about the idea of being inside a creature most humans consider the lowest of the animal kingdom, literal “pests”. what does it say about your own worth, to find comfort and fear in one of the lowest rungs of existence? what does an ant’s heartbeat sound like? what does-

i like mandibles

[steddie-there]

Steve is bitchy. It's a known fact. He's a reformed mean girl and bitch is like a second language to him. Whether it's scathing commentary about Family Video customers almost before they're out the door,

"So apparently it's national hit on someone young enough to be your granddaughter day, who knew we had such a gross holiday?"

snarky conversations with the kids,

"Well, whaddya know, Dustin, would you look at this?" "What? "It's the coke you said wasn't in the fridge! Isn't it amazing how it just magically appeared?" "Oh, shut up, Steve." "I'm just so completely in awe!"

or calling out the people that still give Eddie nasty looks (and doesn't that make Eddie's heart grow three sizes and threaten to pop out of his chest and burrow into Steve's?),

"You know, Carol, if you keep making that face, it might stick like that. But look on the bright side, at least then the outside would be as hideous as the inside!"

Eddie adores all of it. Loves Steve's mile-wide mean streak. Loves how he can use it to tease the people he loves or decimate the latest idiot he's been forced to deal with.

But Eddie's favorite, the best, the most wonderful, absolutely fantastic moments of Steve's bitchiness? Those happen while he's driving. It doesn't matter what exactly has him riled up about another driver, Steve always has something sarcastic on the tip of his tongue to bitch about them with.

"Do you look as stupid as you drive? Dumbass."

"Jeeze, I never knew the white line was for driving on. What an amazing thing you've discovered!"

"Oh, apparently I missed the memo where 35 mph got changed to 55. Eddie, remind me to check the speed limit sign the next time we drive through here. God, what an impatient asshole."

No matter what it is, it always has Eddie stifling his laughter behind his hand. But this last time - they're at a four-way stop and the car turning across from them definitely went before it was their turn and Steve says, "Hmm, seems someone missed the lesson on taking turns in kindergarten," with that little bitchy tilt to his head - Eddie can't help the guffaw that bursts out of his mouth.

Steve looks at him from the corner of his eye. "What are you giggling about?"

"You. You just - you get so bitchy at the other drivers and, I swear to god, man, it's the funniest shit." He laughs again, says fervently, "Christ, I love you, Stevie."

And then he freezes. Realizes what he said. Takes a deep, horrified breath. It's too soon, they only just started dating, he can't say something like that, he's... He backtracks. "Uh... I mean, uh, I love when you - "

And then freezes again when Steve slides his hand off the steering wheel and onto his thigh, fingers curling around the inside. "So, you love me, huh?"

Eddie chances a glance over at Steve. Despite the teasing tone in his voice, there's something soft around his eyes and the edges of his smile. Something almost... hopeful.

Eddie swallows and decides fuck it. "Yeah, yeah I do," he tells Steve quietly.

Steve makes a quiet sound that goes straight to Eddie's heart. When he peeks over again, Steve is looking back and forth between Eddie and the road and his expression is so open and tender and happy that Eddie doesn't regret for a second what he said, even if it is too soon. "I love you, too, Eds," Steve says and Eddie feels his stomach swoop with butterflies. He puts his hand on Steve's, squeezes it, tangles their fingers together, grins bright at this man he loves so very much.

And if, after that, Steve goes out of his way to play up his bitchiness whenever Eddie is in the car and Eddie never stifles his laughter at it again, well, that's between the two of them, isn't it?

[nerevarswritingstuff]

Reread you fic multiple times and it just now hit me as I read through your ask responses that Nibby and Uncle Zan are actually related

For some reason my mind saw them calling each other that and went, “Ah, Zan find a traumatized Oracle child on the side of the road and decided they were his now”

Or that Zan just knew Nibby’s parents because Oracle Solidarity of something and found them through that

I’ve fallen so far into the found family sauce that I forgot blood family exists in fiction

//WHEEZES

HONESTLY THAT'S REALLY FUNNY TO IMAGINE

Zan over here picking up a random oracle rat child and like "yes this is my nibling now come with me"

Both found family and blood family who would Kill For Each Other waters my crops... I love them so much

[xx-psych0-rabbit-xx]

ive been thinking about the KSA cult quite a bit lately and yk, while maybe this isnt how youre intended to interpret things, i find seeing the situation was hyness could have chosen between just dropping the "awaken the dark lord" plan because the heart was slowly corrupting him into insanity, and just continue living with the girls he raised, or go through with it even if it means losing himself and risking their safety, and he ultimately prioritized his own goals of revenge above his daughters is very fascinating, specially considering star allies themes of friendship and bonds, its already there with his present mistreatment of them in comparison to kirbys neverending love for his friends, but giving him far more responsibility in what he did because he always chose his own goals before the girls.oh man do i love narrative contrasts.

[quinn-pop]

woahhh it’s an idol au !!!!!

after a falling out with hyness, the three mage sisters (who aren’t actually mages here lol) went out on their own! they’re not very used to being around other people but they’re trying to get by! it’s tough but they’ve got it!!!

only zan keeps running into this one person: magolor, who insists on recruiting her to be an idol, of all things

she is definitely put off at first—idols are ridiculous! frivolous! shameless!—but once she learns more…and more importantly, is promised a lot of money…well, what has she got left to lose?

zan is the group center and magolor is the manager…magolor also definitely does not have any of the money he is promising, as he is very close to being fired from *squints* dedede’s talent agency. yeah that’s a thing now. magolor has kinda just failed again and again to get anywhere with his ideas, and so he puts all he has into this group

…okay maybe this is more of an entertainment au because i threw in Literally Every Other Character. for example, yeah, dedede, who is obviously as professional as you’d expect (sarcasm.)

the agency itself is uhhh not doing great because dedede doesn’t know what he’s doing (did you think he would? self proclaimed king, everyone /lh) but he is very enthusiastic, at least, and good with people

there’s also professional fight choreographer meta knight and the kid he swears isn’t his (it is. he’s adopted) said kid listens to a lot of music and even becomes a fan of the mages <3

meta is the only one here to actually have a reason to wear sunglasses other than in an attempt to look cool lmao.

susie, in charge of marketing, who has her own dad problems that would definitely parallel the mages’. she totally isn’t jealous of them and their bond and that they get to be idols (also sarcasm)

yeah she’s gonna join later lol

there’s also the superstar solo idol, (stage name) sectonia

she takes her work very seriously and really plays up the whole parasocial relationship aspect of being an idol, meeting fans and putting on an act for the cameras. she is very charismatic but kiiiind of self centered, and her desire to be adored often gets the better of her

since there’s not really magic in this au, she never had the chance to turn evil, but that longing for love and approval is still there

she’s kind of the mages’ rival because she embodies so much of what zan hates about idols (but maybe they’re more alike than they think…?)

[rackartyg]

thinking about how astarion would seek affection from tav post-act 2 confession. because dear god does he need it but there's also no way he'd know how to get it. the only tools in his arsenal, the only intimate things he's got experience with, are sexual, but he obviously doesn't process that as affectionate at that point. that's like the whole point.

drinking tav's blood would be the only non-sexual (or, well. semi. it's obviously metaphorically sex, but) intimate act he'd know. so he'd probably work outwards from that. lingering a little longer than he needs to. not really knowing why.

and compliments! the only words of affirmation he's heard in two centuries have been related to his appearance, so of course that's what he asks for, it's what he knows, but it's got to bring up so many mixed feelings. it's both his main/only source of self-esteem and the site of and reason for his trauma. a situation i personally know sucks just so bad.

(the drow twins four-/fivesome post-cazador is so !! for this reason. the twins and halsin shower his appearance in praise and they mean nothing ill by it, but it's no wonder he gets triggered as hell!)

tav needs to teach him about hugs. and forehead kisses. and compliment his skill with a lockpick and his embroidery and his sense of humour. you know. things he chose and can control.

[sortanonymous]

So I can't be the only one who's imagined a Kirby AU that's just Despicable Me but with Hyness and the Mages, right?

[short-circuit-the-great]

I'm making a spellbook for Shadow and Light, focusing only on Storm spells and written as though Zan made it. I posted some of the spells already but there's some weird spells too. Trying to turn the stuff that DOESN'T work well as spells into spells anyway is a surprisingly effective way to learn it.

[dayurno]

will you be participating in the aftg fall exchange 👀

im not sure yet! i got a bunch of free time this semester but i'm also working on a lot of things so we'll have to see! i do like exchanges so bad though................................ i've never done the regular exchange, only mixtape, so i'm interested to see where it'll go! will you?

[chromaji]

writing sieg attempting to comfort zan, who is crying, is cinema as usual (this has literally only happened once)

[nyaagolor]

Zan took a deep breath. There was something strangely comforting about storms, because as unpredictable as they seemed to the untrained eye, they always followed the same pattern. There was the smell of approaching rain and a darkening sky, the hair on the back of her neck standing on end just before a crack of lightning split open the sky. Rain would move in in sheets, turning the walkways into mosaics of darkened soil and running water. It was a powerful, familiar feeling that enveloped her— one she knew well. Her heartbeat was in tune with the thrumming of the rain, her temper cooling and mind clearing like the cold, dark sky. So when the rain came and the thunder boomed overhead, Zan would go outside, hovering just outside the safety of the buildings, watching the storm pass by overhead. 

She knew how storms worked, and once you knew that, they weren’t so scary. If anything, they seemed sad— pitiable, even— screaming and roaring in whatever ways they knew how just to say “I am here. Know my power and know my presence, because I will not last forever and in this moment I want everyone to see that I am Alive.” She was like that once, and so when lightning illuminated the sky and thunder roared overhead, Zan Partizanne felt the rain like a gentle hug and the thunderclaps like an affirmation— one that she was not alone, that she was not the only one crying out for recognition and being met with fear. There were things out there that acted like her, that felt like her, that enveloped her in all their passion and rage.

Zan stared up at the sky as the first raindrops hit her forehead. The cobblestone outside the castle was earning its own smattering of dark dots, and as Zan stared at the clouds for the first sign of lightning, she felt something small and warm against her side, tugging gently on her robe. A glance downward showed a familiar pink face, eyes knit with worry and mouth in a tiny frown.

“Are you ok? It’s going to rain,” Kirby said, tugging on her skirt again as though trying to goad her inside. 

“I know,” Zan replied, gaze turning back to the sky. 

Kirby shifted from foot to foot beside her. “Oh, um… can I stay with you then?”

“If you’d like.”

Kirby sat on the ground, following Zan’s gaze to the angry sky. Wordlessly, Kirby slipped his hand into hers, giving it a comforting squeeze. She squeezed it back as the first bolt of lightning stuck down, miles away.

[safe-from-sharp-teeth]

preds that safely guide prey through their anxieties about being eaten

the prey lies their head on the pred’s stomach and listens to the noises underneath. they hear gurgles and churning, the soft noises of an active stomach.

the pred shows off their teeth, letting the prey touch and play with their mouth. a tongue lightly brushes their hand, and they pull back with a laugh.

the pred might lightly lick and nibble on the prey’s arm, letting it slide into their throat. the pred holds the arm there, the prey feeling the esophagal muscles pulsing around them. it's tight and warm, but not crushing.

the pred’s body is warm and inviting, and they’re so gentle...

one belly trip couldn't hurt, right?

[the-chaos-katzlein]

I’m not sure if I want to be him or be fucked by him

[nerevarswritingstuff]

Okay but, you can’t tell me Zan wouldn’t find a feral child on the street and try to adopt them

Especially if they were an oracle

He’s already decided Macaque was his client after he threw Nibby off a cliff and would take the Jade Emperor as one of given half the chance

The man’s feral in his own way, he’d take getting bitten by a feral oracle as a challenge

LISTEN LISTEN LISTEN BECAUSE YOU ARE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT

Maybe this is why he never leaves the house

Not because of paranoia

But because he knows he'd adopt every feral child in sight

He already did it with Mei and MK the minute he saw the two. Those are his niece and nephew now. WHO KNOWS WHO ELSE WILL BE SWATTED BY THE UNCLE STICK AND BE ADOPTED BY HIM HE'LL BECOME TOO POWERFUL

[starmagnets]

Halcandrans

[zan-the-second]

Your husband is dead.

——

Theobald, at the end of his world.