#First Lines Meme

[smehur]

First line tag game

Many thanks to @s0lifuge and @starquestingfordrarry for tagging me! 💕 See their first lines here and here!

Rules: share the first lines of ten of your most recent fanfics and tag ten people. If you have written less than ten, don't be shy and share anyway!

The hands of the grandfather clock on the other end of the deserted common room hadn’t moved since the last time Draco checked, though he could swear it had been minutes. - from Any time, Potter

Draco drew the barbs of his crow-feather quill back and forth over his lips. - from The Bubo

Draco hesitates in front of Potter’s door. - from Just a little liquid luck

They don’t know how to act around one another, now that their old lives hang in tatters. But they know they have to be around one another. - from The good ones are the worst

“Mmh,” says Harry, hugging the large pillow tighter. Muscles dance under the dark skin of his back like moonlit ripples over calm water. - from Spicetober 2024

“Professor Moody!” In the sudden silence, all eyes turned to Professor McGonagall. She pushed past the crowd. “Is that… a student?” - from A Ferret's Sensibility

Harry sensed trouble the moment the telephone rang. - from Telephone and Post

"You slimy bastard." Startled from a deep reverie, Draco almost drops his book. - from more than i can say

One hallway, two spiral staircases, three turns, and they were lost. - from Draco Malfoy and the Mirror of Erised

By the time they reached Madam Malkin’s, Draco was exhausted. - from Bruised

tagging: you! yes, you! please come play with us? 💕 and also: @slightweasel @holygnocchi @chocolando @izroan-ff @smugrobotics @mourningliliesmorningglories @lizziedrip @fastbrother @teacup-tai @erin-orolin 💕

[dangerouscommiesubversive]

I got tagged in a fun thing by @westiec! Thank you! ^_^

Rules: share the first lines of ten of your latest fanfics (or up to if you have less!) & tag 10 people.

This is, naturally, in reverse chronological order, newest to oldest, which means you kind of get to move backwards through a couple of series.

lend a hand (TGCF/Kamen Rider OOO) Naturally, Hua Cheng notices the ghost before Xie Lian does, and both of them have been looking at it curiously for several minutes before they really take a look at the man it's following, and so they're rather startled when he says, in lightly-accented Cantonese, "Good afternoon, can I help you with something?"

never let go (MDZS) The murderer Xue Yang was beheaded on a fine morning, with bright, warm sunlight and sweet breezes in the air, and Xiao Xingchen had to force himself to watch.

The Limitations of Flight (TGCF) The first thing Xie Lian said, once Quan Yizhen had finished laying out his problem, is, "Quan Yizhen, I will not help you turn your lover into a bird."

Graven Images (TGCF) If someone had asked Hua Cheng five years ago if he thought of restringing and tuning a guitar as erotic, he would have said no.

Be Honest With Me (SVSSS) Someone was knocking on Shang Qinghua's door.

"Journeys End in Lovers Meeting," from Spectral Interludes (The Untamed) - this one is theoretically chapter, but as each chapter is its own standalone piece I'm counting just this one as most recent Once he was off the country roads and could get a signal again, Xichen called Sizhui to let him know, "I'm bringing a guest back with me."

Grand Hazard (TGCF) Waning Moon Reviews—Nostalgia Deep Dive: "His Royal Highness" and the Rise and Fall of Lawrence Xie Yin Yu: So we all know about Disney's legendary devotion to courting the Chinese market, yeah?

Liu Mingyan Decides (SVSSS) Luo Binghe had been away for a long time, much longer than his usual adventures, and Liu Mingyan was almost beginning to feel concerned for him when she returned to her bedchamber after a morning's flight and found that he'd quietly let himself in.

Really Luo Binghe (SVSSS) It was a beautiful morning, the sun was warm, and Shen Yuan was seriously considering taking out a hit on one of the programmers when someone started hammering on his apartment door.

and found (Mysterious Lotus Casebook) When Fang Duobing is thirty-five he stops aging.

-

I love the throughlines I can see here? Also it occurs to me that this leaves out Tumblr promptsthat haven't made it to AO3 yet, but if I had to work out the timeline there as well I'd get so confused.

And I will tag: @materassassino @timetoddddavis @sinn-bee @geneticcatalyst @travelingneuritis @acernor @stickers-on-a-laptop @giraffeter @redundare @eclipse-song

[starstainedwings]

first lines meme

Thanks for the tag, @momosandlemonsoda — I'd better do it now or I never will.

All of my recent works are stories about my dnd characters, so you get to see a sneak peak into their minds. We don’t talk about Bruno the number of characters. Some of these are nsfw.

In no particular order, because that’s just the way this is gonna go:

1. Eternity/Allow

Aybora held sols breath.

2. Forgotten/Phantasmal

Juliette looked at the young woman as the healers fussed over her.

3. Perpetrate/Adamant

Maren whined and thrashed as Kalani finally, finally pulled out and fell into Illaimar’s arms.

4. Lust/Undercover

“Oh, you’re very pretty.”

5. Qualm/Taboo

Illaimar rubbed at his eyes, put stronger pressure on the bridge of his nose.

6. Merit/Echo

Naran knew that by now, Warden Voyt had seen the release papers, counted his coffers and probably decided it wasn’t worth the mess to follow them.

7. Quilt/Gallop

The old man dragged away his hunting trophies — Illaimar considered helping him, but…

8. Escalate/Next

Aybora paced the deck of the ship.

9. Ambivalence/Zeal

Illaimar faced off against his opponent, chest heaving.

10. Gold/Lean

It has been… a few days, or what passed for days in the heart of the Slab.

Since some of those are actually still WIPs, here —

Bonus:

Mercy Upon Ourselves

Uul watched Uldryn as he paused at the bead above Charis’s, hesitated, deflated with a sigh.

Tagging @silenciadelumbrae @silenciawrites @ilgaksu @eclecticinkling @thamepo and whoever else wants to do this that I’ve missed that hasn’t already been tagged

[terresdebrume]

First sentence fanfic game!

Rules: share the first lines of ten of your latest fanfics (or up to if you have less!) & tag 10 people Thanks for the tag @ghostinthelibrarywrites ! I tag: @williamvapespeare, @sarahsyna, @nemainofthewater, @captain-grammar, @almost-a-class-act and whoever else wants to do the meme! :)

Out of the frying pan into your arms: The slow, heavy footsteps of Mr. Emerson creep up towards the closet, and Niko’s fingers dig into the flesh of her cheeks as she clamps down on a whimper.

On the consequences of pain: “I apologize,” Boromir says when Jaskier pukes again, a wince audible in his voice, “it appears I spoke of your recovery too hastily.”

Bouquet final: “I wanna come out,” Jamie says through the phone.

Dear Niko: Bon baisers de Paris!: Très chère Niko, first of all, please have my heartfelt thanks for the care package you sent along with your latest letter!

Duckweeds: “The wanker did a right number on you, didn’t he?” Charles asks, voice soft in the tender light of the late, spring morning.

Chance encounters: The air is cool but not freezing.

Something soft to land on: “Could we—” Edwin cuts himself off, hesitating.

I'll still take your number: “Jenny!” Crystal hisses.

Dining at the Ritz: Edwin’s fists start mashing together the second their eyes land on the hotel’s main door.

The Candle: Sunlight beats down on the town square, bright enough to hide the outside world behind a veil of pale gold and turn Katherine’s dress into a blinding beacon of virginal purity.

Bonus 11th fic in the hope it motivates me to keep working on it:

The City of Bones: Clary opens the door with a knot in her belly, unsurprised to find Alec Lightwood standing there with the same stern expression on his face that she’s seen him wear for the two days she’s been in the Institute.

[andithiel]

First 10 Lines/ First lines meme/ Writing patterns

Thank you so much for the tag @nv-md (post can be found here), I always get stupidly giddy whenever someone thinks of me with these kinds of things 🥰💖 Apparently I did this almost exactly two years ago (but it was 20 😱) and luckily I’ve posted 13 works (on ao3) since then, so I had 10 new to share. All of them are Drarry this time.

Rules: list the first line of your last 10 (posted) fics and see if there's a pattern!

Harry Potter and the Quest for the Faulty Vibrator 9k | rated E (locked to registered users) Whatever anyone thought about the auror training rooms, it was nothing compared to the dull, grimy and frankly depressing rooms they had for duelling practice.

When it's exactly twelve o'clock that night 6,5k | rated T The weather outside is frightful, a classic London winter with greyish brown sludge trying to pose as snow, but inside the Ministry of Magic, all the windows are showing bright white landscapes and twinkling stars.

The Potter Malfoy bathroom war of 2007 8,6k | rated E (locked to registered users) It never fails to astound Draco how many stairs there are to his flat.

Thunderstruck 8,6k | rated E (locked to registered users) It’s the one hundred and fiftieth minute of the match between Appleby Arrows and Kenmare Kestrels and the score is still 30-20 to the Arrows.

Hold back the tide 2k | rated T At first glance, the 8th year common room would seem rather calm and quiet.

Take that ride 1,6k | rated T The soft hum of their friends milling about in the hall is abruptly disturbed by Ron pounding on the bathroom door, shouting at Dean and Seamus to quit snogging and hurry the fuck up.

The secret language of flowers 2,4k | rated T “Draco, dear, stop fidgeting.”

How deep is our love? 762 words | rated T It’s nine o’clock when Harry saunters into the kitchen, his horrible Gryffindor lion slippers firmly on his feet and his dressing gown open to reveal his red flannel pyjamas.

Second date 1,3k | rated T When Draco wakes up, he’s in an unfamiliar bed.

Fading in love 5k | rated E (locked to registered users) When Harry enters the Eighth Year common room, it’s unusually buzzing, in the quietly intense kind of way, where people are talking in hushed voices, huddled together.

Wow, this was very telling what kind of style I have, I don’t think I’ve seen this plainly before that I like to start with some sort of way to set the scene. Either it means I’ve found my thing, or that I’m stuck 😂

Tagging @dragonbornphoenix @uncannycerulean @crazybutgood @phdmama @goblinmatriarch @ladderofyears @sleepstxtic @mono-chromia

[sidhelives]

The lovely @hazelestelle tagged me ☺️

Rules: List the First Line of your last 10 (posted) fics and see if there's a pattern!

I love this one. Let's jump in.

Every Man to his Taste

Dragon Age - Zevran Arainai/Jowan - M Rating

Jowan hadn't known what to expect from Orzammar.

Magical Mishap

Dragon Age - Jowan/Merrill - E Rating

"Uh oh."

Let Sleeping Hawkes Lie

Dragon Age - Female Hawke/Cullen Rutherford - E Rating ⚠️ Consent Warning

It was dark when Cullen woke, the faded edges of a nightmare fading from his memory before he even opened his eyes.

Show Me the Steep and Thorny Way to Heaven

Pillars of Eternity - Aloth Corfiser/The Watcher - E Rating ⚠️ Consent Warning

It was a fine, clear evening; a welcome relief given the recent abysmal weather.

Five Times Alim and Fenris Said Goodbye and One Time They Didn't

Dragon Age - Fenris/Male Surana - G Rating

It had been a bad idea to come alone.

Firestorm

Dragon Age - Anders/Nathaniel Howe - E Rating

The Darkspawn were tenacious, Nathaniel would give them that.

To Serve at my Lady's Pleasure

Dragon Age - Female Hawke/Sebastian Vael - E Rating

Even in the dim light of the street lamps, the bright wood of the Amell Estate’s front door gleamed like a beacon.

Respite in Redcliffe

Dragon Age - Zevran Arainai/Female Cousland - E Rating

“You know,” Zevran commented lightly, removing his shirt. “I have despoiled noble ladies before; though you are the first to be so direct in your request.”

Listen Closely - Chapter 12: Never kill a Dark Brother or Dark Sister

Skyrim - Cicero/Female Listener - M Rating

Blending in with a crowd, being invisible while walking openly among people, was a careful line to walk.

Title is Mutable and Subject to Change

Balder's Gate 3 - General - G Rating

They looked so peaceful, didn't they?

Sorry for all the smut 😅 caught me during Smutquisition season.

Looking for trends: 3/10 start with the word "It" which is interesting. Outside of that, I set up the setting and/or the POV in the first sentence a bit, or try to catch attention with a short, unresolved statement. Not too much exact overlap though, which I'll take.

Tagging: @fiannans @jrastegar @kittynomsdeplume @lordnochybaty @rosella-writes @starsandskies @the-cryptographer

[ussjellyfish]

Tag Game: First 10 Lines Challenge

I was tagged by @divinemissem13 and @lorcaswhisky, thank you!!

1. golden hour - Una Chin-Riley/La'an Noonien Singh | gen (200 words)

La'an prefers to stretch before her shift, working out any of the kinks of her muscles.

2. tolerance - Una Chin-Riley/La'an Noonien Singh | teen, (200 words)

La'an does not think it is particularly noteworthy that she has a high tolerance for pain.

3. home port - Michael Burnham/Laira Rillak | teen, (859 words)

Becoming herself again was heavy.

4. uncharted flight paths - Michael Burnham/Laira Rillak | mature (1735 words)

Laira - even teenage Laira - picked up on things too quickly for them to keep lying to her.

5. legends of the space lanes - Laira Rillak & Jett Reno, Michael Burnham/Laira Rillak | mature (1074 words)

"Look, I don't know who you are, and I appreciate that you're Starfleet, and that's exciting, I've always wanted to see a Starfleet ship, but I don't know why you're being so formal and why you're calling me ma'am, is that a Starfleet thing? You call all civies ma'am?"

6. partially digested organic matter - Laira Rillak & Zora, | teen, (1608 words)

Spill sensors were a sensible precaution.

7. Rigellian silk has many useful properties - Michael Burnham/Laira Rillak, | teen, (300 words)

"You're bleeding again."

8. the Mighty Trij offers you congratulations - Michael Burnham/Laira Rillak, | teen, (300 words)

Michael straightens her dress uniform collar, cradling the bottle of springwine to her chest.

9. kidnapping isn't what it used to be - Michael Burnham/Laira Rillak, | teen, (300 words).

"Are you going to tell them how doomed they are?" Pelia asks, brushing dirt from her sweater.

10. if you were here, you'd approve - Una Chin-Riley/La'an Noonien Singh | teen (100 words)

"The Gorn are relentless, you can't turn your back on them." 

I seem to start with dialogue or a scene setting thing, which makes sense. I like to start with something short, and usually I go back and see if it needs to change, often I just keep it. Starting with dialogue is great when I can.

Tagging - @onmytallesttiptoesspinningspinning, @thewitchofelpis, @sadmushroomgoblin, @moomkin77, @concentfortea, @bessemerprocess, @elephant-in-the-pride-parade, @lenfaz, @an-inky-fingered-lass, @astrotrek86 if any of you fancy it.

[clarisse-doodles]

inspired by this post, in which Damian does not know what Vine is

[n0tamused]

I've got no April fools jokes to offer except this meme. I said I'd draw something like this so here it is gang

I think this might be the fastest meme doodle I did up to this date. Slay. Made him extra big and beefy

[shelfperson]

hehehehhehehhehe you FOOLS lestat’s perspective on the story isn’t going to make louis look like some violent crazy mutual abuser that french fuck LOVES that green eyed seratonin deficiency he feels SO GUILTY about what he did to him and claudia IN FACT louis’s perpetual self hatred for his perceived inherent violence is some CATHOLIC GUILT ASS INTERNALIZED RACISM HOMOPHOBIA MISOGYNY ASS SHIT and lestat doesn’t FUCK WITH THAT he LOVES THAT MAN and yeah lestat’s gonna come out swinging with some “louis, louis, always whining why the long fave” but give him a sip of the old daniel molloy trauma trigger special he’s gonna be looking wistfully out the window with BIG FAT BLOODY TEARS rolling down his face just LAMENTING louis’s radience and kindness and fragility and how even his most savage cruelty gleamed and glistened like gore at the end of a sharp and shiny knife c’est tres enchenteur, non, monsieur molloy? OKAY????????

[youvebeenlivingfictional]

Doctor's Orders

Notes: I'm sick. That's it, that was the inspo. Written very quickly; not beta-read. Oneshot.

Pairing: Dr. Michael Robinavitch x Reader

Warnings: Established (but early) relationship; angst; fluff; Reader is sick; Robby is a little overbearing (lovingly)

Rating: T

Summary: You've seen him at work a time or two, but it's one thing to watch Robby assess a patient, and another to be the patient.

Your nostrils? Burning. Your sinuses? Stuffy. Your eyes? Tired. Your head? Heavy. Your skin? Raw.

You've been staring at your work laptop for the last two hours, hardly getting a thing done between the constant coughs, sneezes, and sniffles. Your eyes stray to the time, then double-take—7:18. Shit.

You reach for your phone, scrubbing one hand over one of your dry and itching eyes as you open Robby's contact and type a message single-handedly.

don't come over

You realize as it delivers that you probably sent the text far too late—Michael's probably already halfway to yours. But, there's always the possibility that he got waylaid at work, hasn't left yet. It wouldn't be completely out of the ordinary. You add:

can i see you later this week? what's your weekend look like?

A pause, three dots from his side, then a single—?

Before you can answer, your phone buzzes with his call.

You groan tiredly, reaching out and grabbing your water bottle. You can do this—sound firm, and normal, and not like you've been awake since 2 in the morning. You take a pull of water, wincing at the slight burning as it goes down, and then answer before the phone can ring for a third time:

"Hey."

There's a pause on the other end. Then:

"Everything okay?"

"No, yeah," You fib, "Work's run over and um—I've had a long day. Not a long day like your long days, obviously, but I need to decompress—alone, for a bit, you know."

Another pause from his side, and you wince. How bad do you sound? You know that your voice isn't as strong as it usually is, that it likely has the whining strain of your clogged sinuses in it, no matter what you do. Dangit, why did he have to call?

"Anyway," You hurry to add, "I'll see you some other ti—ti—" You turn your head, unable to stop the sneeze that wells and bursts, followed by another, then a third. Fuck.

"Bless you."

"...Thanks," You grumble, grabbing a tissue from the box. "Anyway, can I see you this weekend—?"

"I wanna see you now."

"Well, I don't want you to see me now," You insist.

"Open the door."

"Excuse me?"

You blink down at the phone as the line cuts abruptly, and curse as you hear a knock on the door.

"Are you flippin' kidding me?" You groan. You peer through the peephole, huffing at the sight of Robby there, his hand hooked around the strap of his backpack.

"Seriously, Robby?" You wince; it hurts to raise your voice.

"Let me in."

"I told you not to come over! I feel like shit and I look like hell."

"I don't care."

"I do!"

"Just let me take a look at you." You watch Robby eye the door beseechingly before he shakes his head, shrugging, "If you don't let me, I'll be worrying all night."

You sigh heavily, resting your pounding head against the cool wood of the door. It'll be faster to let him in than to argue at this rate.

"Five minutes," You grit out, and nearly miss his, "I'll take it," As you unlock the door and step back.

You've seen him at work a time or two, but it's one thing to watch Robby assess a patient, and another to be the patient. He's shrugging off his bag the second he's inside, his eyes skating across your face—your bloodshot eyes, rub-irritated skin, and otherwise unkempt appearance.

"When'd this start?"

"Yesterday."

"Is it just the sneeze?"

"...Bit of a cough."

"Covid test?"

"Negative so far."

"Temperature?"

"99.3."

"When'd you take it?"

"Like, twenty minutes ago."

He grunts, reaches out, cups the side of your neck. As tempted as you are to lean into his touch, you're annoyed—annoyed that he didn't just turn around, leave you to your wallowing on the couch.

"You hydrating?"

"Yes."

"Have anything to eat?"

"Tomato soup."

"Sleeping?"

"I've been busy." Not that you've been all that productive. But he doesn't need to know that.

"You work today?"

"I had to—I told you, I had a long day."

"Are you taking tomorrow off?"

"I'll assess in the morning."

Robby tips his chin down a touch, a chastising look sweeping across his face.

"Don't start," You warn, "I've got a lot of shit to do and I don't wanna hear it."

Robby huffs an affronted laugh before he holds his hands up, a mutter of, "Okay," Falling from his lips. "You take anything?"

"Tylenol this morning."

"So you're achey, too."

"I was. A bit." You fold your arms across your chest, taking a step back. "You should leave."

"It hasn't been five minutes."

"I don't want you getting sick."

"I appreciate that."

"Robby, seriously. You've been working all day, and you look like you haven't been sleeping, either. Your immune system is probably shot to hell."

"Speaking from experience?" Another glance in your direction before he concedes, "Okay. I'm going."

You watch, equally relieved and chagrined as he swings his bag onto his shoulder, rests his hand on the door knob, and turns back to you. He gives you one more look, and then leaves.

--

The second knock on your door that evening makes you wheeze, "Son of a bitch," As you haul your body off of your couch and trudge over to your front door. You peer through the peephole, ready to give Robby another scolding—but you don't see anyone.

You frown, cautiously opening the door and looking around before you look down. There, sitting on your doorstep, is a paper bag. You pick it up, casting another wary look around the hall before retreating inside.

You draw out a plastic pouch of your favorite Liquid IV flavor first, followed by three cans of low-sodium Progresso soup. A dual pack of Nyquil and Dayquil next, a box of tissues, a bag animal crackers—and at the very bottom, a scrap of paper. You pull it out, unable to stop your smile at the sight:

Rest up, call if you need anything. Doctor's orders

- R

--

"Can I ask..."

"Mm?"

"When I came over?"

"Mhm."

"How much of that attitude was you feeling crappy?"

You consider the question for a moment, pushing your mind back to those couple of weeks ago. Your cold is gone, cough has long since backed the hell off, and your sniffles are nonexistent. But—some of your annoyance remains.

"Honestly?" You twist your lips as you from the bag of takeout to face Robby. "I was pissed."

It stops him in his tracks for a half-second before he's setting the dishes on the table and resting his hands on the back of one of your kitchen chairs.

"Pissed."

"Yeah. I told you not to come over, you did anyway."

"I was almost here."

"Right, but you could've respected my request and turned around."

"You sounded awful."

"I fucking know," You scoff, "And I get that this is, you know," You wave between the two of you, "This is your thing, but I'm more than capable of taking care of myself."

Robby's eyes narrow slightly before he draws himself to his full height, rounding closer.

"Is that what you think that was?" He plies. "That I think you can't take care of yourself?"

"Well—"

"I know that you're more than able—"

"Then—"

"—But that doesn't mean you always have to."

You fall quiet as Robby comes to a stop in front of you.

"I know," You sigh, "But..." You shake your head as the words stall. "All you do all day is take care of people. I should be a break from that."

Your eyes slid shut as Robby's hands curl around your chin, tipping your head toward him.

"...Look at me, sweetheart."

You hesitate before you do as you're told, searching Robby's warm eyes nervously.

"You could be ordering me to do a hundred and one chores around here, and it would still be a break from what I deal with at work."

"But—"

"No 'but's. I like to know that you're okay. Helps me sleep at night."

You sway into Robby, catching his lips in a soft kiss, and relaxing as he tips his chin up, pressing a kiss to your forehead.

"Thank you," You mumble.

"Anytime, sweetheart."

Tag list:

@missredherring ; @fantasticcopeaglepasta ; @massivecolorspygiant ; @amneris21 ; 

@ew-erin ; @youngkenobilove ; @carbonated-beverage ;  @moonlightburned ; @milf-trinity ; 

@millllenniawrites ; @videogamesandpoorlifechoices ; @missswriter ; 

@thembosapphicclown ; @brandyllyn ; @wildmoonflower ; @realwhoreforfictionalmen

 ; @mad-girl-without-a-box ; @artsymaddie

@winchestershiresauce ; @lorecraft ; @kmc1989

[porcupine-girl]

[holly-mckenzie]

“I will not fight you,” Princess Meria told Rhaenys, “nor will I kneel to you. Dorne has no king. Tell your brother that.”

“I shall,” Rhaenys replied, “but we will come again, Princess, and the next time we shall come with fire and blood.”

“Your words,” said Princess Meria. “Ours are Unbowed, Unbent, Unbroken. You may burn us, my lady…but you will not bend us, break us, or make us bow. This is Dorne. You are not wanted here. Return at your peril.”

Thus queen and princess parted, and Dorne remained unconquered.

FIRE & BLOOD | Aegon's Conquest

[wasserbombe]

hi guess who fell into a Band of Brothers pithole?

[doctorsiren]

Can you draw Reigen in that one Saul Goodman pose? The one where he's leaning forward with his hands behind his back like a school girl or something. I think that'd be funny.

look at my lawyer dawg i’m goin to jail

[deadscell]

hahahahaha said the evil blue dante