#you've only provided the fandom with a Challenge

[possiblyawesometmblr]

jonny sims, learning absolutely nothing from his past: surely i've done it. surely the fandom won't want to kiss a man made entirely out of needles

[badass-queer-couples-battle]

Sword gays showdown, round 4 of bracket two

Propaganda:

For Hikaru Sulu:

1) Okay, first off: Which version am I submitting? Prime timeline (TOS) or Kelvin timeline (AOS, also known as the reboot movies if you're not in the fandom)? The answer is both. Prime Sulu has the more iconic fencing scenes (and is also said to have other sword related abilities) while Kelvin Sulu is canonically gay. Specifically as a tribute to George Takei btw who played prime Sulu in TOS and is famously gay and an LGBT+ rights activist among other causes. The picture provided is prime Sulu but if you've only watched AOS, feel free to vote for him anyway.

I'm not gonna link any videos here since that would probably exceed the scope of the propaganda section but clips should be pretty easy to find. And if you can't, just trust me: The TOS fencing scenes are amazing. The AOS one is probably fine too but it's been ages since I've watched it and I forgot it even existed so it can't have been THAT memorable.

Fun fact: George Takei initially didn't know how to fence and didn't find out he'd have to until pretty late and started taking fencing lessons only three weeks before the filming of that episode (The Naked Time) and apparently "became so out-of-control and boisterous that he had to be separated from the rest of the production personnel, for their own safety" which, in context of what the episode is about, is just absolutely amazing. Truly iconic.

Anyway, considering Star Trek is an important part of queer history (I'm only half joking) you need to vote for Sulu, we all know George Takei is an icon, make the right choice here.

2) When they got hit with the drunk virus he took his shirt off and started challenging people to duels. Iconic 

3) This bitch got the outer space disease that makes you silly, and revealed they were gung ho for fencing, and brought out their sabre to just. Swashbuckle. Goes "/oh my/," and is clearly gay and played by a gay actor

For Olivier:

She is only female general in her nation, and guards the northern border. She fights with a sword even though there are other people with guns. Olivier is unmarried despite being older (not sure how old exactly, but she is a general, and that takes time). To the best of my knowledge she shows no interest in anyone, thus making it possible to interpret her as aromantic and asexual, or as a lesbian. The bit where Mustang offers to take her on a date and she threatens to eat so much she will bankrupt him is funny.

[maenecoon]

tagged by @obscurecurse, tagging @fairlylokai @jez-bez @a-soulofme @froginthesun @emberfaye @aylinaliens @iwantabluntrn @the-cookie-of-doom @ella-norah @awiderangeofgreen (some who i know, some who i find are vvvv cool authors <33 no pressure to do this challenge tho!)

Writing tag game

1. How many works do you have on AO3? 21

2. What’s your total AO3 word count? 129,038

3. What fandoms do you write for? primarily kimchay (from kinnporsche), thought i used to write more for phayurain (love in the air) 1-2 years ago

4. What are your top 5 fics by kudos?

1. Honey where’s my omega (a/b/o phayurain) - this one stumps me bc i never understood how/why it's so popular. maybe it's the fic length/the fact that it's a/b/o?

2. Show me the ropes (kimchay au where kidnapper chay becomes the kidnapped when he tries to nab kim) - one of my most unhinged ideas

3. (Make me) your one and only (kimchay biological bdsm au) - one of my favourite ideas ever

4. Little bat (phayurain, where vampire fledgling rain gets stuck in bat form) - another cute/silly idea

5. The hyung plan (phayurain + hyung kink) - the hyung kink got me a lot of readers from outside the fandom lol

5. Do you respond to comments? i usually like to respond to them all at once so i wait for them to pile up before replying HAHA

6. What is the fic you wrote with the angstiest ending? none, all my fics have happy/hopeful endings

7. What’s the fic you wrote with the happiest ending? all! of! them! i read/write for escapism, the world is harsh enough as is. i want my blurbos to be happy!

8. Do you get hate on fics? i used to when i wrote other things, but now no. i do occasionally get an indirect from people who disagree with my ship dynamic preferences, though it’s not exactly hate/doesn’t really bother me. read/write whatever you like, friends.

9. Do you write smut? yes! love a pwp <33

10. Do you write crossovers? What’s the craziest one you’ve written? i used to write kpop rpf and mixed a lot of groups together. now, the most i do is write aus. i usually don’t write crossovers bc i like to focus on the dynamics/characters within the shows/fandoms and explore their relationships with each other rather than outside of that.

11. Have you ever had a fic stolen? yes, it was stolen and translated to a whole different language which was bonkers to me. i wrote those fics on wattpad when i was 14. idk how people thought it was worth stealing and translating???

12. Have you ever had a fic translated? ^ yes

13. Have you ever co-written a fic before? nope! if anyone wants to do something you can hmu!

14. What’s a WIP you want to finish but doubt you ever will? way too many. though probably a lot of the phayurain blurbs sitting in the vault.

15. What are your writing strengths? one of the best compliments i’ve received is that i write with a “sleight of hand” - concealing things (that the character doesn’t know) from the reader as well, such that things unfold naturally/there’s a nice element of suspense. also writing character’s thoughts, ig. slipping into their headspace has always felt natural/fun for me.

16. What are your writing weaknesses? long sentences. procrastination. sometimes i explain scenes rather than just writing them, mostly bc I’m lazy/don’t think they’re necessary (but then realise that it would’ve been interesting to draw out afterwards). also a crippling sense of self doubt that i'm working on i swear- imposter syndrome is just a bit ch sometimes.

17. Thoughts on writing dialogue in another language in fic? as long as you know what you’re saying, lmao. and provide translations please!!!

18. First fandom you wrote for? kpop (specifically exo),,, my dark past

19. Favorite fic you’ve written? the bdsm au :))) i can yap all about the fic and the world building anytime of the day!! though i quite like the corruption kink fic too, it's definitely one of the most self indulgent fics i've written HAHA

if you've reached the bottom of this page, consider yourself tagged <33

[problematicpunks]

THE 6TEEN ENDLESS REVIVAL CHALLENGE

With 6teen's 20th Anniversary coming up, I thought it would be a good opportunity to try and encourage a little fandom revival. As a fan since the show originally premiered, I hold a lot of affection for the series and have grown up with it. I suspect I'm not the only one out there who remembers the show fondly and wishes there was more activity in the fandom, especially when it comes to new fanworks. I'm hoping this might be a small way to move the needle a little, even if it might take a while to get going.

For me, I've always found prompts and prompt-based fandom week/months/challenges to be really inspiring. It's nice to create something new for a purpose or goal, and to have your stuff be a part of a collective fandom experience. If you've been wanting to get back into it, or thinking about writing for the first time, this could be a good low-stakes way to tip your toes into it!

Three separate prompt lists will be provided: a fandom specific one, a general vibes/themes one and an NSFW one intended for original/older fans. Each list comprises of 12 prompts (with four bonus alternatives for 6teen prompts each). You could commit to one specific list one year, another the next, only do a couple, or you can mix and match between lists, combine various prompts, pick and choose only which ones speak to you—whatever unique playlist you like, really. Ideally, these 36+ prompts can be combined and curated in endless ways, providing potential story ideas for years.

Realistically, I know I am probably the only one who is going to participate, lol. But in the off chance this actually gets something started, additional prompt lists may be added in future years as well.

This collection/challenge as the name implies will always be ongoing/open for participants! Fan artists are also welcome to participate using any of the prompts. Be sure to tag any works for the challenge with #6teenEndlessRevival

You can find more information on the Official AO3 Collection Page.

[runninriot]

20 Questions For Writers

i'm a little late because i took a break while on vacation but THANK YOU for the tag @ataliagold and @sidekick-hero 🖤

1. How many works do you have on AO3?

52

2. What's your total AO3 word count?

468,074 (written in 16 months, which is a personal achievement i'm actually quite proud of)

3. What fandoms do you write for?

Steddie only for now because these boys still have me in a tight grip i can't get out of

4. What are your top five fics by kudos?

thought i'd only look at the stats for the ones i wrote this year out of interest

Liberate Me

Worship Me

Sweet Thing

Tomorrow

You're A God (Be My Sinner)

5. Do you respond to comments?

always!! i appreciate everyone who's taking the time to comment on one of my fics so much. love these little interactions

6. What is the fic you wrote with the angstiest ending?

it's 'happy endings always' in my house but the ending of Only Love could maybe count as angsty?

7. What's the fic you wrote with the happiest ending?

it's hard to choose but Where The Sun Still Shines has one of my favourite happy endings

8. Do you get hate on fics?

people have always been very kind to me (thank you, people! 🖤)

9. Do you write smut? If so, what kind?

yes and any kind? since i started the The Best You Ever Tasted series i have tried not overthink it and not to limit myself anymore when it comes to writing smut and to just go for it. there's still more to explore 😏

10. Do you write crossovers?

apart from my first ever steddie fic Real Love Is Forever (ST×The Crow mash-up), i haven't written any crossovers yet

11. Have you ever had a fic stolen?

i think/hope not?!

12. Have you ever had a fic translated?

nope. but i'd love it if that ever happened

13. Have you ever co-written a fic?

no but i think it could be a fun experience although i'm not sure i'd want to burden anyone else with the chaos that is my writing process 😅

14. What's your all-time favorite ship?

Steddie. don't know what it is exactly but i love them being in love and writing and reading about them makes me fucking happy

15. What's a WIP you want to finish, but doubt you ever will?

Weight of the World. do i want to finish it? yes!!! will i ever? only the stars and moon know (it's been a year, man 😔)

16. What are your writing strengths?

people have said i'm good at writing dirty smut mixed with deep emotions which is a compliment i hold dear to my heart

17. What are your writing weaknesses?

ugh. plotting/outlining, just planning ahead in general. i always start my fics with a random sentence and just take it from there which has cost me some nerves in the past because i never know what i'll end up with

18. Thoughts on writing dialogue in another language in fic?

love when people do that. i think it can be a nice way for authors (like me) who aren't native english speakers to sprinkle bits and pieces of their own first language into their fics

19. First fandom you wrote for?

Steddie (any hand-written sins from my youth are well-hidden in old notebooks and will never see the light of day again)

20. Favorite fic you've written?

oh god, that one's hard because i love all my brain babies equally but

We Are The Lifeless Stars (Shining In The Dark) is the one that broke me most

Small Treasures To Keep is my favourite prompt inspired fic (kudos to all of those amazing people providing us with writing challenges and prompts, i love you guys!)

i absoluetely loved creating Vampire Steve's background story in Show Me What It's Like (To Live On The Other Side)

Unlovable is very special to me in many ways

and Monsoon and Harrsion was probably the silliest fic idea i ever had, inspired by Jemma who came up with the names. it was so fun to write and it still makes me laugh when i think of my google search history while writing that porn actors au 😆

that was fun!

feel free to ignore me if you've already done this or don't want to but i'd love to read your answers

@thisapplepielife @morningberriesao3 @steddieas-shegoes @thefreakandthehair @steddie-island 🖤

[monthly-writing-challenges]

Is adding fics to collections (on AO3) useful for events? I was checking one the other day, and they said it would be helpful for them, to gain attention and so

I never added my fics to collections before bc I liked to keep them more as my "silly 'private' stories", and bc I don't usually complete challenges on time (I know that's not a requisite, it's just a personal thing), but if it would help events I would like to do it

(Answering this as someone who has never created a collection on AO3 nor run any kind of writing event)

Three reasons off the top of my head why I think adding your fic to a collection could be useful:

Introducing new readers/writers to an event. This one does depend on other factors, but if you're writing for the (made-up) event of Sci-ly (aka a Sci-Fi themed July event), and one of your readers has never heard of the event before, adding your work to the collection puts a pretty obvious banner in the tags section on AO3 promoting that event. Of course, you could also do this by mentioning it in an author's note, but adding the AO3 collection provides an easy link to click on.

Promoting other authors' work by linking all works under a shared banner. Similarly, maybe a reader is really enjoying the works you've published for the (also made up) event of Maystery (aka a mystery themed May event) and they really like your response to the "everybody did it" prompt. Then they can click on the collection and see how other people answered the prompt. Again, YMMV on this one, because these events are typically multi-fandom, so maybe you're the only one in your fandom participating, but it could be useful!

Gauging interest in an event/prompt. Searching tags on tumblr can be a nightmare at times. While it's perfectly fine that not everyone who writes for an event publish on AO3 (there are events where mods clearly state they aren't checking, so just writing something in the privacy of your own notebook counts!), by adding to a collection on AO3, the mods can get a direct, quantitative (if underestimated) number of how much interest there was in their event and how many people participated. (Maybe year one of March's Myths (also also made up...) got 30 fics, and the next year got 200, so the mods know they're doing something right! But maybe, of those 200, only 1 fic bothered to use the "left brain vs right brain myth" prompt, so they know there wasn't a lot of interest in that.) Again, I've never run an event, so I can't say why they need these numbers other than for the above examples (or for the same reason you want comments on your fic!) but it's good to have the data sometimes!

Of course, it's ultimately up to you! This isn't me trying to pressure you into sharing your works in a collection. As always, check with the event rules to see if there are any guidelines or restrictions for their collections. And if any mods for events see this, please feel free to chime in with your input!

(YMMV: Your mileage may vary)

[elithemiar-blog]

KimChay reconciliation and a bit of Porsche & Chay

Let me know what ya think. First time writing for this fandom, Kim may be a bit OOC, but I tried.

--

The garden had darken under the fall of the sun, stars climbing over the horizon as the moon stays hidden. The gorgeous bright almost neon colors in a sea of pastel that is normally seen at all times in this new life of violence and retribution, revenge and agony, of the mystery if a puzzle will finally provide the details hidden in the message when the puzzle will be solved.

Only to find that the puzzle solved is only a piece of a much larger scale.

The green foliage of the shrubs that surround the compound is a vivid reminder that even though the ones he loves are alive doesn't mean that they are safe. Drops, much like his own tears at one time, fall from the leaves and absorb into the soil to fuel growth, and even help the seedlings that have yet to sprout.

He can't help but think of himself, falling for so long and hard after a brief time of warmth in a struggle of fending off the cold, and seeing the small things to get through until the next day.

Now, even the white posts that hold the small gazebo, he can only see as gray.

And the ceiling that he would normally see as maybe a dark brown, is as black as the sky is right now.

His head hangs back, neck burning at the angle as he tries to reach the railing to rest on but unable to, instead he feels chill of water droplets hitting his forehead.

Flinching at first, as the uncomfortable feeling of dry to wet, of warm to cold shocks his skin, he calms, the different spectrums becoming soothing.

"If you want to get wet, I'll sneak you over to the pool."

His eyes open to see the border between the sky and the wood of the shelter ceiling, not remembering when he shut them in the first place. Raising his head until meeting the almost guilt wrecked gaze of his brother, but he doesn't speak, just turns his head back down, hands already twisting in his lap and brushing his own calluses on his finger tips.

Rough but gentle hands brushing over his shoulders, skin barely touching skin that sent goosebumps down his arms and ricocheting back into his heart that gave him the courage to speak up, and release the bound feelings inside.

"Chay."

His brother calls again, and still doesn't answer. He shifts until is back is against one of the corners, but his front still staying facing the entrance. Something that he has felt the need to do as of recent, startled several times already with the guards coming up behind him. He feels safer seeing the way in, and exactly who is standing there.

He tucks is legs up on the bench, one leg bending to lean against the railing while the other stays tucked under, hands gripping that leg in an act of self comfort.

"Chay."

He swallows, knowing that this is a conversation has to happen, no matter how much he wants to avoid the nerves, "What?" Where is his courage to battle through those nerves like last time.

Porsche sits next to him, and with his brother being for more proficient at keeping them safe he turns his gaze to his hands, feeling the weird soft material that the oldest brother of the mafia sons had procured for him.

He heard his brother sigh, and the near choking feeling climbs and builds in his throat, but he's so tired of crying, of seeming weak. Another hand hovers over his, then pulls away.

"I know we haven't talked in a while, with everything going on, I just thought that you need time to…let everything settle."

He nods, that was one way of putting it.

"You've changed, Chay. These spontaneous decisions aren't you."

"And what if they are?" he challenges back, softly, barely a whisper between them.

A small smile appears unbidden on his brother's face, "Because I know you. I've seen you angry, happy, sad, nervous, and even petty. I've practically raised you, but you're acting like -- " he sucked in a breath, "Who hurt you, Chay?"

"Does it matter?"

"Yes, tell me their name and I'll go take care of them."

He could, but there was only two, and for once he's tired of holding back the hurt. "You can't take care of yourself."

Porsche flinches back.

"I understand why, I really do, but you couldn't tell me the truth? At least hinted that what you were involved with wasn't legal?" he quickly wipes away the single tear that had escaped, sniffling.

"I didn't think you'd approved."

"Obviously, I didn't matter -- " snapping his mouth shut, the frustration voicing his darker thoughts.

Porsche's voice pitched as he spoke, "You are the reason I took this, our money problems are no more and even if I declined on my death bed, I'm pretty sure we would've been here anyway."

He chokes out a laugh, barely making it past the lump in his throat that still remains there.

Porsche observes him for a moment before nodding along, though concern still evident. "At least you're feeling something."

The corner of his lips tucked up slightly, at least one of them can still see the bright side.

"Who else?"

If there is one thing Chay knows of himself, he can't lie, not to Porsche, no matter how much he really wants to. "Nothing worth your time."

"You're worth everything." he replies. "When everything started to go down before the coup, I thought of taking you and running, escaping while there was still a chance. Then just like that, answers started come, secrets being revealed, and the amount of a hassle there had been of someone trying to keep everything hidden."

"I don't think Kinn," and Kim, he wants to believe, "wouldn't try to follow if we tried."

"And about a dozen bodyguards." Porsche agreed. "I just want you safe, that's all."

He rolls his eyes, "I know."

Porsche opens his arms, inviting the younger for a hug, and this time Chay doesn't deny the embrace hiding his face into his brother's shoulder. "I haven't forgotten that you hadn't revealed a name, but…I'll wait until you're ready."

Nodding back, and seeing the garden around them makes him feel a little lighter.

"Come back to the party when you're ready. I'll keep them distracted for as long as I can."

With one final look, Chay turned his back, refusing to witness Porsche leaving.

His heart felt a little lighter, being able to get through that without the yelling he fearfully expected, for a moment thinking that his brother found out about his outings, and how he'd been followed home, and by who.

The feeling of being watched, eyes penetrating into his back, and he could only think of one single person who would genuinely be watching over him, and that person just left. His heart thumps thinking that it could be the other person, the same person that keeps an eye on him for some reason other than a duty.

"I don't know why you continue to follow me when you've never cared!" he shouts, the accusation on his tongue tingling, taking a breath to release another statement.

"I never said I didn't care." a mellow-toned voice whispers.

Chay whips around, "Then what was with the apology?" the anger that had surfaced immediately dropped back down at seeing the cold, frigid eyes that gazed back. "Kim?"

"Chay, I -- " his gaze turned away, jaw clenching, his hands though hidden in the pockets of that leather jacket, could still be seen forming into fists. He leaned back on his heel, already twisting to walk away.

"Why should I stay, when you won't?"

Kim is forced to pause at that question, his body a quarter of the way twisted back to exit the structure, slowly he met Chay's gaze over his shoulder. "Would you have? If you knew?"

"I don't know." incredulous at the question, but hopeful, "Not like you gave me a choice!" He suddenly stood, finding more strength than he had all week, and nearly stood toe to toe in front of Kim. "I can see why you wouldn't answer any question in the vicinity of this place, from what very little I could figure out, but why hurt me?"

Kim didn't move, just stated straight into the doe-eyes that had haunted him, but at the very least no tears were shedding.

"Did you enjoy playing me like a fiddle? Enjoy that I had been so easy to get information out of? Enjoy--"

"Enjoy our time as if breathing sunlight?"

Chay blinked, "Then why hurt me?"

"Safer --"

"For who?!" he snapped, those frustrated tears threatening to re-run their course down his cheeks.

Kim barely stopped himself from reaching out, shifting so minutely that no-one could've noticed.

"For me? Or for yourself?"

Frustration and anxiety with a brush of hope shifted through Kim's veins, and he couldn't stop his next words, "I can't let my own father know of any weaknesses!"

The sheer vulnerability that reflected in his eyes, of regret, fear, and so much more made Chay's own emotions freeze, his hands rose scrubbing over his eyes, and he turned away, moving back toward the bench he'd been on to curl up as if he's a defenseless child.

Kim reached out, hand missing the fabric of his shirt to hold him there. Tamping down the panic that pierced his heart, as he witnesses Chay turn his back on him, to look out into the garden. A part of him knows that he should leave, and he realized that he's a coward, the beauty in front of him having so much courage for the both of them.

And maybe it could be enough.

Chay lets the tears roll into his sleeve, hearing the footsteps, so light as he's sure Kim is walking away.

"For both of us."

Stunned, the younger turns to give him his full attention, but stays silent.

"If my father knew about our connection he'd use that to tie me into this family again, he'd put your life in danger to get me to cooperate." He sits, turning his head to the garden, being unable to meet the inquisitive gaze just yet. "I knew early on that you didn't know anything, and even after trying to cut contact, you persisted."

"Alright, so attracted to stubbornness?"

"No." Kim glances back to see Chay, insecurities showing through as the younger's shoulders dropped. Panic of a different kind squeezed his heart as he struggled to say something. Than an idea came through the fog, "What do you see in the garden?"

Chay shrugs, "Bushes, foliage, might be some rose bushes." he sees colors, various ones, "What's that got to do with anything?"

"Humor me. What did you think initially?"

"It's calm, quiet, even without the sunlight or the moon, it's beautiful."

Kim, missed the exaggerated hand movements, that showed there was nothing that could be hurt him in those hands. "I see where cameras can be placed, I see places to hide, I see an open area with very few places to use as a barrier in case of another fight. I see things that could be used as a weapon, and even though we are a bit further from the main building, there are cameras that point in this direction."

"I -- "

"This is my world."

"Okay, I can see your point." he nodded, once, "How would keeping me in the dark protect me, if I don't know what I'm being protected from? If I'm in danger, I have a right to know that, so I can protect myself, so I know what to look for."

"I was hoping Porsche would take you and run." he mutters out, "I didn't know about your mother."

"But you knew something." Chay shakes his head, getting his thoughts back on the reason they're here, "What do you want?"

"Whatever you'll give me." his answer rushes out as he exhales.

Chay wants to go back to whatever they had on the base of lies, to go back to that comfort, but he knows that he needs to know Kim without the pretentions of an investigation. To know all sides of him, even the ones he tries to keep hidden. Memories flashed back to Hum's Bar floor, he's not exactly happy about the killing, but at the same time he's grateful, satisfied in a weird way of Kim's ability to protect him.

Kim, will deny to anyone else that he did not perk up at watching Chay unblock his number, a thrumming in his veins that gives in the urge to be able to reach him again.

"I'll let you know."

[bitbybitwrites]

fic writer 20 questions - ask game

I was tagged by @kurtsascot - Thanks for thinking of me!💖

tagging the following to answer, only if they want to : @heartsmadeofbooks, @gleefulpoppet, @forabeatofadrum, @rockitmans, @hkvoyage @myheartalivewrites, @clottedcreamfudge @lady-divine-writes, @yadivagirl @kirakiwiwrites @scatter-the-stars @spaceorphan18, @1908jmd @little-escapist and anyone else who may be interested - jump on in!

1. how many works do you have on ao3?

15

2. whats your ao3 word count?

146,161

3. what fandoms do you write for?

Right now, just Glee. But I'm contemplating branching out (*cough RWRB cough*) 😉

4. top 5 fics by kudos

1.) If I Can Make Your Heart My Home 2.) Under The Cover of Darkness 3.) Trick of Treat 4.) Come Into My Parlor 5.) Klaine Drabbles and Shorts

5. do you respond to comments? why or why not?

I do! Sometimes it takes me awhile respond, but I like to. I really appreciate when folks drop a comment. I know it's easy to hit kudos and move on, but when a reader adds just a little more, it's a nice thing to see. Like you've taken just a little extra time to let me know what you are thinking, if you are frustrated, if you're happy, if you all are getting the same feeling as readers as I do as a writer - it's nice to see and I like to acknowledge that the reader has done that.

6. what is the fic you wrote with the angstiest ending?

Ending? Well I seem to deposit my angst in the middle of fics - so if we are talking about endings that's a tough call. I'm not sure if it would be considered angsty . . but Come Into My Parlor doesn't really have a happy ending - so maybe that one?

7. whats the fic you wrote with the happiest ending?

Ahhhh . . most of my fics have ended happily - I don't know what the happiest one is. Maybe Under The Cover of Darkness?

8. do you get hate on fics?

No . . I mean I've had some very passionate responses towards characters and what they've done in fics - but nothing that was a disparaging take on my writing style as a whole.

9. do you write smut? if so, what kind?

*blushing* ok . . yes. No PWP written as of yet, but I've had some smut in my fics - though I'm on the fence as to how good I am at it. 😂. I'm getting better! (or at least trying!) I've written mature and explicit scenes in fics . . dabbled a little with some bondage and D/s . . not sure how to answer this "what kind" of smut part of this question 😂

10. do you write crossovers? whats the craziest one youve ever written?

So far, have only written one. It was and Adams Family/Glee fic inspired by a drawing by @justgleekout called Dancing In The Moonlight. Now was it the craziest? Well it certainly wasn't a crossover I would have ever expected to write- but it really kind of made sense once I saw the artwork and thought about it for a bit.

11. have you ever had a fic stolen?

Not to my knowledge. If anyone sees anything, let me know!

12. have you ever had a fic translated?

Same answer to 11. Not to my knowedge.

13. have you ever cowritten a fic before?

Not at this time. More of a solo writer. I tend to take a long time to write and I think I'd frustrate the hell out of any poor person matched up to write a fic with me.

As an aside, when you talk about being paired up with another person for a challenge - like someone else provides the prompt/art and you need to fill in the rest - its both very exciting and nerve wracking for me at the same time. I've only done 2 of those so far (my current WIP - the Reverse Prompt challenge and a Secret Santa challenge.) There's always this part of me that's worried that I'm going to disappoint whoever I'm paired up with - will I live up to their expectations to what they are hoping the finished fic will turn out to be. Will my ideas go beyond what they wanted, if I have to tweak or changes to the original prompt, will they be open to it/ my interpretation of the prompt? I guess in my head if its something I'm writing on my own, I only have myself to disappoint if the finished product isn't quite right.

14. fave all time ship?

Right now I'm big into in my Klaine and Firstprince era 😂. I love those boys.

15. wip you want to finish but doubt you will?

Right now the WIP I all have I intend to finish - just gotta find the time.

16. what are your writing strengths?

Maybe dialogue. I think most of my dialogue feels very natural. I think I'm pretty good at editing. Brainstorming ideas?

17. what are your writing weaknesses?

Spelling. The use of an ellipsis 😂 Timing . . .I'm horrible with deadlines.

18. thoughts on writing dialogue in another language in a fic?

I don't mind doing it. I just make sure to add some sort of translation for it somewhere. Either along side ( like having the english translation in parenthesis next to the foreign language parts ) or in the end notes of a fic.

19. first fandom you wrote for?

Glee

20. fave fic youve written?

I really enjoying my current WIP - If I Can Make Your Heart My Home but aside from that since its not technically completed yet, I have to say I really enjoyed writing All Aboard. It probably is overstuffed with call backs to the show, which I love seeing in any fics (call backs to whatever the source material is) - and it was fun trying to craft the story without giving too much of it away at once so the ending (hopefully) will be a surprise?

[licncourt]

Hi!!!! I have been reading your tvc metas, and they are wonderful and I want to thank you for it!

I have been struggling to read theses books, and it really help me, I love IWTV, Louis is my fav, the aspect and style of first book is astonishing, the entire loustat dynamic is fascinating. And as much I love Lestat too, I didn't like TVL, and it left me frustrated with myself and disappointed with the book. It took me weeks to read TVL, and even more months to finish QotD. For me IWTV could stand alone, the other books seem to be part of a completely different series.

Your metas have helped me deal with my frustrations with TVC, and thank you for that, because i love theses characters (some of them) and I want to know their stories, still sad due to the lack of Louis, and I will try to read all the books so that my information about it are not all second handed.

and most important, I love your blog, I love your art and your fanfics 🫶

That's so nice of you I'm so so glad!! It's so exciting when someone likes my metas and fics, I love to write them! It's especially cool if it's made the books more enjoyable!! Book Louis is my special little guy of all time and like a small weird mangey rabbit that I keep as a beloved pet even though he bites so I'm also very happy to hear that you loved IWTV!!

As pretentious as it sounds, I was disappointed that a lot of new fans coming from the show didn't really Get book Louis or make an effort to understand his character. He's....challenging (nasty and gross) but there's so much rich character building there and it makes me sad when people write him off as boring and one note. AMC Louis is a really great character and I enjoy him a lot, but I don't like sentiment that he's a "fix" for a bad character.

As for TVL, I really do love it (even though IWTV is my favorite), but I can see how the style change can be jarring. In a way, it almost IS a different series because the narrator and POV has changed so drastically. It's in the same universe, but a totally different take on it to match a contrasting personality. I think it comes across better on a second read too because you're more prepared for the switch and have more context.

I can understand being partial to one style or the other (plenty of people prefer TVL to IWTV which I understand for sure), but I hope that even if the book itself wasn't for you that you enjoyed the insight into Lestat’s character. The first two books combined make for such a fantastic relationship dynamic in top of great stand alone characters, even better than just IWTV on its own in my opinion because now we know so much about them both.

This might be somewhat controversial among VC fans (?) but I don't really care for QotD either, with the exception of the Devil's Minion chapter and the ending with Loustat. I think it really shows the flaws beginning to emerge in AR's writing, but it's SO much better than what comes after that it gets more praise than maybe it deserves. Then again, I'm extremely partial to character-driven stories, so maybe if you're a plot guy it's a matter of preference.

If you've read my metas I'm sure you know that I don't really recommend anyone read past QotD, but I also see it as kind of rite of passage if you really want to be in the real trenches of the book fandom. It's miserable and you won't be the same afterward but the curse of forbidden knowledge is kind of a unifying factor, the ties that bind. If you choose to proceed then I wish you best and hope you'll come back to commiserate later.

Either way, I'm really glad you got some value from my metas! I love some of these characters so much and I'm super happy they were validating for you as a reader and maybe enhanced the experience in other ways! I aim to provide only the best VC Sparknotes.

I always have more to talk about (in meta and in fic), so I hope you enjoy everything that's coming just as much!

[badass-queer-couples-battle]

Sword gays showdown, poll for the third place of bracket two

Propaganda:

For Haruka/Sailor Uranus:

She wields the space sword, one three talismans. She's also in a canon sapphic relationship with fellow sailor soldier sailor neptune and later is raising a child with her and another sailor, sailor pluto. Their daughter calls her papa because she's also a genderqueer icon. 

For Hikaru Sulu:

1) Okay, first off: Which version am I submitting? Prime timeline (TOS) or Kelvin timeline (AOS, also known as the reboot movies if you're not in the fandom)? The answer is both. Prime Sulu has the more iconic fencing scenes (and is also said to have other sword related abilities) while Kelvin Sulu is canonically gay. Specifically as a tribute to George Takei btw who played prime Sulu in TOS and is famously gay and an LGBT+ rights activist among other causes. The picture provided is prime Sulu but if you've only watched AOS, feel free to vote for him anyway.

I'm not gonna link any videos here since that would probably exceed the scope of the propaganda section but clips should be pretty easy to find. And if you can't, just trust me: The TOS fencing scenes are amazing. The AOS one is probably fine too but it's been ages since I've watched it and I forgot it even existed so it can't have been THAT memorable.

Fun fact: George Takei initially didn't know how to fence and didn't find out he'd have to until pretty late and started taking fencing lessons only three weeks before the filming of that episode (The Naked Time) and apparently "became so out-of-control and boisterous that he had to be separated from the rest of the production personnel, for their own safety" which, in context of what the episode is about, is just absolutely amazing. Truly iconic.

Anyway, considering Star Trek is an important part of queer history (I'm only half joking) you need to vote for Sulu, we all know George Takei is an icon, make the right choice here.

2) When they got hit with the drunk virus he took his shirt off and started challenging people to duels. Iconic 

3) This bitch got the outer space disease that makes you silly, and revealed they were gung ho for fencing, and brought out their sabre to just. Swashbuckle. Goes "/oh my/," and is clearly gay and played by a gay actor

[andromeda3116]

Hi! Sorry to bother you, but I recently discovered you on A03 through your Zutara fics and I must admit that I'm mesmerized by your stories. They are so wonderfully written—the structure, the development, the characters, the dialogues and the political aspects are so beautiful. Everything about them makes me want to dive in and read and explore the worlds you have created.

I'm writing this in the hope that you might be able to provide me with a little guidance. I really admire your work, and I wanted to know if you had any tips on how to develop characters, dialogues and conflicts, for every scene you've written contributes to the story in some way (it's really engaging and thrilling as a reader).

Without further ado, I hope this finds you well. Thank you :)

First of all, thank you for your kind words! And I'm flattered that you wanted my advice!

The only "trick" I can actually impart is: I've gotten a lot of mileage out of just reading my story out loud to myself, and seeing if it sounds good. And from there is a lot of "oooh, that sounds wrong, how about..." until you get something that works, or -- quite often, in my experience -- you just highlight the sentence to come back to later when you're less frustrated. And try again. (This is particularly useful with dialogue.)

But for the rest... I know this is going to sound trite, but the answer is to just write a lot. And read a lot.

Everyone has their lists of writing advice, how to structure stories and make them pop -- but ultimately, everyone has a different way of doing those things, and mostly, there isn't actually a correct answer. Finding your voice just takes practice.

Reading a lot -- and watching a lot of movies and shows! -- can teach you a lot of the wrong ways to do it, either because you cringe away from the screen/page for reasons you can't put into words, or because it all comes together so well that you try to mimic it in your own writing and you have to figure out why you couldn't do it like they did. Trust me, I wrote a lot of derivative shit while trying to capture someone else's lightning in my own bottle. I honestly don't think that's a bad thing -- everyone learns from someone else, and everyone starts off by mimicry. If anyone claims to have had their own unique voice from the start, they're full of shit.

Redwall taught me how to craft imagery, I can point you back to the FFX oneshot that taught me how to use single-sentence punches to gut the reader, Terry Pratchett taught me how to incorporate politics into a story in such a way that it doesn't feel dry, there was a brief period back on fictionpress.net (s/o to my other fandom olds) where weird single-sentence poetry (?) things? were super-cool to me and they taught me how to build emotion using syntax, Lord of the Rings taught me how build an engaging plot, the drabble and one-sentence challenges taught me how to use conservation of words to make what I did have count -- and so on and so forth.

I've been writing stories since I could hold a pencil, and sharing them, getting feedback on them, and actively engaging with them since I was 13 (I'm 33). It sounds like weak advice, but it really legitimately just does come down to "read something that sets your brain on fire, try to do something like it, inevitably fuck it up, try it again until you figure out why it didn't work, fix that, read something else that sets your brain on fire, try to do it, inevitably fuck it up --" ad nauseum, until you've figured out enough "yikes"-es that you know how to craft a story on your own that hits all the notes you want it to hit. Kinda like sculpting, you start with a shapeless rock and chip away at all the parts that don't work until you learn what does. And the statues you make get better and better the more of them you sculpt. They don't have to be good. A lot of them won't be. And that's a good thing! It's the process of learning how not to do it that teaches you how to get it right.

But other than that, I unfortunately can't give you a lot of advice. It honestly does just take a lot of practice, consuming stories and digesting them and pulling their pieces out to try and make something out of it all yourself. And accepting that you're gonna fail a lot. I failed a lot. I still fail a lot. There's never a point where you're done learning how not to do it.

Wanting to write well is the first step. Writing badly is the second.

[star-spangled-bastard]

tagged by @phenanthreneblue and @wondrouswendy

Thank you both!!

1. How many works do you have on AO3?

7

2. What's your total AO3 word count?

51,300. probably about 53,000 by the time I finish uploading the last chapters of Sacred Geometry

3. What fandoms do you write for?

So far only Control currently, though sometimes I'll think of like one (1) line for a potential fic for other fandoms. I just haven't turned them into anything.

4. Top five fics by kudos

After Hours: Trench/Darling - sort of a "missing scene" from The Time Between

The Time Between: Trench/Darling - A look at the evolution of their friendship/relationship and its tragic trajectory

Anathema: A character study of Trench slowly learning to come to terms with his new paranatural abilities and learning how to resent them a little less in the process.

A Stolen Moment: Trench/Darling drabble from a prompt list

Point of Contention: A Marshall-centric fic set during Trench's final days as Director, with Marshall trying to navigate the complicated fallout of Trench and Darling's friendship on a personal and bureaucratic level

5. Do you respond to comments?

Yes, always! I appreciate comments so much and that people take the time to write them!

6. What is the fic you wrote with the angstiest ending?

It's probably between Point of Contention and The Time Between but- oh god here comes Sacred Geometry with a steel chair!

7. What's the fic you wrote with the happiest ending?

Anathema, I think. Though it is a little overshadowed by what we know ultimately happens later.

8. Do you get hate on fics?

No, thankfully

9. Do you write smut?

Very rarely and even then it has to be a character study

10. Craziest crossover?

I don't tend to like crossovers most of the time so I've never written one

11. Have you ever had a fic stolen?

Not to my knowledge!

12. Have you ever had a fic translated?

No

13. Have you ever co-written a fic before?

I haven't! I've done art collabs but never a writing collab

14. All time favourite ship?

Obviously I'm a fan of Trench/Darling but Ash/Northmoor has seized me in a vice grip lately

15. What's a wip you want to finish but doubt you ever will?

I currently don't have any solid wips like that, just scraps of one or two sentences. Two of them are two different Westworld ships that make me feel feral if I think about them longer than 5 seconds so I'd like to actually write something about either but. It hasn't happened yet!

16. What are your writing strengths?

I think dialogue is a strength, as far as getting the characters' voices right.

17. What are your writing weaknesses?

This applies to original writing for my ocs more than fanfic but worldbuilding

worldbuilding worldbuilding worldbuilding world-

18. Thoughts on dialogue in another language?

I don't write it myself, because I don't trust that the translation will be correct. I don't mind it too much in other fics, especially if it's just common words that are likely known without the need to translate. I've also seen writers provide footnotes with translations at the end of works and that's always appreciated!

19. First fandom you wrote in?

Fallout, I think? I have a little bit of it posted here actually, because I didn't have an ao3 yet.

20. Favorite fic you've written?

Sacred Geometry by far. I've never written anything multiple chapters before, and probably never written that much of a continuous plot before. (my original writing was very much skipping around through different parts of my plot outline so it never existed in a continuous structured form)

Writing this fic has gotten me way more invested in Ash and Northmoor as characters and I already want to write more about them. It was challenging to write something with so little material to work with in canon but it was also wide open for interpretation which was fun!

edit: forgot to tag anyone

tagging @disastrouscanasta and anyone else who wants to answer these! I think most other writers I know have been tagged already

[beastdrive]

Beast Drive is a Bloody Roar fanspace for creative contributors and casual appreciators of the series alike, welcoming discussion of existing characters and story as well as sharing various fanworks. Engagement with the series on this blog can include general appreciation and celebration of BR canon, lore analysis (meta), character headcanons, and other methods of creative expression. Everyone is encouraged to not only share already existing fanworks but to also create new original works of your own!

Blog Navigation | Meet the Mod | What is Bloody Roar?

Since this is a new blog for a relatively quiet fandom which surrounds a niche fighting game that's old enough to drink, Beast Drive will rely heavily on assistance from followers to gain traction.

If you would like something showcased on this blog, then please read under the cut for Beast Drive's submission and askbox policies.

Recent Updates

[07/20/2023] - Pinned Post is our 100th post yaaay!

Disclaimer

Beast Drive is an inclusive space made for fans from all walks of life with respect to unique personal identities. To be explicitly clear, this blog is run in support of and makes room for marginalized people who are frequently pushed out of fandom and gaming spaces.

Content ratings must be consistent with the series:

PG-13 / ESRB rated T / PEGI 12 / CERO-B / etc

Check the "What is Bloody Roar?" page for content warnings.

There may be depictions of blood and violence, with special consideration paid toward any flashing gifs. Feel free to request certain warning tags be used for content or safety concerns.

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Since there is only one mod right now, this feature is mainly a way to reach out to me but you may also posit questions to Beast Drive's followers and other Bloody Roar fans!

Questions directed to the mod, rather than the community, might be answered privately unless requested otherwise.

Anonymous Asks are currently enabled!

Submissions

This helps showcase various fanart, fanfic, and other fanworks by fellow creators who love Bloody Roar! You can help fill the queue by sharing links to BR tumblr posts that you think deserve a reblog, provide information for promotional posts on fics and artwork, or host your work right on this blog. I'd also love to see any commissions you've received and give a shoutout to the artist!

Submissions are currently enabled!

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Beast Drive only accepts images that you have made yourself or that you have express permission from the creator to let me host. This is to ensure there is no accidental theft or misattributed credit. If there are any images posted in error, please let me know and I will remove them immediately!

Please also be respectful of non-English speaking artists. Many of them do not want their artwork hosted externally, even when given proper credit. Let's respect their wishes.

Community Activities

I'd really like to use this space as a sort of community hub to spotlight other Bloody Roar creatives! Some things I've considered implementing are art and writing challenges through weekly or monthly prompts to inspire thought about the series.

Check this page to learn more about community activities!

Credits

Bloody Roar is the intellectual property of Eighting and Hudson, now owned by Konami. Banner and icon are from BR2 & BR3.

CARAMEL MAMA Naochika Morishita is the lead artist for Bloody Roars 1, 2, and 3.

BLOODY ROAR WIKI The fandom wiki still maintains its own active community.

ZSPN COMMUNITY CHANNEL Catch recent online matches from loyal players around the world.

[dakogutin]

fic writer questions

tysm for thinking of me @squintclover<33 this was so much fun! i'm so late to this but here we goo

🍓 How did you get into writing fanfiction?

-read fics at first then craved specific flavours so decided to provide for myself

🍇How many fandoms have you written in?

-2

🍈 How many years have you been writing fanfiction?

-oh god. i started in 2017...

to be fair it was p inconsistent like how rarely im active here lmao

🍎 Do you read or write more fanfiction?

-atm i read more as i dont have the headspace to continue my wips

🍌 What is one way you've improved as a writer?

-my overuse of adverbs/adjectives lmao. it's quite the challenge writing in my non-native language so i used to overcompensate a LOT and i noticed it turned out to be painfully obvious oops.

🍑 Do you have any bad habits as a writer?

-how i over stress about perfection so much that it would keep me from finishing scenes and sometimes even whole projects. i'd go back again and again to reread and edit and it'll become an endless cycle

🍍 What's the weirdest topic you researched for a writing project?

-how chamber pots and the pipes worked in regency era houses lmao. there might be something weirder but it's the only thing i rmr off the top of my head

🍉What's your favourite type of comment to receive on your work?

-that they reread it or that they really appreciate my plot or characterizations

🍐What's the most fringe trope/topic you write about?

...im going to assume that's actually 'cringe'.

-it was prob the daddykink one or any wip of mine with the presence of a very alphamaleChristianGrey!dom character lol i cant do it

🥭What is the hardest type of story for you to write?

-this is going to sound bad for me, but it's the stories where everyone is happy and it's all fluff no plot. i found it soo difficult. feel free to decide what that says about me.

also infidelity and pregnancy tropes. and anything with themes of sexual abuse.

🍏What is the easiest type?

-hurt/comfort, banter, the angst where i get to go into a deep dive of their thoughts and emotions

🍑Where do you do your writing? What platform? When?

-gdocs in my pc, usually during the night where it's the most quiet.

🍋What is something you've been too nervous/ intimidated to write, but would love to write one day?

-i'd love to do a canon divergent and do my own take on the canon plot and the worldbuilding... someday

🍇What made you choose your username?

-it used to be something else but i wanted to separate my tumblr acc with that username so i changed it into something so random and stupid, which is 'bigdick' in my native language

no pressure tagging @thomasbrodiesandwich @asterhaze @pinklume @welshremus and anyone who hasnt done this yet:")

[gonzo-rella]

At the risk of sounding passive-aggressive, if you send me a request where you use she/her pronouns for the reader (when it's not a trans-specific request) odds are I'm going to ignore it and delete it, or respond back with a lightly annoyed tone, because it suggests that you haven't read my requesting rules.

One of the key rules of mine is that I don't accept requests for fem!readers unless the reader is trans or unless the character they're being romantically paired with is a lesbian.

I understand that I write for a lot of fandoms where it's the norm for mostly/only female readers to be represented, but it's clearly stated in my rules, which I urge you to read before sending in a request. Like, the thing that sparked this post is that someone sent in a Challengers request where they used she/her pronouns for the reader. Maybe they had read my rules and it was just an honest mistake. But, regardless, it irked me a little.

So, it's frustrating that 1. some people just don't bother to read my rules and 2. people don't respect that my blog is supposed to provide something for underrepresented readers. Like, I'm happy that female readers can enjoy my work, but I wish more of them could be respectful of what my blog's about.

(Also, I have a fair few requests I haven't answered simply because I think they're great ideas but I don't have the time to write them now or I'm not motivated to write them yet. So, if you've sent in something and I haven't replied to it, it's probably just for that reason, not because you've broken any rules!)

[acourtofthought]

I recently saw an Elriel post where, I guess the person was trying to have a gochta moment because they were saying things like, "If Eluciens and Gwynriels are SO confident in their ship, why do they bother trying to argue with us? It makes them look REALLY insecure."

There's arguing on both sides.

I've seen Gwynriels and Eluciens make convincing post, defending their ships and providing evidence on why they hope they're right. I've also seen Elriels come onto those posts and start arguments.

I've also seen some valid Elriel posts defending the ship and some evidence supporting it. Only for some Elucien or Gwynriel to come into the post and begin arguing.

No side in this ship war is guiltless of engaging in debates and arguments or just straight-up insulting others. Now, does everyone in this fandom do that? No, but it does happen, and it's clearly happening on all sides, so why even try acting like your side is spotless when none of us can claim that?

And honestly, from everything I've seen recently, EVERYONE is getting a little insecure in their ships, but that's kinda what happens when we're all anxiously waiting for a new book announcement. We want new content, and we're not getting it, so we're delving deeper into the fandom, and tensions are rising. That's normal when you have a large, divided fandom with nothing for us to focus on.

I agree with everything you've said. To your first points, it does go both ways. If they were so confident in their ship the other side wouldn't be sending threats to the author or Bloomsbury. They wouldn't need to theorize that Gwyn was evil, that Lucien's character will be killed off, that he's harassing Elain, etc. They wouldn't need to twist canon until it's unrecognizable if they were so confident in their ship. And they wouldn't need to send hate anons to Eluciens and Gwynriels Elucien's and Gwynriels often engage because they see certain E/riels making things up in an effort to claim their ship is happening, they see them distorting facts and spreading misinformation. To this day I still see the argument that Elain's scent is Jasmine, proof that she'll end up staying in the NC because it's a NC flower, while completely ignoring that Jasmine was first mentioned in book 1 while Feyre was in Spring. They ignore that the author said her scent was Jasmine and HONEY, a "promise of Spring". If E/riels were so confident in their ship why do they have to eliminate canon text? Why do they pick and choose and pretend the rest didn't happen? To this day I still see that Az is Elain's choice despite the fact that she returned his necklace and didn't interact with him on page for months and months after. Maybe it would be easy for Gwynriels and Eluciens to ignore some of that until the other side begins to write posts like "Elucien's and Gwynriels are delusional for thinking their ship will happen". E/riels shouldn't be calling names and throwing down challenges then act surprised when we engage. To your second point, you're 100% right on that too. I think most are not as confident as they pretend to be and I include myself in that. I debate, I present my arguments and I think I do a well enough job but I am not certain of anything. We have very little to go on and are at the mercy of SJM which means only she knows what's actually going to happen. We've all spent years writing posts and creating content and the closer we get to knowing whether we've been right or wrong all this time is creating more stress than usual.