bohoteacher

[bohoteacher]

So good. Go read this right now. With a hankie!

Where Lemons Bloom - Chapter 2

Warning: I've been informed that you may need tissues for this one. And possibly chocolate or whatever you have on hand that makes you happy. But I promise there will be a happy end.

Rated: E

Tags: Human AU, 1920s, Archaeology, Enemies to Lovers, Blood, descriptions of violence, death (no major character death, not really anyway and happy ending, I don't like writing stories that don't end well), content warning: claustrophobic situation, hand jobs

Chapters: 2/3

Words: ~18k total, 7135 in this chapter

Summary: It’s the 1920s, Crowley has been a successful archaeologist and treasure hunter for a good 20 years, and as such he’s always on the look for extraordinary and unique artifacts that collectors pay well for. He’s in Italy for a possible hidden tomb inside an Etruscan necropolis - but then his rival Aziraphale Fell shows up, who works for the British museum and keeps crossing Crowley’s path far too often. Since Crowley can’t get into the tomb by himself, he reluctantly agrees to team up with Fell.

That’s when things are starting to get strange…

Excerpt:

“Shit! Aziraphale!” he tapped the other man on the shoulder, who seemed unwilling to stop. “This will be the last shag we’ll ever have” - Crowley grabbed Aziraphale by the hair and pulled him off - “if we don’t run right now!” Aziraphale hissed as he rubbed his scalp and stumbled back, but at least he finally noticed what was happening - “Oh no, good Lord.” - and moving. Crowley used the freedom, grabbed his lantern and hurried toward their only exit. He turned around only when he noticed Aziraphale wasn’t right behind him. The fool was clearing chunks of rock off of his pack. With a growl, Crowley set down his lantern, he heard something clatter down next to it but there was no time. He ran to Aziraphale. “Leave it!” he yelled, grabbing the git by the hand and pulling at him to follow. Aziraphale, the idiot, was resisting. “My sketches–” More cracks were forming, the whole ceiling started looking like a deranged spider’s web. Crowley used what strength he had and dragged him along. They absolutely were not going to die here. Aziraphale was not going to die. He wasn’t going to let it happen again. “They’re not worth your life, you idiot! Run!”

Read on AO3

Thank you to my wonderful beta readers @angie-words, @bohoteacher and @naturallyteal who managed to do such a wonderful job of fixing - as per usual - my terrible spelling, grammar and syntax, Britpicking and pointing out other things that needed work and that on such short notice. Also loads of thanks for the wonderful comments and emojis and generally cheering and being wonderful writing friends.

Additional thanks for help with the title, @bohoteacher and @naturallyteal, thanks to you I ended up with two great titles and had the Torture of Choice as we say (Qual der Wahl). I ended up going with this title based off of a poem by Goethe (one of those I didn't know yet): "Kennst du das Land".

As always thank you to the Whickber Street Writers Association for being such a wonderful, crazy and supportive place on the internet.

@au-roulette @whickberstreetwriters

[bohoteacher]

Survival is Insufficient Without Love

I've just posted a new Good Omens fic for the @au-roulette challenge 2025. It's a Station Eleven inspired post-apocalyptic, western-scented fusion, with themes of survival, storytelling, found family and (of course) love.

It's about 7000 words and rated Teen & Up.

Twenty years after the Georgia Flu silenced the world, Crow is a solitary healer wandering the Sierra Nevadas. Aziraphale is a radiant, clean-suited storyteller with a satchel full of tales and a dream of printing new stories on an old press. When their paths cross, something quiet and extraordinary begins to take root--one cup of tea, one story, and one fragile hope at a time.

Featuring: warm cups of tea, a black horse named Bentley, vintage printing presses, soft words under starlight, and love blooming when the world has gone quiet.

Read it here on AO3: Survival is Insufficient Without Love

Huge thanks to @playdohangel, @sakascal, @naturallyteal, and @angie-words for their thoughtful beta reading. Also to @secretlywingedphantom for the Sunday Writing Sprints where most of this story came to life. And definitely a big thanks and a virtual hug to the @whickberstreetwriters for cheering me on from the start!

[bohoteacher]

It’s time for a reread 📖😍

Looking for Alaska is 20 years old. It reads like historical fiction now. I mean, the plot turns on a PAY PHONE. Kids don't even know what pay phones are.

Hundreds of school districts have banned the book from libraries and classrooms, so much so that it's rarely taught in English classes the way that it used to be.

And yet somehow, improbably enough, it continues to find readers. Over a thousand every week. Incredible. I am so grateful that little book has stayed alive for so long.

[bohoteacher]

thank you, @au-roulette , for running this challenge. I have had so much fun writing a fic for it!

Why are you allowing a fandom made by a rapist misogynist (good omens) on this?

The official rules for AU Roulette state that all fandoms and types of content are allowed, so long as they are appropriately tagged. Since this is a policy not everyone is going to agree with, I am willing to take this opportunity to elaborate a little on why.

For some context, the person who runs this challenge is a relatively sex- and romance-repulsed aro/ace, who primarily reads and writes genfic, and who has several of the fandoms people signed up with this year blacklisted (Good Omens included -- since 2019). In the years since I started AU Roulette, I have allowed a lot of content that I personally object to. I am trans, but have still given assignments to people writing Harry Potter fic. I personally dislike reading about sex in most contexts, but have never excluded a fic because it has smut.

The point is, I have tried to never let my personal squicks, triggers, or other preferences dictate who gets to participate in the challenge. Because frankly, I have a lot of them. What I have been militant about is insisting that the fics that get written for AU Roulette are all properly tagged with their fandoms, as well as relevant tropes and content warnings, so that people who want to avoid reading those things are able to. At the end of the day, that's far more important to me than futilely trying to dictate what things people like.

I'm not here to debate whether or not people should write for certain fandoms or use certain tropes in their writing. That seems like a personal choice, and also something I have very little actual control over. Because at the end of the day, I also know that my choosing to include or exclude them in AU Roulette is not going to change what people write. The people who write ships I don't like are still going to write for those ships, the people whose favorite tropes squick me out are still going to like those tropes, and the people who write for fandoms I have blacklisted are still going to write fic for those fandoms. That's just how fandom works.

I guess what I'm trying to say is -- I think we could all have more productive conversations about how to make people feel safe and welcome in fandom (which, again, more often involves proper tagging than it does outright prohibition of content) if people weren't so aggressive about assuming that allowing things = endorsement. That doesn't tend to be a productive starting point, in part because it is often genuinely untrue. And even when it is, it's incredibly subjective. There's probably someone out there genuinely upset or at least bothered by something you love, too. If I tried to prohibit certain content in this challenge, it would 1) be extremely rooted in my own personal opinions about what is and isn't "problematic" and 2) also become something of a moral OCD Saw trap for me, and thus untenable to run. Especially considering AU Roulette is multi-fandom, because there's no way I could familiarize myself with the #discourse surrounding every single fandom people sign up with.

I hope that makes my stance clear. If that bothers you, there is nothing wrong with blacklisting certain tags or even unfollowing the main blog for the challenge if it helps you avoid content that you find upsetting. I am a huge fan of curating your own fandom experience to make yourself as comfortable as possible. But in the same vein, getting bogged down in conversations about what media, ships, or tropes are allowed as a part of this challenge would very quickly make it un-fun for me to run.

The world sucks right now. I'd rather put my energy towards materially helping people harmed by real, actual social forces than get mad because they showed up in a fanfic -- or even because an author, screenwriter, or other creative is affiliated with them. One of the ways I personally have chosen to do that is to run a silly little challenge on the internet every summer, to give people something fun and creative to look forward to. I encourage you to find something similar. It will probably be a lot more fulfilling.

[bohoteacher]

Oh this *is* interesting

No pressure tags @thinkinginscripts @curiouspupsicle @lavendermoonlitskies

Thank you for tagging me @bl0ndwave and @naturallyteal

Blorbo tag game

Without naming them, post (up to) 10 gifs of characters that altered your brain chemistry

Thanks for the tag @westwardly !

No pressure tags for @sixshotsinatumbllr @bl0ndwave @naturallyteal and anyone else at @whickberstreetwriters who might want to join in 💜

[bohoteacher]

And I'm Yours

I wrote this pair of short lyric poems for the @whickberstreetwriters Five Word Friday Challenge. It's my first toe-dip into the waters of poetry writing. I suspect it won't be the last because I quite enjoyed the process.

The five words to include were: gossamer, leash, cherish, petal, and scintilla. I used all five, or close alternatives, in each poem.

This duo of poems (you could say they are a group of two) are two sides of the same moment. Written as a mirror in each other's eyes. They belong to each other, and that's all.

I posted an image so you can see them side-by-side, as intended. I'll also share the text version below.

I Know How You Smell

At first, there’s sandalwood–slightly sweet, slightly spiced.

Then clove–warm and comforting, like home remembered.

A scintilla of absinthe–sharp, green, and just a little wicked.

The faintest petal of iris–complex, elegant, and strange.

I cherish every molecule that drifts from your skin.

A gossamer leash of scent winds round me–

Heart, body, and soul…

And I am yours.

--------------------------------------

I Know How You Look At Me

Your eyes wide with wonder, soft with wanting.

Then that flicker–mirth, a scintilla of mischief, barely leashed.

A gossamer veil of want–not for body, but for being known.

I feel your gaze, warm yellow, light through a sunflower petal.

It warms the secret parts I never thought to share.

Thoughts, scars, and…yes, even my foolish old heart.

I cherish you…

And I am yours.

[bohoteacher]

🥹 So beautifully written

Ode to Possibility

I wrote this for the @whickberstreetwriters Five Words Friday prompt challenge. The words were cherish, gossamer, leash, petal, scintilla. It would have been "easy" to write a horny poem with those words if you ask me. But I just wrote a horny poem last week and didn't feel like another one again. So, this is a bit different.

It follows the classic Ode rhyme structure but I doubt it follows the rules for thematic shift, especially since my brain is not in favor of cooperating with me today and decided to entirely forget about anything other than the rhyming structure. 😅

Ode to Possibility

A little seed in dry dead soil With whispered gossamer wishes fed Frail shoot after ages of toil I cherish it with tears of dread The thorny leash around my neck Precious blood instead of sunlight A scintilla of petals grow Soft and razor-edged they wreck The brambles tying down my knight And free me from the leash below

Or read on AO3

[bohoteacher]

How cute is this?!

I'm hyper fixating again

[bohoteacher]

Oh, I'm excited that this is back and I can participate!

Five Words Friday: a Good Omens Poetry Prompt!

Hey folks 👋 It's been a while but we're back to do another Five Words Friday 💜

The idea for this prompt is that our members suggest and vote for 5 words that everyone can then write a Good Omens-themed poem. The list is released and poems are then posted from the following Friday - in this case, poems can be published/posted from Friday 25th July

If you'd also like to join in, the words for this week are:

cherish

gossamer

leash

petal

scintilla

More details on taking part:

People can post their poems on Tumblr, AO3 etc. from Friday 25th July.

You can decide if you want to use all the words or just some - we want people to have fun with this, so we're not going to make it a rule to use all of them if you don't want to.

Format/structure is also up to you! Freeform, nonets, haikus, couplets, odes - whatever appeals most. The idea is for folks to feel inspired creatively, and there are lots of possibilities out there. 

If you do choose to post online, remember to tag @whickberstreetwriters - we'd love to see what the fandom comes up with and to reblog it too 💜 

Have fun!

[bohoteacher]

😭❤️

I want to be with you

a Good Omens poem

Back to NaturallyTeal’s Good Omens Poetry master post

[bohoteacher]

💚

for all the writers out there, no matter where you are in your journey🤍

[bohoteacher]

Can’t wait to read this!!

✑ Four-letter Words 𓆃

My one-shot based on a video message from Maggie Service to @whickberstreetwriters:

Any reads/comments/kudos/feedback would be dearly appreciated <3

[bohoteacher]

The first one is my life.

Click on the images if the resolution is a bit fuzzy!

Very excited as I'm meeting some GO friends in a few days 🥳 This means meme-delivery next week might not be possible as I'll be quite busy! Hope these ones are enough to tide you over for a bit 💜

Last meme post

[bohoteacher]

I love through the ages moments 💕

Let's talk about art)

[bohoteacher]

Thank you for the tag @sakascal My most recent fic that I finished last week is my last words.

“Maybe I am,” Crowley mused, “Maybe I am at that.”

10 words! Yikes. I want to be careful not to double tag people who've already been named, but I'll try for a few at least. Like all of these, these are definitely no-pressure tags: @curiouspupsicle, @sauntering-busara, @secretlywingedphantom, @lavendermoonlitskies, @thinkinginscripts, and anyone else who would like to participate for the fun of it!

Last Line Tagging Game

Rules: Share the last line you wrote, then tag as many ppl as there are words.

Thanks for tagging me @the-written-wyrm :)

This truth Aziraphale hadn’t been able to explain, not to Crowley, not even to himself, loomed between them now, just like that.

Way too many words for tagging (I really should learn how to write shorter sentences), but maybe you'd like to share @rcreveal , @theriverspath, @luv4thethindarkduke, @catsteinbooks, @metalmiez? No pressure :)

And of course if anyone else who wasn’t tagged wants to share, go ahead!

[bohoteacher]

More to add to my endless TBR ❤️❤️❤️

Good Omens Fan Fiction Friday (6/20/25) - Acceptance

In divisive times, it can challenging to find the universals that unite us. But all humans want to be seen, known, and accepted. That yearning turns up as a theme in many Good Omens fan fics. So for my third Pride-themed fic rec, I'll be shouting out some beautiful fics in which acceptance is centered. This will be a tiny selection, as usual. To keep the rec list concise, I'm focusing on fics in which a character hides something of themselves and expresses fear or anxiety that once seen, they'll be rejected. Of course, their inclusion on the list means that doesn't happen.

Let's start with one so beautiful it made me cry. It's Our Souls are Meant to Shine (NR) by BlackUnicorn. Aziraphale is a loving parent to Adam and Warlock and happily married to Crowley when he realizes, at 50 years old, that he's a man. Yes, having it on this list is a spoiler. Hope you don't mind. It's worth a read even if you know how it ends.

You Can Have It (E) by @voluptatiscausa deals more with self-acceptance (the title is a hint). It starts with an adorable meet-cute when a stunning, ginger delivery person shows up with flowers from Aziraphale's ex. As the story goes on, Aziraphale tries to move past his doubts that he deserves happiness. It's charming.

Shoutout to @addledmongoose who recommended this next fic when they reblogged my Queer Guardians recs. I think it fits here as well. It's A Model Guardian (E) by Fuuma-san. Crowley is a genderqueer model on their way up. Aziraphale (that's Mr. BAMF!Aziraphale to you) is the body guard hired to protect the model after a recent attack. Crowley avoids revealing themself at work so they don't hinder their career. But everything they show to Aziraphale is met with total acceptance. Aziraphale is also a legal guardian to four queer young people who need the man's love and acceptance as they navigate growing up. Lovely characterizations and a compelling plot add to the thread of "acceptance" that runs through the fic.

Not a Thirst Trap, But an Oasis (M) features text by @scullyphile/@brenna and art by @lexarturo. Aziraphale and Crowley were best friends as children who lost contact for 25 years. Aziraphale is nervous about reconnecting. Although much has changed, the pair discover their bond is still strong. There are many romantic stories in the Good Omens fandom that seem like pure fantasies that would never happen in real life. However, I know two couples who got together after 25 years or more separated. So at least one story trope may be based in reality.

In @tawnyontumblr/tawnyowl95's Tastes (E) Aziraphale is being forced into an engagement against his wishes. He decides the best way to avoid the betrothal to the bride he's never met is to take lessons from notorious rake Crowley. If you've been following my fics for a while, you probably know I love a surprise. And Tastes offers surprising treats. So that's all you're going to hear about this fic here. Oh, and Aziraphale's mother is a real piece of work--one of my favorite characters. Go check it out! There are many more fics that could go on this list. But I'll close it out here and encourage you to reblog and share your favorite fan fics in which "acceptance" is centered.

I'll return next Friday with more great Good Omens fan fics on a new theme. In the meantime, check out my other favorite fics on this pinned post of weekly Good Omens fan fiction recommendations. And if my faves appear to be your faves, check out my bookmarks on AO3--all the fics I rate in my top 10% of everything I've read.

Nurture and encourage the fan fic community. Share kudos and comments to show the many wonderful creators how much we appreciate them.

[bohoteacher]

I have yet to write a longfic, so this list is quite useful to me.

What I've Learned Writing My First Long Good Omens Fic

(and 2nd fic ever)

Writing is fattening. I've gained 5 pounds just from the increased sitting.

Beta readers are amazing! They give their free time to read early drafts and make them infinitely better.

And yet, as brilliant and helpful as a beta's comments are, it feels like a punch in the gut to see a page full of red marks.

It's far too easy to believe a beta has to take a break from reading because they can't stomach one more word of your awful writing instead of because they have, y'know, a life (school, work, kids, friends, hobbies, pets, community etc.)

Who are those brave writers who don't rely on betas at all? They're the equivalent of free climbers on el Capitan.

I love reading fics even more now that I know how difficult it is to write one.

Writers who post as they go without completing their fic first are fearless! And crazy! And fearless!

What's even crazier is that some of those write-as-they-go writers pull out the most amazing turns of phrase or emotional depths.

And what about writers working in their second (or third) language? They're so impressive.

Writing is lonely. I've become even more committed to leaving comments on WIPs understanding better how it might feel to spend months (or years) writing something while getting little feedback.

It's a fine line between feeling inspired by another writer and intimidated by their craft.

The hours I've enjoyed reading fics is the result of many more times the hours someone spent writing them. And finally, I've learned so much and gained fascinating insights reading fan fics. I hope my writing offers something special as well. Yep, I love a lovely spot of fluff. But even the fluffiest writing offers clever perceptions of people and the world. I'm grateful for the amazing writers, readers, and artists who make up the Good Omens fandom.