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I will do some rampant Unend s2e2 posting later but for now I can only summarize it as the Audible ad Sara read in the middle of the Spotify version.

Sara Third Person: Do you know what it's like to be listening to a podcast on your headphones in public and it's so amazing you're struggling to keep your shit together?

Me, listening to said podcast in the middle of my run, trying not to speed up my pace too much out of excitement, full of wiggles and alternately grinning like a loon, hooting and hollering to myself, whispering oh shit under my breath while glancing around to make sure I haven't accidentally sworn at an innocent bystander, punching the air, and otherwise absolutely struggling to keep my shit together: YES HOW DID YOU KNOW

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Alright everybody, which Outer Wilds planet do you have personal beef with and why? (Put why in the tags) (Be as grumpy about it as you like because that just makes it funnier)

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Wedding and Engagement Fics!

This week, we have eight fics that involve weddings, marriages, marriage proposals, and engagements! They go from a whole heaping of delicious angst to pure fluff - check them out beneath the cut, and as always, comment or kudos if you like them!

A Tapestry of Stars by Cinderstorm (127981, Explicit) Reccer's Content Notes: None

An arranged marriage sci-fi au.

Reccer says: I re-read it all the time, it really captures the angst and feelings of Shadowgast falling in love while working for opposite sides

Ashkeeper, or Urn by darundik (60385, Explicit) Reccer's Content Notes: under negotiated kink

Caleb and Essek are exiled and stripped of their magic. They find their way forward.

Reccer says: A lot more angsty than a typical arranged marriage fic, but I love the hope that develops from the sadness. Also, some great worldbuilding

the place your journey started, you will recognize it by Chrome (6108, Teen) Reccer's Content Notes: No Content Notes

When Yussa invites himself along on an expedition to Aeor, he expects to unravel both the mysteries of ancient mages, as well as Caleb's mysterious arcane acquaintance. If he'd known this sort of mystery was best-relegated to the pages of a romance novel, he probably would have stayed home. In which Caleb unpacks some feelings around trust, Essek admits some fears about family, and Yussa is a third wheel.

Reccer says: It's always fun to have a look at Shadowgast from an outside perspective. Particularly when Essek worries about presenting himself with elvish family naming practices to another elf.

of blossoming hearts and glittering souls by quinn_of_aebradore (77995, Teen) Reccer's Content Notes: No Content Notes

Caleb Widogast and Essek Thelyss are deeply, happily in love. They have peace and each other. Neither could be more content. And then both realize they want to take another step. The customs of the Empire and Dynasty are rather different, however, and what is a wizard meant to do except research how to propose to his partner, with some help from friends along the way?

Reccer says: It's just a great longer Shadowgast engagement and wedding fic, with lots of feels!

Always yours in Rexxentrum by ArtificialHaunting (24740, Explicit) Reccer's Content Notes: No Content Notes

Three years after the main campaign, Caleb starts to think about his future and how Essek fits into it.

Reccer says: It’s got smut, angst, and fluff- so a little something for everyone. It’s an oldie but a goodie and I keep coming back to it!

Loose Translation by owlaholic68 (58379, Teen) Reccer's Content Notes: No Content Notes

There are eight distinct words for various types of “Alliances” in Undercommon. Unfortunately, an inexperienced translator might mis-translate all meanings of the word to “Alliance” in Common. Caleb and Essek accidentally agree to a romantic “Alliance” for the sake of continued peace between the Empire and the Dynasty.

Reccer says: It's an extremely fun take on the arranged marriage trope, I love it

Thread by Fish_O_Cola (2319, Teen) Reccer's Content Notes: No Content Notes

Essek takes a bold step in his and Caleb's relationship by sharing one particular spell involving tying the vitality of two people together with a length of platinum thread.

Reccer says: It's very sweet and a little awkward

And then two for this last one!

The Dancers and the Dreamers by royalgreen (allyoop) (7671, Teen) Reccer's Content Notes: No Content Notes

The night has finally arrived: it is the Jester and Fjord wedding, an event with no surprises whatsoever. Definitely nothing silly. An absolutely completely normal wedding. There are no secrets and definitely no shenanigans.

Reccer 1 says: Just a delightful time! With Shadowgast harboring a little (big) secret of their own through their friends' wedding. Reccer 2 says: Really cute fic, celebrating the found family vibes of mighty Nein with a large heaping of cute shadowgast moments on the side

Hey, do you want to see more marriage and engagement fics? Check out our previous reclist from August 2023!

This is one of our weekly communally-generated shadowgast rec lists. Every week we announce a new theme and allow anyone to submit a fic recommendation. 

And hey, anyone includes you!

Next week, we'll be featuring disability! Whether it's chronic pain, a learning disability, or a consequence of adventuring, it counts.

Any fics coming to mind? Well, then use this form to submit!

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Free Day

Final day! I took the free prompt for this one, because I already had an idea I wanted to write that I didn't really feel met any of the others.

I've had a blast filling the the prompts and sharing them with everyone, and seeing all the other takes being shared either in fic form or art form. Cheers to the wizards, and to everyone who's been participating!

https://archiveofourown.org/works/66387703

On a wall inside the tower there is a scoreboard. It reads:

Successful Eiselcross Teleportations

Caleb: 27

Essek: 27

Three years of travel, and it’s still a dead tie.

Time for a bit of a friendly competition.

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his dark materials will literally always work bc every small child wants an animal companion that loves you most and goes on adventures with you and every adult wants an animal companion that can shoulder some of life’s immense psychologically damage for you. and you can pet it

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Door - Dawn

And day 6, here we go! Another combo for this one: mostly Dawn, partly Door.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/66345502

After months of subterranean exploration, Caleb and Essek emerge from the depths of Aeor out onto the fields of Eiselcross. Unbeknownst to Essek, Caleb has carefully timed their reappearance to coincide perfectly with the breaking of a new dawn.

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Light - Culture

My contribution to day 5:

Caleb and Essek find something a little… suggestive… deep in the ruins of Aeor. Neither of them can keep a straight face about it for very long.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/66306691

I had a hard time coming up with an idea for this one, so it's not a super-strict fill for either half of the prompt, but I had a fun time wirting it anyway. Enjoy!

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Thread

Day 4! Thread, this time. In particular: the length of platinum thread required to cast Essek's wonderful tether essence, a spell which is just overflowing with intimacy and symbolism.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/66273181

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Horizon

Shadowgast week part 3: Horizon (and some hands as well, if you are on the lookout for them)

https://archiveofourown.org/works/66229567

The first indication that something is wrong is that Caleb can see the horizon.

A monster attacks Caleb while he and Essek are exploring the depths of Aeor. Essek gets them out (barely)

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Foil

My second piece for shadowgast week 2025, this time taking the 'Foil' half of the prompt

https://archiveofourown.org/works/66199864

While picking through the ruins of Aeor, Essek uncovers something that looks an awful lot like the fencing foils he was forced to train with during his youth.

Caleb would like a demonstration.

I do not apologise for the pun.

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The horror I felt at "let's open the hangar bay doors" only to have all my expectations flipped upside down and yanked backwards by the collar mere moments later.

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Garden - Gravity

The garden is on the ceiling. Caleb does assume that, at some point in the long distant past, that ceiling had been part of a floor.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/66199405

My entry for shadowgast week 2025, day 1! I managed to hit both halves of the prompt in one go with this one, because for whatever reason I found it easier to figure out the intersection between 'garden' and 'gravity' than to figure out something for either prompt individually.

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Time Travel and Time Loops: A Shadowgast Rec List

This week, we have time travel/time loops! Check under the cut for 9 (nein!) fics that explore all kinds of time shenanigans, and don't forget to comment and kudos if you like them!

Something Worth Saving by Cow_Queen (13898, Not Rated) Reccer's Content Notes: Major Character Death, Graphic Depictions of Violence

A Shadowgast Groundhog Day AU where Essek is just trying to keep his only friends from dying and that leads to some other discoveries involving his feelings for a certain wizard.

Reccer says: A classic, a fun time loop story

Another Time, Another Place by Operafloozy (9780, Teen) Reccer's Content Notes: No Content Notes

Loosely based on This is How You Lose the Time War but make it Shadowgast with brilliant letter-writing time-unravelling wizard assassins

Reccer says: It's clever and well written - those wizards' devious plans against each other would succeed if only they weren't so smitten

In 100 years and Time You'll Know Me. by Fish_O_Cola (17924, Teen) Reccer's Content Notes: No Content Notes

On an adventure in Aeor, Essek swaps places with a past version of himself

Reccer says: Caleb comforting young Essek is so sweet, I also love the small glimpses into what Essek's childhood could have been like

if only for a moment by saturdaysky (2035, General) Reccer's Content Notes: No Content Notes

"After a spellwork accident, Caleb slips through time. Centuries in the future, Essek Thelyss is waiting to catch him."

Reccer says: I liked it!

every reflection of you by NinjaAtticus (86396, Teen) Reccer's Content Notes: Choose Not to Warn

Trent does some spell that sends present day Caleb back to the past before he killed his parents and Teen Caleb to the present, switching them. Adult Caleb tries to get back and Teen Caleb has conflicting loyalties, Essek is in both timelines and it’s established relationship for present day.

Reccer says: I’m genuinely obsessed with this fic right now, it’s amazing. Past Essek and Caleb both get so attached to the Present day versions of their partner and the dynamics are just great. Bonus points for yearning across timelines and Essek&Jester best friendship.

Meeting you counterclockwise by Chiakery (116139, Teen) Reccer's Content Notes: No Content Notes

Essek meets Caleb in Rosohna. And then again, a hundred years later. But the second time Caleb is younger than during their first meeting and doesn't recognise Essek at all

Reccer says: Nice mix of intrigue and imagining of Essek's youth and his POV of the campaign. You can see that a lot of care was put into details of this fic. A+ Found Family vibes

Twelve Thousand and Sixty-Five Seconds by LessAttitudeMoreAltitude (13186, Explicit) Reccer's Content Notes: Dubcon/Consensual Non Consent, Non-permanent major character death and suicide

The day Essek is to be executed Caleb tried to rescue him. Again and again and again.

Reccer says: A fascinating time loop set up followed by the pair dealing with the consequences (with sex)

The following two fics each recived two recs:

a certain future by wristpockets (26977, Mature) Reccer's Content Notes: Choose Not to Warn

"Every time Essek dies, he wakes up on the day he meets the Mighty Nein. He's tried everything to avoid, subvert or kill them, but so far nothing has worked. He's already died fifteen times. He refuses to die a sixteenth."

Reccer 1 says: It's very funny Reccer 2 says: Such an interesting concept and beautifully executed! The growth throughout the whole thing is lovely.

Displacement by mllekurtz (12834, Explicit) Reccer's Content Notes: very light dubcon (due to misunderstanding that is cleared up)

After the peace talks, with only silence and loneliness left where the Mighty Nein used to be, Essek thinks he's ruined everything. So why, when he's mysteriously displaced in his own future, does he find only acceptance, comfort and love?

Reccer 1 says: So many good Essek emotions Reccer 2 says: It's sweet and comforting

This is one of our weekly communally-generated shadowgast rec lists. Every week we announce a new theme and allow anyone to submit a fic recommendation. 

And hey, anyone includes you!

Next week, we'll be featuring fics that involve marriage and engagement!

Any fics coming to mind? Well, then use this form to submit!

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a writing competition i was going to participate in again this year has announced that they now allow AI generated content to be submitted

their reasoning being that "we couldn't ban it even if we wanted to, every writer already uses it anyway"

"Every writer"?

come on

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My favorite art is first sentences of scientific papers, I love reading sentences like "movement is of integral importance to animals" or "snow has long been recognised for its ecological importance" fuck yes so truee

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some day i will stop accidentally cramming way too many vegetables into the recipes I am making to the point of disrupting the optimal cooking process but it is not this day

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Oh woah, I've never had someone tag me in one of these before! Thanks, absolutely I will indulge you 😊

7) Usually some of that herbal fruit 'tea' that doesn't contain any of the actual tea plant. I've tried several times to force myself to like real tea (everyone who likes it seems to enjoy it so much and I want to get in on that joy) but actually it just makes me kinda nauseous 🤷‍♀️. So no tea for me.

8) I think my favourite line in that whole piece is: "My knee?" Jonas says, looking down with sudden interest at entirely the wrong leg. "What's wrong with my knee?". First because it's like the 3rd time he's asked that question, which is good for comedic value and also drives home that he is not absorbing any of what's going on, and second because he looks at the wrong leg, the image of which I find inordinatly hilarious.

14) I love getting new comments, because then I get to go reply and engage with someone who liked my work. I actually have all the ao3 email notifications turned off, so logging in to see "inbox (1)" absolutely makes my day, especially if I wasn't expecting it.

26) I have never managed to write a successful outline in my life, which is astounding considering that irl I'm one of those people who has an organised list for absolutely everything and plans every trip down to the minute. I just have to leap in with half an idea and 3 lines of dialogue to see what happens.

And now, back at you! How about 5, 17, and 23?

Fanfic/Author Ask Game

Write a scene from [insert fic] in another character’s POV

Which of your fics is your pride and joy?

What are your top three most commonly used tags on AO3?

What are some words or phrases you feel like you overuse?

What’s something you learned while researching a fic?

Would you ever accept requests or commissions?

Coffee or tea while you write?

What is your favorite line/section from [insert fic]?

How did you get into writing fanfiction?

Is there a character or ship you'd love to write for, but haven't yet?

What makes a fic 'successful' in your opinion?

What was the first fandom you wrote for?

Do you have an 'official' creative writing background such as a degree or previous experience publishing?

What makes you happiest? New fic comments, kudos, bookmarks, user subscribers, story subscribers, or Tumblr asks?

Does anyone you know in real life know you write fanfiction?

What do you struggle with most when writing?

What is something you recently felt proud of in your writing?

How many WIPs do you have and how many do you expect to finish?

How do you get over writer's block?

Share your favorite kiss scene from [insert fic]. If there's no kiss scene, share your favorite moment of intimacy (romantic or platonic)

What stops you from writing more in your free time?

Did you do anything special to celebrate finishing a fic?

What’s a story you’d love to write but haven’t even started yet?

Which scene/theme was the inspiration for [insert fic]?

Are there any moments in [insert fic] that feel "blurry" to you? Is this a stylistic choice, or would you go back and clarify the descriptions if you were given the chance?

Do you ever "prep" your fics with outlines or warmups before you start writing, or do you just dive right in?

Are any of your stories inspired by personal experience?

What's the angstiest idea you've ever come up with?

How many times do you usually revise your fic/chapter before posting?

Have you noticed your style change over time?

What fic meant the most to you to write?

A character you enjoy making suffer.

A character you want to protect.

What is your favorite fic to get comments/messages on?

Wild Card: Ask me something else!