hypnotisedfireflies

[hypnotisedfireflies]

"They are home to each other."

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Bix and Cassian and some well deserved peace ᕕ༼✿•̀︿•́༽ᕗ

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Okay, in the midst of writing my fic, I've gone and done a thing that might make me go hurl later: I wrote an extensive blog piece on my site about reader engagement, AO3, and comment culture.

As someone who used to be an editor, a writing consultant, a writing TA, an employee in a Writing Center, and a fanfic writer for the last 15 years now, I'm really passionate about this conversation, not so much because I'm experiencing entitlement from readers (my readers have actually been some of the kindest humans I've met), but because I've detected a growing problem with fandom culture that's gone largely unexamined (no spoilers here, you'll have to read the post).

But I also share a few hella vulnerable and painful stories I didn't realize I had blocked from my memory, as a writer. I'll be honest, as a hella private, autistic introvert who prefers intimate convos over posts, this was a MAJOR step out of my comfort zone.

But I feel so much has been missed in this conversation. So many hurts and feelings completely misunderstood, so I hope this post resonates with someone. That was the goal.

Here is a brief excerpt:

Ultimately, we've found ourselves in a living nightmare [in fandom culture], and we don't know how to wake up from it. We know something is terribly wrong, but we can't put our finger on what exactly. We don't know why this is happening and, what's worse, we don't know who to blame. Is it us? Is it because we haven't done enough, or asked enough, or promoted enough? Or, is it you, the reader? Is it because you haven't commented enough, or appreciated enough, or engaged enough? We don't know. All we know is that we hate this and we hate feeling like this. We want to experience something different but we don't know how to get it...

You can read the full post HERE.

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Pedro Pascal | "The Fantastic Four: First Steps" Sydney Launch Event | July 15, 2025

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The Fantastic Four: First Steps Photocall in Australia

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The Beatles - Magical Mystery Tour (1967)

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Diego Luna as Cassian Andor ANDOR | 2.07

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New promotional picture for Fantastic Four

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6 & 13 for the fic recs game please?

Thank you for asking! You've been pipped at the post a couple of times with these, though. I got 6 here and here and 13 here and here! Phew! :D

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“What’s this about you and your brother goin’ someplace again! Your mother walked in on him packin’ a bag!"

Joel walked up the gentle slope to where the house perched. He could hear the TV flowing through the open door behind his father, but nothing else. His father towered over him from this vantage but still, he had never seemed smaller.

“Where’s Tommy?” Joel asked.

“Unpackin’!”

Joel placed his hands on his hips and pitched sideways. “TOMMY!”

“What is this?” His father asked, confusion warring with his anger. “You think you can just come and go? You got responsibilities! I told you, you’re outta school now, time you start contributing around here, pull your damn weight!”

“I thought that was all about me becomin’ a man?”

“Same shit, you little jacked-up degenerate.” His father stabbed the whittling knife into the railing.

Chapter Two on AO3

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do fic readers know that their comments actually influence the course of the story sometimes? i don't mean in a "you need to write it this way because i say so 😡" type of comment, i mean when people are asking questions or really engaging with the plot and the themes in the comments they sometimes bring up things that i didn't even think of, or dig into parts of the story that i've overlooked, or get really interested/fixated on something i was going to just kind of glance over--and it has me going 'oh wait that's actually really interesting, that's a good point' and fully adding or tweaking or changing things about the story going forward. i'm literally adding an entire additional chapter to something right now because someone's comment had me like "oh i didn't dig into that as much as i could have." you have impact!

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I think we need to be more worried about the fact that Benji's still forgotten in a basement somewhere, guys.

Tommy and Maria’s son is so young that he likely won’t remember his uncle grumpy all that well (if at all).

Brb while I go ugly sob in the fucking rain.

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i'm sure they've already been asked but imma say 4, 5, 6 for the fic asks anyways!

I think a couple have but wth, let's answer them all anyway! :D Thanks for sending me some fic rec asks.

4. A fic I've bookmarked

Drenshade by gamma1243. This is a more recent bookmark and in the Andor fandom, Bixcassian, and I thought it was just a lovely piece showing the love between the two characters. Also, Cassian was the subject of the hurt and Bix was looking after him, which is a twist you don't see a whole lot. I thought the source of his sickness and why Bix didn't get ill was very well planned. Loved it, loved these two, it was cute af.

5. A fic I think more people should read

Like Real People Do by @tloubraininfection . It's a long, sweeping, beautiful story centred around Tommy x Maria in Jackson and how they fall in love. I am so behind on this (I haven't had a lot of time to read lately) but I have it bookmarked to catch up on as soon as I can. Tommy x Maria is even more niche than Tess x Joel if you can believe it, but there are really some wonderful stories within the fandom.

6. A writer who I’ll drop everything to read an update from

@dancingonmoonbeams ! Such a thoughtful, creative author. She even has me reading her fic from The Pitt - I love that show, but hers is the only fic from it I've actually read because I just enjoy her stories so. damn. much. And I'm sure one of these days I'll read her THG fics too.

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A fic that moved you to strong emotion?

I have answered this one right here. :)

But I'll also use this chance to add There's Enough Here by @bumblepony , which is a beautiful little story right at the very end of Tess and Joel's adventures. It's so poignant, Tess does this thing for Joel which makes my heart ache in the best possible way.

Thanks for sending in an ask for the fic recs asks game, anon.

[hypnotisedfireflies]

✨ Alphabet Game ✨

How many letters of the alphabet have you used for a fic title? One fic per line, 'A' and 'The' do not count for 'a' and 't'. Post your score of 26 at the end along with your total fic count.

A. Against Her Bones B. Blood Orange C. Cassius Blue D. The Dragon Meleys E. East of Yellowstone F. Fortunate Son G. The Gamut of Forever H. How the Breakers Roar I. Interstellar Overdrive J. The Jessica Crime K. The Knight of Cups L. Levis's 505 M. Miller Kombat N. Never is a Promise O. Ocean shrouds and sepulchres P. Parallel Lines Q. Qualified R. Red Coal Carpet S. Spite T. Temperance in Retrograde U. Unmarked Helicopters V. Vanishing Grace W. Wreathe X. Y. You Only Live Twice Z. Zenith and Nadir

25/26 out of 40 fics

(including two collections of 25 short stories apiece, so technically 88 stories.) .... yikes, actually.

No pressure tags: @tloulily2007 @seethesunny @finnelfin @bumblepony @two-birds-alone-together

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Incorrect Narcos Quotes