icypantherwrites

[icypantherwrites]

Hey!! I’ve always liked the way your fics are written and you seem to have a lot of experience so i wanted to ask for some advice.

how do you go about writing dialogue in a way that doesn’t sound unnatural and fits/flows within a work/story?

Dialogue can be tricky as it has so many nuances and there's no one right way to write it. That said, here's a couple things you may want to keep in mind to help with the flow and always remember, emotion, emotion, emotion.

1. Ask yourself what the purpose of this dialogue is. If it's to share information -- and potentially a lot of it -- writing offers the lovely ability for us to take dialogue and turn it into exposition, so long as we frame it correctly. Sort of with a lead like, "Okay, here's what we're gonna do." And then the next paragraph or two is essentially recapping what your characters just discussed. It makes it more concise and definitely easier to read.

2. Dialogue is more than just words; it's expressions and movement too. We can say a lot without actual dialogue and incorporating that definitely helps with flow. Saying, "I don't know," she shrugged, "it just doesn't make any sense." reads a lot more engaged than "I don't know," she said, "it just doesn't make any sense." And I'll get on the 'said' part in a bit.

When you're having characters exchange dialogue, whether it's two or three or more, break up the words with movement and expressions because it really does help it to read more naturally.

3. Unless a person is giving a rehearsed speech or they're in full-on talk mode (whether it's ranting, talking about something they're passionate about, etc.) where they're more of talking at a person than with them, there are pauses in speech. We take breaths. We say "um" or "uh" even when we know what we're on about. We gesture. We repeat words, we can stutter, we can have a mind blank where we just stare for a second with a pause before we continue. Don't forget to incorporate pauses in dialogue.

4. To the 'said' point. I have nothing against 'said.' I love 'said' but you have to be careful with it. If your character is just said said said all the time then why are you even needing to use it? Clearly we know someone is talking. Using an adjective in front or behind it can help set tone and provides a better glimpse as to what the characters are saying.

Then there's all of the amazing words that literally have the tone built in. Use them! I have no qualms watching characters engage in dialogue with a different verb every other exchange. I think it it breathes life and movement into the story. And if you can combine those things with action? Even better!

Read these few examples for comparisons based on mood, tone, and delivery.

"I don't know," she said softly, "it just doesn't make any sense." -- adjective to set the tone of the conversation.

"I don't know," she said softly, her shoulders curling in, "it just doesn't make any sense." - adding action

"I don't know," she whispered, her shoulders curling in and eyes lowering, "it just doesn't make any sense." -- multiple actions, verb

"I don't know," she whispered, eyes downcast, "it just... it just doesn't make any sense." -- extra pauses, repetition

"I don't know," her shoulders curled in, "it just doesn't make any sense." -- a physical action fully takes the place of the 'said' portion, but it relates to the feelings and outward emotions of the character to convey the tone without saying such.

VS

"I don't know!" she said angrily. "It just doesn't make any sense!"

"I don't know!" she snapped. "It just doesn't make any sense!"

"I don't know!" she snapped, eyes flashing and hands curling into fists. "It just doesn't make any sense!"

Please note the . vs the , in the 'angry' examples as well because of the use of the !. Periods make you stop/pause more than a comma (and also gramatically correct in this instance.) We could write it as

"I don't know," she snapped, "it just doesn't make any sense." We lose some of that immediate impact and it feels more like she's talking rather than actually snapping.

"I don't know!" her hands curled into trembling fists at her sides. "It just doesn't make any sense!"

"I don't know, okay?" she snapped, eyes flashing and hands curling into fists. "It just," her voice cracked, "it doesn't make any sense." -- adding in that sort of "um / natural pause" and repeating a word, ending with a . instead of ! to show we're no longer shouting.

Each of these examples can read very differently with what message you're conveying despite the dialogue is, for the most part, identical.

5. To all of the above, dialogue is emotion. Unless we're reciting facts or giving a status report -- which should still have actions to accompany them -- we are inflecting something into our words. If you can't feel the conversation then what is the point of having it (writing it)?. In that case exposition is going to be your friend.

6. This is just a general thing, but paragraphs, please. And if you're running on more than 3 (longish) sentences split to a new paragraph. The way you do that is rather than closing the first paragraph with a " leave it open (with punctuation!) and then restart the " at the next paragraph.

Hope that helps!

[icypantherwrites]

Just a quick little update; for any folks who have paid and are waiting on your commissions, thank you for your patience. I finally ended up in the hospital this morning after an incident that occurred last Friday afternoon that despite all of my own efforts to treat kept getting worse.

Long story short, inhaled some sort of construction dust (a combination of an ill-timed wind and the giant steamroller churning up giant clouds that pushed it onto the walking trail I was on) and I ended up in a wheezing fit that within half an hour had pretty much killed my voice and left my throat scratchy. I knew that's what it was and so for the last few days I've just been staying hydrated, eating enough honey Pooh Bear would be insanely jealous, cough drops, lozenges, you name it I did it. But I've still been coughing so hard I can barely sleep, in constant pain swallowing and talking and I finally reached my breaking point when I almost passed out in the shower at 2:30am this morning trying to get steam into my lungs. Fun times xD

Anyways, doctor said my throat is very badly inflamed and there may have been a chemical component in what I inhaled. At this time they have me on a steroid for anti-inflammatory (which, haha, is the medication I am mildly allergic to and my reaction to it is throat swelling so it's fantastic but it's the best one and I can negate most of the reaction with allergy meds) and I'm hoping that will help (God, let it help xD) along with my continued routine of soothing items and mass hydration.

All that to say, I've been feeling overall pretty shitty since late Friday and while I've been pushing through the almost passing out thing clued me in I needed to get some actual help and try to take it easy. Still going to work fulltime (with two weekend events I need to run this weekend so yay) and so unfortunately the fanfiction commissions are what drew the short end of the stick. I'm hoping to maybe get some writing in on Sunday or maybe even tomorrow night if I'm finally feeling better, but I'm back now to curling up on the couch with the dog, a bowl of ice cream and my trusty water bottle and trying not to feel too guilty for the delay.

Take it easy everyone 🧡

(and psst, while not doing anything for my throat if you want to leave a nice comment on a fic of mine I'd definitely appreciate that. If you're looking for some sick fics or stories dealing with not breathing well in honor of me, a few off the top of my head to recommend are: Toast to Freedom, Just a Little Longer, Fit to Burst, Inches From Death, Quarantine (5 chapters), Words Hurt in More Ways than One, Bedridden, Worried Sick, and Just a Few More Steps)

[icypantherwrites]

New Fic: Training Program

Summary: Lance knows his close quarters combat isn’t the best, so when Shiro tells Lance he’s going to train him he should be relieved because maybe now he can actually protect his team. Except the training seems to be more of a beatdown punctuated by both fists and cruel words and now Lance has to hide the results of such before he makes tensions in Voltron even worse. But that’s harder than planned on as Keith is both very observant and very, very concerned.

“Do you think the Galra Empire will care that you’re tired?” Shiro interrupted him. “Do you think they’ll go easy on you because you’ve been fighting all day?” “No, but—” “There are no buts, Lance,” Shiro cut him off. “Either you want to be a Paladin your team can count on or you don’t.”

Story snippet:

Lance was not going to make a big deal out of this when Shiro had just been trying to help him and it wasn’t Shiro’s fault Lance was just that pathetic and it was Lance’s fault that Hunk had gotten hurt and then all of this was going to make things even more awkward and tense and it would be Lance’s fault and—

And oh, Keith was staring at him.

He’d said something, Lance realized.

And he hadn’t responded.

“What?” Lance croaked, feeling his cheeks heating again but Keith continued to only look more and more worried.

“I asked what happened,” Keith said, blunt as always.

“Nothing,” was the first thought that came to Lance’s mind and thus the first thing out of his mouth and Keith’s eyes narrowed.

“Nothing does not make you fucking faint in the middle of the kitchen, Lance,” he snapped. “This is not noth—” he broke off, eyes zeroing in where Lance could feel his wide-necked pajama shirt had slipped to expose a bit of his shoulder and oh Dios, there wasn’t—

“Are those bruises?” Keith cut himself off. “Are you hurt?” 

Read it here (comments appreciated 🧡)

[icypantherwrites]

Nothing gets me in the writing mood like posting a fanfic I thought folks would like and looking forward to reading their reactions in the comments, and instead just watching a whole bunch of hits and kudos cross the screen and making it pretty much a lurking ghost town😝😢Apparently it's gonna be house cleaning projects and drink wine kind of day instead. At least maybe I'll finally get my basement sorted 🥳

[icypantherwrites]

WIP Snippet: Shiro and Matt and Pidge Whump, oh my!

Shiro closed his eyes, took a steadying breath as he didn’t have time for pain…

And with a crunch of metal he clamped his right hand’s metal fingers down into the door panel and pulled. 

His vision flared white as he felt metal sliding out of his skin, the burble of hot blood as it gushed around the receding metal.

Shiro grit his teeth and yanked harder, up and away, and this was nothing and he was fine and God, God please let Matt be okay too.

A few seconds later the metal was twisted away, dripping blood.

Shiro took another heaving breath, knowing what he had to do.

He’d done it once upon a time before, even if the memory of such was as jagged as the doorframe as they tended to be of the time when Shiro had not been himself and a different consciousness, artificial or magic or whatever it had been, had taken over.

This wouldn’t have been possible with the Garrison’s prosthetic, he knew, as while its palm had a laser it was designed to incinerate.

Shiro needed it to burn. 

[icypantherwrites]

Fic Update: Sea of Stars, Chapter Thirteen (Final Chapter)

Summary:

Lance is a college freshman at Galaxy Garrison University on a swim scholarship taking classes to put him on the path of his dream to be a NASA pilot. In order to do that he needs to maintain his grades and his calculus class is proving to be an obstacle. But Lance’s TA, Shane, is a great resource and he’s feeling confident that with the senior’s help he'll achieve the grade he needs.

Except it seems Shane is interested in more than just helping Lance get an A. He’s very much interested in Lance. And 'no' is not an acceptable answer for this tutor and failure is not an option.

(warnings: rape/non-con, rated T)

Chapter Snippet:

“S-sorry,” the word gasped past chapped lips, something dark and painful curling in his stomach as he hunched over more.

Lance didn’t even know what he was apologizing for.

Everything.

Nothing.

He’d, he’d been…

“Sorry,” he choked it out again as though somehow that would fix this.

Fix how stupid he’d been.

How weak.

How helpless.

Dios, he’d…

He’d… 

“Don’t,” Keith sounded before he could try to apologize again. “Don’t apologize. You,” Keith audibly swallowed. “You didn’t do anything wrong.”

Lance found his gaze being drawn to calm and steady purple that didn’t look away and allowed Lance to shudder out a full breath.

Safe, those eyes promised.

Safe, he remembered at the memory of Keith’s hand in his.

Safe. 

Lance shuddered out another breath.

Read it here (comments appreciated ♥)

[icypantherwrites]

Coran, Coran the Gorgeous Man: Favorite AU Role

So we all know how much I adore Coran and love being able to feature the gorgeous man in roles that showcase his compassion, his protective nature and his many, many talents. As such he's become a bit of a wildcard when I write Alternate Universe fics as he is capable of popping into so many roles wherever he best fits the story and having wrapped up my final AU fic it's got me feeling nostalgic for all of his appearances and I thought in support of Coran Appreciation I'd highlight those roles AND ask to see which one(s) was your favorite (and why!)! Super special hugs and love to anyone who feels inspired to go back and read any of the fics and engage with them via a comment; those always make my day 🧡

Coran's roles are sorted here alphabetically by the title of the fic he appears in AND I've noted via a scale of 1-5 🧡s how major his role is in the fic. (I did not realize how many of these titles started with S 😅)

The Deadliest of Sins

Coran's Role: Social Worker / Coffee Shop Owner

Role Visibility: 🧡🧡

Story summary: (Police/Detective AU) There’s a serial killer haunting the streets of Garrison City. Detective Lance is assigned to the case, trying to solve the killer’s motive and identity before another victim shows up in a week. He can tell there’s something very personal to the killer about these crime scenes and how each victim is killed, but even Lance has no idea how personal this case is about to become.

The Orange Grind (series)

Coran's Role: Coffee Shop Owner

Role Visibility: 🧡🧡🧡🧡🧡

Story summary: Coffee Shop AU series where Coran is the owner of The Orange Grind and Keith is the runaway foster kid he finds picking through food in his dumpster.

Sea of Stars

Coran's Role: Doctor

Role Visibility: 🧡

Story summary: Lance is a college freshman at Galaxy Garrison University on a swim scholarship taking classes to put him on the path of his dream to be a NASA pilot. In order to do that he needs to maintain his grades and his calculus class is proving to be an obstacle. But Lance’s TA, Shane, is a great resource and he’s feeling confident that with the senior’s help he'll achieve the grade he needs. Except it seems Shane is interested in more than just helping Lance get an A. He’s very much interested in Lance. And 'no' is not an acceptable answer for this tutor and failure is not an option.

Shooting For the Stars (But Crashing Back Down) (series)

Coran's Role: Detective

Role Visibility: 🧡🧡 (All 5 🧡 for the third fic in the series)

Story summary: (Alternate Universe - College Lance's family had sacrificed so much to get him to the Galaxy Garrison University, had so much pride in him: the first to go to college, the first to have a chance to make something of their family name. “Dispara para las estrellas, mijo,” Mamá whispered to him every night before he went to sleep, “porque tú perteneces con ellas.” (Shoot for the stars, my son, because you belong among them.) Well, Lance went for the stars. And he crashed and burned. And now he has to somehow pick up the shattered pieces of his hopes, his dreams and his life. But the ship is still burning and he doesn't know how to get out. He... He isn't sure he can.

Sleeping Somewhere Cold (Until You Lead Me Back Home)

Coran's Role: History Teacher

Role Visibility: 🧡🧡

Story summary: Lance’s family was dead. And he… he had killed them. It didn’t matter what anyone else said, didn’t matter that he wasn’t the cause of the accident. He knew he’d killed them. And while Lance may have survived he wasn’t living. His dreams died alongside his family and his world has become a dark, cold nightmare. He isn't sure he is ever going to wake up from it. He… he isn't sure he wants to.

Someone's Gotta Pay 

Coran's Role: Detective

Role Visibility: 🧡

Story summary: What should have been a fun evening celebrating the conclusion of winter finals with his friends takes a sharp turn when Lance receives a far lower grade than expected in the class he had worked so hard on. Rather than ruin everyone’s night, Lance leaves on his own, intending to go to their shared apartment and be miserable there. He doesn’t make it. He’s waylaid by muggers who, after discovering Lance barely has a few dollars to his name, teach him a lesson for wasting their time. And now Lance is gasping for breath, dying in the blood-stained snow, vision dark and world going quiet. And he doesn’t know if he’s ever going to wake up again. Or; the AU fic where Lance is mugged, violently beaten, and both he and his friends learn a lot on the road to his recovery.

[icypantherwrites]

Based on the votes it looks like Training Program will be the fic I'm posting on AO3 🥳 Since there wasn't a lot of overall interest in these fics based on the (lack of) voting, I'm not sure if I'll be sharing the rest, but I guess we'll see. Training Program will probably post sometime next week so be sure to check it out and give it a little love 🧡

Which Fic Should I Post Next?

I've been steadily making my way through my emergency commission list and have quite the collection of finished fics now. I'm not sure mentally I am able to take on any more (still short a few thousand dollars though so we'll have to see if I can and if there are even any takers😅) but if you do like my works tips are always appreciated on my Ko-Fi (or Venmo, DM me if you'd like my account!) or you can check out my Patreon for exclusive content (any collection purchases for this month are going towards my medical expenses instead of charities, although I will honor all subscriptions still for the latter!)

But to the title of this post, here's a list of all the fics currently waiting in the wings (sorted alphabetically by title!) that I may publish. Cast your vote with a REBLOG below of the title you'd like to read most (comments on this post don't count, you must reblog to vote!) and we'll see what I'm sharing next (ETA to be determined, I did just upload the angsty fluff bomb When a Mullet is Not a Mullet if you wanted to give it a little love in the comments please and thank you🧡😊). Going to keep this up for a week for votes and/or to whichever fic hits 10 first :)

A Brilliant Idea

Summary: Coran and Lance team up to retrieve a gemstone in a multi-part activity to enter into a new alliance. While climbing the tower and its near endless stairs to reach their assigned gem is exhausting, everything is going well, including Lance’s brilliant idea on how to reach the gemstone when they discover it isn’t as accessible as they believed it to be. 

Until it isn’t.

And Lance can only look on in horror as the floor gives out and Coran and the gemstone plummet into the abyss.

Crated Memories

Summary: [Sequel to Not a Joking Matter] When Matt volunteered to go undercover alongside Keith to help break up a slave trade ring, he knew there was the possibility the experience might bring up some bad memories of his own time as a slave. But what he did not expect was to wind up back at the exact same slave camp. And he definitely didn’t expect that the memories of his recent abduction for medical experimentation to make such a violent comeback either.

Last a Little Longer

Summary: When Lance is sold into slavery and sent to a workcamp for those deemed “troublesome” he knows the end game isn’t just the forced labor: it’s to break their spirits. He understands that and knowing that is going to help him get through this until his team rescues him. And yet as days go by and the punishments become crueler, the whips more often, and despite his best efforts hope begins to fade… Lance isn’t sure if he’s going to last long enough to make it to a rescue.

Training Program

Summary: Lance knows his close quarters combat isn’t the best, so when Shiro tells Lance he’s going to train him, he should be relieved because maybe now he can actually protect his team. Except the training seems to be more of a beatdown punctuated by both fists and cruel words and now Lance has to hide the results of such before he makes tensions in Voltron even moreso. But that’s harder than planned on as Keith is both observant and very, very concerned.

What You Deserve

Summary: One minute Shiro is sitting on the edge of the lake, enjoying the warm sunshine and listening to Lance’s happy shrieks as he splashes in the water while Hunk preps a picnic behind them. The next he’s somehow back in the Arena with jeering crowds, overbright lights and an opponent charging at him. It doesn’t make sense, but Shiro has no time to figure it out as it’s kill or be killed in the Arena and he refuses to be the one that dies.

Where/What/Who You're Meant to Be

Summary: Pidge knows all too well there are some beyond sick, twisted people out in the universe who will do inhumane things in the name of science and think the end justifies the means. Now Pidge is about to see that depravity firsthand as she’s specifically targeted for an experiment that aims to transform her from a human into some sort of alien hybrid. And as a first time experiment, there’s no knowing what the outcome will be…

You Win Some, You Lose Some

Summary: “Your life for his, Champion.” The note was accompanied by a bloodstained rock that Shiro could picture smashing into the back of Lance’s head as the boy sat there, sick with fever and unaware of the danger. 

His life or Lance’s.

Shiro knew the only answer he could live with (even if it was apparently going to be for a very, very short time).

And he took off running.

[icypantherwrites]

Not me over here absolutely bawling because I had the urge to read more of swim coach Shiro following the conclusion of Sea of Stars and thought it would be a good idea to read Sleeping Somewhere Cold from the beginning. Dios, my nose is so clogged up I can’t breathe.

[icypantherwrites]

Fic Update: Sea of Stars, Chapter Thirteen (Final Chapter)

Summary:

Lance is a college freshman at Galaxy Garrison University on a swim scholarship taking classes to put him on the path of his dream to be a NASA pilot. In order to do that he needs to maintain his grades and his calculus class is proving to be an obstacle. But Lance’s TA, Shane, is a great resource and he’s feeling confident that with the senior’s help he'll achieve the grade he needs.

Except it seems Shane is interested in more than just helping Lance get an A. He’s very much interested in Lance. And 'no' is not an acceptable answer for this tutor and failure is not an option.

(warnings: rape/non-con, rated T)

Chapter Snippet:

“S-sorry,” the word gasped past chapped lips, something dark and painful curling in his stomach as he hunched over more.

Lance didn’t even know what he was apologizing for.

Everything.

Nothing.

He’d, he’d been…

“Sorry,” he choked it out again as though somehow that would fix this.

Fix how stupid he’d been.

How weak.

How helpless.

Dios, he’d…

He’d… 

“Don’t,” Keith sounded before he could try to apologize again. “Don’t apologize. You,” Keith audibly swallowed. “You didn’t do anything wrong.”

Lance found his gaze being drawn to calm and steady purple that didn’t look away and allowed Lance to shudder out a full breath.

Safe, those eyes promised.

Safe, he remembered at the memory of Keith’s hand in his.

Safe. 

Lance shuddered out another breath.

Read it here (comments appreciated ♥)

[icypantherwrites]

WIP Snippet: Where is this going? Only Icy knows

This snippet is not indicative of what's gonna happen in this fic but isn't it just the fluffiest? 😂🥺 #lurethemintoafalsesenseofsecurity

Snippet:

“Hey, Keith,” Lance cast a disarming smile at the other boy, “we’ve got time to take a little break and splash around a bit, yeah? Otherwise I might riot,” and he flicked his eyes briefly over towards Shiro.

Keith fortunately didn’t need it spelled out even if his face grew far too serious for operation light-hearted-water-fight-to-let-Shiro-rest and he gave a short nod. “That’s fine.”

“Great,” Lance beamed. “Then…”

And with a loud whoop he dragged his arm into the water and flung the largest wave he could in Keith’s direction.

The loud yell of his name was music to Lance’s ears as Keith stood there looking not unlike a wet and ruffled cat, puffed up just like one.

Lance laughed aloud at the affronted expression. “Scared of a little water?” he teased, sending another splash that Keith that time somewhat blocked with his arm. “When’s the last time you had a shower anyway?”

Keith’s smile grew sharp with mischief. “Two years?” and why oh why did that come out sounding like a question?

[icypantherwrites]

Hiii, how are youu? So sorry to disturb the peace, I'm Kez. Uhm, I have just finished one of your fics, Parenting Class which by the way, was so fun, and I loved your consistent replies to the comments). And, I was scrolling through your works when I'd found your WIP on fanficnet, One Step at a Time. It's been around five years since you last updated that fic, and I've noticed that you now post on AO3, and since then, you've been writing about other fandoms like Voltron. So, I just presumed that you just lost the spark you once had for Dramione, which is why you never got to finish it. And I get that because it looks like you've been writing since 2003 about them.

So, I was just a bit curious. Why did you stop writing about them? And, is there even the slightest possibility that you'll write about them again, in the near future? Or completing some of your work that is currently on an indefinite hiatus, if ever?

Sorry for pestering you with problems, I just really enjoyed your work about them. However, I do understand that you're probably busy, and it's been a long time since you wrote about them.

I'm a big fan, and I really do appreciate you for keeping several fandoms up and running by your talent and commitment to fanfiction, alone. I'll be going now, and I hope that you'll have a productive day Ms. IcyPanther.

Hey there! I had another ask about OST earlier this year so seems folks are finding me on Fanfiction.net again 😉 As I said on that ask, I unfortunately don't have any plans to return to finish it. The audience just dropped off a cliff in that fandom and pairing (Dramione remains near and dear to my heart though and still one of my favorite OTPs 🧡) and I lost a lot of my enthusiasm for the story and writing in general. It wasn't actually until 2017 that I came back to writing at all with the Voltron fandom and thought I'd given it up for good.

I do love OST and I still feel guilty to this day I wasn't able to finish it (and a few other Dramione fics and some other random fandom ones over there, but OST is my biggest guilt trigger) so while it's not likely I don't want to say never. I did see The Cursed Child earlier this year and it absolutely reinvigorated my love of these characters and I thought maybe, maybe I'd try to finish it (I did actually go back and re-read all of OST 😅 Parenting Class holds a special place in my heart but my writing style has changed so much it's not personally a story I plan to revisit) but life happened and it just didn't end up happening.

My twin regularly asks me (yearly, for our birthday) for me to finish OST for her so maybe one of these days I will eventually do so (and then I'll have to re-learn how to post on fanfiction.net, dear lord their system is archaic 😝). So all I can say is do give the story a follow there and maybe someday that writing bug will bite back. I'm glad you've enjoyed my works though and kudos for hunting me down over here!

Long live Dramione 💚❤️

[icypantherwrites]

Well okay then 🙃😝 I was pretty proud of all the recent stories I've been writing, but I guess they're not as good as I thought they were. Voting is still open for anyone who wants to check it out.

To all the folks waiting on their commissions, thank you for your patience. I think I might need to take a little writing break as this pretty much just derailed all of my motivation, but I'll try to get back on it in a few days so y'all can at least get your stories soon 🧡

[icypantherwrites]

Which Fic Should I Post Next?

I've been steadily making my way through my emergency commission list and have quite the collection of finished fics now. I'm not sure mentally I am able to take on any more (still short a few thousand dollars though so we'll have to see if I can and if there are even any takers😅) but if you do like my works tips are always appreciated on my Ko-Fi (or Venmo, DM me if you'd like my account!) or you can check out my Patreon for exclusive content (any collection purchases for this month are going towards my medical expenses instead of charities, although I will honor all subscriptions still for the latter!)

But to the title of this post, here's a list of all the fics currently waiting in the wings (sorted alphabetically by title!) that I may publish. Cast your vote with a REBLOG below of the title you'd like to read most (comments on this post don't count, you must reblog to vote!) and we'll see what I'm sharing next (ETA to be determined, I did just upload the angsty fluff bomb When a Mullet is Not a Mullet if you wanted to give it a little love in the comments please and thank you🧡😊). Going to keep this up for a week for votes and/or to whichever fic hits 10 first :)

A Brilliant Idea

Summary: Coran and Lance team up to retrieve a gemstone in a multi-part activity to enter into a new alliance. While climbing the tower and its near endless stairs to reach their assigned gem is exhausting, everything is going well, including Lance’s brilliant idea on how to reach the gemstone when they discover it isn’t as accessible as they believed it to be. 

Until it isn’t.

And Lance can only look on in horror as the floor gives out and Coran and the gemstone plummet into the abyss.

Crated Memories

Summary: [Sequel to Not a Joking Matter] When Matt volunteered to go undercover alongside Keith to help break up a slave trade ring, he knew there was the possibility the experience might bring up some bad memories of his own time as a slave. But what he did not expect was to wind up back at the exact same slave camp. And he definitely didn’t expect that the memories of his recent abduction for medical experimentation to make such a violent comeback either.

Last a Little Longer

Summary: When Lance is sold into slavery and sent to a workcamp for those deemed “troublesome” he knows the end game isn’t just the forced labor: it’s to break their spirits. He understands that and knowing that is going to help him get through this until his team rescues him. And yet as days go by and the punishments become crueler, the whips more often, and despite his best efforts hope begins to fade… Lance isn’t sure if he’s going to last long enough to make it to a rescue.

Training Program

Summary: Lance knows his close quarters combat isn’t the best, so when Shiro tells Lance he’s going to train him, he should be relieved because maybe now he can actually protect his team. Except the training seems to be more of a beatdown punctuated by both fists and cruel words and now Lance has to hide the results of such before he makes tensions in Voltron even moreso. But that’s harder than planned on as Keith is both observant and very, very concerned.

What You Deserve

Summary: One minute Shiro is sitting on the edge of the lake, enjoying the warm sunshine and listening to Lance’s happy shrieks as he splashes in the water while Hunk preps a picnic behind them. The next he’s somehow back in the Arena with jeering crowds, overbright lights and an opponent charging at him. It doesn’t make sense, but Shiro has no time to figure it out as it’s kill or be killed in the Arena and he refuses to be the one that dies.

Where/What/Who You're Meant to Be

Summary: Pidge knows all too well there are some beyond sick, twisted people out in the universe who will do inhumane things in the name of science and think the end justifies the means. Now Pidge is about to see that depravity firsthand as she’s specifically targeted for an experiment that aims to transform her from a human into some sort of alien hybrid. And as a first time experiment, there’s no knowing what the outcome will be…

You Win Some, You Lose Some

Summary: “Your life for his, Champion.” The note was accompanied by a bloodstained rock that Shiro could picture smashing into the back of Lance’s head as the boy sat there, sick with fever and unaware of the danger. 

His life or Lance’s.

Shiro knew the only answer he could live with (even if it was apparently going to be for a very, very short time).

And he took off running.

[icypantherwrites]

WIP Pidge Whump Fic + Medical Experimentation

Just writing my way along here while modeling my lobster-like complexion ;p Lance is grateful someone else is being targeted for a little break! (I'm at six commissions finished, working on this seventh one and Lance is whump victim and/or still suffers in 5/7 thus far 😅😂)

Snippet:

Doctor Naziyl was just as Pidge had imagined: white lab coat, floating datapad and a no-nonsense look as he strolled into the room maybe thirty minutes later.

“Welcome, Paladin Pidge of the human species from the planet of Earth,” he greeted her, those simple words drawing up Pidge’s inhaled about to be unleashed tirade that they had the wrong person up short.

That was a pretty damn accurate description. 

But—

“Ah,” he held up a pincer as she opened her mouth, “there is no need to speak, your opinion matters not to me. Your blood will speak well enough.”

Pidge’s eyes narrowed.

“Well, asshole,” she let every bit of anger leech into her voice, “it’s pretty clear it’s a fact, not an opinion, that you’re a disgusting, vile, idiotic—”

“Fascinating,” Naziyl murmured, cocking his head and looking at her as though she was some intriguing creature he’d never seen before.

She supposed she was.

It made her blood boil hotter and the words nearly burn as she expelled them.

“—absolute piece of shit that—”

“You lack fear,” he said over her, “just like the other human specimen we have record of.”

And that brought Pidge up short.

What?

What?

[icypantherwrites]

Fic: Burnt French Toast

Summary: Every Mother’s Day per tradition Pidge and Matt make their mom practically inedible French toast and are then saved by the local bakery. But there’s no bakery this time. Just burnt French toast. And after three years of missed Mother’s Days, of leaving without answers and causing their mom even more pain, Pidge is horrified that this was all they could do.

Read it here.

Happy Mother's Day to all the moms out there to whatever motherhood looks like to you 🧡🌺 Kili and I are going for a momma-son walk and enjoying this beautiful day!

[icypantherwrites]

WIP Fic Lance + Slavery

Written from my emergency commissions :) Slots are currently full but be sure to check out the post in case I do re-open (had my final doctor visit on Friday so should have final numbers by Monday xD It's not looking good 😭).

xxx

And Lance's scream of equal parts pain and surprise as a jolt of what felt like lightning — the taser prod, his mind numbly supplied — was distorted by the gag.

He crashed into the ground as another shock current flooded his body and his legs went out from beneath him, barely managing to catch himself on his hands and avoid a potential concussion.

A second later webbed hands were yanking him up to his knees— not touching his bare skin but his hair— and he was staring into a pair of beady black eyes.

“Trouble this one is,” the toad croaked and Lance wavered at the stench from the gaping mouth that grew worse as it widened into a grin. “We know what to do with maggots like you.”

Lance did not like the sound of that.