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Taking a shot at "Conclave" fic, as promised:

More Certain Than the Light

(Pairing: Benítez/Lawrence; Rating: M; Word Count: 8,000)

Teaser:

Benítez tilts his head a fraction closer, conspiratorial. “It’s a pity our devices have been confiscated for the time that we’re sequestered here. I would’ve suggested sneaking off to exchange more music recommendations since you’ve demonstrated taste.”

“Dally any longer, and I fear neither of us will be in anyone’s good graces,” Thomas replies as O’Malley as he sweeps past. “But I would’ve…” He glances furtively at Benítez; for an instant, it’s the thrill of misbehaving at seminary again. “I would’ve liked that.”

“There’s a computer in the office.”

“We’d have to cross Sister Agnes.”

“Ah. Never mind that idea, then.”

Oh, the things I would’ve liked had we been young men together, Thomas thinks wistfully as they approach the dining room. I would’ve liked you.

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Hi can I just say that you walking into Conclave fandom of all fandoms, out of fucking nowhere, like six months late to the party, and writing one of the most beautiful stories I’ve ever fucking seen full stop is surreal? And it turns out you’re the intersex author of that amazing Gatsby novel with the intersex OC I loved, from like back in 2021? I’m having an embarrassingly Lawrence like heart eyes moment over you omg sorry, have a nice day 🥰 byeeeee

Oh, yep—The Pursued and the Pursuing, I did write that 💙 There’s a thing happening with that right now, actually: somebody’s running an Intersex Book Club over on Bluesky, and they’ve announced it as the May 2025 reading selection. I’m extremely tickled.

I’m annoyed at myself for not seeing Conclave when it first came out last year! This is always my inadvertent m.o., though, because I get so wrapped up in my teaching and present writing projects that I’m always a few months behind everyone else on whatever the newest…well, anything is. Better late than never, I guess? Especially in this case, for more reasons than one. I’m pleased that you’re enjoying More Certain Than the Light. Thanks, anon; you’re incredibly sweet.

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Here's the third chapter, happy to oblige:

More Certain Than the Light

(Pairing: Benítez/Lawrence; Rating: E; Word Count: 15,000)

Added a third chapter to this; unsure of what else may come otherwise. Thank you for the lovely response, this story has been a fun first foray into this fandom!

Don’t Be a Martyr (2025-04-29)

The Trouble We Need (2025-04-30)

This World and the Next (NEW, 2025-05-02)

TEASER:

Benítez tilts his head a fraction closer, conspiratorial. “It’s a pity our devices have been confiscated for the time that we’re sequestered here. I would’ve suggested sneaking off to exchange more music recommendations since you’ve demonstrated taste.”

“Dally any longer, and I fear that neither of us will be in anyone’s good graces,” Thomas replies as Ray sweeps past them. “But I would’ve…” He glances furtively at Benítez; for an instant, it’s the thrill of misbehaving at seminary again. “I would’ve liked that.”

“There’s a computer in the office.”

“We’d have to cross Sister Agnes.”

“Ah. Never mind that idea, then.”

Oh, the things I would’ve liked had we been young men together, Thomas thinks wistfully as they approach the dining room. I would’ve liked you.

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And now it's, a little 15k trilogy of chapters:

Don’t Be a Martyr (2025-04-29)

The Trouble We Need (2025-04-30)

This World and the Next (NEW, 2025-05-02)

Taking a shot at "Conclave" fic, as promised:

More Certain Than the Light

(Pairing: Benítez/Lawrence; Rating: M; Word Count: 8,000)

Teaser:

Benítez tilts his head a fraction closer, conspiratorial. “It’s a pity our devices have been confiscated for the time that we’re sequestered here. I would’ve suggested sneaking off to exchange more music recommendations since you’ve demonstrated taste.”

“Dally any longer, and I fear neither of us will be in anyone’s good graces,” Thomas replies as O’Malley as he sweeps past. “But I would’ve…” He glances furtively at Benítez; for an instant, it’s the thrill of misbehaving at seminary again. “I would’ve liked that.”

“There’s a computer in the office.”

“We’d have to cross Sister Agnes.”

“Ah. Never mind that idea, then.”

Oh, the things I would’ve liked had we been young men together, Thomas thinks wistfully as they approach the dining room. I would’ve liked you.

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…this one kept me up so late it feels like a 5k fucking hangover, oof. Just gotta edit at some point today, though.

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Another chapter on the "Conclave" fic:

More Certain Than the Light

(Pairing: Benítez/Lawrence; Rating: M; Word Count: 10,700)

Added a second chapter to this; might end up adding a third. Thank you for your lovely responses so far, this story has been a fun first foray into this fandom!

CHAPTERS:

Don’t Be a Martyr (2025-04-29)

The Trouble We Need (NEW, 2025-04-30)

TEASER:

SA

Come out to the door.

Only you, Eminence.

Let his Holiness rest.

TL

Please give me just a moment.

Why are you doing this, Sister?

SA

Because you are the trouble we need.

Because devotion is a blessing to see.

TL

Believe me when I say he’s trouble, too.

SA

Then you will temper him, won’t you?

TL

Sister, it’s the trouble I admire in him.

SA

Then celebrate it as you see most fit.

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As threatened, this now has two chapters:

Don’t Be a Martyr (2025-04-29)

The Trouble We Need (NEW, 2025-04-30)

Taking a shot at "Conclave" fic, as promised:

More Certain Than the Light

(Pairing: Benítez/Lawrence; Rating: M; Word Count: 8,000)

Teaser:

Benítez tilts his head a fraction closer, conspiratorial. “It’s a pity our devices have been confiscated for the time that we’re sequestered here. I would’ve suggested sneaking off to exchange more music recommendations since you’ve demonstrated taste.”

“Dally any longer, and I fear neither of us will be in anyone’s good graces,” Thomas replies as O’Malley as he sweeps past. “But I would’ve…” He glances furtively at Benítez; for an instant, it’s the thrill of misbehaving at seminary again. “I would’ve liked that.”

“There’s a computer in the office.”

“We’d have to cross Sister Agnes.”

“Ah. Never mind that idea, then.”

Oh, the things I would’ve liked had we been young men together, Thomas thinks wistfully as they approach the dining room. I would’ve liked you.

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Just FYI: This is getting a little epilogue later today, tomorrow at latest. You fucking know me, can't leave well enough alone. Sister Agnes has some neat postmortem commentary. I mean, it's not just Agnes in the addition, but it started as some text messages between Agnes and Thomas, and it just got more interesting from there.

Taking a shot at "Conclave" fic, as promised:

More Certain Than the Light

(Pairing: Benítez/Lawrence; Rating: M; Word Count: 8,000)

Teaser:

Benítez tilts his head a fraction closer, conspiratorial. “It’s a pity our devices have been confiscated for the time that we’re sequestered here. I would’ve suggested sneaking off to exchange more music recommendations since you’ve demonstrated taste.”

“Dally any longer, and I fear neither of us will be in anyone’s good graces,” Thomas replies as O’Malley as he sweeps past. “But I would’ve…” He glances furtively at Benítez; for an instant, it’s the thrill of misbehaving at seminary again. “I would’ve liked that.”

“There’s a computer in the office.”

“We’d have to cross Sister Agnes.”

“Ah. Never mind that idea, then.”

Oh, the things I would’ve liked had we been young men together, Thomas thinks wistfully as they approach the dining room. I would’ve liked you.

[irisbleufic]

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Taking a shot at "Conclave" fic, as promised:

More Certain Than the Light

(Pairing: Benítez/Lawrence; Rating: M; Word Count: 8,000)

Teaser:

Benítez tilts his head a fraction closer, conspiratorial. “It’s a pity our devices have been confiscated for the time that we’re sequestered here. I would’ve suggested sneaking off to exchange more music recommendations since you’ve demonstrated taste.”

“Dally any longer, and I fear neither of us will be in anyone’s good graces,” Thomas replies as O’Malley as he sweeps past. “But I would’ve…” He glances furtively at Benítez; for an instant, it’s the thrill of misbehaving at seminary again. “I would’ve liked that.”

“There’s a computer in the office.”

“We’d have to cross Sister Agnes.”

“Ah. Never mind that idea, then.”

Oh, the things I would’ve liked had we been young men together, Thomas thinks wistfully as they approach the dining room. I would’ve liked you.

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Remember, kids: when in doubt, don’t work against the medieval bullshit! Just give in and work with it!

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If my favorite intersex fandom writer (actually just fave fandom writer full stop i.e. you) ends up writing even one tiny Conclave fic I will die happy.

Oh, I’m for sure in the processing stage. Like, there’s no way I’m going to haul myself out of IWTV madness to write a lot of fic about any other piece of media at the moment, but I’m hung up to the extent that I watched the film a second time this evening. If I watch something a second time within just a few days, you know it’s because I’m trying to get diction patterns and visuals set in my head. If I do the thing where Conclave is one of the films for which I end up writing just a single piece, ever, then I’m going to make sure I take really sharp aim at it like I did with…hell, IDK, that My Own Private Idaho fic or that Shawshank Redemption fic I wrote back in the day. Sometimes I know I’ve got an extremely limited window of opportunity.

What’s super funny about this is, my most detailed knowledge of Catholicism is limited to about the 12th-16th centuries. The medievalist in me is definitely all over this, and I’m for sure entertaining the notion as an intersex writer as well, but it’s hilarious that my first thought is “fuck, my knowledge of Catholicism is out of date by about five or six hundred years at the least dire estimate.”

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In the past 48 hours, I’ve seen both Conclave and Sinners for the first time. Mind’s falling to pieces trying to process too much excellent new media, BRB. I genuinely don’t know what the writing gears are going to try to grind on the next pass, but the fact that my intersex ass almost never gets to see an intersex character in a piece of mainstream media, let alone one treated with dignity and granted self-determination, I’m still reeling over Conclave. How about that fucking soundtrack on Sinners, though? And more vampires? I’m overwhelmed.

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Fractured and Flickering Gold

The second volume of CALDERA has been underway since January 2025. The first volume, complete at 22 stories, is here.

The above-linked piece, "Fractured and Flickering Gold," is the 5th installment of Volume 2. It's complete at 2,000 words; I'm in the habit of interspersing shorter interludes between longer stories.

TEASER:

Hesitantly, Lestat inclines his head and admits, “I want to postpone it.”

Louis frowns at him, squeezing his hand tighter. “Which part, exactly?”

“Every part,” Lestat says, flipping his phone face-down. “The single, the album, the documentary, the tour. I shouldn’t do this when…”

“When what?” Louis asks, his frown deepening in concern. There’s no sign of anger in his expression, which is a relief. Just consternation.

“There’s a shitshow on my doorstep,” Lestat says punchily, pointing toward the open doors leading into a wide, drafty hall that echoes with Gabrielle’s and Jesse’s voices. “One that I agreed to, for all my sins,” he continues, “and that you agreed to as well, God knows why.”

“Marius hasn’t been holding up his end of the bargain with the kid, has he,” Louis says under his breath, his eyes darkening as he casts his gaze askance. “Hasn’t done a damned thing in three weeks except work on the mural. Why do you think he’s stalling? Suspicious?”

“Jesse’s going to have to take some renewed initiative, I think,” Lestat replies, put-upon, “or I could march back there and take away his brushes.”

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Fucking Professionals

This story is now complete.

I’ve started the second volume of CALDERA slightly earlier than I’d planned, but that’s fine given I’ll have a busy semester. The first volume, complete at 22 stories, is here.

“Fucking Professionals,” the new story linked above, is now the 4th story in the second volume. 9 out of 9 chapters have been posted, at a total of 20,000 words (and the very brief piece that immediately follows this longer one has also been posted; this 9th chapter is kind of a backtracking, surprise addition on my part).

CHAPTERS:

Flowers in the Green Room (2025-02-16)

Lay a Few Things to Rest (2025-02-17)

Particularly Picturesque (2025-02-20)

Willing to Look the Part (2025-03-13)

What’s Taken Is Returned (2025-03-17)

Always Want Too Much (2025-03-21)

It’s Not Just a Coven (2025-03-24)

Resolve to See It Through (2025-03-25)

Be Happy Here Again (NEW, 2025-04-25)

TEASER:

“If you’re having second thoughts,” Rashid says patiently, squeezing Sam’s hand as he keeps pace, “we don’t have to go there tonight.”

“I promised,” Sam replies, determined. “No sense in running any longer. I’m here, and it’ll be easier to face it with you than without.”

“You haven’t been anywhere near the site since the fire,” Rashid realizes abruptly.

“I’ve been nowhere near it in decades,” Sam confirms, nodding his head in defeat.

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bring back tumblr ask culture let me. bother you with questions and statements

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holy shit is that museum arsehole that paige stalks and drains on her first proper hunt in ‘don’t include this in your next backup’ based on your abusive ex??? bc if so i’m SCREAMING. i’m still so glad you escaped that situation jfc. i uh did know him independent of knowing you and to say he reminds me of marius too in lots of uncomfortable ways is an understatement.

BRB, wheezing with laughter. I should’ve known somebody who’s either known me in person for long enough or who has been following this blog for long enough would clock this sooner or later. One-word answer to all of the above: yes.