ladykf-writes

[ladykf-writes]

Save the Date!

That’s right Meteorites! It’s almost time again. Sign ups will open June 7th for this year’s FF7 Central Annual Fanworks Exchange!

[ladykf-writes]

Finally have the energy to start working on / posting fics again, however long it may last. Here's some updates for my solo fics:

CURRENT BUFFER STATUS OF THINGS I'M POSTING:

Best in Class: 12 unposted CHs, 1 posting tomorrow

The King & His Concubines: 11.5 unposted CHs, today's posted here

Waltzing Through Time: 9.5 unposted CHs, posted here Saturday

And here, current progressing buffer of things I am not currently posting but will probably be the next ones on docket that are already in progress:

Dewprism: Journey to the [Relic]: 16 unposted CHs (behind the backburner, there was no real interest)

Dog Whistle: 10.5 unposted CHs (being at the climax / ending require having it all done before posting, sorry)

Party of Five: 3 CHs but they need rewritten

ALSO likely to join the above:

Forged in Fire: 26 unposted CHs, some of it needs rewritten, all of it needs reread before resuming writing

It's Not a Game: 3 unposted CHs (I need to rewatch at least the Avengers. Ideally also Iron Man 1 & 2 and possibly Ragnarok, so that's why this keeps falling low on the list. Also this will ALSO be a big fixit and thus demanding why am I like this)

I'm also 👀 at some WIPs I'm poking on occasion. I'll cut it here and underneath you can see a snippet of two of their beginnings. In the meantime, feel free to ask questions or request out-of-context snippets!

The Goddess' Roulette (series) first fic: The Gift of the Goddess

Suddenly he was desperate for a mirror, to see his face, his hair, anything else that would confirm his sudden suspicions. Because he was so afraid to accept this as truth. That he had been healed, somehow, even though the last thing he remembered was the Mother Goddess Minerva turning him away. He’d thought she had been rejecting his appeal for healing. That she had left him to die, unsalvageable from the deeply entrenched presence of the Planet’s true enemy, Jenova. But if he was healed, it had to be divine intervention. If it was divine intervention, she had not rejected him. If she had not rejected him… then what had that gesture meant? She had turned her face from him and expelled him from the Lifestream, that he was sure of. What did it mean? Genesis got up, jelly legged, and raked a hand back through his hair. And kept going, finding to his somewhat hysterical amusement his hair was well past his shoulders. Twisting to look revealed it was past his waist and down towards his knees, though it didn’t quite reach it. And not a single strand of white to be found. Genesis swallowed hard, a hand fisting in his hair — it felt strong, like he could pull and not lose a single strand. How often had he run a hand through his hair not so long ago and strands of hair come with him? He blinked rapidly, eyes stinging. It was a miracle.

The Seventh God

Love is a powerful thing. A lack of love — familial, platonic, romantic, any sort of all — could do terrible things to a man left in painful isolation not for a year, not for five, not for ten, not twenty but twenty five hundred years, nearly three millennia. Left to murderous pain and soul tearing despair. Tears streaked down his face until he had no more strength in him to cry, burning black ichor dripping to the floor. It wasn’t supposed to be like this. (In another time, this was exactly how things were planned to play out; a man starved of his humanity was a much more pliant tool. But that is not how this story goes.) He hung from meat hooks, exhausted, dehydrated, listening to the wails and cursing and feral sounds of the daemons that tried to possess him. Sometimes he wondered if it wouldn’t be worth it to just… let go. Let them have him, little that there was to have. In the lowest point he could have hit, he felt it. The faintest coolness on his fevered brow, making him groan softly. ‘Thank you.’ Red brows furrowed in confusion, too tired to even begin to understand what he could possibly be being thanked for, nor who would.

[ladykf-writes]

Waltzing Through Time, CH: 33 Big Hearts, Big Plans

Summary: The best part of Gongaga was its people.

Genesis gave the plants one last admiring look before going to see about their bags. “So what is the Gongagan specialty?” “Oh I’m sure there’s a number of wonderful things, but I’ve always admired the weaving and general fiber crafts,” Reeve said. “One of their most coveted exports aside from the baskets are their woven blankets and knitted afghans. They also make a variety of clothes, and very, very fine bobbin lace found used in their products and sold as strips for other crafters. It’s all gorgeous and time consuming so it naturally fetches a high price. “Of course,” he said, gently pushing the heavy wood door open as if it weighed far less, “They also are the primary source of some of the irreplaceable components to a commercially made Maiden’s Kiss; they have their local solution as well.” “Ah yes, land of the Touch Me’s,” Genesis agreed. “Clearly they’ve made solid arrangements. And the trade would be made in Rucica, then? A long way to go.” “Some people come here directly,” Reeve said. “We do, for the ingredients for the Maiden’s Kisses. We buy in bulk for an appropriate price, and supply a portion of tools to make gathering them easier. It benefits us both.” Genesis hummed, nodding. “Seems like a good business plan, I — whup.” Someone — a shorter someone, laughing like a mad thing — was attempting to rush out the door, and only belatedly realized there were people there already. He started to wheel around and Genesis darted forward, snagging him just before he would smack his right side into the wall.

~ See you there, LadyKF

[ladykf-writes]

So yeah sorry for the confusion / seeming exclusion for non-rpers who haven't cowritten or anything before. You guys are valid and welcome. Frankly, I'm posting this here and there too because in my experience, writers can be some of the best, most engaging roleplayers once they get a handle on not writing the whole cast.

If you have any questions, my asks are open (including anon if you're shy) and while this is a shared sideblog you can DM me at @ladykittenfair or @talesfantastic.

Maybe I'm barking up the wrong tree, but I really think some of you might enjoy this a lot. See ya round!

RE: The RP Post, and what RP even is for the inexperienced

So it dawned on me a lot of you guys have never roleplayed. I don't even mean table top / formal brickspace groups like a D&D group, or LARPing, (I don't know enough to weigh in on more... mature rp) but this is like a group version of playing barbies with your blorbos, of playing around in ye olde messenger as different characters, similar to some forms of cowriting. Similar to all these things but a little different.

If you're interested in finding out more I'm happy to tell you. See below.

RP stands for "roleplay" and is exactly what it sounds like, you select an individual role = a character, and play them true to the character's personality in a collaborative story. This can be any character in any fandom, or an OC just like you'd develop one for a fic.

For RP you need a grasp of your character -- or characters, if you can juggle multiples. There are two ways you write in RP, and most of it is "IC" -- in-character, speaking / acting how your character would, just like if it was in a fic. Any writings from you as a separate individual / the player is "OOC" -- out of character, like if you're discussing your rp (a single rp is called a "thread") to see if your partner is on board with how something is progressing.

Consent is HUGELY important in rp. If someone just does things to your character, or forces them to act a certain way (called "godmodding") then it's no longer fun; rp hinges on the input of two or more people as individuals. I would say probably the vast majority of rpers with a rules page here on Tumblr have a "no godmodding rule" and some will block you for multiple offenses; you don't really see it in experienced rpers these days.

Now, to talk more specifically

I've roleplayed in Google Doc rps, Tumblr, Discord, and did the legwork for forums that were mine, or those of others -- those four would be my go-to formats, perhaps in combination.

As anyone who cowrites knows, Google Docs (or Ellipsus) and Discord are likely ideal for writing and hashing out ideas for your story, but it all works the same with you having a character or unique set and the same for your partner. Tumblr is really good, but also lends mostly to 1-on-1, though there are group settings -- these generally require a fresh blog specifically for that rp group, but not always. Forums can work many ways. Sometimes a single login per character, sometimes a single login for a certain set of characters. Forums also have chat areas, places to discuss plot and things of interest -- perhaps fandom spaces -- so that has its point of interest too.

I love forums but I don't know if anyone else is interested in that? There's a lot of discord rp groups but I tend to get lost in big servers so I'm not sure if it would be used for the actual rp unless several people were pushing for it (I know of one! Hiiiii) and one definitely against it (also hi) Feel free to examine my rp blog -- @talesfantastic -- if you want some basic examples of rp). It's multimuse, so you'll get examples of many characters. I think at the top there's Genesis (Compilation of FF7) and Saare (SWTOR's Sith Inquisitor), at least as of time of posting. There will be more as time goes on.

I'm most seriously looking at something based on the Final Fantasy franchise, either directly or an original with heavy FF inspiration. There is also the option of a mass crossover with varying fandoms, or something wholly original.

Anyway my anon is on, I will take questions and thoughts. As with the rp post, I have two questions I'd liked answered if you have the time and inclination. Just drop it in the notes, though reblogging (for visibility) and commenting or putting something in the tags would be hugely appreciated.

are you interested, and if so in what fandom / genre?

tumblr vs forum vs discord / any

That's it. That's all I ask. Thanks a bunch!

[ladykf-writes]

Hey guys! Been rough for a while, hoping to start posting again with Waltzing Through Time tomorrow. Anyway, I had some particular roleplay feels -- and don't knock it if you've never tried it, especially if you're a writer already. It's one of my great joys in life and I'm stretching out an interest check. Don't worry about "not knowing how" -- if you're interested in telling stories with other people, where everyone specializes in . Honestly it's mostly describable as highly specialized, low pressure cowriting.

I adore it. You might, you might not. Give it some thought ok? There's two questions at the end of the post above I'd like answered in the comments / reblogged / dropped in my ask. Thanks!

-swings back around after a writing binge elsewhere- Hi.

Thinking about RP groups. Skip to the bottom if you want my current thoughts and not how it's rehashed.

I have to start with a shout out to Pokémon Echo, which is my one successful rp group. It is a labor of love and there's only four players right now but it's so good. The image links, if you're interested in seeing the blog and pinned post.

There were two others I tried to put up, both of which did ultimately fail.

CRYSTAL LEGENDS

Crystal Legends was my first experiment, actually, and several friends humored me -- I think they liked it, even, but ultimately there just wasn't... enough. Enough interest, enough setup. Enough. It failed.

MIRROR MIRROR

There was actually decent interest in Mirror Mirror, and I think it had more to it by far in the sense of potential plotline. It was open to all Final Fantasy Games, and you would play a canon character or an OC (either way, well developed) and they would be from an AU of their original canon. Everyone would be, meaning that if it echoed ye olde RPC and there were like ten Sephiroth's, ten Clouds, an any number of others, you could still play your character without having to fight for the role. In fact, it made it better because you could more easily work together in-character to figure out what was going on.

Despite the interest no one actually bit. The premise was too story heavy, perhaps? Too confusing? I don't know. I was sad not to get to play in that sandbox. Maybe I'll turn it into a fic... [tagging my writing blog, @ladykf-writes for later!]

HONORABLE MENTIONS

ZRPG

It's not around anymore, but there was a brilliant forum based rp group (that's such a small word when they were so many) set around the games -- by the end, it was situated post Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. You played OCs, with OC level starting powers, and you grew with a consistent, forum-wide story line. I cannot do it justice but it was amazing.

PELAGO ISLANDS

PI was my first Tumblr RP group; I played two characters and had an amazing time. It was farm sim based, where you took the characters from a farm sim and dumped them all into a different but similar world... not unlike Mirror Mirror, actually...

Anyway both of those left an imprint on my thoughts.

A FINAL NOTE

My dream is to find a way to unite the RPC in a way that Tumblr really... doesn't? And have a real sense of community and belonging. (Raise your hand if you were there for the SOLDIER Olympics x-years ago) It would be amazing. Final Fantasy is my home, but there's other fandoms I adore too. I'd lean into a generic fantasy, shaped by whoever is interested. Or broaden Mirror Mirror's setting.

But I don't really know that the climate of the RPC is right for this right now. I think it'd be easiest in the long run to keep straight on a forum, but I don't know that most people remember -- if they ever knew -- how to function in a forum. Hey, it's been a long time for me too.

Still want it. XD

But I don't really know. Does anyone run, participate in, have participated in, or are curious about RP groups? Is there even an audience for this kind of play? I wish I knew. Mirror Mirror's blog turned 2 today and I've been feeling a way about it. I'll reblog this to get other fic writers opinions, some that aren't currently in the RPC, maybe some that couldn't get traction.

If you're interested in any of this, I would greatly appreciate a reblog with comments / tags OR just a comment on here. Likes ❤️ are great for telling me I've been heard, but it tells me nothing about if you liked it or not. You can also pop into my ask, here or on @ladykf-writes or even @ladykittenfair I don't mind wherever. But I'd really, really appreciate some input.

are you interested, and if so in what fandom / genre?

tumblr vs forum vs discord / any

That's it. Just two questions. You can stop at 1 if you're not interested.

[ladykf-writes]

I don't know if anyone plays The Sims 2

What with the Legacy Edition being released (and it has worked better than... any other version I've tried on a modern computer, I'm not sure if it's my mods or PC power or what but I've experienced ZERO problems.... I do still save regularly tho. XD)

ANYWAY, once upon an earlier game, I got the foundations of what I immediately realized would be an epic story.

An elderly father and his daughter, both wanting to max out the Criminal Career. An elderly physician, a son picking up his legacy, and another son wanting to be a crime lord.

A man in the SCIA (Sims CIA) and his wife, a journalist.

And a mad scientist.

There were assorted spouses and children, but those basics laid the foundation for a FUN story. I'm coming back to it after doing some more plotting,... I don't know if anyone's interested in this sort of fic, with the underground crime syndicate, a "CIA" agent and a journalist seeking the truth, and a mad scientist who may spend too much time searching the stars (IYKYK). But I'll write it for me, anyway.

Anything to jump start my writing again, you know? Been rough lately.

So all that to say who all plays TS2 and have any of you written or read fic in it? I'd take recs. Ao3, Tumblr, anywhere but Wattpad. Let me know!

[ladykf-writes]

Sometimes you have to kill your darlings

And sometimes you have to kill your darlings.

Am I telling you which fic? No I am not. Is it a main character? Yes.

Is it permanent... well. I'll tag about it when that chapter is released.

[ladykf-writes]

Help a good friend of mine out, or if you can signal boost, that's great too. Much appreciated.

Yuzu in Distress (URGENT)

Okay, guys, so I absolutely hate to do this again (like, so much), but I am once more in financial distress (this time due to being overcharged at a time when money is very tight due to back-to-back bills and such). 

Due to being overcharged for certain services and most likely not being able to get the money back for 5 to 7 business days (which is past the point where I need the money to pay for things, most notably my commutes to and from work for the rest of the week until payday as well as other expenses) I find myself alarmingly low on funds. 

I know it's a tough time for all of us right now, but if anyone has even just a few bucks they can toss my way I'd really, really appreciate it. 

Any donations at all would be received with tremendous gratitude and will be paid forward as soon as circumstances allow.

Direct link to my specific Goal (of $60) is here: Transportation/Emergency Expenses

And my Ko-fi in general is here:

[ladykf-writes]

-resigned sigh-

I can feel another story coming on.

[ladykf-writes]

TFW the whole pantheon shows up /FF7

So I'm writing Dog Whistle and -

[ladykf-writes]

The King and His Concubines, CH9: Heart Beads

Summary: The question was not so much how, but why?

Phil was seldom at a loss for words. Stumbling across the squire of a well known Knight Officer, fresh faced and youthful with freckles and dark red curls, who was carrying the immense, burning burden of knowledge of assumed treason was not exactly what he was expecting today. “Treason,” he repeated carefully. “In what direction?” “Pardon?” The apparently unanticipated question seemed to help with the concern that he was going to be in some kind of trouble just for suggesting a matter of treason. “Is what you’re talking about treason, or is talking about it treason in itself,” Phil asked. “Yes?” Phil snorted despite the seriousness of the situation. “I see. Well, it’s for the better that treason be reported so I think you’re going to be safe there.” “Will I be?” He checked, more than challenged. “If I was to speak out against authorities, to… to make suggestions, even, of misconduct… what then?”

~ See you there, LadyKF

[ladykf-writes]

Deleted the last 200ish words and started that part of the scene over. It really seems to have helped, I'm sitting on 300ish new words now.

To celebrate, have some character commentary about Reeve:

For someone who seemed so open and honest, [Reeve] was actually very hard to read.

...I left no note and no context.

Guys I went to go back and work on DW tonight and I left myself off with a cliffie, and a hint at nothing. Apparently there is "An Idea" but I sure didn't bother to leave myself any notes about it. Thank goodness my memory stepped up for once but damn.

Anyway, have a contextless snippet:

Aerith nodded thoughtfully. “Can you teach me?” “Pardon?” Reeve asked, dropping his hand for the moment. Aerith offered him a tentative smile. “I think I have an idea.”

That's it that's what I've got. Hope you're excited! XD

[ladykf-writes]

...I left no note and no context.

Guys I went to go back and work on DW tonight and I left myself off with a cliffie, and a hint at nothing. Apparently there is "An Idea" but I sure didn't bother to leave myself any notes about it. Thank goodness my memory stepped up for once but damn.

Anyway, have a contextless snippet:

Aerith nodded thoughtfully. “Can you teach me?” “Pardon?” Reeve asked, dropping his hand for the moment. Aerith offered him a tentative smile. “I think I have an idea.”

That's it that's what I've got. Hope you're excited! XD

[ladykf-writes]

The King and the Concubines, CH7: First Name Basis

SUMMARY:

It was such a small thing to ask.

EXCERPT:

“You are a noteworthy man, sire,” Harlan said, a grin spreading over his lips with amusement and pleasure to earn startled laughter. The king sighed, wetting his lips and shaking his head. “Touché, my friend. May I make a request, then, Harlan?” “Of course, majesty,” he said at once. “Please, dispense with the formality in private,” he said earnestly. Harlan went still. “…you wish for me to call you by your name?” “Nothing more than that, I promise, and it need only be in private,” he rushed to assure him. “But it is… tiring, to be ‘on’ at all times. The crown, though small, is a heavy thing.” Put like that, how could he in good conscience refuse? Especially if he wished to claim he was making any attempt to help his— help him get some rest. “I will do my best to adjust… Cedric.”

~ see you there, LadyKF

[ladykf-writes]

Hi have this thing completely unrelated to anything else:

An excerpt of the brainchild from the ship prompt @wandererriha gave me. (Lucrecia / Gillian, from my F/F ship prompt requests). Anyway, how Gast might have snapped Lucrecia up in the wake of Grimoire's death...

“If you join the project, Dr. Crescent, your name will go down in history,” Gast said earnestly. He set his coffee down, eyes locked on her. “You will be the mother of new creations.” Looking back, that should have been a warning flag, a point to say hold up or give me more details or can I think about it overnight? But the promise of academic achievements of that caliber was a drug. The promise of, however vaguely, making history? Ambition whispered in her ear that this was not only the best chance, but quite possibly the only. There hadn’t exactly been offers pouring in during the past few months. Do it. She wet her lips, an uneasy smile left behind. “You have my attention.” Say yes. “It’s a matter regarding the ancients and the relation to modern society,” he said. “I think your doctorate in Biotechnology would be very useful indeed. And perhaps a bit of knowledge about the ancient days? I’m afraid I’m the only one who has studied in that place of time…” It’s bait. “… I would greatly appreciate your input as well as your skills,” he said. He sounded so earnest. It’s a trap. It was the only offer she had. Do it. Lucrecia took his hand delicately. “Professor, I would be honored. Where can we talk in more detail?”

I don't know when I'll get out actual posted bits of this because I have other big fics in projects and this would be a big fic, but have a snippet! Tell me what you thought.

[ladykf-writes]

A brief moment of rationality from the bird place.

[ladykf-writes]

Waltzing Through Time, CH32: The Way You Look At Me

SUMMARY:

Reeve couldn’t put it into words, but something about how Genesis looked at him had a way of making things better.

EXCERPT:

“You can say ‘they have actual hands’ if you need to, Reeve, I won’t judge you,” Genesis said, and went from amused and relaxed to 'on' in a breath as they were greeted by the cashier and went through the little process of getting the books bought and paid for — Reeve had grabbed one for himself — and packaged up. It was a surreal experience that he hadn’t really noticed, somehow. The sharp change between relaxed and smooth, warm, and even a bit lazy, to this. This sudden bright-eyed alertness, the not-quite-genuine type of warmth offered in a charming smile that wasn’t at all the way he looked at Reeve. Even his posture had changed, standing straight with a posture somewhere between warrior and dancer. It was lovely to see, fascinating, but it also made him uneasy about how easily he shifted between himself and the persona he had in place. How often did he do this, to be automatic now? Sure, anyone who dealt with ‘the public’ regularly did — Reeve had his own face for it, a particular presentation he maintained just for that alone. But it was a conscious decision, wasn’t it? Wasn’t it?

~ see you there, LadyKF