overjoyedisland

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WIP Wednesday

This week’s word is once.

I found this in my draft for the next chapter of The Proposal. I don’t even remember writing this. 😂

Shadow ventures out of the bedroom and makes his way to Xaden, avoiding being stepped on by all the moving feet around him. He stretches up on his back legs and scratches at Xaden’s jeans. Xaden bends down and scoops him up just as Ridoc returns to him for a doover hug. “You gave Rhi and Sawyer better hugs once the surprise rubbed off, so you can give me a better hug now.”

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I love these two!

Broccoli coaches Andarna how to cat with a focus upon:

Loafing, toe beans vs. a claw legume, poofing up your tail when you get angry, and lap time with Mira and Violet.

I think Andarna will need to repay the favor and give little Broccolini some lessons in How To Dragon next!

Patreon!

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All the dragons, standing right there, knowing full well everything:

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Xaden in the Right Number series… “I’ll ensure they get a fair trial, but they’ll still go to jail for their crimes.”

Listen, friends, you have to understand that I defend people you hate.

It’s all well and good to hear that I defend children by speaking to them like humans. It may be less easy to hear that my child clients aren’t just accused of shoplifting or shoving their parents, but of sexual abuse of siblings, breaking into stores to rob them, crashing cars with their friends inside, threatening school shootings.

I represent sex offenders. I’ll defend a sex offender’s rights in the same breath as the rights of their victim.

I can talk about abuse with authority not just because I’ve read books but because I’ve represented abusers for years upon years, and watched them come back to court for crimes against the same victims.

I believe in the inherent value of human life no matter what horrible things that human life has done. I’m a pacifist and I disavow violence in all forms but I’ll make excuses for it all day in a courtroom.

I’ve put my money where my mouth is; I defend the “worst” of humanity because I can see with my two human eyes that it’s the only way to preserve the freedom of the “best” of humanity.

My job isn’t just being kind to the innocent. It’s being kind to them AND the worst people you’ve ever met, over and over and over, every day. Most people go their lives not really gazing regularly into the abyss. Public defenders be like, “hey, abyssal horrors beyond imagination, how’s Tuesday going.”

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WIP Wednesday

A day late…

Devera POV

“It is.” I smirk. Having worked with her a few times during her scribe training, I can practically see the wheels turning in her head ten times faster than anyone else in this room. “Keep going with that line of thought,” I encourage.

I haven’t abandoned this professor POV fic; it’s just been put on the back burner for a while…

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Completed Fic

Chapter 10 now on AO3

Fic Summary

After Violet wins her fifth challenge, she really just needs a hug. Could a shadow-wielding wingleader offer her the support she needs?

Thank you @lovemedarkly29 for all the help with this fic!

Chapter 10 Snippet

In Battle Brief a couple of weeks later, Devera starts class with a serious expression. I write the date at the top of my paper, prepared to take notes about whatever battle happened overnight.

“We’ve noticed a lot of hugging going on throughout the quadrant recently,” she begins.

Markham’s sour expression tells me how displeased he is. Whether his attitude is about the topic being raised in class or the actual hugs taking place, I’m not sure. Probably both. He allows himself a lot of latitude on the scribe rule to keep their expressions neutral, but even he doesn’t cross the line into hugging.

I almost giggle as I write “hugging” at the top of my paper.

Taglist

Let me know if you want on or off.

@thoughtsaboutshows @bodhidurrans @promiseofthewolf @plum-petals @oh-no-its-dragons @k2jk @bookwormysblog @infinitelymint @iva-the-diva @theoppositequeens @erose806 @jessicalee22likestowrite @nejjdiart @sarcasticmothwrites @b3anieperson

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Chapter 9 is up!

Fic Summary

After Violet wins her fifth challenge, she really just needs a hug. Could a shadow-wielding wingleader offer her the support she needs?

Thank you to @lovemedarkly29 for all the support on this fic! ❤️

Chapter 1 | Chapter 2 | Chapter 3 | Chapter 4 | Chapter 5 | Chapter 6 | Chapter 7 | Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Xaden POV

“I guess my dad should have had a dragon,” I joke. Then the grief almost takes me to my knees. 

“Let’s fly,” she responds gently. She knows how much flying helps me cope with my grief. 

I spend the lesson lost in thoughts of how life would be different, would have been different, if my father had become a rider instead of infantry. 

Thankfully, Sgaeyl pays attention for the both of us, taking us through the motions. She goes easier than usual on me, only doing exactly what Kaori asks and not insisting we make the skills harder. All the while she maintains a steady, comforting presence in my mind.

By the time we land, my composure has returned, but I still can’t wait to hug Violet and greedily soak in her comfort too. 

Taglist

Let me know if you want on or off.

@thoughtsaboutshows @bodhidurrans @promiseofthewolf @plum-petals @oh-no-its-dragons @k2jk @bookwormysblog @infinitelymint @iva-the-diva @theoppositequeens @erose806 @jessicalee22likestowrite @nejjdiart @sarcasticmothwrites @b3anieperson

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I love this story so much! It even inspired the setting of one of the scenes in Long Time Coming.

in honour of solstice week, here’s one of my favourite things I’ve written that also happens to be set on the longest day of the year :)

I Belong In Your Arms

Imogen Cardulo left Tyrrendor four years ago in an attempt to get over Garrick Tavis (spoiler: it didn't work.) Now she's back, but is she too late?

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Chapter 8 is up!

Fic Summary

After Violet wins her fifth challenge, she really just needs a hug. Could a shadow-wielding wingleader offer her the support she needs?

Thank you to @lovemedarkly29 for all the support on this fic! ❤️

Chapter 1 | Chapter 2 | Chapter 3 | Chapter 4 | Chapter 5 | Chapter 6 | Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Violet POV, Post-Threshing

I need to sit down to properly wrap my ankle, so I carefully walk barefoot toward my side of the bed. As soon as I step out of the bathroom, Xaden lifts me up and carries me, gently placing me down on the bed, sparing me the extra steps on my injured leg. 

He stands by silently as I wrap my ankle then asks if he can help with my arm. I hand him a fresh wrap and gratefully allow him to do the wrapping. 

His touch is gentle and it sends shivers up my spine. When he’s finished he asks if it feels okay, then retreats back to his side of the bed once I nod. 

He extinguishes the mage lights as soon as I’m settled, as eager as I had expected to get to the vulnerable part of our night. 

Taglist

Let me know if you want on or off.

@thoughtsaboutshows @bodhidurrans @promiseofthewolf @plum-petals @oh-no-its-dragons @k2jk @bookwormysblog @infinitelymint @iva-the-diva @theoppositequeens @erose806 @jessicalee22likestowrite @nejjdiart @sarcasticmothwrites

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Chapter 7 is up!

Fic Summary

After Violet wins her fifth challenge, she really just needs a hug. Could a shadow-wielding wingleader offer her the support she needs?

Thank you to @lovemedarkly29 for all the support on this fic! ❤️

Chapter 7

Xaden POV, Threshing

“There,” she says, angling her head toward the forest. “Your silver one is in a tree.”

“What the fuck is she doing in a tree?” I sputter.

“If only one of us were a mind reader, we might be able to find out,” she responds sarcastically.

Taglist

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@thoughtsaboutshows @bodhidurrans @promiseofthewolf @plum-petals @oh-no-its-dragons @k2jk @bookwormysblog @infinitelymint @iva-the-diva @theoppositequeens @erose806 @jessicalee22likestowrite @nejjdiart @sarcasticmothwrites

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This is so Xaden coded! I love it!

Also spotted at the convention:

@overjoyedisland 😂

I Need a Hug, on AO3 🖤

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Chapter 6 is up!

Fic Summary

After Violet wins her fifth challenge, she really just needs a hug. Could a shadow-wielding wingleader offer her the support she needs?

Thank you to @lovemedarkly29 for all the support on this fic! ❤️

Chapter 6

Xaden POV, Post-Gauntlet and Pre-Threshing

“Please, honey bear, will you show me the magical warmth of your hugs?”

He opens his arms and motions me forward, just like I did for Violet that first night. And he’s right, I could use a hug. Why not spread the wealth? Violet got hugs from her squad today. 

I step forward into Garrick’s embrace, wrapping my arms around him in return. It’s nothing like hugging Violet, but it’s full of warmth and affection nonetheless. 

We hold each other for several minutes. When we finally step back, his expression is serious. “Thanks, man. Damn, I needed that more than I realized.”

Taglist

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@thoughtsaboutshows @bodhidurrans @promiseofthewolf @plum-petals @oh-no-its-dragons @k2jk @bookwormysblog @infinitelymint @iva-the-diva @theoppositequeens @erose806 @jessicalee22likestowrite @nejjdiart @sarcasticmothwrites

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Hug! I wrote a whole fic about it! I Need a Hug

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Me when my husband decides to get up early on the weekend and talk to me while I’m eating my breakfast, which I always. eat. alone. and in peaceful silence. 😅

daily affirmations:

i am kind

i am in control of my emotions

it does not bother me when someone is in the kitchen while i was planning to be in there alone

everyone in the house has the right to be in the kitchen

i am kind and in control of my emotions even when someone is in the kitchen while i was planning to be in there alone

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Chapter 5 is up!

(Also, I snuck in Chapter 4 without posting on Tumblr in case you missed it!)

Summary

After Violet wins her fifth challenge, she really just needs a hug. Could a shadow-wielding wingleader offer her the support she needs?

Thank you to @lovemedarkly29 for all the support on this fic! ❤️

Chapter 5

“I still haven’t made it up the gauntlet in any practice. I’m too short to span the distance!”

I consider her carefully for a minute. Riders tend to be taller than the average Navarrian, but she’s short even for a scribe. My temper flares with anger at the General for forcing her here, but I tamp it down quickly. 

I honestly have no advice for her because being short has never been something I’ve had to contend with. But there must be something in that brilliant mind of hers that can solve this issue. 

“The right way isn’t the only way,” I offer softly. “I know you can figure something out.” I offer another hug because it’s all I have to give at the moment. 

Taglist

Let me know if you want on or off.

@thoughtsaboutshows @bodhidurrans @promiseofthewolf @plum-petals @oh-no-its-dragons @k2jk @bookwormysblog @infinitelymint @iva-the-diva @theoppositequeens @erose806 @jessicalee22likestowrite @nejjdiart @sarcasticmothwrites