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“Shall we?” “Let’s”

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a writing challenge? in 2024? you bet

Hi! Hello! Hey!

I've been going through A Time and have chosen to cope by going back to the specific vibes of 2016 to 2018. That happens to include an incredible resurgence in my love for MCU fanfic, the community around it and all the love that goes into them. I've felt a bit distant from here for a while, but I still see so many of my old friends writing, ones who want to get back into it, and a whole lot of new writers I am dying to meet.

I've floated this idea vaguely on my blog and people seem to be interested so I figured it was worth a shot!

So yeah, welcome to Ari's Old School, Nostalgia Jam, Why-The-Hell-Not MCU Fic Writing Challenge 2024!

Prompts, rules and whatnot under the cut:

Requests:

If you could reblog this post to reach someone who might want to participate, I'd really appreciate it! No need to be following me, it's open for anyone.

Reader-inserts, OCs, solo character fics, character x character-- absolutely no limitations

Any and all MCU characters are allowed

Anything above 500 words should have a read-more/keep-reading tab. Series, multi-chapters, one-shots, drabbles, etc etc. The sky's the limit.

Please tag me in your fics (@shurisneakers) so I'm notified of them, and post them with the tag #arisoldschoolwritingchallenge . It may take me a while to get back to you due to the circumstances I find myself in currently, but I absolutely will. Please send me a DM if I haven't responded within 10 days.

Send me an ask with the prompt you would like. Feel free to pick up to 2 prompts

The only thing I request of you: no RPF and no dark fics. Smut is welcome, but non-con/dub-con/incest or anything along those veins is something I'd ask you not to submit for this challenge. Thank you for your understanding!

I know I've called it an MCU fic challenge as it's the community I've grown with, but if you feel like any of these prompts resonates with a character from another fandom, please go ahead and write it. This challenge really is just about the fun of writing fanfic and love for Your Little Guys

No submission cut-off date. Take all the time you need.

Prompts

I've tried to have a mix of classics and uncommon tropes/dynamics, so I hope everyone finds something they connect with!

Relationship Prompts

1. Enemies

2. Friends/childhood friends

3. Coworkers

4. Internet friends

5. Neighbours/roommates

6. Fake dating

7. Commuters

Alternate Universe Prompts

1. Florist AU

2. Showmance AU

3. Social media/streaming/gaming AU

4. Thieves/Heist Group AU

5. Time travel AU

6. Pirates AU

7. College AU

8. Apocalypses/dystopia AU

9. Chef AU

10. Roadtrips AU

Some rarer miscellaneous ones for those who are so inclined!

1. Shipwrecked together on an island

2. Meet Ugly (opposite of Meet Cutes)

3. Both of you are ghosts but don't know the other is

4. Treasure hunters AU

5. Faking death

6. Professional cuddlers AU

7. Time loops/Groundhog Day

8. Orpheus and Eurydice

9. Villain x hero

10. Hitchhiking

11. Carnival of Horrors

12. Robin Hood

13. Matchmakers AU

14. Insomniac x narcoleptic

15. Intergalactic Coffee Shop AU

16. Doomed By The Narrative

17. Enemies to Lovers to Enemies

18. Subversion of Classic Hallmark Movie Tropes

Dialogue prompts

You can tweak them as per requirements, but be sure to keep the underlying message!

Angst

1. "I should have trusted myself. I should have stayed far away from you."

2. "Has it occurred to you that how I feel matters too?"

3. "We failed. I would do it again."

4. "You do not deserve my forgiveness."

5. "You make me feel so alone."

6. "I'm not giving up on us." "I did. You should too."

Crack

1. "Ohhh, you wanna kiss me so bad it makes you look stupid."

2. "I think you and I make the worst choices together." "Yeah, but it's always entertaining."

3. "I trusted you." "Terrible decision, really."

4. "I know I'm smiling but I want to push you off a very big cliff."

5. "I'm hilarious." "You're traumatised."

Fluff

1. "This is the only thing I look forward to everyday."

2. "I think we should do that again. For the sake of the world and my sanity."

3. "You're all I think about."

4. "Don't go anywhere I can't follow."

5. "Don't smile at me like that." "Like what?" "Like that."

Word Prompts:

Flesh

Strawberry

Bruised

Groovy

Jump

Sunflower

Alchemist

Wayward

Offerings

Mischief

I hope you'll join in! Please do tag anyone you think would be interested, I'd love for this to have as wide an audience as possible.

Lots of love <3

-Ari

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I think one of the most beautiful things about x-reader fanfiction is discovering pieces of the writer sprinkled throughout the fic. Whether it's in their characterization of the canon character or the reader or details about how they like to be touched or loved, or little bits of dialect and personal habits, it's just so endearing. A homage to one of the most basic forms of self expression, and a vulnerable baring of one's soul for others to see. It's so, so special

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THANK YOU FOR THE TAG ROOTS!!

🏷️ i’m tagging @ellsrandomstuff and @livthestarwarsnerd

refresh your pinterest and save the 3rd pic, 4 times. that's your aesthetic.

tysm @psychedelic-ink & @refined-by-fire for the tag bbys <3 it’s giving chaotic, it’s giving writer, literary inclined, and yeah obvs. i tag: @mxgyver @that-sarcastic-writer @roosterbruiser @pedrito-friskito @stargirlfics @littledemondani @wroteclassicaly 🫶🏽

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i would also like a cape please

Can capes come back into fashion, please? I need to ominously march down a corridor with it billowing behind me. Thank you.

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fun fact!! it turns out that now when u make a new blog, tumblr forces you to follow 3-4 people before you can change your icon or modify your blog in any way!! this, of course, means that, yes, some of the "potential bots" many of us have been automatically blocking could have possibly been genuine new users who were only just seconds in to having an account!!! tumblr is literally screwing new users over!!!!

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Something something uh, something idk how to put it into words— maybe Cole with someone who's head is empty ™ like they're a thinking breathing person of course but they're like bella swan or something 💀

SO SORRY TO KEEP YOU WAITING FRIEND. post can be read here!

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Cole With a Monotone/“Head-Empty” S/O

request is from my beloved friend @nonpoppin , who asked: “Something something uh, something idk how to put it into words— maybe Cole with someone who's head is empty ™ like they're a thinking breathing person of course but they're like bella swan or something 💀”

I ended up following more of a monotone, RBF angle on accident. It still has some of that “head empty” stuff going on, but probably not as much as it should… so please forgive me. Either way, Cole can’t read them through spirit-powers.

TAGS/WARNINGS: S/O uses they/them pronouns to keep everything open, Cole centric, minor mentions of canon-typical injury and fighting, caring for wounds?

When Cole first meets his SO, he has the hardest time figuring out what’s going on. Normally, when he looks at someone, he’s hit with a wave of every emotion and need—anger, fear, desperation, sadness. But when he looks at them, all he gets is…nothing.

It’s a calm cool wave over him. And since they are still very much alive, Cole gets a hint of something—even if he’s not sure what it is. (Perhaps it’s annoyance? Or hunger? Maybe confidence).

They’re so stoic and mellow, Cole isn’t sure how to proceed. Of course, nothing he does seems to bother them, which greatly contrasts with most of the Inner Circle. However, part of Cole wants there to be a reaction. That way, he knows he’s doing something rather than nothing at all.

Any sort of, well anything, is met with a blank face and a slow blink. Without waves of feelings and thoughts and memories, Cole can’t read them at all. But he’s determined to be able to have them feel something, just a little bit.

So Cole begins behaving more outlandishly—in ways that would normally elicit a reaction from the Inner Circle. He tags along on more pranks with Sera and leaves more surprises for them to find around Skyhold.

His biggest scheme yet involves injecting himself directly into the line of fire. He forgoes his normal route of clinging to the shadows of the fade and charges in headfirst into the fray. He takes down a few enemies, alongside the object of his affection, but not before he gets hurt.

At first Cole doesn’t realize that he’s been injured—he’s still not used to feeling pain. But the cut along his arm stains his tunic red, and he’s left staring at the wound after the fight.

They don’t waste any time moving to reach Cole once the last enemy has been taken down. There are no tears at all, but their face is more stern than normal. Brows furrow as they reach for Cole’s arm and pull back his sleeve.

“Why did you do that?”

Cole doesn’t know how to explain what he was doing, so he tells the truth.

“I wanted you to see me.”

As they pour some alcohol over the wound, Cole feels the burning sensation all over his arm—more than he had felt anything before. But the burning of the wound isn’t all he feels. Cole also picks up on a subtle warmth emanating from their mind in waves. There aren’t any memories or words, but Cole doesn’t need to hear those from their mind.

“I already see you. Why would you need to do anything differently?”

They messily dress Cole’s wound, not entirely sure how to do it properly. But they refuse to let anyone else do it. (Varric thinks it’s because they blame themself for Coke’s accident.)

After that, Cole tries his best to be himself—whatever that entails, he’s not sure. However, he doesn’t feel the need to overperform. Not when he knows that they cared all along, even if their face didn’t show it.

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Take your time! Your writing is a blessing and I'm sure everyone will appreciate anything you put out there :3

Happy to be a new follower!

thank you friend :)) so glad you have you here!!

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to all my friends sending in requests, i see them! i’m working on some tonight and tomorrow as well :) thank you guys for being so patient. (also these are SO GOOD GUYS)

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Oh damn I see you got my spiritquisitor to ask, I sent it in as Anon since I'm shy with approaching new blogs(New as in I find they're active-ish) who write DAI lol I love how you wrote it (:

i did get it!! and i absolutely loved it. i had so much fun with it. it literally made me and a friend start talking for hours about the possibilities.

i also get being shy about sending asks (im the same way myself). anywho, thank you so much for sending an ask and i’m so glad that you enjoyed the headcanons!

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spam bots, please stop following me challenge

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no bc i’m also obsessed and i’m glad we’re in this together. they are my child now and i hope anon knows what they did to me

Spirit Inquisitor Headcanons

This ask comes from an anonymous user who asks: "I was wondering if I could request the inner circle reaction towards finding out that their inquisitor is a spirit like Cole, like first meeting them and how'd they get along with them or how would they treat the Quizzy after finding out, maybe the inquisitor is a 'Hope' spirit since in lore it stated Hope and Faith are very rare spirits so maybe the Inquisitor was attracted to the real world due to the hope of both templar and mages in the conclave"

I absolutely ADORED this ask and had so much fun with it. I'm even entertained by the idea of an actual oneshot or fic... And for those of you that sent in other requests, I see them! Just getting to them slowly.

WARNINGS/TAGS: Inquisitor is referred to in the 3rd person with they/them pronouns as to keep it open for everyone, Hawke has a mention and uses she/her pronouns, There's a small mention on Anders and Justice/Vengence, most of this is sweet/fluffy in my opinion

The Inquisitor wasn’t always a spirit. In the grand scheme of things, the change has been fairly new–at least compared to Cole.

They went to the Conclave to watch the discussions between the mages and the templars. Unlike many others, they were hopeful for new beginnings and opportunities that would occur as a result. However, after the Conclave exploded, they were one of the many to be caught by the wreckage.

The Fade was already very thin at the site of the explosion, due to the nature of its cause. So, it’s not unreasonable for spirits to pass through. It’s not long before a spirit of Hope finds its way through one of the many rifts, it hopeful of the same thing that the Inquisitor wanted. Having similar wants, the spirit of Hope merges with the body of the would-be Inquisitor.

When they awake, they have no recollection of who they were before—only filled with a strange sense of levity despite the awful situation they’re in. They’re a bit uncoordinated, almost like a large child that isn’t quite sure what they’re supposed to do just yet. However, after the journey to the Breach alongside Cassandra, they become more in tune with the skills of who they used to be. 

In the beginning everyone is very quick to dismiss the strange behavior of the Inquisitor, chalking it up to them being shaken up from the Breach or some sort of residual magic left within them. However, as time goes on and they don’t seem to be recovering any memories, suspicions begin to arise. However, they’re such a sweet and optimistic soul, dedicated to leading the cause, that no one can stay put-off by them.

When Cole appears, there’s an immediate connection. The two are so similar it’s almost eerie. Neither seems to know exactly what they are, but they know that they are like each other. Hope and Compassion easily find a place alongside each other, and this uncanny similarity is what begins to raise Cassandra’s red flags—that it’s not just amnesia or a strange personality trait of the Inquisitor’s.

At Skyhold, the implications become far more severe. When the Inquisitor’s family writes letters and sends for them, they simply tell Josephine that they’re not quite sure who those people are or what they want. Their mother only says that the Inquisitor has the face and name of their child, but there’s a strange absence of everything else. 

It’s Hawke who points it out to Varric. From the moment she meets the Inquisitor she can identify what’s wrong. At first she could never tell when Anders was truly Anders or when Justice and Vengeance had seeped into his mind, but by this point it’s burned enough into her mind that she can see it in the Inquisitor. Of course, it’s different here: whoever the Inquisitor was before, they’re very much dead—Hope now piloting the body. Hawke is relieved that they’re not fighting over control on the inside; that has been Anders’ demise after all. Varric doesn’t want to admit the similarities, too afraid to face the same situation again.

When it becomes clear that the Inquisitor is dead and they’re actually a spirit of hope, reactions are mixed among the Inner Circle. 

Cassandra is very off-put initially. The concept scares her a great deal, but she eventually comes to terms with it. After all, she had begun to respect the Inquisitor for their devotion to the future. That respect couldn’t disappear at the mention of a spirit. The same could be said of Blackwall. Leliana and Josephine are also puzzled, but I think they’re both more open to it than Cassandra.

Cullen is admittedly very afraid. He’s still apprehensive of anything spirit-related since that night at the Circle Tower. However, he is won over by seeing the caring nature of the Inquisitor—and their hope for him on his journey to wellness.

Vivienne reacts very similarly to how she reacts to Cole. She’s ready to pull her support of the Inquisition immediately, but there is something about the Inquisitor that’s very endearing to her. I think their devotion to help her, even after she treated them so rudely, was enough to get her to stay.

The Inquisitor being a spirit makes no difference to Sera, Dorian, or The Iron Bull. They’ve certainly seen or heard of stranger things.

The relationship the Inquisitor has with Solas is very deep and profound. He seems to understand what’s happened almost immediately, and encourages the Inquisitor to touch into their spirit-side. Of course, he educates them on their origins and the Fade. They even journey there together many times.

Varric is still haunted by the image of Anders, so he’s hesitant to fall back into their friendship. However, after some encouragement from Hawke, he does his best to continue interacting with the Inquisitor again. It’s then that Varric realizes that he never knew who came before, but he does very much know he’s talking to in that moment—his friend, the Inquisitor.

And of course, Cole and the Inquisitor are virtually inseparable. They share such a strange coincidence, that it’s only natural they get along so well. They each understand the other and their own personal confusions, providing support for the other as they battle with the question of Who am I? 

It takes a while for everyone to get used to saying it out loud: that whoever the Inquisitor used to be was actually dead a long time ago and that they had been inhabited by a spirit for as long as they had known them. But after they say it out loud, they realize it doesn’t make too much of a difference. Just as Varric realizes, everyone else does too; Their friend isn’t the body, but the Hope inhabiting it.

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Just saw you're doing DAI headcanons

I was wondering if I could request the inner circle reaction towards finding out that their inquisitor is a spirit like Cole, like first meeting them and how'd they get along with them or how would they treat the Quizzy after finding out, maybe the inquisitor is a 'Hope' spirit since in lore it stated Hope and Faith are very rare spirits so maybe the Inquisitor was attracted to the real world due to the hope of both templar and mages in the conclave

I just posted it here!

I had loads of fun with this one and I'm actually obsessed with the concept, so feel free to send me more asks about this bc i will talk nonstop about it.

Thank you for the request and for your patience!!

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Spirit Inquisitor Headcanons

This ask comes from an anonymous user who asks: "I was wondering if I could request the inner circle reaction towards finding out that their inquisitor is a spirit like Cole, like first meeting them and how'd they get along with them or how would they treat the Quizzy after finding out, maybe the inquisitor is a 'Hope' spirit since in lore it stated Hope and Faith are very rare spirits so maybe the Inquisitor was attracted to the real world due to the hope of both templar and mages in the conclave"

I absolutely ADORED this ask and had so much fun with it. I'm even entertained by the idea of an actual oneshot or fic... And for those of you that sent in other requests, I see them! Just getting to them slowly.

WARNINGS/TAGS: Inquisitor is referred to in the 3rd person with they/them pronouns as to keep it open for everyone, Hawke has a mention and uses she/her pronouns, There's a small mention on Anders and Justice/Vengence, most of this is sweet/fluffy in my opinion

The Inquisitor wasn’t always a spirit. In the grand scheme of things, the change has been fairly new–at least compared to Cole.

They went to the Conclave to watch the discussions between the mages and the templars. Unlike many others, they were hopeful for new beginnings and opportunities that would occur as a result. However, after the Conclave exploded, they were one of the many to be caught by the wreckage.

The Fade was already very thin at the site of the explosion, due to the nature of its cause. So, it’s not unreasonable for spirits to pass through. It’s not long before a spirit of Hope finds its way through one of the many rifts, it hopeful of the same thing that the Inquisitor wanted. Having similar wants, the spirit of Hope merges with the body of the would-be Inquisitor.

When they awake, they have no recollection of who they were before—only filled with a strange sense of levity despite the awful situation they’re in. They’re a bit uncoordinated, almost like a large child that isn’t quite sure what they’re supposed to do just yet. However, after the journey to the Breach alongside Cassandra, they become more in tune with the skills of who they used to be. 

In the beginning everyone is very quick to dismiss the strange behavior of the Inquisitor, chalking it up to them being shaken up from the Breach or some sort of residual magic left within them. However, as time goes on and they don’t seem to be recovering any memories, suspicions begin to arise. However, they’re such a sweet and optimistic soul, dedicated to leading the cause, that no one can stay put-off by them.

When Cole appears, there’s an immediate connection. The two are so similar it’s almost eerie. Neither seems to know exactly what they are, but they know that they are like each other. Hope and Compassion easily find a place alongside each other, and this uncanny similarity is what begins to raise Cassandra’s red flags—that it’s not just amnesia or a strange personality trait of the Inquisitor’s.

At Skyhold, the implications become far more severe. When the Inquisitor’s family writes letters and sends for them, they simply tell Josephine that they’re not quite sure who those people are or what they want. Their mother only says that the Inquisitor has the face and name of their child, but there’s a strange absence of everything else. 

It’s Hawke who points it out to Varric. From the moment she meets the Inquisitor she can identify what’s wrong. At first she could never tell when Anders was truly Anders or when Justice and Vengeance had seeped into his mind, but by this point it’s burned enough into her mind that she can see it in the Inquisitor. Of course, it’s different here: whoever the Inquisitor was before, they’re very much dead—Hope now piloting the body. Hawke is relieved that they’re not fighting over control on the inside; that has been Anders’ demise after all. Varric doesn’t want to admit the similarities, too afraid to face the same situation again.

When it becomes clear that the Inquisitor is dead and they’re actually a spirit of hope, reactions are mixed among the Inner Circle. 

Cassandra is very off-put initially. The concept scares her a great deal, but she eventually comes to terms with it. After all, she had begun to respect the Inquisitor for their devotion to the future. That respect couldn’t disappear at the mention of a spirit. The same could be said of Blackwall. Leliana and Josephine are also puzzled, but I think they’re both more open to it than Cassandra.

Cullen is admittedly very afraid. He’s still apprehensive of anything spirit-related since that night at the Circle Tower. However, he is won over by seeing the caring nature of the Inquisitor—and their hope for him on his journey to wellness.

Vivienne reacts very similarly to how she reacts to Cole. She’s ready to pull her support of the Inquisition immediately, but there is something about the Inquisitor that’s very endearing to her. I think their devotion to help her, even after she treated them so rudely, was enough to get her to stay.

The Inquisitor being a spirit makes no difference to Sera, Dorian, or The Iron Bull. They’ve certainly seen or heard of stranger things.

The relationship the Inquisitor has with Solas is very deep and profound. He seems to understand what’s happened almost immediately, and encourages the Inquisitor to touch into their spirit-side. Of course, he educates them on their origins and the Fade. They even journey there together many times.

Varric is still haunted by the image of Anders, so he’s hesitant to fall back into their friendship. However, after some encouragement from Hawke, he does his best to continue interacting with the Inquisitor again. It’s then that Varric realizes that he never knew who came before, but he does very much know he’s talking to in that moment—his friend, the Inquisitor.

And of course, Cole and the Inquisitor are virtually inseparable. They share such a strange coincidence, that it’s only natural they get along so well. They each understand the other and their own personal confusions, providing support for the other as they battle with the question of Who am I? 

It takes a while for everyone to get used to saying it out loud: that whoever the Inquisitor used to be was actually dead a long time ago and that they had been inhabited by a spirit for as long as they had known them. But after they say it out loud, they realize it doesn’t make too much of a difference. Just as Varric realizes, everyone else does too; Their friend isn’t the body, but the Hope inhabiting it.

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to everyone that’s sent in requests: first off, thanks everyone for taking interest in the headcanons. it’s my first time doing stuff like that. second, i’m working through requests at my own pace as i work on some other writing projects, so it may or may not be something i can get to.