#39 chapter complete rewrite of the show

[ardinwriter]

So I’ve been rewatching Salvation, for like the 20th time, and I love it, but I definitely feel like they try to fit too much into each season, making them over complicated.

Like, S1 is great, right up until they threw Monroe and Resyst in. 

Asteroid and Atlas and Russia should have been plenty. Most of the season stays the same, Resyst still exists and helps them get the gravity tracker launched past Russia, but not to steal Tess, just for money and so Darius Tanz owes them one. Then maybe in the last episode introduce Q17 as the ones blowing up aircraft carriers to get us to the Russian nuclear launch. Everyone except Darius and Liam still end up in the bunker, etc.

And then S2:

Have the nukes destroyed during launch by the Russians when they see the US isn’t retaliating. Diplomacy still on thin ice, so the President orders Darius to keep the the bunker sealed until things smooth out some, maybe 45 days. No VP Darius, no world being held hostage by Resyst. Instead use the season for the Monroe plot and Q17, while Darius and Liam try to figure out what’s up with the asteroid and Grace acts as a senior advisor to the President. Having Monroe and Q17 at the same time is perfect because then you get a great half season of “are they the same, are they working together, etc.”.  

Meanwhile, keep the tension between Grace and Darius by having Darius see and misinterpret something when he reopens the bunker that makes him think Harris and Grace are back together. 

2/3 of the way through the season, sort out the Monroe thing - including Darius’ kidnap plan because I love seeing him and Grace’s dad interact. Ditch the Grace killing Claire, instead have the bodyguard that Darius insisted Grace keep do it instead and then go immediately to the police instead of a cover up. 

End the season by wrapping the Q17 plot with both Darius and Harris gravely injured. When Grace stays with Darius, he makes some snarky comment about how she should be with her boyfriend which is when she realizes why he’s been being how he is, but before she can correct him, he’s rushed into surgery. When he wakes, she’s at his bedside, confesses that she loves him, but before he can respond, Liam rushing in, telling them that the asteroid is about to hit, that nothing they’ve done has stopped it, tv on to watch. Darius remembering the thought he had as he went under for surgery and tells them he doesn’t think it will hit. Watch as it doesn’t hit, but comes to a stop above the Earth.

Into S3:

Start several hectic weeks after the last season ended. The ‘asteroid’ has taken up an orbit around Earth, effectively becoming a second very small moon, obviously not naturally occurring. Darius and Liam have been working constantly with scientists around the world to contact it as Grace and the President - with Harris now as VP - try to shore up international diplomacy and stop other countries from shooting at the thing.

A few episodes in, it’s clear that Darius and Grace have not found two seconds to talk about her confession at the hospital, despite several attempts that we see. Darius, finally frustrated by that after a meeting in the Oval office, turns to the President and says something like “I’ve been trying for 6 weeks to get 10 minutes alone to talk to Grace, Madam President can we borrow your office for a few moments”. The President is hopeful that they’re finally going to talk - they have not been subtle - and has everyone clear the room. Not talking so much as a take on the end of 2x9 with him just kissing her and the makeout session. The next episode starts the same way as 2x10, but without the secret service men outside her house.

Efforts to talk to the thing continue and Grace, who has become good friends with the younger woman, discovers that Jillian has been theorizing some of her own ways to talk to the thing, ways that are less math and science and more humanity. Can’t really get anyone to listen though.

1-3 episodes of some other country attempting, despite everyone else telling them not to, to blow the thing up.

Then conclude with Grace convincing Darius to try one of Jillian’s approaches since nothing else has worked. Shortly after they send Jillian’s message or whatever, a small chunk of the ‘asteroid’ breaks off and begins a slow decent towards the White House - like slow enough to have debates/discussions and gather important people.

As the landing gets closer, Darius and Grace ask the President for a favor, which she grants, but we don’t see what it is.

Cue the landing. The President, Harris, diplomats of all kinds, Darius, Liam, Grace and Jillian all out on the lawn waiting. When it does, everyone kind of looks at each other trying to decide who goes first, then the President turning to Jillian and ushering her forward. Saying that science and math and diplomacy failed before, so she thinks it’s good to start this round with Jillian’s heart.

Jillian stepping forward as the ship comes in to land and a door appears and starts to open. Pan to Darius as he puts his left arm around Grace’s shoulders. She raises her left hand to cover his. Zoom in on their shiny new wedding rings. Then pan back to the ship. Go dark before we see who comes out.

This show was always at it’s best when it was about the people instead of the situations and I feel that moving away from that hurt the show quite a bit, especially in S2.

[woman-of-balnain]

Undone in Sorrow Part 1/10 (Alpha Rick x Omega Reader)

Previous Work | Collection Masterlist | AO3 Ver. | Next Part

Pairing: Rick Grimes/Fem!Reader

Summary: Finally coming face to face with Negan threatens the ties that bind your relationship with Rick together. After that first meeting, the two of you try to pick up the broken pieces of one another and become whole again.

Please note that while this story is completed, I’m really unhappy with how the last half of it turned out. I’m planning to completely rewrite it, so if you do decide to read this, just know that it’s not my best work (by a long shot) 🫣

A/N: This is a sequel to my other story ‘the Claim’ and probably won’t make much sense if you haven’t read that.

This chapter is mainly just setting up the story and involves events from 6x15 and most of 6x16. I’m not interested in just writing out the show though, so it jumps around a fair bit through the events of those episodes, focusing on the Reader’s role during those events.

The a/b/o dynamics are a little more in the background in this chapter but they will come into play more in the next chapters.

The Reader is Hershel's eldest daughter, but you can also read it as you being his daughter through adoption or having a different mother to both Maggie and Beth. Basically meaning that you can read this with any physical description in mind. But the Reader is considered as 100% his daughter and the sister of Maggie and Beth in all the ways that matter.

Reader is also more of a typical omega, especially since she isn’t on any suppressants. When comparing her with both of her sisters, I see her more like Beth than Maggie. Someone who has learned to fight to protect themselves but isn’t a hardened fighter like some of the other characters around her.

Lastly, I’m going to see how well this is received. I have it plotted out and everything but I’m so used to writing more smutty stuff while this story is more angst + hurt/comfort. So any feedback would be really helpful to let me know if I’m doing okay with this and if I should continue.

Warnings: Protective Rick, angst, a little bit of arguing between Rick/Reader, age gap (Rick is 13 years older than you), you are 26 and Rick is 39, A/B/O dynamics, you have suspicions that you are pregnant, mentions of past miscarriage/stillbirth

Word Count: 4,666

Dividers by: @newlips + @cafekitsune

Turn if you may, from battles never done,    I call, as they go by me one by one,  Danger no refuge holds, and war no peace,    For him who hears love sing and never cease  

The sun was filtering through the window of your bedroom, bathing you in warm light when you stirred awake. The reality of Alexandria was still surreal to you, even though it had been around two months since you all arrived and were finally able to settle into somewhere that could truly be a home again.

 Slowly, you had all gotten used to it and let your guards down, but part of it still felt too good to be true. At least to you.

 Turning in the soft sheets of your bed, you came face to face with Rick, who had been pressed up against you in his sleep. His features were relaxed, no sign of tension or the burdens that were often placed upon him. You couldn’t help but reach out and let your fingertips run across his short beard, taking in the light grey that was spread throughout and which moved up to the hair around his temples.

 You loved every single thing about him, but his coarse facial hair always reminded you of the intimate moments you shared. It always tickled against your skin, leaving echoes of his affection long after his touch was gone.

 Your ministrations caused his eyes to flutter open and then his lips curved up into a smile when the fog of sleep left him and he took in the sight of you. Returning his smile with a sweet one of your own, you leaned forward to give him a quick kiss and savored the way his arms seemed to automatically wrap around you.

 “Morning, handsome,” you said, bringing your fingers up to move through his hair.

 “Mmm,” he stifled a yawn before affectionately brushing his nose against yours. “Morning, sweetheart.”

 Days like these were ones that you cherished. When neither of you were in a hurry to be anywhere and you could wake up slowly, enjoying each other’s company before you got up and faced reality. Peering over Rick’s shoulder, you saw through the baby monitor that Judith was still sound asleep.

 Your movement allowed him to bury his face in your neck, his lips automatically finding the mating bite he’d given you and pressing soft kisses to it. You sighed happily, laying back down onto the bed and Rick followed your movements, bringing his mouth back to yours.

 His lips moved languidly against your own, soft and sensual as his hands explored along your lower stomach, fingertips teasing your skin. You wrapped your arms around his neck, pulling him closer and just enjoying the fact that you were together. That you were both safe – that your family was safe.

 “I love you,” was whispered from your lips as they only just left his own.

 “I love you too,” he responded immediately, pulling back to look into your eyes.

 His touch left your stomach, and he cupped your face in his hands, his brow furrowing as he saw some uneasiness in your gaze.

 “What’s wrong?”

 “Just Maggie,” you admitted.

 “You’re thinking about your sister right now?” He quipped, raising an eyebrow.

 “Come on,” you laughed softly at his teasing before you turned serious again. “After what those Saviors did that to her and Carol… I’m just worried, that’s all.”

 “Baby, it’s over,” his gaze softened, and his fingers began to stroke your cheeks. “You don’t have to worry about it anymore. They’re all gone, we took care of it. Hilltop came through and things are gonna get better.”  

 “Yeah, it’s just… there’s always something that comes after, you know?”

 “It doesn’t matter,” he insisted, his tone confident and steadfast. “This is our home now and we’re always gonna fight for it. It doesn’t matter what comes next because this is all ours. No one’s gonna take it from us. I promise.”

 You nodded, knowing that Rick had always come through. No matter what had been thrown your way, even with losing people, he always won the fight in the end.

 “I know. I believe in you, Rick, I know that you’ll do everything you can to protect this place. I’m just… still getting used to the fact that Alexandria is real. It still feels too good to be true.”

 “Hey, it’s okay to just enjoy it, you know? After everything we’ve been through, we deserve this. It’s not going anywhere, and neither are we.”

 You looked up at him with admiration, knowing that he was right and that he would never stop fighting for a chance, no matter how dark and messed up the world had gotten and could still become.

 “Thank you, Rick,” you said softly, before noting the slight confusion that crossed his features. “For always fighting to keep us all safe.”

 “You don’t ever have to thank me for that, sweetheart,” he smiled down at you affectionately. “It’s my job.”

 You grinned back at him, feeling a little more at ease. And then Rick bent his head down, bringing your lips into another kiss and you let the rest of your trepidation fade away.

You found Maggie sitting at the kitchen table when you stopped by her house later that day. After Enid explained that she’d taken over your younger sister’s shift, you had wanted to check up on her. After her encounter with that group of Saviors and especially now with Carol gone, you were still worried about how she was doing.

 You gave a couple of light knocks to the door before letting yourself inside, eyeing her with concern.

 “Hey,” she greeted you, looking up with a small smile.

 “How’re you doing?” You asked, moving over to the table.

 “I’m fine,” she brushed away your concern, looking back down at the book she’d been reading.

 “Carol’s gone,” you told her, causing Maggie to look back at you with surprise. “Left in the middle of the night. So, you can’t blame me for being worried.”

 “Did anyone go after her?”

 “Yeah. Rick left a little while ago. But Maggie… look, you don’t have to talk about it, but I’m still gonna worry. You’re pregnant and I don’t want anything to happen to you. I can’t… we’ve lost too many people already.”

 Maggie regarded you softly, understanding the meaning behind your words all too well. Of all the people in your lives before the fall, now it was only the two of you left. And the pain of losing your father and then your baby sister… that was all still raw and fresh for both of you.

 But then she frowned, a slight look of judgement crossing her features and you looked away. You knew what had likely entered her mind, but hoped you were wrong. You didn’t want to discuss it right now. You just wanted to focus on Maggie and if she was okay.

 “And what about you?” She asked, confirming your fears that she was going to make you talk about it. “Have you told Rick yet?”

 “No…” You admitted.

 “Y/N,” she sighed. “He deserves to know.”

 She was right, you knew that. But that didn’t stop the trepidation you felt about having that particular conversation with your alpha. Things that had happened in the past left you doubting how he might handle the news that you suspected you were also pregnant.

 If you were, then you were likely only about as far along as your sister. It wasn’t obvious, and you weren’t showing, so Rick had no idea about your suspicions.

 “I know that Maggie,” you answered her. “I just… I don’t want to get his hopes up again. Not after last time. Not until I know for sure.”

 She gave you a sympathetic look, knowing what you were referring to. Back in the prison, you’d been pregnant before. But once the flu went around, you’d gotten extremely sick and gone into premature labor at only 6 months along. Despite your father, Hershel, doing everything he could to help, the baby had come out stillborn.

 Rick had been out, dealing with Carol and when he got back it was already over. It had left both of you distraught, but you knew Rick also felt guilt over not being there. So, you didn’t want to tell him yet, not until you knew for sure.

 “Y/N,” Maggie leaned over the table, taking your hands in hers. “I understand, but with everything that’s been going on... we don’t have the luxury of guarantees anymore. We don’t know what’ll happen today, or tomorrow. You should just tell him, because if something happens, you don’t want to be left with that kind of regret.”

 You could see the logic in her words, but your conversation with Rick earlier than morning was still fresh in your mind.

 “I see what you’re saying, but this is Rick we’re talking about. Everything we’ve been through, it’s him that got us out of it. Nothing’s going to happen, Maggie. I’ll tell him when I’m ready. Now that the Saviors are gone, I’ll organize to go see Dr. Carson. If he confirms it, then I’ll tell Rick.”

 “Okay,” she relented, pulling back with another sigh. “Just don’t wait too long. You know better than anyone that he would want to know.”

 Your only answer was to give a short nod, knowing that she was right. But ultimately, it was between you and Rick, so you quickly changed the topic, asking where Glenn was.

It wasn’t long before you regretted your words to Maggie, how you had been so certain that nothing was going to happen. She was right – she usually was. In this new world there were no guarantees, and something was always going on. Usually something bad rather than good.

 You had panicked when she fell to the floor in severe pain, right after Enid had stopped by and cut her hair. After a moment though, you had sprung into action and told Enid to get help. She had returned with Rick who had apparently only just arrived back in Alexandria a little while ago. He had quickly taken control of the situation.

 Now, you were in the RV, right by Maggie’s side and trying to comfort her, even as anxiety pulsed through you from the way she looked. Your little sister was feverish and groaning from the pain in her abdomen.

 The worst part was how none of you knew what exactly was wrong. You only knew that it was something to do with the baby and that you’d never seen your sister looking so ill.

 “Y/N.”

 You turned, seeing Rick in the doorway. You caught the tell-tale signs that betrayed his worry, but they were subtle, and to most he would have seemed like his calm and confident self. He gestured with his head that he wanted to talk to you, so you got up and followed him outside of the RV.

 “We’re heading out now,” he said lowly, his head dipping a little so that he was looking you right in the eye. “She’ll be okay, I’ll make sure she is.”

 “I know that…” you replied, a little confused.

 When you didn’t make any move to leave or say goodbye, Rick frowned.

 “You’re not coming,” he said sternly, attempting to leave no room for argument.

 “Yes, I am,” you retorted, getting frustrated. “I’m not leaving Maggie on her own.”

 “She won’t be alone, she has all of us. Y/N, you need to stay here.”

 “Rick, I know you’re going to do everything you can to get her to Hilltop safely, but she’s my sister. Glenn isn’t here, I need to be with her.”

 “And I need you safe,” he countered, moving to take your hands in his. “I… need you to stay and take care of Judith.”

 You knew that despite the love you both held for your adopted daughter, he was just using that as an excuse.

 “There’s other people to look after Judith. She’ll be fine here because here is safe. Besides, you already took care of the Saviors. I know you don’t like it, and that you’re just worried, but I can’t stay here and wonder if Maggie’s okay. I need to be there for her. After dad, after Beth… I can’t just sit around waiting and wondering. Please, Rick.”

 He sighed, letting go of you and running a hand through his hair.

 “Fine,” he gave in. “But you stay with Maggie. If we run into trouble, you say out of sight. And you do everything that I tell you to. Everything, Y/N.”

 “I will,” you agreed.

 “Okay,” he nodded, his features softening a little. “Sorry, I just… never mind.”

 “What is it?”

 “I’ll tell you later. We need to get moving.”

 You could tell that there was something weighing on him. Something new, that hadn’t been there in the morning before he left to look for Carol. But Rick was right, you needed to get Maggie to Dr. Carson and if he said it could wait, then you trusted that it wasn’t anything too important.

You quickly worked out why Rick was so reluctant to let you come, as the RV was blocked at every turn. The confidence he held when you all set out began to slip away, replaced with anxiety. But there was no time in the chaos of it all to confront him about the fact that the Saviors had actually not been taken care of and that there were still plenty more out there.

 The attack on the satellite outpost hadn’t finished anything at all. Instead, it had started something and all of the signs pointing to the Saviors having a lot of people and a lot resources set you on edge.

 “She’ll be okay,” Carl said from behind you.

 You turned around, seeing the boy who had grown exponentially since the first time you met him. Back then, when he was brought to the farm, shot and bleeding out, you hadn’t known if he’d make it. Now there was hardly any trace of that boy left, with Carl becoming hardened from the world around him and all of the things he’d experienced.

 You looked back to Maggie, taking in the way she was burning up and how Rick tried to soothe and reassure her.

 “We don’t know that,” you replied to Carl, worried by the way her condition had worsened.

 “My dad will get us there,” Carl insisted. “You know that. Once she’s at Hilltop and sees the doctor, she’ll be fine.”

 “Carl…”

 You turned back to face him, unsure if you should say what was on your mind. Carl usually had a steadfast faith in Rick, and you didn’t want to do anything to jeopardize that, but you could clearly see and sense the panic building up in your alpha.

 “What is it?” The boy who was practically your son asked. “What’s wrong?”

 He knew you well enough by now to pick up on when you were worried over something.

 “Just… look at him. He’s getting anxious and so am I. If we don’t get there soon, what will happen to Maggie? It doesn’t seem to matter what route we take, it’s like they’re always five steps ahead of us.”

 “Y/N,” Carl said, his tone serious and his resolve unwavering. “We’ve been through hell before and every time, we’ve gotten out of it. Stop worrying, it’ll be fine.”

 You just nodded, not missing the way his confidence showed how much he’d matured over the years. But you also wondered how he wasn’t picking up on Rick’s scent, which betrayed his inner turmoil to you. Maybe it wasn’t as strong to the others. Or maybe it had something to do with the mating bond you shared.

There were other signs though; the sweat covering his skin and how it made some of his curls stick to his forehead, the frantic look in his eyes, the way he’d started breathing a little heavier… He was starting to feel trapped in a corner and if it weren’t for Maggie, you knew he would’ve been fighting back by now. But they’d caught him in a weak moment, when he had to control his emotions in order to keep other people safe. And you knew that it was starting to get at him and leave him feeling helpless. 

It felt like days had passed, rather than just hours. The entire group that was in the RV was on edge – except maybe Carl, who had a strange, stoic calmness throughout the whole thing. But now, night had fallen and after Eugene’s suggestion, the group had decided to split up.

 You stood outside the RV, silently watching as the others prepared to leave. After Rick spoke with Eugene, he caught your eye and made his way over to you. Your stomach churned with apprehension, picking up on how high strung he was.

 It was strange because you’d never really experienced anything like it. Even before you’d claimed one another, there had been that undeniable pull and connection between the two of you. But you’d never been so attuned to his emotions before, and it was almost like his were mixing and intertwining with your own, confusing you about what it was you were feeling and what was coming from him.

 But you had made a decision and despite how uneasy he was, you were resolved to go through with it.

 “I’m going with Eugene,” you told him gently, not wanting to argue about it.

 Rick’s features twisted, his expression becoming even more desperate. He shook his head and looked at you with wide, pleading eyes.

 “Baby, please,” he implored you, speaking softly in order to try and keep your conversation private. “It’s bad enough that you’re out here and not at home. We’re not splitting up.”

 He wasn’t angry or frustrated or trying to assert his authority over you. Instead, he just looked desperate, and it broke your heart. You often saw a different side of him in private, compared to the others, but that didn’t make his obvious distress over the situation any easier to absorb. But you knew that you would be more useful with Eugene than on foot with the others.

 “I’m not a fighter… you know that Rick,” you tried to reason with him. “If this is how I can help Maggie, then that’s what I’m going to do. We’ll be okay, they’re just trying to stop us from getting to Hilltop. I know you’ll get her there safely. I trust you to do that, so trust me to do this.”

 “We don’t know what they’re trying to do,” he argued. “You going with Eugene could be just as dangerous!”

 “Rick, we don’t have time to fight about this. Please, just get my sister to the doctor and let me do my part to help. Something I know I can do to help her.”

 “You said you’d do what I told you to,” he pointed out. “When I let you come with us. So why are you fighting me on this?”

 “Because I’ll just be in the way if I come with you.”

 He sighed, before moving towards you. Then he was resting his forehead against your own as his hands came to hold your hips. You felt the way his resolve washed away and knew that he was done fighting you on the matter.

 “Baby, just promise me you’ll be safe,” he relented, knowing they had to leave quickly.

 “I’ll do everything I can to try,” was the best answer you could give him.

 He nodded before titling his head to kiss you. It was brief, but it still conveyed so many emotions. He was desperate and panicked, unsure of what might happen in the near future. But you were all determined to try, knowing that Maggie was in danger and needed medical attention as soon as possible.

 Rick’s scent wrapped around you, seeping through until you felt his trepidation, his fear and his doubts like they were your own feelings. But when he pulled his lips away from yours, he put his walls back up and headed over to the others, preparing to carry Maggie through the woods to safety.

 Abraham and Eugene exchanged a nod while Rick gave you one last lingering look. You smiled back at him, hoping it would give him reassurance, but deep down you knew that it likely wouldn’t. If the way his own inner emotions had been so obvious to you were any indication, then your own were probably just as clear to him.

 “Come on,” you said to Eugene, turning away from the man you loved. “We should get going too.”

 He just nodded, following you back into the RV.

Rick’s heart was pounding like a drum in his chest as the floodlights suddenly turned on, temporarily blinding him and the others. The trademark whistling of the Saviors resounded around them, too loud and too high-pitched, ringing through his ears. Time seemed to move slowly around him, as his mind struggled to catch up and comprehend what was happening.

 His small group turned and looked through the clearing, taking in the sight of countless Saviors, who were completely trapping them in the area. Very briefly, he was glad that you’d convinced him to let you stay with Eugene. Because it was bad enough that Carl was with him in that moment. If you were there, the very final threads of his sanity would have likely snapped.

 Carl could take care of himself. But you? You were an omega, the very definition of someone who needs to be protected and as your alpha, that was his job. He knew that he should have tried harder to talk you out of coming on the trip, back in Alexandria. After realizing that there were more Saviors out there when he was with Morgan, looking for Carol. He’d almost told you, but the urgency of the situation had prevented him from doing so.

 And now, they were surrounded with no way out. The sense of hopelessness that had gradually been building up inside of him as the RV was blocked at every turn now boiled over. He was failing Maggie, his own sister-in-law, during the time she when needed him and his leadership the most. She had said she trusted him, believed in him and he’d let her down. He’d let them all down.

 The future had never been so uncertain, but if he knew one thing, it was that it sure as hell didn’t look good. Rick realized that he was shaking, as the shock set in. His wide and frantic eyes swept over the area and then he froze.

 “No…” he breathed out so quietly it was barely audible.

 There was Eugene, kneeling down with the RV parked neatly in the background. The knowledge that their plan had failed, that Eugene had been captured with his face bloody and beaten… that was already enough to break Rick down even further.

 But you weren’t there. You were nowhere to be found and he had never felt so scared and helpless.

 “Good, you made it. Welcome to where you’re goin’.”

 And suddenly, time seemed to move back at its normal pace as that asshole from earlier, the first one they’d encountered, was talking to him again. Rick’s body seemed like it was broken in half, where he took in what was happening around him, but he was also distracted as his mind screamed out one persistent thought over and over again.

 Where the hell were you?

 He let himself hope that you’d gotten away somehow. That you were safe, and the lack of your presence didn’t suggest something ominous.

 Before he knew it, their guns had been taken and they’d been forced to set the stretcher down. Maggie hadn’t been given any special treatment, forced to kneel just like the rest of them had been ordered to. Then he was looking at Eugene again, who had been dragged over to join the rest of the group.

 “Y/N?” He croaked out, just hoping for some kind of answer.

 But Eugene never got the chance before the asshole who seemed to be in charge was in his face again, insisting that he get down on his knees. Every part of Rick was telling him to fight back, and he looked around again briefly before he begrudgingly complied. He knew that he had to stay calm in order to keep the others safe. In that moment, he knew that they were powerless. There was nothing he could do.

 So, he slowly got down on his knees, trying to ignore the look Maggie gave him. He wasn’t sure if it was just from the pain she was experiencing or if it was because she couldn’t believe he wasn’t doing more to resist.

 He couldn’t do anything but watch as Michonne, Glenn, Daryl and Rosita were pulled out from the back of a van and forced to join them. He could only sit there, drenched in sweat and apprehension, his breath coming out in heavy pants as his body continued to shake against his will. He looked around him with wild eyes, still unable to fully comprehend that it all was really, truly happening.

 And then the mustached asshole was talking to them again as he made his way over to the RV, which now sat in front of them.

 “All right, we got a full boat. Let’s meet the man.”

 Negan.

 Rick realized that all of this, every single thing that had transpired that day had led to this moment. This had all been Negan – the real Negan – introducing himself to them.

 The asshole knocked against the RV and there was a brief pause where silence fell around them. But then the door swung open and a tall man in a leather jacket came into view, grinning smugly at them as he rested a baseball bat with barbed wire around it against his shoulder. Rick instantly recognized that he was an alpha, the other man’s strong and stifling scent reaching him even with the distance between them.

 “Pissin’ our pants yet?” He asked, remaining in the doorway. “Boy, do I have a feeling we’re gettin’ close.”

 He watched them all for a moment, taking it all in with a sick sense of satisfaction. Then, the man, the one who was clearly Negan, turned to look back into the RV.

 “Come on out darlin’,” he said, with his lips in a permanent smirk. “Let’s get you all reunited.”

 Rick barely had time to register his relief at seeing you alive, as Negan dragged you out of the RV, holding on tightly to your hair. Because even though you were alive, he wanted you to be anywhere but there, while he was helpless to do anything to protect you.

 As Negan forced your head up so that you were looking at the others, Rick’s inner alpha reared its ugly head, causing Rick to become both furious and distressed. Your face was bleeding and bruised; you looked like you’d been crying and your features were scrunched up in pain at the vice like grip Negan had on your head.

 Rick’s fists clenched and the way his body was shaking became even worse. Every instinct within him was saying that he needed to ensure your safety and kill anyone standing in his way, but he had to keep himself in check. It was a torturous struggle raging inside of him, battling between the urge to protect and the need to survive – for all of you to survive.

 “No,” he found his voice cracking, the word escaping his lips before he knew it. “No, no, no…”

 He looked at you with despair over the situation you’d all found yourselves in. Tears welled in his eyes as he realized there was nothing he could do. He had found himself helpless at the hands of Negan, which was exactly how the other alpha wanted him.

“Oh…” Negan let out a sadistic chuckle, his gaze falling right on Rick. “Yes, yes, yes.”

--

Next Part

--

[sunnydaleherald]

The Sunnydale Herald Newsletter, Thursday, March 2

KENDRA: She died? (concerned) BUFFY: Just a little. (defensive) GILES: She drowned, but she was revived. WILLOW: So there really are two of them!

~~What's My Line Part Two~~

The Sunnydale Herald is looking for at least one new editor. Contributing to the Herald is a great way to get your Buffy on! Find out more here.

[Drabbles & Short Fiction]

Void if .... by JadeWine

Feral by ClowniestLivEver (Buffy/Spike, NC-17)

[Chaptered Fiction]

Glimpse into the Void - Ch. 1 - 4 by JadeWine (Buffy, Scoobies, multiple crossovers, M)

a few years down the line - Ch. 1 - 3 by The_Eclectic_Bookworm (Jenny/Giles, T) COMPLETE!

trinity - Ch. 1 - 5 by orphan_account (various pairings, Not Rated) COMPLETE!

The Vamp's Wolf - Ch. 7 by skargasm (Oz/Spike, Angel/Faith, Buffy/Riley, M) COMPLETE!

Steve: The Vampire Hunter - Ch. 14 by Marsetta (Xander, Willow, Stranger Things xover, T) COMPLETE!

Different Lives - Ch. 52 by BuffyBot3000 (Jenny/Giles, Tara/Willow, other pairings, E) COMPLETE!

Yellowstone Protector - Ch. 12 by Buffyworldbuilder (Yellowstone xover, G)COMPLETE

Evil Alternate Designs: Smallville Crossings - Ch. 29 - 39 by Frozentidez (Faith, Buffy, multiple crossovers, E) COMPLETE!

Bring Him Home - Ch. 12 by acb6293 (Buffy/Spike, R)

Let Me See My Soul Mate - Ch. 4 by Desicat (Buffy/Spike, G) COMPLETE!

Bleeding Poetry - Ch. 74 by Dusty (Buffy/Spike, NC-17)

Rewrite - Ch. 27 by hopelesswanderer (Buffy/Spike, NC-17)

ever waiting airports (full of the love that you deserve) - Ch. 5 by MixSaysRawr (Buffy/Spike, NC-17)

A Legacy of Chaos: A Ship of the Line Story - Ch. 15 by ajw (Xander, Willow, Stargate and Charmed xover, FR18)

Bleeding Poetry - Ch. 74 by Dusty (Buffy/Spike, NC-17)

30 Days of Spuffy - Ch. 1 - 2 by TheSunnySlayer (Buffy/Spike, PG-13)

Fire Starter - Ch. 1 by Teuntje1985 (Buffy/Spike, PG-13)

Mostly Harmless - Ch. 2 by Lady Emma (Buffy/Spike, R)

Now That I Saw You - Ch. 2 by scratchmeout (Buffy/Spike, R)

Wanting - Ch. 2 by bookishy (Buffy/Spike, R)

Vies Microscules - Ch. 2 by Rea (Buffy/Spike, PG-13)

Behind Blue Eyes - Ch. 2 by Passion4Spike (Buffy/Spike, PG)

Jigsaw - Ch. 2 by Dusty (Buffy/Spike, R)

Make Me Stay - Ch. 2 by Grief Counseling (Buffy/Spike, NC-17)

Mad Hatter - My Cup of Tea - Ch. 2 by MissLuci (Buffy/Spike, G)

So One of Us is Living - Ch. 2 by violettathepiratequeen (Buffy/Spike, PG-13)

The Longest Day - Ch. 2 by ashcrashed (Buffy/Spike, PG-13)

Her Left-hand Man - Ch. 2 by sandy_s (Buffy/Spike, G)

[Images, Audio & Video]

Icons: 20 BtVS Season 2 Icons by debris4spike (Buffy, Spike, other characters, worksafe)

Icons: 10 BtVS Season 2 Icons by debris4spike (Giles, Willow, Spike, other characters, worksafe)

Gifset: Giles in every Episode S1:E01 Welcome to the Hellmouth (Part 3) by thecrazyknight (Giles, worksafe)

Gifset: Buffy the Vampire Slayer | 5.12 - “Checkpoint” by buffysummers (Buffy, worksafe)

Artwork: Like One Of Your French Girls - Ch. 1 by almondcat (R, Buffy/Spike, mildly NSFW)

[Recs & In Search Of]

Top 10 Spuffy fics I’ve read (Feb 2023) recced by mcgnagallsarmy

ISO: buffybabe seeks Buffy literature suggestions?

[Community Announcements]

Buffy the vampire slayer/Stranger things role playing discord server by SimplyMermaid88

[Fandom Discussions]

Underrated aspects/elements of BtVS by StateofSiege97, GoSpuffy and others

For a New Viewer [what episodes do you show them?] by Historical-Capital43

Help my boyfriend avoid hanging scenes on his first watch through by imabadbetch

Spike’s love interests part 1: Drusilla by AccordingReference3

Season 2 finale question by Ajacentmagic

Favorite out-of-character references? by chelsea_spretireslyr

[POLL] Scariest Monsters Part One Poll by Captainoats88

[POLL] Which of these characters do you think is an underrated/lowkey hottie? by Opening_Knowledge868

NSFW question. by Logical_Army7051

Scariest monster by IfUSeekThom

Classic Spike by Captainoats88

Hi Buffyfans, (spoiler alert season 1) [rank S1 eps] by Ghanima81

rating all Buffy episodes - season 2 [rank S2 eps] by spuffy4life

Angelus in Pylea by Credit2reddit

Is Angel season 4 hated on too much? by Almighty_Push91

Groosalug by chemeli888

[Articles, Interviews, and Other News]

Where to watch now? [BTVS and ATS are still on HULU in US, not on ROKU anymore] by various

An ACTRESS. (Possible spoilers for WolfPack)... [SMG on WolfPack] by EmotionalPhysics2038

Buffy at the Vampire Diaries house by EmotionalPhysics2038

Buffy just casually saving lives and not even knowing it [tik tok and discussion] by Local-Pirate1152

James Marsters [and Charisma Carpenter] - Exclusive MyCon Online Meet & Greet via dontkillspike

James Marsters [and Kristine Sutherland and Charisma Carpenter] to Attend Emerald City Comic Con 2-5 March [Seattle, WA, USA] via dontkillspike

Submit a link to be included in the newsletter!

[farfarawaygirl]

Yet Another Writing Ask 🙂

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, 9, 10, 11, 15, 16, 18, 22, 23, 26, 30, 31, 38 and 39

1 - Which of your fics would you keep the basic plot of but rewrite completely?

Nursing on a Poison - this was my first foray out, and I have learned a lot about pacing, and editing, and dialogue... and just everything since then.

3 - How would you describe your writing style?

Descriptive, leaning towards poetry more than prose in terms of my exposition. Influenced by music and art, guided by emotion and heart.

4 - Do you have any OCs? Do you have a story for them?

My extended Bradford fam in My Favourite Bradford.

8 - How slow is a slow burn?

I mean, I did write Salt in the Wound, and it takes like 11 chapters and months for Lucy and Tim to work their way back to each other, and then I also write some little one shots where it happens in 2k or less.

9 - Thoughts on cliffhangers

Love them, hate them, can't get enough - but also think that every show should be legally obligated to film a backup episode in case of cancelation.

10 - Top three favourite fic tropes

I have WIP for all three of these in my Chenford folder.

You have no idea. I am verklempt over these.

Fake Dating is my ride or fucking die. It ties in with Marriage of Connivence, so I am counting those as one. A contrived situation to spend time together, having to get to know one another? Ugh! This is my jam!! I love this beyond reason. To All the Boys I've Loved Before? If I never Met You? Slay me.

Unexpected Parent/Single Parents. Makes me weak in the knees. Picture this, Tim get's guardianship of an old Army buddies child when he dies in a car crash - who is he going to call? Lucy. Who is going to build him up and postulate him diapers at 3 am - Lucy. Who is Tim going to want to not disadvantage with a baby? The potential.

Italicized Oh of Realization. Realization through an event - this works for friends, or co-workers, second chance at love - it is very important that Party A is having a full on mental break down/freak out, preferably about the safety of Party B, and they are fully knocked on their ass with the crispy realization. THIS. UGH.

Also - special mention to amnesia stories, ala While You Were Sleeping.

[metalgearkong]

1984 - Novel Review

11/13/21

Written by George Orwell, published in 1949

This book was one of the mega classics I knew I wanted to get around to sooner or later. Everyone has said that Orwell's warning of a totalitarian future was reminiscent of today's society, and the story did not disappoint. The world in this book is miserable, unfair, full of lies, control, and omnipresent surveillance. The country known as Oceania, formerly the UK, is ruled by "the Party" ruled by "Big Brother." This dystopia is filled with propaganda about how great the Party is and how much worse things were in the past before "the revolution." Cameras equipped with microphones are placed on virtually every wall and every corner of the city, inside and outside, leaving everyday people zero privacy. This is a place where even facial expressions or not cheering enough for Party propaganda videos could condemn someone disappearing the night.

The story itself centers around a 39 year old man named Winston Smith, a begrudged worker for the Party who spends all hours of the day in a windowless cubical farm. He is sent passages and ordered to alter them to what the Party deems appropriate for the public to know and read. This includes rewriting history so no one knows anything about the past or present other than what the Party strictly says it is. The vocabulary of English has even been renamed to Newspeak, and the number of words is drastically shrinking, leaving people less ability to express themselves and communicate well. Regular English is called Oldspeak, and of course forbidden to use at the risk of being arrested. The Party completely controls knowledge not just of the present, but of the past. This world is such a mind fuck because everyone is controlled on every level from the inside out, and its brilliantly realized.

1984 is also a far more disturbing book than I ever expected. Most of the writing focuses on the descriptions of society and everyday life itself, but in later chapters, mainly when Winston is set up and captured by the Party, things take a more brutal and visceral turn. Winston is kept in a windowless cell surrounded by surveillance. He is physically and psychologically tortured for weeks. He is subject to infrequent but harsh beatings by guards. Sometimes Winston would share his cell with other political prisoners, other people found guilty of thought crimes, but all eventually dragged off one by one to a horrendous place only referred to as "Room 101." Things get even worse for Winston at that point, and to see what the Party does to people who have potential ties to a revolution attempt, or simply have read unapproved literature, shows the true horror of 1984's dystopian society.

Winston at one point stumbles into a romantic relationship with a 27 or so year old woman named Julia. She attracts him to a secret grassy knoll on the edge of a lake for a sexual rendezvous. While it seems too good to be true, it's not a trick, and one of the only happy elements of his life in many years. They attempt to maintain their relationship but always have to meet in extreme secret. Even if someone can sneak off to the countryside, microphones are placed everywhere in secret, and they never know if they are being listened to. This was actually one of my favorite elements of the book because their anxiety and desperation felt so real and showed how much of a struggle it is in this society to have anything happy or unique.

The only weakness of the novel, or at least the only part that wasn't fun to read, was the 20-something pages of Winston simply reading what is known as "the book." The book is something secretly passed between revolutionaries about what the real state of the world truly is. It's full of information, but reads like a literal textbook explaining the ins and outs of the Party and other global superpowers. To have so many pages of walls of text was exhausting and eventually lost my focus. 1984 was better than I expected, and some of Orwell's warnings have already come true. This twisted world and story should be read by anyone interested in history or politics, or simply enjoys dystopian worlds and alternate futures. This was mind blowing stuff, especially written in the 1940's, and it shows how intelligent and influential George Orwell really was.

[fictropes]

1, 10, 39 :)

thanku done 10 !<3

1. Which of your fics would you keep the basic plot of but rewrite completely? - oooo probably my first chaptered! i had this whole think about writing in past tense being ‘the proper thing’ to do even tho i do not like writing in past tense gbfvdfbg

10. Wildest AU scenario you have written? - honestly probably the one where dan doesn’t  show up cos like... in what world. 

[peggysousfan]

The Ultimate Tag

Tagged by @movrings, Thank you as always! <3

— Personal

Name: (I’m iffy with putting it online unless we’re friends so I’m putting my pen name that I use when writing) Tessa

Nickname(s): Ty, T, Sistagirl

Birthday: March 14

Age: 18

Zodiac: Pisces

Nationality: American

Languages: Fluent English, very little Spanish, and even fewer German. (Learning different languages and actually remembering it is very difficult lol)

Gender: female

Height: 5′ 3

Meaning behind URL: I loved the ship peggysous from the Agent Carter fandom. It was the first fandom I joined so I just took up the name peggysousfan. But I’m thinking of changing it eventually to something more neutral maybe. Idk yet

— Favs

Favourite animals: dogs, wolves, and dolphins

Favourite books: Uhm.. I gotta go with the classic Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen. 

Favourite colour: black, maroon, and light hues of blue

Favourite flower: I don’t have a favorite tbh

Favourite season: Fall :)

— Random

Average hours of sleep: 3-5

Cats or dogs: Dogs

Coffee, tea or hot chocolate: hot chocolate all the way

Current time: 9:39 pm

Dream trip: England, Australia, Italy, and Ireland

Dream job: I used to want to be a model and actress, but its never going to happen. Idk something to do with art. Its about the only thing I can really do.

Hobbies: drawing and painting, woodburning, reading, writing fanfiction, writing a novel, working on the family farm, and listening to music

Last movie watched: Pride and Prejudice (the 2005 adaptation)

Last tv-show watched: The 100

Last song listened to: Rewrite The Stars by Zac Efron and Zendaya

Number of blankets you sleep with: 1-2. Just depends on the night.

Things you’re looking forward to: Finishing up this chapter of a new fic (Well more than one fic) and getting college sorted out. (Honestly I’m scared out of my mind but I just need to get it over with)

Random fact(s): I’m a completely self taught artist and its the only income I get rn. Not frequently but sometimes. I’m the middle child and have two brothers. Also I’m an introvert and love to be by myself and sleep a lot lol. If you’re not around people then your heart can’t break, right? (Yeah that got dark. My bad)

I'm tagging @fandomsandxfiles, @c0nstant-0verthinker, @edgelessness and anyone else if you want to :)

[thisweekingundamwing]

This Week in Gundam Wing 14-20 April 2019

Here’s this week’s roundup!

Remember to give your content creators some love! And join in on the events at the bottom!

~Mod Hel

Fanfiction/Snippets/AU Ideas:

@anaranesindanarie

Merchant Marines (Ch. 2) https://archiveofourown.org/works/18440453/chapters/43856074#workskin

Duo Maxwell/OC, Trowa Barton/Duo Maxwell, Chang Wufei/Duo Maxwell, Trowa Barton/Chang Wufei, Trowa Barton/Chang Wufei/Duo Maxwell

Duo Maxwell, Trowa Barton, Mike Howard, Lady Une, Quatre Raberba Winner, Chang Wufei, Heero Yuy, Sally Po, Mariemaia Khushrenada, Relena Peacecraft, Dorothy Catalonia

AU, do I even need to add an angst tag at this point?, I'll add one anyway, Angst, Rebels, Wars, Civil wars, Une pissed off the wrong people, Trowa flirts, Duo is oblivious, and a disaster

Lady Une oversteps and the former Gundam Pilots run off to do their own thing. What could possibly go wrong?

And Howard wears his bermuda shorts.

@doctormegalomania

Eldritch Holiday (Creature of the Night) (Ch. 15) https://archiveofourown.org/works/17802668/chapters/43841089?view_adult=true

Duo Maxwell/Heero Yuy, Trowa Barton/Quatre Raberba Winner, Chang Wufei/Original Female Character(s)

Heero Yuy, Duo Maxwell, Trowa Barton, Quatre Raberba Winner, Chang Wufei

Horror, Body Horror, Occult, Comedy, Eventual Romance, Post-Break Up

Riko doesn’t think she’ll ever get used to the Gundams. Duo disagrees.

@offspringchick29

Ok kid... It’s a pancake http://offspringchick29.tumblr.com/post/184219226590/ok-kid-its-a-pancake

Heero Yuy, Duo Maxwell, Original Characters

Heero takes to Facebook to show the world what he goes through on a Saturday morning with one of his very picky sons and a pancake.

You woke me because your socks came off? http://offspringchick29.tumblr.com/post/184219639565/you-woke-me-because-your-socks-came-off

Heero Yuy, Duo Maxwell, Original Characters

Duo suggests something Heero could do when the kids are teenagers to get back at them for waking him at 4am for stupid reasons. Heero lets Duo know that very same reason happened that morning. Well... The socks were a cover for the real reason.

Legos, the bane of the feet of a dad http://offspringchick29.tumblr.com/post/184285952100/legos-the-bane-of-the-feet-of-a-dad

Heero Yuy, Duo Maxwell, Wufei Chang, Original Character

Duo posts what he thinks is an innocent meme about being a single dad. Doesn’t realise it bites him in the backside because of Legos.

@ransomedbard

WIP: Peacekeeper https://ransomedbard.tumblr.com/post/184306798288/wip-peacekeeper

At the age of 39, Quatre has grown the Winner Corporation into one of the Earth Sphere’s most powerful businesses.  His life is entirely centered - some would say consumed - by his work, until an unexpected request from Dorothy shatters his routine.

shinigamiinochi

A Stagnation of Love (rewrite) (Ch. 77) https://www.fanfiction.net/s/10433322/77/A-Stagnation-of-Love-rewrite

Genre: Romance/Angst Rated: M Character: Duo M., Heero Y.

Duo Maxwell has been stuck his entire life. With an abusive father, a mother who doesn’t even realize he exists, severely bullied at school, and hiding his sexuality, he has given up all hope for a better life. When he falls in love with his bully’s boyfriend, he needs to make a choice about his future. Will he continue to let himself be abused, or will he fight back?

@tatakau-monotachi

Hall of Cranes (Ch. 6) https://archiveofourown.org/works/18304061/chapters/43747843

Trowa Barton/Quatre Raberba Winner, Chang Wufei/Duo Maxwell

Chang Wufei, Trowa Barton, Duo Maxwell

Alternate Universe, Palace drama

Wufei, Crown Prince of the Chang'seo Dynasty, must find a consort before his ascension. His chamberlain Barton is anxious that he should marry to secure his throne and the love of his people. But the only woman Wufei likes enough isn't quite what she seems to be. Meanwhile, Duo is in completely over his head in this palace intrigue.

The curious case of Vayeate and Mercurius https://tatakau-monotachi.tumblr.com/post/184266048422/the-curious-case-of-vayeate-and-mercurius

Meta Essay

@terrablaze514

Crossover Idea https://terrablaze514.tumblr.com/post/184275532332/happy-birthday-3-hope-your-day-is-filled-with

Just a Birthday special (posted April 18th) in response to an interesting question. It's a short Gundam Wing/Black Panther crossover. There's no title for it.

Rated T (or lower); hinted Relena x Dorothy, 6x9; no warnings in sight. Also starring Wakandans and mentions of Avengers and Preventers.

Fanart:

@bluesquishylemon

https://www.tumblr.com/dashboard/blog/bluesquishylemon/184209993547

Duo Maxwell

Head Canons:

@lifeaftermeteor

https://lifeaftermeteor.tumblr.com/post/184306028145#notes

Playing Bride and Groom ‘Keep Away’

Chats/Discussions:

@kirinjaegeste

https://lemontrash.tumblr.com/post/184182503889/i-love-that-the-consensus-among-the-gw-community

Trowa’s Gay, discussion.

@lemontrash, @helmistress, @seitou, @doctormegalomania, @incorrectgundamwingquotes, @robo-rad, @sweethoneysempai, @gwkimmy, @softnocturne, @terrablaze514

@liesfromsatansbuttcheeks

http://simulacraryn.tumblr.com/post/184232919258/vegalume-liesfromsatansbuttcheeks-new

Treize being a father/dad.

@vegalume, @godofalleyeteeth, @paleghostinthecorner, @outofworkshinigami

Quotes/Dialogues:

@incorrectgundamwingquotes

https://incorrectgundamwingquotes.tumblr.com/post/184324819002/duo-hey-cmon-it-aint-ruined-it-looks-pretty

Duo & Quatre

https://incorrectgundamwingquotes.tumblr.com/post/184316436461/duo-heeros-acting-crazy-trowa-crazy-for-heero

Duo & Trowa

https://incorrectgundamwingquotes.tumblr.com/post/184313911477/trowa-to-heero-and-duo-why-are-you-guys-carrying

Trowa, Heero, & Duo

https://incorrectgundamwingquotes.tumblr.com/post/184310273226/zechs-i-was-a-fool-all-that-anger-all-that

Zechs, Duo, & Everyone Else

https://incorrectgundamwingquotes.tumblr.com/post/184306041018/duo-if-i-die-my-funerals-gonna-be-the-biggest

Duo, WuFei, & Trowa

https://incorrectgundamwingquotes.tumblr.com/post/184301653476/dorothy-flirtatiously-wow-quatre-you-look

Dorothy & Trowa to Quatre

https://incorrectgundamwingquotes.tumblr.com/post/184293205753/at-preventers-hq-duo-fuck-the-feds-wufei

Duo & WuFei

https://incorrectgundamwingquotes.tumblr.com/post/184290594855/at-preventers-hq-wufei-proofreading-heeros

WuFei & Heero

https://incorrectgundamwingquotes.tumblr.com/post/184329272842/quatre-duo-just-referred-to-sand-as-heterosexual

Quatre & Rashid

https://incorrectgundamwingquotes.tumblr.com/post/184267718666/on-a-mission-quatre-heero-wait-what-is-that

Quatre & Heero

https://incorrectgundamwingquotes.tumblr.com/post/184264285168/heero-you-value-our-friendship-more-than-your

Heero & Duo

https://incorrectgundamwingquotes.tumblr.com/post/184250040089/gw-fandom-to-sumizawa-you-were-so-preoccupied

GW & Sumizawa

https://incorrectgundamwingquotes.tumblr.com/post/184244954283/heero-i-admire-you-duo-duo-really-why

Heero & Duo

https://incorrectgundamwingquotes.tumblr.com/post/184241542387/gundaaamn-incorrectgundamwingquotes-theres

Trowa and Coffee

Added Commentary by @gundaaamn

Calendar Events:

@acworldbuildingzine

Rhythm Generation https://acworldbuildingzine.tumblr.com/post/183502874098/hello-from-the-rhythm-generation-zine-crew-with

Donations have 6 prime locations!

The Rhythm Generation zine will be released digitally as a PDF on May 4.  To receive a copy, please be sure to sign up via our Mailing List Form!

Go here to sign up! https://acworldbuildingzine.tumblr.com/post/184021107308/were-27-days-from-the-zine-release-date-the

@gundam-wing-bingo

Come help us determine what will be on the bingo cards!

https://gundam-wing-bingo.tumblr.com/post/184103375846/gundam-wing-bingo-hello-all-welcome-to-gundam

@gwcocktailfriday

Cocktail Fridays!

Post responses on Friday, during Happy Hour between 3 & 5 pm in your own timezone.

Here’s the prompt for Friday, April 26th! https://gwcocktailfriday.tumblr.com/post/184318224372/cocktail-friday-post-responses-on-friday-april

For those going to Pillowfort, find us here.

If anyone has ideas for prompts, PLEASE send them in! Our ask box is always open.

In Need of Summery Prompts https://gwcocktailfriday.tumblr.com/post/184265772053/alright-wingers-weve-got-prompts-queued-up

@seasons-of-gundamwing

Summer of Zechs 2019 https://seasons-of-gundamwing.tumblr.com/post/183734829321/summer-of-zechs-2019

Come vote for a month to host it in and send in prompts!

Month Vote Count https://seasons-of-gundamwing.tumblr.com/post/183825139256/votes

Voting for what month will be open until the end of the month, then it’s time for PROMPTS!

Here’s the Pillowfort discussion.

@thisweekingundamevents

Gundam Wing Mini Bang Theme Suggestions

Food https://thisweekingundamevents.tumblr.com/post/184020447910/food-d

Based off of Official Art https://thisweekingundamevents.tumblr.com/post/184266136185/another-prompt-idea-for-consideration-and-voting

Unorthodox Undercover Work https://thisweekingundamevents.tumblr.com/post/184334667155/if-you-are-still-looking-for-theme-how-about

Gundam Wing Mini Bang https://thisweekingundamevents.tumblr.com/post/183830183720/mini-bang

Let us know if you’d like to participate and if you’d like it to have a theme!

Mini Bang Logistics https://thisweekingundamevents.tumblr.com/post/183847883850/mini-bang-logistics

Mini Bang Q&A https://thisweekingundamevents.tumblr.com/post/184002246410/q-a-mini-bang

Mini Bang Logistics Part 2 https://thisweekingundamevents.tumblr.com/post/184002543210/mini-bang-logistics-continued

[shadowsprodpresent]

This post is about all the stories I've written about Doctor Who, a sci-fi British show. The story is about a 900 years old Time Lord, an alien from the planet Gallifrey, named The Doctor traveling through all of Time and Space with his mostly humans companions. The Doctor doesn't die, he regenerates and when people need help, he never refuses. Especially when the Time War leaves him with a deep scar and a need for forgiveness and redemption. This post is about all the stories I've written about the show. Please note that they all concern the second part, or reboot starting with the Ninth Doctor and going to the Thirteenth Doctor.

xxx

31 days of ficmas

One-shots » » A story a day makes everything better. I’ve taken up the doctorroseprompts Christmas challenge for all the December month and here’s my contribution. Featuring all the New Who Doctors. » Rated: T - English - General/Romance - Chapters: 32 - Published: 2017 - [Ninth Doctor/Rose Tyler] - Complete.

archive of our own || fanfiction.net || teaspoon || tumblr || wattpad

xx

31 days of Whumptober

One-shots » » A story a day makes everything better... Except when it's Whumptober. » Rated: M - English - Angst/Whump - Chapters: 31 - Published: 2018 - [Ninth Doctor/Rose Tyler; Thirteenth Doctor/Graham O'Brien/Yasmin Khan/Ryan Synclair] - Complete.

archive of our own || tumblr

xx

Animal I have become

Three-shots » » It was a bad move and yet, she was willing to do it, to know the man behind the monster. » Rated: M - English/French - Angst/Drama/Romance - Chapters: 3 - Published: 2016 - [Ninth Doctor/Rose Tyler] - Complete.

archive of our own || fanfiction.net || tumblr

A Taste Of Christmas

Fiction » » After a very turbulent summer holiday in Broadchurch, the Metacrisis Ninth Doctor and Rose are trying to get used to an almost ordinary and human life while the cold season settles down... » Rated: T - English - General/Fluff/Romance - Chapters: 6 - Published: 2019 - [Metacrisis Ninth Doctor/Rose Tyler] - Finished.

AO3 || teaspoon || tumblr

xx

Chronicles of a better man

One-shots » » "We never forget our first Doctor." The TARDIS never forgot any of them and is still ready to go back on adventures with his many incarnations. » Rated: T - English - Drama/Romance - Chapters: 39 - Published: 2015/2019 - [New Who Doctors/New Who Companions] - In progress.

archive of our own || fanfiction.net || tumblr || wattpad

xx

Chronicles of a better man

One-shots » » "On n'oublie jamais son premier Doctor." Le TARDIS, lui, n'en a oublié aucun et il est toujours prêt à repartir vers de nouvelles aventures avec ses différentes incarnations. » Rated: T - French - Drama/Romance - Chapters: 29 - Published: 2015/2017 - [New Who Doctors/New Who Companions] - Complete.

fanfiction.net || wattpad

xx

Down To Earth

Fiction » » Instead of killing himself, he could rewrite his whole life and have a better one. He only had to use the Chameleon arch. And maybe finally be happy in a life where his past as killer wouldn’t weight so much on his shoulders. » Rated: M - English - Angst/Drama - Chapters: 22 - Published: 2016 - [Ninth Doctor/Rose Tyler] - Complete.

archive of our own || fanfiction.net || teaspoon || tumblr || wattpad

xx

Ghost of you

Fiction » » When an unusual eclipse appeared on the world on the 21st of December and left a strange virus turning people into inoffensive zombies in its wake, all the most brilliant minds had to work on the possible cure before the whole humanity disappeared. Could they manage to create it or was the world destined to end on that day? » Rated: M - English - Angst/Drama - Chapters: 21 - Published: 2017/2019 - [Ninth Doctor/Rose Tyler; Tenth Doctor/Jack Harkness] - Complete.

archive of our own || fanfiction.net || teaspoon || tumblr || wattpad

xx

How would you feel

Fiction » » The Doctor thought everything was done when he had kissed Rose to remove all the power of the Time Vortex out of her. He was dead, and was gonna regenerate into a new man. The universe was safe again. He hadn’t expected that the new Doctor would throw Rose out of the TARDIS, nor that the Bad Wolf would remain into Rose’s mind… » Rated: M - English - Angst/Drama - Chapters: 21 - Published: 2017 - [Ninth Doctor/Rose Tyler] - Stopped.

archive of our own || fanfiction.net || teaspoon || tumblr || wattpad

xx

Our last winter

Fiction » » “This thought was what made him move from the bed. He sat on the edge and glanced at the alarm clock. A bit over nine. For someone who always got up around 5 in the morning, this was oversleeping.” » Rated: M - English - Drama/Angst - Chapters: 31 - Published: 2018 - [Ninth Doctor/Rose Tyler] - Complete.

tumblr

xx

The Fallen

Fiction » » He had thought he had taken it all away with that kiss, but he was deadly wrong, and now, his new life was in danger. » Rated: M - English - Drama/Whump - Chapters: 12 - Published: 2019 - [Ninth Doctor/Rose Tyler] - In progress.

AO3 || teaspoon || tumblr

xx

The summertime of our lives

Fiction » » What if the Metacrisis Doctor was Nine instead of Ten? What would happen to him in an universe he doesn't fit in? How will Rose try to fix his angst? » Rated: M - English - General/Romance - Chapters: 6/6 - Published: 2019 - [Metacrisis Ninth Doctor/Rose Tyler] - Complete.

archive of our own || teaspoon || tumblr

xx

Waste the night

Fiction » » In nine hundred years of travels in time and space, the Doctor had never lived something as strange, as intriguing and as fantastic as the thing that happened a few hours ago. » Rated: M - English - Drama/Hurt/Comfort - Chapters: 9 - Published: 2016/2017 - [Ninth Doctor/Rose Tyler] - Complete.

archive of our own || fanfiction.net || teaspoon || tumblr || wattpad

xx

Waste the night

Fiction » » En neuf cent ans de voyages à travers le temps et l'espace, le Docteur n'a jamais vécu quelque chose d'aussi étrange, d'aussi intriguant, et d'aussi fantastique que ce qui s'est passé il y a quelques heures. » Rated: M - French - Drama/Hirt/Comfort - Chapters: 9 - Published: 2016/2017 - [Ninth Doctor/Rose Tyler] - Complete.

fanfiction.net || tumblr || wattpad

xx

We don't wanna be like them

Three-shots » » It all started on December 24th, six years after she ran away from her abusive boyfriend. Rose Tyler lived in the streets with her little boy, and she ran into troubles. She hadn't expected that someone would show up and give her the help and gentleness she had so much needed in her life. » Rated: T - English - Drama/Hirt/Comfort - Chapters: 3 - Published: 2017 - [Ninth Doctor/Rose Tyler] - Complete.

archive of our own || fanfiction.net || teaspoon || tumblr || wattpad

xx

We don't wanna be like them

Two shots » » Tout a commencé un 24 décembre, six ans après qu'elle se soit enfuie loin de son petit-ami abusif. Rose Tyler vit dans la rue avec son petit garçon, et rencontra des problèmes. Elle ne s'était pas attendue à ce que quelqu'un se montre et lui donne l'aide et la gentillesse dont elle avait tant eu besoin dans sa vie. » Rated: M - French - Drama/Hirt/Comfort - Chapters: 2 - Published: 2017 - [Ninth Doctor/Rose Tyler] - Complete.

fanfiction.net || tumblr || wattpad

[themagiciansreccenter]

The Great Blank Spot: @sadlittlenerdking

So much goes into creating fanfiction even before the first words hit the paper. And in-depth spotlight on our writers and the process behind their work.

Tell us about your current project.

I have so many, but the Big Dog I'm working on is my 39 Graves fic. I've got timeline 22, so no pressure lol

Do you try to write daily? Do you have a word count or other goals you try to hit for each writing session?

I try, but I work 14 hour days usually, so I've got limited writing time. I made a new years resolution to at least write a poem a day, so I've been doing that. To at least have something written.

What was the inspiration for this fic?

Man, I just really, really love killing my favorite characters.

How do you stay motivated between chapters/stories?

i rewatch the magicians? That and when people randomly comment on old fic I wasn't too proud of. That's like a +10 on motivation, just because it's like heroine for the soul.

Did this fic require any research? How much research do you typically do for your fics?

Not really? I mean, I rewatched the show just to look for hints into past timelines, but I'm completely flipping the script and going hogwild on how i can hurt everyone.

Do you typically write ahead or post as you go?

I post as I go, because I like pressing F5 nonstop for six hours for some reason lol

How much planning and outlining did you do before you started putting words on paper?

I'm HUGE on planning. In my old apartment i had a whole wall dedicated to planning. Write now, my outline for this fic is about 5k words, and i'm still tweaking as I get further into the plot outline.

Has it been pretty smooth sailing or rough waters? When things get rocky, how do you handle needing to rewrite sections or scrap scenes entirely?

Rough. I started writing, but I've rewritten the opener eight times, because i'm just not happy with my starting point. I get really frustrated when I can't get something write, so I just end up in this cycle of madness and rewriting. I do tend to rewrite sections over scraping entirely, though.

Anything else you want to add/think we should cover?

Should I mention that Mayakovsky raises Eliot in this? Maybe.

Excerpt

The man in the vest quirks an unenthused eyebrow, almost like he can’t believe he’s wasting his time on him. “Todd?” He asks, before reaching into his breast pocket and pulling out a small white card. He flips it using his index and middle fingers. It just says Todd in all caps, like the card is yelling demands. “No last name? What are you? Beyonce?”

“No—“ Todd shakes his head, “I have a last name.”

The man tilts his head, a wayward curl falling in his face. “It’s—wait, hold on—where are we?”

The man rolls his eyes, before looking over his shoulder at the school behind him. “Brakebills University,” He says, turning his gaze back on Todd. “Elite school of Elite Magicians. Apparently you’re up for the part.” He holds the card out for Todd to take, waving it when it takes him a moment too long. Once Todd’s fingers wrap around the edges, the man lets go and turns to stalk off to the left. “Come along, Mr. Knowles.”

The Great Blank Spot is an in-depth spotlight focusing on the writing process and previewing in-progress fics for our fandom. It is meant to be an organic, ever-evolving feature. Previously interviewed fic writers can reach out to us here, to have a specific work featured. If you’d like to have a work featured but haven’t done the author spotlight, reach out to us to get started. If you have suggestions for questions you’d like to see answered, shoot us an ask!

[sunnydaleherald]

The Sunnydale Herald Newsletter, Thursday, April 6th and Friday, April 7th

ANGEL (to Kendra): Who are you? If you tell me what I need to know I won't hurt you. (Kendra laughs as she steps back.) ANGEL: You think this is funny? (She swings closed the cage door and sets the bolt. Angel scrambles to his feet and slams up against the door.) KENDRA: I think it is funny now.

~~What's My Line Part 1~~

The Sunnydale Herald is looking for at least one new editor. Contributing to the Herald is a great way to get your Buffy on! Find out more here.

[Drabbles & Short Fiction]

The Wolf Slayer by Ravel991 (Buffy/Oz, E)

Absent Lovers by MaggieLaFey (multi inc Angel/Spike/Buffy, E)

Spike³ by julikobold (Spike, T)

A vampire and a werewolf go into a bar by julikobold (Spike, Oz, G)

Snapshots 04 by Aadler (various, Not Rated)

Falling Scales by SomeKindOfADeviant (Angel/Darla, T)

Darkness and Light by LiraelClayr007 (Buffy/Spike, G)

My Bloody Valentine by cawthraven (Buffy/Spike, E)

Keeping Mum by SomeKindOfADeviant (Drusilla, T)

Miss Edith is Sorely Disappointed by Unlucky_Pen (Spike/Drusilla, G)

Buffy & The Scoobies trapped in different TV shows... by prose-for-hire (Scoobies, unrated)

Saved by honeygirl51885 (Buffy/Spike, R)

Saved by honeygirl51885 (Buffy/Spike, R)

A Little Fall of Rain by Zab Jade (Buffy/Spike, 13+)

[Chaptered Fiction]

Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure: Shadowed Suspicion Chapter 382 by madimpossibledreamer (Ensemble, Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure xover, PG-13)

Found family ties - Ch. 1 by julikobold (Buffy/Spike, G)

Queen Buffy - Ch. 1-2 by DarkPhoenixLady (Harry Potter and Aliens vs Predators xover, M)

Ache With Me - Ch. 3 by CharcoalTeeth (Buffy/Faith, E) COMPLETE!

Are you here with me? - Ch. 2 by luciusiantokinnie (Buffy/Spike, Torchwood xover, T) COMPLETE!

Talking to Myself - Ch. 2 by AJ Fields (myfanfiction) (Xander/Anya, M) COMPLETE!

Willow's Revelation - Ch. 2 by AJ Fields (myfanfiction) (Willow, Tara, T) COMPLETE!

So One of Us is Living - Ch. 31 by violettathepiratequeen (Buffy/Spike, T) COMPLETE!

College Life: Hellmouth Edition - Ch. 5 by BrandiIndigo (Buffy/Dean, Supernatural xover, T) COMPLETE!

Word to the Wise - Ch. 4 by EllieRose101 (Buffy/Spike, T) COMPLETE!

Charmed and Chosen - Ch. 19 by QuillBard (Buffy/Faith, Charmed xover, M) COMPLETE!

where the shadow ends - Ch. 14 by disco_tea (Buffy/Spike, Dawn, T) COMPLETE!

Cinder-Buffy - Ch. 1 by holetoledo (Buffy/Spike, NC-17)

Twice Broken, Thrice Burnt - Ch. 1 by ClowniestLivEver (Buffy/Spike, R)

Try Not to Think About What Might Have Been - Ch. 1 by Willow25 (Buffy/Spike, R)

Creation, or Four More Bottles of Wine (What-If Books, Prologue) - Ch. 1 by Willow25 (Buffy/Spike, PG)

A Family Room at the Heartbreak Hotel - Ch. 1 by Julikobold (Buffy/Spike, PG-13)

Give Me Back My Girlhood, It Was Mine First - Ch. 2-3 by Wonder and Ashes (Buffy/Spike, PG-13)

Crushing Expectations - Ch. 3 by RavenLove12 (Buffy/Spike, NC-17)

How to...The manual of instructions every Slayer needs - Ch. 4 by JSBirsa (Buffy/Spike, R)

Dusk Rising - Ch. 3 by HappyWhenItRains (Buffy/Spike, NC-17)

Fire Starter - Ch. 24-29 by Teuntje (Buffy/Spike, NC-17) COMPLETE!

Back Through The Woods - Ch. 4 by Desicat (Buffy/Spike, R)

42 - Ch. 6-7 by Dynamite (Buffy/Spike, NC-17)

The Key Saves Spuffy - Ch. 6-7 by Dynamite (Buffy/Spike, NC-17)

Mostly Harmless - Ch. 3-7 by Lady Emma (Buffy/Spike, NC-17)

From Hell with Love - Ch. 3 by temporarytitle (Buffy/Spike, R)

The Rocky Road to Dublin - Ch. 12 by fortes775 (Buffy/Spike, NC-17)

Better the Devil You Know - Ch. 20 by SlayrGrl (Buffy/Spike, NC-17)

Whiplash - Ch. 10 by Ninereeds (Buffy/Spike, NC-17)

Rewrite - Ch. 31 by hopelesswanderer (Buffy/Spike, NC-17)

Chosen One - Ch. 39-40 by all_choseny (Buffy/Spike, R) COMPLETE!

Queen Buffy - Ch. 1-2 by DarkPhoenixLady (Harry Potter and Aliens vs Predators xover, FR18)

SuperBuffy : The Spark of Chaos - Ch. 8 by BlueZeroZeroOne (Supergirl xover, FR15)

Welding a Family - Ch. 27 by Buffyworldbuilder (Willow, Iron Man and Daredevil xover, FR13)

Alliance of Worlds - Ch. 11 by DoctorSkywalker (Willow, multiple crossovers, FR18)

Through the Lightning Storm - Ch. 10 by amerie (Buffy, Star Trek xover, FR18)

Origins - Ch. 36 by Niamh (Buffy/Spike, NC-17)

Not A Monster - Ch. 18 by Grief Counseling, Dusty (Buffy/Spike, NC-17) COMPLETE!

Twice Broken, Thrice Burnt - Ch. 1 by ClowniestLivEver (Buffy/Spike, R)

A Family Room at the Heartbreak Hotel - Ch. 1 by Julikobold (Buffy/Spike, PG-13)

Dusk Rising - Ch. 2 by HappyWhenItRains (Buffy/Spike, NC-17)

The Butcher - Ch. 7-8 by Grief Counseling (Buffy/Spike, NC-17)

How to...The manual of instructions every Slayer needs - Ch. 4 by JSBirsa (Buffy/Spike, R)

[Images, Audio & Video]

Gifset: Giles in every Episode. S1:E03 - The Witch (Part 3) by thecrazyknight (Giles, Buffy, worksafe)

Gifset: Spike and Buffy, 6x07 by sunnydaleslayer (Buffy, Spike, worksafe)

Gifset: Buffy Summers + Faceless by slayer-pride-parade (Buffy, others, worksafe)

Gifset: I would kill for you, steal for you. by andremichaux (Buffy/Faith, worksafe)

Barbie meme: [Ken poster] by spikethinker via spikedaily (Spike, worksafe)

Barbie meme: This Barbie is bored now by girlfriendcas (Willow, worksafe)

Barbie meme: [Barbie Poster] by crazedlittletoaster (Faith, worksafe)

Barbie meme: Barbie + The Slayers by someonefantastic (Buffy, Kendra, Faith, worksafe)

Headers: Nikki Wood headers by onegirlinallthewrld (Nikki, worksafe)

Headers: Faith Lehane + AtS Season 4 headers by onegirlinallthewrld (Faith, worksafe)

Headers: Faith Lehane headers by onegirlinallthewrld (Faith, worksafe)

[Reviews & Recaps]

Forever • S05E17 • TPN's Buffy Guide by Passion of the Nerd

[Recs & In Search Of]

Spuffy fics recced by mcgnagallsarmy

ISO: Opening_Knowledge868 seeks [explanation for the] Non Diagetic Instrumental music used in both Buffy and Heartbeat

ISO: PossiblyAMouse seeks Faith/Buffy fanfiction recs?

[Community Announcements]

Call For Banners by seasonal_spuffy

aghostsfanfictioncorneris taking one-shot short fic requests

[Fandom Discussions]

rewatching buffy and i really don’t like joyce summers. by invisible-pink-toast

angel & spike thoughts by assiraphales

It's interesting how Caleb describes Faith as "Cain to Buffy's Abel"... by herinsectreflection

[Pt. 1: corsets and stays - what Darla and Drusilla would have worn] by gh-0-stcup

[Pt. 2: corsets and stays - what Darla and Drusilla would have worn] by gh-0-stcup

"Nightmare" episode of ATS [what would non-Angel ATS characters fears be?] hosted by spikenbuffy

Has anyone met James? [stories] updated by various

Discussion of 2.17 "Passion" updated by TamsinValencia

Angel's curse and sexism updated by Nothing13 and others

A theory about Anya and.... bunnies! :D by Stoney and StateOfSiege97

Cheating again!? Did the Willow and Oz break up frustrate you? by Stoney

Why do you think they kept Buffy's "resurrection" a secret? [from Spike] by sushibananawater

Was there influence to why Joyce moved Buffy to Sunnydale? by Rorplup

Willow and Xander's childhood by GlobularLobule

Thoughts on this [vampire soul lore] by No-Marsupial4890

What would you do differently if you get to be in Buffy's position? by Buffvamporigfan

Giles on humans who pay vampires to bite them by Dukedoctor

Which Buffy/Angel character conversations would you have liked to see? by henzINNIT

In defence of Seeing Red by re_Claire

Which are your favourite BuffyVerse fights and why? by AllHailMyFace

I’ve watched the series at least 30 times but I never noticed Tara and Anya thumb-wrestling in Tabula Rasa until today. by awesomiste

Is Olaf's troll hammer in "The Gift" a McGuffin in the same way as Spike's Amulet in "Chosen"? by jdpm1991

Angel in the final Buffy episode was pointless by Skywalker_1995

What would you do differently if you get to be in [Dawn's] place? by Buffvamporigfan

Can I skip Angel season 4 and watch season 5? [comments include ATS S4 short recaps if you want to skip straight to S5] by SurprisedOtter101

Harmony in ATS Season 5 *spoilers* by blamblegam1

Buffy and Angel’s relationship felt awkward and forced. by whitematches

Buffy and Angel’s relationship felt awkward and forced. [ATS thread] by whitematches

The Viewer as God: Inclusion and Exclusion in Smallville and fandom by Thamiris

[Articles, Interviews, and Other News]

Con Recap: C2E2 2023 Reports, Pics & Videos via dontkillspike

Submit a link to be included in the newsletter!

[tifarobles]

The Process Continues...

Recently I received my first round of peer-review feedback for my upcoming novel, Azullucent. 

First of all, I have updated the name of my novel to “The Explorers of Azullucent” 

This just sounds better when I say it out loud. 

I have to be honest. When I first received the feedback, I was crushed. This story that I spent years thinking about and working on (off and on) for 16 years was read by people for the first time since I was 17... and they didn’t, IMMEDIATELY love it? 

Of course not! And that’s okay. 

This was only the sixth rewrite I’ve ever attempted: the first draft being hand-written on lined paper between the ages of 14-15, the following draft being when I first typed it up at 16, and the third time was when I went through making heavy additions, finishing my novel up at 17. I did one rewrite in college and once when I first gave Mike my novel and he read it. This last summer was my first real attempt at a rewrite in six years! 

I was out of practice and returning to the world I loved with fresh eyes and a whole slew of new life experiences. I was as rusty as I feel when I try to remember how to blues dance with someone that isn’t Mike. It’s not that I don’t know how or am bad at it, I’m just not going to be flawless on my first try. 

For reference, most authors write ten or more rewrites before publishing a book. Hemmingway wrote “A Farewell to Arms” 39 times. I expect to hand my manuscript over for final copyright editing by draft 9. And I expect to finish during this calendar year. 

My friends were amazingly honest and provided incredible feedback that I totally agreed with, but there is still a lot of work to do. Most of my fears about the weak points of my novel were accurate, so at least I already knew what I needed to work on and have plenty of ideas ready to go. I feel more confident than ever in this story and believe that Kristina, Liz, and my mom are all helping me reach my true potential. 

I added a bunch of scenes to the outline for the next revision. I wrote out 5 pages of ideas for changes and completely rewrote the beginning of my novel, adding a brand new first chapter. I believe that the upcoming draft will address many (hopefully all) of the weaker traits in my writing and will strengthen the investment for the reader. The backgrounds that have been simmering in my head for all these years are coming onto the paper in ways that make sense and inspire me. I have never felt better or more excited for this story! And that is saying a lot after 16 years of feelings... 

I'm thrilled to show my characters what I have in store for them and the developmental depth it will provide for your enjoyment. 

[angst-in-space]

1, 2, 4-11, 13-18, 20-22, 24, 25, 27-35, 37-48, 50 👍💕💖

holy shit alex

1. What was your first fic and could you stand to reread it today?

my first fic was altea rising and yes i’d still reread it today bc 1) i’m still writing it lmao, 2) i only started it two years ago dkfdj

2. What’s your most recent fic and how far do you think you’ve come?

if we’re not counting fic updates i guess the most recent thing i finished was my piece for @extrasolarzine (WHICH I’M GONNA FINALLY POST A PREVIEW OF THIS WEEK...AAH)!! and well, again i’ve only been writing fic for a couple years but...hmm idk, i mean this piece is very action-y and that’s something i used to have very little confidence about, so i’d like to think that’s something i’ve improved upon! 

4. In your opinion and without looking at any numbers, what’s your most popular fic?

ha i mean i know for a fact that “if the silence was a song” is my most popular fic both in terms of hits/kudos....it also seems to be the one people rec the most and the one i most often get the reaction of “wait, YOU wrote that??” sdkfjd

5. Is there any fic that makes you super happy to reread and remember you wrote that?

answered!

6. Is there any fic that makes you super embarrassed to reread and remember you wrote that?

nah not really, i’m pretty happy with all my fics lol...i guess there’s parts of them that could be better but none of them make me like Truly Embarrassed

7. What’s the fic you most want to continue (unfinished or no)?

answered!

8. What’s the oldest (longest since last update) fic you most want to continue (unfinished or no)?

i guess it’s altea rising since i haven’t updated it in like three months haha, but uhh don’t worry it’s coming! (as in i’m super close to Finally finishing a draft of the next chapter heh heh)

9. Have you ever written for a fandom without watching/reading/playing the source material?

nope! i’ve only written fic for voltron 

10. Have you ever written for a fandom without reading other fanfic for it?

also no....i binge-read a ton of voltron fics the summer it came out and then started a fic of my own! 

11. Have you ever written a fic for a concept you know someone else has done before? How did it impact your writing process or feelings after posting?

i figure everything has been done before in one way or another so that’s something i try not to sweat it too much about. i try to be original, but there’s also a lot of popular tropes i like so it’s fun to take those and try to make them my own somehow!

13. What’s the biggest change between your style when you started in fandom and today?

answered!

14. What’s the biggest change in your taste between when you started in fandom and today?

i’m not sure if this refers to reading or writing fic but...i guess in general i’m a lot pickier now than i was at the beginning of the fandom?? like i remember at the beginning i’d just kinda read whatever was popular but over time i’ve developed a much better sense of what i will and won’t like lol, and i p much only read things written by friends and/or rec’d to me by friends. 

15. Have you ever purposefully written one fandom/fic idea over another because you knew it’d be more popular?

not really?? in fact i seem to gravitate more towards my super long complicated aus even knowing they’re not gonna gain as much attention lol.

16. Have you ever stopped writing a fic/for a fandom because it wasn’t receiving enough attention?

no i’m a masochist so i continue writing the aforementioned super long complicated aus even when it feels like i’m just dropkicking updates into the void lmao. but tbh even if literally no one was reading my multichap fics i’d probs still write them bc they’re fun to write and i love them a lot, so!!

17. In your opinion, what’s your most overrated fic?

ha i mean, again i like all my fics and i’m happy i wrote them all but...i guess probably “a truth in the blood”? dgmw i still like that one a lot and i’m glad a lot of people enjoyed it, i’m just not as like emotionally attached to it as i am to my other fics (probs cuz i wrote it in like two weeks haha). 

18. What’s your most underrated fic?

ummm i’d say it’s defo “the stars are bound to change.” idk man like i really poured my soul into that one and it’s so rare someone tells me it’s their fave....i have this particular soft spot for it that whenever someone tells me they love that one i’m like *SOBS*...THANK YOU.

20. Have/Would you ever rewrite a fic? If yes, would you take the original down?

probably not?? there’s some things i’d probs change a bit in some of my fics but there’s nothing that i would rewrite completely.

21. If someone starts kudosing and commenting your fics in a spree and has a few works of their own, would you go look through theirs?

i gotta admit i don’t think i’ve ever done that...? i usually don’t start looking at someone’s fics unless they’ve been rec’d to me or like unless we’ve become friends and i then find out they write fic.

22. Has there ever been anyone who’s made you freak out because they read your work and followed/favorited/reviewed?

answered!

24. What’s the meanest review you’ve ever gotten? Do you think the reviewer intended it?

i’ve never gotten a truly mean review really. *knocks on wood* i think the only slightly negative one i can think of off the top of my head was someone who complained about the end of “the stars are bound to change” and said it was too abrupt but...i don’t think they intended it to be super malicious or anything, and like, i get it bc i wasn’t 100% happy with the ending either. but oh well can’t win ‘em all. 

25. What constructive criticism, however well-meaning, always makes you feel bad when you see it in a review?

again i haven’t really gotten much negativity or criticism in comments so uh...*shrugs* and i’m p good at taking constructive criticism i was a creative writing major sdkdj

27. If you could only ever write crossovers or single-fandom fics ever again, which would you pick?

i’ve only ever written single-fandom fics and don’t have a desire to ever write a crossover fic so lol. 

28. if you could only ever write for a single crossover or a single fandom again, which would you pick?

i mean i guess voltron bc it’s the only fandom i’ve written fic for anyway and klance still owns my ass, so... 

29. Does the division of your writing across fandoms line up with your reading? What’s the biggest discrepancy?

....i only read/write voltron fic pretty much so uh n/a haha

30. Do you continue to write for a fandom after you’ve moved on or do you focus solely on the new one?

again i’ve only written voltron fic and yeah i’m still writing it even though i’m not watching the show anymore. what can i say, a bitch loves klance and that bitch is me!! 

31. Who’s the one character you’ve just never managed to get perfectly right?32. Who’s the one character who shines without you even trying?33. Is there any particular character whose scenes always wind up being longer/more frequent than you expected? Does the quality hold up?

answered!

34. Was there any fic that you wrote that really surprised you in the fandom reaction? Was it just by the numbers or did they take it an entirely different way?

also answered!

35. Have you ever written a ship into a fic without meaning to?

not that i can think of...there’s been a couple times i’ve decided partway through a fic to include some side-pairing later on in the background, but it’s not really unintentional, just that i didn’t plan on it from the beginning. 

37. Have you ever purposefully bashed a character/ship in a fic?

i wouldn’t say “bashed” per se but uh i do often really stress on shiro & keith having a brotherly relationship although that’s more out of the fear of people interpreting it the wrong way... ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

38. Have you ever purposefully written something you know your readers would find uncomfortable/would not enjoy? If yes, why?

i....no. why would i do that?? dlkfjdk

39. Do you consider yourself to have a readership?

a sort of small one but yeah! 

40. Do you feel like you put out enough content?

yes and no...i write a lot but it’s mostly just piling more and more into my multichaps. kinda wish i wrote more short oneshots but oh well.

41. If you cross-post your fics on multiple sites, do you have a favorite? Are there certain fics you would only post on certain site?

i only post on ao3 so yeah.

42. How many views has your most popular fic gotten?

“if the silence was a song” with 23,744 hits whew!! 

43. Your least popular?

“a million little pieces” (the fic i wrote for lancito) it only has 349 hits rip.... (i mean it’s a gen fic and only like 2k words long so i get it but sdlkfjd)

44. Do you follow/favorite/kudos/comment/review more stories than you have received?

i’m a little confused by the wording of this lol, but uh if i’m understanding the question correctly...i think it’s about even? although tbh i’ve been slacking a lot in my fic reading lately, but in general i try to support other fic authors as much as i can! 

45. If you had to call yourself an author of a single genre (besides fanfic) what label would you give yourself?

answered!

46. Do you consider yourself a diverse author?

i’m not sure if this means like in terms of diverse content/genres or in terms of like character diversity but i’d like to say yes to both?? i like moving around between different genres, also i care a lot about character diversity and representation so yeah! 

47. If someone you know in real life who isn’t involved in fandoms asked to read your work, would you let them? If yes, what would you recommend they read first?

i mean this has happened to me before and i’m like “sure lol.” it depends on the person but probs i would have them read “a million little pieces” or maybe “a truth in the blood” since those are the shortest and uhhh the least shippy lol. 

48. Does anyone you know from outside of fandom know you write fanfic? Are they involved in the same fandom too?

yeah i’m an annoying bitch who can’t shut up about writing fic so p much all my friends/fam know i write it hahaha. and uhh i have a couple irl friends who are in the same fandoms as me but not a lot.

50. Has writing fanfic had a significant impact on your life? Would you say it’s entirely positive?

answered!

aaaaand now i think i’ve officially answered all the questions for this meme lmao

fanfic author ask meme

[intensecomplexity]

I posted 685 times in 2021

26 posts created (4%)

659 posts reblogged (96%)

For every post I created, I reblogged 25.3 posts.

I added 1,550 tags in 2021

#itzy - 529 posts

#era: loco - 285 posts

#hwang yeji - 219 posts

#shin ryujin - 205 posts

#ot5 - 85 posts

#shin yuna - 63 posts

#aespa - 49 posts

#choi lia - 45 posts

#frustrated. - 39 posts

#lee chaeryeong - 31 posts

Longest Tag: 36 characters

#i wonder what she's doing these days

My Top Posts in 2021

#5

Now would be the perfect time to have a co-writer. 

1 notes • Posted 2021-10-06 01:54:54 GMT

#4

Title: LOCO Rating: NC-17/E Pairing: Ryujin/Yeji Summary: Was it the hair or the outfit? Note: Ryujin and Yeji’s hairstyles. Ryujin and Yeji’s outfits. The LOCO M/V all together. Where did the feels come from?

2 notes • Posted 2021-10-03 01:16:51 GMT

#3

Title: Can’t Live Without You - Chapter 2 Rating: G Pairing(s): Hwang Yeji/Shin Ryujin Summary: First meetings. Note: I have never felt such stress trying to rewrite my own work. I didn't realize I wrote 5 versions of the same story, so I was taking my time piecing together the 'original' story I've always remembered from all those versions. I wonder how long this story will be if the first chapter is like this. Welp.

3 notes • Posted 2021-10-26 23:11:51 GMT

#2

Title: Can’t Live Without You | Chapter 0 Rating: G Pairing(s): Hwang Yeji/Shin Ryujin Summary: Shin Ryujin knew she wasn't normal when she was four-years-old. Born into an extraordinary family, she joined D.A.G.G.E.R. at thirteen after showing up on S.H.I.E.L.D.'s radar and being placed in the Index. With Ok Taecyeon's insistence, she found herself under Hwang Yeji's tutelage to manage her abilities. Despite a rocky start, Ryujin made it obvious she could be a hero, but she wasn't sure if that was the life she wanted. She also wasn't sure about the feelings that developed for her supervising officer. All Ryujin knew was that her life was about to truly begin. Note: From the depths of my personal fanfiction archive, I have remade an old Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. piece into a crossover of the Marvel Cinematic Universe and the K-Pop world. Trying to determine who would be who was fun, but converting the timeline was a giant pain. I'm not completely well-versed in the MCU, but I hope I did enough research to make up for it. All I know is that there will be a lot of shenanigans involved for this piece! Hang on, friends!I have also aged up Yeji and Taecyeon because... things wouldn't really make sense otherwise. Cheers!

5 notes • Posted 2021-10-24 00:28:57 GMT

#1

Title: Oasis Rating: NC-17/E Pairing(s): Hwang Yeji/Shin Ryujin, Choi Lia/Lee Chaeryeong (squint.) Summary: Ryujin was tired of everything, and existing was becoming hard to do. She needed time and space, and maybe a little help. Note: Where do I start? This is very off-the-rails and isn’t completely fleshed out as I would like it, but it’s an idea that’s been stewing in my brain for a couple of months now. I’m still debating on whether or not I’ll add extra parts to this because it does continue (in my head), but it needs some tweaking here and there to not feel disjointed. Anyway, thanks for clicking and enjoy the read!

5 notes • Posted 2021-10-12 23:53:36 GMT

Get your Tumblr 2021 Year in Review →

[robertsbarbie-archive]

im putting you up to what you posted and I'm asking you to answer all of the writing questions. also the url change had me confused for half a second but im in love

This is why I’m my own worst enemy

2. Favorite part of writing.

Creating a whole world, a whole other life, that people can someday enjoy and find comfort in when they’re feeling down

3. Least favorite part of writing.

Writing, like the fact that your ideas and storyline isn’t instantly onto the paper is insane

4. Do you have writing habits or rituals?

I mean I probably do but I can’t remember

6. Favorite character you ever created.

A teenage greek goddess I pulled out of my ass named Arendellia, she was a badass who died and I really just liked what I wrote involving her

9. Least favorite trope to write.

the opposites attract, in my opinion it’s cliche and unrealistic, I prefer the characters have similar interests but different approaches to things if that makes sense?

10. Pick a writer to co-write a book with and tell us what you’d write about.

Natasha Preston, and we’d wrote the sequel to The Cabin cause it’s been a year and I’m still not over the ending, I need a sequel

11. Describe your writing process from scratch to finish.

first I get a new notebook, I need a clean space for my ideas, then I wrote down a prologue or a description, it allows for my brain to fully process where I want the story to go, then I write until I hit a male characters name, cause I hate coming up with male names, if I have one picked out I’ll see if the image in my brain matches the name, if I can’t find a name that fits the project is discarded, if I find one that fits I write until I don’t know where to take the story next then I continue to formulate my ideas into actual scenes until I reach the end, then I close it up in a box never to be touched again until I accidentally find it while cleaning one day

12. How do you deal with self-doubts?

I either won’t show anyone or will preface saying “it’s not edited yet” or “I know it’s garbage lol”

13. How do you deal with writers block?

I listen to music, and write stories based off of the song titles, like I always try to write a chapter and if after a chapter I don’t think I have a story I move on, sometimes I’ll get a completely new idea but it really helps to get ideas flowing

14. What’s the most research you ever put into a book?

I’m currently waiting to write a book until I have all of the details, it revolves around Greek mythology but I want to be so accurate, not white wash, or erase the different sexualities of the Gods and I want to be accurate to the myths (a bit) but so far that’s the one

16. Where do you take your motivation from?

My brain telling me that it’ll leave me if I don’t get the ideas out of my head

18. What’s your revision or rewriting process like?

I learned in 7th grade that I need to do a complete rewrite which sometimes I do, other times I’m being nostalgic and read an old story then realize I’m an idiot so I edit it lol

19. First line of a WIP you’re working on.

‘"Coffee looks absolutely lovely on you, madam," I glare at Cody while attempting to pat myself dry.’ From that Dying in LA story I talked about earlier

21. Post the last sentence you wrote in one of your WIP’s.

’"I told the director to go suck a dick. It was the worse thing imaginable,” I groan into my hands.’ Same story, and it’s only the second chapter but yeah

22. How many drafts do you need until you’re satisfied and a project is ultimately done for you?

Bold of you to assume I actually finish my writings

23. Single or multi POV, and why?

As big of a fan that I am of different perspectives, I prefer single POV, I feel as though the character is more personal. Rarely do I do multi

24. Poetry or prose, and why?

Prose, my poetry is rather depressing and I just can’t

25. Linear or non-linear, and why?

Linear, otherwise in my opinion it doesn’t make a whole lot of sense

27. Do you share rough drafts or do you wait until it’s all polished?

yes and no (I’ll explain in next answer)

28. And who do you share them with?

the unpolished, I share on Wattpad because it’s easier to detach myself if they don’t like it, but I wait until polished for people I actually know

29. Who do you write for?

Myself, it’s a way for me to cope with life, and writing and rewriting an event that has happened to me helps me move on from the situation

31. Hardest character to write.

Men.

32. Easiest character to write.

Villains

35. Tell some backstory details about one of your characters in your story ________.

the main character in “Dying in LA” had a rough childhood (shut up at the cliche) and used acting to escape, she moves to LA when she’s 19 having fail after fail at auditions, she’s about to give up when she gets her big break. (Sorry I’m terrible at back stories)

36. A spoiler for story _________.

Oof I want to spoil DILA (Dying in LA) but I won’t, um, I started this story about this girl who gets kidnapped and um I’m kinda planning on killing her so there’s that.

38. Have you shared your outline of your story ________ with someone? If so, what did they think of it?

Bold of you to assume I’m not just BSing my way through my story

39. Do you base your characters of real people or not? If so, tell us about one.

Yes. Um, I’m gonna tell you about the real person cause I based so many characters off of this person. Oof okay, it was any ex. For years he was in EVERYTHING I wrote, the story usually focused on the what if’s or the repercussions of our relationship and the fall out of it. We just complemented each other so well the thought of writing something to try and capture our time together comforted me so much. I still get flashbacks of our time together and sometimes his personality shows up in my writing but it just goes to show how the people in your life stay with you.

40. Original Fiction or Fanfiction, and why?

Both? I think there’s upsides and down sides to both but both are so amazing and are fun to explore

44. Best piece of feedback you’ve ever gotten.

Be confident in your writing and it will show, don’t be afraid to take risks

45. Worst piece of feedback you’ve ever gotten.

“Great job! Keep up the good work!” Um???? what good work???? be specific please!

46. What would your story _______ look like as a tv show or movie?

DILA would hopefully be done in a CW style where like it’s light hearted but a real plot and seriousness lies beneath? I actually don’t know?

47. Do you start with characters or plot when working on a new story?

Plot, my guy

48. Favorite genre to write in.

Realistic Fiction

49. What do you find the hardest to write in a story, the beginning, the middle or the end?

the middle, most likely I already have the end and beginning planned

51. Describe the aesthetic of your story _______ in 5 sentences or words.

Dying in LA: fame, used, lost, forgotten, greed

52. How did writing change you?

It gave me a place to express myself and cope with life and the struggles I’ve been through

53. What does writing mean to you?

Everything, it gives me a voice when I feel like I don’t have one

54. Any writing advice you want to share?

Keep writing, practice really does make perfect

Also the url is the best (any numbers missing means I already answered them, check under #asks )

[rielity]

2017 Writing Round-Up

source

Total year-long word count: 90303

Word count by fandom:

BNHA: 4891, 4 fics DGM: 3414, 2 fics Haikyuu!!: 81998, 36 fics

Fics completed:

39/42

Works-in-progress:

3/42 - Of Demons & How to Chase Them | twenty-four hours | for the voiceless (though this one... is debatable) crossfire is also, technically, a wip. but at the same time... it's not, lol.

This year I wrote and posted:

Timeless: 4 Across the Ages At Sunrise Back Home Beyond Nightfall

soft kitty warm kitty: 2 cat that got the cream catching catnaps

writing with snowdrops & others: 21 the little bits and pieces of this world with nothing in our hands Of Demons & How to Chase Them (DGM, chapter 3) on eggshells crossfire Runaways (chapter 2) Role of a Captain People You May Know forever is a mighty long time one-way ticket destination: forever the longest, darkest night the weight of you (DGM) cold (BNHA) safe (BNHA) twenty-four hours herding cats (BNHA) for the voiceless molten gold spring (BNHA) when I think of winter

SASO: 15 the owl and the duckbutt at the end of the world terms and conditions count on me, count on you best-kept secret light years from home (you) fear and bravery midwinter silence two chairs to a table crying is contagious phantom passing the baton control, and the lack thereof mirror

Total: 40 fics + two updates to old fics

Looking back, did you write more fic than you thought you would this year, less, or about what you'd predicted?

At the start of 2017, I wrote on Lofter and Tumblr that my target would be to hit 60 published works on AO3 by the end of the year. I have 79 now, so I wrote twice as much as what I was aiming to. I definitely didn't expect to write so much, and I have SASO to blame (thank?).

What pairing/genre/fandom did you write that you would never have predicted in January?

Anything to do with the Miyas (duh!)... and also Seijou. But I guess the one that I would have never expected myself to write would be Matsu//hana: I wrote one-way ticket on a bus ride home after reading chapter 258. I hardly ever read Matsu//hana fic, much less ever feel inspired to write it, so one-way ticket really caught me off-guard.

What's your own favorite story of the year? Not the most popular, but the one that makes you happiest?

I thought about this question for a long time and skipped ahead to answer a few before I came back to this. At first I thought it was a really hard choice to make - how can you ask me to choose a story out of all 40 that I've written this year? - but then I realised the answer's always been really clear. 

It's the weight of you, my Laviyuu fic based off of Vienna Teng's Enough to Go By. I wrote it in one sitting, with hardly any problems in terms of storyline or thematic exploration. it was one of those fics that just. came to me and let me embrace it. half a year later, I'm still incredibly proud of what I achieved in that meagre expanse of 1000 words. once in a while when I need to be reminded of what my writing can achieve, I reread it.

Did you take any writing risks this year? What did you learn from them?

I signed up for SASO. I was definitely not planning to write as much as I did, LOL. It taught me how to write fast, and to not be as hung up over the editing as I always do. I'm a slow writer because I like to write and edit at the same time, but with SASO it was just writing and minimal editing. I also got a bit more comfortable with working with prompts, though I'm still terrible at it.

I also signed up for two zines this year, one of which was for Kacchako, a pair I'd never written before. And to top it off, I was struck by writer's block when I was working on my submission. I don't know, it taught me to not sign up for zines when I'm drowning in schoolwork and that impulsive decisions are never a great idea (but are they really?).

Your best story of this year:

What's the difference between favourite story, best story and most popular story? I'd say it's either the weight of you or molten gold. the former for reasons stated in the earlier question, but molten gold because it's a fic that clearly shows how far I've come in writing ever since I started writing for HQ last year. when drawn parallel to Storm, my first Noya character study (and my second ever HQ fic), the difference is stark. It's still not perfect, and there are still things I wish I could've included, but I'm proud of what I achieved in it.

Your most popular story of this year:

By 'most popular' I'm assuming most kudos.

herding cats for BNHA and overall, and the little bits and pieces of this world for Haikyuu!! - neither of which are surprising results.

herding cats is a lighthearted and fun fluffy piece written for a ship that is gaining traction in a very thirsty fandom, while bits and pieces has the HQ fandom favourite trope of enemies to friends to lovers, and the benefit (?) of it running parallel to canon story.

Story of yours most under-appreciated by the universe, in your opinion:

At Sunrise. previously I would've said Across the Ages, but as I read and reread my old works, I've come to realise that At Sunrise is a piece that delves very deeply into the emotions of my characters, and really builds up an emotional bond not just between my characters, but also between my story and my readers. The amount of actual emotional pain that I inflicted on myself while writing it really shows in my writing, and my readers can feel it too.

I get why people don't read it. I really do. I've said it before, a few times now. Major character death scares a lot of readers away. Being a fantasy AU, and a Part 2 in a series turns people off. And it's Kage//hina, which is not necessarily a bad thing, but it being a major ship means that a huge amount of the people who click in soon find that they're not here for this content.

Even so, I still think it deserves better.

I published it on April 1. It's December 28 now, and these are its stats.

Hits: 614 | Kudos: 37

Go figure. *salt

Most fun story to write:

Honestly, any story with Futakuchi as a narrator is great. It's a toss-up between when I think of winter and People You May Know. with nothing in our hands comes close as a runner-up though.

Story with the single sexiest moment:

You're asking me, a writer who can't even write kissing scenes, about a sexiest moment...??? I guess it'd be Back Home, if only because it's the fic with the most snogging.

Most "Holy crap, that's wrong, even for you" story:

mirror. It's not wrong per se, just not what I would have usually done for a Haikyuu fic. I think a lot of readers were taken aback by its hidden twist.

Story that shifted your own perceptions of the characters:

I don't really have an answer to this. It might be cold, my first ever Todo//baku. Writing it gave me a lot of insights into the Tod//obaku dynamic and understanding them better, but shifting my perception? I'd be hard-pressed to name it as such.

Hardest story to write:

on eggshells, At Sunrise, midwinter and molten gold. The first two because of how emotionally taxing they were, the latter two because of how difficult they were to actually write. I set out on each of these stories with a clear image of how I wanted to end it, but the process of going from start to finish was a long, long winding road, whether in picking the words that I needed to evoke the exact nuance and atmosphere I wanted to portray, or in letting myself hurt for my characters as I wrote. Sounds dramatic, but unfortunately true.

Biggest disappointment:

I hate to say it, but, Beyond Nightfall. I feel like I could have done a lot a lot a lot more with it, but I also don't know what exactly I could have done. I realised my biggest problem with writing longfic manifested when I was writing Beyond Nightfall - the incessant need to make everything tie up perfectly, which on hindsight was not the best decision because it made everything too neat, and also forced my story in a way that it didn't necessarily want to go. 

Moving forward, I hope I can work on this (I've already started to do so starting with when I think of winter) and I eventually plan to come back and rewrite Beyond Nightfall.

Biggest surprise:

forever is a mighty long time. I'd been toying with the idea of a reincarnation AU for Kuroyaku for the longest time, but never really wanted to actually start on it (...as is the case for 80% of all my fic ideas...) because I'm not a fan of writing tropey AUs (oh, look at that holier-than-thou attitude in that sentence LMAO JK). But when inspiration struck for me to put a twist on what would otherwise have been a very standard reincarnation AU piece, I decided to sit down and get to work on it.

Looking back, it's a good fic. not my best, but it's good.

Most unintentionally telling story:

on eggshells. It wasn't unintentionally telling, though. It was intentional, every bit of it. eggshells was the first time I dared to dig deep within myself to write a story based off my own emotional experiences, and while I found it cathartic, it's certainly not something I hope to replicate anytime soon.

Favorite opening line(s):

Futakuchi was not pining. He was absolutely not pining over Karasuno's vice-captain with the shaved head and rumpled training vest - what the hell, they even shared the same number, ew. - People You May Know

Favorite closing line(s):

kuroo stretches a little, his toes touching the calf of yaku’s leg, warm, solid and present, and very much alive. very much here. “yeah, i know.” - forever is a mighty long time

And the worst part of it all is that when he looks into the shards of broken silver lying on his bedroom floor, he still can’t stop seeing ‘Samu looking right back at him. - mirror

But in fact there is nothing much to say at all, when those shoulders that have been tempered with fire are more than capable of holding its weight. - molten gold

Favorite 5 line(s) from anywhere:

Moonlight scatters on the floorboards, a miniature Milky Way filling the space between them, but Yaku takes a step, then another, and then he’s falling into Kuroo’s arms, no longer a cold ephemeral spectre for Kuroo to gaze at from afar, like the twinkling stars through window grilles, but a warm, solid and real body that fits right against Kuroo’s own, a puzzle piece slotting back into place. - midwinter

And he would have liked to think himself invulnerable, with a mask stoic enough that nothing could shatter, a heart cold enough that nothing could touch, disillusioned with the evils of humanity that he had borne witness to. - the weight of you

where issei would usually retort with some comeback about takahiro’s birthday, today there is only silence. the train pulls to a stop, doors beeping an arrhythmic melody as their knees knock together with the movement. issei’s pulled out his phone now, the bend of his arms making his elbow dig into takahiro’s side; takahiro wonders if he, like him, is trying to feign deafness to the echoing chasm that seems to have opened up between them over the course of five sentences. - one-way ticket

His hands clutch at his throat, run ragged and raw by the smoothness of poppy petals. What an apt irony then that poppies should signify peace, because Aone is and has always been the peaceful, stoic rock to the swirling tempest that Kenji is, but their mere existence is doing the exact opposite in calming Kenji’s raging heart, their stem a noose around his neck. - fear and bravery

He takes a deep breath, and steps onto the court, into the fray. He can feel eyes on him - from his teammates, from his opponents, from the stands. The numbers on his jersey feel like they’re branding himselves into his back, and he squares his shoulders, embracing the burn. He’s not Nekoma’s number 3, but he’s Nekoma’s number 12, and he’ll show them what it means to be Nekoma’s libero - what it means to be guarding Nekoma’s backs. - passing the baton

Top 5 scenes from anywhere you would choose to have illustrated:

Lavi in front of Kanda's grave, at the remains of the old Black Order - the weight of you

Kuroo and Yaku doing work at the kitchen table, their legs barely touching - forever is a mighty long time

Oikawa and Futakuchi in front of the irori - when I think of winter

The moment when Shirabu and Kawanishi realise that Futakuchi's read the map upside down and they're now hopelessly lost - with nothing in our hands

Hinata, through Kageyama's eyes, when he tells Kageyama that he won't forget him - At Sunrise

Fic-writing goals for next year:

15 fics in total. It's a downsize from this year because the first half of next year will be occupied by uni and transition into adulting, so I don't want to give myself too much pressure. I'm still on the fence about signing up for SportsFest (SASO's successor) but I'll think about that when I get there.

I'm also going to take a break from fandom events for the time being. I've learnt from this year that I write terribly when given deadlines, and I admit that it was bad planning on my part to sign up for HQSS and a zine on top of my own schoolwork, especially when I was already taking a module on creative writing. Creative drought hit fast and furious and made the last two months terrible for me, writing-wise. Next year, I want to make sure that I can give my writing the due time and effort that it deserves, rather than forcing myself to churn out work.

Most importantly, I want to keep growing as a writer. I'm happy with how my style has developed this year, and I want to continue growing. Besides improving my dialogue writing and visual descriptions, I also want to venture into writing more challenging AUs and also characters that I've never dared to try.

I also want to attempt long fic, in particular the fic that I'd outlined for Nanowrimo this year but never had the chance to start on. In fact, I'd go as far as to say that I'd make that Nano fic my year-long project for next year, except I don't know if I'll actually be able to make it draw out for as long as I want it to, and also because I doubt my discipline in sticking it out with one single work for a whole year.

Besides all that, I'll be slowly chipping away at making the Kuroyaku anthology a reality. That means REWRITE REWRITE REWRITE. With writing style changes come inconsistency in storytelling. I think I need to find some time and give myself the chance to standardise everything, and fix any glaring errors I might find.

We shall see. 2017 has been a fantastic year for me in fandom, both in writing and in finding a community. I hope 2018 is even better.