#Vari-Writes

[sublimati0ns]

daily koss #12: gay chicken … bsky

Why don’t you have a drink, doctor? You’ve earned it. Before my esteemed ex-commander gets the chance to refuel? It’s like you take me for a wild beast! You go ahead, Screamer. Oh, but I insist. It’s not like our former hierarchy exists, now that the war is over. Right, Knock Out? Aw, but old habits die hard—you know how it is! I mean, you’re still flying around with that decal on your chest. Why don’t you indulge me, for old time’s sake? It’s not like you ever stopped wanting to be the boss. Hmmm. Do I detect a hint of contempt? An… ulterior motive, perhaps? What?! Starscream, when have I ever been anything but honest with you? 🥺 Oh, I can name one or two incidents—! Wait. You’re distracting me. As if there’s some reason you won’t take your energon… … … [ in the end, none of the energon was poisoned. they both just get paranoid when they think the other is mad at them, but primus forbid they ask about each other’s feelings! ]

I… I wanted to draw valveplug for this day but it just didn’t happen… they wanted to do this nonsense instead…

[fanaticartisan]

when WRITING fanfic,

reblog for bigger spread if you want etc

[mischievous-thunder]

Logan's two moods:

Logie Bear's moods oscillate between being a feral kitty and a sweet kitty cat

[thus-spoke-lo]

"What's Got You All Worked Up?": Little things that turn One Piece men on feat. Zoro - Sanji - Law - Usopp - Franky - Crocodile - Doflamingo

NSFW/18+ [minors DNI]

CW: gn!reader [Zoro, Sanji, Usopp]; afab!reader [Law, Franky, Crocodile, Doflamingo] - no gendered pronouns used; vaginal fingering [Law]; vaginal intercourse [Law]; somnophilia [Doflamingo]

Zoro: the way you look after a workout

Zoro never cares if you keep up with him when he works out—he loves that you want to spend time with him, adores how serious you take your bicep curls or how you look in the afternoon light when you lay down on a mat for a while to slowly stretch your limbs. But it’s when you’re all done for the day, when the heat of the midday sun has the room like a sauna and your muscles are sore and shaking, that he starts to lose all semblance of control. Your temples are dappled with perspiration, your chest heaving as you finish your last rep, sweat is trickling down your neck; he swallows hard and lets out a low groan at the sight of you. It reminds him of the way you look right after he fucks you, all heated and glistening with sweat and limbs weak and trembling. And since you’re already all warmed up, this seems like the perfect time to bend you over and take you right there on the weight bench.

Sanji: the way you smell

He doesn’t mean to be such a pest (well, actually he does) when he comes up behind you in the mornings, when you’ve just woken and you’re still sleep-drunk and groaning that the sun is out again already, but he needs to bury his face in the crook of your neck as soon as you wake and inhale your scent. Sanji thinks you smell sweet in the mornings, like pancakes and pastries, and pulls you back into bed so he can devour you like the delicious treat that you are. In the afternoons, he catches a whiff of you on the breeze, your skin covered in the salty spray of the sea, hands scented with tangerines after helping Nami in the garden, and he’s all over you, plying you with kisses and lust-tinged whimpers, begging you to come to his bunk, just for a little while, just so he can taste the way the citrus settled into your skin. And at night, he’s insatiable, burying his nose in your hair unabashedly when you stay to help him clean after dinner, taking in the way the faint traces of aromatic ingredients have settled on you and mixed with your own scent that he adores. It’s not long before he’s shutting off the sink and taking you by the hand, leading you over to the table and making a meal of you right then and there.

Law: the way you look in comfy clothes

Sure, he thinks you look lovely on the rare occasion you get to leave the submarine together and you doll yourself up for him, wearing that new shirt he likes, the one that flows over your body like water, and take the effort to line your eyes and swipe a little lipstick on. But when he feels the most hungry for you is when you get back and head straight to your quarters, stripping off your shoes and your pretty shirt and those tight jeans that make your ass look perfect but that you joke threaten to cut off your breathing one of these days. He sits in his desk chair and watches as everything comes off, and you crawl into his bed, face freshly-scrubbed, tucking your hands into the sleeves of an oversized sweatshirt. It’s then, when you’re finally comfortable and warm, when you look at ease and relaxed, and you gaze at him with half-lidded eyes, that he’s all over you, fingers dipping below the waistband of your soft cotton shorts, teasing your pussy until you whimper and beg for more. He doesn’t even bother to strip the rest of your clothes off before he pulls his cock out of his jeans and buries himself inside you to the hilt, pulling your shorts to the side instead so you can stay nice and cozy, just how he likes you.

Usopp: when you help in his workshop

Sharing his workspace with you is already intimate enough for Usopp – it’s like he’s sharing a piece of himself the way he invites you in. But once you’re in there, it’s hard for him not to be heated at how serious you take it. You look so sweet the way your tongue pokes out of your mouth when you’re focused on something, and he feels a tingle at the base of his spine whenever you pout and ask him for help—you’re so close to getting it right, you just need him to guide you, to stand behind you and place his hands on yours and make sure the welding equipment stays steady. Watching the way you grip that piece of metal piping your working with in a way that makes him wish your hands were wrapped around his length instead…it takes everything he has not to grab you and sit you on top his worktable, to wrap his arms around your waist and pull you against him, let you feel just how much you drive him crazy. But he resists, at least for the moment, anyway--hearing you describe just how hard that steel is and how hot and sweaty you've become doing all this work pushes him to the brink soon enough, and he has no qualms in showing you exactly how skilled his hands are.

Franky: when you show just a little bit of skin

Coming from a man who walks around in an open shirt and swim briefs, this sounds pretty rich. But there’s just something so tantalizing about seeing a hint of skin and having to imagine what’s underneath, like that time your leggings were more sheer than you thought, and you bent over to grab the laundry basket and he got a quick glimpse of your panties (that happened to be the same pattern as one of his shirts). It was enough to drive him to distraction for the rest of the day and make him glad he was alone in the engine room, barely able to contain the way his cock pulsed every time he remembered how you looked. He loves that one sweater you wear, too—the one that just won’t stay on your shoulder and keeps slipping down, exposing just the slightest bit of soft skin in the afternoon sun, and the way it leads his eyes down to the way the fabric settles over your breasts. And don’t even get him started on that hint of your tummy he gets to see when you reach up to grab something off a high shelf, reminding him how easy it would be to wrap his big hand around your waist and just slide it right on up until he can feel the silky material of that nice bra he bought you…have mercy.

Crocodile: the way you look getting ready for dinner

It’s so routine now that you don’t seem to mind—at first it alarmed you, made you feel like prey when Crocodile would sit on the velvet couch in your quarters, his arms draped across the back, a cigar clenched in his teeth, and he’d watch you ready yourself for that evening’s festivities. But now, you almost welcomed the way his predatory gaze would settle on you as you sit at your vanity and paint your lips; you throw a wink and a pout his way now and again in the mirror, almost tempting him to ruin that pretty makeup after you’ve spent so long putting it on. He loves how your body moves, almost sleek and catlike, around the room, slinking into your closet and asking him which dress he likes better. He shifts in his seat as you wriggle into that pretty blue number he adores, and throbs as you glance over your shoulder and bat your eyes, asking him sweetly to come zip you up. And how can he refuse? Of course, by the time he crosses the room and reaches you, you both know that he has no plans to move that zipper an inch, and instead you feel the tip of his hook lifting your hem as he growls in your ear to bend over—he’s going to take care of that needy pussy of yours before you ever step foot out of your room. Guess you’ll be late for dinner, again.

Doflamingo: the way you look when you’re sleeping

He chuckles quietly and wonders if you fell asleep this way on purpose—the silken nightgown he dressed you in before he left for the evening has been discarded on the floor, and you lay atop the sheets, your body completely bare and bathed in moonlight. He slowly circles the bed like a predator, admiring the way your limbs are stretched out, arms flung above your head, your legs spread, one knee bent and lolled to the side, exposing your pretty little cunt. It looks just like the way you fling yourself onto the mattress when you’re feeling needy, how you toss your dress at him and lay back against the plush pillows, biting your lip and beckoning him to you with sweet pleas of I need you. He licks his lips at how your slit glistens, and wonders if you’re dreaming of him, wonders if perhaps you touched yourself thinking of him before you fell asleep. He sits carefully on the edge of the bed and watches you sleep a little longer, your lashes fluttering slightly as you moan and shift, your breasts heaving as you inhale deeply and sigh. You tempt him even in slumber, and he palms the throbbing hardness that pushes against his slacks, groaning softly as he decides if he should wake you with his fingers, his tongue, or his cock.

[the-raindeer-king]

Rings I think the 141 would marry you with 💍 (I got the reference pictures off Pinterest. Don't come at me please.)

John Price is giving you a family heirloom. It's been in his family for forever, and it's passed down to the eldest child. And he's so glad to finally be able to use it.

Kyle "Gaz" Garrick is giving you one of these pretty ring sets. The kind that all stack together. He gives you part of it as your engagement ring, and you get the final pieces during your wedding ceremony.

John "Soap" MacTavish is getting you a matching set. He's so proud to be your husband, and he wants the world to know it. So of course his wedding band matches your wedding ring. And honestly? You wouldn't have it any other way.

Simon "Ghost" Riley is giving you something small and dainty. As much as he'd love to put a rock on your finger, he can't afford the risk. He wants you to be able to have plausible deniability, in case work follows him home.

[arget-star]

some Dad!Sakura thoughts based off this ask :) (written with f!reader in mind!)

tw: mentions of pregnancy, having a child

-It takes a LOOOOOONG time for Sakura to not immediately shrug off the idea of fatherhood. The number of (positive) father figures in his life is 0, nor did he ever imagine himself as being a dad.

-When he does come to terms with the idea, it scares the absolute shit out of him. What do you mean he'll be entrusted with the care and raising of a tiny baby?

-This man is literally ?????? for most of your pregnancy. Doesn't understand why you're craving ice cream and pizza at 3am but he'll make damn sure you get what you want some how, some way. Grumbles a little as he's putting his shoes on and gives you an extra peck on the forehead when he comes back home. (Asks his friends for advice a lot. Will deny it if confronted. You are frequently sending thank you texts to everyone.)

-Secretly loves it when you silently plop your feet in his lap for a massage. Nearly combusts the first time he feels the baby kick. Always asks before putting a hand on your belly (dummy) and in fact turns a charming shade of pink when he does.

-Sakura.exe stops working the first time he holds his baby. Just stares at this itty bitty little face and prays to whoever is listening that baby's hair and eye color is normal. (Even if baby inherits Sakura's heterochromia, he will teach them how to fight/defend themselves and you bet your ass any snot nosed bullies will have Sakura to deal with.) ("Sakura you cannot beat up a six year old." "They made our baby cry! Where's their dad?")

-All jokes aside, Sakura really is such a loving dad. No, he doesn't always handle situations correctly and he gets frustrated easily, especially early on, but his baby will never go a day doubting they are loved and in a safe environment. Sakura raises his voice to be heard over a tantrum one (1) time and feels like the world's worst father. Apologizes to baby, to you, to baby again. Once baby is calmed down, you then calm down your husband who has not said a word since The Incident.

-He will do anything--anything--for his child(ren). Never passes up a chance to say he loves them or he's proud of them.

-(It's not uncommon for Sakura and your little one to play fight around the house. Until one of them breaks a lamp and you forbid them from roughhousing inside)

[sepicriting]

What would happen if reader confesses to the twins first ? Either one of them only or both of them ?

confessing first to yandere twins

—ask yourself, are you sure you want this?

contents: yandere male x gender-neutral reader. yandere female x gender-neutral reader. only reference to reader/darling is 'you' and the nickname 'firestorm'. murder.

notes: i think i went a bit overboard diving deeper into them, but do enjoy!

If you were the one to confess first to both of them at once, their reactions would largely depend on how you confess.

Because imagine spending time with them, arms linked with both. Lina is happily pointing to every single item she thinks you’d like, with Varis passively listening though his eyes are on you. Then you say: “I like you two.”

Their heads whip to you and you feel them stop instantly. The air changes, Lina’s mouth is hanging open while Varis’s surprise is written all over his face.

Lina’s nervous laughter could be heard first. “I-I don’t think I heard you properly? Did you say you wanted two of something, firestorm?” She tries to convince herself that you didn’t just say what her heart’s been wanting you to say. She can’t be greedy, she thinks.

“‘m pretty sure your firestorm jus’ said somethin’ else.” Varis’s voice rang close, his head lowering to lay on your shoulder. “Wanna repeat it?” Close enough to feel his breath on your neck, the tips of his hair brushing against your cheek.

You stammer out what you said, rendered flustered by the handsome man. All he does is hum with a smile, shooting his sister a look that has her moving closer so you’d be trapped.

“Do you really mean that, firestorm…?” Lina has tiny hearts in her eyes now, waiting with bated breath for your confirmation.

If you prepared beforehand to confess to both of them by taking them someplace nice, Varis picks up rather quickly that you’re trying to woo them. He’d spend the entire time giving you knowing grins behind his sister’s back, and play dumb when you ask him what’s up. He’d keep up the poorly-concealed act until you break the ice and say you like them both.

Now, about confessing to only one of the twins… You would be in for a lot of risk here. The entire reason why the twins come in a package and not separately is all because they know they would kill each other if one or the other has your heart. They still do care about each other to a certain degree, enough to steer away from murdering, so to have you confessing to only one is akin to a dam breaking — Disaster will strike.

Lina, on the other hand, would be none the wiser. She’ll overthink and inwardly fawn over your attempts to romance them, but then quickly scold herself and say that she’s still not quite your type and she has to try harder to embody that. Hearing you say that you like them both would cause her brain to short-circuit and her face to overheat. But nonetheless, she would happily be with you! And her brother too, she supposes…

The tricky part is that you’re kept unaware of the twins’ dark sides, so you wouldn’t be able to hear about it until the twin of your choice lets you know what the other’s been doing behind your back — Of course, they’re completely innocent! They were just scared/wary of their twin doing anything to you if you found out…so please don’t be upset at them!

The next course of action they would do depends on who you’ve chosen to confess to.

Lina would take you elsewhere, somewhere FAR away, someplace you won’t be hurt or involved. Sadly, this would mean that you would have to give up using technology and switch to more traditional ways of life — the only thing that would be left is an old television. She’s well-aware that her brother would be able to track both of you with his talents, so you’d be subjected to a life of constant fear and protection with Lina. Going to your family was out of the question, Varis wouldn’t hesitate to take them down too.

She’d be updated on all the recent deaths on the news, a trail of bodies leading closer and closer to where you are. And she’s not stupid, she knows this is his doing. It wouldn’t be long before he’s found you.

Ultimately, you might wake up to find someone dead at your door. Just pray that it isn’t the woman who's been keeping you safe.

Varis wouldn’t go to such extremes, not at first. He’d keep you right where you are, insisting to let him do all of the work. Though you’re scared of what Lina might do, he’s calm, with business as usual as he types away on his laptop an hour after you’ve learned the truth. That’s not quite correct though, he’s only keeping it together because he knows what he does next is crucial to being with you. Even as you face Lina with Varis, you keep his words in mind on how to behave so you wouldn’t be next. Wouldn’t be suspected.

He arranges a huge scandal that discredits Lina in the form of a post, exposing her for all of her misdeeds and nasty actions. It’s enough to cause her to riot, but you wouldn’t be there to witness it as you’ve fled.

You wouldn’t hear anything about her from Varis for a long while. He’s kept you in the dark, though you know he’s been keeping tabs on her behind the scenes. He’s trying to give you some semblance of a normal life, and maybe you appreciate that… Though, when the doorbell rang and the police stood before the barrier, telling Varis that he would be arrested, you completely missed the familiar figure of Lina watching in the distance.

[fictionadventurer]

For all the talk about bad Christian fiction, I've seen several different ways that Christianity can be well-integrated into the story.

The story is about something unrelated to Christianity, but the characters are Christian and their faith affects their outlook and daily life. I recently stumbled across Wormwood Abbey by Christina Baehr, which is a light, fairly forgettable cozy fantasy that happens to do this really well. The story is about a woman who learns that dragons exist around her family's estate, but as the daughter of a rector, she often mentions prayer, sings religious songs, or thinks of Bible verses that relate to things she experiences. The Christianity feels organic to the character, and thus enhances the story rather than distracting from it.

The world is a Christian world where Christian beliefs are shown to be the correct framework through which to view the world. This happens in good Christian fantasy, like Lewis and Tolkien, but there are plenty of real-world stories where the themes line up with Christian truths, and this can make a story Christian whether or not religion is explicitly practiced by characters within the story.

The characters wrestle with how to apply their faith in their daily lives. Regina Doman's Fairy Tale Novels often feature this, as the characters struggle to deal with plot problems while living out their faith. Amy Lynn Green's work often features this as well--characters hold certain values (like, for instance, a Quaker pacifist) and have to figure out how they apply or don't apply to specific situations, especially when they conflict with other values, or they have to figure out how to live out their values (such as forgiveness) in moments where it seems impossible or even ill-advised. Charlotte Yonge's best works (specifically, what I've read of The Three Brides) do this as well--instead of preaching the one right answer, you have characters trying to figure out what the best answer is as they figure out what's right or wrong in this specific situation.

Characters face the revelation that there's a spiritual world that exists beyond our ordinary world, which can cause terror, but also provide comfort and hope. Elizabeth Goudge's novels often exist in this space, with very internal stories of characters coming to embrace the truths that come with living in a spiritual world. To a lesser extent, I'd say Amanda Dykes' work often fits here, with characters ultimately find comfort and hope from philosophies that line up with Christian truth. In less-cozy works, there's also the possibility of stories where an entirely secular person encounters God and has to figure out what that means for their life.

So our options are Christianity as character, Christianity as setting, Christianity as theme, or Christianity as plot. The ways this is integrated most seamlessly is when Christianity (or the ways they struggle with it) is a vital part of the character, so the plot that arises from it lines up with a Christian worldview. It also works well for the characters to just exist within a world where Christian truths are the way the world works. It doesn't even necessarily require the characters to be explicitly religious. Truth is something that everyone is searching for, and stories that honestly showcase truth or the search for it are going to resonate with a wide audience, even if they aren't Christian themselves.

[maverick-prime]

sonic prime would be really good if it wasn’t written for younger kids. i love nine and think his arc has a lot of potential that could be tapped into with a longer, grittier version of the story. i also think sonic having to deal with the moral/ethical dilemma of saving the versions of his friends in the shatterverse versus his “real” friends, from the original version of green hill, is really fascinating. it’s very severance and i think it would be a really cool thing to lean into to accentuate the angst inherent to the whole multiverses-where-everything-is-different thing

[fatedroses]

More than just the Demon.

[pelibirdie]

Anyway so I think since Kuras taught art and literacy to early societies he would like write about ppl he loves or even maybe draw them

Kuras writing poetry abt u in ancient languages so u cant understand it but he can savor eveything he writes about you

Boom proof

Imagine having to go through reminding Kuras the sweetness of knowledge. The first fascination eith something new, the use of knowledge for expression of self with arts, helping people with medicine or daily inventions, raising awareness and reducing fear. Through all the ways knowledge has been misused as a tool, just experience the sweet reminders that what has destroyed humans could equally build them up.

Peli theory cameo: I need to kiss him so bad i need to know just how badly he fucked up while giving knowledge to humanity. Like what if he is guilty not bc he defied some god or authority (bc remember he is an angel and not the actual being in charge) and gave his knowledge to humany simply bc he loved them so much and is guilty to teach the wrong things to wrong people.

[theheartmold]

I'm interested in your thoughts on Illario as the First Talon. Do you think he'd hate the position at first or he'd slot right into it as a natural? Do you think he wants the position just because Lucanis is going to have it or he actually wants it because he thinks he'd be good at it? Always interested in thoughts on him from people who also love him as a character! Especially since Wigmaker gave us so much of him, but so little too.

Illario and Lucanis are both presented to us in the Wigmaker Job as very capable assassins for very different reasons; Illario is charming, cunning, and diplomatic, meaning that he can talk his way in and out of most every situation and has an innate understanding of the politics of a situation, particularly of the Crows. Lucanis is quick on his feet, adaptive, and the more talented fighter, meaning that when it comes to an actual killing, he's going to get the job done.

I don't think Illario would be bad at the role of First Talon--in fact, I agree with the general consensus that he would be good at it, maybe even excel. I think his own evaluation of his own capabilities are accurate and that he has the drive and edge to lead the Crows as an assassin's guild. I don't think he's motivated solely by the fact that Lucanis is going to have it.

It's less about Lucanis 'having' the role of First Talon and more so about the fact that it's being GIVEN to him. It's not really about Lucanis at all in that sense, it's about the oversight from Caterina. It is obvious to everyone that Lucanis is the favorite pick for the role, including Lucanis, and Lucanis doesn't want it. But he won't tell Caterina that, and even if he doesn't say it, he does show it--and Caterina ignores it. A lack of willingness to consider Illario from either of them is what really pushes some of that ambition; when no one considers you, YOU must consider you.

I don't think he'd hate the position; I think he'd do well! I think he would hate what he would have to do to GET the position. We see that in Veilguard; to get what he thinks he wants he has to abandon what he has, and it nearly kills him. Lucanis and Illario and Caterina are all that the other has; Illario grieves that Lucanis didn't die and was tortured, Lucanis can't bring himself to kill Illario only maybe imprison him, and Caterina absolves the responsibility of deciding his fate onto Lucanis.

It would be a lonely outcome for Illario but I do think he meant it in the Wigmaker Job when he tells Lucanis that if he were First Talon, he wouldn't have to do "this" anymore; the Crows, the politicking. Maybe Lucanis would be free to do that whole freedom-fighter hero thing he's always trying to emulate. But they're both under Caterina's thumb, and until she's gone, we won't know.

[featherlouise]

The day I stop being afraid to draw wrinkles it's over for y'all

[leehama]

Hi! I’ve been thinking about Gourmet Hound and specifically Lucy and her tendency to like people who give her food. I was wondering, do you think she’d be on the aro/ace spectrum? Gray maybe?

The only GH character I wrote with the intention of being aspec is Chef Bartlett, but that doesn't exclude the possibility of other characters being aspec too! If you're specifically talking about Ep. 63 - Blueberry Pie, the joke there is supposed to be that all of Lucy's crushes kinda look like Graham, but Joanna, Walt, and Graham are getting distracted by the detail that they gave her food--but that doesn't mean there aren't other interpretations of the scene than what I intended!

[kiragecko]

Authour’s Voices

I read fic for voice before anything else. Plot, tropes, canon compliance – they all pale in comparison to the word crafting. But voice is hard to describe, and referencing certain verbal tics is more likely to make an authour self-conscious than it is to flatter. So, here's my best attempt to describe the voices of some of my favourite fanfic authours – focusing on tone, subject matter, and the feelings they provoke, in a hope that I can get across at least a hint of how they sound.

@suzukiblu / suzukiblu / Rin (I read for DCU, Young Justice TV, Avatar)

REALLY intertwines characters thoughts and feelings in compelling ways. Inner monologues are a particular strength. Digs deep into what motivates characters and then lets them be insecure and angry because of those things. Writes REALLY close third person narration – ie. we are entirely in one person’s head, but the narration is using their name instead of saying ‘me.’ And we are ENTWINED in their head. Deeply. Maybe actually more in their chest -  the emotions are visceral and immediate. Very cathartic angry/overwhelmed ranting is a feature. People learning that they have inherent value. Romance/sex that is based on strong connections, and goes far deeper than hormones. A strong understanding of canon, used to write alternate universes that are much richer for that knowledge. Stories are cathartic, and leave you washed clean and energized.

@whetstonefires / Kieron_ODuibhir (/ Kieron) (I read for DCU, The Untamed/The Other Versions Of This Story)

Thoughtful, empathic stories that feel like they’ve spent months being refined to perfection. Also incredibly strong understanding of canon, with a much higher chance of showing her work on the page. A gift for searching out the nagging, poorly fitting pieces of canon characterization, and integrating them in her fic in ways that makes rereading the original a better experience. Beautiful, haunting, sentences. Feels like poetry makes me feel. A writing style that ALMOST feels intellectual, but is actually incredibly empathic. The knowledge is the vessel that carries the ... love? Respect? Maybe respect, and care, and dignity, that she has for the characters she’s writing about. Stories leave you quiet and satisfied.

@galaxystew / galaxysoup (I read for Avengers/Thor, Supernatural)

Careful, emotional, deep stories. There is a sense of immenseness, that the story can’t go too fast or it would become unstoppable. DEEPLY moving, gut-wrenching, stories told from just enough emotional distance to avoid overwhelming the audience. But they also about taking time to rest, both for the characters and the audience. Focuses on exploring and healing damaged relationships, (and damaged people), and never goes for the easy/trite solutions. Unassuming language and imagery that grounds the sometimes epic elements of her canons. Stories leave you grateful – grateful that the characters have reached that place, and grateful you got to come along.

@teland / Teland / Te (I read for DCU)

Stories have only the vestigial remains of a narrator. Almost everything is verbal or mental dialogue, usually without tags. (Ie. things like ‘Tim said.’) This would be frustrating with most writers, but Te’s character voices are SO strong and distinct that a story can start with an unnamed person talking and you immediately know who it is. She focuses on aspects of characters that many other authours miss (though some of that could be survivorship bias – perhaps she was part of a zeitgeist that hasn’t been preserved). She gets DEEP into the psyches of the characters she’s writing, dissects them, and then has them dryly comment on their displayed innards. Excels at characters that are very disconnected from their emotions, but also at characters who live immediately IN their emotions. Strong themes of identity and found family, though not in the way ‘found family’ is usually used these days. Symbolic, projected family? Stand-in, or sublimated, or substituted family? Something in that area. A lot of sex, which is also standing in for other things. Electric, transformative stories, with extremely long chapters that are hard to escape from when the world tries to call you back. Stories leave you alive to the possibilities, and maybe knowing more about yourself.

@angel-gidget / angel_gidget / Gidge (I read for DCU)

There’s an optimism and joy to Gidge’s writing. A ... cleanness. Hmm, what do I mean? I ... I’m not actually sure? But it feels refreshing and space-making, to read a Gidge story. It feels like they SHOULD be humorous, with the effects they have, but that’s not actually the focus? It feels like they’re light, even when the topic is heavy and treated seriously. It’s a really special gift, what Gidge has. Maybe the correct term is ‘conversational’? Yeah, there’s a matter-of-fact, conversational tone to everything she creates, and it lifts your spirits every time you read it.

@vmohlere / owlet (I read for Avengers/Captain America)

Absolutely brilliant way of using humour to tackle difficult subjects. Stories are so funny and positive, that it’s hard to realize how dark the things referenced are. It helps that they usually don’t become explicit until the characters have mostly processed them, and they’ve been defanged of a lot of their power. I’ve never seen someone else accomplish this, and it blows me away. Incredible OCs. Deep empathy for character’s specific needs, and focusing on what THEY’RE ready to focus on. Boundaries are not only respected, but taught. And all of this is happening behind a wry, clever sense of humour that invites you in to hang out for a while. One of the most joyful reading experiences I’ve ever had. I’ve used scenes to walk myself through bad mental periods. And I still think about their work every time I make a grilled cheese.

[flowersforthemachines]

Bellara's Diary: On Darkspawn Corruption

Relationships: Bellara Lutare & Rook, Bellara Lutare & Davrin Word count: 2900 (oneshot, complete) Rating: General Audiences Main tags: Post-canon, Diary/Journal, Grey Warden Bellara

Excerpt and summary:

I have the Blight.  Just trying to get used to the idea. Still feels surreal even when I write it. Even when I feel it. Not as much as back then, not nearly, but it’s there. Something in my blood. Something in my head.   The worst of the corruption went away when Elgar’nan died. But not all. Still have to pass the Joining, or I’ll die. Probably. Nobody knows for sure anymore.

Getting blighted at Tearstone Island leads to Bellara undergoing the Joining. While she stays with the wardens to recover, she grapples with her place in the world and what to do next, and discovers her unique connection to the Blight.

For Bellara Week over at @datvcompanionweeks - Day 5: Post-canon