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ihatetheinternetandeveryoneonit · 1 year

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Only One They Fear: A Skyrim/ Keeping Up Appearances Crossover fanfic

Chapter 1: A Most Distressing Holdiay

Richard Bucket was no mere mortal, his neighbors always said. His wife would be quite proud to hear that, just so long as she didn't hear the reason.

“Richaaaard!” Her vibrato rang over the Jerall peaks, echoing back to assault his ears on all sides.

“What is it now, Hyacinth?” He couldn’t bother to hide the exhaustion from his voice any longer; the journey on the overpriced cart had been far from picturesque, as Hyacinth had incessantly reminded him.

“Don’t you see that our pony is walking with his head down? It looks quite common.” She pursed her lips, clasping her handbag.

“He’s tired, dear. We all are.”

“Yes, but does he have to show it?”

“To who?? There’s not a single soul this way from here to Helgen!”

“Well, we must keep our dignity, mustn’t we?” Hyacinth said with a pat on Richard’s knee. “We cannot grow complacent, just because the countess of Bruma rejected our company to lodge at her castle.”

“We certainly cannot,” Richard grumbled, grimacing at the recollection of the scene Hyacinth had made at that revelation.

But he needn’t dwell on his mortification for long.

“You there!”

All three of their heads snapped up to a proper dignified level at the sight of two—three-four! Four quite large armored men rounded the corner ahead, sporting scaled cuirasses, blue cloaks, and a most unsightly standard of personal grooming.

“Thank Talos!” The first one cried. “Our supplies have run dry. Had to retreat in a rush, you see.”

Hyacinth was none too pleased with the way they eyed their cargo. “I will have you know, gentlemen, that I did not skimp on luggage and I refuse to let those efforts go to waste. I won’t be outdressed by the rifraff of Solitude just because I happened upon a few ruffians on the road!”

Richard buried his face in his hands.

Unsurprisingly, this small militia band was undeterred by her words. One soldier stood by the couple, hand pointedly resting on his sword, as the rest fiddled with the luggage straps.

“Mind the china!” Hyacinth squeaked. “It’s a wedding present all the way from Skingrad!”

“Hyacinth!” Richard hissed. “Shut up!��

“What Sheridan would say if he could see us now,” She tsked. “To see his Mummy mugged and relinquished of her designer luggage. And to see Daddy unarmed to defend her honor. At least we know he’s safe up in the college of the bards.”

“Perhaps Daddy would have a proper sword if Sheridan hadn’t taken 500 gold for a third set of ‘silken pyjamas…’” Richard muttered.

A snapping branch caught their attention, as well as that of the soldiers.

“An ambush!” The man beside them cried, unsheathing his sword.

But it was too late. A bolas flew his way, the cord wrapping around his arms and the weights flying tight around him and knocking the sword from his hand.

Richard and Hyacinth turned to see the rest of their captors stumble to the ground in a similar fashion and imperial legionnaires emerge from the trees.

“Ulfric Stormcloak,” an older imperial with fine armor approached one of the larger brutes, eyeing him down.

“General Tullius,” the brute replied.

“General?” Hyacinth perked up. “Finally, someone of significance. Perhaps with my guidance, he can clear up this mess.”

Richard rolled his eyes.

“Excuse me, General!” Hyacinth held on to her feathered silk hat, jumped to her feet and hopped off the cart. “Thank you ever so much for your assistance! Seeing as my husband came unprepared, perhaps you could accompany us to Solitu—?”

A sword trust in front of her face froze her to the spot.

“Check the cart,” Tulius barked.

“Stolen goods, no doubt.” A legionnaire peeked beneath the tarp at the pile of luggage.

Hyacinth scoffed. “Well, if you do mind!”

The sword pressed against her neck.

It took several minutes of rather uncouth handling of their valuables before reporting to their superior that it was, ultimately, just some mismatch of kitch.

To that, Richard shrank into a somehow more compact size than normal beneath Hyacinth’s gaze.

“Most likely a plot to smuggle these Stormcloaks into Cyrodill.” Tullius shook his head. “Arrest them too.”

Hyacinth squawked at the sudden manhandling as the soldier tied her wrists together. “This is an outrage. A couple of our social standing? Accused of smuggling? If we were associated with the criminal world, surely it would be over white-collar crimes! You really think we would let these—these flea-ridden ruffians anywhere near my fine stationary, much less my walking daytime hats?? No offense.” She glanced aside at Ulfric Stormcloack.

“Ooh, nice!” He rolled his eyes, before the legionnaires promptly gagged him.

#i don’t usually write my dumb ideas down #but when i do #they’re reall fucking dumb and i love them #crossover fanfiction #crossover fandom #keeping up appearances #skyrim #skyrim fanfiction #the elder scrolls #tes fanfic #hyacinth bucket #hyacinth bouquet

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miraculouswolf99 · 9 months

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Miraculous Dueling Chapter One

Miraculous Ladybug and Yugioh are two of my favorite fandoms. I have previously written an idea for a crossover between these two fandoms. That is not the idea I am using for this fanfic because this is going to be a long-term fanfic project. It was inspired by @shattered-heartless and their own Miraculous/Yugioh crossover story. There will be salt, dueling, original characters, and so many more things! Enjoy and please become members of my Patreon for more original content!

Chapter One: His First Deck

Adrien was forever grateful to the Gorilla. He really did love his bodyguard since he was a lot more parental than the other adults in his life.

Currently, the child model was browsing through a card shop that he had asked the Gorilla to take him to. Adrien had recently gotten an email that he had been accepted into the Francois Dupont Duel Academy. Though, he was one-hundred percent sure that he was only accepted because he was a famous model for his father's fashion company. He knew that it was the wrong way to get into the school, but he loved dueling.

While he was a model for his father's company, dueling was what Adrien loved the most. His mother had been a really good duelist and she and he had a lot of little duels together when he had been little. He used an extra deck that his mother had since he was too young to really have a deck of his own, but he loved every second of it. But after his mother disappeared six months ago, his father locked up his mother's cards and never let him touch them.

So, that was why he was not at the Garden Family Card Shop. It was one of the most well-known card shops in Paris. It was run by the Garden family, a family of Greek citizens that moved to Paris since they were given a golden opportunity to open a card shop in the city of love. The youngest of the family, twins Lyon and Vallia, were actually both students of the duel academy as well from what he knew.

He browsed the shop to see if there were any cards that he could connect with. His mother had used a deck of fairy cards, but he wanted something he had personally chosen himself.

"You obviously look like you need some help," a male voice with an accent said.

Adrien nearly jumped out of his skin at the sudden voice. Turning around, he saw that it was Lyon Garden. He could easily see why he was known as the Ice Prince given that he was dressed entirely in silver, white, and blue. Plus, his bright blue eyes were very cold even with a sense of warmth in them.

"You're Lyon Garden," Adrien was shocked.

"I know," Lyon smirked. "I also can see that you are definitely a newbie to the world of dueling. But, you also have a great love for it."

"You can tell all that about me just like that," Adrien could not help but raise an eyebrow.

"I have always been able to tell who a person is," Lyon says. "It's better to see inside of a person's true heart than it is just seeing good in others. Call me the ultimate realist."

The way he spoke definitely had a level of coldness to it that added to the fact that he was known as the Ice Prince. Not that Adrien could really blame him since having the best card shop in Paris also meant that a lot of wannabe duelists would try and cozy up to the family in order to try and get the best cards out of them.

"I...I used to play with my mother's cards," Adrien tells Lyon. "I loved playing with her, but I never had my own cards."

"You came to the right place, then," Lyon went behind the counter. "We have starter decks, custom decks for those that order them, decks of specific archetypes, and many other things in the shop. We also have duel disks for those that do not already own their own. My older brother, Apollo, also teaches new duelers on the weekends."

"No wonder your shop is so popular," Adrien said.

"We do our best," Lyon smirked. "So, do you have an idea on what special summoning technique you want to focus on?"

Adrien had to think about that. His mother's deck only used special summoning when it came to regular monsters. She did not have any fancy monsters like fusion, synchro, ritual, XYZ, pendulum, gate, or link monsters. Adrien knew about them, but he never got the chance to use any of them. And he really wanted to.

(AN: Gate summoning/gate monsters are my own original idea. It will be explained more as I continue the book.)

"I think I would want to use fusion summoning," Adrien decided.

"That is a very good choice," Lyon got out the decks that they had that all had fusion monsters. "These are all decks that all have fusion summoning as part of them."

Adrien looked at the decks. There was certainly plenty that he could choose from. Looking at them, there were definitely some that caught his eye. The Amazon, Fossil, Melodious, Lunalight, Elemental Hero, Destiny Hero, Cyber Dragon, Gladiator Beast, Gem-Knight, Gem-Beast, and Gravekeeper cards all looked very interesting to him. He definitely had to take a few minutes before he decided which to use.

His hands hovered over them until he decided which of the decks that he wanted to choose as his own.

"The Elemental Heroes," Adrien picked up the deck.

Lyon smiled. "That is a very good choice of deck. Would you also like to buy a deck holder and a duel disk as well?"

"Yeah, that sounds good," Adrien says.

Adrien ended up choosing an emerald green deck case to match his eyes. He also went with a duel disk that would look like a long curved blue blade.

(AN: I will be using duel disks inspired by those from 5D's and Zexel.)

"I hope to see you in school soon," Lyon says. "It has been a while since we have had any fresh meat."

"Fresh meat," Adrien was made a little nervous as he saw the smirk on Lyon's face.

"Lyon, don't scare the poor boy," said a female voice.

Adrien turned and saw Lyon's sister, Vallia, enter the shop. Vallia was the complete opposite of her twin in terms of how she presented herself. She was known as the Flower Princess because of her more sunny personality as well as how she always had flowers in her hair.

"You never let me have my fun," Lyon playfully pouted as his sister used his shoulder as an armrest.

"Your fun involves you using that Ice Prince persona to scare the living daylights out of people," Vallia giggled.

"I still don't see what is wrong with that," Lyon smirked.

"Brothers," Vallia shook her head fondly at her brother's antics.

Adrien could only just stand there awkwardly. He felt like a third wheel even though Lyon and Vallia were siblings and not a couple. But, they were twins, so it was only natural that they would be able to just talk to each other like no one else was around. Made him think that if the two of them ever teamed up for tag duels, their opponents would be seriously doomed.

"You... You two do attend the FD Duel Academy, right," Adrien finally spoke up.

Both twins nodded.

"It had the best reviews for duel schools when we moved here," Vallia said. "We attended duel school in Greece, so we wanted to continue that education here since we are living here currently."

"We also went to a duel school in Japan when we lived there a couple of years ago," Lyon tells Adrien.

"So, you three speak Greek, Japanese, and French," Adrien was amazed.

"Our father's parents are also American and still live in the states, so we also speak English as well," Lyon said.

That certainly threw Adrien for a loop. He would figure that the twins were smart, but he did not expect that they would be this smart. He spoke English as well, but he only spoke Mandarin and French other than that.

"Wow," was all that Adrien could say.

"We would appreciate you keeping the fact that we lived in Japan to yourself, please," Vallia requested.

"I will," Adrien said but was confused. "But why?"

"Japan is known to have some of the best duelists in the world," Lyon explained. "Like Yugi Moto and his brother Atem. Not to mention Jaden Yuki and Seto Kaiba. If people find out we lived there, we would be bothered so much by those trying to use us for those types of connections."

"Oh," Adrien said. "I can understand that. I am a model and the son of the fashion company owner, so you know that I also have people wanting to be around me for favors. Especially those that either want to meet my father or want to work for my father."

"Isn't your father a recluse that has not left his house in almost a year," Lyon raised an eyebrow.

Vallia slapped her brother on the shoulder.

"You do not just ask a question like that to someone," she scolded him.

"I don't mind, actually," Adrien says, calming Vallia down. "Yeah, my dad does not leave the house. I don't know why, but he just never leaves."

"Well, we won't pry," Lyon stated.

"Since you two attend the school, can you tell me anything about it," Adrien asked them.

Adrien paid for the deck, the deck holder, and his duel disk. But they all continued to talk as he did this. He was starting to like these two. Since he had grown up very isolated from a lot of people because of his dad being so overprotective, the only other person that Adrien really counted as any kind of friend would be his childhood friend, Chloe Bourgeois. It was another reason why he wanted to go to the duel academy. Because he wanted to make more friends.

"Well, there are different classes and clubs based on dueling skills as well as summoning techniques that are used," Lyon tells Adrien. "I personally use gate summoning while my sister uses XYZ summoning."

"There is also a very fun little rivalry between some classes," Vallia giggled. "It is all in good fun, so it never goes too far. It is really only individual students that do not get along instead of entire classes hating each other."

"That is actually so cool," Adrien said.

"There are always dueling between classes as part of exams," Vallia says. "There is a written part, but there are also duels between the classes to see how our skills have increased as well."

"I mostly just feel sorry for those that have to go up against those like Kagami and Luka," Lyon chuckled.

"I am guessing that those two are really good," Adrien said.

"The two of them are some of the best duelists in the entire school," Vallia says. "Kagami is also from a family of champion fencers and is part of the school team. She is a very fierce opponent that is known for having probably the mother of all poker faces."

"Luka is also the twin brother of our friend Juleka in our class," Lyon also tells Adrien. "He may be one of the nicest guys that you can ever meet, but his dueling is no joke. He and Juleka say that their mom is basically a pirate, so you can definitely say that they were both raised to fight for anything that they want."

"You two certainly know some unique people," Adrien could not help but smile.

"When you have been to as many places as we have, you tend to always be able to find interesting people to interact with," Vallia shrugged. "Otherwise, life would be so boring."

"Plus, we have a saying in our family," Lyon said. "Being normal is vastly overrated. In other words, we pride ourselves on being unique since normal is just boring."

Adrien was about to ask about their own class when he got a text on his phone. It was the Gorilla telling him that they needed to get going before Adrien's father learned where they were because of the tracking stuff he had on Adrien's phone.

"I have to go now, but I hope to see you two in school," Adrien quickly packed up all of his purchases and left the card shop.

"You are usually not that nice to new people," Vallia tells her brother.

"There is something different about him," Lyon replies. "Something in his eyes that tells me he is a lot more than just a model with an overprotective parent."

"Well, since he is a model, that does mean he has a lot of practice putting on masks and other things to hide how he really feels," Vallia says. "There is a reason why I hate that teen and child models are actually a thing. No teenager or kid should have to deal with the pressures that came from always having to try and be society's definition of 'perfect."

"He told me that he used to use his mother's cards when he would play with her," Lyon tells his sister.

"That definitely says a lot about him," Vallia said. "Some of the best types of dueling memories are made with the parents they have that also duel."

"It will definitely be fun to see what he can do with a deck of his own," Lyon admitted. "While he may be a little out of practice, he will most likely be quite the opponent once he gets used to his new deck."

"He chose the Elemental Heroes deck, right," Vallia asked as she watched her brother put away the other decks that Adrien had not chosen.

"That's right," Lyon tells her.

"That definitely is a deck that provides a challenge when truly mastered," Vallia said. "After all, Jaden Yuki is one of the most well-known duelists in the world."

"Not as much as Yugi Muto and his brother Atem, but Jaden also is a very good duelist," Lyon says.

"Do you think that we should have warned him about brats like Chloe and sore losers like Max," Vallia asked her twin.

Lyon shrugged. "There is no better way for him to learn than to learn the hard way."

Vallia giggled. "You can be really evil when you want to be."

"Not evil, but just a realist," Lyon stated. "Sometimes, you have to experience the downsides of life to really learn that they are out there."

"If there is one thing that I know about you, it is that you really love slapping people with reality," Vallia giggled again.

"Well, I see no reason for rose-tinted glasses," Lyon says. "I think that the world would be a lot better if reality is what people see and not just everything being sunshine and rainbows. It only leads to things like letting bullies run free, never standing up for yourself, and thinking that a slap on the wrist is the best way to make bad people change their ways."

"You really hate Bustier, don't you," Vallia knew who her brother was mostly talking about.

"The woman needs lessons on how to be a teacher," Lyon stated. "Plain and simple."

Vallia could not help but agree with her brother.

*****Meanwhile, In A Cliche Villain's Lair*****

A man stood in the center of the room, covered by shadows. In front of him was a truly adorable little creature. Floating in the air was a little lavender-colored creature with little purple wings and a darker purple swirl design on its forehead. But even as adorable as it was, the poor thing looked terrified of the man in front of it.

"So, you are the kwami of metamorphosis. Nooroo," the shadow man glared at the creature. "You would give me the power to turn others into superpowered human beings."

"Y...Yes," the now-named Nooroo stuttered out. "My power is empowerment and my power is used to create hero champions."

"Which means that it can also be used to create supervillains," the shadow man evilly smirked.

"But my power if not supposed to be used that way," Nooroo weakly protested.

"I am your master, so you will do as I tell you," the shadow man yelled at the creature.

"Y...Yes, master," Nooroo could not disobey the orders from the man that owns his card.

"The ladybug and black cat mystical cards are also in Paris, correct," the shadow man demanded an answer from Nooroo.

"Y...Yes, master," Nooroo answered. "I... I can sense them, but I can't tell their specific location. Just that they are in the city."

The man glared even more at the creature, making Nooroo float a little farther away from him. He had hoped that when his card was found, it would have been found by a good person. Unfortunately, that was not the case. And with a power like his, that was not a good thing.

"I will get my hands on them no matter what it takes," the shadow man declared. "Nooroo, dark wings rise!"

There was a flash of dark purple, sending out a wave of magic that was only felt by certain creatures. A floating little turtle creature, another kwami, shook as he felt it.

"Master," the creature cried out as it flew right to an old man that was in the room with him. "I felt Nooroo! He's in evil hands! What do we do!?!"

The old man turned to look at a gramophone that he had in the room.

"It is time, Wayzz," he told the kwami. "The ladybug and black must be activated to get back Nooroo and his mystical card. Or Paris will be doomed to very dark times."

Somewhere else in Paris, two other cards were glowing inside of the decks of two others. A glowing white card in one deck and a glowing pink card in another. It made the owners look at each other as they were well aware of what that meant. Two more kwami floated next to the two of them.

"Looks like we are going to have a very interesting year," the boy said.

"Beware, you two," a floating little wolf warned them. "Nooroo's power is very strong. You will need to prepare for really tough opponents."

"We will do our best," the girl says.

"Your best is what is going to be needed," a floating monarch butterfly kwami warned them. "Hopefully the ladybug and black cat will be out there as well."

The two humans nodded in agreement.

#miraculous #miraculous fandom #original character #ml salt #miraculous ladybug #lila salt #original heroes #original miraculous #chloe salt #marinette salt #yugioh #miraculous-yugioh crossover #crossovers are the best #miraculous/yugioh

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nathantheauthor · 4 months

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I'm excited to get into the post I'm going to drop as I finish it, take a while, but the next major information post isn't a character exploration... But, design concepts! The four main designs for the characters throughout the Revver era of the Ripper Inc story. But as I put that on the back burner, this post is about mythology and the international branches. It's not going to be that detailed. Just kind of a teaser for some of the stuff going on with them and some of the conceptual ideas, and some of the crossover elements of the universe.

For those who are just seeing this, the main concept of Ripper Inc in this giant crossover fanfic sandbox is a company that reforms monsters and serial killers, or even just gives people a job. Austin time they hunt down other serial killers and monsters, but sometimes they're hired security, birthday party attractions, etc. They're technically morally good, they'll do anything they're paid to do, but a lot of them do have very questionable backgrounds and needed the mental help program offers. Of course, most of the following examples don't fit that criteria, as they were approached due to already being morally all right, most of them at least. The main idea of the organization is to rehabilitate killers and monsters by turning their violent tendencies on to other killers and monsters all while giving them psychological help they need.

But, before we get into the lot of their members, I think we should introduce....

BRANCH DIRECTORS (PART 1)!

Because this whole postal focus on just the briefest summary of the directors.

Mary-San!

Starting with Japan's very Phone Call From Mary. This is one that's very much done for both the colony of it and because of the terrifying practicality. For those unfamiliar with the urban legend, Mary-San, or Phone Call From Mary is a Japanese ghost story about a haunted doll and phone challenge rolled into one. As per the legend, if you call her first you will get a series of phone calls from Mary-San, each one her announcing herself in a location you had recently been to until finally It All leads up to "Hi, this is Mary-San, I'm calling from behind you." Her height may make her a comedic choice for a largely yokai branch, but she is the perfect tracker, equipped with only a phone call she is a master strategist and can locate anyone.

I am also very much playing with the backstory of her mythology, with the very reason she originally joined Ripper Inc being the promise of finding her original owner, who by the point she enters the story is already a very old woman. By the time the promise is fulfilled, it's a visit to the grave of the woman, with the rest of her branch and her own boss there to comfort and support her.

Sun Wukong!

Also hailing from Asia comes the Chinese branch director, The Monkey King himself. I'm not going to get into how I'm handling gods and all that in this post, but I will say that I'm leaving him very much the trickster gremlin that he is. In fact, inspired by a friend's Fate portrayal, I've elected not to give him a set design outside his origins. Wukong instead will shift and use the designs of adaptations and depictions of him, or characters inspired from him. Meaning he could look anything like Lego Wukong to Son Goku.

The Victorious Fighting Buddha's reason for joining repairing is a mixture of responsibility calling to him and the simple fact that he finds the concept and idea to be absolutely fun, the idea of HIM being the leader of a company branch is hilarious. How could he say no? It is an evolution of some of his themes, he may still be a trickster, but knowing their ultimate mission he takes the job rather seriously, often he can't help but recall The Journey To The West when working with his crew.

Annora Petrova!

For the Russian Branch director, I know a lot of you old school Creepypasta fans might recognize this name, she is an underrated classic. I say Russian branch, however they do more cover the collection of countries around that area (minus China). I do have an explanation for why she's around, given I actually haven't rewritten anything about her story!

In this reinterpretation she has become the Slavic spirit of folklore... A Rusulka, this is due to a character I won't spoil editing her wiki and once more altering the course of her story. She's now come to be the director for this large branch of Ripper ink and works closely with / shares resources with Wukong. Everyday she has the temptation to check her wiki, to see what it has to say about her. To see what isn't about her newfound fame.

Brianna Grianne!

Hopping on over to Ireland, we meet the first OC director! Brianna is a fey, one that outright goes against the will of her people and instead uses her fae powers to aid and give people what they need. It's very notable in her wording, never does directly ask for something, avoiding fae deals.

She much rather live and be part of the human world than amongst her less benevolent kin, finding the world of mankind to be much more intriguing and hospitable.

Nero Claudius!

Who better to lead the Roma- Italian branch than this resurrected Roman Emperor? They were all seriousness, it is very much they're fully resurrected Nero's way of still serving and protecting her country, finding herself having to figure her life out after the events of Point Breaker's closing act.

She's very much the same Red Saber we all know and love, however, she is a composite variant, and very much a living Nero, so she's got quite the legs up on her Fate canon counterpart.

Cameron Bryce!

I haven't tagged this SCP for nothing! Turning our attention over to Scotland, I introduced the next OC director, Cameron Bryce, a former Global Occult Legion squad leader.

After a cold winter night in his youth his life was forever changed, finding himself scooped up by the GOC to hunt down anomalies with deadly precision... But ultimately he hated the job and jumped at the offer for the directoral position. Working with and meeting people who will actually see tomorrow, with more competency, and power, than his GOC squad. He's generally really chill, one of the most laid-back people you'll ever meet.

Camille Noemie!

The French director, and Dame Blanche (White Lady), she's very much a spectral figure trying to do her best for her community, alongside other legends from france, and their few serial killers capable of joining, they're one of the smaller branches, but they make do!

Camille is a very friendly woman, merely using her afterlife to help her community and work through her regrets from life. She's merely trying her best, and she'll do everything in her power to help.

Now, stay tuned for part two tomorrow, featuring the directors for the branches in Canada, Germany, Britain, Korea, Australia, and more!

#creepypasta #creepypasta rewrite #creepypasta au #my writing #slenderverse #mythology and folklore #chinese mythology #japanese mythology #fate series #irish mythology #french folklore #scp foundation #global occult coalition #slavic folklore #nero claudius #scp #goc #annora Petrova #sun wukong

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manabombs · 3 months

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omg @queer-crusader vampirates being mentioned by someone other than me 🥲 i’d been considering making a post about this for a while but wasn’t sure how many people were even paying attention…

State of the Vampirates Address

I initially started with the idea of Charles Vane returning from the dead as a vampire & turning Jack into a vampire*, and found the concept way more compelling than my usual vampire nonsense, so it spiraled out from there.

*Jack obviously wants to turn Anne into a vampire also but she's like "I can't be your vampire bride Jack" so they have to negotiate their relationship around all that

I ended up going in the direction of Buffy Crossover because I thought of D'Hoffryn offering Flint the opportunity to become a vengeance demon (like Anya, but specializing in vengeance against the British Empire. It has kept him very busy for the past 300 years.) Then I had the notion of him eventually meeting Buffy, which is a plotline I spent a lot of time trying to develop and not a lot of time actually writing.

I struggled more with what I wanted to do with Silver; there were a couple different possibilities I considered but I never fully committed to anything. I think there are some compelling parallels between him & Faith though.

Before I get deeper into explaining wtf was going on with my Black Sails/BtVS crossover, I should probably explain why it's indefinitely shelved: When I decided to make a big fanfic out of this concept, I knew that I was envisioning something overambitious that I would probably never finish writing, but it always existed in relation to my Original Novel concept that I've been Trying To Write for ages, but had fallen into a rut with. Buffy had been one of my major inspirations way back when I originally conceived of these characters as a teenager, but over the years I had reworked the project over and over again, getting further & further away from that. Working on this crossover project allowed me to figure out a lot about what aspects of these shows compel me so much in the first place.

I started working on this in late 2019-early 2020…. so at a certain point I was given motivation to simply throw myself full force into this project, even if it ultimately just resulted in me churning out about 65k of self-indulgent super niche fic that was only intended to be Act 1 out of ??. The more I worked on it, the longer the project seemed, the more I wanted to completely rework everything that I had already written… which was way more work than I want to put into fanfic, sorry.

Anyway, at some point I began to feel Inspired to work on my original fiction, which was kind of was I was hoping for the whole time. I've been making great progress on that, and at some point I just went and made the chapters of crossover fic that I had published on AO3 set to private, since I'm not satisfied with them and have no idea if I will ever work on that again…. I've taken plot elements that were really Working for me and reworked them for my own fiction purposes… I've considered working on some one-shots in the future though.

More rambling about details from the shelved Black Sails/Buffy project:

There was a point in the development process where I decided that I needed way more female characters, and since this crossover was already incredibly niche, I decided to make it even MORE alienating by making it a crossover with the show Harlots also. It fit nicely into the timeline, since it takes place shortly after Angel got turned into a vampire & caused all sorts of problems in the British Isles, so I decided that a couple of my favorite characters from Harlots got turned into vampires in the aftermath of that.

Max Blacksails started dabbling in magic using books that Jack & Charles had stolen. My original concept for Anne was also related to her gravitating towards witchcraft-- I liked the image of her telekinetically controlling knives like Willow does at various points in BtVS, developing these abilities after her hands were injured. But I've become increasingly drawn towards the idea of werewolf Anne… at first I wasn't sure how she would even end up getting turned into a werewolf, but tbh it's kind of funny to me to think that she would just fuck off on her own one day and somehow contract lycanthropy, and not bother to explain to anyone how it happened.

I had vague outlines of a Max/Anne/Willow situation, in which Willow has drawn too much attention to herself as a witch after performing the spell to empower a bunch of new Slayers.

Eleanor got reincarnated and is the head of the reformed Watcher's Council. I initially did this because I hate the trope of "vampire's long lost love interest got reincarnated", so I had some notion of subverting it… this ultimately resulted in me coming to the conclusion that Eleanor should have a threesome with Charles & Jack. I have said this about like half the characters in Black Sails, so I really should have expected it.

There was also some self-indulgent Spike/Xander stuff going on. I just think the idea of them interacting with Jack is funny okay. I don't have to explain myself. If you want to know thebn you should have been there.

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sabraeal · 1 year

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Fic authors self rec! When you get this, reply with your favorite five fics that you've written, then pass on to at least five other writers. Let’s spread the self-love ❤️

This is always the toughest because I have written over 100 fics (much more, if you count the ones in collections) and I truly do love pretty much all of them. I think I will keep this to Obiyuki fics I really found technically difficult, and creatively satisfying!

All Pain Will Turn To Medicine Joanna likes to refer to this as "as close a crossover between Jen's obiyuki fic and original writing as she can come and still call it fanfic" which is absolutely correct, since this fic require making an ENTIRE CAST of OCs to support the premise of "Obi and Shirayuki grow up as childhood friends in the canon universe." I worked on mainly original writing before I started posting fic, so I delight in making characters and then convincing people to care about them, sometimes even against their will.

And That's the Reason We Need Lips So Much Written for the VERY FIRST Obiyukiweek back in 2016, I had been talking about doing something just like this since I pretty much started posting Seven Suitors. Sorata has a love of taking tropes an twisting them, and I thought the "true love's kiss/kiss of life" would be a hilarious one to tackle because...CPR usually ends with vomiting and cracked ribs. I had to do some really in-depth research into the mechanism of hemlock poisoning, since there is no actual known cure, and make up a very convincing one for Shirayuki to discover-- half the reason U started writing fic for this fandom was because I had professional biology knowledge, I wasn't gonna handwave it!

Creatures of a Brief Season Like All Pain, this was for the first AU bingo we ever ran, and I was using a bunch of ideas we had all come up with almost six months earlier on the obiyuki server we had at the time. I'd been so taken with the idea of doing a retelling with daemons, especially with Shirayuki having a daemon that settled late, and Obi having a the witch's tether for his daemon...the biggest hurdle was hoping that I'd done the whole concept justice. It was a LOT of pressure, but it remains one of my favorite fics.

Family, Duty, Honor A Song of Ice and Fire is possibly one of my favorite fantasy series of all time (the show....exists), so when this showed up on my bingo board a few years ago I was ECSTATIC. I had many, MANY ideas for a long-form series that would involve SECRET PARENTAGE and POLITICAL INTRIGUE, and probably DRAGONS, but since it was just for bingo, I wanted it to focus on Obi & Shirayuki...and thus we started at the Fake Marriage, Real Baby plot 🤣 ASoIaF is very densely packed with lore and I wanted to keep this fic the same way...but also make it readable to those who do not shove themselves face first into 800 page fantasy novels. It was a balancing act that I feel like I ultimately got; there's lots of little hints left for fans of the series, but it's enjoyable to people who aren't!

A Color By Any Other Name I had been talking about writing a fic like this for YEARS before I got to sit down and write it; I was initially hesitant because sometimes relatively benign disabilities like colorblindness are used more as like...entertainment in fic, either just as jokes or something to be fixed by the end of the narrative. And my philosophy is always that if I am going to include and experience in a fic-- whether it be something playing a tabletop game, or experiencing grief-- it should feel relatable to a person who has experienced it. So if I wanted to write someone discovering their colorblindness (based more than a little off a close friend's experience in college), I didn't want the colorblindness to be the punchline. In the end I had more than a couple people mention they had read it out to colorblind boyfriends/husbands who had also thought it was funny, so I'm pretty happy with how it turned out!

#asks #self rec #fic recs #obiyuki #akagami no shirayukihime #honorable mention to All That Remains which remains my most technically difficult fic of all time #and both Sic Semper Monstrum and Get Up Eight for requiring only about a THOUSAND tabs open every moment i work on them

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itsybitsybluesy · 2 months

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20 Questions for Writers tag game!

thanks for tagging @foundress0fnothing 🥰

1. How many works do you have on AO3? ONE!!!! and what a beautiful baby it is!

2. What’s your total AO3 word count? 33,793

3. What fandoms do you write for? i've only written for ACOTAR so far because in some ways i believe ACOTAR is the ultimate fic reader bait

4. What are your top 5 fics by kudos? again just have the one baby, but here she is: Open Water (Explicit)

5. Do you respond to comments? YES, i try to because i love to make friends and meet creators!

6. What is the fic you wrote with the angstiest ending? i like to imagine lucien still has a lot of angst at the end of OW. sometimes getting the girl means you then have to prove to yourself you're worth loving. and maybe repair your relationship with your half-brother while you're at it.

7. What’s the fic you wrote with the happiest ending? as someone who was long-distance with my now-husband for a few years and found a way to our own happy ending, i think that lucien and elain taking it week by week and staying together after a summer romance is a VERY happy ending and as long as they are honest with each other they will not regret taking that chance!

8. Do you get hate on fics? not popular enough for this honestly lmao

9. Do you write smut? If so, what kind? yeah, i generally like writing porn with plot! i literally sat down to write a one-shot this week that i was going to try to make short and sweet and it evolved in my mind into like 6 different scenes and then i got overwhelmed

10. Do you write crossovers? i probably wouldn't, tbh!

11. Have you ever had a fic stolen? no, but when i was a child on a horse-themed online rpg my account was once stolen. lmao

12. Have you ever had a fic translated? no, i literally only recently found out this was a thing lmao

13. Have you ever co-written a fic before? no but it would be 🥹

14. What is your all-time favorite ship? i've fallen hard for elucien this year, probably also because i'm looking forward to seeing some kind of future development in canon. i think the fandom's own collective vision of their two journeys is really beautiful and i'm so happy that even if SJM doesn't deliver i'll have so many lovely versions of canon to turn back to!

15. What’s a WIP you want to finish but doubt you ever will? i had started a fic on my old laptop about the IC getting stuck in contemporary NYC due to some sort of magical curse shenanigans. they also had no idea they were from prythian, almost trapped in a dream / trapped in the matrix type beat. my two OCs were sisters who fell in love with rhys and with mor and then had to figure out what to do because, like, they also probably should help the acotar gang get back to their own universe. but like, at what cost? (after getting to sleep with rhysand himself?)

16. What are your writing strengths? i like to think i'm good at fluff. i grew up reading into silly romance type work with my besties and even at one point writing and reading fanfic about ourselves x our crushes. it was all about just yearning and heartache and that feeling that makes you giggle and kick your heels in delight - that's why i still love fanfic.

17. What are your writing weaknesses? DIALOGUE. everyone sounds the same. also, i can tell when i get tired and just try to force through a particular scene because the writing gets shitty and forced.

18. Thoughts on writing dialogue in another language in fic? i haven't done this with fanfic, but i've had it mixed in before. i think it kind of depends, could be a cool thing to use, could be sort of gratuitous.

19. First fandom you wrote for? wayyyyy back on FF.net i wrote a bunch of fics for an anime fandom - the show was called Ultra Maniac and my cousins and i were super obsessed with it. looking back, they were pretty blatant self-inserts.

20. Favorite fic you’ve written? so far? my new baby Open Water, aka my return to fic writing after over a decade. it just sort of came out of me after months of ingesting wonderful elucien fics. i don't think it'll be that easy again any time soon though lol.

---

this was fun!!! tagging @temperedink if she isn't already :)

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onewomancitadel · 4 months

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Books being churned out at hasty speed is not new, that was the heyday of the paperback when they were the predominant entertainment form, the halcyon era of sci-fi, so I don't think what has become of romance/romance fantasy publishing is at all new - even for romance itself the harlequins were pumped out in a blink - if anything I think publishing companies are leaping at the chance to be relevant again.

The difference between now and then is that the majority of people don't read for entertainment, so the audience is much smaller, and so what's getting shovelled out has to tailor to that small, loyal audience: this is why the stratification, the carryover of tags-over-story is so effective. Identifying your audience is key to advertising, cultivating a brand, brand safety, etc., and it is really, really convenient that the 'do you like Hades and Persephone? Enemies-to-lovers?' form already existed in fandom. That's why every other novel describes itself as a crossover.

Is it a bad thing? Like really, fundamentally, is it a bad thing? Is bad fanfic being carried over in poor form to original publishing? Can you even say that most original published authors are interested in reading books? Because every other fucking post I see on the Internet is from some self-identified gifted kidult who's too good to read a book but wants everybody to pay attention to their shitty passion project based on a fic idea they could never get to work because that would mean actually understanding canon.

I think it's easy to blame fanfic because fandom is home of the nerd. Like, really, I know all the normies deeply resent this fact, but fanfic readers and writers have a reputation of fanaticism for a reason. And it's easy to think that that geekiness is responsible for the ultimate laziness of corporate stakes. Do you honestly think they would pass up this opportunity to gain a foothold in relevance when people are reading less than ever? The average person barely reads past a headline they scroll past. People aren't even really going to movies anymore. The publishing industry dreams of when people used to buy mass market paperbacks for their main source of entertainment.

It's easy to be proud of your ignorance - the average keyboard warrior thinks this is noble political praxis - and I don't doubt that most of what I have to say in a stupid Tumblr post actually meaningfully contributes to anything. But I guess I'm a little tired of people pointing at fanfic as being the problem when I really don't think it's solely responsible. The type of ignorance that fic authors might loudly practise doesn't put them in a unique category to any other original work author with a groundbreaking take on a strong female character in YA fantasy. And there are particular facets to fanfic that are yummy prey for the publishing industry, highly stratified and categorised stories, devoutly loyal readers - people already with a tendency to passionate devotion, and quite often - already finished works with positive reception. Why would you not want to publish these authors?

And yes, I do believe fanfic is a different practice from original work. People take this to mean that fanfic is consequently 'not valid'; nobody ever said that. And yes, I do think there are consequences to turning it into original work, and if you're not aware of these you can stumble. And yes, I think it's a mistake to think fanfic is automatically lesser on account of it being fanfic and that original work is automatically superior, particularly if you're somebody who doesn't really like fanfic and then get surprised at how shit some new releases can be, and then you attribute that to it being retrofitted fanfic. I've read both. It's not just a fic problem. (This is what this post is really about).

Fanfic can be good. Original work can be good but it has commercial stakes at play and artistic fads to contend with - just look at the advent of 'windowpane prose' and the utter disregard for the basic crafting tools of narrative. When they crossover, weird things can happen, because of genre mismatch - fanfic romance or fanfic fantasy romance doesn't always translate well to its original work counterparts, particularly when everybody has been sold the lie that it's basically the same thing. There's a lot more going on here than 'the yucky fic authors are invading'. That's it. That's the post.

#stirring the pot

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depressed-sock · 5 years

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Abandon all Hope

Oc stuff that I most likely won’t really do anything with.

Rating: M

Words: over 2k

tag warning: descriptions of blood and violence, minor character death

The world can be strange in many ways. Twisting, turning, tying itself into knots that connect to other strings of existence. Like now. Where the fabric of this world has been torn asunder, opening to planes far beyond the understanding of this one.

The air crackles with a life of its own, winds howling against the glowing red abrasion that’s been torn into the air. Hooded figures spread their arms before it, chanting and calling forth into the unknown. Amongst them, a tall figure stands in the center. Preparing to lead the ritual to its completion.

“It’s sad you thought you could stop me,” his voice is guttural and hoarse as he addresses the bodies that lie scattered on the ground. Blood pooling into the dirt around them; even as most still breathe. It’s such a waste, he thinks, that they could not truly bare witness to this victory.

A shared victory that they themselves have had a part in. Though many of them will never know.

He turns and steps forward, hood falling back to reveal a haggard old man with eyes that speak of ancients far older than himself. He moves past the servants, Their arms raised in worship of something beyond them. Past the bodies that lie drained of blood, their sacrifice fueling the heart of the ritual. Keeping it from wavering.

Past the bodies of the adventures that had thought they could stop him. The paladin sticks out the most from all of them. An ax protruding from their head reflects the events that continue around their still form. And shows his final approach and destination to the one he needs.

Such a pity. Such a waste.

There’s living amongst those who lie dead, stirring and trying to rise back to their feet. A useless endeavor as their hands slip from under them, their strength continuing to give out. They had never stood a chance. Just as he had planned.

The one he wants lies still, body twisted at an odd angle that leaves their legs sideways and their chest and face staring towards the dimming stars. He almost fears they might be dead but then he sees the uneven rise and fall of their chest. The Tiefling stares blankly at the sky with distinct red eyes akin to that of a dragon’s. His long bloody black hair sticks to pale skin patched with red scales and a beard that hides any trace of his true age.

Such a strange creature to look so human and yet his blood is filled with that of beings far greater.

A pity that one of his horns is missing, the man thinks as he tilts the Teifling’s head with his foot examining the spot of the missing horn. An ugly red scar that smooths away any previous protrusion. Most likely ripped and burned from his head long ago.

“Abandon.” the man stops his foot, keeping it in place on the Teifling’s head. A frown on his lips. “Such a sad name you’ve chosen.” He tilts his head as the Tiefling bares his fangs in response, too weak to do anything else. “But not an inaccurate one at least.”

The man then smiles, stepping back as he signals his servants forward, “Grab him. He’s the last piece we needed that our friends here so nicely provided.”

The Tiefling doesn’t fight back as he is lifted up by his arms. The servant’s claws digging into his skin as he’s dragged forward and towards the portal. He doesn’t feel the pain anymore, doesn’t even really want to think anymore. Some part of him knows he should be panicking but he doesn’t have the strength to do it.

A single thought plays through his head though. Whispering that he should have just stayed in his self-imposed solitude. Where everything was nice and quiet. No war, no strange portals, no danger, no one there to let him down or hurt him again.

He can almost remember what his forest smelt like. Fresh earth mixed with honey and flowers.

There’s no trace of that here. Just the smell of a storm and that of the dead and rotting.

He should have died in his home. In peace. Not here. Not amongst people he never bothered to learn the names of. These fucking assholes had dragged him into this mess and now none of them could get him out of it.

None of them could get themselves out of it either.

He stumbles, falling forward out of his captor’s grasps. Their claws scraping against skin and scale as he lands on his knees. Right in front of the dwarven paladin that stares at him with lifeless eyes.

It shouldn't hurt like it does. He had tried so hard not to care for any of them and yet he can't help but remember just a few nights ago. When the warmth of the tavern had felt a little like home and the sound of his companion’s chatter was more comforting than grating.

He remembers the Paladin's laughter. Loud and boisterous as their eyes crinkled happily at something he had said. They had filled everything around them with a feeling of comradery he had never wanted to understand.

The rage slowly builds back into a fire as he sits helplessly. Wondering how he could have saved them. If he had cared would it have made a difference?

No. It wouldn't have.

And for some reason that makes his anger burn brighter. It clears his head, makes everything come back into focus. Until he swallows down the rage with an effort of learned patience.

His rage is the reason he’s in this state in the first place. Rage that had lead to sloppy fighting, sloppy attacks. It'll lead to defeat for someone like him who relies on his dexterity to protect him.

Patience. A woman's voice whispers in his head. The elvish accented common unmistakable after three years of hearing it.

The cleric is still alive then. Feigning death and waiting for a chance to bring back whoever she can. The last chance to set things right and stop Osmodious once and for all.

His captors drag him up again, harsh words spoken in a language he can’t understand. Pulling him closer to the center of the ritual and the portal. Osmodious stepping up from behind him, moving back to his position in the center. Wearing a smile that causes a sense of disgust to crawl against Abandon’s skin.

He thinks he’s won… not yet though. Not while I still breathe. He never wanted to be here but he may as well do his part. Maybe then he can finally go home. Finally have his peace back.

“Your blood is the final piece,” Osmodious pulls a knife from his cloak, turning it carefully in his hands, “A mix of fiend and draconic-”

“And human... maybe some elf.” Abandon coughs out a laugh, tasting the blood on his teeth. “Heh, never really bothered to ask.”

Osmodious glares at him for his interruption, hand tightening around the hilt of the dagger but Abandon is too tired to care about this man’s threats. It won’t matter in the end if all goes as planned.

And even if it doesn’t he’d never give this man the satisfaction of fear.

His tail twitches in anticipation, waiting without notice next to the ankles of the captor on his right. Just a bit longer. Hopefully at least.

“Could also have some dwarvish,” he tilts his head up looking towards the clouded night sky and the rain that’s now begun to fall. Harsh and cold; carrying with it a deathly chill. “Hard to really tell but it would explain the beard, right?” He smiles with his fangs bared in a challenge. Daring the man to make the first move.

Osmodious almost seems to growl inhumanely as he grips Abandon's chin, “Be silent or you’re tongue will be the first to go." His fingernails digging into Abandon’s skin causing him to wince in pain.

He should shut up. Should stop talking. But he’s never been good at keeping his mouth shut and apparently 15 years of talking only to himself has made that particular problem much worse. “Technically, the horn already went first.”

The knife is fast but not as fast as the elvish woman who stands from afar. Armor dented and coated in a fresh sheen of blood, red hair flowing upwards as she speaks a prayer. Giving her wishes life with a burst of golden energy that burns away the blood. Leaving her armor a pristine white as the energy sweeps forth from her and towards her allies.

It hits him just in time. Taking mere seconds for his wounds to stitch together and bones to crack back into place. Renewed energy coursing through him to give him enough of a chance to dodge the knife. He pushes back, tail wrapping around his right captor’s ankle and pulling the hooded figure off-balance enough to send them to the ground behind him.

The other tries to stop him but he easily breaks the grip, turning to land a punch into their gut before bringing their head down onto his knee. Knocked out cold before they could even comprehend what was happening.

Osmodious’s growl turns to screams of rage, face twisting into an ugly snarl as he lashes forward. "Don't just stand there! Kill them!"

Abandon doesn't bother to look behind at his companions. He can take a guess at who is standing and who is not. No more than three at most. Three left to face off against a dozen while he stands in the middle of this chaos with the supposed big bad himself.

We're all really going to die here.

Osmodious swipes forward again in his rage. Slashing haphazardly to make any kind of connection with the Tiefling. Only for Abandon to easily dodge and dance around him.

It's a familiar rhythm from years of training. Years of fighting. He can already tell that Osmodious doesn’t know this particular dance very well. Slashing wildly with no skill or plan. A wizard using a knife against a person who has been trained to fight. It took years of practice, years of patience.

A monk should know best when and where to strike. Words imprinted in his head from a master long dead.

There. A chance opening made as Osmodious flings his arm back with the knife. Not expecting a solid fist to land a blow to his ribs with such force. Followed by a twist of his hand, the knife knocked harshly out of his grasp and another blow cracks into his nose. He retreats backwards, hands flying to his bloodied nose as Abandon resets into a defensive stance.

Osmodious stares at him with wide eyes. Trying to understand what exactly is happening. This wasn’t how it was supposed to go. “You’re supposed to be a sorcerer.”

“Never really liked magic.” Abandon shrugs like it’s the most obvious answer in the world. His gift had wanted to control him since the beginning. Wanted to grow more powerful. So he did the biggest fuck you to the universe he could think of. He ignored it.

It had been hard at first. His magic acting out in unpredictable ways. Ultimately he had to compromise, using it for small things while focusing his time and energy on learning to fight. An effort that’s so far proved best to his advantage.

Osmodious breathes deeply through his teeth, "You can't stop what's already begun." His hands shake as a dark energy builds around them like vipers ready to strike.

"Ha! Yes, I can. I do it all the time." His laughter almost feels like it's echoing. Reverberating against the rain that threatens to swallow them all into its cold embrace. It brings with it a creeping sense of dread.

Something feels wrong. And he’s not yet sure what.

He takes the offensive, dodging the energy that blasts towards him with a jump and a kick aimed at the man’s face. Too slow to hit, but fast enough for his tail to strike out and lash against Osmodious’s torso. Sending the man farther back towards the tear that crackles with unused energy.

It bathes Osmodious in red light; his form becoming something more inhuman by the second.

The dread is working its way through his system. Strangling the breath from his throat, arms shaking despite being steady only seconds ago. The screams behind him becoming impossible to ignore.

This has to end.

And only he can end it.

He stares at Osmodious and the tear behind him. The red shifting haphazardly, showing no destination in its depths. It won’t lead to where either of them want it to go.

That’s fine with him.

There are no names to remember here anyway.

He runs forward, ignoring the pain that shoots through him as Osmodious magic claws against any form of touch.

It can’t stop the inevitable though.

As the two figures tumble back into the tear.

Vanishing in a burst of light that is soon washed away.

#my writng #dnd oc #like i know where i want to go with this #i just don't think i'll stick to it #because this was ultimately going to turn into crossover fanfic #and i have fluctuating energy lately #and yeah idfk

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ryttu3k · 3 years

Note

This may be controversial to some, but I think AO3 should cut out all RPF (Real Person fanfiction). I love Fanfic, but writing it about real people seriously disturbs me.

It definitely squicks me, yeah. There's an option to exclude crossovers and stuff from showing up, I'd love to see RPF being an option to exclude as well.

The main problem is that banning any category of any kind of expression can lead to slippery slopes. Okay, let's say writing about real people is banned, because of possible litigation from the people involved. Does that include historical figures? They were real people! If so, how far back? If you're writing in Vampire the Masquerade, some historical figures are portrayed as vampires. Did you know the Prince of Melbourne in VtM was a real-life gangster? Or that Louis Pasteur did blood experiments after turning himself into a Caitiff? Would those be banned as well?

What about banning stuff because it's just distasteful? Who decides that? Where do you draw a line? It's ultimately going to come down to one person or one group's opinion on what's 'tasteful' and 'acceptable' and that never leads to anything good.

One of the things I love about AO3 is how powerful its search and tagging tools are. You don't want to read content with graphic violence? Hit a button and it's hidden from sight. Don't want to read anything with a certain character? You can exclude them! The onus is on the poster to tag things correctly, sure, but if they don't tag it as one of the major triggers (or as 'author chose not to use warnings', which is a warning in itself saying that by reading, you accept that it can include that stuff unexpectedly), you can easily report it.

Anyway. In conclusion, agree that RPF is creepy (one of my earliest fandoms, actually, was an RPF one, and I got out of it when I realised how creepy it was when I was... eighteen-ish, I think), but disagree that it should be banned outright, because that leads to slippery slopes. Would definitely love an option for it to be easily blocked from results like how crossovers are, though.

#fanfiction #ao3

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a-non-ymouswriter · 3 years

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Five Times Then One

Rewind Crossover Shot with Living In Circular

Living In Circular is an awesome DSMP looping fanfic that recently did a crossover with Rewind :D Yes I gave the author permission to use Rewind in their story and yes it is completely awesome.

In honor of that awesome chapter, of course I had to write a shot for it involving Red (Aka, Looper Tommy) and Theo :)

It’s kind of a long one folks!

TW: Language, Self-Loathing, Angst, Etc. Etc.

it’s mostly hilarious, but the ending is very emotional.

Five Times Theo was Dragged Into Therapy + One Time He Wasn’t

First Time

You know, there was a lot of things that Theo hated now that he and Toby were in the present. His hate for those things varied and changed as time went by, but his latest subject to vehemently hate was himself.

And he wasn’t just being edgy, or anything like that but he really, definitely hated his alternate self.

His newest alternate self.

The damned Looper alternate self, or whatever they were. The ones who suddenly appeared out of nowhere, and just interfered with everything.

Which was kind of ironic given Theo and Toby had done just that months ago when they first arrived. But at least they weren’t as fucking chaotic as the new group- and it’d just been him and Toby that came, then Ghostbur who was there because of time-fuckery but at least it was just the three of them!

Now there was a whole group of displaced time traveling (looping) assholes that were really getting on Theo’s nerve. It’s easier to get on his nerves now that his mind was so... quiet.

But Red? Aka his dickhead alternate looper self? Oh, he was the worst of them all.

“The fuck do you want now? What? Not enough that you gave me one hell of a black eye and locked me up with Toby to talk about feelings and all that crap? We’ve... done that already. Thank you.” There was little gratitude in his tone, more tired vitriol and annoyance. Theo makes a face at the memories of being locked in a room with Toby the room was too small the room was too small fuck fuck to talk (actually talk this time) about everything because their initial ‘talk’ was interrupted.

It ended with less bruises than the last but Toby had an insufferable smile on his face now.

Red had his arms crossed and he gave Theo a look, “Puf-White offered therapy, she’s pretty good at it y’know. Thousands of years of experience and all that.”

Theo narrowed his eyes, “I’ve heard.” He replied dryly, “But no thanks. I’m good. She’s not gonna force me to take her offer.”

“Oh yeah, she won’t.” The smile on Red’s face was practically malicious and Theo immediately turned around and started running.

“But I will.”

Fuck.

Second Time

“I stand corrected last time, I absolutely fucking despise you.” Theo hissed at the physically teenage boy but mentally ancient mother fucker that had him hogtied and was currently carrying him in a princess-carry. Purposefully trying to humiliate him every step of the way.

It’s not the carry that he’s hating, he could’ve been fine with that. It’s the fact that he’s covered in pink. Hot glittery pink. He was covered in hot pink glitter that would take ages to wash off. If ever, the little bastard might make him be glitter pink forever.

Red snickered, “Oh calm your tits man, it’s not gonna stay forever- sure it’ll stain for a while and you’ll find glitter everywhere for a while but not forever... Wilbur and the others forbade me to make it last forever. Shame but this is all your fault y’know, you could’ve just gone to Puffy’s next session on time but nope, you tried to skip out.” He gives him an infuriating smirk, “Can’t have that now can we?”

Theo really hated him. He did.

Third Time

“H-How exactly is he doing that?” Someone among the group asked, watching Red tug on... nothing but thin air. He was clearly just miming on pulling on something, a rope which was presumably tied around Theo who was struggling against it- but there was no rope. A few people checked, nothing there.

Silver, Looper Tubbo, chuckled, “He’s had an interesting variety of loops- this isn’t his strangest ability in his arsenal. He did say he was getting rusty on his miming tricks.” Red let out a silent cackle as he hauled a very loudly swearing Theo on a horse that didn’t exist and rode off towards White (Looper Puffy)’s Therapy Office.

“I’m frankly quite terrified but ultimately glad it’s not me in his place.” Toby admitted, watching him go- his own session wasn’t set for today, and unlike Theo, he actually went on his own so he was safe.

Fourth Time

“I hate you, I fucking hate you so damn much.”

Red patted Theo’s cheek, “The feeling’s mutual bub. Feeling’s mutual.”

Fifth Time

“Tommy, I’m not really sure if you should keep forcing him in here.” Puffy admitted to him after the session. Theo had immediately left without another word. “Just because I said I wouldn’t force him to take my offer doesn’t really mean you should.”

Tommy rose a brow at her, “I thought you said you were making progress with him.”

The sheep hybrid sighed, “Minimal progress. He’s actually talked-”

“Then I don’t see the problem-”

“Let me finish Tommy. He HAS started talking, but not much. He asked for water or for maybe one of Niki’s cookies (which not really surprising, my wife’s cookies are amazing) but other than that? Nothing.”

The blond looper scowled, “So what, you want me to stop? To just let the guy continue to be a traumatized bastard? Just leave him be?”

“Not really- look, all I’m saying is that Theo is already... distant, to say the least, with us all. Forcing someone into therapy can both be helpful and not, sure he does need therapy and we’re trying that. I’m trying that, but you constantly forcing him isn’t helping him. And I don’t think your methods to get him here are helping that too.” Puffy pointed out dryly, remembering the angry silence as Theo wrung out his red hoodie, completely soaked from head to toe.

She laid a hand on Tommy’s shoulder, “I know that you’re trying to help but you’re also angry with him Tommy. Which isn’t helping him, nor you.” She sighed, and gave him a pleading look. “At least stop humiliating him on the way here? He might get more comfortable around me if he isn’t so preoccupied by whatever you did and stewing in silence because of it.”

Tommy didn’t look too pleased but begrudgingly nodded his head.

Not This Time

It feels like his head was going to explode.

Overloaded with thoughts that should’ve been held back the static kept him in check his head swirling with every thought being merciless to his focus and keeping distracted to the point of helplessness the static kept him focused his head was empty and yet so full.

Ever since that looping Callahan subdued the static and kept his enchantment from hurting him too much, his head...

Has never been calmer.

Paradoxically, it’s never been more chaotic.

Every thought he’s ever thought, everything he’s kept buried with the static floats into the front of his brain and he has no idea how to deal with it.

Years worth of guilty thoughts, regrets and more keep appearing in his head. Not only that but everything seems so much louder than before. But muted too.

It’s a confusing contradiction that has him reeling and he doesn’t know how much more he can take it. Every time he goes out, he feels like he’s being assaulted by just existing even though he’s doing nothing wrong he did everything wrong he fucked up so badly he deserves this punishment just standing there and his head threatens to crack open.

He can usually ignore it, carry on with his day what does he do now he was being useless what is wrong with him but lately it’s been getting harder and harder to ignore it all.

The static isn’t there to keep him grounded, he feels like he’ll end up flying off the ground. It isn’t there to keep him afloat, he’s going to end up sinking into the deep.

He should have said no, when Callahan subdued the static he needed it e-even if Dream said so he NEEDED it it’s so muted in his head and he has no idea what to do with the free space.

Theo has to let go of the static.

But he doesn’t want to.

Even with it muted, the absence and the less intense reaction of the static is throwing him off.

He feels more tired than ever and on the verge of collapse.

Theo just wants everything to stop.

“You’re late to Puffy’s therapy session.”

“...”

Theo clutched his thighs, pressing them closer to his chest as he curled up even tighter against the tree trunk. He didn’t say anything to the blond god that stood not too far from him.

He felt ridiculous. Here he was, curled up, hugging his fucking legs like a fucking child- as if it’d do anything to stop the more powerful better version of himself. Hell, he might as well be a child. He probably was compared to Red.

It’s almost funny.

Despite looking like an adult, Theo was a child, still a scared teenage fucking boy exiled from home. While before him stood an ancient old man, looking like a familiar teenage boy that Theo can only see in L’Manberg now. Two of them actually, but only one of them was Tommy Innit, a smiling teenager his own age.

Theo’s too tired to resist much this time.

The air was too much, or maybe it wasn’t enough because his lungs ached in his chest and it hurt to breathe. There was something in his eyes because they were wet and irritated. He was cold, even with his hoodie on, he was cold because he was shaking.

Everything was too loud. The wind, the cows, the rustling plants.

Everything was too quiet. The static, his voice, his own hearing.

He felt like he was going insane.

“...”

Theo doesn’t dare move from his spot, even as he hears the incoming footsteps. Dread and anticipation pool in his guts- there’s not enough room. He might heave and puke when he gets to Puf- to White’s office. He’ll clean it up maybe.

Just what will happen now?

...

Nothing.

Theo doesn’t look up to see what’s going on, hearing and feeling someone sit a few spaces beside him on the ground. Red is suspiciously silent and it’s not helping the nausea that’s building in his throat.

One minute passes.

Two.

Six.

Fourteen.

Twenty.

Fourty-five minutes.

“I just...” His tongue is heavy and bloated, soft but raspy and he’s struggling to speak, “want everything to stop.”

“...” Red doesn’t reply.

“I’m so tired.”

Silence.

“Please.”

“It’s not going to stop.” Red replies softly, for once, the hatred is not there as he sees the child underneath the mask. “And you’re always going to feel tired- but it’ll get better.”

“It does?” The child asks the old man.

The old man does not smile, “I swear, it does. It just takes time and effort.” He promises the young boy.

Theo is not fragile. Tommy isn’t.

But everyone has their moments.

They stay there for the whole day.

#non post #Rewind #tommyinnit #non writes #5+1 one shot #living in circular

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i-want-my-iwtv · 3 years

Note

If Anne R. decided to publish another VC book in the future, how would you like it to be? What topics would you like to see explored? What's your ideal ending to the saga? L̶e̶t̶'̶s̶ ̶i̶m̶a̶g̶i̶n̶e̶ ̶s̶h̶e̶ ̶w̶o̶u̶l̶d̶n̶'̶t̶ ̶s̶c̶r̶e̶w̶ ̶i̶t̶ ̶u̶p̶ ̶t̶h̶i̶s̶ ̶t̶i̶m̶e̶

This is interesting, and possibly some very well-wrapped bait. The question about what we want to see in canon is usually framed the other way around, in the form of a statement about what we’re disliking about canon. I’ve seen so many salty posts and hot takes that criticize the series for lacking in many ways, and I can’t remember a time when I’ve had any interest to write one of those myself or engage in them.

Those statements are often about the issue of representation in published fiction, whether it be LGBT+, POC, etc., “[Author name]’s long history of discussing X but not depicting X in canon” is itself an accusation (deserved or not); that [Author] should do something about it, now! Representation is a nuanced issue, essays have been written on it by people more educated on it than I am, and out of respect, I’m not going to discuss this further publicly. For more on this topic, I would recommend @olderthannetfic.

>If Anne R. decided to publish another VC book in the future, how would you like it to be?

Fanworks have fed me so well over the years that there’s not much Anne herself could give me that I can’t find elsewhere. If she can’t or doesn’t want to make the content I want, I’ll write it myself or see if someone else is writing/has written it.

I would say that my favorite fanfics, fanart, and the parts of VC canon (which are all basically sequels of IWTV in some shape or form) that I’ve enjoyed have all landed somewhere in the sweet spot briefly described below.

From “Star Wars - How To Kill A Franchise,” by The Closer Look:

“Imagine exploring the elements from an original story in the sequel like a gradient. On the left, you’ve got ‘Not enough change,’ in the middle you’ve got that ‘Sweet spot’ where they’re different but it feels like a natural development in their character... In a perfect sequel, everything carried over from the original story should be in that Goldilocks zone where they’re still the same characters... but they’ve been developed in natural, interesting ways that allows for entertaining new directions in the follow-up story.”

Then there’s further to the right... ‘For the love of God stop!’ Which is where we use the phrase “jumped the shark,” “Moments labeled as "jumping the shark" are considered indications that writers have exhausted their focus, that the show has strayed irretrievably from an older and better formula...”

>What topics would you like to see explored?

A return to the sweet spot, some ideas would be:

The hypothetical book she might have written thirty years ago as a follow up to QOTD instead of TOBT.

A story, any story, from Louis's POV where he has more perspective in the wake of TVL and QOTD. That last scene of QOTD with Lestat and Louis flying together and so on... Lestat wondered what it had done to Louis to finally learn all these secrets, after being told for so long they didn't exist. Currently, Louis is characterized primarily by his obvious top-level traits, which get exaggerated and turned into the entire depiction, which is so flat, and he has so much more to offer.

Discussions about the consequences of Merrick, and how that’s changed the way Louis sees things and navigates his existence, whether he and Lestat have the intimacy they were unable to achieve from the end of QOTD to Merrick.

I would prefer that certain characters that had died were allowed to stay dead, and could be talked about and mourned.

The exception being - I’d be open to a Nicolas return! He died off-screen after all.

>What's your ideal ending to the saga?

Ultimately, every problematic thing can't be addressed and tidied up. All of the vampires in VC have killed tens of thousands of people. There's no reparation for that. It's weird to try to apply any kind of human-standard morality to them, because you start from "First of all, they're all mostly-unrepentant killers."

While it would count as possibly Too much change, I think it could be intriguing to make all the vampires mortal and human again; they age together; now that their lives are finite they realize they need to sort out their shit, they get therapy and learn to communicate, and resolve all their many and varied interpersonal problems.

I’m ready to see what Christopher does with it when he takes over. I haven’t read his writing myself, but I’ve been told it’s good, so we’ll see. Maybe he has the Ricean spark✨

>L̶e̶t̶'̶s̶ ̶i̶m̶a̶g̶i̶n̶e̶ ̶s̶h̶e̶ ̶w̶o̶u̶l̶d̶n̶'̶t̶ ̶s̶c̶r̶e̶w̶ ̶i̶t̶ ̶u̶p̶ ̶t̶h̶i̶s̶ ̶t̶i̶m̶e̶

You know, over the years, especially when there was more of a sense of humor and people could get away with hyperbole, I’ve made it publicly known that some of the books were not my cup of tea, but there are fans who come to the series from every one of the books. They don’t have the same calibration as I do, IWTV may not be the original material at all for them! One could argue that any of these books could exist as standalones, because AR never promised us a forge weld to them all, 40+ yrs and 10+ books later. It’s not delamination of the stories splitting off from each other and conflicting accounts of events (”unreliable narrators”) if the intention wasn’t a fused weld.

In some respect, AR has reflected, she often asks her FB followers what they like about certain books/characters/etc. and I think she does read those responses... and while I wouldn’t say she admitted she “screwed it up,” she has said the Mayfair/VC crossovers “did not age well,” even though she is proud of them:

So I think AR’s point is that she tried a direction, and now that years have passed, she decided that it wasn’t worth pursuing further, and it will impact her choices in future books (in this case, not to do more crossovers). I think it takes a lot of guts for her to post that publicly, and it gives me hope that whatever she writes next, I think she’s trying to capture her older and better formula.

But just because she made us a magnificent cake once, I don’t expect her to make anything like it for us again, ever, and it gives me peace of mind not to expect her to.

#ask #anon #iwantmyiwtv has opinions #screencap #fb #anne rice #advice #on writing #The Closer Look #star wars #long post

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unhealthyfanobsession · 4 years

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How would you compare the ACOTAR ships to TVD ships? Some people say Feysand is like Delena.

This is SUCH A FUN ASK!! Don’t mind if I do! I’m going to compare the general dynamic of the characters as well as archetype/ story parallels.

This is a crossover post so SPOILERS FOR BOTH ACOTAR AND TVD BELOW.

Stefan-Elena-Damon = Tamlin-Feyre-Rhysand

I don’t mean to do Stefan dirty like this, but the parallels are really undeniable. Stefan and Tamlin both were the kind, caring, magical first introduction to this whole new world for Feyre/Elena. They fell in love with them easily and it was a pure, beautiful love but while they were in it there were darker (Damon and Rhys) forces pulling them in another direction. Both women loved these men SO fiercely and sacrificed for that love. Feyre fought the 3 trials with Amarantha where she ended up being helped by Rhys. Elena went looking for Stefan in his ripper days even though Klaus would kill her if he found her and she was helped by Damon. Both of them fought for this love but then once they had it back... either they or the man or both had changed too much from the trauma and their relationship simply couldn’t work anymore.

I totally agree with the Feysand= Delena point because I think they are both relationships that are very “this person over everyone else no matter what” and that is romantic, but at we see, can also be overbearing/toxic at times. They both do awful things that the heroine has to later learn their motives for and forgive them for. Damon “kills” Jeremy and tries to compel Elena to kiss him early on. He feeds Elena his blood against her will when Klaus might kill her but then he ultimately makes it right through self sacrificing hero acts. Rhys does... everything he did under the mountain and he doesn’t tell Feyre she’s his mate, but then he helps her heal after Tamlin and ultimately saves Prythian. Both characters are also haunted by an abusive relationship- Rhysand a sexually abusive relationship with Amarantha that he endured for 49 years and Damon and emotionally abusive/manipulative relationship with Katherine that defined his life for 150 years.

Damon has a quote in season 4 that I think really describes both couples. He says: “if you’re going to be bad, be bad with a purpose. Otherwise you just aren’t worth forgiving.”

Klaroline = Nessian

This one is more based on character interactions and a bit of my own bias. I struggled to find a TRUE nessian parallel couple but I think Klaroline is the closest for a number of reasons. Largely because Caroline and Nesta are very similar characters. Both start off as shallow, superficial mean girls who we get an early glimpse of their heart (Caroline crying and her I’m never the one monologue and Nesta being on Feyre’s side when she returns in ACOTAR) who then get changed into something they never wanted to be and it helps them grow and OWN THEIR P O W E R. Even Caroline’s stint as emotionless mess after her mom’s death parallels Nesta’s destructive actions after losing her father.

Cassian and Klaus both have the whole “I’m a worthless bastard that no one wants and I killed my father but I am STRONGER THAN EVERYONE so you can’t hurt me even though I’m really just a soft boi who needs love” vibe going on.

And the CHASE. That’s the biggest parallel here. These are both couples where this powerful man walked in and said “that one” re the beautiful woman who hated them and then did not give up. But with both of them it’s a gentle chase. Klaus knows that Caroline is constantly trying to trick him but he doesn’t care because he just wants to spend time with her and whenever she is in danger he is there on the DOUBLE and does things he doesn’t want to do for her (ex- graduation, hiding/ protecting Stefan in season 6). Cassian knows that Nesta is going through a hard time after ACOMAF and he flies up to the House of Wind every damn day to see her even when she pushes him away and he instantly goes into fierce general I will kill mode if anyone threatens Nesta. Also both couples are prone to lashing out at each other (Caroline “terrible people” line; Klaus with his biting. Cassian “everyone hates you”; Nesta with her well... being Nesta LOL)

Bonus points for pet names and relentless teasing when they aren’t trying to kill each other.

Quote for them is when Caroline tells Klaus “anyone capable of love, is capable of being saved” I think that also has big Cassian @ Nesta in ACOSF energy.

(PS I did consider Nessian being Steroline but 1. I fucking hate that ship and 2. Stefan was never there for Caroline during the hard times which is the anti Cassian AND I think the for me it’s always you vibe just fits the intensity of Nessian better)

Kennett = Elriel

I’m not tagging this Elriel so don’t COME FOR ME. In my opinion, these are both ships that had some fun ~tension~ and are kinda sexy/enticing. Kol with his love of witches and their little graduation ghost adventure and Azriel with his attraction to Elain and saving her from Hybern. BUT ultimately I think the most interesting thing about these ships was their convenience. I think fans liked to put Bonnie with Kol in fanfics because it was an easy way to make Bonnie understand Elena and Caroline’s choice for a dark boi and it was just convenient. Likewise I think that Elriel is convenient in writing to simply throw Elain with the other bat brother and tie everything up in a neat little ribbon.

Mabekah= Elucien

In this comparison Rebekah is Lucien and Matt is Elain. This was a couple where one person started off with bad motives (Rebekah wanting to kill Matt at the ball; Lucien plotting with Hybern) but they have genuine feelings for the person once they get to know/are mated to them and you see that person is a much more complicated character than we previously saw. Rebekah and Lucien are both lost, lonely, and struggling to find where they fit in while Matt and Elain are both struggling but ultimately the much beloved “sweet” character who everyone is willing to die to protect. At first the sweet character avoids the villain character like the plague, but eventually things turn around and they see past their previous bad actions.

BonEnzo= Gwynriel

Talk about characters who have some trauma to heal together. Enzo was literally kept in a cage by the Whitmore’s for 50 years and abused much like Azriel in his dungeon. Gwyn has had to make unspeakable decisions in order to protect the greater good and suffer the horrible consequences for it- losing her twin to protect those children much like how Bonnie lost her grams to protect Stefan and Elena. Enzo started off interested in Caroline (like Azriel and Elain) and getting over an obsession with Lilly (Azriel and Mor) but was ultimately drawn to Bonnie for her strength, determination, and good heart despite everything she had been through. These are really all just characters that have been through the RINGER and need to find healing in each other’s arms but would never admit that’s what they are doing so it just happens slowly and one day they realize things don’t hurt as much anymore.

AND FINALLY:

Damon and Caroline= Nesta and Tomas

You know why. Damon doesn’t get off that easy just because he “changed”. He abused Caroline and I won’t be pretending in 2021 that he didn’t.

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luthienebonyx · 3 years

Text

AO3 tag game

Tagged by @mugenmine

1. How many works do you have on ao3?

150*

2. What’s your current AO3 wordcount?

919,916, though that’s not all the fic I’ve ever written. The true total would be somewhere north of 1m words.

3. How many fandoms have you written for and what are they?

Game of Thrones (TV) (40)

Stargate Atlantis (29)

Harry Potter - J. K. Rowling (28)

Once Upon a Time (TV) (15)

Pet Shop of Horrors (5)

Lewis (TV) (4)

HEYER Georgette - Works (4)

A Song of Ice and Fire - George R. R. Martin (3)

Friday's Child - Georgette Heyer (3)

Doctor Who (3)

Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries (3)

A Song of Ice and Fire & Related Fandoms (3)

Hercules: The Legendary Journeys (2)

Hawaii Five-0 (2010) (2)

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (Movies) (2)

Angel: the Series (2)

James Bond (Craig Movies) (2)

Battlestar Galactica (1978) (1)

First Monday (TV 2002) (1)

The Queen's Thief - Megan Whalen Turner (1)

The Good Wife (TV) (1)

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005) (1)

Rivers of London - Ben Aaronovitch (1)

The Lord of the Rings - J. R. R. Tolkien (1)

Hornblower (TV) (1)

Frederica - Georgette Heyer (1)

A Countess Below Stairs - Eva Ibbotson (1)

The Devil Wears Prada (2006) (1)

Xena: Warrior Princess (1)

Which comes to 29 all up, but getting rid of a couple of the umbrella ones, I make it 26 actual fandoms.

4. What are your top 5 fics by kudos?

The Personal Touch (Game of Thrones, Jaime/Brienne) A Fine Romance (Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, Newt/Tina) A Night to Remember (Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries, Phryne/Jack) In Whisky Veritas (Harry Potter, Snape/Hermione) More Than a Memory (Game of Thrones, Jaime/Brienne)

5. Do you respond to comments? Why or why not.

Nearly always. I view fic as part of the fannish conversation, and comments are a response to the conversation about the characters that I’ve started by writing and posting the fic, so of course I want to continue that exchange by responding. Occasionally comments get away from me because of stuff going on in my life, or I just don’t know how to reply to them so they go unreplied-to, but only very occasionally.

6. What’s the fic you’ve written with the angstiest ending?

Of those that are still online, I’d say The Rain Keeps Falling, which is a HP story about a lot of strong emotions, including grief, and features a major character death. The angstiest ending I’ve written recently would be We seek him here, we seek him there..., which is a JB Scarlet Pimpernel AU that I should probably write a follow-up to at some point.

7. Do you write crossovers? What’s the craziest one you’ve ever written?

I was going to say that I don’t - and then I remembered that actually I have. (What can I say? I’ve been writing for a long time, and things slip my mind. 😂) Probably the most unexpected was a pair of drabbles featuring Willy Wonka from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and Count D from Pet Shop of Horrors.

8. Have you ever received hate on a fic?

Once or twice, but very rarely in 22 years of writing and posting fic. The most memorable was the vague death threat I got - probably from a fourteen-year-old who didn’t realise that phrasing their displeasure that way wasn’t the best idea - for a very silly HP fic that was written for the blame someone else challenge, and, well, they blamed me. 😂

9. Do you write smut?

I’ve been writing smut since my first fanfic in 1999. At first, I didn’t realise that writing non-smut was an option, and by the time I learned otherwise, it was too late.

But yeah, I do like using smut to dig down into the characters and find out what makes them tick, in all sorts of ways. You never know what a character might reveal without meaning to in the course of a sex scene.

10. Have you ever had a fic stolen?

A couple of times. I’ve had multiple fics reposted without permission by an automated fic harvesting site that was trying to monetise fic and took a whole lot of fic by many people. I had to send them a C & D letter.

I’ve also had a story stolen by another fan and reposted as their own work. I think in that case they thought the story was old and obscure and so no one would notice, but it was actually old and well-known and people noticed immediately. Very luckily for me, other people went after that one and yelled at the ‘author’ as soon as they saw it, and it was taken down before I had to do anything.

11. Have you ever co-written a fic before?

No, I haven’t, actually! Maybe, one day, with the right person.

12. What’s your all time favorite ship?

Weeeell, the problem I have in answering this question is that I don’t really have favourite ships. I have favourite characters, and then I have the ship that works best for me with whichever character is my favourite. I guess Jaime/Brienne is my favourite in the sense that, unusually for me, my love for both characters is almost equal.

13. What was the first fandom you wrote for?

Xena: Warrior Princess. I stumbled into fandom completely by accident, spent a few months reading and lurking, and then decided “I could do that.” So I did.

14. What’s your favorite fic you’ve written?

If I’d been asked that question a year ago, I would have had a hard time answering. But now I actually do have a favourite fic of my own. It’s That Greek Thing, the fandom is Friday’s Child - Georgette Heyer, and I wrote it for Yuletide last year.

I’d been talking about writing a fic for those characters for about twenty years, but I never quite reached the point of actually writing it. I first read Heyer when I was thirteen and she was very formative for me in certain important ways. I didn’t want to try to write in her world if I didn’t think I could do it justice. So this fic was a VERY long time coming, and when I finally wrote it, it turned out to be sort of the ultimate fanfic for me. It was VERY hard to let go after it was done. It’s exactly the story that I so wished someone would write for those characters - which is really why I write fanfic at all, when it comes right down to it.

* The font is huge without the asterisk. I don’t understand this hell site.

Tagging: @samirant @robotsdance @firesign23 @albatrossisland @schweetheart @blatheringbluejay @woodelf68 and anyone else who wants to do it

#memes #writing #luthien's fanfic

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flying-elliska · 3 years

Text

Shadow and Bone Season 1 Review

Ok so I got distracted by a need to watch all of Ben Barnes' filmography (lmao) but here is my review : It was really fun to watch and it was clearly made with love which is already the main thing with YA fantasy, which is often turned into a soulless moneygrab when put on screen. The actors were GREAT. I did think that the Crows suffered from being mashed up with the Shadow and Bone story, but they were still a highlight. I also think it was a bit rushed, esp. when it came to Alina's training. The costumes were beautiful, I want a kefta now. Plus the crossover fanfic interactions btw the SaB characters and the Crows were just pure joy. Also Milo, obviously <3 I'm in hyperfixation mode so here, have an essay :

The "Shadow and Bone" Characters :

- Jessie Mei Li !!!!!! She really made me like Alina so much more than in the books, she absolutely is the 'human embodiment of literal sunshine' and she was a joy to watch. Her character's arc is cliché but her acting is so expressive and endearing, I really felt for her all the way through. (maybe I'm biased bc Jessie talking about her ADHD and seeing her thrive at the same time is like!!! i love them they deserve all the best.) I like that they made Alina more proactive - even though she does make some stupid decisions... but I just don't understand people who put that down as bad writing, like ??? have you ever met a real person who only makes wise, good decisions ?? a character like that would either be at the end of their story or just in the background because that makes them static. The things with the maps in the beginning does a good job of illustrating how she is just this one girl making rash, erratic decisions out of fear and loyalty and doesn't have a sense of the bigger picture, caught in the tide of bigger events. It works for her character. When it comes to the choice of making her half-Shu, I do think it really makes sense re: her character feeling like an outsider but I do understand the criticisms that the microaggressions felt too relentless and one-note. I am really looking forward to them introducing Tamar and Tolya and hopefully connecting to them over her heritage in a more positive way.

- Mal in the books was one of the most annoying YA characters I've ever come across, so I really liked that they made him much more of a loyal, devoted friend. I found his relationship with Alina cute, it really gives us the sense that these are two orphans who found a home in each other, childhood best friends (and potential sweethearts) separated by war, two army grunts and ordinary people caught up in the wheels of power and war that usually crushes people like them, it's a great way to introduce the dynamics of their world and it's a trope that always makes me emo. It felt a bit too one note to me, though, and too heavily on the nose, like Mal's only personality was his attachment to Alina (and his resentment towards the Grisha) and too much of her emotional arc also relied on him. Them hitting us over the head with the meadow scenes felt like pure telling instead of showing and it ended up being super repetitive and kind of annoying. I am willing to like this pairing, but I wanted more scenes of them just having conversations about things and really understanding why they like each other beyond the whole childhood friends bond that we're asked to accept exists at the beginning. So I hope there's more depth there in next seasons.

- Ben Barnes!!!! Just jksdfhgkdjghdf. I'm not a big villain stan usually and I hated the Darkling in the books but DAMN his performance is just amazing. They managed to make him more sympathetic and human while at the same time making clear the stuff he does is deeply horrible. There's the Magneto-aspect of 'well clearly his methods are fucked up but he's addressing a terrible injustice nobody is doing anything about' that makes it very tempting to root for him ; and again, well, like, Ben Barnes is so hot and charismatic it feels uncomfortable (which I guess is part of the point lol). His loss of humanity is, up to a point, understandable, brought about by despair, loneliness, grief and a sense of powerlessness - living so long he starts to see other people as disposable, losing so many people he stops caring, seeing over and over how hate never seems to stop, etc. It's a logical explanation for going insane.

But the hunger for power is also very much present as a motivation and this ambiguity is there constantly. Does he maybe come to genuinely care for Alina or is it totally bullshit ? I think he does, he's just so fucked up that it comes out as possessiveness and a need to control her. He wants Alina to be his equal but he's incapable of treating her that way. It's tragic, in a sense, but the show doesn't excuse his actions either. Like his monstrosity is a product of this world full of injustice, yes, and that warrants some compassion, monsters are always a symptom of their environment in some ways and dehumanizing them completely is an excuse ; but at the same time, he sabotaged his own cause anyway the moment he started to treat other people like things, as he does with Alina, because that just perpetuates the cycle of violence and hate. At some point he started feeling like he was the only solution and he was owed power for his sacrifices, and he's using his cause as an excuse. When Alina came to him, there was a possibility for redemption, taking down the Fold, and it's a test because there is finally someone on his level of power. But instead of seeking to remedy the power imbalance between them, he made it worse, by lying to her, manipulating her, etc, and the antler collar is the ultimate sign of this.

I love those scenes towards the end (the antler-based body horror has big Hannibal vibes, so messed up). I like Alina telling him they could have had this, that she had compassion for him and his cause, that they could have worked together, and he's the one responsible for screwing it up and this time his claim that he's the misunderstood victim ("Make me your villain") appears delusional and self-serving instead of somewhat justified. The almost-lovers to enemies vibes, the sense of lost potential, and the angst of the whole 'oh you could finally have been loved by people, too bad you fucked it up !', very juicy. There is this fundamental idea that power/respect/love is not something you are owed no matter how good your intentions are or because you're strong or you have suffered or you're willing to commit horrible drastic actions, you have to keep proving you deserve it, and trying to claim power without responsibility of care turns you into a monster. The thing with the stag was an excellent metaphor of the fact that there's things you can't take, they have to be given to you, and the wonderful power there is in understanding that is what allows Alina to harness the stag amplifier's power. This is really when she escapes his grim utilitarian outlook and a different way forward and owns her own power fully on her own terms.

Anyway I hope Alina gets to beat the shit out of him at some point that would be very sexy but I'm also looking forward to see how their arcs parallel and diverge from each other as Alina starts to grapple more with the implications of her power and the harsh dilemmas of war and her own dark side. I want to see him become scared of her, and I feel it will be more visible than in the books where he just has this cold aggressive facade all the time. This one feels a lot more openly emotional which is just a lot more interesting.

- As for the other characters ; Zoya mostly made me sad. The actress has the perfect vibes but I'm not sure I love their take on her character so far, it does make sense in terms of the later books - that she has internalized prejudice regarding her mixed-race heritage, that she is jealous of Alina because of how hard she's fought to get where she is and Alina kind of takes it away from her, etc. But I would have liked to see a bit more of her being badass and sharp-tongued in a clever (even if mean) way instead of spending most of her time being rejected by men and being racist towards Alina. I did like the ending though, of her actually seeing the monstrosity of the Darkling in action and the mention of her aunt. And her brief bonding with Inej was great, just because it was badass but also maybe because it could be a part of Zoya learning to accept her Suli heritage in turn, maybe not right away but in time, when thinking of that part of herself, she won't only think of her parents' ruined marriage and all the pain it caused, but also of that badass and brave acrobat girl who went toe to toe with these really scary monsters without even having any powers and !!!!!

- Also Leigh's cameo was so cute and as an aspiring writer this is just such wish fulfillment

- I honestly think that having the Crows there actually made the S&B story better ? Not only in terms of the much needed levity breaks but also in terms of themes. For instance, Matthias and Nina's story gave us a really raw and visceral view of how the Grisha are hunted. And Inej's relationship to Alina really gave us a sense of what Alina actually means to people who believe in the Saints in a way that doesn't feel just like 'ugh those superstitious people' because we know that Inej's faith is part of what makes her who she is and a person with morals, and something that saw her through the worst moments of her life. It feels so special that she got to meet Alina and given a sign that maybe the world is not completely shitty. And Alina's kindness towards Inej really gives you a sense that she might be, or become worthy of that belief in time, or at least that she wants to, that she's figuring out her power to really touch people's lives might be a good thing, and that she's starting to accept this responsibility more fully. And her arming Inej is a nice parallel to that. I'm very emotional about this scene, because one of the first things we see of young Alina is her taking out a knife to defend Mal from the bullies, because she's protective and brave, but she's also aware the world is a shitty place, and so her giving that knife to Inej is a sort of spiritual transmission and recognition of sorts, that she trusts Inej with that fighting power, that she'll use this knife to defend herself and her loved ones and not abuse it. It's so interesting. And a counter point to the Darkling's fucked up relationship to power that Alina might at some point get afraid she'll replicate. That you could see Alina trying to gather followers and using people's admiration for her like he did but instead she sets them free and empowers them. It's great. And I feel that when Inej takes to the seas, she'll think about Alina. (I do hope somebody tells her Alina's not dead at some point though god). Girls giving each other knives is my spirituality, honestly.

- And I also noticed an interesting parallel between Kaz and the Darkling in terms of being two emo dudes who like to wear black, are prone to violence and have a thing for two very powerful women they think are special and want to have at their side, but of course, they go about it in very different ways. The Darkling comes at it from a place of power while Kaz comes from a place of utter powerlessness, first of all, and he understands why it's important to set Inej free. Him spending the entire season trying to earn enough money to pay off Inej's indenture is the opposite to the Darkling putting that collar on Alina and while I do have issues with how the show portrays him, I do love that. Love is about setting the person you love free !!!! And that confrontation scene was so powerful, when Kaz tells the Darkling Alina was tired of being a captive ! Drag him !

- As for Genya, I liked the actress and her chemistry with Alina, but I'm not sure they did a great job of making her arc very clear, for instance what it means for her to get that red kefta, her relationship with the other Grisha, etc. Her and David are already very cute though. Also very much looking forward to see where that goes.

So yeah I think they did a great job with this bit actually, I enjoyed a lot more than I think I would and even though it is a very tropey story, there's plenty of depth there too.

The Crows :

- I'm a bit more nitpicky about this because I care about these characters so much. I think overall the problem is that the SaB story in the books happens on this massive scale with enormous stakes, and that next to that the Crows' issues feel less important ; it's like their impact is distorted by the gravity of the much larger story. Like for instance, Kaz in the books is very much at the center of everything, this larger than life trickster figure who knows and controls almost everything by sheer cleverness, and he has this sense of allure and mystique that can't happen here, and so his aura just shrinks. On top of that they're not on their home turf. Being introduced to these characters before they've reached their full levels of badass is weird - there is a reason why prequels generally happen after the main stuff, because they count on the love you have for these characters at their full potential to make you interested in their story when they were less badass and interesting. So I had several moments where I was like 'oh this feels wrong'. Tbh the idea that they would even volunteer to kidnap Alina in the first place, what with Inej's backstory, feels kind of wrong, esp since they had no idea of what would happen to her if they succeeded.

- But I still enjoyed a lot of it though, especially the fact that they were this force of chaos in the midst of this bigger narrative that's a lot more self-serious. The bits with the train, or the circus acts were very clever. A lot of the best moments in the show happen when they come to disturb the other plot in unexpected ways. I'm still dead over the whole 'Alina jumps into their carriage' scene, that was fucking gold. The team up at the end !!!! Alina and Kaz making a deal ! Inej stabbing the Darkling !!!! Them stealing the Darkling's carriage !!! They don't give a shit that the story is supposed to be super dramatic it's great.

- Jesper is the one character they completely nailed from start to finish and he's probably my favorite part of the whole show. He's very funny without being reduced to the role of comic relief ; he's just so! damn! cool!!!!!!! I honestly feel this is a thing they actually did even better than in the books, or at least Six of Crows where I felt Jasper kind of disappeared behind Kaz and they insist a lot on his flaws and issues. So before we dig more into those problems I love that they gave him time to be this ultra badass who saves the day several times ; while at the same time, hinting at further developments like his powers or his gambling issues. Kit Young is just perfect, confident without being arrogant, a bit cold when it comes to crime while at the same time being so obviously caring with Inej - I loved their friendship, that was so sweet. My main criticism is that they should have made it clearer he was bi because there are already people calling him gay and that's very annoying. I know some people had a problem with his hookup and like...I can see it's a bit of a cliché...the charming badass bisexual adventurer....it's a trope I kind of love though lmao and the scene itself felt kind of cute and fun. He's not the only person who is shown to have an active sexuality and he's also not the only queer person around and we know he's going to have a more substantial romantic arc later so eh. On a larger note I loved the little casual hints of completely normalized queerness - Nadia thirsting over Zoya, Fedyor and Ivan, Poppy, etc. Having grown up with fantasy where queerness was either completely erased or very tormented and problematic, this was refreshing as hell.

- Inej and Kaz...my faves... They have a kind of relationship which feels so rare and unique in terms of what exists on TV and while I don't feel they entirely replicated it, the core is still there - the mutual respect and building of trust, the longing, the repression, the trauma, etc. One thing I really like is their arc around faith - in the books, Kaz is dismissive of Inej's faith in ways that often feel really shitty and I like that he learns to be more respectful of it. It's very much linked to hope/survival ; Inej keeps this token from her parents and she hopes to find them again ; Kaz tells her it's no use and she'll survive better if she gives up. He believes Alina is a fake, while Inej wants to believe that myths can come true and there is hope for good things in the world. Kaz comes to accept that Alina is the real deal and, out of respect for Inej's faith, to stop pursuing her. I loved the bit about Inej struggling to kill as well - it's the dilemma of what her survival and that of the people she really cares about are worth in such a shitty world - her compassion is a good part of her but so is her survival instinct, and that's the part Kaz represents - that even after she's been through hell, broken in unfathomable ways, even if she gave up all hope and faith in the world, even she becomes dangerous and ruthless to survive, she will still deserve dignity, and to be treated better. And meanwhile she is willing to break her principles, which she holds so dearly, to save him, when he's never had anyone who cared for him like that - enough to keep him alive. That bit in the church !!!!! God !!!!!! Bye !!!!!!! And then him basically calling her his own version of a Saint, that he doesn't believe in miracles but he does believe in her !!! It's very emblematic of their whole arc ; he empowers her to survive in a ruthless world and loves her at her most dangerous ; but he loves her laugh too, he finds her a ship and her parents, he honors her capacity for love and hope even when he can't share it. And she sees that he's capable of doing better, that he's worth caring for. This whole thing kills me honestly and I can't wait to see where they take this next. I'm not mad they're a bit more soft and obvious than in the books, Kaz would just have come across as an an asshole otherwise.

- That said, there are bits of how they introduced their backstories I don't like. I get that making it so Inej was still tied to the Menagerie gave them a very powerful reason to want to kidnap Alina beyond greed so that they wouldn't look like very shitty people. But in the books Inej is terrified by the idea of simply seeing Heleen or the Menagerie and the way they have her interact with her feels weirdly casual and dismissive of her trauma. Also, in the books, the fact that Kaz had to convince Per Haskell to buy Inej's contract through a lot of effort, that he wasn't the one holding that above her head either, made the power dynamics more palatable. I especially disliked the scene where Kaz says he won't free other girls because just Inej is special, it makes him look like he has the power but he's just too much of a callous asshole to do it, and that he just freed Inej because he liked her which is absolutely not what their relationship is about at the start, it's a lot more about seeing Inej's dangerous side behind a facade of powerlessness and relating to her, in a sense, and this scene made it all feel cheap.

- Also, what was that about Inej having a brother ? Not a fan of that either. I'm afraid they're going to make her story all about finding what happened to him, and that's 1) too on the nose similar to Kaz's story and 2) it kind of cheapens her own arc, a female character realizing that what was done to her was wrong, reclaiming her own power and dignity and then making sure it doesn't happen to anybody else, harnessing her personal experience to save strangers, that's so powerful - making it about a family member at first, especially if it's about revenge, it's so much more simplistic and unoriginal and the perspective really annoys me.

- Also not a fan of Per Haskell not being there because he's a very important part of Kaz's evolution, so I hope he shows up eventually - and the way they introduced Pekka Rollins was kind of like...weird and out of place. I just found the Crows' introduction scenes stilted and not as cool as they should have been - well, Jesper and Inej were very cool, but we needed to see Kaz in action first, we needed to see why he's such a menace before we see him flounder later, and I just...I don't know exactly but it didn't work for me. Also this is a very petty thing but I wasn't crazy about the Ketterdam sets, I know this is probably a budget thing but in my head it looked like this incredible mix of Amsterdam and Venice - specific locations in the book directly remind me of parts of Amsterdam I know very well - and instead what we got felt like this very generic London-ish fantasy setting....so boring. Also a lot of scenes that felt to exposition-y. I don't mind that Kaz was a bit softer than in the books, like many people have said some things work in books and don't work on a screen, and you need to make the character's inner dynamics more explicit. But I do agree that, at the same time, he should have been more ruthless towards people outside of his group. Loved that scene where he faces the Inferni though, and how well they illustrated his disability and aversion to touch.

- I don't have that much to say about Nina and Matthias ; I'm still not super sold on the whole 'haha misogyny!' thing and I dislike that so much of Matthias' change of heart relies on the fact that he finds Nina hot. But I did think that the actors had enough chemistry to make their scenes together interesting and cute ; I loved the waffle scene. Even though it's disappointing that they didn't find an actress who was more clearly plus size for Nina, I still think Danielle does a good job bringing her bold, unapologetic energy. I'm really looking forward to seeing the Crows as a whole team.

So yeah, even though the season didn't feel like a perfect, coherent whole, it was just a lot of fun and I really hope they get renewed. In particular I feel like tying the first trilogy to the Crows' story could create such interesting parallels in terms of themes, about power, the cost of survival, hope, trauma, etc etc

#shadow and bone #shadow and bone netflix #grishaverse #six of crows #leigh bardugo

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