#between writing and editing and developing characters

[katblaze]

Ella focused post-canon long post ahead:

I like the idea of Tadius having to reign Ella in when she has a mean streak towards particular peasants who had perpetuated her abuse in the past. The peasants who verbally and physically taunted/abused her. The people who disregarded her pleas and distress, writing it off as madness, violently sending her back to her abusers just to get her out of their sight. Because her circumstance and uncleanliness was uncomfortable to be around. Maybe she can't stand to be cordial or impartial to the very same people who she watched drag her mother into the square. Or maybe, at her lowest, she says some unpleasant things about all peasantry, flippantly stereotypes them in a moment of temper. Let's her trauma blossom into rage, into a simmering desire (not necessarily action, mind you) for petty cruelty.

We see her deconstruct a lot of her (admittedly not crazy large) bias against peasant and servantry in the show; this being easier for her to accomplish because she was forced into servitude and squalor herself. For example, one of the first things she jabs at Tadius with is his rank as a servant. She establishes her status and her power over his well-being, potentially his life (and this is important for us to see for her character! this is the first time we see her so confident in her dialog in the show. she is finally reclaiming the autonomy, power, and safety she lacked for potential years, even if this isn't "perfect victim" or kind behavior). This threat could easily have been genuinely fear inducing for Tadius if he hadn't perceived her comment as banter/wit (or he, at the very least, thought she couldn't do anything to him as the prince's right hand servant because she's not from a reputable house). But later, we see her call Tadius "a good man" instead of "a good servant", signifying her growth. She acknowledges where she went wrong in the past and asserts Tadius's position as an equal. Textbook character development.

She also originally vows to the fairy godmother to take vengeance only on those who deserve it, who have taken everything from her and seek to destroy more. She makes clear that her blood lust is for specifically her step family (edit: if Justine and Lucy represent Ella's core values and dreams then Justine establishing kindness to those socially lower to them as an admirable trait makes a whole lotta sense for Ellas character going foward). Hell, she is said to be a good queen by the whole kingdom, implying the peasants favor her rule after she's gained it. She is known by all for her kindness and love which is carried out just as fiercely as her justice.

Does this mean she doesn't have low points? Does this mean that at her lowest Tadius doesn't need to council her and advice her against her (valid, but potentially unfair) anger? That she doesn't let her new found power make it so that, at times, she speaks down to those she deems morally lesser (and could that perception of who is lesser, by this measurement, be influenced by class bias/her past peasant inflicted abuse)? Ella's main character motivation is vengeance in the show, even if her morals are steadfast throughout, I think it would be an interesting conflict between Ella's own ethic values vs. her (again, valid) trauma-induced feelings/vitriol, and how that conflict influences her decisions not only as queen, but interpersonally.

This could also lead to some great tension between Ella and Tadius (who are at this point good friends, partners, or at the VERY least close coworkers). With some communication Tadius would be given better insight into Ella's past, interworkings, and decision making. It would also grant Ella an outlet to talk about all this awful shit that happened to her and how it comes back to affect and shape her presently.

Not to mention Tadius's own trauma regarding aristocrats who belittle their subjects. Maybe at her most cruel (aka in a very bad emotional state) Tadius becomes clinical and emotionally disconnected, just as he was with the prince? Unconsciously or not, sinks back into giving stony irritated advice and doesn't talk to Ella in their normal affable manner for the rest of the day, or longer. Maybe it takes them a while to get to the point of healthy communication because of both of their past isolation (ella is purposely isolated by her supposed "madness" and has no one to talk to, she is overjoyed to vent to a literal frog + no one recognized tadius's wit before ella, implying he is not close enough with anyone for them to know who he is personally) makes it difficult for them to talk in a productive manner at first.

(I do not mean to say this is the only interpretation of Ella's character or the headcanons you should adopt post-cc. Maybe Ella never let's these internal biases (that I've picked up on) influence how she treats her subjects/how she rules. Or, shes developed and grown entirely past them. Maybe Ella and Tadius never have this kind of conflict between them. This is also tackling a very specific negative trait I enjoy exploring, which I personally could see presenting itself in Ella post-canon. I love her. I don't doubt she is a great queen who rules with the working class's benefit, along with the rich's detriment, in mind (in fact, I definitely like to believe she does). I just really like characters having character flaws, even if they are a good person, even if they are the hero, and even past their happily ever after)

[opheliawillowbrook]

How Raven Met the New Robin

This story fall into tomorrow' theme. However, I thought I'd post the prologue tonight so that tomorrow I can just go straight into posting chapter one.

Summary:

Kids, lemme tell ya a story. It’s got everything—angst, drama, emotional constipation, demonic trauma bonding, and enough sexual tension to set Gotham ablaze. Yet somehow, between the grandstanding, the inflated egos, and the daily dose of denial, Raven—yes, that Raven, our favorite emotionally stunted empath—fell for Damian Wayne. The New Robin. And it was all downhill from there. Featuring: Crazy exes, mind control toxins, a secret life in Japan, anime, sexual tension used to avoid conflict resolution, and one very unfortunate tattoo. (Told to you lovingly by me—Harleen Q. Quinn. Occasional menace, full-time romantic, professional disaster.) Based on How I Met Your Mother

Please Read Author's Note below 👇

Well, I really stepped in it with this one — but fuck it, here we are.

So I’ve been binge-watching How I Met Your Mother (as one does when procrastinating actual responsibilities), and somehow it inspired me to write this strange crossover. Basically, this story blends the chaotic vibe of the Harley Quinn animated canon with the broody edge of the DCAMU, all wrapped up in the narrative style of HIMYM — flashbacks, emotional gut punches, running gags, unreliable narrators, the whole nine yards. That being said, for comedy and structure’s sake, this version of Damian is a healthy blend of HQ Damian and DCAMU Damian. He’s still sharp, still intense, still a deeply layered character — but this take allows for a more emotionally accessible and (occasionally) humorous side of him. It’s a necessary shift to make the story work in this particular format. I’ll always aim to keep him true to the version of Damian I love most — the one who's deadly serious but quietly, catastrophically human underneath all that edge — while also exploring what it looks like when he’s allowed to loosen the cape a little. I don't normally write A/Ns this long (in fact, I hate it!), but I feel like this one might need a little extra context going in. Also, massive shoutout to my good friend AndthenDK for helping develop this storyline. Lord knows she’s helped more than she realizes and has been an amazing sounding board. Thanks to my internet wife Vi for editing and helping flesh out some of the mess, and to JTEE for editing — and more editing. Yeah… this one nearly killed me. With Love --Ophelia Ps you can flame me if you want 🤡

[antianakin]

Andor is still a show that has some of the best acting, visuals, editing, and cinematography in Star Wars, and honestly it DOES still have good writing in terms of its dialogue and speeches and things like that. But the pacing is all over the place, the character development is being told to us instead of shown to us, and those two things are making the story have a lot less impact than it did last season.

The Ghorman Massacre works in part because it is the only real storyline this season that has had multiple episodes of build up and set up before it finally got its pay off. And it's GOOD, there's a LOT of impact to seeing that episode, especially when we all know what's going to happen not even just because Rebels has already told us what's happened but because the show itself has spelled it out and shown us the trap the Empire created and the rebels walking right into it from the beginning. That sense of inevitable doom obviously is important to Andor in so many ways, it's sort-of the lynchpin upon which the emotional heart of the show has always sat. And leveraging it again for Ghorman does work really well.

But I think we lose it in other places. Mon's choice to leave her family behind. Cinta's death. Bix leaving Cassian. Cassian connecting with K-2SO. Luthen starting to lose control of things. Saw's degrading mental state. We touch on some of these things and then have to move away so quickly that we don't really get a chance to see the greater impact they have on the characters and their trajectories. We have to get told about how the characters have developed in-between arcs instead of being allowed to see it happen. Relationships change between seasons, characters suddenly become leadership material between seasons, trauma is healed between seasons, etc. It's confusing and it removes a lot of the satisfaction of getting to see the pay off of those stories because I don't entirely understand how we got there in the first place.

[druidberries]

sims get to know me tag !!

thank you sm @duusheen for tagging me 🥹💛

1. What’s your favourite sims death? cowplant lmao

2. Alpha CC or Maxis Match? I like maxis mix!

3. Do you cheat when your sims gain weight? no

4. Do you use move objects? I can't build without it 😅

5. Favorite mod? this is super tough but I couldn't play without mccc and ui cheats!

6. First expansion/game/stuff pack you got? outdoor retreat!

7. Do you pronounce “live mode” like aLIVE or LIVing? I feel like it's changed so many times throughout the years but lately it's been exclusively LIVing

8. Who’s your favorite sim that you’ve made? a sim called Nex that I've never shared and Elowen! ofc lucine and flourish too but they're dnd characters before they are sims 😅

9. Have you made a simself? I did yearsss ago but she looks absolutely nothing like me lmao. I do kinda wanna try again tho?

10. What sim traits do you give yourself? I'm picking 5 bc that's how it should be in sims 4 *cough cough* family oriented, hopeless romantic, animal lover, geek, and socially awkward! I know some of those are sims 3 traits but its ok 😭

11. Which is your favorite EA hair color? red and green! I have to resist the urge to give all my sims bright red hair 🫶 I love super dark black hair but it's such a hit or miss whether the swatch is gonna be gray, blue, or pitch black

12. Favorite EA hair? off the top of my head, I love the one we got with that sdx drop with the ombre roots and like 3 different high school years ones lol

13. Favorite life stage? I love infants bc 🥹🥹 but also teens and YA! even tho teens and young adults are pretty much the same 😐 it's one of the best parts of legacies when a child ages up into a teen!

14. Are you a builder or are you in it for the gameplay? gameplay and cas! I'm not great at building and only do it when I need to but creating characters and playing with families are my fav <3

15. Are you a CC creator? no lmao. I would like to make some more recolors but I only ever make them for personal use! maybe one day I'll release some 🤔

16. Do you have any simblr friends/a sim squad? I've met some really good people on here that I just adore talking to <33 and I always think of my mutuals as my lil sims buddies 🥺

17. What’s your favorite game? 2 and 4! sims 3 is so good but 2 has my heart.

18. Do you have any sims merch? I used to have those headphones with the plumbobs that changed based on your sims emotions and they were so nice but they broke yearssss ago :( other than that no unless we're counting the freezer bunny I'm crocheting lol

19. Do you have a YouTube for sims? no :(( I've wanted to start a youtube channel since I was just lil child but I'm so scared 🙃

20. How has your “sim style” changed throughout your years of playing? I honestly don't think I have a sim style? but I do think I've gotten better at making sims in general? I'm much better at using different faces and making sims look different now!

21. What’s your Origin ID? druidberries but i don't upload anything to the gallery

22. Who’s your favorite CC creator? trillyke, simstrouble, ah00b, ratboy, simandy, squea, ladymoriel, praline and literally so many more I could go on forever

23. How long have you had a simblr? I've had tumblr for ages like lurking but I think I started my first simblr around 2016-2017? I used that one on and off for so long and I always lost motivation but finally what like 2 months? ago I made this one and got a nice clean fresh start 😌

24. How do you edit your pictures? I use photoshop and I pretty much always do topaz, noise, and sharpen, and then from there I decide if I wanna do some brightening or whatever. I do use actions sometimes too! I really have no clue what I'm doing when it comes to editing 😭

25. What expansion/game/stuff pack is your favorite so far? all of the occult packs ofc + growing together and cottage living <33 I also really love nifty knitting bc most of my sims knit lmao

26. What expansion/game/stuff pack do you want next? I really want them to make a fairies pack 🧚‍♀️🫶

feel free to ignore this but I'm tagging: @buttertrait. @potionio, @aurorangen, @estah, @sinfulwunders, @salemssimblr, @duskiivy and @simlishpiadina

[kaidanalenkosprmanager]

THE BEST OF PRIORITY: THE CITADEL (PART 1)

Featuring: Cmdr. Sophie Shepard, Lt. James Vega, EDI, and Thane Krios With: Flight Lt. Jeff "Joker" Moreau, Councilor Rannadril Bibsos Tembin Lesti Bensin Valern, Cmdr. Armando-Owen Bailey, and Kai Leng Kalahira, this one's heart is pure, but beset by wickedness and contention. Guide this one to where the traveler never tires, the lover never leaves, the hungry never starve. Guide this one, Kalahira, and she will be a companion to you as she was to me. Mass Effect 3: Legendary Edition (2021)

[awarmbowlofhomemadesoup]

What I love about Dungeon Meshi is that it writes platonic relationships with the same weight romantic stories would normally be written.

The Character that Got Their Heart Broken Too Many Times

Humanity broke Laois' heart. This is taken advantage later on by the Wingled Lion, but I digress.

Laois got bullied in all-boys school to the point that he ran away to become a soldier. Heartbreak #1.

He got harrassed in the training camp to the point that he became a deserter. Heartbreak #2.

The combination of these events were so bad, his lack of basic self-care can be a sign of a depressive state. If Falin hadn't joined him, who knows what would've happened to him.

Laois was so happy when he became friends with Shuro and felt so betrayed when Toshiro said he couldn't stand him. Not exactly a heartbreak #3 but it hurt all the same. They got past it but Laois remembers.

And when Kabru, for once in his life, stopped playing poker and laid down his cards, Laois wasn't going to let his heart be hurt for the fourth time.

The biggest thing that stands out to me in this manner is how Kabru's blurted confession of wanting to be friends with Laois was treated as much as a big revelation as a romantic one. Because the weight of that confession is Kabru's character development.

The Character Whose Sincerity Doesn't Come Easy for Him

This guy grew up being infantilized and not taken seriously by the elves for being a short-lived race. So, he honed diplomacy as sharp as his assassin's blade.

He knows the right things to say and when to say them, making him well-liked by everyone (much to his team's chagrin over their loved ones). And yet his personal cause puts a distance between him and his trusted teammates (including his childhood friend).

To say his true feelings and thoughts would end up with long-lived races dismissing him for being unwise and irrational.

So he keeps his cards to himself and works with subtlety throughout the manga, until things got worse, and he couldn't make Laois stay.

And he was left with nothing but to be sincere.

Right from the start, he said he wanted the Touden siblings to be unmasked. But in the end, he unmasked himself, much to his horror.

Addition edit: Kabru has been keeping his cards close to himself for so long, I don't think he realized what he really feels until he blurted it out. He chased after Laois throughout the dungeon because Laois might defeat the mad sorcerer. But for a guy who wants to understand everyone, he never understands what he feels about Laois and what that feeling means until his brain catches up with his mouth.

After decking Laois for not believing him, Kabru elaborated in his confession. He has developed a platonic crush (plush for short) or desire to be friends with Laois because:

1. Kabru wants to understand how Laois could love the very thing Kabru hates. Hate is just another face of fear. We fear what we don't understand. To understand Laois is to understand monsters. I think Kabru finds it admirable that Laois could admire monsters when everyone just view them as a threat.

2. He wants Laois to care about the same thing he does, which is saving humanity. Laois and co. are willing to side with the demon to protect Marcille from the Canaries. By asking to be Laois friend, Kabru becomes Laois' link to humanity that whatever they would do from there with the demon, please don't forget how it might affect other people outside his friends. And by gods, this is important to Kabru's development because he has never asked for help for his cause nor asked anyone to care because he's too used to the self-serving nature of all races. And yet, he chose to believe in Laois. Because if Laois could go that for his sister and elven friend, what more if he could do the same for what Kabru cares the most?

However, it was only in the end that they were able to talk after things had settled down. And they are so different and so alike at the same time.

Source

In this scene, there are two differing thoughts:

Laois, who experienced social rejection growing up: Do you still mean it?

Kabru, who had to deal with those of higher power: Are you testing me?

But they're still thinking the same thing: Is this real?

Like, all of their motivations have the weight often molded into romantic plots in any other story. A character who got their heart broken too many times and another character whose honesty does not come easy for them. But it's not a romantic story, but a start of a beautiful friendship.

There are more examples out there, but this is what came to my mind. Feel free to add more.

[shesnake]

Spider-Verse Artists Say Working on the Sequel Was ‘Death by a Thousand Paper Cuts’

Why don’t more animated movies look this good? According to people who worked on the sequel, Across the Spider-Verse, it’s because the working conditions required to produce such artistry are not sustainable.

Multiple Across the Spider-Verse crew members — ranging from artists to production executives who have worked anywhere from five to a dozen years in the animation business — describe the process of making the the $150 million Sony project as uniquely arduous, involving a relentless kind of revisionism that compelled approximately 100 artists to flee the movie before its completion.

While frequent major overhauls are standard operating procedure in animation (Pixar films can take between four and seven years to plot, animate, and render), those changes typically occur early on during development and storyboarding stages. But these Spider-Verse 2 crew members say they were asked to make alterations to already-approved animated sequences that created a backlog of work across multiple late-stage departments. Across the Spider-Verse was meant to debut in theaters in April of 2022, before it was postponed to October of that year and then June 2023 owing to what Entertainment Weekly reported as “pandemic-related delays.” However, the four crew members say animators who were hired in the spring of 2021 sat idle for anywhere from three to six months that year while Phil Lord tinkered with the movie in the layout stage, when the first 3-D representation of storyboards are created.

As a result, these individuals say, they were pushed to work more than 11 hours a day, seven days a week, for more than a year to make up for time lost and were forced back to the drawing board as many as five times to revise work during the final rendering stage.

"For animated movies, the majority of the trial-and-error process happens during writing and storyboarding. Not with fully completed animation. Phil’s mentality was, This change makes for a better movie, so why aren’t we doing it? It’s obviously been very expensive having to redo the same shot several times over and have every department touch it so many times. The changes in the writing would go through storyboarding. Then it gets to layout, then animation, then final layout, which is adjusting cameras and placements of things in the environment. Then there’s cloth and hair effects, which have to repeatedly be redone anytime there’s an animation change. The effects department also passes over the characters with ink lines and does all the crazy stuff like explosions, smoke, and water. And they work closely with lighting and compositing on all the color and visual treatments in this movie. Every pass is plugged into editing. Smaller changes tend to start with animation, and big story changes can involve more departments like visual development, modeling, rigging, and texture painting. These are a lot of artists affected by one change. Imagine an endless stream of them."

"Over 100 people left the project because they couldn’t take it anymore. But a lot stayed on just so they could make sure their work survived until the end — because if it gets changed, it’s no longer yours. I know people who were on the project for over a year who left, and now they have little to show for it because everything was changed. They went through the hell of the production and then got none of their work coming out the other side."

[thewriteadviceforwriters]

Why Writers Don't Finish Writing Their Stories, and How to Fix It

Hello fellow writers and storytellers,

The journey of writing a story is an exhilarating adventure, but it's not without its share of obstacles. Many of us have embarked on a creative endeavor, only to find ourselves mired in the struggle to finish what we started. In this blog post, I'll unravel the common reasons why writers don't finish their stories and explore practical strategies to overcome these hurdles and reignite the flame of creativity.

The Perils of Unfinished Stories

As writers, we often find ourselves in the throes of unfinished tales, grappling with the intricate web of characters, plots, and themes. There are several reasons why the ink dries up and the story remains untold. Let's shine a light on the familiar adversaries that stand between us and the triumphant completion of our narratives:

1. Lack of Planning:

Some of us brazenly dive into our stories without a clear roadmap, resulting in uncertainty about the direction of the plot and the fate of our characters. The lack of a solid plan can lead us astray, leaving our stories wandering in the wilderness of aimlessness.

2. Self-Doubt and Perfectionism:

Ah, the relentless whispers of self-doubt and the siren call of perfectionism! These twin adversaries can cast a shadow over our creative vision, compelling us to endlessly revise and perfect the early chapters, trapping us in a whirlpool of perpetual edits.

3. Time Management:

Balancing the demands of daily life with the ardor of writing can be akin to walking a tightrope. The struggle to find consistent time for our craft often leaves our stories languishing in prolonged periods of inactivity, longing for the touch of our pen.

4. Writer's Block:

The mighty barrier that even the most intrepid writers encounter. Writer's block can be an insurmountable mountain, leaving us stranded in the valleys of creative drought, unable to breathe life into new ideas and narratives.

5. Lack of Motivation:

The flame that once burned brightly can flicker and wane over time, leaving us adrift in the murky waters of disillusionment. The initial excitement for our stories diminishes, making it arduous to stay committed to the crafting process.

6. Fear of Failure or Success:

The twin specters that haunt many writers' dreams. The apprehension of rejection and the unsettling prospect of life-altering success can tether us to the shores of hesitation, preventing us from reaching the shores of completion.

7. Criticism and Feedback Anxiety:

The looming dread of judgment casts a long shadow over our creative endeavors. The mere thought of receiving criticism or feedback, whether from peers or potential readers, can cast a cloud over our storytelling pursuits.

8. Plotting Challenges:

Crafting a cohesive and engaging plot is akin to navigating a labyrinth without a map. Faced with hurdles in connecting story elements, we may find ourselves lost in a maze of plot holes and unresolved threads.

9. Character Development Struggles:

Breathing life into multi-dimensional, relatable characters is a complex art. The intricate process of character development can become a quagmire, ensnaring us in the challenge of creating personas that drive the story forward. (Part one of Character Development Series)

10. Life Events and Distractions:

Unexpected events in our personal lives can cast ripples on our writing routines, interrupting the flow of our creativity and causing a loss of momentum.

Rallying Against the Odds: Strategies for Success

Now that we've confronted the adversaries that threaten to stall our storytelling odysseys, let's arm ourselves with strategies to conquer these barriers and reignite the flames of our creativity.

Embrace the Power of Planning:

A clear roadmap illuminates the path ahead. Arm yourself with outlines, character sketches, and plot maps to pave the way for your story's journey.

Vanquish Self-Doubt with Action:

Silence the voices of doubt with the power of progress. Embrace the imperfect beauty of your early drafts, knowing that every word brings you closer to the finish line.

Mastering the Art of Time:

Carve out sacred writing time in your schedule. Whether it’s ten minutes or two hours, every moment dedicated to your craft is a step forward.

Conquering Writer's Block:

Embrace the freedom of imperfection. Write, even if the words feel like scattered puzzle pieces. The act of writing can unravel the most stubborn knots of writer's block.

Reigniting the Flame of Motivation:

Seek inspiration in the wonders of the world. Reconnect with the heart of your story, rediscovering the passion that set your creative spirit ablaze.

Reshaping Fear into Fuel:

Embrace the uncertainty as an integral part of the creative journey. Embrace the lessons within rejection and prepare for the winds of change that success may bring.

Navigating the Realm of Criticism:

Embrace feedback as a catalyst for growth. Constructive criticism is a powerful ally, shaping your story into a work of art that resonates with readers.

Weaving the Threads of Plot:

Connect the dots with fresh eyes. Step back and survey the tapestry of your plot, seeking innovative solutions to bridge the gaps and untangle the knots.

Breathing Life into Characters:

Engage with your characters as if they were old friends. Dive into their depths, unraveling their quirks, fears, and dreams, and watch as they breathe life into your story.

Navigating Life's Tempests:

Embrace the ebb and flow of life. Every pause in your writing journey is a chance to gather new experiences and perspectives, enriching your storytelling tapestry.

The Ever-Resting Pen: Harnessing the Power Within

Fellow writers, the journey of completing a story is filled with peaks and valleys, each offering us the opportunity to sharpen our resolve and unleash our creative potential. As we stand at the crossroads, staring at the canvas of unfinished tales, let's rally against the odds, armed with the power of purpose, passion, and perseverance.

Let the ink flow once more, breathing life into tales left untold, and watch as your stories triumphantly reach their long-awaited conclusion. You possess the power to conquer the adversaries that stand in your way, and within you lies the essence of untold narratives waiting to unfurl onto the page.

Here's to the journey that lies ahead, the stories waiting to be written, and the unyielding spirit of creativity that thrives within each of us.

Warm regards and unwavering encouragement, Ren T.

[llamagirl28]

Hello folks! I'm back with good news!

First off, let me get the development update out of the way. These past months writing has been difficult due to health issues regarding my hands, but I've still managed to get some work done and make progress on the demo. The updates have been Patreon/Kofi exclusive so far (since they have early access perks) and I've been waiting for content to build up for a public release. Now, I finally bring you something to sink your teeth in!

I also wanted to let you know that I've read the feedback you left me and I've taken it all into consideration. I have made plans for changes, some major, some minor, but I've yet to implement them. Here's a list of the future changes:

I've received feedback that chapter 4 feels slow, overly-descriptive and filled with scenes of tasks and chores; looking back on it, I do admit I've gone overboard with these things. I'll be cutting down on superfluous bits, altogether removing some scenes or changing them into something more interesting and relevant.

Also regarding chapter 4, as well as 5: I've...info-dumped quite a lot, and it slows the pace. I'll be going over the game and try to spread out information better, or withhold it till later.

Guinevere will be introduced earlier, in chapter 3. Really excited about this change :)

Instead of having one main trait for Mordred's dragon friend to choose from in chapter 2, the option will be between four archtypes. These will allow me to better flesh out the character (I've found the current system restrictive and one-note). I'll elaborate more on these new choices when they're added (which I've started to work on) but know that they incorporate the existent personality traits. This change will also come with not just edited, but entirely new scenes featuring the draconic companion.

Adding an alternative route to showing Elaine around in chapter 5, so Mordreds not interested in her can still do something fun

Alright, now let's talk demo update!

What's new?

More of chapter 5 (it's a big one)

Greet the wedding guests. Reunite with Nimue and catch up, meet Merlin for the first time

Talk to, insult, or ignore Galahad

Get on the dancefloor! (with a RO or friend of choice!)

Edits made: some bits of Nimue's conversation in chapter 1 have been reworked and a new dialogue option has been added, a couple of edits done to Morgana's first POV in chapter 3

Demo link:

[ayamari-no-goshi]

I’d like to clear up some common misconceptions about the Attack on Titan Tower, aka when Jason infiltrated it to attack Tim

If you want to read this for yourself, here are some links: readallcomics - I have the best luck with this site on destop zipcomic readcomicsonline - this site can be temperamental

1) Jason did not go there to attempt to kill Tim

Jason seems to have 3 separate goals for this: - size up the new kid. - make sure he knows Bruce just sees him as another soldier - prove to Tim just how dangerous the job is (heavily implied, in my opinion, especially after Tim tried telling Jason he was wrong about how Bruce saw him) He also voiced his anger over being forgotten by everyone. Depending on your interpretation of Jason and his character, this could also be a reason. To me, this feels more like an afterthought because they moved to the Hall of Fallen Heroes before he said this, and Jason likes to be dramatic.

Side note on this. Jason never says anything about being replaced.

2) none of Tim’s injuries were life threatening

Once again, Jason was not attempting to kill him. He beat him up pretty badly, but it was designed to prove a point

3) Jason did NOT cut Tim’s throat.

That happened during Hush which predates both Under the Red Hood and Titan’s Tower. Jason was pretending to be Hush, put a knife to Tim’s throat, and put enough pressure to make him bleed (it was not an actual slice) to get Bruce to react to him. That injury was not life threatening either

Edit: I’ve seen some comments about the ‘not life threatening’ statement. Yes, it needed stitches, but it wasn’t spurting blood, therefore not life threatening. Just because you’re bleeding from a neck injury, it doesn’t mean you’re at an immediate risk of dying (spoken from experience). It’s if the carotid artery or jugular vein are cut that it’s a problem, and you’ll know if that happens because of SO MUCH BLOOD. You will bleed out within minutes.

The way it’s portrayed, it’s not a life threatening injury

4) Jason developed a respect and a bit of envy for Tim after fighting him

At the end of the issue while he’s leaving (while outside the tower), Jason acknowledges Tim’s skill. Jason also wonders if he could have had a life more similar to his, where he had friends and a better support system, if he could have had a different life.

5) Tim was NOT a damsel in distress during the fight, and he did NOT develop a fear of Jason.

Tim was making quips and dissing Jason the entire fight. Tim was not afraid of him nor did he bat an eye at being attacked by Jason. He also vocalized just how much he had to work for his cape because of how Jason's death affected Bruce

Also, the next time Tim saw Jason after this, he made sure to kick Jason in the groin

6) Jason wrote "Jason Todd was here" and signed it with a hand print on the wall.

It looks like it could be in blood, but Tim's not injured enough for there to be that much... and blood darkens after a while. There's a bit of time between Tim getting knocked out and the rest of the Titans finding him and the writing so it's probably paint. Again, Jason likes to be dramatic

7) more Robin!Jason slander by Raven

Once again, we get the mention that Jason was "aggressive". I swear, this is the only thing writers remember from Death in the Family and not the point that that behavior was out of the ordinary for Jason. This is a personal pet peeve of mine in the comics.

8) almost forgot to add the most important part, Jason made a homemade Robin costume and wore it under his Red Hood outfit because he could

Again, Jason is a dramatic bitch.

[alwayssassydreamer]

His For The Taking

A/N: thanks for the request Ann(on): "reader and kid have to oretend to be a couple but they develop feelings, maybe nsfw-ish and femreader please" i really had fun writing this and therefore it got kinda long sorry, hope you like it

Word count > 5k

Summary: you had saved Kid's ass once and now he owes you one, you're a thief and have your eyes on a nice jewel and need Kid's help to steal it during a party at which Kid has to pretend to be your husband

Warnings: nsfwish, kissing, sexual tension, not proofread, MDNI ⚠️

Characters: Kid x Reader

The ballroom was suffocating. Gilded chandeliers cast a blinding light, illuminating the opulence of the guests, World Nobles, crime lords, merchants who got rich off stolen goods. This was exactly the kind of place where fortunes were gambled and stolen in the same night.

And you were here for one reason: the bloody jewel, a jewel red as blood worth enough to set you up for life. But you weren’t stupid. You knew the people in this room. They wouldn’t just let you waltz in and walk out with their prize.

Which is why you had him.

Eustass Kid stood beside you, towering, broad-shouldered, all sharp teeth and muscle under a neatly picked suit you had him wear. His arms were crossed, and his scowl was mean enough to make lesser men turn away. He looked exactly how you needed him to, like a dangerous husband who’d break someone’s skull if they looked at you the wrong way.

And judging by the way his fingers flexed against his metal arm, he was itching to do just that.

“You owe me, Kid,” you had reminded him when you found him sulking in a dimly lit bar two days ago. “One little favor. Play my husband for a night and make sure no one gets suspicious while I handle business.”

His lip curled. “What’s in it for me?”

“The fact that I won’t remind you how I saved your ass from the Marines?” you had shot back, smirking. “Or, if that’s not enough, you get to scare the rich bastards for fun.”

That had sealed the deal. And now here you were, standing under too-bright lights, pretending like you belonged in this world of snakes.

Kid exhaled sharply beside you. “This is fuckin’ boring.”

“You’re supposed to act like a doting husband, not a pissed-off bouncer.”

“I don’t do ‘doting.’”

You turned, arching a brow. “You sure? You keep looking at me like you want to take a bite out of me.”

His smirk was slow, sharp, deliberate. “Who says I don’t?”

The way he said it sent a ripple of heat through your spine. Damn him.

Before you could respond, a finely dressed noble approached. “I don’t believe we’ve met,” he said smoothly, eyes lingering too long on your exposed collarbone. “You must be—”

Kid slung an arm around your waist, yanking you flush against him. You barely caught the smirk before he bared his teeth at the noble. “She’s my wife,” he growled. “So keep yer fuckin’ eyes to yerself.”

The noble paled, stammered out some excuse, and scurried off. You tilted your head up, narrowing your eyes. “You’re enjoying this.”

“Maybe.” His fingers toyed with the fabric of your dress, his voice dropping to something low, something dangerous. “You don’t play fair either, y’know. Walking around in this - makin’ every bastard in the room wanna eat you alive.”

Your heart pounded, and you hated that he was right. That tension - the one that had been there since the first time you crossed paths - was crackling between you both like a live wire.

But there was no time for this. Not now.

You exhaled, tilting your lips into a smirk. “Try to keep it in your pants, Captain. We have a jewel to steal.”

Kid grinned, and just like that, you knew this game was far from over.

The moment you slipped away from the main ballroom, Kid was right behind you.

The grand hallway was dimly lit, lined with gold-trimmed paintings and marble statues that probably cost as much as a small kingdom. You moved with practiced ease, your body humming with the thrill of the job, but you weren’t alone.

You could feel him, the heat of his gaze burning into your back and probably your ass. The way his heavy boots followed your every move.

“You keep starin’ at me like that, and I might start thinking you actually like having me around,” you teased, barely sparing him a glance over your shoulder.

Kid scoffed. “Don’t flatter yourself.”

But his eyes betrayed him. They dragged over you, slow and unashamed, taking in the curve of your hips, the way your dress hugged your body in all the right places. His hands flexed at his sides like he was resisting the urge to grab you.

You turned a corner, finding the private vault door at the end of the hall. This was it. The bloody jewel was just beyond that thick steel door. You had done your research. You knew the code. You had planned everything.

Except for the part where Kid was still standing too damn close.

His breath was hot against your ear as he leaned in, voice low and rough. “You’re takin’ your sweet time.”

“I like to do things right.”

His lips quirked. “That’s a lie.”

You smirked, punching in the code. “Fine. I like to do things my way.”

The lock clicked. The vault door cracked open with a soft hiss, revealing a pedestal in the center of the room. Atop it, in a glass case, sat the bloody jewel—a massive, iridescent jewel, shimmering under the soft golden lights.

It was almost too easy.

Too easy, until a hand suddenly wrapped around your wrist.

You barely had time to react before Kid yanked you back, pressing you flush against the cool metal door.

Your pulse jumped. “The hell is your problem?”

His grip tightened. “That’s what I wanna know.” His eyes were burning now, filled with something dangerous. Something wicked.

“You been playin’ games with me all night,” he murmured, voice dropping into a growl. “Wearin’ that fuckin’ dress, runnin’ that smart mouth. You knew exactly what you were doin’, didn’t you?”

Your breath caught. Not because you were scared - you weren’t - but because this? This was the game.

And now, Kid was playing to win.

“Are you accusing me of something, Captain?” you mused, tilting your chin up defiantly.

His grip on your wrist slackened, only to slide lower - down your arm, your waist, until his fingers pressed against the dip of your hip. His metal arm caged you in against the door.

“You tell me,” he muttered, his voice dark silk, roughened at the edges. “Am I just your bodyguard tonight, or do you want somethin’ more?”

Your heartbeat was racing. Damn him. Damn the way he smelled like oil and metal. Damn the way his breath tickled your skin, making it impossible to think straight.

A one-night stand just ain’t enough.

The line echoed in your mind, unspoken, but you knew he felt the same. This wasn’t just tension. This was fire, and it was catching fast.

But you weren’t about to lose this little game.

So you leaned up, lips brushing the shell of his ear as you whispered:

“Help me get that jewel first, and maybe I’ll let you find out.”

Kid let out a dark chuckle, low and dangerous, before pulling back just enough to smirk down at you.

“Oh, mouse,” he murmured, eyes gleaming. “Now you’re speakin’ my language.”

Kid’s smirk was downright wicked.

“Better hurry up then,” he murmured, his fingers flexing against your hip before he finally pulled away, leaving a trail of heat where his touch had been. “Or are you too distracted?”

Your lips parted, whether to throw back a sharp retort or just to breathe again, you weren’t sure. He had you rattled, and he knew it. But you weren’t about to let him win.

You turned sharply, refocusing on the bloody jewel. One quick step, one flick of your wrist, and the delicate tools you had hidden in the slit of your dress were in your hand. The glass case was child’s play, nothing you hadn’t cracked before.

And yet—

The weight of his stare still burned into you.

Solid as a rock, you reminded yourself. Don’t let him get to you.

But then he moved again, prowling forward, stopping just behind you.

"You always this slow?" he murmured.

"Always this impatient?" you shot back, ignoring the way his voice sent a shiver down your spine.

He laughed, dark and low. "Nah. Just wonderin’ how many ways I gotta push you before you snap."

Your fingers hesitated over the final lock, your breath catching just a little. Damn him. He knew exactly what he was doing, pressing into you without even laying a hand.

The lock clicked.

The glass case slid open. The bloody jewel was yours.

But before you could wrap your fingers around it—

A loud crash echoed from the hallway.

Shit.

Kid tensed beside you, his metal arm shifting. “Time’s up.”

You swiped the jewel, shoving it into the hidden pocket of your dress just as the door burst open.

Guards. Armed to the teeth, glaring at you both.

Kid just grinned.

“You idiots picked the wrong fucking night,” he growled, flexing his fingers.

And then all hell broke loose.

Before Kid could do something stupid like tear this place down with his devil fruit you grabbed his arm and dragged him away. Running until you rounded a corner.

Fuck where should you go now? You had no idea and so you did the only thing you could think of as you pressed your back against the wall behind you.

“Oi—what the hell—”

Kid barely had time to growl out a protest before your fingers fisted his shirt, yanking him down as you crushed your lips against his.

It wasn’t soft. It wasn’t delicate. It was desperate, rushed, an act of pure survival. You had no other choice the guards were right there, seconds from rounding the corner. And the last thing you needed was a full-scale battle in the middle of this high-class event.

So you kissed him like your life depended on it.

And Kid—

Kid didn’t hesitate.

The moment his mind caught up, his hand found your hips, yanking you flush against him. He leaned into the kiss like he was claiming something, his lips crushing against yours with a ferocity that sent a bolt of heat straight through your core.

Damn him. He was supposed to just go along with it act the part, stay still, let the guards pass not make your knees weak.

But of course, Eustass Kid didn’t do anything halfway.

His fingers dug into your waist, his metal arm bracing against the wall behind you. He kissed like he fought, rough, demanding, consuming. And for a moment, you forgot why you started this in the first place.

Then the sound of boots thundering past.

You forced yourself to listen, to keep your senses sharp even as your body betrayed you, even as your heart slammed against your ribs.

The guards ran right by, barely sparing you a glance.

And yet—

Kid didn’t pull away.

Not immediately.

Instead, he pressed in just a fraction deeper, his teeth grazing your lower lip before he finally let you go.

Your breath was ragged. Your fingers still clutched his shirt. His grip on your waist remained stubbornly firm.

A smirk tugged at his lips, his breath warm against your face.

“Well, well,” he murmured, his voice thick with amusement. “Didn’t know you were so eager, mouse.”

You scowled, shoving at his chest. “Don’t flatter yourself. It was an act.”

“Yeah?” He leaned in, just a little, just enough to make your pulse stutter. “Didn’t feel like an act to me.”

Damn him.

The jewel was still hidden in the folds of your dress, your escape still unfinished. But all you could think about was the way your lips still tingled and the way Kid was looking at you now, like he was more interested in finishing what you started than making a getaway.

Kid’s smirk hadn’t faded. If anything, it had grown, shifting into something darker, something full of promise.

You knew that look. You’d seen it before. Usually when he was spoiling for a fight. But this wasn’t a battlefield not the kind with fists and metal, anyway.

This was something else.

“You gonna let go of my shirt, or are you planning to rip it off me?” he teased, voice low, rough.

Your fingers twitched. Damn it, you were still gripping him.

You shoved him away, trying to ignore the way your body still buzzed from that kiss. “Don’t get cocky, Captain. It was a means to an end.”

He huffed out a laugh, rolling his shoulders like he was shaking off the moment. “Yeah? Then why are you still breathin’ so hard?”

Your glare could’ve melted steel. “Because I had to drag your heavy ass out of a fight.”

Kid grinned, eyes glinting. He took a slow step forward. Then another. Cornering you.

“That’s funny,” he murmured, his voice a deliberate taunt. “Looked to me like you were enjoyin’ yourself.”

Your breath hitched as his fingers brushed your wrist. Light. Testing.

Your body wanted to react to pull away, to push closer, to do something but you refused to give him the satisfaction.

“I was acting,” you said, keeping your voice steady. Unshaken.

Kid leaned in, his breath ghosting over your lips.

“Yeah?” he murmured. “Then act like you don’t wanna kiss me again.”

Bastard.

He was daring you. Daring you to lie.

And for a split second, you almost did.

Almost.

But you weren’t about to let him win that easily.

Instead, you exhaled a slow, steady breath, tilting your head slightly. Not pulling away. Not closing the distance, either. Just enough to make it his move.

“Not here,” you whispered, voice just as daring as his. “But if you’re game…”

Kid’s smirk turned sharp. Hungry.

“Oh, mouse,” he purred, metal fingers trailing just barely along the fabric of your dress. “I was born for this game.”

The weight of Kid’s stare pinned you in place. Unrelenting. Unapologetic. Like he had all the time in the world to wait for you to break.

You weren’t going to break and give in.

But you damn well felt like you might.

Not with the way his fingers brushed against your waist barely there, but enough to set your nerves ablaze. Not with the way his breath skimmed along your skin, teasing, provoking, testing.

His smirk deepened. “What’s the matter, mouse? You’re lookin’ a little—” his fingers trailed lower, grazing the slit of your dress— “flustered.”

Your breath hitched before you could stop it.

Damn him.

The stolen jewel was tucked safely away, the guards were gone, but this? This was just as dangerous.

Because Kid wasn’t backing off.

And worse you didn’t want him to.

So you did the only thing you could. You leaned in close enough that your lips just barely ghosted over his, close enough that you felt his body tense, just for a second.

Then you smirked.

“You’re awfully cocky for someone who nearly got caught back there,” you murmured.

His grin didn’t falter. If anything, it sharpened. “And you’re awfully smug for someone who kissed me like she meant it.”

Bastard.

You forced a shrug, keeping your voice cool. “I’m a damn good actress.”

Kid chuckled, low and rough, but his grip didn’t loosen. If anything, his fingers flexed against your hip. “Funny. So am I.”

And then he kissed you.

Hard.

It wasn’t careful. It wasn’t teasing. It was hungry. A demand wrapped in heat, his hand fisting in your dress to pull you closer.

You gasped against his lips, but he didn’t give you a chance to think, to hesitate his teeth caught your lower lip, his breath hot as his fingers tangled in your hair.

He kissed you like he fought. Like he took what he wanted.

And you.....

You kissed him back - of course you did.

A sharp bite to his lip, a tug on his hair, just enough to make him growl. The sound rumbled between you, vibrating through your chest, straight down to where your body ached against his.

The heat between you was blistering.

And then.....

Footsteps.

Louder this time, approaching from the opposite direction.

Kid barely pulled back, his forehead pressing against yours. His breath was heavy, his smirk still wicked.

“Looks like we got company,” he muttered.

You swallowed hard, still catching your breath. “Then let’s give ‘em a show.”

His grin turned downright feral.

“Oh, mouse,” he murmured, brushing his lips against yours one last time like a promise. “You have no idea what you just started.”

The footsteps grew louder.

Guards. More of them.

You barely had time to curse before Kid’s grip tightened, his metal arm pressing against the wall beside your head. His flesh hand gripped your hip, his fingers flexing like he was fighting the urge to do something reckless.

Too late.

You had already done something reckless.

And Kid?

Kid was about to make it worse.

“Guess we gotta sell it, huh?” His smirk was wicked, all sharp edges and unspoken threats.

You had one second to process what he meant.

Then he was on you.

Again.

This wasn’t a kiss meant to blend in, to fool passing guards.

This was a spectacle.

Kid’s teeth scraped your lower lip, his tongue sliding against yours with a force that made your knees damn near buckle. His grip on your waist turned possessive, greedy, rough, pulling you flush against him, like he wanted you closer.

The bastard was enjoying this.

You shouldn’t have kissed him first.

Not because it was a bad idea, no, that ship had sailed. But because Kid didn’t just play along.

He took over the damn game.

You gasped against his lips big mistake.

Kid took that as an opening, his hand sliding up the bare skin of your thigh, fingers grazing the slit in your dress. You weren’t sure if he meant to tease or if he just liked making things worse, but you felt the heat of his grin against your mouth.

Bastard.

But two could play that game.

You pressed against him, hard. Not just melting into the kiss, but matching his fire. Your nails scraped the back of his neck, your hips shifting just enough to make him suck in a sharp breath.

You heard the guards murmur.

“Damn couple,” one scoffed. “Seriously? Right in the open?”

“Leave ‘em. Ain’t our problem.”

Footsteps faded, voices growing distant.

It worked.

And yet.

Neither of you pulled away.

Not immediately.

Because Kid wasn’t letting go.

And you? You weren’t sure you wanted him to.

His lips slowed, the bruising heat fading into something slower, deeper. The hand on your hip loosened slightly, his fingers dragging, feeling, like he was memorizing the shape of you.

For a moment, you forgot the job. The jewel hidden against your ribs. The need to get out of here.

For a moment, there was just him.

“AHEM.”

You nearly jumped out of your damn skin.

A woman stood a few feet away, arms crossed, tapping her foot impatiently. Dressed in an elegant silk gown, her expression was one of pure irritation.

“Excuse me,” she drawled, looking you up and down before shifting her gaze to Kid. “I don’t know what kind of low-class display this is, but some of us are trying to enjoy a civilized evening.”

Kid exhaled sharply, dragging his tongue over his lower lip, gaze still locked on you. Like he hadn’t quite decided if he was finished yet.

You swallowed hard. Get it together.

With a forced, sweet smile, you turned to the woman.

“Apologies,” you purred, still slightly breathless. “My husband gets a little… impatient.”

Kid chuckled.

The sound was dark. Dangerous.

The woman wrinkled her nose. “Clearly.”

She turned on her heel, stomping away.

The moment she was gone, you let out a breath—only to have Kid snatch your wrist, spinning you back against him.

His grin was pure chaos.

“Oh, mouse,” he murmured, his thumb brushing the edge of your swollen lip. “We ain’t done.”

Oh, no.

You were in trouble and you liked it. Your pulse slammed against your ribs.

Not from the stolen jewel pressing against your skin. Not from the lingering threat of armed guards still circling the event. No. It was him.

Kid.

Standing too damn close, looking too damn smug, fingers still grazing your hip like he had every right to keep touching you. Like he was marking his territory.

His tongue flicked across his lower lip, still glistening from your kiss.

His eyes, hungry.

“You’re playing a dangerous game, mouse,” he murmured, voice rough, low.

You scoffed despite the fact that you were still pressed against his chest. “Please. You’re the one who started acting like we were putting on a damn stage performance.”

Kid’s grin widened. Shit.

“You’re the one who kissed me first.”

You opened your mouth, ready to argue, ready to throw something sharp back at him.

But before you could he leaned in. Too close.

His breath brushed your jaw, his lips barely grazing your ear. A whisper. A promise.

“You started this, mouse. And now?” His hand tightened at your waist. “Now, I’m just seeing how far you’re willing to go.”

Your stomach flipped. Because - fuck. He wasn’t backing down. And worse? Neither were you. So you did the only thing you could.

You reached up, curled your fingers into his red hair, and yanked him down hard. You barely heard his growl before your lips crashed against his.

This wasn’t a game anymore. This was a challenge. Kid met you head-on.

The kiss turned wild, all tongue and heat and reckless greed. His hands roamed the flesh hand dragging down your spine, the metal one gripping your thigh, hiking it against his hip like he was claiming you right then and there.

Your back hit the wall again and suddenly, there was no space left between you. None.

You felt everything.

The heat of his body, the way his chest vibrated when he let out a low, dark chuckle against your lips.

He was enjoying this. And, damn it, so were you.

But then—

A loud crash. A door burst open down the hall.

Shouts. Boots pounding against marble. The guards were coming back.

Kid barely pulled away his breath ragged, uneven, hot. His pupils were blown wide, the corners of his mouth turned up in a cocky, feral grin.

“We should run,” you muttered, heart still hammering.

His grin widened. His voice was pure sin.

“Or,” he drawled, brushing his thumb over your swollen lips, “we could finish what we started.”

You shoved him hard, ignoring the way he laughed like this was the best damn night of his life.

“Move, idiot!”

The two of you took off, running full speed toward the nearest exit.

But as you fled, jewel tucked away, guards on your tail, you couldn’t ignore one thing.

Your lips still tingled. Your legs still shook. And the worst part? You weren’t sure if it was from the adrenaline or from him.

Your heels slammed against the marble floor as you tore down the corridor, Kid right behind you.

The guards were catching up. Shouting orders. Reloading rifles. Shit. You needed an escape—fast.

But Kid?

Kid was grinning like a madman. “This is fun, huh?” he called over the chaos, dodging a vase that shattered against the wall beside him.

“Kid, I swear to—”

A gunshot. A bullet whizzed past, missing your shoulder by inches.

“—FUCK!”

Kid whipped around, his metal arm snapping forward, and with a single swipe of his devil fruit ability, the guard’s rifle flew from his hands, slamming into the ceiling.

You didn’t slow down. Not until you rounded a corner and slammed straight into a locked door.

Dead end.

You whirled around, panting, brain racing for a way out. Only for Kid to crash into you, slamming you against the door.

His weight pinned you firmly in place, his breath hot against your cheek. For a split second everything went still.

The only sound was your ragged breathing. Your racing heart. His fingers twitched against your hip.

You swallowed. Hard.

And then more gunfire. More chaos.

“Guess we gotta improvise,” Kid growled, voice laced with wild amusement.

You glared. “You think?”

He smirked—then ripped the door off its hinges.

Not opened. Not unlocked. Ripped. The Whole. Fucking. Door. Off.

Wood splintered, shards flying as he chucked it behind him like it was nothing.

You barely had time to blink before he grabbed your wrist, yanking you inside. The room was dark. Expensive furniture. Velvet curtains. A bed large enough for four.

A bedroom.

And not just any bedroom.

A honeymoon suite.

You turned slowly toward Kid.

He was already grinning.

Oh, hell no.

“Don’t even think about it,” you warned.

But he was already thinking about it.

He grabbed you suddenly, one hand on your lower back, the other fisting your hair and before you could protest, he flipped you, dragging you onto the bed with him.

The second your back hit the mattress, he rolled on top, legs caging you in, forearms braced beside your head.

Heavy. Warm. Close. Too fucking close.

The guards burst in.

You barely processed their footsteps, their shouts—too focused on the way Kid’s mouth tilted into a smirk.

"Sell it, mouse," he purred.

You didn’t think. You didn’t hesitate.

Your hands gripped his collar, yanking him down and you kissed him. Again. Hard.

This time, Kid didn’t just kiss you back he devoured.

The moment your lips met, he tilted his head, deepening it, owning it. His metal hand fisted the sheets beside your head, the other sliding beneath your thigh, hiking it higher against his hip.

It was filthy. Messy. Loud.

The guards paused.

“…Oh.” One cleared his throat. “Oh. Uh—”

“Shit,” another muttered. “We interrupted—”

“Let’s go.”

And just like that they were gone. Silence. Neither of you moved. Neither of you spoke.

Not until Kid pulled back slightly, lips glistening, breathing just as fucked as yours.

His eyes dragged over your face. Lingering. Daring. Teasing.

“…Told ya we’d sell it.”

You exhaled sharply then shoved him off the bed.

Kid hit the floor with a loud thud, cursing as you sat up, trying desperately to ignore the way your entire body still burned and the heat pooling between your legs.

“…We are never talking about this,” you muttered.

Kid laughed. A deep, satisfied, smug-as-hell laugh.

“Oh, mouse.” He stretched, completely unbothered as he leaned back on his hands, still on the floor. “You say that like we’re done.”

Your stomach flipped. Your pulse skipped.

The room was now too quiet. Too dark. Too hot.

Kid was still on the floor, one knee bent, arms braced behind him, grinning up at you like he had already won.

Because the way your skin burned from that kiss, the way your chest rose and fell too fast, the way your fingers twitched to grab him again.

You weren’t done. Not by a damn long shot. He could see it. Feel it.

So when you stood up, slowly, deliberately, his smirk only widened.

“You gonna throw me again, mouse?” His voice was low, taunting, pure challenge.

You stepped forward. He didn’t move.

You reached down grabbing the front of his shirt and this time, you pulled him up. Kid barely had time to react before your lips were on his again—but this kiss?

This kiss was different.

There was no pretense this time. No acting. No playing pretend. This was real. This was reckless, consuming, overwhelming. And fuck, you wanted it.

Kid growled against your lips, his hands gripping your waist, spinning you, pushing you against the nearest wall.

He kissed you like he was trying to brand you, ruin you, make sure you never forgot this moment for as long as you lived.

And hell maybe you wouldn’t.

Your fingers buried in his hair, yanking hard, and he hissed against your lips whether from pain or pleasure, you didn’t know.

His metal hand wrapped around your thigh, lifting you effortlessly, and before you could react, you were off the ground, pinned between him and the wall.

Your breath hitched. He felt it. His grin was pure sin.

“You good up there, mouse?”

You tightened your grip in his hair making him look up at you. Your lips brushed his.

“Shut up and kiss me, roughneck.”

Kid’s eyes darkened.

The room was now alive with tension. Every breath, every touch, every lingering second stretched into eternity.

Kid’s lips were on you like wildfire, ferocious, demanding, hungry. His flesh hand was everywhere, sliding up your back, gripping your waist, tugging at your dress as if the fabric was an obstacle he was too eager to destroy. While his metal hand remained under your thighs to hold you up

You could barely catch your breath. The heat between you was suffocating, but you didn't care. You wanted this.

With a snap, you tore away from his lips, desperate for air.

Kid’s eyes, darker than ever, locked onto you. He was studying you, watching the way you trembled under his touch, the way your body responded to his every movement.

"You want it, don’t you?" His voice was a low growl, as he brought his hand up to your cheek, his thumb brushing over your lips.

You didn’t answer with words. You answered with action.

Without a second thought, you grabbed the back of his neck and pulled him back to you. This time, there was no hesitation.

The kiss was a clash of chaos and fire, both of you fighting for control, yet somehow you were both losing. The heat of his body pressed against yours, the taste of his kiss, the feel of his rough hand everything about him was making it harder to breathe, harder to think, but that was just the way you liked it.

His metal arm gripped your thigh more firmly, pulling you up against him again, this time with more force, more urgency. Your legs wrapped around him, pulling him closer, deeper. The friction was intoxicating, the way your bodies moved together, like they were always meant to. His flesh hand trailing down pushing your dress up further before it teasingly traced over the waistband of your underwear.

And then—

The sound of footsteps and shouts echoing down the hall again and this time it seemed the guards had figured out that it were you two in the honeymoon suit. You pulled back, barely breathing, eyes locked on Kid’s.

For a moment, it felt like time had frozen. The only sound was your frantic heartbeats and the chaos that loomed outside that room.

But then Kid’s smirk returned. That devilish, cocky grin that made you wonder how you ever thought you could keep control.

“Guess they found us,” he said, his voice thick with amusement, even though his breath was ragged, like he was just as on edge as you.

You couldn’t help but smirk back, even as your body screamed for more. “You always know how to make a mess, don’t you?”

He didn’t answer. Instead, he kissed you again, harder, deeper, wilder.

And just like that, everything else faded away. The guards. The jewel. The plan you had spent weeks preparing for. None of it mattered anymore.

"Kid we need to-" you protested into the kiss as the shouts grew louder but he silenced you with his lips and tongue.

You broke away from him, heart racing, as you both heard the growing sounds of pursuit. Kid's eyes, still dark and intense, swept over you, studying your every breath, your every movement. You knew, as well as he did, that staying here wasn’t an option anymore.

"Damn it. Can't they give us a moment to finish this, we're busy here.” Kid muttered, frustration evident in his tone. He grabbed your wrist, pulling you close with a force that left you breathless.

"Come on we'll finish this on my ship" he added as he dragged you along.

"Wait what? You're kidding right."

“Not even a little.” His grin widened as he pulled you through the doorway, ignoring your protests. “I’m taking you on my ship, and we’ll finish what we started without anyone getting in the way. I'm not letting you go again mouse”

That caught you off guard and before you could protest any further you were hurled over his shoulder and carried back to his ship, where you could finish this - uninterrupted.

[unboundprompts]

Can you give tips for slow burn/developing romance? I’m good at writing couples once they’re already in love, but when they have a crush on each other or them slowly developing feelings I don’t really know how to do

How to Write a Slow Burn Romance

-> writersdigest.com

-> reddit.com

The Growing Relationship

Make sure the reasons your characters don't get together right away makes sense. It doesn't need to be realistic, but it needs to be believable.

Focus on how their relationship grows. Spend time on the meeting, the getting to know each other, the subtle moments and big moments that draw them to each other. There will be obstacles, arguments, and conflicts to solve.

Make the development of the relationship natural for the characters.

Start as far back in their relationship as you can. This will allow the longest amount of time for their relationship to be exploired in the story. If it fits, you can start when they first meet. Of course, if it doesn't fit your story, you can start later in their relationship.

Build the Tension

You want your readers to be on the edge of their seats when it comes to your character's relationship. They should be screaming "just kiss already!"

Add near-miss moments. An almost kiss interrupted by a phone call. A hug that lasts just a moment too long.

Add little indications of feelings. Soft Smiles. Winking. The brush of a finger. Lingering glances.

Pining. Give insights into your character's thoughts. Constant thoughts about the other person. Butterflies when they think about them. The anticipation.

Slow Burn, Not Slow Pace

There needs to be other plot points happening while the romantic tension is building. Your characters should be dealing with other situations while they are also pining after each other.

Outside Forces

Slowburns are not always endless pining and dancing around one another. Sometimes, there are outside forces that are keeping characters apart when they already realize that the feelings are mutual.

Examples: Distance between the characters, health/mental health reasons, job/work complications, family dynamics, character goals, characters are on two different sides of a conflict, etc.

If you like what I do and want to support me, please consider buying me a coffee! I also offer editing services and other writing advice on my Ko-fi! Become a member to receive exclusive content, early access, and prioritized writing prompt requests.

I also have a Patreon! Become a member to gain access to a Member's Only Community where you can chat and message other members and myself. Also gain access to my personal writing, which includes completed short stories, chapters from novels in progress, as well as completed scenes.

[elodieunderglass]

Submission by @Zorilleerrant How to Write a Novel

When I make bullet point lists, each bullet point tends to be a couple hundred words, so that’s what I optimize for. But! I find writers usually have a consistent average for that, so everyone should tailor their bullet points to their own experiences. Modify all the numbers as necessary. (And be prepared to revamp them as you go. The outline never survives contact with the writing.) Now how do we turn bullet point ideas into a full novel outline?

Alright. Let’s get down to it.

Step 1: A novel is 50k words.

Let’s break this into smaller sections. 50k is a nice even number, so I like to make 5 parts. A 10k section sounds much more manageable; that’s a normal (long) short story! If you have 5 (or ten) short stories that naturally link up into a novel, this is the final part of the outline. Usually I think that doesn’t happen, though. Anyway, write the 5 high level Events, Inciting Incidents, or Arc Developments. (It could be themes or structural points, if that’s what drives your writing forward, it just has to be The Important Things.)

Step 2: What’s the shape of this section?

So we’ve got our major plot point or what have you. Now it’s important to figure out how to set it up and how to knock it down. I generally block this into a timeline of 10 points (because that’s 1k) to begin with, and then add or collapse bullet points as necessary. The first bullet point should be the opening scene or setup, and the last should be the end of the section or the transition to the next part, but in between is just how to get from A to B. The what is important, but I tend to find why is more helpful to answer so I can figure out how to get characters to do things. If you tend to bang out 1k at a time this is the end of the outline!

Step 3: The Devil in the Details

This is where the bullet point granularity really varies. You can break it up into 10 again (100 words each: a drabble!) or even more if you need to. This can be really helpful because at a certain point you just end up translating the Ideas List into Writer Voice, and once you get the narrative tone down it becomes more consistent. But in general you only need a couple bullet points here: the ones absolutely integral to the scene. Maybe there’s part of the setting you need to describe, or an internal monologue, or a reveal. Put them in order.

Step 4: To write it you have to write it, unfortunately.

Each bullet point should be a fairly short writing section, now. Which means getting all the way through one should be doable in a single writing session. If you know how you want to say it, great! If you don’t, imagine describing it to friends, whether that’s in the silliest way possible, or to try to make it intriguing, or anything else. The beauty of the bullet point lists is you can switch between styles, and you’ll remember during editing why there’s inconsistency every few paragraphs. You can sand that off later; just get the words down.

Step 5: Editing

Throw out the outline. I mean, don’t actually throw it out, in case you need to figure out what you were talking about here or there. But try not to the various sections/segments/bullets as hard and fast rules; some of them will need to be broken up, and others smushed together more. Here’s where you look for the natural chapter breaks. You should also look for any missing scenes, or maybe places where a scene needs to be moved earlier or later. You’ll also, unfortunately, find things that just don’t need to be in the final draft. Save them in a different document, in case people want to see the outtakes later.

Congrats! If you get your novel all the way to this point, it’s ready to be sent to other people to look it over and help you polish it up!

Anyway, for people who like outlining, put all your planning in this part. For people who like figuring it out as they go along, only do the top level breakdown for any section you’re not currently writing; leave most of it blank until you get there.

I hope this helps you or someone write a novel!

-- submission by @zorilleerrant

Thank you so much for writing this!

[literaryvein-reblogs]

Writing Notes: Developing your Story

Below are questions to consider while writing, and especially during the editing process, to create a more cohesive, rounded, and satisfying story for your readers.

There are 2 main types of writing styles: plot-driven or character-driven. Most writers naturally lean towards one writing style.

But the best writers understand that they must balance their preferred storytelling to create a satisfying tale.

By recognizing your writing preference, you will be able to identify the areas you need to balance.

Plot-Driven Stories

Often exciting and fast-paced.

Compel the reader to turn the page to find out how the characters will escape, evade, prevail, or overcome.

Focus on a set of choices that a character must make.

Meticulously tie together plot points to create a cohesive story.

Focus on ideas instead of people and their motivations.

Force your characters to make quick decisions that move the plot forwards. As a result, character development is secondary to plot development.

Character-Driven Story

Focused on studying the characters that make up your story.

Can deal with inner transformation or the relationships between the characters.

Focuses on how the character arrives at a particular choice.

When you zoom into the internal conflicts, you tend to focus less on the external conflicts.

The plot in a character-driven story is usually simple and often hyper-focused on the internal or interpersonal struggle of the character(s).

The plot is used to develop the character.

Many readers love character-driven stories because the author tends to put a premium on developing realistic, flawed, and human characters.

Readers can see themselves or someone they love in these characters and, as a result, connect emotionally.

When Writing a Plot Driven Story, Answer These Questions About Each of Your Main Characters:

What is the character’s back story?

What is the character’s personality?

How was the character’s personality shaped by his/her backstory?

How does each scene develop the character?

What is driving the character’s reaction within the scene (based on his/her back story)?

How does your character change within the course of the story?

What is the character’s internal conflict?

What is the character most afraid of?

How would he/she define happiness?

When Writing a Character Driven Story, Answer These Questions About Your Plot:

What does your character want to happen in each scene?

Is there tension or conflict within each scene?

What action does the character take within each scene?

How does this action move the story forward?

How does each scene contribute to the overall story?

What is the worst thing that can happen to your character(s)?

How does your character prevent it from happening?

What happens if your character cannot prevent it from happening?

What key events change the main characters in your story?

Source ⚜ Writing Notes ⚜ More: On Editing ⚜ Writing Resources PDFs

[asidian]

Alright. It is time. Buckle up.

Why you should be watching Dead Boy Detectives: the targeted-specifically-at my-readers edition.

Meet the leads, our two ghost boys:

Edwin Payne: Fussy, repressed intellectual type from the Edwardian era. Exceedingly gay for his partner and best friend. Tortured in hell for seventy years on a technicality because he was ritually sacrificed as a prank gone wrong. Endearingly awful at people and dealing with emotions or his own wants.

Charles Rowland: Impulsive, people-pleasing wildcard from the 80s. Heart eyes 24/7 at his best friend but has zero self-awareness. Badly abused by his asshole of a father. Beaten to death because he saved a kid from bullies. Endearingly awful at sorting his own emotions or talking about his problems.

Some highlights:

/slaps hood you can fit so much trauma in these two

Both leads get sobbing breakdowns that happen on screen. The actors are incredible at crying

Both leads get much-needed hugs

The absolute devotion between the two of them. The shared history that lives in their dialogue and how they work together like people who have been each other's Most Important Person for literal decades

I mean, I'm talking in-canon Orpheus and Eurydice reference level of devotion here

The protective way Charles puts himself physically between Edwin and damn near every threat in the show

They're just fun together. Their interactions and banter and how they work as a team is a delight

Their shared plot arc literally involves them learning to talk to each other and communicate more so that they can be there for one another about their respective issues

The symbolism. God. They are metaphorically and literally one another's light in the darkness

But what about stuff that isn't the main duo? Just wait, there's more:

This show is unabashedly, unapologetically queer. It's there in the text and the subtext. The whole show lives and breathes it

So many good, complex, well-written female characters. The Bechdel test gets blown straight out of the water in episode one and they never look back. Headstrong amnesiac psychic learning to be a better person! Quirky meta commentary matchmaker! Cynical lesbian butcher! Delightfully sadistic witch! They are all amazing.

[audience voice] But I'm here for the hurt/comfort. How can I whump ghosts? Worry not, my friends. Canon has you covered. Not only are there ways, there are ways that happen on-screen. The hurt/comfort and rescue are also on-screen. Yes, it is amazing

Absolute chaos, really cool supernatural cases and creatures, a surprising amount of humor, charming writing, and a cast that absolutely nails it on the acting and chemistry

There is an extremely suggestive trickster type who is also the king of cats. He's a cat in human form. He hits on Edwin nonstop. Charles gets blisteringly jealous

All of the leads have well-thought-through, fully developed, emotional character arcs. They're all messy and flawed and sometimes lash out in their pain, but at turns can be incredibly supportive and kind and loyal

A character who is a crow who is also a boy, who is tortured by his witch/creator and also is crushing hard on one of the leads

There are so many incredible details in the setting, costume choices, prop decisions, etc. that you only catch after you know what it's laying the groundwork for. The level of care that went into this show is phenomenal

It's only eight episodes. The time investment barrier to entry could not possibly be lower

Anyway, tl;dr, if any of this sounds appealing to you, you should give this show a watch.

Dead Boy Detectives is well worth your time. It's easily my favorite show in years.

[nowoyas]

Trying to make sense of the Nanowrimo statement to the best of my abilities and fuck, man. It's hard.

It's hard because it seems to me that, first and foremost, the organization itself has forgotten the fucking point.

Nanowrimo was never about the words themselves. It was never about having fifty thousand marketable words to sell to publishing companies and then to the masses. It was a challenge, and it was hard, and it is hard, and it's supposed to be. The point is that it's hard. It's hard to sit down and carve out time and create a world and create characters and turn these things into a coherent plot with themes and emotional impact and an ending that's satisfying. It's hard to go back and make changes and edit those into something likable, something that feels worth reading. It's hard to find a beautifully-written scene in your document and have to make the decision that it's beautiful but it doesn't work in the broader context. It's fucking hard.

Writing and editing are skills. You build them and you hone them. Writing the way the challenge initially encouraged--don't listen to that voice in your head that's nitpicking every word on the page, put off the criticism for a later date, for now just let go and get your thoughts out--is even a different skill from writing in general. Some people don't particularly care about refining that skill to some end goal or another, and simply want to play. Some people sit down and try to improve and improve and improve because that is meaningful to them. Some are in a weird in-between where they don't really know what they want, and some have always liked the idea of writing and wanted a place to start. The challenge was a good place for this--sit down, put your butt in a chair, open a blank document, and by the end of the month, try to put fifty thousand words in that document.

How does it make you feel to try? Your wrists ache and you don't feel like any of the words were any good, but didn't you learn something about the process? Re-reading it, don't you think it sounds better if you swap these two sentences, if you replace this word, if you take out this comma? Maybe you didn't hit 50k words. Maybe you only wrote 10k. But isn't it cool, that you wrote ten thousand words? Doesn't it feel nice that you did something? We can try again. We can keep getting better, or just throwing ourselves into it for fun or whatever, and we can do it again and again.

I guess I don't completely know where I'm going with this post. If you've followed me or many tumblr users for any amount of time, you've probably already heard a thousand times about how generative AI hurts the environment so many of us have been so desperately trying to save, about how generative AI is again and again used to exploit big authors, little authors, up-and-coming authors, first time authors, people posting on Ao3 as a hobby, people self-publishing e-books on Amazon, traditionally published authors, and everyone in between. You've probably seen the statements from developers of these "tools", things like how being required to obtain permission for everything in the database used to train the language model would destroy the tool entirely. You've seen posts about new AI tools scraping Ao3 so they can make money off someone else's hobby and putting the legality of the site itself at risk. For an organization that used to dedicate itself to making writing more accessible for people and for creating a community of writers, Nanowrimo has spent the past several years systematically cracking that community to bits, and now, it's made an official statement claiming that the exploitation of writers in its community is okay, because otherwise, someone might find it too hard to complete a challenge that's meant to be hard to begin with.

I couldn't thank Nanowrimo enough for what it did for me when I started out. I don't know how to find community in the same way. But you can bet that I've deleted my account, and I'll be finding my own path forward without it. Thanks for the fucking memories, I guess.