#dev and niall are plotting

[mooncello]

My heart is so dang full from seeing some fandom friends this past weekend. I'm still catching up on sleep but, y'know, worth it.

Chapter 3 of more than a footnote will be posted next week. Here's some fun Dev/Niall/Baz banter from that. I love their friendship so much.

Niall POV

Baz lowers himself into a chair and snatches one of the cups with his long fingers. “I don’t need any of whatever alcohol you’ve smuggled in here,” he says. “Yeah, you do.” Dev withdraws a flask from his jacket’s inner pocket and sloshes it back and forth. “This is a school-sanctioned dance. Booze makes it 110% better. ’Member the winter ball in sixth year?” Baz rolls his eyes, but a smile whispers across his lips. “When Niall and I had to carry you back to Mummers? You sang the whole way across the courtyard. Forever ruined Paramore for me.” “You,” Dev points a finger at Baz, eyebrow notching up, “sang with me.” “And I still firmly state you imagined that.” Dev slides his eyes to me. “Ni, mate, back me up. You heard him.” Now both Pitch cousins are staring at me. I grin behind my cup and wink at Baz. “My own memory is pretty fuzzy.” I’m rewarded with a wicked smile and approving nod from Baz, Good man.  I hold my cup out to Dev. “I do remember you singing in our room that night. Though you had graduated to My Chemical Romance by that point.” “Classic,” Baz says, sing-song. Dev sticks his tongue out at both of us, metal bar glinting neon under the dance floor lights, and then pours a generous amount of vodka into my ginger beer. “We are young,” he says. “We are hot. Why not have as much fun while we can?” Baz lifts a perfect eyebrow at Dev, and accuses, “You started early.” “Fuck yeah I did.” Dev adds the alcohol to his drink and raises the flask once more at Baz. “Fuuuun,” he says, drawing out the word, and waggles his eyebrows.  We both grin when Baz hands over his cup with a shake of his head. “Just this one,” he says. “Of course, cuz.” Vodka is poured, and the flask disappears into Dev’s jacket. “Wouldn’t want to impugn your angsty, brooding vibes.” “That’s not how you use that word,” Baz says with a dainty sip of his drink. “What, vibes?” I snort into my cup.

love love and more love to you all. I'd write more, maybe something charming and eloquent about art and story and community, but I'm truly well-zombified at the moment. y'all rock. mwah. 🖤

thank you for the tag today @rimeswithpurple! np tags under the cut:

@drowninginships, @valeffelees, @run-for-chamo-miles, @blackberrysummerblog, @orange-peony

@youarenevertooold, @shrekgogurt, @hushed-chorus, @whatevertheweather, @fatalfangirl

@cutestkilla, @you-remind-me-of-the-babe, @artsyunderstudy, @emeryhall, @raenestee

@iamamythologicalcreature, @bookish-bogwitch, @thewholelemon, @best--dress, @rimeswithpurple

@ileadacharmedlife, @skeedelvee, @moodandmist, @monbons, @j-nipper-95

@ic3-que3n, @theearlgreymage, @theimpossibledemon, @brilla-brilla-estrellita, @palimpsessed

@facewithoutheart, @shemakesmeforget

[bookish-bogwitch]

Hey all! I hope you aren't feeling to much post-holiday drop in the wake of EGF and Baz's birthday. Remember you can keep the spirit of erotic groping alive in your hearts all the year round.

I've been working hard on chapter 9 of Basil Pitch's Diary, which feels like the part where the rubber meets the road emotionally. It's satisfying and I like it, and it's also hard going. I might have to slow down the already slow posting schedule, which chagrins me, but oh well.

Meanwhile here are some sentences from chapter 5, which is maybe my favorite chapter so far. I'm excited to share it with you guys on Saturday.

Baz, Dev and Niall are getting ready for a school dance:

Behind me, visible in the mirror where I was fixing my hair, Niall coaxed Dev’s tie into a neat batwing. “There, it’s—hey!” Dev, laughing, had pulled Niall’s own tie loose for at least the fourth time.  Niall pouted. “Now I have to do it again.” “Let me,” said Dev. In the mirror over my shoulder I saw Dev’s hands move at Niall’s throat with a sureness that would be surprising if you didn’t know he was a Pitch to the manner born. Niall didn’t take his eyes off Dev’s face. “There,” said Dev, fingers lingering on Niall’s collar. “Thanks,” said Niall, and yanked it loose again.  They dissolved into giggles and I resisted the urge to bang my head against the mirror.

Thank you for the tags, @thewholelemon, @hushed-chorus, @cutestkilla, @emeryhall, @forabeatofadrum, @artsyunderstudy, @facewithoutheart, and @run-for-chamo-miles. I'm excited to catch up with your WIPpets. I'll tag in @you-remind-me-of-the-babe, @fatalfangirl, @moodandmist, @ileadacharmedlife, @ivelovedhimthroughworse, @whogaveyoupermission, @whatevertheweather, @thehoneyedhufflepuff, @namistrella, @ic3-que3n, @theearlgreymage, @brilla-brilla-estrellita, @youarenevertooold, @iamamythologicalcreature, @goblindad-emoshit, @dragoneggos, @ebbpettier, @fight-surrender, @hertragedyconnoisseur, @j-nipper-95, @larkral, @nightimedreamersworld, @onepintobean, @pipsqueakparker, @rimeswithpurple, @twokisses, @valeffelees, @yellobb, @yeonjunenby.

[skeedelvee]

Carry On Countdown Day 11 - Wavering

For this year's COC I've decided to put together daily fic rec lists! Let me know if you find any new favorite reads from these <3

For todays prompt I've gone with fics that people may be wavering to read because they aren't complete yet, but are worth digging into regardless! This may or may not also be my evil plot to drum up some new enthusiasm for some of the stories that haven't been updated in a while so the writers might get inspired to update <3

Basil Pitch's Diary by @bookish-bogwitch

Rated T, 46,393 words

Baz is determined that 2015 will be his year. His year to break free of his vampirism, his father's expectations, and most of all his feelings for Simon Snow. There's only one problem...

Little Puff Daycare by @therosebudgirlwriter

Rated G, 15,786 words

Simon owns Little Puff Daycare, a daycare started by Lucy, his mum. One day he runs into his old enemy, who happens to have a little kid. Not that Simon knows that.

A Mild Case of Madness by @artsyunderstudy

Rated M, 37,975 words

Baz has a hopeless crush. Simon had no idea his roommate was into blokes. Neither of them is coping in a healthy manner. Cue romance.

Bait and Switch by @whatevertheweather and @cutestkilla

Rated T, 11,237 words

I’m about to click Baz’s email when I hesitate. What if it’s a virus? Baz would send me a virus. He would disappear for weeks just to get me messed up and then send me magickal malware that will explode out of my laptop and level Mummers. That’s exactly something he would do, because he’d know. He’d know that even if the bloody subject line was “This Is A Virus,” I couldn’t resist. I would open it. I open it. - The Humdrum can’t get what he needs when Simon is too distracted by Baz’s disappearance to go off. He has to find a new way to get to him, and if Baz is the only thing that can hold Simon’s attention, well, the Humdrum can work with that. Probably.

More Than Friends by @fatalfangirl

Rated E, 19,937 words

Simon likes Baz. Baz likes Simon. Neither of them is willing to confess, too afraid of losing an important friendship. But they are willing to help each other get off... because that's what friends do, right? They lend a helping hand. A simple story with complicated feelings and an exploration of physical pleasure and intimacy.

more than a footnote by @mooncello

Rated M, 40,509 words

"Wistful you say?" "Fucking moony, Niall." "Think he'll be at dinner tonight? We can ask him about it." "Oh," Dev says, and leans towards me until I can smell his warm, spicy cologne, his dark eyes a scheming fire. "I have a much better idea." Four boys, two sets of roommates. One matchmaking plan that keeps going off the rails. Feelings will get pushed to the surface. Hearts will be exposed. Or, Dev and Niall suspect Baz is secretly in love with Simon. They decide to do something about it. Falling for each other was never part of the plan.

Gareth Fucks by @ileadacharmedlife

Rated M, 3,287 words

A casual game of “Fuck, Marry, Kill” with friends in the lunchroom leads to Baz visiting Gareth the campus sex guru (“Gareth fucks!”) who has helped many a virgin discover the sex deity within. Simon comes along to lend his friend moral support.

If you have any recs that fit the prompt that I've missed, feel free to leave them in the comments! There's plenty of gaps in my reading so there's a good chance I may not have read it

Also I've had a hard time finding if some people are here on Tumblr, so if you know someone who hasn't been tagged, feel free to leave that in the comments as well <3

@carryon-countdown

[heaven-in-a-wild-flower]

Chapter 4: Company Without Words

https://archiveofourown.org/works/63707872/chapters/165016357#workskin

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Previous Chapter (Chapter 3)

I can feel Dev glaring at me from across the dining hall. Niall looks betrayed too . I would be quite confused if I saw someone drinking tea and eating scones with their arch-enemy after an 8-year-long feud. But I don’t know what I’d say to them. We’ve never had the kind of relationship where we talk about important things. I see Bunce pinch Snow’s arm and scold him for not studying enough and there’s an ocean of affection in her gaze. I’ve never had that with them. I’ve been so angry at them for not asking where I’ve been but it’s not like I’ve ever let them in. Yesterday, when Snow filled every void inside me with his magic, I felt the fire ebb completely. I felt ... at peace. Since then, it’s been hard to feel that fire inside me. I feel empty without it but it’s the feeling you get after putting down a heavy bag. You can feel the missing weight but it was also a burden.

I make a decision then. They’ve been nothing but loyal to me. They deserve better.

“I’ll just be a moment.” I get up from the table and walk up to Dev and Niall’s table. I can feel Snow’s gaze on the back of my head. But for once, this has nothing to do with him.

“Hi, may I sit?” I ask, neutrally.

“Do whatever you want. It’s not like you care what we think,” Dev sneers.

“I suppose you’re referring to my alliance with Snow and Bunce.”

“Yeah, what are you up to, Baz? Why didn’t you tell us?” Niall asks. His brows are furrowed and there’s a glint of hurt in his eyes. Of course, they think this is a plot I’ve kept from them for some reason. I remember the first plot we’d planned together. Niall was a nervous wreck, constantly talking about all the things that could go wrong. Dev looked uninterested but I could see his eyes shining with anticipation. I remember all the nights we stayed up together late and passed around a flask whenever one of us was in a bad mood. We’ve never talked about the important things. But what we have isn’t nothing. All this while, we’ve been close by sharing company without words. But perhaps some words are necessary now.

“My Mother visited when I was away. And she spoke to Snow,” I begin, softly.

“What?!” Niall shouts just as Dev snarls, “That prat.”

“No, it isn’t quite like that. I don’t think that dim-witted toad could plan anything so elaborate as that. He didn’t expect it either. He told me everything she said. She said her killer walks. She wants me to find Nicodemus and bring her peace,” I speak as I always have. They would only find it suspicious if I said anything kind about Snow.

“But she burnt down the vampires,” Dev confusedly, all the anger drained out of him. Niall knocks his knee against mine gently. I knock his, in return.

“I know. I don’t quite understand it either. That’s why I’ve manipulated Snow and his four-eyed sidekick into helping me figure it out,” I roll my eyes.

“Are you sure this isn’t one of Simon’s plots?” Dev questions, with a suspicious glance behind me.

“You think he could come up with anything so complicated? His brain would probably go off,” I scoff (I’m sorry Snow , I’m glad I’m the only one with supernaturally enhanced hearing).

“You’re right,” Dev agrees with a smirk.

“But what are they getting out of it?” Niall asks. He’s smarter than we give him credit for. Dev and I are just better at being cruel.

“I’ve promised not to pull any plots against them as long as they’re helping. Then once we figure it out, we’ll go back to being enemies,” I swallow hard as I say those words (I’ve felt Snow’s magic inside me, how could I ever go back to pretending to hate him?).

“Do you know any Nicodemus?” Dev asks.

“No, and I presume you two don’t either?” They shake their heads.

“Why do you need them? We can figure it out, the three of us,” Dev promises, still glaring at Snow.

“I don’t need them, but it’s easier to focus without having to watch out for that loose cannon all the time.” I feel guilty insulting Simon now. Before, it felt like the closest I’d get to Snow was shaping his name with my mouth, even if I was insulting him. Now I can’t help but recollect him shouting, “You’re flammable, go back inside!” and his grip upon my shoulder pouring magic into my starving body. I know it wasn’t quite about me, he’s just a hero with a heart of gold. But my heart isn’t. It’s a needy greedy delusional starving thing. I’ll take what I get.

Dev smirks at that and Niall grins. Ah, I’d missed them.

“So, gentlemen, how about this , we’ll play along just till we get what we need. Then we’ll use anything we learned about them, against them,” I smirk and lace my fingers together on the table.

“There you are,” Dev replies with a gleam in his eyes, sharp as a siren’s teeth.

***

I can feel Snow’s gaze on the back of my neck through class. How has he ever passed any classes like this? If only he’d put this level of concentration onto Miss Possibelf’s teaching. I can smell the smoke of his magic. It feels different now that I’ve felt what it feels like to hold his magic, even if I only got a taste. I thought his magic was a banked bonfire, constantly spewing smoke and easily started up again. But it’s not , it’s a continuously burning flame. It’s no wonder he always smells of smoke. I wish I could hold his hand and run my fingers through his curls until he’s calm and happy (why would that ever make him happy? It’d only be for me and he’d strike me down for it).

Miss Possibelf is talking about spells related to dreams.

“Spells about dreams are as capricious and tumultuous as the very fabric of dreams themselves. It does not do to cast them without extensive practice and single-minded focus,” she warns. Spells about dreams are dangerous because they can change meaning even if they’re said with a slightly different emotion or intonation. A simple Beyond my wildest dreams can conjure something far greater than you could imagine, but if said with any anger, it could summon creatures even your worst nightmares couldn’t create.

I rarely sleep well. It is a thing Snow and I share. He often wakes tossing and turning and screaming and crying with nightmares. But my pain is quieter. I just breathe heavily and shiver and shiver and shiver until I wake up with a quiet gasp. But I remember once when I was woken up in the middle of the night. I can’t remember what the nightmare was about , but I was caught firmly in its grasp. I remember feeling scared and hopeless (If your mind is the thing you need to be rescued from, who will save you?). I woke up when the window was slammed open.

“It’s too bloody hot,” Snow said and stormed back to his bed. But I could hear the lie in his heartbeat. He must’ve woken up from a nightmare of his own and decided to save me too . I call him a bumbling mess, a fragile bomb, an unsubtle troll, but he saved me and even lied to save me the shame (This is the least I have to be ashamed of, but I suppose you know every shame of mine, don’t you, Snow? Except the one about you).

“Mr. Snow, what spell was I just speaking of? Pardon the assumption, but am I less interesting than the back of Mr. Pitch’s head?” Miss Possibelf says. She’s kind to Snow and gives him the benefit of the doubt when he misses classes and fails to submit assignments on time because of all the missions the Mage drags him on. But I suppose she too has a breaking point. I feel the smoke smell increase. Other students are smiling dopily and giggling. I sigh, perhaps it’s my turn to save him.

“Miss Possibelf. Apologies for the interruption, although I’m certain it’ll take Snow quite a bit longer to answer that question. Is it true that A dream come true nearly always sabotages the caster?” I feel the smoke smell increase as I speak and I subtly inhale deeply (Everything about you is a danger to me, but I can never resist).

“Mr. Pitch,” Miss Possibelf says, chidingly, but she can’t resist answering the question. “While that is not precisely how I would phrase it, you are not incorrect that A dream come true has often had disastrous consequences for the caster. The reason is simple, the spell does not distinguish between the elements of the dream the caster wishes to manifest and those best left within the realm of sleep. It conjures the dream in its entirety, and dreams, by their very nature, are riddled with unforeseen twists and turns,” she says. As she speaks and her attention falls away from Snow entirely, I smell less smoke (The fire in my heart is equally quelled . I’m beginning to wonder if this fire is not Pitch fire at all). Some of our classmates turn and glare at him as they regain their senses.

***

Snow and I are lying in bed, quietly. At least I’m quiet (the dead often are) , nobody taught Snow to be quiet . His heart beats loudly and his breath is uneven enough for me to know that he’s awake. I wonder what he’s thinking about (What worries you, my love? I’ll take it all away if only you would give it to me).

“Baz,” he says, finally. My heart jolts, almost human for an instant. I’m relieved he can’t hear it.

“What, Snow?”

“I- can you just come here?” he says and my heart leaps. He wants me to come to his bed? I open my eyes and see that he’s sat up on his bed, patting the space next to him. I get up slowly, and walk over, giving him plenty of time to change his mind.

“What is it, Snow? I don’t appreciate being woken up for no reason,” I say. My heart is broken glass, and when somebody manages to reveal it, all it can do is scratch.

“You weren’t asleep anyway, Baz , I know what your breathing is like when- uh I want to try something,” he says. That utter idiot, doesn’t he know what it does to me when he mindlessly says things like that.

“Try what?” I raise a sceptical brow (You can do anything to me, Snow. I wouldn’t be able to stop you, I don’t want to).

“Just- uh hold my hand,” he says, extending his own callused palm (Oh, Simon).

“If you can manage it, I would like a little more explanation than that, Snow,” I say, rudely.

“Ugh, just- Baz- it’s just for,” he grabs my hand. I feel his magic climb up my arm, straight to my head, my heart. I want to protest at being manhandled (as if), but there are no thoughts in my head. I feel as if fireworks are going off inside me, as if there is an ocean of water swirling around inside me, nothing makes sense and yet everything does.

“Does it hurt?” Simon’s voice penetrates the haze slightly.

“No, it’s...” It’s all I can manage.

“Can you cast something?” he asks, tentatively. I open my eyes a fraction to see him. He looks delicious, mouth slightly open, eyes half-closed, a slight flush on his cheeks and a calmness I’ve rarely seen in his eyes.

“Something?” I laugh, “I can cast anything, Snow.”

“ Living the dream ,” I say as I pull my wand from my sleeve.

The room fills with a pale pink light and cherry blossoms fall from the ceiling. But the ceiling isn’t a ceiling , there’s the sky, pale blue, and the sky beyond, a star-studded galaxy. There’s a gentle spring breeze , the air is ripe with the smell of fruits. Multicoloured butterflies are flitting around, landing on flower bushes that have appeared. The ground beneath us is soft as velvet and warm as sun-kissed grass and red as a thumping human heart. The last thought ebbs the bliss slightly. I see Simon watching the stars with awe in his eyes , a butterfly sitting gently on his knee and pink petals caught in his curls (you’re so alive Simon Snow, thank you for letting me share in the feeling). We’re both quiet in each other’s company. No words are needed (There aren’t any words for this.)

“Nicks and Slicks, Baz,” he says, looking into my eyes and taking hold of my other hand.

“Snow.”

“What does it feel like?” he asks.

“It feels...limitless. Like I can cast a hundred spells and not tire. Is this how you feel all the time?”

“No it always feels like too much. Like I’m too small for all this magic and I’m just about to-”

“Go off?” I supply.

“Yeah,” he admits.

“And now? How do you feel now?” I ask. I think I’m smiling. I can’t remember when I last did.

“Relieved. Like I can- I can just breathe,” he confesses. I giggle.

“Are you- is it too much?” he asks with a frown .

“No, it’s just the right amount. I feel almost drunk,” I whisper.

“Okay, I’m pulling back now,” he says, looking alarmed. And now, we’re just sitting on his bed holding hands (This is enough to make me feel drunk).

“Did you hold back at all?” I ask.

“ No I just let it all go,” he says, sheepishly.

“I wonder if I could take it, turn it against you,” I think aloud. I need to know if it’s possible. If anyone else could be a threat to him like this ( And if I could take it from him in our final battle, so he’ll have to come close to finish me off).

“What? Why are you such a villain? Why have you already thought of that?” he says, snatching his hands away.

“Afraid it’s possible? I’d beat you twice as easily then,” I say, smirking.

“We’re on a truce! You can’t say that!” Snow blurts, red blooming beautifully across his cheeks.

“I can say anything I want, Snow. I just can’t act on my words as long as we’re in the truce,” I smirk.

“I can’t believe you,” he mutters.

“Can’t you?” I snark back.

“Anyway, what was the purpose of this little experiment?” I ask.

“I- if it ever- uh- if there’s another situation like the dragon, I could give you my magic like I did yesterday,” he says, looking cautiously.

“Then I suppose you’ll have to know, once and for all, if I can take it,” I goad, knowing it’s highly unlikely he’ll agree (I just want another chance to hold his hand. As if I ever get what I want).

“Fine,” he shouts and extends his hand towards me sharply (Luck, that elusive goddess shining down on me for once).

I hold his hand and try to pull the magic from him. I try to accept the hollowness inside me, try to embody it so deeply that I can suck Snow’s magic like a black hole. But nothing happens.

“So? Didn’t work huh ?” Snow says, grinning with relief and victory. Thank Morgana, nobody can take it from him.

“No, you can rest assured, Snow. When I beat you, it’ll be with my own superior magic. Until then, I suppose, I can help you with the Humdrum and you can help with Nicodemus,” I offer.

“Baz, why do you keep pretending I don’t know?” he says, perhaps reminded of my vampirism from the coldness in my hand. I snatch it away and storm back to my own bed.

“Don’t know, what?” I say, mildly.

“Baz, if you keep secrets, how am I supposed to help you? Like where were you at the beginning of this year? And what happened to your leg?” he says, a desperate note in his voice. The memory of the coffin is back, the coldness bone-deep, the ache in my leg. His magic doesn’t even hurt me , there isn’t anything human enough inside me to hurt . The fire sparks back, trying to bring back warmth. How dare he ask me that? How is it any of his business? (he could’ve made it his business if he’d saved me. But he didn’t even try) He’s not my friend , all we have is a bloody temporary truce. I’m sure he thinks I was off plotting or training for our final battle or some other utter tosh. I’ll always be a villain to him , who am I fooling trying to be anything else? How dare he ask as if I can just tell him?

“It’s not relevant,” I say, teeth gritted.

“How is it not relevant? We’re looking for blood-sucking vampires who killed your mother and you’re a blood-sucking vampire!” I want to correct his stupid phrasing. All vampires are blood-sucking. But the fire crackles louder and it drowns out the sound of my thoughts.

“SHUT UP, SNOW,” I shout. I’m suddenly standing over him, and I see his eyes widen. His eyes flick to my hand, which is when I notice that I have my wand out, pointed at him. His mouth is closed for once. I take a shaky breath and tuck my wand back into my sleeve. I turn abruptly and walk into the ensuite.

My back hits the door and I slide down onto the cool tiles. Pitches don’t lose their temper like that. Pitches don’t pay ransoms. Pitches don’t almost activate the Anathema. Pitches aren’t vampires. Pitches don’t get kidnapped by Numpties. Pitches don’t miss their ancestors’ Visitings’. Pitches don’t fall in love with their enemies. Pitches never lose control.

I clutch my hair as the world spins around me. I close my eyes and I see the fire. The only constant I’ve had since the kidnapping. I walk closer and closer until all I can see is the flame. I sit before it and let the warmth bleed into me. And if I’m still shivering, then perhaps the cold is simply too deep in me.

***

In the morning, I wake up early to avoid Snow. I avoid looking at him as I get ready and slip quietly out the door. I take the stairs down to Dev and Niall’s room.

Despite my elaborate hair routine, it’s still early enough that it’s highly unlikely that they’ll be awake. I bang on the door.

“Ugh, wha time is it?” I hear Niall and Dev yells , “Who the bloody hell is it?”

“Rise and shine, gentlemen,” I drawl back.

“Tosser,” Dev grumbles.

“I heard that,” I reply.

Niall opens the door with his hair in disarray and his blanket tangled around his leg, one eye still half closed. Dev glares at me and says, “You were meant to.”

Niall sits down on his bed and I perch beside him.

“Go on, get ready , I’d prefer to tell you my grand plans when you’re fully awake,” I drawl, leaning back comfortably on the bed.

“Should’ve just waited for us to wake up then,” Dev grumbles as he goes to take a shower. Niall leans his head against my shoulder and dozes.

While Niall is showering, Dev sprays a bucketful of cologne on himself . I want to tell him that no amount of cologne will win over Agatha but it’s probably a sore spot, so I let him be.

“So, are we going to go be chummy with the Chosen One and his entourage?” Dev asks, knotting his tie.

“No, today, we’ll start our own research. If I have to watch him spill scones crumbs all over the books again, I’ll set myself on fire.”

Dev laughs, “You’re such a swot.”

We decide to work in the library for an hour. I’ve searched for all possible nicknames Nicodemus could have. Dev and Niall are reading books about vampires and blurting out facts they are surprised by. These books are fairly useless because some of the facts are surprising even to me. And by that, I mean they’re utter hogwash.

“Did you know that vampires can talk to bats? It says here they communicate with them and create bat cults to carry out their dark aims,” Niall says giggling at ‘bat cults’. I roll my eyes and hide a smile behind my hand.

“Oh, I’ve got an even better one. It says here that vampires can transmit sexual diseases by drinking someone’s blood. Imagine some poor sod, a virgin with a neck STD,” Dev says, grinning fiercely. A shocked laugh slips out of me.

We follow our aimless research with a quick breakfast and then hurry to class. Dev is stuffing toast in his mouth as he runs and Niall has hidden a scone in his trousers.

Snow is relentless. He’s resumed his staring. He’s even started trying to pass notes. I ripped up the first one without even opening it. I turned around in my seat, made eye contact and ripped it up. The rest, I’ve been letting pile up on my desk. After class, I hurriedly pack my books to make a quick exit but Snow has managed to get to the door quicker. He blocks my way.

“Baz, please, can we just talk?” He pleads.

“Get out of my way, Snow.” If he says anything about my vampirism or kidnapping, I’ll spell him stupid.

“Could you both fight elsewhere? Some of us are trying to make it to our next class,” somebody says from behind me. I raise a brow at Snow.

He curses and moves out of the way to let me pass. He apologises to the people behind me. But the moment I pass an alcove in the corridor, I feel a tug on my arm and find myself spun around to face Snow.

“You can’t just pull people, Snow.”

“Sorry, but I asked nicely and you wouldn’t listen,” Snow says.

“What do you want, Snow?” There’s so little space between us. I can feel the heat of his body and I can smell his blood. I can see every single mole on his face and his neck. I trace them with my eyes. I want to retrace the path with my tongue. And then my teeth.

“I’m sorry, Baz, just come back and sit with us. Penny misses you. I won’t ask about your secrets , any of them , even if they might be helpful with the search,” I narrow my eyes at him and he shrugs (Oh, how I hate those shrugs, almost as much as I love those shoulders).

“Fine. We’ll meet in the library after classes today. But I’m not sitting with you both in the dining hall. It’s unnecessary.” I don’t want Dev and Niall to get upset again (I can’t pretend like we’re friends, it’s too much. I can’t sit next to him drinking tea as his elbow bumps into mine).

“Fine,” Snow huffs.

“Could you please let me go now, and refrain from manhandling me in the future?” I say, hoping he refuses.

“I can’t predict the future,” he grins, cheekily and saunters off. He’s becoming far too comfortable with me. My heart is unprepared.

***

We’re at the library, Snow, Bunce and I poring over giant tomes about vampires. At least Bunce and I are. Snow is trying desperately to stay awake despite us having given him the smallest book.

“Baz, there isn’t anything useful in these books. Most of it is fiction. I think people who come in contact with vampires enough to get real information, don’t live to tell the tale,” Bunce says frustratedly.

“I agree for the most part. But I think there are useful books on the topic somewhere, just not in this hopeless Mage-regulated library.”

“Baz!” Snow can’t hear a word against his precious mentor.

“Simon, he’s kind of right. Mum says the Mage has removed too many of the Magickal books from the library.” Bunce shoots Snow an apologetic look. He slumps with a humph.

We discuss some of Bunce’s theories for a few minutes longer and then decide to call it a night.

Snow’s face falls onto the book as he falls asleep. “I’m awake!” he yells, as he wakes up with a start. The Librarian kicks us out after that anyway.

“Goodnight Simon , see you tomorrow, Baz,” Bunce says with a wave.

“Tomorrow, Bunce,” I nod back.

In the room, Snow complains about not having eaten enough dinner. How he has the space for so much food inside him , I’ll never understand . I roll my eyes and walk towards the door to go hunt.

***

Drinking blood fills something inside me even as it hollows me out further. Every time I drink, I feel as if I’m losing myself bit by bit. Becoming more monster than man. One day, I’ll just be a creature of the night, hissing and snarling. But somebody will stop me then. Put an end to it all. Somebody already tried, I think, recollecting the kidnapping. The fire growls. They stole my wand, put me in a coffin and fed me only blood. They were trying to drain the only parts of me that are human, that is a mage. I drink too deeply and the rat’s head snaps off. I wipe my mouth roughly and drink the rest.

I sit with a torch blazing overhead. The dark is still unpleasant to be in. I stare at the roses on Mother’s tomb. The numerous overlapping petals. What if we never find Nicodemus? The rich red colour. Who is Nicodemus? The long green stems. Is he a vampire? The small veined leaves. Is he the one who sent the vampires? The small sharp thorns protruding from the stems. Who. The. Fuck. Is. Nicodemus?

Multiple tiny bursts of pain in my palms make me blink awake. I’m sitting in front of Mother’s tomb. I’m clutching the roses. The thorns have dug into my palms. I stare at the blood blooming on my palm. The Catacombs give me blood and then they take it away, I laugh. I pull each thorn out one by one. By the time I’m done, my skin has closed up neatly. As if there were never any wounds (I wish it worked on my heart). This is what they should have written in those stupid vampire books.

Let me know if anyone wants to be added to the tag list.

Next Chapter (Chapter 5)

[best--dress]

Six Sentence Sunday

thanks for the tag @artsyunderstudy!

I'm continuing to play around with my COBB fic. There are whole major plot points that are just big ?s in my doc and in my mind right now, but I've written a few sentences that I feel really good about. So it goes!

From Simon's POV:

“You’d go to the ball with Dev?” I demand. Agatha shrugs. “We should find you a date for the ball, Si.” “Well, we’ve just learned Niall’s taken,” I say sarcastically. “Isn’t there anyone you like?” Agatha pushes. Probably trying to distract from her own prospects. I feel scratchy, my magic pushing angrily up to the surface. This isn’t something you just discuss. And anyway. “Not really. Maybe I just don’t get romantic feelings.” “Nonsense, Si. There’s someone for everyone.”

(Should probably disclaimer that Simon isn't aro in this fic, but someone else is...)

hi hello how are you @facewithoutheart, @thewholelemon, @ileadacharmedlife, @martsonmars, @youarenevertooold, @rimeswithpurple, @that-disabled-princess, @aristocratic-otter, @leithillustration, @iamamythologicalcreature, @alexalexinii, @cutestkilla, @you-remind-me-of-the-babe, @nightimedreamersworld, @artsyunderstudy, @mooncello, @onepintobean, @emeryhall, @arthurkko

[paper-beats-writers-block]

for the list of fics I want to write but probably never will: Snowbaz Moulin Rouge AU

Simon as Christian, Baz as Satine. Penny and Shepard as Toulouse and Santiago. Agatha as Nini. Lamb as the Duke. Dev and Niall as other Rouge workers. Malcolm as Harold (but Malcolm isn’t Baz’s father in this because that would just be awful). It would be true to musical plot though so it would be absolutely gut-wrenching. I think it would fit them really well.

[philaet0s]

WIP Wednesday

From two different WIPs because I’ve been writing for two fics aha

First, my fem!Snowbaz one

With a bit if context; my trans Niall headcanon is very dear to me but for plot reasons I needed Niall to be a boy at the beginning of the story when they’re kids, so in this fic Niall is actually Alice, a trans girl!

I keep writing scenes that happen in the future rather than following the timeline in chronological order, so here’s another bit that’ll come late into the fic

SORRY, just like the other scene I shared the other day, it’s sad, all the scenes I’m interested in writing at the moment are the sad ones, I miss angst

(TW: mentions of suicide)

Baz

“Are you still sure you don’t want to tell anyone? Not even Dev?”

Alice tenses. It makes my head move on her stomach. I move it further, craning my neck to look at her. I mostly see her chin, but even from down there I can tell her jaw is set.

“Dev is in love with Niall,” she answers, with enough pain in her voice to make my heart clench inside my chest.

“Dev is in love with you. I’m sure he’d love Alice just as much.”

She shakes her head. “You don’t get it. He likes boys. If I tell him… I don’t want him to break up with me because of someone I can’t even be.”

I flip onto my stomach and hold myself up on my elbows to look at her in the eyes. Hers are staring in the distance, empty.

“You are Alice, though.”

She lets out a sound, a dark, bitter chuckle. “Only with you.”

“No. You always are.”

“Baz. I’m not. And I’ll never be. It’s not… That’s good for your friends in London. Not for me. I’d have it easier if I just… went on like this.”

“Or you’d kill yourself because you’re miserable,” I answer, harshly, making Alice gasp.

The wound of Emily’s passing is still fresh. I never told Alice about Emily. I never told anyone, not even Simone. My friends from home… They’re too far away from everything that goes on in the life of my friends in London. I don’t know if they’d understand. Thankfully, I have Sasha. I can talk to her about that life, those friends, that we share.

“Pretending to be someone you’re not like you are… It’s a way to die, not a way to live. And I don’t want you to die, Alice.”

And then my Fiona/Ebb fic!

Ebb

“Ah, Ebb, you’re so emotional,” she says with a sigh and tender eyes.

“Nothing wrong with that. I like feeling things deeply. It makes me feel more alive, more human.”

“Too human for your own good. When’s the last time you made a selfish decision?”

She probably thinks that this is a question I will need to think about. Because she thinks I don’t make selfish decisions. Fiona never understood people very well. She gets them. She gets what makes them like her, what makes them want to do her favours. But she doesn’t understand them. The inner turmoil inherent to human experience. She’s in her bubble, she only understands what she knows, in other words, herself. I think that is why she matches with my brother better than with me. They’re similar in a lot of ways. Meanwhile, she and I are like night and day.

“You’re a selfish decision,” I mumble under my breath. Because I want her to hear it, but I also don’t.

It’s hard to talk to her about this. It’s another thing she doesn’t understand.

She moves her feet from the coffee table to the couch and turns to me. She’s holding her cup of tea on her lap with one hand. I hope she won’t spill tea on the plaid, I washed it three days ago.

“What do you mean?”

Actions have always had a greater impact on her than words. I lay my hand high on her thigh, and stroke the seam of her jeans with my thumb. “This is selfish. So is not telling Nicky.”

She rolls her eyes. “We’re not doing this again. Telling Nico is the stupidest idea you’ve ever had.”

[valeffelees]

💖 🦖 ✍️ for the ask game :)

hi Jay, happy new year. 🩵

💖 What is your primary writing goal for this year?

i had the writer's block of all writer's blocks this last year, but i finally pulled myself out a few weeks ago, so my main goal for the new year is just to write, full stop. a little bit every day if i can.

🦖 Are there any fandoms you wrote for in the past that you'd like to return to?

maybe! i have some old detroit: become human fanfics i never finished that i'd really like to see completed. the words and plots kinda... belong to connor and gavin? like, i don't wanna recycle them into simon and baz or davy and lucy or dev and niall. they're convin's stories. so i might take a swing at those again sometime this year, but i'm mostly gonna be focused on carry on and jujutsu kaisen.

✍️ Which stat matters most to you: subscriptions, kudos/favorites, comments, bookmarks, word count, or hits?

word count is a bit of a pride thing for me. which is funny bc short fics are some of my all-time favourites to read, i love them. and they're hard to write, too, people who can tell a story in so few words are impressive as fuck to me. but like, i have a very short fic on the archive that's only a few hundred words and sometimes i think about deleting it bc i'm weirdly embarrassed about how short it is. i wanna challenge that in the new year tho and write more bite-sized fics!

but otherwise, i love bookmarks most. like wow, you bookmarked it? you liked my story enough to wanna find it again, or recommend it to somebody else? are we about to kiss rn?

[forabeatofadrum]

It's been two months! I have been in a reading slump and around 2 weeks ago I slowly got back to book-reading, and I am rereading Check, Please! (I am wearing my Samwell Hockey hoodie as I type this), but now I am also back for some fic reading!

I finally read Restoration Ecology - The Remix (Baz's version) by @royalasstronaut. If that sounds familiar, it's because it's, as the title says, a remix of Restoration Ecology by @captain-aralias and y'all know I fucking love that fic. Like RoyalAsstronaut, I was also super interested in what went on in Baz's mind and they delivered. I held off reading this fic for *cha cha real smooth* smutty reasons, but God I love Restoration Ecology (my beloved)!!! I loved reading Baz's side and I also love how things were added, like Baz's relationship with Mordelia and his friendship with Dev and Niall. Is Baz going to bring a plus-one, and how will they react?

(also, yes, Aralias, I did see your reply to that long ass essay about smut and I will reply to it one day!) (hopefully it will not take another year)

I also have been keeping an eye on Lavender hearts by @aroace-genderfluid-sheep. I know I told Ace in a tag that I would probably not read the fic "on release" because I needed to be emotionally prepared for it, and yet, the moment it dropped I read it cause I needed to. I am depressed now. In a good way? Basically, it was harrowing and painful and desolate, but that was how it was, and it was a good fucking fic.

In other COTTA news, I have also been keeping an eye on @wellbelesbian's Shoulder To Shoulder, Hand To Hand. As I said in the comments, I am so ready for it. I am a bit nervous cause ya know AIDS crisis and all that jazz, but I am so excited.

On a more fun note, @caramelcoffeeaddict started posting Avoiding My Secret Admirer and I absolutely love the premise. You know what they say right? Miscommunication as a plot device can be so fucking stupid BUT if it's a comedic plot device, then it's the best thing ever.

So that is it. Like I said, I am slowly getting back to fic, but I got a lot of books that I have to read first, since I borrowed them. I do want to give a shout out to Small Beauty by jiao qing wilson-yang, which is a book about a trans woman named Mei who moves into the house of her recently deceased cousin and by doing so, she learns about herself and her family's queer history. I just finished it and it's really good.

[mostlymaudlin]

do u ever think abt how in ws simon watches baz get more confident & self-expressive and thinks he’s holding baz back... when actually, the catalyst for this growth is that baz finally has people in his life that know his deepest secrets and still care for him and encourage him to be his true self ?

[bookish-bogwitch]

an ask game for writers to procrastinate working on your WIP(s)

thanks for tagging me @wellbelesbian!

1. 🦈Tell us the name of your/ one of your WIP(s): Basil Pitch's Diary. It's literally my only WIP.

2. 🍄Describe your WIP/one of your WIP(s) in the format of “___ + ___ =___” Bridget Jones's Diary + Carry On = We Love Baz, Just As He Is

3. 🌍What tags or warnings will one of your WIP(s) need if you intend to share it? Internalized homophobia, gaslighting, self-hatred. 😬

4. 🧭An alternative title to one of your WIP(s)? I never considered an alternative title to BPD, but the one that comes to mind now would be a huge spoiler. The alternative title to the next chapter is "I Fortunately Know a Little Magic," which is sassy and snappy (R.I.P. Howard Ashman) but less thematically relevant than the title I chose.

5. ⚠️Which WIP your most likely to finish or update next? Basil Pitch's Diary. Literally every other fic I've ever posted has been while "taking a break" from BPD, which could go on indefinitely if I let it, so I am bound and determined to finish this fucker before starting something else.

6. 💾What is your document of your WIP/ a WIP called? (not the stories actual title but what you’ve saved it as) I have a list for BPD called "Chapter Checklist." It contains subtle insights "Baz is an UNRELIABLE narrator."

7. 🖍Post Any sentence(s) from your WIP. Here's Baz and Dev in ch. 7:

“Will you stay for dinner?” 

“Can’t. Dev and I…”

As Niall told me about their plans I grabbed one of the football’s nylon loops and let Rusty tug on it as we walked. It seemed too late for Niall to have a date all the way in London, but what do I know about dates.

“Come with us,” said Niall. 

I grimaced. “No thanks. I’ll catch up with Dev when he’s not on molly and climbing down your throat.”

“You don’t ‘catch up’ at Beast Night. You dance.”

“With whom?”

“Men.”

8. ♻️A scrapped idea for your current WIP. I just looked in the trash folder of the BPD Scrivener project and found this note I don't remember writing:

Renée Zellweger would play Baz. People would be skeptical but she’d fucking nail it. Gaining weight for a role? How about growing eight inches, sprouting a happy trail, and joining the legions of undead. (Might as well cast Oscar bait.)

9. 🤔What’s a story you’d love to write but haven’t even started yet? A Watford-era get-together magickal mishap involving animal transformation and beloved children's literature. So, you know. The usual.

10. 🤡How many WIPS are you actively working on? Just the one. @facewithoutheart and I have a secret side project going that involves back-and-forth writing and it's stalled out on me. It's very fun and silly and I plan to return to it when I need a break from some of the angstier parts of BPD.

11. 🛠Is there a scene or anything in the WIP you are struggling with right now? I'm not working on any one BPD scene right now, but trying to map out the rest of the fic in greater detail so that I can roll from one chapter to the next. I was struggling for a couple of weeks with how to make an unavoidable canon plot point emotionally relevant to Baz's arc, but I think I figured it out last night. Phew.

12. ❤️Not a question, just a second Kudos to send. Kudos and tags to @cutestkilla, @thewholelemon, @whatevertheweather, @brilla-brilla-estrellita, @monbons, @onepintobean, @ileadacharmedlife, @ivelovedhimthroughworse, @skeedelvee, @im-gettingby, @imagineacoolusername, @iamamythologicalcreature, @youre-an-apocryphal-concept-223, @rimeswithpurple, @goblindad-emoshit, @facewithoutheart, @artsyunderstudy, @alleycat0306, @erzbethluna, @ebbpettier, @emeryhall, @f-ing-ruthless-baz, @hushed-chorus, @hertragedyconnoisseur, @ionlydrinkhotwater, @ic3-que3n.

[skeedelvee]

Carry On Countdown Day 10 - Dinner

For this year's COC I've decided to put together daily fic rec lists! Let me know if you find any new favorite reads from these <3

For todays prompt I've gone with fics that prominently feature a meal or food

Lemon Blueberry Shortbread by @aristocratic-otter and @letraspal

Rated G, 2,912 words

Two afternoons of learning to cook a family recipe, thirty years apart.

Good to You by @otherworldsivelivedin

Rated E, 11,032 words

Simon has decided to treat Baz to a sophisticated meal for Valentine’s day; but, when they get there, they find they're more interested in each other than the food.

Goodbye, Goodbye, Goodbye by @facewithoutheart

Rated M, 588 words

(I'm counting this because it relates to the family dinner in Snow for Christmas)

Malcolm goes into the kitchen to grab more champagne and gets more than he expected.

Domesticity by @bloodiedpixie

Rated T, 743 words

Baz tries to make dinner for Simon.

If I Fell In Love With You by @bazzybelle

Rated T, 4,417 words

This is ridiculous… I am being utterly ridiculous. I am a ridiculous, romantic fool, who has gone completely soft for a walking disaster with bright blue eyes and soft bronze curls. On a crisp, fresh, October evening, Baz decides to surprise Simon with a romantic dinner and something extra special for him. For no reason, other than he wants to find a way to show Simon just how much he loves and cares about him, and this is really the only way that makes sense to him. Takes place after Carry On, but before Wayward Son.

Love Season by @krisrix

Rated E, 3,922 words

It’s Valentine’s Day. Which is not something I’ve put any thought into since Agatha and I broke up. I realize that makes me even more of a terrible boyfriend to Baz than I already am... Except, well, maybe not as terrible any more, given we do actually have plans for the holiday for once. They’re Baz’s plans—still, I agreed, so that’s progress. Even Baz asking at all is progress.

Take a Walk on the Wild Slice by @youarenevertooold and @that-disabled-princess

Rated T, 20,302 words

It's almost time to be heading back to school for their final year at Watford. Dev & Niall drag Baz off for a night out at a new pizza place as a treat, because it has, according to the internet, a Very Hot Mascot. Meanwhile, Simon has managed to find himself a job to while away the tedious hours of summer. It's not ideal, but fortunately no-one from school will ever see him dressed as a ridiculous slice of pizza. Right? Pizza, pining, and plotting ensue; all combined with a healthy side serving of friends helping you realise what's actually important.

crisp and sweet by @mostlymaudlin

Rated T, 4,134 words

The White Mountains are almost as far from Las Vegas as you can get in the United States. That’s comforting to me. I don’t think I could keep up our no-murder streak if I ran into the King of the Vampires again. In her travel diary, my grandmother described the town of Conway, New Hampshire in October as “bloody picturesque,” and she was right. We’re surrounded by deep reds and golds, kind of like the desert of the American West. But instead of feeling like we’re surrounded by flames, it’s more like being bathed in gentle candlelight. - Five years after the events of AWTWB, Simon and Baz return to North America with one mission: to peep some leaves.

Straight Boy by @bazypitchandsimonsnow

Rated M, 30,804 words

Simon Salisbury is totally straight...but there's this guy... Based on "request kiss" request.

Too full to hunt by anonymous

Rated M, 2,167 words

*THIS IS A BELLY STUFFING FIC* *DO NOT READ IF YOU'RE NOT INTO THAT* This takes place right after one of the last scenes of awtwb. "Simon." "Hmm?" He hums cutting another spoonful of cake. "I'm very full." "Do you want me to stop?" He asks as he puts the spoon in front of my mouth. I don't have to take it. I know he would stop if I told him to but his gaze is on my lips and his pupils are bigger than usual. Simon with a stuffing belly kink, wow, so shocking

If you have any recs that fit the prompt that I've missed, feel free to leave them in the comments! There's plenty of gaps in my reading so there's a good chance I may not have read it

Also I've had a hard time finding if some people are here on Tumblr, so if you know someone who hasn't been tagged, feel free to leave that in the comments as well <3

@carryon-countdown

[imagineacoolusername]

SPITE DATING

@carryon-countdown day 6: side ships/alternate ships

1253 words, rated G

Summary:

Dev and Niall pretend to be in a relationship to spite Malcolm and Daphne, but it doesn't go quite as planned.

link to the fic

[facewithoutheart]

With the release of RWRB’s movie premier date, here are some of my crackish predictions about the worst way CO could be adopted into a movie:

They combine Agatha and Penny’s character and make her white, but Dev and Niall stay separate characters (also both white)

Fiona is played by an actress younger than Baz

Baz’s widow’s peak has to be CGI’ed in

Simon’s hair is blonde and not curly

Simon gets wings but no tail

The Mage is played by Daniel Craig and Colin Firth plays Malcolm and Christina never sleeps again because she’s too busy writing malmage for the rest of her life

Lucy’s ghost isn’t included

They never mention Professor Minos; a tragedy

No fireplace kiss

They combine Mitali and Mrs Wellbelove’s characters and never explain it even though they’re married to two different men

In fact they add in an original male character with no plot relevance, who is also white

Ebb stills dies

Reblog with your own terrible predictions

[shrekgogurt]

Okay, still on my Watford School of Magicks presents Les Misérables AU bullshit. Please recall how I said — “At The End Of The Day” (hah puns!) — this fic is just Simon Snow’s gay crisis the musical. Recalling? Great.

If you have talked to me at all since Saturday, you have been forced to hear me infodump especially about the “Red/Black” scene. Now, I’ve been scouring YouTube looking at so many versions of all these songs (especially from live productions) for inspiration. However, no one quite does this particular one like the film version. The way Eddie Redmayne sings these lines like he is both surprised and confused by what he has said is so Simon Snow coded. Therefore, I want to share the clip alongside the fic version of the scene. (Just please ignore the discord notification in the middle of it from @onepintobean, it’s part of my process.)

THE GOOD STUFF IS BELOW THE CUT

I leap from my chair; it clatters behind me as I envision Agatha, or rather Cosette, “had you seen her today you might know how it feels.”

My hand flies in the air, commanding attention, “to be struck to the bone in a moment of breathless delight.” It’s love at first sight. Untouchable? Exalted? A hook in my stomach. My intestines threatening to burst. Huh?

“Had you been there today you might also have known,” I stride further across the stage and take a few steps up the stairs. Knowing, knowing... I’m leaping again, holding the railing to anchor me.

“How your world may be changed in just one burst of light,” my brain floods with images of exploding brightness, like going off, like—the Humdrum stealing Penny and I away, Agatha's hands in Baz's, “and what was right seems wrong,” Baz flinging open the Great Hall doors three weeks ago, his top lip curled, “and what was wrong seems right.”

“Red!” Dev sings. 

I think about lighting a match, “I feel my soul on fire!” It’s always fire with Baz...

“Black!”

I think about searching the catacombs, “My world if h-she’s not there!” I’m all mixed up…

Niall looks at me like I’ve lost the plot as the company joins to sing the next, “Red!”

“It’s the color of desire!” And shoving him against a wall mid-fight…

“Black!”

“It’s the color of despair!” And also his stupid fucking hair that’s probably very soft…

woop woop I scheduled this post so I get to tag people first! @agni-ashes @artsyunderstudy @aristocratic-otter @bazzybelle @brilla-brilla-estrellita @cutestkilla @dragoneggos @ebbpettier @excalisbury @facewithoutheart @fatalfangirl @hushed-chorus @ivelovedhimthroughworse @larkral @martsonmars @mysterioussheep @palimpsessed @raenestee @theearlgreymage @thewholelemon @whogaveyoupermission @yellobb

[philaet0s]

I’ve only written the very beginning of it so far but that fic has been on my mind for weeks now and I just need to scream about it somewhere

It’s my next long fic project and it’s going to be a complete 180 from the fic I’m currently posting (very angsty, serious stuff, lots of plot elements) (If you’re curious you can check it here :) After months of writing I’m FINALLY feeling close to the end) because after spending months on Live and Die I need something CHILL. so. here are a few things that I’m planning to have in the fic. because again. I need to scream about it.

• The Most Important Thing: t4t Snowbaz!!!!!! very excited about that because I have a non binary!Baz agenda that I need to shove down people’s throat and I’ve been wanting to write Simon as transmasc for ages (also though Baz is going to identify as non binary even before the story starts -without being out except to Dev and Niall-, there’s gonna be some gender shenanigans because gender identity is Complicated)

• summer romance!!! I’m taking them out of Watford and (mostly) away from the World of Mages so that they can get to know each other in a better environment <3

• it starts with the “character shows up beaten and bloody at rival’s house because ‘I didn’t know where else to go’” trope

• I’m changing Malcolm’s character in this because I made him SO AWFUL in my current fic I feel like I have to apologize to Baz in a way. so. in this fic instead shutting down bc he was depressed after Natasha died, Malcolm coped by focusing all his energy on Baz so they are like very very very close. I’m taking the daddy issues away from Baz, I know, shocking

• Baz is most likely going to be autistic in this because projecting on Baz is actually my favourite thing to do, istg the way I write Baz is sometimes just a diary maybe it’s unhealthy idk

I don’t know if I’ll actually manage to write this fic bc since I’m really focusing on Vibes and Characters I don’t have a plot I can use to plan the story and that stresses me out, but I REALLY would like to write it. Like idk, is it fine if I write a story where the plot is just them getting to know each other on a deeper level and falling in love?