#fanworks challenge

[queer-as-tartt]

Sign ups open December 1 (THAT'S THIS SUNDAY!)

Sign ups close December 22

THE ROUND BEGINS! January 1

Square Change Deadline January 15

Late sign ups open (pre-made card) & close February 12 & June 17

Round ends July 31

Masterposts Due August 7

Tumblr deactivated/deleted the RoyJamieBingo account, and while I appealed immediately, I still haven't heard back, so for now I'll be hosting it on Discord, with the occasional reminder here, as I don't want to risk this account either.

So come join us!

[thisapplepielife]

Has anyone done a Corroded Coffin-centric fanworks challenge yet?

Where we can focus on all the Corroded Coffin guys, together, or separately?

If not, is there any interest?

The idea popped in my head a couple weeks ago, and I started jotting down prompt ideas. Since I'm still thinking about it all this time later, I thought I'd at least mention it. I think there are definitely enough prompts to have an event, if that's something others would want to participate in.

If it's already been done, just tell me! I haven't been on Tumblr for the entirety of the post-S4 time, and my searching may have missed it!

If there hasn't been, I'm just gauging interest here.

Steddie (and other ships/characters) would be welcome, of course, just as long as Corroded Coffin is involved in some way and you make it fit the prompt!

Please feel free to reblog if you have other Stranger Things friends that you think might be interested!

[fluff-cember]

Fluffcember 2024

Heyho.

@alpaca-clouds here!

I was asked whether I would create Fluffcember as an official challenge this year, and I thought to myself: You know what? Why not?

Hence this blog - and a really early posting of the list.

Rules

This is a 1-month-challenge for fluffy fanworks.

All sorts of fanworks (art, writing, graphics) welcome.

We will however not accept any AI-Art or AI-Writing!

SFW and NSFW is both welcome - but please make sure to tag it accordingly.

Tag CWs if you share under this tag!

No minimum or maximum word count for writing!

We will reblog entries during the month of December!

If you have questions: The asks are open!

Full list of prompts under the cut.

Day 01: Roasted Marshmallows

Day 02: Winter Flu

Day 03: Snow Man

Day 04: Christmas Sweater

Day 05: Northern Lights

Day 06: Gingerbread House

Day 07: Condensed Breath

Day 08: Sparkling Snow

Day 09: Sugar Rush

Day 10: Carols

Day 11: Slippery

Day 12: Skiing

Day 13: Fire and Ice

Day 14: Winter Soup

Day 15: Naughty List

Day 16: Chocolate

Day 17: Snowed in

Day 18: Mistletoe

Day 19: Fondue

Day 20: Fairy Tales

Day 21: Cabin in the Snow

Day 22: Winter Storm

Day 23: Confessions

Day 24: Christmas Tree

Day 25: The Perfect Gift

Day 26: Forgiveness

Day 27: Family Gathering

Day 28: Cold Turkey

Day 29: Mint

Day 30: Warming Up

Day 31: Fireworks

Alternatives:

Hot Bath

Fallen Through The Ice

Holiday Decoration

Homecooked Meals

Coming Home

[pearynice]

When Steve is 10, he wins his very first basketball championship.

He’s ecstatic, practically vibrating with joy as his teammates storm the court, screaming and cheering and throwing their arms around one another. He doesn’t think about the sweat stains on his jersey, or his limp hair, or his reddened knees from falling on the court earlier in the game. They won, and the simple joy of that fact balloons within him, buoyed further by his teammates' cries and slaps on the back. 

They’d just decided where to have their post-game celebration, players finally breaking off to find their parents, when his mother pulls him aside.

“Hi honey,” and she looks beautiful in her crisp white dress, “let's get you cleaned up.”

And before Steve’s allowed to go to Benny’s with the rest of the team, his mother fixes his hair and wipes down his sweat and makes him presentable. 

She does not mention the game.

——

When Eddie is 10, he’s in his very first play.

He’d auditioned for Peter Pan, but Michael McDonald got the role instead. His drama teacher told him that while talented, Eddie just doesn’t fit as Peter Pan.

Eddie doesn’t understand those words until opening night, when Michael’s on stage next to Mary-as-Wendy, and Eddie realizes that Michael sucks. His lines are flat, he keeps making awkward eye contact with the audience, and he can never find the spot on stage he needs to be. 

Eddie knows he would’ve been better. But, as he waits on the sidelines for his cue, he watches how the audience is hooked on Michael, anyways. Michael, with his golden hair and bright blue eyes and easy smile and the everything Eddie doesn’t have. 

Eddie will never be Peter Pan because he doesn’t look like a Peter Pan.

——

When Steve is 17, Nancy Wheeler calls him bullshit. 

It shouldn’t be such a surprise because of course, of course she wasn’t with him for him. Of course, she thinks it’s bullshit, because Steve is only worth it skin deep, and anything that shallow is, certainly, bullshit. 

——

When Eddie is 17, their band has their first performance at The Hideout. They’d lied about their age to get the gig, but no one had even checked their IDs, so Eddie doesn’t feel that bad about it.

It’s a Tuesday night, so the place is far from packed, but it doesn’t matter. They give it everything they have, Gareth only 14 and tearing up the drums, and Eddie thinks it might be the best night of his life.

After, sweaty and exhausted and exhilarated, they each order a beer and giggle like middle schoolers when they’re actually served. 

Eddie notices her, then, tall and lean with bright red hair- and Eddie normally doesn’t swing that way but this girl is stunning. And he’s still riding that post-concert high, so he approaches her like he’s invincible and tries to chat her up.

It’s a firm rejection. She smiles at him, almost pitying, until her friend rolls up and tells him how awesome they were, on stage.

And it’s like a switch flips. Because the no turns into buy me a drink and suddenly the stunning redhead is interested and has her hand on his arm and her eyes are on his and he should be happy but all he has is a cold pit in the center of his gut. 

Because of course she would only be interested after learning he’s in a band, because no one would want to go home with him, not until they realize he has something to make up for it with.

——

When Steve is 20 and Eddie is 21 they go on their first date. And then several more, after that. And then, one night, naked in bed, they make it official.

Steve is falling. He wants to catch himself but he also doesn’t, wants to stay in the beautiful free fall of falling for Eddie Munson. 

Eddie’s falling, too. He doesn’t have the words for it, yet, that Steve does, but they will come. For now, he knows that he’d do anything to see Steve smile, and if he could crawl inside Steve’s chest and live there for the rest of his life, he probably would. 

It takes a while for it to begin to bother him, but Eddie’s constant compliments are always on his looks. He runs his hands down Steve’s arms and over his back and trails his fingers through his hair because he wants to make it perfectly known to Steve that he’s gorgeous, that he’s breathtaking and mouth watering and how fucking lucky Eddie is. 

(Because Eddie never wants Steve to feel like he did.)

Steve, however, doesn’t want to believe it, but the lingering memories of bullshit is all he can think about when Eddie kisses his cheek and calls him beautiful. Eddie is different, he reminds himself. Eddie loves me, completely. But Nancy had said the same thing, and that had been a lie.

It bubbles up eventually, of course. Hurt festering until it becomes bigger than it really is, deep-seated insecurities creating fault lines only visible to Steve, who wonders, in turn, how it’s possible Eddie doesn’t.

——

“You were so cute!” Eddie croons, pointing delightedly at the young-Steve staring back at them, “look at you, in your little jersey!”

He doesn’t know how the photo album made it to his and Robin’s new place, but here it is, in Eddie’s lap and his boyfriend is pouring over the old photographs.

Eddie turns the page, another delighted giggle escaping his lips as he does. Steve remembers the photo, remembers his mom forcing the starched collar close to his neck and tying the tie too tight. 

Eddie coos again, “look at your little suit!”

He turns the page, oohing and aahing at each photograph, while Steve’s memories resurface of his mother’s fussing hands, combing his hair and fixing his shirt collar and plucking lint from his sleeves until Steve was hyper aware of it all. Until he couldn’t go out without freshly laundered clothes and perfectly styled hair, until he tied his worth to his looks in a knot that Steve feels tightening the more Eddie speaks.

“O-kay,” Steve tries, grabbing for the album, “we don’t need to go any further down memory lane.”

Eddie dodges, leaping off the couch and away from Steve, “oh, we absolutely do, pretty boy, because this is a gold mine.”

He flips the page again, beaming, and turns it so Steve can see.

He’s older in this one, maybe eleven, and it’s certainly at Christmas time. He hadn’t been allowed to open presents in his pajamas because his mother wanted to be able to take photos, so he’s sat in front of the Christmas tree in khakis, his hair combed and parted and it makes Steve’s skin itch just looking at it.

“Look at your little outfit! Your hair!” Eddie says, eyes bright as he flips the album back over to look at it. 

“Yeah, I know,” Steve says, trying very hard to keep the annoyance out of his voice, “we can drop it, Eds.”

Eddie pouts, his bottom lip jutting out, “but Steve,” he whines, and turns the album again, “I can’t say no to this face.”

He points at another photo, Steve doesn’t even look at it. Hurt and anger and annoyance are burning within him, because all the things Eddie’s pointing out is everything Steve hates- and how could that be what Eddie loves?

Eddie goes on, tapping on the photo, his bottom lip still jutted out, “I love this face.”

“Is that all you can ever say?” Steve challenges, voice bordering on a shout, his face already flaming at the outburst. He doesn’t know what does it, this time, out of all the other times Eddie’s tread on similar ground.

Eddie’s face freezes, the ghost of his previous smile still on his face like he’s not quite sure what Steve just said. “What’s that?” He asks, voice still light, an air of uncertainty in his tone.

The fracture in Steve’s resolve splinters further, the fault lines cracking through completely. “That’s all you ever say, Eddie!” And he stands, anxiety and uncertainty catapulting him from the couch, “you love my face and my hair and all of the bullshit things that don’t fucking matter. Because what happens when what I look like isn’t enough for you, anymore? Are you sure you actually fucking love me?”

His chest heaves at the final words. It feels good to get it out, like a thorn’s been finally wrenched from his side.

But Eddie’s face splits. His humor falls away to reveal the shocked and horrified expression underneath, his mouth dropped open and his eyebrows knitted together in concern, tears already shining in his big brown eyes. 

“I-” Eddie gasps out, like the very breath hurts. He tosses the photo album to the side and takes a step closer to Steve.

“Of course, of course I love you, Steve- how- why-” Eddie stutters, shaking his head, “I love you, all of you, if I ever-” he breaks off again, gaze falling upwards as he worries at his bottom lip. 

Steve’s breathing heavily, his outburst of anger now quickly melting into sadness, his shoulders dropping as Eddie continues to stand there.

“Steve, I’m so sorry,” Eddie whispers, voice thick, “I thought I was doing this right- the fact that I made you feel like that…” he trails off, his hands flexing at his sides. “I love you for everything you are.”

And now that it’s all spilled out of him, now that it's hanging in the air around them and Steve can see Eddie’s response- he feels ridiculous.

Of course, Eddie loves him. Steve’s overreacted, let the hurt from his past influence this- them- the best thing that could’ve possibly happened from spring break. 

He should’ve kept his mouth shut. Soaked in Eddie’s words for what they really are and not let his insecurities get in the way. Because now his boyfriend- ever the crier- has tears silently falling down his face as he glances back down to meet Steve’s gaze.

“I’m so sorry,” he repeats, and takes another step towards Steve, reaching for his hand.

Steve meets him halfway, gripping Eddie's hand tightly when they meet. 

Steve shakes his head. “No, Eddie, I’m-”

“If you’re about to apologize,” Eddie interrupts, “don’t, please.”

Steve quiets, and Eddie still has tears falling down his face.

“I love you because of who you are, Steve. You are kind and funny and so fucking smart, you’re the best friend any of us could ever ask for and you’re so selfless it hurts me, sometimes, watching you do more for those kids than half their parents have ever done. You’re loyal and brave and endlessly hardworking, you’re the most thoughtful person I’ve ever met, and you do it all with such ease sweetheart- like you’re not even trying, you’re just so good- through to the very heart of you.” Eddie places a hand over Steve’s chest. “I’m sorry I haven’t said it enough,” he whispers, “but everything you’ve got in here, Stevie, is why I love you.”

Eddie’s eyes are shining, tears caught in those long lashes, clumping them together, and he’s so earnest, because Eddie is nothing if not wholly earnest. 

It makes Steve feel irrational all over again. 

But it feels good to hear. The words settle in his bones until the weight of them find their place, settling his nerves and calming his breaths. 

Eddie loves him. Loves him for all of the things Steve tries so hard to be. Eddie can see it, even if it got the effortless part of it wrong. 

Eddie gives the lightest tug to Steve’s hand and he follows willingly, collapsing into his boyfriend’s embrace without preamble. 

“I’m sorry, baby,” Eddie whispers into his skin again, arms right around his middle, “I love you so much, sweetheart, and now I’m never going to shut up on all the different ways okay?”

“Okay,” Steve agrees, suddenly exhausted.

Eddie pulls them onto the couch. He settles Steve in his lap so his side is pressed to Eddie's chest and he can bury his face in Eddie’s neck.

His boyfriend’s long hair tickles his face, but his skin smells clean and soapy and presses warmly against Steve’s cheek.

Eddie’s hand rubs soothingly up and down his back and Steve melts further, the insecurities that he’d been forcing down for so long finally freed.

“I’m so glad you told me, Stevie,” Eddie whispers. “Please always tell me stuff like that.”

His breaths even now, Steve nods. “Okay.”

——

Eddie keeps his promise.  His hands are still everywhere, all the time. He’ll place a hand on the small of Steve’s back or thrust a leg over his on the couch, but his honeyed words drip praises of you’re my favorite person to spend time with and I love the sound of your voice, until those words sink deeper than bullshit ever did, until the ghosts of starched collars and perfectly combed hair don’t feel so haunting. Until the supportive weight of Eddie’s hand in his goes far past skin deep.

Somewhat of a part 2 here ✨

[fanlore-wiki]

IFD Challenge!

Join us in celebration of International Fanworks Day with our annual week-long challenge, the IFD Fanlore Challenge! From February 10th to the 16th, come celebrate fandom with us by completing fun editing challenges and earning our sparkling gem-themed badges!

Not sure where to start, or new to Fanlore? Don’t worry—our challenges are for newcomers and veteran editors alike. For those who are more experienced or are feeling adventurous, each day also comes with a bonus challenge. Complete either, or both, to earn that day’s badge.

Day 1, February 10th: Challenge: Create a Fanlore account! Bonus: Add some information to your user page! Check out examples from other Fanlore users if you’re stuck for what to write about.

Day 2, February 11th: Challenge: Expand either a stub or a short page. Bonus: Make a page from a redlink, which are listed here in descending number of "what links here" connections. Redlinks are internal links created to pages that don’t exist yet - creating pages from redlinks helps Fanlore grow!

Day 3, February 12th: Challenge: Make an edit to any page related to a book fandom. In October Fanlore will have a book fandom month on our social media. Bonus: Make and edit to any page related to print zines or fanbinding.

Day 4, February 13th: Challenge: Edit any page related to horror or supernatural fandom. Bonus: Make an edit to a page related to creatures of any kind. May will be “Creature Feature” month on our social media.

Day 5, February 14th: Valentine's Day! Challenge: Add to any ship page, such as a het, non-binary, or slash pairing, or a moresome. Bonus: Add to a femslash ship page, or you can always create a new femslash page! During all of February, we're highlighting femslash-related pages on our tumblr, X (Twitter) and BlueSky for our own version of Femslash February.

Day 6, February 15th: Happy International Fanworks Day! Challenge: Add anything to a fan convention page. Bonus: Add an internal link to a convention page, to improve connections between Fanlore pages!

Day 7, February 16th: Challenge: Make at least 10 individual edits this week - just one each day + a couple more! Tell us in the edit "Summary" on your 10th edit. Bonus: Make 20 edits!

Happy editing, and happy IFD week! Feel free to ask us any questions about the challenge - you can also join our Discord server to chat about the challenge and compare notes with other editors!

-----

We value every contribution to our shared fandom history. If you’re new to editing Fanlore or wikis in general, visit our New Visitor Portal to get started or ask us questions here!

[masoena]

WinterNatural is Back!!! 2024 Edition

Hello SPN Family!

@quickreaver and I are bringing WinterNatural back for 2024 with gorgeous art by @aomasade as the event banner and promo pic. Same event as last year; anyone can submit as many prompts as they like either anonymous or not. Anyone can claim to write or art for as many prompts as they wish.

Prompt meme hosted on AO3 Prompt Form || Profile

SPN or SPN RPF

Submit a prompt or 20

Take a prompt to art or write for or 20

All fills should be finished by December 31, 2024 but the collection and event will remain open beyond that.

Easy-going and stress-free prompt meme event.

Reposting prompts that didn't get filled from last year is fine but please do not repost prompts that were filled.

[midostree-art]

Sunburn

[bromcommie]

You can't light up all sides at once. Add a second light and you get a second darkness, it's only fair.

aka more practice sketches ft overlap and richard siken bc I'm fucking predictable

[newwwwprompts]

Bone apple teeth

[wowbright]

Set of Feathers is complete on AO3!

World-famous figure skater Blaine Anderson loses his costume designer just before the Sochi Olympics. When his manager brings in Kurt Hummel as the replacement, Blaine gets more than brilliant costumes. He also gets another chance at love. A story about falling in love as an adult who's been in serious relationships before, interwoven with themes about preserving your voice and humanity when powerful politicians are trying to fuck everyone over. You know, in case any of you can relate.

Link: https://archiveofourown.org/works/5147468/chapters/11849801 Chapters: 28/28 Word Count: 65,254 Fandom: Glee Rating: Explicit Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: Blaine Anderson/Kurt Hummel Characters: Blaine Anderson, Kurt Hummel, Sue Sylvester, Sebastian Smythe, Adam Crawford, plus varied and sundry cameos including Sam Evams, Santana, the McCarthy Twins, Mike Chang, and Becky Jackson Additional Tags: Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics, Kurt Hummel & Sebastian Smythe Friendship, Past Adam Crawford/Kurt Hummel, fluff with minor drama, Heartwarming, character-driven smut, Anti-Vladimir Putin, Gay Rights, Russian Politics (more on AO3, including sex acts you pervs) Art: @esilher made beautiful fanart and it's here!

The collage is just the ebook cover I made for my Calibre library. Feel free to download it for similar purposes. All photos but the Kurt and Blaine ones are from Unsplash.com. I know the K&B photos look a little young for 30, but older photos of the actors are so obviously the actors and not the characters, I can't bring myself to use them. (another version under the cut because I wasn't happy with the resolution I was able to get on the Blaine screenshot above)

[queer-as-tartt]

Happy New Year!

It’s official! The bingo has started! The submission fill form is open! The AO3 collection is open!

Please allow me some time to update the badges/challenges form (I forgot 😂🤦‍♀️) so that I can open that one too!

Happy Creating!

[esilher]

Art: @esilher  Fic: @mynonah Thank you so much @bossymarmalade for the quick beta reading! <3 You can read it on AO3

Andersons’ Bakery Kurt stopped in front of the shop and looked up at the sign above the door. On the black glass, in gold letters, was the name of one of New York's most popular bakeries: Andersons' Bakery. It was a long shot, he knew, and for a moment he wondered if he should go home instead. 

"If you never try, you'll never know." His father's words rang in his ears. He took a deep breath to brace himself and reached for the door handle.

As he stepped through the door, the smell of freshly baked pastries immediately hit his nose. Behind the counter, one of the Anderson brothers was restocking the shelves with freshly baked baguettes. There was a small line, as always, but no one seemed to mind the wait. It was worth it.

"Welcome to Andersons' Bakery. What can I get for you?" The man asked and Kurt realized that it was finally his turn.

"Oh, I... Hi, um. I'm here to apply for the job. I saw that you…”

"You're looking for Blaine," he interrupted Kurt with a smile. "I'll let him know. You can wait over there," he gestured to the other end of the long counter, and by the time Kurt looked back to thank him, he was already gone.

Kurt walked over to where the man had directed him and stopped in front of the pastries. As he studied the assortment, he nervously adjusted his bag. Pies, donuts, biscuits, muffins, croissants - the selection was impressive, but that shouldn't intimidate Kurt. There was nothing here that he hadn't baked a hundred times before. Still, he was nervous.

"Hi, I'm Blaine," a new voice interrupted his thoughts. "You're the one here for the job, right?"

"Yes," Kurt answered, smiling at the man on the other side of the counter. "Kurt Hummel," he added quickly, extending his hand to Blaine.

"Blaine Anderson." The man smiled back as they shook hands. Blaine's mouth opened again, but suddenly he wasn't sure what to say. Beautiful eyes, Blaine thought. But maybe that's not the right place to start. "May I have your resume, please?"

"Oh, sure," Kurt replied, then pulled out the zipper on his shoulder bag and began to rummage through it. "Sorry," he mumbled nervously. "I'll have it in a minute." 

He pulled out some papers one by one, but those weren’t what he was looking for. Some notes from college, some sheet music, a new cheesecake recipe he'd written down two weeks ago, some drawings of how he planned to redecorate his apartment, a few pages torn out of a fashion magazine... more college notes.

"I know I put it in here... It's just…” Kurt glanced up at Blaine, smiling nervously. “Just a minute.”

"Take your time,” the man tried to reassure him.

"No, I mean... it's here somewhere. Where the fuck did all these college notes come from?” He snapped suddenly. “Can you believe I've already graduated? And I'm carrying all this around with me. Fuck. Oh God, I just said fuck," he said, covering his mouth with his free hand. 

"Actually you said it three times," Blaine added, clearly amused by the scene.

Kurt's eyes widened. "I'm so sorry. I don't usually swear, I just... I mean, I do, everybody does, right? But not here. I mean, not like that. Anyway... Sorry, I... I know I put it in here," Kurt said again as he began to frantically flip through a folder.

"Hey, don't worry! Maybe you can just email it to me and then next time…"

"No, no, no…” Kurt shook his head. “It's here somewhere, I swear."

"Okay, then... Maybe in the meantime you could tell me about your work experience...? What bakery did you work at before?"

"Well, it's... it's a little... So I don't really have any experience, at least not the kind you're thinking of. But I love to bake. I've just never worked in a bakery before."

"You've never worked in a bakery before." Blaine repeated in shock and Kurt dumped the entire contents of his bag onto the counter for the third time.

"No," Kurt continued, oblivious to Blaine's dismay. "But I've been baking since I was 6. I started with my mother's recipes. I did it with my mother, of course. I actually have a lot. I mean, recipes, not mothers.” 

Blaine bit his lip to keep from laughing out loud. “Thank you for clearing that up.”

“My family and friends say I bake pretty well. Of course, they love me, so what else would they say..." Kurt suddenly froze. He looked up at Blaine. “God, that sounded awful, didn't it? Shit," he muttered and went back to his bag. Blaine couldn't help but chuckle.

"I FOUND IT!" Kurt exclaimed, clutching a folder as his bag landed on the floor with a thud. He pulled the sheet he was looking for out of the folder and handed it to Blaine with a triumphant grin. Blaine took the paper, his eyes never leaving the man in front of him.

"You're hired," he said.

Kurt's jaw dropped in shock. "What? I mean... really? But you haven't even read my resume."

Blaine looked down at the paper in his hand, his eyes scanning it quickly. "No criminal record, you’re from Ohio too, your family loves your cookies..."

"So do my friends."

"So do your friends." Blaine repeated, looking up at Kurt. "That's more than the last two applicants can say for themselves. You're hired."

Kurt let out a squeal and with a sudden impulse, he leaned over the counter to hug Blaine. Blaine froze for a second by the unexpected reaction, but his arms instinctively tightened around Kurt.

-

"We have a new baker," Blaine called to Cooper as Kurt left the bakery.

"So I heard. You two weren’t exactly discreet." The older brother walked over to Blaine and took the resume out of his hand. His eyebrows furrowed. "You hired an ACTOR?"

"What?" Blaine grabbed the resume back from Cooper and for once actually started to read it.

"You didn't even read it??"

"I'm reading it now."

"Are you crazy? This is a bakery, Blaine."

"Yeah. I noticed that," Blaine mumbled and put the resume down. "Did you see his eyes, Coop?" he asked.

Cooper blinked at him. “I beg your pardon?”

“He has beautiful eyes,” Blaine added, as if that was an acceptable explanation.

"Cool. That's a big help when you're working with dough," his brother replied sarcastically, shaking his head in disbelief.

Blaine sighed. "I'll train him."

"You better, little brother." Cooper said pointedly before heading back to the customers.

His brother turned back to Blaine who was looking at the resume again.

"You don't look like you regret it," he said, smiling fondly at him.

"I don't. He starts tomorrow." Blaine winked at his brother and disappeared into the back of the shop.

[klaineadvent]

Hello Klainers!

Sorry for the late start, but yes there is a

December Klaine Fanworks Challenge!!!

(Brought to you by the @klaineadvent blog.)

Once again, this will be a 21 day challenge! Hopefully giving everyone time to complete the event before other obligations kick in, or time to catch up if you like.

The Dates. December 1 - December 21 

The Words. Every day around 6am, US Eastern Standard Time, a fresh new word will pop out of the queue. This year the words are not alphabetical, and were chosen by a random word generator. We’ve got a pair of wonderful artists this year working up the slides, so say a big thanks to @mynonah and @justasmallbloginabigklainefandom!  They both did AMAZING work on a very last minute schedule! 

Keep in mind that a lot of words have many definitions, and the one listed is only a suggestion. Feel free to incorporate any definition you like. Also - we often get asked if it has to be the exact version of the word listed - and while I’m not the word police and you can do what works for you, isn’t part of the fun making it work? 

How to participate. Anyone can contribute, no need to sign up! There will be a single word prompt post each day for 21 days (December 1-21). You can write a drabble (or a sentence or a novel, if you like), create an art piece, make fresh gifs based on the prompt - whatever inspires you! This year the tag will be: “december klaine challenge 2024” and please tag with the word of the day so volunteers can ID the posts they need to reblog (please please please make sure all of your contributions are tagged so we can find them!). 

Contribute however works best for you. You can do something every day, every 4th day, once a week, altogether at the end, whatever works for you and your schedule. Use all the prompts or pick and choose what speaks to you. Set your own challenges. The only requirements for the Challenge are that it be Klaine centered, and that it references or uses one the word (or theme) prompt in some way.

Volunteers will be reblogging fics to the @todaydreambelieversfic blog, so you can always go scroll the blog to find the latest entries.  Of course everyone (especially the authors!) would be delighted if people reblogged to their own blog - the more people who reblog something the wider the potential viewing audience. We want to encourage everyone to reblog as many fics as they like all throughout the month!!

Partnership. This year again we’ll be partnering with @todaydreambelieversfic.  Authors and other creators for the December Klaine Fanworks Challenge who would like an additional place to promote their works are welcome to join as members. Just send a private message to @todaydreambelieversfic with your email address and they’ll add you to the blog membership.

Archive of Our Own. We have created a collection on AO3 for those people who don’t post to tumblr, and where those folks who do post to tumblr can share their advent works if you like! You can find this collection here!

Want to Volunteer? We can always use people to help with the daily reblogs!  If you can spare one or two days please signup here!! If you are not already a member of the @todaydreambelieversfic blog, just message them with your email and you’ll be added!

“But what if I don’t write or make art and don’t have time to volunteer?”  You are the most important person in the Challenge!! Read the fics, look at the art, let the authors and artists know how much you appreciate their work by reblogging and commenting and liking and all those things creators like. Nothing helps a writer or artist losing steam get motivated more than a nice comment from someone. 

I think that covers everything, so if you have any questions or there’s something that’s not clear, please ask! 

Happy Writing!!

[bemyvalentinechallenge]

LINKS:

challenge rules prompt list tagging system ao3 collection 2024 submissions

TRANSCRIPT:

Dear Lovers, Welcome to the Be My Valentine challenge, 2025! This is a two-week creation challenge with prompts, as well as alternates, to celebrate Valentine's Day and all the love that comes with it! From Feb. 1 - 14, you can create as many (or as few) prompt-based submissions as you like. Tag us with #bemyvalentine2025 or the @, and we'll reblog your work to the blog. Each day has a song, trope, and quote prompt; you can fill them all, or take your pick. If you have any questions, leave us an ask! Happy Creating! - The Mods.

P.S., reblog to support the event + spread word ahead of the challenge in february!

[midostree-art]

This is my piece for the Underworld fanzine hosted by @saintseiya-zone ! thank you so much for hosting and designing this beautiful zine!

[lady-divine-writes]

Klaine one-shot "Series Wrap" (Rated G)

Summary:

After six years of playing husbands on TV, Kurt and Blaine are about to go their separate ways... but neither of them wants to.

Notes:

Written for the December Klaine Fanworks Challenge prompts fixture, challenge, feeling, and belong. (1,712 words)

Read on AO3.

"Can you believe it's been six years?"

Blaine starts small talk as his co-star triple-checks his vanity, ensuring he doesn't leave anything behind. At this point, Blaine is convinced that Kurt is stalling. He'd emptied the drawers completely the first time, opened them till they were practically falling out, grabbed up everything double-fisted (even stuff Blaine knows belongs to the studio), and dropped it into his duffel. The only thing Blaine can see when Kurt opens the drawers this time is a few hairs and some grey lint. Kurt stops and stares at it, and Blaine makes a private bet on whether or not Kurt plans to take that, too.

"I thought it would never end," Kurt mutters, sweeping through the empty space with his hand, then shutting the drawers carefully. He zips up his bag and sets it on the squat stool he has sat on daily since he auditioned for this role.

A role he is leaving behind him, today of all days.

His thirtieth birthday.

A milestone he had been happy to overlook but can't ignore now because of this.

"Harsh." Blaine pouts, but he's only joking. He doesn't take Kurt's grumbling personally. Blaine knows Kurt is dealing with demons he hasn't told Blaine about yet.

Blaine is willing to wait for introductions.

He circles behind Kurt, stopping at the far end of the vanity, and leans against it. That's Blaine's spot. He would stand there while Kurt got his makeup done: shot the shit with him, distracted him, joked with him, ran lines with him. He never pulled up a chair, content to lean his rear against the wood.

Kurt examined it one day when he noticed offhandedly that the color had faded. He smiled when he saw a smooth spot where the pockets of Blaine's jeans had worn down the finish.

"Our audience really seemed to like us, didn't they?"

Blaine smiles. This was Kurt's big worry from day one. Not for himself. He had faith in his acting abilities. More importantly, he knew he couldn't please everyone. He made peace with that. But he wanted to know that he and Blaine were doing their characters justice, portraying people that tadpole gays could look up to and older queers would be proud to count as representation.

"They loved us," Blaine assures him. "Of course, when you consider the fact that there were so few shows on TV featuring a married gay couple, the bar was set kind of low."

Kurt shoots Blaine a sarcastic smirk. "Nice."

"Hey. You guys almost done in there?"

Kurt and Blaine turn toward a voice coming from the rear double doors and spot Tony, the security guard, strolling their way. Kurt bites his lower lip, and Blaine smiles sheepishly. Not half an hour ago, Kurt commented that they had been on the show for so long that they knew Tony back when he had hair.    

"Yeah, Tony," Blaine says. "Just five more minutes?"

Tony responds with a nod and a wave, then retreats out the door. He's not a man of many words, but Blaine was sure he saw the man getting misty-eyed when they arrived.

"I'm heading to DiGazio's for lunch," Blaine says. "Say goodbye to this thing properly. You wanna come? My treat." Blaine bumps Kurt's shoulder lightly with his fist. "I'll get you a slice of cake."

"Sure. That sounds...that sounds great."

Blaine tilts his chin when Kurt sniffs, moving to get a better look at Kurt's eyes. They're clouded, memories piling up, obscuring the here and now. But there's something else there, too, furrowing Kurt's brow and causing his upper lip to twitch slightly. "What's wrong, Kurt? You look close to tears."

Kurt nods, lost in his thoughts, and Blaine feels like he has interrupted a conversation Kurt was having with himself, one that hadn't yet come to a resolution. He takes a breath in and exhales for a long time. "I'm thinking about the future. The challenges ahead. What my life is going to look like."

"And?" Blaine inches closer, curious about Kurt's conclusion, hoping it might help him resolve his own conundrum.

Kurt pins his gaze to his reflection. He looks so forlorn that Blaine isn't sure he'll continue. "What do I do now?"

Blaine feels that question deep in his soul. "Well, you stand up, and you come with me for a bite."

"That's not what I mean."

"I know," Blaine sighs. He doesn't have an answer. He wishes he did. He's struggling with the same problem, asking himself the same thing all morning. He hasn't come up with a satisfactory answer. So he offers Kurt a sympathetic shrug and tells him what he's been telling himself. "You move on, I guess. Your agent told my agent that studios are clamoring for you. You've had three offers already, haven't you?"

"But this show has been my life for so long. I'm not one to hold on to a character with white knuckles, but I finally started to feel like we belonged. I'm not eager to let that feeling go. Does that make sense?"

"It does," Blaine admits. It's one thing performing in mainstream shows. But acting in something considered niche and turning it into a success? That's lightning in a bottle.

"I'm not saying we should drag this show out any longer. We put the Helversons to bed, and I'm content with how it was done, but I'm leaving so much behind. This studio set is more my home than my apartment. Then there's Jeremiah and Caty. Those are our babies! They've been with us since birth! We've held them, fed them, burped them for the past two years, the formidable years of their lives! And then there's...there's you..." Kurt's speech stumbles to a halt. Blaine startles at the sudden change.

"What...what about me?" he asks, concern etched on his face. That concern, Blaine's brows drawn together above the bridge of his nose and his forehead creased with worry, is the only reason Kurt continues.

"I...I don't know how to do anything but be your husband. You have been a fixture in my life. One I fooled myself into believing would be permanent. Because as ridiculous as it sounds, there came a point where I didn't see myself doing anything else for a good chunk of my career. And I was okay with that."

Blaine's response comes out in a whisper. He'd been holding his breath from the moment Kurt said he didn't know how to do anything but be Blaine's husband. "It's not ridiculous. I feel the same."

"Really?"

"Yeah."

They fall silent around those confessions. Blaine's heart beats inside his chest like a clock ticking, reminding him they don't have all day in here. Eventually, Tony will return, and the two of them will have to leave. This moment may not come around for them again. But first, Blaine needs to know if Kurt is saying what Blaine thinks he's saying?

There's only one way to find out.

And though Blaine has always been scared shitless of saying the wrong thing and losing Kurt forever, he jumps in with both feet. "Do you maybe want to try...being my boyfriend?"

Kurt looks at Blaine, confused. Then his eyes brighten, his face awash in relief. "Oh my God! You got the callback? That's fantastic! Why didn't you say so? Because I..."

"What?" Blaine puts up his hands to slow Kurt down. "No!" Kurt goes back to melancholic so quickly it gives Blaine whiplash, and he has to laugh because he knows he's screwing up. He can't seem to help himself. "I mean, yes, I did, but...what I mean is, would you like to be my boyfriend, but for real?"

For six years, their contracts encouraged them to socialize but forbade them to date. Both men were fine with that at the beginning. They hung out between takes to familiarize themselves with one another. They saw themselves becoming good friends but were sure they could maintain a professional relationship.

They never realized that they would get along like a house on fire.

Blaine and Kurt have been there for each other as much as any couple. When Kurt's father had his stroke, Blaine drove Kurt to and from the hospital at all hours, brought him his favorite lunch, made sure he got quiet when needed, and fended off his fans with official statements when Kurt didn't have the spoons to go out in public.

When Blaine needed his appendix removed, he confided in Kurt about his debilitating fear of hospitals. Kurt stayed by his side every second before and after surgery. He held Blaine's hand while he slept, organized his medications, filled out paperwork, and even helped Blaine bathe. They've dined together, vacationed together, gotten drunk together.

They've made it this far.

That's more than a lot of couples can say.

And besides, Blaine really wants to kiss him.

Blaine has kissed Kurt goodbye after every day of shooting, but the studio only cleared them for the chastest pecks in public.

A day hasn't gone by that Blaine hasn't imagined how fantastic kissing Kurt would feel or holding him tight and with abandon.

"How...how do you mean?" Kurt asks, breaking from his stupor.

"I mean you and me, being a couple in the real world. We have been so fortunate, Kurt. We had an opportunity that other people rarely get. We met, became friends, fell in love, got married, adopted children, but in front of an audience. And now that that's done, we can do it all over again if we want, but for us this time."

Kurt nods again, but this time, he looks happier. Resolute. "How very Whatever Dreams May Come of you." He reaches a hand for Blaine's, and Blaine takes it on instinct, the way he has hundreds of times. Blaine tugs tentatively, and Kurt moves closer, sliding into his arms.

"What do you say?" Blaine asks. "We can start with lunch today, then dinner tomorrow, and after that, who knows?"

"I do." Kurt loops his arms around Blaine's neck and rests their foreheads together. There they stand, truly connected for the first time ever after six years of marriage. "With any luck, we live happily ever after for a second time."