#ficwritersweek2017

[shadychef]

Day 2: The Muses 

Readers and Writers: Fanart/ Edits/ Playlists, etc. For this prompt, anything goes. Readers can use their own talents to show their appreciation for the fics they like and writers can share any extra content they have for their stories.

So, unfortunately I don’t have any actual extra content for The Wendigo and The Lionheart without spoiling, but if I were to think of my story as a visual or auditory concept, I think these would be my muses. 

The Wendigo and The Lionheart Playlist

Dream – Imagine Dragons / Mixed Signals – Ruth B. / You’ve Got to Hide Your Love Away - The Beatles / Nightingale – Demi Lovato  / Belladonna - Nox Arcana / Water Under the Bridge- Adele / Bloodsport – Raleigh Ritchie / Teenage Dream – Boyce Avenue / Sugar, You – Oh Honey / In the Hall of the Mountain King (Peer Gynt) – Edvard Grieg / Heaven – PVRIS / In the House – In a Heartbeat – John Murphy / I See the Light – Mandy Moore & Zachary Levi / Born to Be Wild (Epic Trailer Version) – J2 / Hold Me Down – Halsey / Satisfied – Reńee Elise Goldsberry /  No Light, No Light – Florence and the Machine / Living Dolls – Nox Arcana / Arms - Christina Perri / Run Me Out - Zola 

I’m sorry for not adding a site. I couldn’t find a single one that had all the music. 

[shannaraisles]

Day 3 - Small but Mighty

I haven’t been posting for @ficwritersweek, but I can’t let today go by without adding my voice to the recommendations lists!

Pardon the Albatross: The Trials and Penance of Professor Rutherford, PhD, by @puddle--wonderful - a gorgeous exploration of Cullen Rutherford’s progression in a Modern AU setting. A work in progress, and definitely worth a look!

All this shit is even weirder, by @kagetsukai - a Modern Girl In Thedas story, with one of the most fleshed out and relatable OCs I have ever come across. A work in progress, and achingly fun to read!

Hold My Life, by @decadentvoidprincess - another Modern AU setting, in which Alistair and Cullen are in a band. Just starting out, and already making me laugh and relate to the characters; go take a peek!

Dancing In The Moonlight, by @lavellanpls - a genuinely hilarious collection of chapters based around the fact that the Lavellan tarot cards appear to paint Lavellan as someone who much prefers not to be wearing clothes! Intermittently updated, but always funny!

Go check them out, and all the others people are recommending today!

[itslucyluna]

Fic Writers Week 2017 - Day 3

Day 3: Small but Mighty

Writers highlight your new/underrated fics

In accordance to the prompt, let’s talk about my latest one-shot Ursurper (it can be found on both FF.net and AO3). It’s set in an AU world where the gods and goddesses of myth exist and don mortal flesh to live among the people of the world. In it, Blaise Zabini is the son of Aphrodite and the story centers around him and what it’s like to have her for a mother.

Probably a bit out there for most of you, but if it’s piqued your interest, I hope you enjoy it :)

[tsureh]

Fic Writers’ Week 2017 day 3: Small but Mighty

Posting again on the personal blog because I’m answering this prompt as a reader, not a writer. And if there were ever a fic that fit the description of this prompt, it would be Catching Hold by letters_of_stars.

Fic Summary:  It turns out that coming back to life again is much more complicated than Art had imagined. Even with Nice right beside him to help him along. Actually, scratch that. More like *especially* with Nice right beside him to help him along. A post-series fic exploring Art building a new life, complete with coffee, confessions, and maybe saving the world.

Hamatora was a two-season anime from back in 2014 by Lerche, the same studio who did Dangan Rompa and AssClass. If I had to describe it briefly, I would say that Hamatora is [Bungou Stray Dogs meets Psycho Pass]. The MAL page for it is here. It’s a bit of a niche series in the west, especially in the years since its debut, but I absolutely adored it.

Catching Hold is the fix-it fic of my dreams, if I could be so honest. It’s a character study of one of the main characters that develops into a heart-racing mystery, touching on themes like depression, suicide, forgiveness, acceptance, love, and everything else that gets tangled up in a mess of crying and short, gasping breaths when you combine all of those things.

Well, I was crying and short of breath and hurting like hell reading it, at least.

letters_of_stars also analyzes every other main character in the show, delving into their insecurities and tribulations after canon events kind of... left them hanging. It’s a wonderful concept wrapped in awe-inspiring execution, and I honestly accept this fic as the rightful canon ending for Hamatora: The Animation. It’s that good. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve re-read it.

Here’s the link again. Please do yourself a favor and read it.

[raging-violets]

Fic Writer’s Week Day 2: The Muse

I missed Day 1, but here’s Day 2 for the Muse. My new SnowWells (Specifically CaitlinxHR) ‘Snow Angel’ story, third in the series for The Flash. Here’s a mini soundtrack to go along with it. @ficwritersweek

1. All I Want For Christmas Is You - Michael Buble

2. Baby It’s Cold Outside - Michael Buble ft. Idina Menzel

3. An Angel - Declan Galbraith

4. Hark the Herald Angels Sing - Carrie Underwood

5. Snow Angel by Souleye (ft. Alanis Morissette)

[3stirali]

Hi everyone! I just wanted to leave a shout-out to all of the wonderful people who have left comments on avoid. 

You have all given me the confidence to continue writing these shorts, and you have given me a warm welcome to this niche of fandom. Thank you all so much for reading, commenting, and subconsciously encouraging me to leave comments of my own on others’ fics. It really means so much to me, even though I never reply. <3 I hope you all like chapter 5!

[shadychef]

Ficwriters Week - Day 3

Day 3 - Small but Mighty

Writers: Highlight your new/underrated fics - Have a story you’re proud of but that you wish had gotten more attention? Just published a fic and want people to see it? This day is the perfect chance to talk about them!

Readers: Highlight underrated fics/writers - Do you know those fics that you think should’ve gotten more attention, those writers that you think more people should know? Time to bring them to the spotlight!

Young Adult and Up Audience Recs under here:

short and shameless self-promo: 

Title: The Changeling  Fandom: Gotham (TV) Pairing: Selina Kyle / Bruce Wayne Summary: Bruce learns to apologize... Well, sort of. Lots of fluff. Completed. 

Originally, I had wanted to write a connecting piece (The Doppelgänger)  involving Bruce, Selina, and Five and a weird love triangle that no one asked for but then ya know, Five threw Selina outta window so...  

Now onto the real talent: 

Title: Healing 

Author: filzmonster Fandom: A Darker Shade of Magic – V. E. Schwab  Pairing: Kell Maresh / Delilah Bard (Kila) Summary: There’s a wound in Kell’s chest where the magic used to be. Completed. 

Beautifully written, filzmonster gave us the happy Kell we as readers deserved.

Title: How Gotham’s Princess Fell

Author: NanaBeluzzi Fandom: Gotham (TV) (FOX) Pairing: Selina Kyle / Bruce Wayne (BatCat) Rating: Teen and Up Archive Warnings: Graphic Depictions of Violence Summary: Life with money was truly beautiful, Selina Kyle had always thought. She was born into one of the most powerful and rich families of Gotham, and nothing had ever been refused to this pampered girl. On the other hand, Bruce Wayne was born into the streets of Gotham, being forced to steal in order to survive. When these two very different lives collide the very unexpected happens. Work In Progress. 

It is a fast-paced alternate universe fic. NanaBeluzzi has a very crisp style of writing that keeps the story moving at a quick and realistic pace. While the well known characters have been given new and different origins, they are still at their heart the same characters that Gotham has created.

Title: A Cure for Nightmares

Author: PretendThisIsWitty @rhysand-vs-rowan-vs-fanfic @rhysand-vs-rowan Fandom: Throne of Glass Series – Sarah J. Maas Pairing; Manon Blackbeak / Dorian Havilliard (Manorian) Rating: Explicit Warnings: NSFW (Seriously, it is NOT safe for work) It also has some vague A Court of Thornes and Roses spoilers.  Summary: Manon and Dorian get busy in a cabin in the woods (It's a smut fic, we all know you're not here for the plot). Completed. 

Okay, this story is very explicit, but it is so much more than smut fic. The author did an amazing job with these two characters and addressed both Manon and Dorian’s issues. She didn’t gloss over the fact that after everything that each of them has been through that that kind of trauma would follow them around. Dorian and Manon are both a far cry from the flirty little Princeling and the cold merciless Witchling that we were introduced to, and she did a great job of reminding the reader of where they’ve been and who they are now.

[barbex]

Day 5 - Verbatim

For @ficwritersweek. 

Writers: Share your favorite quotes from your fics - There’s always those passages that you’re the most proud of writing. This prompt is so you can proudly showcase them to your readers!

I have one section I’m very proud of that I already shared before, it’s from my recent update to Lyrium Skin (Dragon Age 2, F!Hawke x Fenris)

He gets up and walks over to the open window. The setting sun casts an orange light on his face and he looks older than ever before. "I may just write about romance but I know a few things and trust — there is no substitute for trust. Not even love." A sad smile plays on his lips. "Especially love. Without trust, love will just be a painful reminder of what could have been."

Another section I’m still proud of, even though the fic is quite old by now is from Know Real Fear (Mass Effect, Jack Nought x Jeff Joker Moreau)

The shadow that passed over Samara's face made Jack shiver. There were things hidden in that serene face that scared her to the bone.

Samara took a breath and whispered, "I know regret and sorrow, my child, I do."

She walked away before Jack could ask for an explanation. As she watched the ancient woman walk away, all the grace replaced with a weight pulling her down, Jack wasn't sure if she wanted to know.

I remember thinking that I should write about Samara more. Alas, I never got round to it.

And this last bit is from chapter 50 of Solid Fluidity and I like it because I think it’s really funny. This Shepard is not happy about all this prothean crap floating around in her brain. 

Liara pulled up a schematic on her omni-tool. "I was wondering if we go about this the wrong way. This is a prothean system and we are trying to use it like one of our consoles. But we should try to activate it like a prothean."

"And how? We don't have a prothean at hand," Shepard said.

"We kind of do," Liara said and looked pointedly at Shepard.

"Aww, shit."

And there you have it, my favorite quotes that I could think of, from my writing.

[itslucyluna]

Fic Writer Week 2017 - Day 7

Day 7: Spread the Word

Writers, Self Rec

Let’s see, if I were to recommend any of my own fics, I would go with my next-gen, Dark Lord!Albus Severus story,  Famous Last Words. The twist at the end seems to really work and surprise people as I hoped it would.

[shadychef]

Ficwriters Week - Day 5

Verbatim 

Readers: Share your favorite quotes - You read a fic, and a sentence sticks to your mind for days. A passage has such beautiful imagery that you can almost see it, conveys so many feelings that it makes you cry. Let us know what some of your favorite fic quotes are!

Game of Thrones, Gotham, iCarly fic quotes this way: 

Title: Five Times Arya Stark Shared a Bed with Gendry Author: lit_chick08 Rating: Mature  Warnings: None  Fandom: A Song of Ice and Fire – George R. R. Martin  Pairing: Gendry Waters / Arya Stark  Status: Completed

“Arya blushed, dropping her gaze for a moment before resolutely looking him in the eye. Forcing steel into her voice, she declared, “I will never be a proper lady. I will not wear gowns or call you 'my lord' or put down my sword. And I do not know if I want to have children or if I even want to remain in Westeros when the war is done, so if these aren't terms you can agree to -”

“If those were the traits I was looking for in a wife, I would want to marry Sansa.” Gendry smiled tenderly as he softly brushed a lock of hair from her face. “I know who you are, Arya.”

The tears filled her eyes so quickly, it made the world blur. Arry, Weasel, the Ghost of Harrenhal, Nan, She-wolf, Salty, Cat of the Canals, No one, Beth...She had been so many people in the past six years, shedding her skin like a snake, making sure no one ever knew who she was. To hear Gendry state so matter-of-factly he knew who she was, woke the piece of her heart she swore had hardened the day her father's head rolled down the steps of the Great Sept before a cheering crowd.”

Title: For Gotham Author: Jetshinsei  Rating: K+ Fandom: Gotham TV  Pairing: Bruce Wayne / Selina Kyle (batcat) (Alternate Ages)  Status: Completed. 

“He stares at the spot she’d been, still breathless and somewhat guiltily. For a moment, he considers staying, imagining his life where he’s the CEO of Wayne Enterprises and Cat is his wife and they have a beautiful little girl together with dark hair and bright green eyes. Alfred becomes her grandfather, and they all live happily together in mansion.

But then he imagines the three of them going to the movie as a family and they’re in a back alley afterwards being faced with a hired gun and for the second time he’s too weak to save his family and he remembers that he’d made a promise to himself that he’d never let himself feel that way again. Not even for the girl he loves.” 

Title: You Smell Like Trash Author: BoxWineConfessions Fandom: Voltron: Legendary Defender Pairing: Keith/Pidge, Keith/Shiro (Canon Divergence, Alternate Ages) Rating: Teen and Up Warnings: None  Status: Completed 

“It reminded her of when she used to feed the stray cats in the ally back home. For days or even weeks they’d given her the cold shoulder, hissing at her and never letting her pet them. Then after a while she couldn’t shake them. They’d rub against her ankles as she walked to school, or try to follow her inside the house. Keith was somewhat like a stray cat in that regard. Whatever she’d done, the floodgates were opened, and she was probably going to drown in a sea of painfully awkward, yet well intentioned signs of affection.”

Title: The Nicest Thing Author: xmaybejolesia  Fandom: iCarly  Pairing: Unrequited Sam/Freddie (Seddie) Carly/Freddie (Creddie)  Rating:Teen  Warnings: None. Status: Completed  

 “He comes back to the table with the drinks. 

“Mocha iced latte, my favorite! You’re amazing, you know that right, Freddie.” Carly beams at him, and he smiles back adoringly. You stare at your drink. “Black coffee?” You ask in a dead-panned voice, glaring up at him accusingly. 

He shrugs nonchalantly. “I don’t know. I just picked the first thing on the menu. I mean you’d eat or drink just about anything set in front of you, right?”

The words are like a slap to the face.

“Freddie, that wasn’t very nice-” Carly scold him in that Carly tone of hers, her eyes looking at him disapprovingly.

 “What?” He says defensively, “It’s true…”

But you don’t really notice.

You’re too busy trying not to cry. You can’t believe you’re getting emotional over this. It’s not the worst comment he could make. You’ve made far worse towards him in the past. Still, it doesn’t hurt any less.

But Pucketts don’t cry, especially over stupid stuff like this, so you take your hot black coffee and throw it as his shirt instead.”  

“Their baby boy is the most magnificent thing you’ve ever seen. Carly looks exhausted, but radiant of joy at the same, and you don’t think you have ever seen Freddie so emotional, so moved by anything before this.

The two of you stand outside the incubator room and look inside for a while.

“He is beautiful, isn’t he?” He whispers.

“Yeah, he is.” You admit, captivated by the dark features the little bundle inside the room has inherited from both his parents.

“Can you believe we created that? Carly and me. It’s just mind-boggling.” He breathes out.

You swallow down the feeling of suffocation inside of you. This is supposed to be the happiest moment in their lives, and you won’t ruin that. 

“He really is something Freddie,” you choke out, “Didn’t know you had it in you, but boy did you.”

He winks at you, before going back to grinning at the baby proudly. You feel his fingers grazing yours, and you look up to see him gazing at you with this sincerity and earnestness.

“We’re going to name him Samuel. Sam for short.” He stops abruptly. “And we’d be honored if you’d accept being his godmother.” He says the last bit hesitantly.

“You can’t help laughing a little. “You trust me?”

His eyes glaze over with affection. “Of course we do, Sam. You’re our best friend.”

You nod your head, a signal of accepting the offer, and he beams at you.”

“You’re twenty-five year old and you think no one else will ever be capable of breaking your heart like he does.”

Writers: Share your favorite quotes from your fics - There’s always those passages that you’re the most proud of writing. This prompt is so you can proudly showcase them to your readers! 

I can’t lie. I always feel super uncomfortable doing the writers portion, but I’ve had reviewers mention liking these two so here goes:

Title: The Wendigo and The Lionheart Fandom: Gotham TV Pairing: Selina Kyle / Bruce Wayne Rating: Teen  Warnings: None Status: WIP

Chapter 14: Keep Walking: 

“He had been raised on affection; it had come to him naturally. And some day, days like today, he felt as if he was starving for it.”

 Chapter 17: Dreams 

““What?” she asked, reaching up to flick at his too perfect hair. “I kinda like ya this way. I could do whatever I want to you,” she purred, resisting the urge to run her fingers through the surprisingly soft lock, “and you couldn’t do a damn thing to stop me,” she finished grazing his cheek with her short nails before playfully patting his cheek. He didn’t flinch from her touch, but blinked as if he was trying to stop himself from falling asleep. He swallowed, but this close she could see his eyes darken.

She watched his bottom lip disappear behind his teeth and it was as if someone had dragged a finger down her spine. Taking a deep calming breath, she quickly determined that that was a very dangerous sensation. A little too dangerous. And with nothing but a smile or a glance, this twig of a boy had certainly not earned the right to be dangerous.

Especially, not to her.”

[barbex]

Day 4 -  The Devil’s in the Details

Day 4 of @ficwritersweek! The writing prompt: Highlight details you put into your work - Foreshadowing? External reference? Show off some subtle details you’ve included in your fics that readers might have missed!

Oh I have something for this from Solid Fluidity! 

Fandom: Mass Effect

In Solid Fluidity I wanted to Garrus and Shepard be experienced adults (to ward off all the blushing virgins I kept coming across in other fics), so I added (rather crudely, I was a brandnew babywriter back then) something about Garrus and his sexual experiences: 

He almost had sex with a drell man but after falling unconscious from the hallucinogenic saliva and having to spend a whole day on a bad trip just from a bite to his neck, he decided that he didn’t have a gender barrier but he definitely had a species barrier when it came to drell.

- chapter 3 of [Solid Fluidity].

This is foreshadowing! Oh yes, way back in the beginning, I already had plans for the sequel. Because that drell man? That was Thane! And I have a whole section pre-written in my scrap file for when they meet again in ME2:

The three of them stood frozen, Garrus and Jane staring at the drell and the assassin slowly looking from Jane to Garrus. Jane caught that look and the clamped mandibles on Garrus face and burst out laughing

“Wait a minute, that look transcends species, it means ‘Shit I had sex with this guy and now it’s awkward!’ so how about if we come clean right here and now. I have met this man before under the name Tannor Nuara and, yes, we had a one-night-stand. That was what, six (timeframe?) years ago? So what’s the story with you guys?”

Shepard could hardly stop the gleeful smile spreading on her face.

Garrus groaned and his mandibles clicked against his face.

“Well, we sort of tried to get somewhere but his saliva...”

“Ohh, did you hallucinate? I had some reaction to his saliva that made me see pretty colors everywhere.” Jane smiled at that memory of the brightly pink and green drell she saw glowing under her while they had sex.

“Yeah - it wasn’t like that for me.” Garrus mumbled, “It was like the worst trip ever, I fell unconscious and spend a whole day lying down, reliving nightmares”

The assassin let out a small cough and looked to the floor. “I’m very sorry that the experience was so unpleasant for you, I assure you if I had known of the problems my saliva can cause with turians I never would have initiated...”

“The initiating was pretty mutual if I remember correctly.” Garrus snorted.

Jane raised an eyebrow at that remark from Garrus and he grinned at her.

“I had quite an adventurous phase for a while after our ‘meeting’ in Choras Den.”

“Now aren’t you full of surprises, my armored turian!” Jane said with a smile and a wink. “Let’s go boys, we have stuff to do.”

See? This is from 2012 or beginning of 2013! Look at me, all planning out sequels and stuff, before I even knew what a giant endeavor this fic was going to be. I honestly don’t know if this section will even fit once I get there because that fic has taken a turn to the dark by now.

[itslucyluna]

Fic Writer Week 2017 - Day 6

Day 6: Unsung Heroes

Reader appreciation

To show my appreciation to my readers, here’s a sneak peak of what the next chapter of They Didn’t Know We Were Seeds will hold:

Rookwood balls her hands into fists and looks as if she's using all of her self-control to not charge screaming at him. She then half-turns away from Severus and takes several panting breaths. When done, she hisses, "I knew I shouldn't have trusted that bitch!"

I hope you guys are excited about the next chapter!

[itslucyluna]

Fic Writers Week 2017 - Day 2

Day 2: The Muses

writers can share any extra content they have for their stories. 

It’s been a while since I’ve shared some outtakes/old drafts. So, to celebrate day 2 of Writers Week, I’m going to share with you guys an alternate beginning to They Didn’t Know We Were Seeds where I had Petunia as another time-traveler (obviously, that draft didn’t go far. Mostly because I couldn’t figure out what Petunia would do, seeing as she’d be stuck in the Muggle-World).

‘I’m not dead,’ is his first thought upon waking. His next thought, after opening his eyes and seeing the mold-blackened ceiling of his childhood bedroom, is, ‘What the bloody–?’ He touches his neck. It’s whole, slender – like a child’s throat – and just as smooth. His third, and final thought before the banging at his door starts, is ‘Did any of it happen at all?’

Breakfast with his parents is just as he remembers–

It is as it always is (it was all a dream, you dunderhead!).

Dad blocks out him and Mum with the paper, occasionally grunting in displeasure as he turns the pages, once in awhile, he’ll sigh. It almost sounds happy. Taking a bite of his overcooked porridge, he tries to recall what causes Dad to make that noise (it shouldn’t be this hard, all that happened was a dream, and he ate breakfast just like this with Dad yesterday – even if it doesn’t feel like it). Eventually, he thinks it must be because he’s reading the sports section. Perhaps his favorite footie team won, maybe one of their opponents lost, whatever happened, Severus knows with sudden and overwhelming conviction it is because of sports his Dad is happy. It’s the only thing that truly makes him happy post your-wife-and-son-are-witches reveal.

Turning his head, he looks at his mum. She sits tall in her chair, eyes staring down into the tepid liquid of her untouched tea. His heart pangs. It feels like such a long time since he last saw her. She’d died shortly before he finished his schooling at Hogwarts, in his dream (it was all just a dream… wasn’t it?). Despite all her shortcomings, Severus had loved her – loves her now. He thinks he’ll love her forever. She’s his mum. Finally catching onto his staring, Mum raises her gaze.

“Yes?” she says.

Severus’s eyes flicker to Dad. The man continues to read his paper, entirely oblivious to their presence. Swallowing back a sudden lump in his throat, Severus asks, “May… Can I please be excused?” He’s not entirely sure, because being a child feels like such a long time ago, even though he knows he is one, but he doesn’t think he has the proper manners he had as the man he was in his dream. He should talk like the little Spinner’s End churl he is – at least for now. When he returns – gets – to Hogwarts, he can start talking like somebody of proper breeding rather than like the mutt he is. Until then, there’s no point in pretending he’s anything but what he is.

“Finish your porridge, then you may go,” his Mum replies, making sure to put emphasis on ‘may’. She is of proper breeding, Severus knows. She was once the last heiress of a Pureblood line. She’s also not going to forget it, even if she’s just the dour wife of a Muggle foreman now. Severus frowns. It feels so wrong, to be told to finish his eggs before he can leave the table. He’s not–

He sighs. He is a little boy.

He feels compelled to go to the park. He’s quite sure, dream or not, seeing Lily is going to hurt, but he needs to. It’s been so long (except it really hasn’t). Much as he remembers, it doesn’t take her long to arrive after he does. She’s not alone, of course. Petunia is always at her sister’s side (silently, with the years of distance his dream has given him from the present, he wonders ‘Doesn’t she have any friends of her own to play with?’).  

Severus pushes himself up from the slide he’s been sitting on. He smiles at Lily. “‘Lo,” he greets.

Lily’s eyes are strange. There’s something about them that makes him think of a vase shattered, then pieced back together the Muggle way, rather than the magical way. She smiles back at him, but it’s a too forced to be real. Severus’s chest pangs. He wonders, has she always looked at him like this? Has he just not noticed until now? He hurts (just as expected). He bets she does. He probably just hasn’t noticed until now, because he’s always been so desperate. So needy to have someone he could call a friend (even if they were not a very good friend at all).

Even if this is normal, even if it’s just him who’s been a dunderhead up until now, Severus asks, “Is everything alright, Lily?”

She blinks. “Yes,” she answers, seeming surprised that he noticed her odd behavior. Severus ponders the possibility that he might be the first to have noticed. Surely her parents should have picked up on her brokenness? Oh, but what good had they ever been at such things? If her parents had been any good at picking up on the tiny things, they surely wouldn’t have let Petunia be so cruel to Lily for being what she is. Maybe if they had (would?), Severus thinks, Lily’s son wouldn’t (won’t?) have spent ten years of his life sleeping in a cupboard.

His heart pangs again. He never liked Harry (too much like that damn Potter), in his dreams, but that cupboard bit did make him feel regret for some of his treatment. He had been so sure Harry would end up being a spoiled prat, after being raised by sickeningly doting people like Petunia and her husband…

“I had a dream,” Severus blurts. Then, when his face begins to heat up, because he really shouldn’t have said that – especially so abruptly – he mumbles, “At least, I think it must have been a dream…”

Lily’s features drain of blood. “Last night?” she whispers.

Severus hesitates for a moment. Last night feels like a lifetime ago. But… “I suppose.”

Petunia, beside her sister, snaps, “You suppose?”

He can’t help himself. He bares his teeth.

In response, she crosses her arms and hisses, “Either you did, or you did not!”

“I did, then!” Severus snaps.

Shaking hands grab the ratty hem of his sleeve. He looks to see Lily staring at him with wrought, desperate eyes. Severus frowns. He can’t ever recall Lily looking so scared before. Not even–

“In your dream,” Lily whispered. “Was there– Did you–”

Petunia, makes an irritated noise and slaps Lily’s hand away from Severus. He glares at the older girl. Severus opens his mouth, ready to hurl some insult when he realizes something. Much like Lily, there is something different about Petunia’s eyes. They are icy. “I heard he named a son after you. Can you believe it? A child was named after cad like you.”

He goes stiff. It makes no sense. Is she–? Could she–? “Harry?” he says.

“Who else?”

[itslucyluna]

Fic Writers Week 2017 - Day 1

I know this started yesterday, but I only heard about it this morning as I was taking a browse around on Tumblr…

So without further ado, Day 1: Words Of Validation.

Fic Writers, share some of the comments that stuck with you the most.

I’ve given some thought how to do this. While there are certainly some reviews/comments that have stuck with me (and I’ll be sharing them in a moment), there are some particular reviewers/commenters I’d rather thank first.

Sunsethill on FF.net for her faithfulness as a reviewer of TDKWWS, it’s companion pieces, and sequels from nearly it’s beginning.

Kiger-neko on FF.net, who has not only given some very lovely reviews, but has also created some amazing fanart for TDKWWS.

AntiSocialBookWorm on AO3 who’s very thoughtful and fleshed-out comments on TDKWWS are always a pleasure to receive.

221b_ee, Nyx_Ro, Sue_Clover on AO3 who’s kind comments I look forward to reading when I update TDKWWS. 

And now, some of my favorite reviews/comments :)

Cross-Pollination on FF.net:

i read this earlier and i went through a horrible phase of being SO MAD at james like lmao i was totally on board with james/tuney when i thought snily was gonna be a thing (even tho i don't ship them go figure) but as soon as i realized it WASN'T i felt this unearthly rage overcome me like... i don't even know why. i was just so offended. i related a lot to harry's thoughts on the matter here.

but now i'm totally down for whatever happens in the future... i just can't think about james too long looool...

such a tuney move though, to prefer henry over harry. she would! she really would. you've got such a firm grasp on all of the characters, and i admire your ability to portray young characters realistically in tdkwws - so many people fail to grasp accurate childlike behavior and mannerisms and struggle to convey their age through their dialogue and small actions but you handle it all flawlessly without making anyone lose their core values and what makes them them.

i'm gonna be on the lookout for any guys with brown/blond hair and moms named francine now haha! i gotta figure out who lily's gonna marry! i have a sneaking suspicion that sev's gonna get with clara and that lewis is her and benjy's son, since he dies in canon and lewis has that cleft chin and stocky build your benjy's got... clara's also caught sev's eye in the most recent chap and she's been appearing a lot more recently! she's growing on me, so maybe i'm just looking for clues where there aren't any just cuz i really like her, but... :) here's to hoping!

i'm glad that "all was well" for everyone in both universes, anyway. of course sev would figure out a way to check on the other universe - lily probably desperately needed reassurance harry was okay after all that time. makes me wonder why she didn't come along. it was good for sev, too, i think, to hear that harry thought he did the right thing in the end.

AND HARRY DIED WITH A SMILE ON HIS FACE GOD THAT GOT ME SO GOOD

AAggh i love this i love your writing i love this series i can't wait for more updates to tdkwws!

TDKWWS on FF.net:

And I've finally caught up to the latest chapter! I really enjoy how you're writing this. Even though Lily and Severus start from first year, there are mysteries/plots for each "year." I also appreciate your OCs, they each have their own motivations and personality. What I like most is that even if this is "just another time travel," you are very creative with plot and I'm usually guessing what happens next. I'm curious as to who the Hufflepuff could be.

Also, Gwendolyn Jones reminded me of the canon Gwenog Jones!

Famous Last Words on FF.net:

Ok, first of allMAJOR PLOT TWIST

your interpretation of Albus. S. Potter is ridiculously creative, although, I suppose it’s quite plausible (and also reminding me of some DarkLord! Harry fics)

this thing is quite short but so succinct at revealing years and years of Albus’ storyl honestly can’t fathom how you do it

but your take on this nextgen character (who I often see is the sarcastic Slytherin at Hogwarts, which is also who you made him out to be) and twisting the common interpretation of him is just amazing.

hopefully you write more about ‘controversial’ characters (IMO, like Ron Weasley, Albus Dumbledore, Percy Weasley, Severus Snape, and just a sudden idea, maybe you can expand on Aunt Muriel’s character?) Cheers

TDKWWS on AO3:

Oh boy oh boy oh boy. I did not see Dimitri Prince coming back as the DADA professor. I especially enjoyed the goodbye scene with the Jones children at the Platform 9 3/4. It felt almost like a GIF in a way. I could see the scene very well in my mind from the details given, and it was a languid exploration of a fairly mundane (and HP traditional) scene. Adding the warning by Eileen Snape bothered my curiosity and made me pause, and set the tone for something-not-quite-right during the Sorting Ceremony. Thumbs up! I'm finding that your original characters fit very well into the world of Harry Potter. I think it is because you've explored some of the background characters like Narcissa Malfoy well enough for me to accept them easily. When I see a familiar name be humanized and fleshed out, the work you put into your original characters is more appreciated. I utterly accept Sage as belonging in the time period. Of course, dealing with a non-Harry-Potter time period necessitates some original characters but I felt it necessary to mention how well they fit in to the story. :)

TDKWWS on AO3:

Just spent the last three days or so reading through this story and the two related one shots, and what you did is just amazing.

You know, before this, I was opposed to time-travel HP fix-it fics on principle. I just didn't read them, didn't like the concept and couldn't see how one could work. You managed to prove me wrong with how well-drafted this is, though, and boy am I glad you did it.

I think what I like best about everything is the way you expanded and built upon what little we know about the Marauder era, especially in regard to Slytherin House, giving a taste of the wider world beyond. Your original characters are well-rounded and believable, and the changes you made to the canon ones are very interesting as well (I miss warm and caring Narcissa!). I believe a common pitfall, especially in the HP fandom, is to write off characters who are bigots as a bundle of negative tropes and go from there. It's easy to forget that they can be people like any other, with their own loves, hopes and fears, and not just "the villains". So, I really appreciate what you did, especially with Vesta and Boyd Montague and Demitri Prince. A pureblood who disowned his daughter for marrying a Muggle, on one side, but is horrified by and opposed to Voldemort, on the other... It's this kind of depth that I sometimes think is unfortunately lacking in the original work. So kudos!

I'll be waiting anxiously to see where it'll be taking you next :)

I Wish You Well (No More Bad Blood) on AO3:

He looked at her. His blacks eyes held an inscrutable emotion as he said, "Things are, and never were, black and white."

Lily didn't understand. It frustrated her. She'd gotten used to straightforward people like James, Sirius, and her mates in the Order over this crypticness Severus always liked. Taking back her arm, she flashed a quick smile at the sales associate behind the counter. "I'd like to buy these, please."

This is well stated, and I thought the rest of the story enhanced it artfully.

The Snape/Evans dynamic is one of the most intriguing in the HP universe, and I enjoyed reading your insights on it. Thank you so much for writing and sharing this.

[itslucyluna]

Fic Writers Weeks 2017 - Day 5

Day Five: Verbatim 

Writers share your favorite quotes from your fics

This is my favorite scene from TDKWWS thus far:

Hours later while blandly looking over the many guests at Boyd and Violet's wedding reception, Severus manages to spy Clara among the cliques. He bends over close to Sage and half-shouts into his cousin's ear over the din of the amplified quartet of self-playing string instruments, "I see Clara across the room! I'm going to see if she would care to join us over here."

Sages nods and waves him off while shouting, "Take her a glass of champagne to be polite!"

Severus rolls his eyes, but takes two glasses from one of the many platters a small platoon of house elves are being forced to carry around the room. Sometimes, he has to wonder if his brother realizes just how much like his mother he can sound like. Severus is certain he doesn't. And if he dares to point it out, it's highly possible Sage will be absolutely mortified.

Approaching he can't help but admire Clara in her bridesmaid gown. The lace bodice of her lavender gown hugs her endowed bosom attractively and the slightly deeper purple of her chiffon skirt and sleeves flow freely off her in a way that makes her look like an elfin princess from a Muggle storybook. Severus still thinks a woman with long, thick red hair and an athletic build is the epitome of beauty, but there's no denying Clara looks a vision this evening.

Reaching her, he offers the glass with a small upturn of his lips.

The Parkinson girl grins back with her teeth as she takes the glass. "Thank you," she says.

He only nods as he falls into the space beside her. Together, they watch those dancing come to a pause as the quartet's latest song ends. When the next song is in full swing and the dancers are in the midst of twirling and passing the women along to the nearest male to their right, Severus turns his head to look at Clara. "Have you given any thought to what you're going to do once you graduate Hogwarts?" Severus asks. While to anyone listening in, it will sound as if he's just asking a general, polite question commonly asked by one acquaintance to another, Clara knows the true meaning of the question.

She stares down at the rosy champagne in her glass. "Some. Before Benjy, I fancied Gideon Prewett for the longest time, but he never noticed me like that. I tried to talk to him a few times, but Gideon didn't seem to think very much of me. Perhaps he even thought poorly of me. Not that I'd blame him, Adam was a bit of a bully to the Gryffindors while he was in school and I'm sure that colored his view of me and Parkinsons in general." She circles a manicured finger around the rim of her glass and sighs. "Since our date, I've tried looking at other boys. Ones Father would approve of especially, but…" Clara bites her lip.

"Can't shake him, can you?" Severus replies quietly.

She gives a shake of her head, causing a delicately curled lock of hair to fall from the loose bun her hair is pulled in. "No," whispers Clara. "He has stars in his eyes when he looks at me." A pale pink colors her cheek. "…He makes me feel like a queen."

Severus raises his half-full flute of champagne in the air. "I wish you two all the luck, then."

Clara glances at him and smiles. It trembles as her eyes start to shimmer with unshed tears. Turning her gaze back to the dance-floor where you can just barely spy Violet in her sweeping silver-white gown dancing with Boyd through the crowds of other waltzing witches and wizards, she tells Severus, "I'm so happy I got to be here today. Who could ask for a lovelier last memory of your sister than one of her dancing with her husband on her wedding day? She looks so beautiful." The Parkinson woman discreetly swipes her thumb over the corners of her eyes. "I'm going to miss Violet most of all. She's been more than just my sister, but my best friend as well."

Severus nods and turns his gaze to the happy couple as well. He sympathizes so very deeply with Clara, the situation she's found herself in is just dreadful, but he has no words to offer that won't come off as shallow platitudes. Instead, Severus dares to grab her free-hand for all of a second and give it a strong squeeze. Out of the corner of his eye, Severus sees the Parkinson woman still. Then, Clara's chin quivers briefly before her jaw goes taut and all emotion flees her face leaving behind a blank, if pleasant-to-look-at mask.

– TDKWWS, Ch. 54

I don’t think the writing is particularly pretty here, but it gets me when I read it because this is the last time Clara will see her sister so happy, the last time she’ll be a part of a family event. This is Clara’s last night as a beloved daughter and a Parkinson, honestly. When she goes back to Hogwarts at the end of Christmas Holidays, she will start her new life as Benjy Fenwick’s girlfriend and will be all but disowned by her family.

[itslucyluna]

Fic Writers Week 2017 - Day 4

Day Four: Devil’s in the Details

Writer, highlight details you put into your work

In TDKWWS, as Severus’s opinions/feelings on characters change, so does how he refers to them. The change usually happens over the course of chapters, but it happens all at once in this scene from Ch. 4 with Sirius:

"Pukwudgie!"

In the next breath, Severus is falling to his knees on the other side of the Fat Lady's portrait. He runs a shaking hand through his hair and thinks, 'That was too close.'

"How'd you get in here?"

Severus looks up from his spot on the floor to see Black staring at him over the back of an armchair. "It's rather obvious, wouldn't you say?"

The corners of the mutt's mouth turn downward. "Does Evans have no house loyalty at all?"

He snorts. "Friendship drives one to do many questionable things."

"Yeah, what's with that, anyway? You're so… and She's…" he trails off while making a complex set of motions with his hands and fingers. Severus only blinks. He has no interest in trying to decipher any of that.

He gets to his feet and considers just leaving. In the end, Severus decides against it. Yaxley and the goons he rounded up to hunt for Severus are probably still prowling nearby, looking for him. "She was the first witch my age I met," he says. That's the truth, too. After that, she became his first true friend and all the little differences between them hadn't seemed to matter – until they did, anyhow.

"So, uh, why are you here?" Black asks after a moment of quiet.

He looks sharply at the boy. "You can't guess?" he snaps.

"I was being polite! Merlin, who raised you? A Mug–" Black slaps a hand over his mouth, obviously horrified by what he was about to say.

Baring his teeth, Severus approaches. "Yes, I was raised by a Muggle," he hisses. "But that has nothing to do with my behavior toward you." Pushing up against the soft structure of the armchair, he tells Black, "I don't bother with manners because I do not respect you. You are a spoiled prick who wants to pretend he's above Pureblood sensibilities, but, really, you're just like the rest! You look down on anyone who doesn't meet your personal standards and treat them like complete rubbish!"

Black's pupils dilate. Then, before Severus can step out of the way, Black leaps over the back of the chair and takes him to the ground. Severus gives as good as he gets. Eventually, the two wear themselves out and end up sprawled out side by side, panting and bleeding.

"I think you chipped one of my teeth," Sirius complains.

Severus turns his head. "Yes, well, you knocked out one of mine." And to prove it, he opens his mouth wide, showing the boy the empty spot where an upper incisor should be.

Sirius winces at the sight. "We should go to see Madam Pomfrey, shouldn't we?"

Severus scoffs. "And get a detention? I think not." Sitting up, he says, "Just come with me to my dorm. Just about everything can be fixed with a few salves and potions. I've got a small store in my trunk."

"Uh, no. Your housemates will murder me the moment I step into your common room."

Severus glares at Sirius. "If they aren't still hunting for me, I'm sure they've gone back to the library to study for their NEWTs and OWLs." He looks pointedly around the empty Gryffindor common room. "That's where all of your upper years are, aren't they?"

"Or in their dorm rooms," Sirius replies.

He nods. "Not that different, are we?"

The boy barks an abrupt laugh. "No!"

As can be seen above, Severus goes from thinking of Sirius rather disdainfully to more amicably by the end when he begins to refer to him by his first name rather than his surname.