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mitskicodedwukong · 4 months ago

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🍭 SWEET TOOTH 🍭 || Macaque x Reader

» sweet tooth (cavetown) « 0:45 ─〇───── 4:07

╔⏤⏤⏤⏤╝🍑╚⏤⏤⏤⏤╗ AUTHOR'S NOTE ╚⏤⏤⏤⏤╗🍑╔⏤⏤⏤╝ ➤ This is reposted from my old account, @nothyenlowz :3 ➤ This is a oneshot. ➤ This is romantic. ➤ Reader uses she/her and is a cat demon, so she has cat-like features/behaviors! ➤ Described the clothes but tried to keep it simple/vague so ppl could add more details if they'd like! ➤ I wrote this quite a while ago and I think I picked foods sort of randomly (I looked up dinner foods I think lol) so if you're reading this and you're like wtf is this dinner... I'm so sorry </3 ➤ I kinda lost the plot a few times I think,, and I got super into the shadow story,, hope this is good!! Also sorry if I switched tenses at some point, it happens rip. Also also if the kiss scene is bad I'm so sorry, I'm awkward asf LMAO. ➤ TRIGGER WARNINGS include use of "name" (couldn't avoid it, sorry </3), profanity, a little bit of angst, referenced toxicity, and referenced murder. ➤ Word count: 3,451

───── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ─────

❝ A sweet tooth for you, I'm wide awake .❞

Your tail vibrates excitedly as the timer goes off, alerting you that the mango pudding is done chilling. Grinning widely, you almost run to your fridge, throwing open the door and crouching to pull the cooled dessert out. You take a deep whiff as you wander back to the counter, shutting the fridge door with a bump of your hip. It smells heavenly, and an experimental shake of the pan leads you to believe the sweet treat has successfully set.

You set down the pudding and turn to the dishes, rinsing them in the sink and leaving them in the basin to be properly washed later. As you scratch a particularly stubborn splash of dried pudding from the whisk, you look over at your oven, squinting to read the numbers displayed.

5:47.

"Ah, shit," you hiss under your breath, finishing up with the whisk and nearly tossing it into the basin.

I'm going to be late! you fret as you pull off your apron, throwing it upon the counter as you rush to your bedroom to pull on your outfit: a simple white turtleneck over a soft long-sleeve and high-waisted pants, complemented with long socks and short, buckled heels. Once you finish with your outfit and additional accessories, you grab a basket on your way out of your room and quickly fill it with cutlery, cubed mangoes, sugar, and of course, the pudding.

You pause for a second, ears flicking about as you try to make sure you haven't forgotten anything. Your time is cut short as another alarm sings out on your phone.

You squeak, shoving your phone into your pocket and spinning on your heel as you race out of your home, narrowly keeping the basket from slapping against your side.

──────────────

You're fairly certain the only reason Macaque doesn't snap at you slamming the dojo doors is because he heard you coming.

He's curled up on his couch, a hefty book in his lap—probably about something medicinal or historical if you had to guess. Your eyes flicker to his face, scowling as you see his signature smirk, golden-brown eyes scanning your hunched-over figure in amusement.

"Look what the cat dragged in," purrs the demon.

"You—hah—think you're soooo funny," you grit out, shuffling to the couch with a glare.

"When aren't I?" Macaque asks.

The monkey slaps his tail across your face before you can recite the "a" portion of your alphabetized list.

"How come you're so late today?" he teases. "Normally you're here before I am."

You roll your eyes and give a half-hearted bite to the demon's tail, barely grazing the fur, but he pulls it away with a narrowed gaze anyway. You give him a dramatically sweet face, fluttering your lashes as you set your basket on the table.

You make a lazy gesture at it. "I made something for us."

"Oh?" Macaque asks, cocking an eyebrow. "How romantic, starlight."

For a split second, you consider letting your embarrassment at the implication get to you. But then you decide if Macaque wants to be a little evil, you may as well join him.

"Only the best for you, moonflower," you coo back, revelling in the way the black-furred monkey's face heats up around his spiked mask. You immediately laugh at his blush, far more elated at your ability to fluster the stoic demon than you think is normal, adoring the way his ears wiggle as though trying to hide his face.

"Laugh it up, kitty," he grumbles, reaching out for the basket.

You lunge forward and smack his hand before his claw tips so much as brush the handles. "Nu-uh! That's for after dinner, loser."

Macaque frowns and squints at you, shaking his hand and blowing on it dramatically. "What are you, five?"

"Out of five~!" You sing-song, scooping up the basket as you jump to your feet. "Now get cooking, Macaroni."

──────────────

When Macaque announces the food's almost done, you decide to raid his wardrobe for pajamas.

You zoom up the stairs before he can say a word, but to your surprise, he doesn't make so much as a sigh as your thundering footsteps fade into his room.

It's weird. Normally Macaque always whines about you snagging his clothes, complaining about the pastry stains or endless amounts of cat hair that ends up on them—which is a small price to pay when you're constantly making him yummy treats!—but tonight he's oddly quiet.

Come to think of it... he's been acting off for a while.

You noticed it last month. Your time spent with the monkey had turned more... hm, physical. He seemed to have a sudden interest in training, teaching you how to make certain foods, dancing, even cuddling, interestingly enough. And amongst his standard sarcasm and snark, he was complimenting you a lot more, too. You'd even started finding little trinkets around your house! So unless someone else with a penchant for purple aesthetics was breaking into your house to leave you jewelry and pretty flowers, it had to be Macaque.

But simultaneously, Macaque seemed to be... distancing himself. A canceled plan here and there, an excuse to leave the room every now and then, a strange new sense of secrecy within the demon, as though he was guarding something from you—like he was afraid of you coming too close all over again.

It was so confusing. If you allowed yourself to consider the possibility that the demon had fallen for you of all people, what were you supposed to make of his behavior? That he found the notion of liking you silly, or maybe he hated it, and he was torn between making a game of it or completely pushing you away?

The thought strikes you right in the chest, your bottom lip falling victim to your sharp teeth.

Just recently you'd come to terms with just how much you really like the monkey—how much you love the sound of his voice and the way he drags you into trouble and his devotedness to you as a friend. It'd been an catastrophic realization, really, one that left you tossing and turning in bed and damn near ripping your fur out.

How could you be blamed? Macaque was hardened like stone in the aftermath of his past, making him closed-off and apathetic; a "lone wolf" in spite of his nature. It'd taken so, so much time and patience to get to where you two were now, laughing and poking fun at each other in his dojo, his safe space.

The last thing you want is to lose everything because your silly heart loves tragedies.

"Starlight!" Macaque's sharp call comes from downstairs, making you jump. "The hell are you doing? I said dinner's done!"

"Ack—I'm coming, just a minute!"

You quickly throw on a loose shirt and shorts, struggling a bit with the hole for your tail before finally settling the limb and bounding out of the room. Immediately, an aroma of deliciousness hits your nose. You almost stumble down the stairs due to the distraction, righting yourself with an embarrassed flush (boy, are you glad Macaque didn't see that) and carefully making your way into the kitchen.

Your eyes widen at what you see. A large bowl of chǎofàn sits at the table, neighbored by a plate of tángcù lǐjǐ and another of xiǎolóngbāo. The scent is divine, and you would call the meal a gift from Buddha if it weren't for the smirking demon leaning against the counter.

"Like what you see?" he asks cockily, tail sweeping against the ground in a lazy sway.

"No way you just made all of this!" you exclaim, grinning.

"Maybe I'm just that good," replies the black-furred monkey with a wink, fetching two plates and some silverware out of various cupboards and drawers.

"Not that good," you snort, grabbing your basket from the fridge. "Come on, what's the trick this time, moonflower?"

The demon falls strangely silent at your question. You raise an eyebrow at his back, waiting for a response. Finally, in an uncharacteristically small voice, Macaque says, "I've been preparing."

There's more to it. There's definitely more to it, but you'll be merciful and not push any further.

You set the basket down on the floor and take the plate held out to you, happily filling it up before moving to your seat. Macaque joins you on the opposite side, silent save for the short scraping sound of silverware against glass. The uncomfortable silence threatens to spoil your appetite, and you spend a few quiet minutes praying that the demon across from you will say something.

"Is it good?"

Thank Buddha, you think, immediately put at ease to hear his voice.

"Duh," you say, swallowing another forkful of delicious food. "Your cooking is some of the best I've ever had."

"Oh really?" Macaque leans forward on his elbows, hands laced under his chin, and you feel your face warm ever-so-slightly. "Then where do I rank, starlight?"

"Top ten at least," you tease, reaching for more chǎofàn. Macaque unlaces a hand to pick up the bowl and pass it to you.

"At least," he chuckles. "Well, eat up. I have a play to put on."

"A play?" You repeat, cheeks round with rice.

Macaque nods. "Yes." Quickly, he adds, "for you."

You very nearly make a quip about the romance of dinner and a show, but seeing his tail tense and thud against the floor makes you reconsider.

Instead, you smile. "I'll be there."

The monkey snorts. "Where else would you be?" Then, "if you stand me up for rice and chicken, I'll never make it again."

You fake an angry grumble. "Don't you have to go prepare, smart guy?"

He blinks. Once. Twice.

"Oh," he says, simply at first. Then his eyes widen. "Oh, yes! I have to—there are things I have to—I'm going now." Macaque cuts his rambling short and just barely avoids sprinting out of the kitchen like his tail is on fire.

"Don't—" you cringe at the sound of something falling, followed by a quiet yelp. "—hurt yourself on the way out..."

──────────────

You sit amongst soft blankets and pillows, tails curled around your knees as you wait for the play to start. The light of Macaque's lantern bathes the dojo in a violet hue, shadows dancing with the sway of it as Macaque gets into position. The monkey's innate shadow powers and connection to the artifact make it easy to manipulate it and the dark for his purposes, so part of you is confused that Macaque settles himself so far away from you. You reason that maybe the demon's just feeling extra dramatic for this story.

Or maybe this is it, you think.

You don't know what that means—your stomach twists all the same.

"Welcome viewer, to a shadow play the likes of which have never been seen."

You smile at the signature opening line, a soft purr rumbling in your throat as you listen closely, ears perked in Macaque's direction.

"Here we follow another tale about the tragic Warrior." Macaque's voice reverberates around you, and you watch as a simplified silhouette of hi—ahem, "the Warrior" manifests from the shadows. "Though this story is unlike the others—for instead of our Warrior bearing yet another arduous chapter of life, perhaps he has found his happy end.

"Everyone knows the tale of how the Sun came to betray the Moon. But what very few have to come to learn is that it was the Moon that brought on such a tragedy. You see, many centuries ago, the Moon could only see their dark side—blemished, indecipherable, and lacking in light. So often the moon thought of their dark side and wept, believing that if it was all they saw, it was all anyone could see. And then the Moon realized something. They were the Sun's only companion, their only friend, so surely, surely, the Sun would give their light to them.

"And at first, the Sun did everything they could to show the Moon just how bright they could be. The Sun taught the Moon everything they knew, and the Moon took that knowledge and taught it to others, becoming a beloved warrior. And when the Moon became the Warrior, they changed the Sun into a Hero—a well-shaped, perfect vessel of holiness and goodness.

"The Sun allowed this because they loved the Warrior, so they locked themselves within the Hero. And while the Warrior loved the Hero very much, they were so blinded by love for their light that they didn't see what they were doing to their beloved Sun.

"Years passed and the Warrior had taken almost every bit of sunlight. Only their heart and a small sliver remained, which the Sun branded on to the Hero's golden cudgel and hid beneath stone so the Warrior could not find it. This angered the Warrior, who still could not see what they'd done to the Sun, for they were so hidden within the Hero. He said, "my Hero! Why do you hide your light from me? Is it not mine, too? Have I not helped you shine?"

"The Hero replied, "I hide nothing from you, my Warrior, certainly not our light. I simply have no more to give you."

"The Warrior was displeased, and this displeasure, coupled with the dimming Sun, poisoned their light until nothing remained but a thin halo around the two of them.

"This terrified the Warrior—to see that they were so close to becoming the Moon again, so close to being consumed by their dark side, that they demanded the Hero give them their heart. Only this time, the Hero refused.

""You are not a hero," spat the Warrior. "And you are no longer a warrior," whispered the Hero. The Warrior was very angry, so they attempted to swallow the Sun itself. They peeled away the Hero's stone body to reveal the blazing heart beneath, fully intent to rob them of every last bit of light they had, even if it meant they'd never shine again.

"The Sun broke free of the Hero's perfect body, and, using the light on the golden cudgel, banished the Warrior to a place of no light. No stars. No song. Only darkness.

"A place where the Moon could no longer hide."

While you've never heard the story portrayed this way, you find it heartbreakingly easy to tell he's talking about his death and descent into Diyu. You fiddle with your hands, pressing on the paw pads as you stare, watching the Warrior turn into wisps as a glowing mass of shadows (the Sun?) form into a tendril and strikes them.

It's almost too much to watch, your brain caught up in what preceded Macaque's death. Is this why he's been so nervous? It would make sense—this version of the tale makes him vulnerable to say the least, and it's oozing with painful, regretful honesty. The truth has never been easy for him, so you can't imagine the strength it's taking him to preform this.

The scene changes, shifting in a quick montage.

"For centuries, the Moon rotted in their anger and sorrow. So angry were they that they allowed themselves to be hung from strings like a simple puppet, used as a weapon to harm undeserving victims."

Flashes of burned and otherwise destroyed villages wrap around the dojo, all with a chained Macaque hovering above, eyes burning. The last image you recognize as the Monkie Kid and his group. A shadowy tendril wraps around the kid's limbs, attached to him in a similar way to Macaque's chains. Your stomach twists.

"Even when the Moon finally relinquished their fury and reconciled with the Sun, they still could not find it in them to shine. They'd ruined the Warrior many years ago, and they still couldn't believe the Moon would be any good.

"...or so they thought. One day, the Moon came across a maiden. She was gentle and wild; unapologetic, unwavering, and bold. She was a mountain who stood unblinking before the weight of the Moon's darkness.

"The Moon thought they were doomed to break her, as they so often did to strong things. But then the Maiden produced a mooncake from her robes, split it in half, and said, "Would you share this treat with me, pretty Moon?""

A feminine silhouette appears before the Warrior, dressed in a flowing hanfu and flowers. Most interestingly, the Maiden has tufted ears and a long, fluffy tail just like—

Your face erupts in a shocked blush as understanding dawns on you.

The first time you met Macaque, you'd been out selling mooncakes. It'd been a good day, and by the end you had a single treat left, which you fully intended to scarf down while watching the sun set. But then you'd seen him, leaning against a bridge and watching the reflection of the sun in the river, and he just looked so sad, you thought a mooncake would add a little brightness to his face.

A pity cake it might have been, but you think it was one of the best pity cakes you've ever dolled out.

"The Moon took the Maiden's gift. Together, the two ate at their cakes until they were naught but crumbs and the sun had long set. Before they parted, the Maiden smiled at the Moon.

"And the Moon glowed.

"The Moon glowed so bright that moonlight showed through the craters in their skin, that the stars came down to twinkle in their fur and the sweetest dreams whispered in their ears. For once, the Moon was something shining, something bright, and at last they understood: they had needed someone to glow for, not because of.

"For weeks, the Moon and the Maiden continued to meet. The Moon continued to glow, feeling more and more like the great warrior they once were. But what is a warrior without a home to return to?

The shadows merge into a single ball, gliding towards you and settling before you. The ball reforms, revealing Macaque kneeling in front of you, your hands held gently in his. But what really catches your eye is his glamour—or lack thereof. His six ears, the reason for his namesake, unfurl from his head like flower petals, glowing with shades of blue, pink, and purple that illuminate both of your faces. His fur lengths, shaggy and a little rough-looking; a white halo of fur surrounds his face, shimmering in the soft light.

His eye, blind though it may be, is milky and spotted like the bright side of the moon and you can't help but think it's the most gorgeous thing you've ever seen.

"And now to discover how this story ends," he says softly.

"Macaque—" you begin, only to fall silent when he squeezes your hands.

"I know I'm not a hero," Macaque says. "I think I might always be a little... bad—a trickster, a bit of a thief, a bully every now and then; a shadow of something good. But you make me feel... real. Like I can be something more, something people can love without getting hurt, and I haven't felt that in a long, long time, starlight."

You blink, feeling something wet tease the corner of your eyes. Your heart thumps in your chest, tail unfurling from your knees and reaching out. Macaque meets it halfway and they curl around each other like ribbons.

"I love you," Macaque whispers. Louder, he says it again, and you shiver when he says your name. "I love you, and if you'll have me, I'll be yours for as long as you want me."

Your mouth feels dry, your body nearly numb with—what, shock? Excitement? Happiness? Exhaustion because you're feeling all the things?

Probably.

But still, your heart swells at the confession and your hands slip from his to cradle his face and you say, "I love you too, Macaque."

Macaque grins, eyes shining wetly. His hands go to your cheeks, thumbs brushing under your eyes. His ears flap against your hands for a second, and then he whispers, "can I kiss you?"

Your heart nearly explodes. But you give nothing away as you utter a soft, "yes."

You're not quite sure what to expect when his lips meet yours. Fireworks, or maybe like a puzzle piece is shifting into place. You think you can safely say you feel neither, but you do feel both of your growing smiles, until you're pulling away to laugh and Macaque follows suit.

When your giggles die down, you pet the demon's ears again. "You wanna have dessert now?"

The black-furred monkey huffs, leaning into your touch. "In a minute," he murmurs, and then he's bringing you back to his lips.

❝ I like you—say it back .❞

#hyenlowz #[ 🃏 ]#mitskicodedwukong #[ 🍑 ]#blurbs #[ 🍸 ]#lego monkie kid #lego monkie kid x reader #monkie kid #lmk #lmk x reader #lmk liu er mihou #lmk macaque #lmk macaque x reader

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vossprime · 2 months ago

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20 Questions: Writing Edition

Tagged by the Inquisition herself ( @inquisitornocturn ), thank you, this looks so fun!

How many works do you have on ao3?

23!

What’s your total ao3 word count?

102,210

What are your top five fics by kudos?

Mechanical; Medicinal (Rogue Trader)

Absolute / Obedience (BG3)

Systematical; Sacrificial (Rogue Trader)

I don't know where to put my hands (Metro 2033)

Blood in the Water (WH40K)

What fandoms do you write for?

WH40K, broadly speaking.

Do you respond to comments? Why or why not?

Yes! I try to respond to all of them simply because they spark an endless well of joy in me and most often inspire me to say something in return. Also whenever I comment I love replies as well, so I try to keep that going.

What’s the fic you wrote with the angstiest ending?

Once I fucking sit down and continue Blackwater Days you will all see-

From my recent ones, on the principle of want (RT, Achilleas x Heinrix) comes to mind. Not for the plot, necessarily, which is more sorrowful than angsty, but the last line:

For a moment Heinrix wants to kiss him awake, kiss him goodbye. The Interrogator breathes once, twice, then turns on his heel and leaves the room.

It was a deliberate choice to contrast Heinrix with his title here, that was my special little treat to myself. I gain another health bar anytime someone points it out.

What’s the fic you wrote with the happiest ending?

Ironic, given the title, but Bellicose Hearts (Horus Heresy). It was written as a gift and a challenge for @mortallyperfecttimemachine and the theme was humor and fluff, so it ended on a nice note. A photo together. The remembrancers are happy. Keeler is there. Karkasy is alive. Isstvan is far away.

Do you get hate on fics?

Not directly! My comments are locked to registered accounts only, that seems to dissuade the obvious bots and trolls. Always fond of the ask I got that was just a "👎" tho.

Do you write smut?

In theory yes, in practice I have been told my smut is just character studies in disguise. My most popular fics stay the ones that were exclusively written with my [redacted] though.

Do you write crossovers?

Not really - most often they don't hold any appeal for me.

Have you ever had a fic stolen?

Nope!

Have you ever had a fic translated?

Nope!

Have you ever cowritten a fic before?

No, but I'm already being vagued /j - SOON.

What’s your all time favourite ship?

You're asking someone who has a brain like a sieve and triple-wields ships until polyamory is the only sensible solution :D

What’s the wip you want to finish but doubt you ever will?

None. I plan to see everything through. If it takes 10 years, it takes 10 years. Farseer grindset.

What are your writing strengths?

Prose, poetry, evocative imagery.

What are your writing weaknesses?

Dialogue. Who came up with this. Is it not enough to communicate through 4-6 intricately crafted metaphors and call it a day? Hell world.

Thoughts on writing dialogue in another language in a fic?

Provided I am writing in English, I provide translation in the footnotes and try not to have it drag on for too long. I do enjoy some language variety in fic, though. Dirty Talk in another language? Elite. Sadly I come from the language the absolute least suited for writing this.

First fandom you wrote for?

The first one I published for was Metro 2033, the book. The first one I wrote was for a mobile game called The Arcana. Don't judge me, a bitch saw tarot themes and a pointy-toothed nonbinary vivisection freak and decided he just might. A true freak from day one - you can tell why I like Tervantias.

Favourite fic you’ve ever written?

I'm going to level with you. It will always be the last one. I grow and evolve with each piece and whatever I have last put out will be my pride and joy at that very moment. However, Blackwater Days (which I still plan to bring past chapter 1, it's just sitting in my drafts all disjointed and none of like 5 chapters empty but none ready either) will always be close to my heart for how much planning, fantasizing and worldbuilding happened around it. Those three hour discussions with my roommate on military strategy are sacred.

Tagging: Let me gather my irl squad for a second: @definitely-not-iorveth @mortallyperfecttimemachine , @goofgoofdildo , @ineadhyn , I'd be really interested to hear if you feel like it!

#[voss transmission]#tag game

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locke-esque-monster · 8 months ago

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I finished Umbrella Academy last night. The further I got into the season the messier the writing seemed to get. I've seen a few things pointed out already: like Lila totally wore bracelets before, why did Luther go chimp again, Five said Lila wasn't his type etc.. Here's a list I was compiling while I watched of things that didn't sit right or made no goddamn sense. It is by no means exhaustive (meaning that it's definitely not every issue, but definitely exhausting to write).

The whole reason Ben was killed was because he touched Jennifer. But Luther and Victor both touch "The Cleanse" during the department store scene. Luther gets stuck, but all it takes is Victor & Lila to get them out. Victor is pushed away by Ben just before he's shot. Were they both also infected and it didn't have time to stick? Or did the writers truly forget this was a plot point partway into the finale?

Quinn came in on the second meeting with Klaus's client Loretta saying "that was fast". They didn't call for him. They didn't give any indication they were done or that he should interrupt. So for all he knows, he should be walking in on them having sex. So is this poor writing in that they put in a statement that makes zero sense? Or poor writing in that they were watching Klaus "work" with surveillance camera and they just never explained that? (Which for the record that's even more screwed up.)

Speaking of which, did we just forget that Klaus has real issues with consent of his body (see season 2) and locked in small spaces with the dead (see season 1)? Or do the writers just not care and played it for laughs?

So we're down 4 episodes, but we're going to introduce 2 love triangles no one asked for (Sy, Jean, and Gene and Diego, Lila, Five)? Cool, that seems like a smart use of time.

After all the trouble Five has gone through, he's suddenly cool with changing the original timeline? Like no notes, no calculations - just down to mess things up by letting Ben live? Who are you Five? (The only calculations we saw from Five this season were a notebook he found another Five wrote - blasphemy.)

So Five is just going to conveniently find a notebook with a way out and we're never going to explain that?

Lila and Five spend 6 1/2 years searching for a way home, but Five's sad Lila picked Diego and he immediately stumbles into a Deli straight off an exit with all the Fives? And somehow that's not something he or Lila ever found?

Do the writers know how being buried alive works? Because first Klaus opened the coffin easily and then managed to accidentally fall in it and get it so stuck he couldn't get it open again. Incredibly implausible. But then wouldn't he run out of air eventually? Seems like he should have in the half a day he was in there. And I can't imagine the lighter would have been good for that situation (I'm not an expert, but any gas release, does it use air, etc.)

So Lila's family is cool with them missing for days? Claire too? I saw little to no attempt to check in, until it was convenient for the plot for Claire to say Klaus upset her when Allison calls. And multiple days seem to pass, but other than Klaus in his coffin and Ben in the hotel, there's no explanation where they slept, or that they really should be in contact with their families. And at least 2 nights pass for Ben (fight at the barn, hotel).

Ben kind of just turns into OG timeline! Ben around Jennifer. There's no explanation for his change in personality, even just that he was lonely without his family. But other than some vague "I can't stop thinking of her" there's no explanation of why they're so connected and Ben had a personality re-write. It gives us "magic made us fall in love" vibes.

I'm fully convinced that the elevator fight with Luther is a call back to CA:WS but TUA did not have either the money or the motivation to choreograph and film the fight scene, so they just waved their hands and said "close enough".

So we're just not going to explain how Five, who ostensibly is physically about 19 per canon, joined the CIA? And on top of that Five, arguably the sharpest, most paranoid character who took down the Commission in a single day in season 1, never checked into his boss or got suspicious about the CIA?

It's a 13 hour drive, but Klaus just magically got back to town on his own after ditching his family and it's never addressed? We've neither seen him drive and he doesn't seem to have a job to pay for a ride home, so I'm at a loss here. Admittedly, I'm not entirely clear how Allison got back to confront Klaus, unless she rode with Diego and Luther before their CIA trip? Though they also seems to have walked back from the CIA so I'm not sure how they got there either?

Okay, so I'll admit that Ben wouldn't necessarily know Reginald shot him. And I'm guessing Reginald wiped their memories quickly. And Ben's bullet would is less obvious in the back of the head. But you're telling me in the 15-ish years of hanging out together as each others' primary companion (12 in original timeline, 3 in the 60s), Klaus never made a dig about Ben's death? Ben never said something and Klaus repeated that weird statement from Reginald? Neither of them said anything weird about it the other one questioned? I swear that's why Klaus was written a whole separate plot with being kidnapped, so he specifically wasn't around for that scene to question or react to it. Also I'm pissed that it's very likely Klaus never knew how Ben died before he also died.

So after multiple episodes of (completely awful) jokes about Diego getting fat, you're going to actually make the character shirtless for no reason and him look exactly as he did before. I just...really?

Claire makes a comment when Allison first returns like "Why are you saving someone whose immortal?" Like what? First, okay let's assume Claire heard this about Klaus at some point (weird, but not impossible). Allison has been back for 5 minutes from the mission where Klaus got his powers back. Klaus didn't tell her. Allison didn't tell her on the phone call we saw or when she walked in. There is exactly zero reason Claire should have this information again.

Claire and Allison interrogate Quinn and all he tells them is pet cemetery. I'm concerned they don't know it's a dog or the dog's name, but I let it slide. Maybe they'll look for freshly dug holes. They're looking and they hear a dog bark to get them closer and they're like "OMG Thunderbolt". Like they're relieved they found the correct dog's grave when they have not actually been told that name before.

I'm not even going to unpack the mess that is Lila and Five here. Going to have to be a separate post.

(I will add that I'm not contesting the ending being on 8/8/24 when it should be 2025/2026 because if they've reset the timeline, the ending can really be whenever they feel like it. So I guess 1 point in the writers favor to the dozen and a half points I listed against them.)

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dragonflight203 · 2 months ago

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Since I managed to find a copy of it cheap, I read All-Star Batman and Robin despite my misgivings about Frank Miller’s more recent works.

Surprisingly, it’s much better than I had expected. There a good story buried beneath some… extreme characterizations.

Comic

Title: All-Star Batman and Robin Vol 1

Author: Frank Miller

Artist: Jim Lee

Year: 2005-2008

Overall Opinion

Much, much better than I had expected after The Dark Knight Strikes Again. Miller was clearly in a better place by the time he wrote this – it’s coherent, there are consistent themes, and Miller clearly had an end goal he was working to.

That said, it’s reputation is earned. Batman is… erratic throughout it and other characters are similarly ‘off’. While I believe some of this is intentional on Miller’s part, it’s no less disorienting to read. And some of the off putting moments were definitely in earnest by Miller.

Ultimately, I’m disappointed the run ended early; I’d have like to have seen how Miller concluded the story. I think the characters would have been more in line with what readers expect by the end.

I can’t recommend this as good Batman and Robin story, but it’s worth a read to understand the references to it. It’s not nearly as bad as people say.

Art

The art is fantastic throughout, as I would expect of Jim Lee. There are some excellent full page panels.

The stand out is the multi-page folded spread of the bat cave in issue in issue 4. It conveys the vastness of Batman’s operation very well.

General

-Apparently, there are 10 issues but only 9 are included in the trade.

An interesting choice, as issue 9 is a reasonable place to end the trade. Issue 10 is supposedly a cliffhanger.

-One thing I appreciate about Miller is that his stories always have prominent women. This one is no exception – Vicki Vale, Black Canary, Wonder Woman, and Barbara Gordon all have roles.

-The sexualization of the women is excessive. Vicki’s introduction scene is her walking around in her underwear with a panel solely consisting of her butt. That was not necessary.

Black Canary’s… everything is sexualized, but I’m more willing to give her a pass as that’s apparently her normal costume and being sexualized is her breaking point.

-The digressions with Black Canary and Batgirl seem out of place, but I assume Miller would have woven them into the main narrative if he had been able to finish the run.

Miller was clearly building to a bat family consisting of Batman, Robin, Black Canary, Batgirl, and Alfred. An end to the loneliness Dick notices early in the story.

-A theme is the contrast between how the powerful view Batman vs the common man.

Wonder Woman, Superman, Green Lantern – they’re wary of Batman because he breaks the rules and does what he feels is right. He draws negative attention and may bring the authorities down on them.

However, he inspires the human Black Canary and Bagirl for those very same reasons. He’s a regular person that’s taken a stand, status quo be damned.

-The timeline is vague. I’d guess it’d taken place over two to three days. However, near the end Bruce says Dick’s been with him for weeks.

Plot

-The story starts on a sour note for me, with Vicki walking around in her underwear. The panels emphasize her body. That’s usually a bad sign for how a story will go.

-Dick’s parents are shot. Quite a different take – normally their equipment is sabotaged so they fall.

-Bruce just bails on his date with Vicki to become Batman and pursue the murderer. I’d expect Vicki to be pissed, but nothing comes of this.

-Vicki is very protective of Dick and insists on pursuing the cops to see what they do with him.

I’m impressed with how proactive and insistent she is.

-I disagree with Miller that Dick’s parents would have told him that cops are nice.

From what I understand, cops are normally distrustful of transients like circus people; Dick’s parents most likely would have at least warned him to be wary of them.

-It’s not clear how Vicki was hurt. Did Batman hit her and Alfred’s car when he drove in?

-From the start, Batman doesn’t treat Dick like a child but a new recruit. That’s their main source of tension – Dick is a child but Batman keeps expecting him to behave like an adult.

Batman’s first words to Dick: “On your feet, soldier. You’ve just been drafted. Into a war.”

-And here is one Batman’s most iconic lines, in response to Dick asking why he keeps giving Dick orders after kidnapping him: “What, are you dense? Are you retarded or something? Who the hell do you think I am? I’m the goddamn Batman.”

Not surprising people normally leave out the first few sentences of that meme.

-Bruce’s internal dialogue is telling. His goal is to prevent Dick from grieving, because if Dick grieves he can’t become what Batman needs him to be – a continual walking wound, like Bruce.

Batman: “If I don’t keep the PRESSURE up, he’ll find time GRIEVE. I can’t let him GRIEVE. GRIEF is the ENEMY. There’s no TIME for GRIEF. There’s no ROOM for GRIEF. GRIEF turns into ACCEPTANCE. FORGIVENESS. Grief forgives what can NEVER be forgiven. NEVER.”

-Dick is completely unimpressed by Batman throughout his entire kidnapping. He notes Batman is faking his voice, lonely, and gets choked up at times when he talks.

-There is no way that Dick’s photo would already be on a milk carton.

-It strains credibility that Bruce already had his eye on Dick to recruit him; would he really be looking at a 12-year-old as a potential ally?

At least that explains why he was at the circus that night.

-This is where Bruce’s behavior gets bizarre. Why does he just leave Dick in the bat cave by himself? Why does he expect him to eat rats? How is he expecting this to train Dick or make him an ally?

At least Alfred’s reasonable enough and provides him with food.

-It’s interesting to see a take on the Justice League where Batman isn’t one of the founders.

They’re actually very critical of him, with good reason. He’s a cape that doesn’t give a damn about pr; they’re correct that will reflect poorly on all of them.

-Batman just cannot stop being shitty to Dick. First he tells Dick to get a mask and a costume while providing no guidance on how to do so, then he immediately insults the costume Dick puts together.

-Batman’s right that the capes are criminals. No one gave them the authority to fight crime; they took that upon themselves.

At best they’re vigilantes, and in most places those are illegal. They’re generally tolerated because of the good they do, but ‘tolerated’ is not the same as ‘legal’.

-Bruce admits at the end that he fucked up in how he’s trained and handled Dick so far. He’s rushed it.

At the very end, he takes Dick to his parents graves to grieve – an admission that his policy at the start to prevent Dick from grieving was wrong.

Good note to end on, and nicely brings the story full circle.

Batman: “We mourn lives lost. Including our own.”

Characters

-Alfred is repeatedly referred to by the narration as Bruce Wayne’s personal aide. Another clever way to update him to more modern times.

He does refer to himself as Bruce’s butler. Perhaps he was the Wayne’s butler originally but is Bruce’s personal aide in the present?

-Alfred’s language for Bruce is weird. Poetic, but poetry for the sake of poetry – these lines don’t read as authentically Alfred to me.

Alfred: “How many a day – how many hundreds, THOUSANDS, a time – day or night, did my black-eyed angel come home from his frolics in the WOOD – BLOOD streaming his smiling, fearless face?”

…

“And now my DEMON – my black-eyed, brilliant, willful ANGEL – has grown to MANHOOD.”

-Batman’s weird throughout this story, but it’s self-aware of it.

Dick observes it, Alfred and Black Canary call him out on it, and the Justice League is after him to tone it down before he gets them all in trouble.

Bruce’s own internal dialogue frequently questions his own actions and acknowledges he doesn’t have his shit together.

So while Bruce gets a lot of shit for his actions in this story, I don’t think it’s fair to say that Miller was unaware – Miller might disagree with the extent, but Bruce’s shittiness is intentional.

-That said, Batman’s also extremely violent throughout the entire comic and that’s praised.

He’s not just pragmatic, he’s sadistic – he says not to call an ambulance because he wants them to suffer. At one point he sets people on fire.

Pretty sure this is Miller projecting his anger about his various muggings.

-Wonder Woman’s behavior is… extreme. I’m not familiar with her character, but would she really call anyone a ‘sperm bank’?

-The behavior of Superman, Green Lantern, and Plastic Man are all clearly earlier versions of who they will be later on in The Dark Knight Strikes Again.

I’m skeptical of Wonder Woman, but I suppose she could have had a change of heart over the decades.

#dc #dc comic reviews #all-star batman and robin #batman #bruce wayne #dick grayson

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twstbookclub · 1 year ago

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Inked Blossoms

Summary: Jamil didn't think much of you when he received a flower basket. You were his new neighbor running a flower shop—nothing more, nothing less. So, why can't he stop coming by after visiting you once? POV: 2nd Person Pronouns: Gender-neutral Admin/Writer: Cressa🦋 Tags: Tattoo Artist x Florist AU, Tattoo Artist!Jamil, Florist!Reader, Fluff, Romance, Angst, No happy ending, sorry folks, Mentions of Blood and Self-harm, Use of Flower Language, Jamil's POV Word Count: 4, 025 Main Reference for Flower Meanings: Boeckmann, C. (2023, November 17). What does each flower symbolize? The Old Farmer's Almanac.

And I thought the Riddle fic I wrote is my longest one 💀 I actually had this plot in mind in the same month as I thought of the Riddle fic, which was back in April of last year. I only put in one link here, but I fact-checked every flower I used in this fic with other sources. Admittedly, when I wrote this, I received some heartbreaking news that morning and I cried my eyes out. I may or may not have projected those feelings into this and incorporated my previous experiences here. To all the Jamil stans, I'm so sorry that my first fic of this guy is long and angsty. I hope you all enjoy, though 💕

Jamil stared at the flowers on his parlor’s doorstep. Pink peonies and coral roses filled the twine basket, along with a purple flower that he didn’t know the name of. The arrangement emphasized the purple flowers, while there were a few peonies mixed in with the roses. What piqued Jamil’s curiosity were the leaves that lined the edges of the basket. He squinted, subconsciously leaning down to peer at the blooms at his feet.

“... Is that basil?” He mumbled, confused about the inclusion of a familiar herb. It was something he often used in his cooking, particularly when he was roommates with Kalim back in high school. That boy’s palate was too refined for anything bland and ready-made, so Jamil always had to cook with spices and herbs. It came to the point that the smell stuck to his clothes, even after a thorough wash in the laundry. Not just his clothes—even his hair. He already had a meticulous process with his hair care and bejeweled braids, so it was a nuisance.

He shook his head, before he took the flower basket in his hands. The blooms jostled a little, and a gentle hand pushed a peony back in place. Something nagged at Jamil to look to the left, for some reason. When he turned his head, the sign of the shop next door caught his attention.

“A flower shop, huh.” That was new. Jamil vaguely remembered this lot being sold recently, but he never thought it’d be turned into a store like that. It used to be an antique store owned by an elderly woman. She minded her own business, despite the weird and judgmental looks he received for the henna tattoos that decorated Jamil’s tan hands and arms.

Jamil’s eyes darted from the cursive letters of the sign to the flowers and plants displayed behind the glass walls. The name of the shop was painted on one of the walls in gold—above some of the artful arrangements of red roses, white carnations, and calla lilies. There was a shift of color behind them, and he narrowed his eyes again for a better look.

Someone was tending to the flowers. He could vaguely make out the color of their hair and the verdant apron over a white polo shirt. With the large bouquets in the way, Jamil couldn’t see a face. Sighing and shaking his head, he walked into his tattoo parlor with the flower basket in his arms.

If all his time in the city taught him anything, it was that nothing in this world was free.

Still, Jamil couldn’t help but wonder what the purple flowers were. They reminded him of tulips, but the petals were thinner and pointed at the tips. The stamen was visible, too. It was a stark contrast to the blooming tulips he knew: blunt-tipped and oval petals without the stamen being visible. He made a mental note to search about them once he went home.

Jamil found out that the purple blooms were called crocuses, and he wound up finding a website detailing the meanings of every flower imaginable. The flowers replaced the lamp that used to be on the table next to his bed. Every morning, he’d wake up to the colorful arrangement in a vase with his mind stuck on the meaning of each flower.

Maybe he should see what the florist was like. If they were like the antique shop owner from before, then Jamil would just remain polite and ignore them whenever he could.

On a slow and quiet day in the parlor, Jamil flipped the sign and locked the door. He shoved the key in his pocket, while his eyes drifted to the flower displays and bouquets through the glass walls. A blur of white and green moved behind them, but he still couldn’t put a face to the florist.

Jamil would have to see if he was curious enough to put a name to that face, too.

A chime echoed in the store once he stepped inside, and an onslaught of fragrance hit him. He noted that it wasn’t as powerful as the smell of spices, ones that he can taste from the scent alone. Still, it was strong enough to leave him a little lightheaded.

“Ah, welcome!” A voice rang through the back, behind an open door that led to what Jamil assumed was a small greenhouse. Sacks of fertilizer and clay pots filled with flowers peeked out of the metal shelves. The sight was obscured by a green apron, stitched with the same cursive letters of the store sign.

Charcoal gray eyes met lively, cheerful ones. The gloved hands that gripped the door frame were smeared with soil, maybe even fertilizer. Dirt smudged your cheek, but his gaze drifted to your lips. Your smile—too bright to be natural—was difficult to look away from. Something churned in his chest the longer he looked at it.

“Oh,” you mumbled, which made Jamil look back into your eyes again, “you’re my next-door neighbor. Hi! I hope you like the flowers. I’m, uh…”

A sheepish chuckle left your lips, making Jamil’s heart lurch. He resisted the urge to scowl at the feeling. He just met you, and he’d rather not make a bad impression. The tattoo artist came to your store to meet you like a proper neighbor, not to antagonize you.

“I came by to say hi, and you weren’t there. I had to get the shop ready and all, so I decided to leave the basket and hope that it stays there—” You sighed, took off one of your gloves, and ran a hand through your hair— “and I’m rambling. Sorry about that.”

Jamil watched you, anxious and fidgety, and he suppressed a smile. There was something amusing about how you acted like a mouse: squeaking and retreating at any sign of danger. Although, he highly doubted that you saw him as a threat.

You were just… shy. You talked a lot, but you were shy.

“It’s fine,” Jamil raised a hand and smiled, practiced and polite, “and I appreciate the flowers. Thank you. It’s a beautiful arrangement—you have a way with bringing out their natural beauty.”

He probably laid it on too thick. It was a habit at this point: butter up people to ease them, to let their guard down. Jamil merely planned to meet this florist to satisfy his curiosity. He never considered the option of befriending this person, much less engaging in a long conversation with you.

Your face lit up, as if something dawned on you in that moment. Chuckling, you stretched out the hand without the glove and gave him your name. It was followed with a cheerful, “It’s nice to meet you! I hope we can get along, um…”

“Jamil,” he shook your hand with that same, practiced smile, “Jamil Viper. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

He noticed your eyes dart towards his hand and arm, inked with the traditional motifs and patterns of his homeland. Under the sunlight that streamed through the glass, your eyes seemed to sparkle. Your mouth parted in a silent, “Oh.”

“That’s so pretty,” you blurted out and continued to stare at the henna tattoos. Jamil simply watched you with wide eyes, but the surprise disappeared in that same instant. Your voice, loud and happy, filled the silence of the room.

“The amount of detail here is amazing, and—Oh, there’s even more tiny patterns inside another pattern. That’s so cool!”

Even though this much praise usually annoyed Jamil (it reminded him too much of Kalim), he found himself flustered. A faint warmth spread across his cheeks as he watched you marvel at the tattoos. You raised a hand, probably to trace the design with a finger, when you paused.

Your smile was frozen on your face, as if you caught yourself doing something embarrassing. Your own cheeks flushed in shame, before you pulled away with a nervous giggle. Jamil almost laughed at how ridiculous you looked at the moment.

He ignored the small voice in the back of his mind that called you cute.

It was supposed to be a one-time encounter. Jamil only visited your flower shop to see the person who opened a new business next to his tattoo parlor. He wanted to see whether this new neighbor of his was going to be tolerable or otherwise. One meeting was enough to deem you tolerable; someone that Jamil could politely wave to if you two happened to pass by each other.

So, why was he looking at a bouquet of irises and white jasmines right now? Why was he standing in your store on a Sunday morning?

“You’ve been coming a lot here lately.” Your voice rang from the back, much like how Jamil first met you. He looked over his shoulder to see you admiring the other flowers with a small smile.

“I don’t mind, really, and it’s nice to have you here. I just didn’t expect you to come here almost every day,” you clarified with a chuckle as you approached him. The telltale flush of your cheeks already told Jamil about how embarrassed you were to confess that. He watched you caress one of the petals of a hydrangea with a gentle look.

For a weekend, it was surprisingly quiet here. People flocked to your store during its first week, and Jamil observed all this in the comfort of his parlor. The window provided a clear view of what was going on, so he didn’t need to go outside. You became frazzled in a matter of moments—running around and arranging the flowers yourself—and that amused Jamil. Just a bit.

Still, you smiled throughout that hectic week.

Me neither, Jamil wanted to say. Instead, he answered, “It’s another slow day in my shop, so I decided to visit. I suppose it’s become a habit whenever I have nothing else to do.”

You chuckled, and Jamil pretended his heart didn’t skip a beat. He ignored the twitch of his lips, curling into a small smile. Oblivious to the look the tattoo artist gave you, you continued to admire the flowers.

“That’s fine with me. Besides, I like your company.”

Your shameless honesty was going to be the death of Jamil. The tips of his ears grew warm, and he tugged his hood over them. He already concluded that you were a thoughtful and considerate person after spending some time with you. You prepared tea and cookies, ones you yourself baked, every time he visited. Careful hands arranged the flowers by meaning and color, which already said enough about you. Being a florist sounded just right for someone like you.

Jamil briefly wondered what flowers you’d give him if you wanted to give him a bouquet.

He cleared his throat, mimicking a cough, before he shifted his attention to the irises and jasmines again. Ever since he searched the meanings of the flowers in that basket, he couldn’t help but be curious.

“Can you tell me what these mean in flower language?” He asked, glancing at you from behind his hood. Whether you found this action odd or not, you didn’t comment on it.

With a curious hum, you leaned over to look at what Jamil referred to and smiled wider. You replied, “Ah, irises can mean wisdom, faith, trust, valor, and hope. As for white jasmines…”

You raised an eyebrow at Jamil with a mischievous grin. He didn’t dare entertain the thought that you were being adorable from the action alone. He didn’t dare hope that the gesture actually meant something.

“They can mean sweet love, and the person who receives them is seen as friendly and pleasant.” You paused, before you suddenly left Jamil’s side and reached for the adjacent wall of flowers. Before Jamil could say anything, you already extended a white bloom under his nose.

Wide-eyed and bewildered, he stared at the flower in your hand. It somewhat resembled a rose in full bloom, but the petals were shaped differently. Another amused laugh echoed in the room. You took his hand, inked with intricate patterns that crawled his skin like vines, and placed the flower in it.

Jamil realized that it was a gardenia. This species of flora grew in some part of the botanical garden of his high school. He was only familiar with it because he used to pass by the area to relax, preferably alone.

“I think this suits you, though.” You hummed and returned to the counter with a spin of your heel. Jamil watched you wordlessly as you disappeared into the greenhouse. From where he stood, the tattoo artist saw pink and white camellias peeking through one of the shelves. He nearly jumped when your head popped out of the door frame.

“Oh, and can you help me carry some of these pots around? They’re pretty heavy, thanks!”

It was only until Jamil got home that he searched for the meaning of the gardenia. The bright laptop screen glared at him as he entered the keywords in the search bar. He clicked on the first result and—

Jamil stared at the words with darkening cheeks. His mouth became dry, and his tongue was tied into knots. His hand slammed the monitor shut, before he abruptly stood up and left for the kitchen. He needed some water. He needed to not think too much into things. You were going to be the death of him, Jamil swore to that.

Still, the words were already seared into his memory: you’re lovely.

Jamil found himself visiting you whenever he could. You always asked for his help whenever heavy labor was involved. If it was anyone else, he would’ve felt annoyed. With you, it was just an excuse for Jamil to stay longer.

Fleeting touches, subtle glances, and shy smiles—it was like your own language. Not a single word was exchanged, yet it felt like you said more than Jamil could comprehend. He didn’t miss the moments when your hands lingered too long over his. He would be a fool not to notice that a cookie jar and a box of teabags sat on the counter each time he visited.

For the past year, you’d give him a single flower every day without fail. One time, after the usual tea, it was a morning glory. Another time, when you were particularly homesick and Jamil stayed to chat, you gave him a hydrangea. When he visited your house and took care of you when you became sick, you gave him a yellow lily the next day. He always brought them home, but it came to the point that a mishmash of flowers in a vase brought color and life to his workspace. It sat under the window, where it bathed under a patch of sunlight. He even considered buying another vase due to the sheer amount.

You gave him all kinds of flowers, but he’d never forget the first gardenia he received from you.

“That looks out of place,” one customer pointed out while Jamil prepared the needle. He already knew what he was talking about, but the tattoo artist still followed his line of sight. A soft smile stretched from one ear to the other, and he didn’t bother hiding it.

Without looking away from the flowers, he answered, “They’re gifts from a friend. It’s the only place I can think of where they can be cared for.”

He ignored the sly, knowing grin on the customer’s face. Suppressing the urge to roll his eyes, Jamil gestured towards the chair and continued to prepare everything he needed for this job.

One sunny day, your storefront was crowded more than usual. Jamil paid no mind to the crowd as he pulled his hood over his head. Inked hands grabbed a bundle of flowers, tied with twine, from the table. They were placed far from the vases that decorated the parlor; just to avoid confusion. His eyes fell on the gardenia he drew on the back of his hand. Jamil added that some time ago, maybe around the past month. Still, it made him smile.

Jamil locked the door, then he instinctively looked at the flower shop. His heart stuttered at the sight of the flowers amongst the crowd. The vibrant and lively blossoms were like a splash of color against the dull tones of the city. What used to be gray pavement and monochrome buildings seemed to come to life with just a few flowers.

He blinked his surprise away, before he gripped the bouquet in his hands. The thrum of his heart and the sweat on his palms weren’t something foreign to Jamil. He always felt like this at the thought of you, even Kalim noticed the change in his friend when he visited once. Your smile flashed in his mind, and his own lips curled into a small one. His feet led him to where he knew you were.

Past the flower shop; past the crowd that lingered at the storefront; past the fresh flowers that gathered against the glass walls. Jamil’s feet grew heavier with each step, as if lead hit the concrete and left faint cracks behind. He stepped through the iron-wrought gates with a soft exhale. His grip on the flowers tightened. He considered going back to the tattoo parlor.

In the end, he thought he’d regret it if he backed out now. Blades of grass grazed his sneakers as he walked through rows of stones. Names were etched into each one, a reminder of who they were to the loved ones left behind. Charcoal gray eyes looked straight ahead. He didn’t bother looking at any of them.

It had been a year since that day, but he still remembered where you were.

Grass crunched under his feet as he stopped in front of an unassuming headstone. Engraved in the stone was your name—funny how he never knew your surname until the funeral. You never told him when you introduced yourself, and he didn’t pry. He even imagined you with his surname at some point, but…

Jamil swallowed the lump in his throat. He crouched on one knee and laid the bundle of flowers on your grave. The tattoo artist made the effort of arranging the colorful blooms in a way that you would. At least, how he remembered that you would.

He stood with his hands in his pockets, and he stared at your gravestone with that same lump in his throat. A sigh rang in the empty cemetery. A cool breeze carried the hustle and bustle of the city. The laugh that used to plague Jamil’s everyday life here was missing. It was gone for months now, but he could still hear it clearly in his head.

“Hey,” Jamil mumbled, clenching his hands into fists, “it’s been a while. I’m sorry I only visited today. It… took me some time to come to terms with what happened. Regardless, you deserved an earlier visit.”

No answer, Of course, there was no answer. You’ve been dead for quite some time now. That was an understatement, considering that a year has already passed.

Jamil’s stomach churned, and an insufferable heat filled his chest. His eyes stung. His nails pierced into the skin of his palms. The lump in his throat seemed to grow bigger, and he found it hard to breathe. Memories of your smile, your laugh, and the time he spent with you and your flowers overlapped in his mind.

He dug his heels into the dirt as he gritted his teeth. The sting behind his eyes grew worse. It was hard to breathe, and he found it harder to speak. He somehow forced the words out with a broken heart, pieces scattered along the ashes of what was left of you.

“You idiot,” Jamil choked out as his vision blurred with tears, “you could’ve called me to help you. How was I supposed to know you were still sick? How was I supposed to know you needed to carry that ridiculously huge flower display across the street? How was I supposed to know that car would lose control and—”

Jamil looked up to the sky with a clenched jaw, teeth clacking and shaking his skull from the force. He wanted to scream. He wanted to curse whatever deity existed in this world. He wanted to forget how you looked, pale and bleeding on the street, that day. He wanted to erase that memory of you until his heart bled out and his voice croaked its last scream.

“—they haven’t found the driver. Everyone who knew you petitioned to keep the shop in your memory. Someone else took over, too. You don’t have to worry about your flowers anymore.”

Since that day, whenever Jamil looked at the ink that adorned his hands and arms, all he remembered was your loud voice and bright smile. Your praise and astonishment echoed in his head like a broken record player. He couldn’t count the amount of times he tried to scrub them clean from his skin. If that didn’t work, he scratched at them until he bled and the patterns were hidden under that shade of red.

In hindsight, Jamil thought that was idiotic of him. Love turned anyone into idiots, anyway.

Sighing, Jamil forced the tears back and looked down at your gravestone. If he tried hard enough, he could imagine you smiling and laughing again. The image of you, lifeless and still on the road, would become a scar that faded with time. He hoped it would be.

“I thought of giving you baby’s breath,” Jamil began as the lump in his throat returned, “along with forget-me-nots, and blue salvia. It would be a horrible contrast, but I also thought of adding pink carnations.”

He paused, before bitterly chuckling to himself. “I don’t have your skills, though. You were always amazing with flower arrangements. I couldn’t hold a candle to you, and I rarely tell anyone that. I didn’t want to give you something that was less than perfect—you deserve more than that, so I settled with sweet peas.”

Jamil knew he was talking to himself. He always found it ridiculous how anyone talked to the dead, even if he understood the necessity to respect the ones who passed. This one time, he understood why people did this. Jamil just couldn’t bring himself to accept the circumstances that led to that revelation.

“They mean goodbye in flower language, but I prefer the other meaning. Maybe, in another life, I would’ve bought you flowers for a date. I was thinking of asking you on a date before. Did you know that?”

Another bitter chuckle. Another shaky breath.

“I was supposed to ask you that day. I finally found the courage to try, and what did I see? You…” The words were stuck in Jamil’s throat. He couldn’t force the words out this time. The clamor outside and the harsh slam of his parlor door echoed in his memories. He didn’t want his last memory of you to be your dying breath. He’d rather not remember that at all.

Jamil shook his head and continued, “I apologize for that. What you need to know is that I like you. I may even go so far as to say I love you, and I’m sorry I never told you earlier. I hope you can forgive me for that.”

The tattoo artist sat down in front of your headstone. He didn’t care if dirt and grass stained his jeans this time. He reached out to trace the name etched into the stone, with the same hand where the inked gardenia peeked out of his sleeve.

“I like your flowers. I like all of them. I still keep them with me. I wish I told you that sooner,” Jamil mumbled, voice cracking at the end. A tear rolled down his left cheek and dripped into the soil. His shoulders shook in a silent sob as he breathed his last words to you.

“Thank you for a lovely time. I’ll never forget you.”

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yuseirra · 6 months ago

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(Vague..hints about what 165 would be, I heard about it, I'm...scared to see that chapter. It sounds really horrifying, I can't phrase it otherwise.)

I think I'm going to jot down my feelings. I honestly feel so, so sorry for people who like this manga..; on the bright side it's been a work that's...imbued things in me to write and draw this much about myself but I wish that'd only have happened on a positive note.

I think the author is really being too much..;; They're being so cruel. For what? Can this story get across a proper message? That's what's most important to me and I can take it if I'm convinced it is but... This current route is so far from what most audience would believe as fulfilling or.. Feel happy about seeing. Unless this is fake and the last chapter has some sort of happy closure to it all.

I started reading onk after the anime came out last year and kept up with it, ordering the volumes and reading them. After Chapter 154 and listening to the opening for Season 2, I just thought, “Ah, this is what it is… This is it.” (If you read my oldest? theory posts about this work, this July, you’d know what I mean. I think I’ve figured it all out, and so far, nothing I’ve said back then has been disproven; on the contrary, it STILL makes the most sense.)

I have myself an idea of what this could be, but unless Ruby uses Amaterasu’s power to save everyone and bring them into a happy timeline in the final chapter, this is just...;;

Haha, seriously, this is... phew...

It’s true that Ai and the person she really loved had mutual feelings, but that person went completely insane and caused some incredibly serious issues, forcing Aqua to go after him with everything he had.

From how things are unfolding, I think these points have been confirmed.

We also learned that person was originally good enough to be called noble<I feed off this info like cow eats grass... That's the thing that keeps me going lol Kamiki is nuts...oh please...I really care for him

We know Aqua had a mission assigned from the gods.

For Ruby’s future, he had to capture their father, and this task required him to put everything he built in the story so far on the line.

I kind of understood this? Even if accepting it is a different matter.

No matter how important revenge is in Aqua’s narrative... it’s like, what should I even say? Kamiki ended up devouring Aqua’s story to such an extent that the latter part of the story feels overshadowed by him, and yet Kamiki hasn’t been explored in enough depth for that.

For those following Aqua, this progression feels incredibly harsh. Even if you were rooting for Aqua, the villain he’s up against should be properly fleshed out. Kamiki is full of gaps everywhere. Maybe some parts are intentionally hidden, but what they’ve done feels too much like a Deus ex Machina.

The things he’s been said to have done aren’t even within the realm of what an ordinary human could achieve, it's beyond logic. So unless he’s literally a god, it doesn’t make sense. That’s why I kept insisting he’s divine. When you look at the clues related to his character, there’s actual foreshadowing that supports this theory. If he isn’t, then nothing makes sense. I even wrote a post as soon as Fatal dropped. I just knew THAT had to be it.

There are so many actions he took that can’t be explained unless he’s something beyond human, things that even gods would need to intervene in, assigning missions to Aqua and Ruby. That’s the development that makes the most sense.

Even so, this plot is too much for fans who have loved and followed this series.

I kind of get it, but for fans who have been deeply attached and following this work(this includes me too), the final chapter… Even if there’s something to look forward to, it doesn’t seem like it’ll be worth getting your hopes up. And I'm usually a very hopeful person. It feels like the author wanted to try writing an ending like this, but even then, this... The last 10 chapters or so feel like they consumed all the preceding content.

If Kamiki had been more prominently featured and well-developed, that might have been different (I probably analyzed him more than anyone else out there, because there wasn’t much to go on, and I tried to understand what kind of person he was, filling in the gaps to infer his behavior and motives since his perspective was never shown). But Kamiki, who isn’t as well-developed as Aqua, now holds a weight in the story that makes Aqua sacrifice everything he’s built. I really wish they did both characters justice. I really liked them both.

In that case, he needs to be an unimaginably terrible villain. From what spoilers suggest, what he’s done is indeed severe. But if Ai truly loved such a person, and that’s flipped with the limited remaining chapters, the story becomes trash... Haha. Then what’s the point? I don’t know. That, I really don't wish nor see being contradicted.

Kamiki was kind but lost his mind. (Him being kind is something I never want to give up till the end. I just see it REALLY well too.) So he did a lot of things, I get that. But can something of this scale really happen in modern society, to the point where the protagonist must sacrifice their life?

If so, shouldn’t there be some justification brought in from outside the story to make it convincing? Hence, Kamiki is essentially a god, as suggested by his very name. He was a noble god who fell. There’s enough context, hints, and foreshadowing to support that. He was exposed to malevolence from a young age and became tainted by it. He probably did love Ai, which is why he wielded his power so recklessly, driven by madness to reunite with her.

But even with this, there’s hardly any explanation. Why he went mad, what he did with his life—it’s all glossed over in a few panels. If he’s the villain that the protagonist *must* defeat, there should have been more depth and depiction to fuel that narrative, but it’s incredibly ambiguous. The story just throws a few lines at us and expects us to believe, “He could do all this, so the protagonist had to die,” and that’s it. (That's why... I'm not really sure if they make it want to seem like he's THE bad guy either. Since it's rarely explored in detail so we can't sympathize with the victims if they exist and...hate this guy even more for it. That approach I agree with, because it shouldn't be that way if this story wants a message. But who knows. Scary stuff; it just makes you baffled and dumbfounded and go, "what is this?";; Again, it'd make me question, 'What kind of guy did Ai even love?' I do have my own answers for that. He's her previous divine husband who became hopelessly flawed upon losing her, THAT'S what, so it's not on HIM that he's turned out that way. But who knows.)

Do you think that’s convincing...?💦 I’m filling in the blanks myself, but this feels too much. Whether the final chapter is 50 pages or 100 pages, it can’t wrap this up properly unless Ruby turns back time to save everyone and bring them happiness. I’ve heard there are about 50 pages for 166, but isn’t that just two chapters’ worth? It’s basically the same as a double issue, and given how little content there’s been in recent chapters, even if they combine two, I don’t think it’ll be impactful.

I genuinely feel sorry for the fans of this series. Does this development make sense to you? I’m so baffled that I can’t help but laugh when I think about the plot. It’s not even funny; it’s just painful to watch. How many people would have wanted this kind of ending? I once wrote that over 70% of fans might end up hating the conclusion, that I have a bad feeling about the writer having some kind of personal ambition to create a "twist" and experiment on it out of their artistic desires - and if it ends like this, they probably will. It's not like I didn't see it coming. I did tell all the others who came to read this work upon reading my fanworks to wait until it's complete, there are some things I really appreciate about it, but I wasn't sure it'd progress on your usual, happy and safe route. It could have been that way. The answers were all there. There were many opportunities where there were chances of this story getting an ending many would be satisfied with,

And if I’m wrong about everything I’ve said here, I’ll be just as lost. I really won’t understand any of it. But I’m confident I’m right.

The traits of Kamiki match those of the husband of Ame-no-Uzume in at least ten ways. That god even had a story that said he drowned.(but if he really died, that's ambiguous and he is worshipped pretty well along with his beloved Amenouzume)That's just too much to be brushed off as coincidence, he's at least INSPIRED from that god.

I believe he was originally very kind. I can’t let go of that idea, because it’s been evident to me, and it sticks in my mind. But if that’s true, then this is the story of someone who was kind but went mad, and a son who became a vengeful spirit after his mother’s death. The mother, worrying about the father, left what was almost like a final wish: “If your father is still straying, won’t you help him with me?” But the son kills his father, thinking there’s no hope for him, and ends up dying himself in the process. If that’s really the story, then how... how can there be any positive message to take away from this?

I think I understand what’s going on. I think I do... but the story has been so unfriendly and, as a result, feels disrespectful to fans who have loved the series.

I'm actually thinking: if Kamiki IS Sarutahiko the god of guidance who's been TWISTED due to making EVERY possibilities of a future turn horribly wrong, are we WITNESSING his powers in real time?? Is THIS an extension of what he's capable of? because, I feel like.. He's been bringing sufferings to everyone including himself. Oh in that case I'd totally understand his pain. He really would be suffering. And he's THAT dangerous. What if this comic is being really meta, huh?? I think he doesn't want this either. Losing Ai just.. Totally shattered him I bet. But seeing how things are, I think it could really have been his powers that caused her to die in the first place, unintentionally though. I won't forgive the author if HE'S the one who's killed Ai AND he's been doing all these things in order to get her back afterwards, that is just...so rude. It has no point...

There’s still one chapter left, and I know it’s not right to make a judgment prematurely, but if things go on like this, it’s truly too much...; I genuinely feel bad for those who have loved this work wholeheartedly. And for myself... if it doesn’t end as I’ve thought, then I’ve been completely mistaken, haha. But I came into this with confidence, not about Aqua’s side of things(I thought HIM out of all should get a happy ending. I still wish for that to happen), but about what the story wanted to convey through Aqua’s parents. I believed there could be a meaningful message despite how difficult it seemed, so I took the initiative and interpreted it, drew a lot. If I’m wrong, I can only blame my insight... The story itself never changed; it just stayed there. But I was confident. I’ve never been wrong when it comes to instincts or analyses related to psychology. I thought I knew what this was...

I hope this work gets resolved in a way that is respectful towards its fans whom really cared for the series...they-we-deserve that as much as the authors deserve respect. We're in this together as a fan and the writers. We should care about each other.

#oshi no ko #oshi no theories #oshi no ko spoilers #hikaru kamiki #aqua hoshino #for the time being...the ones I feel most sorry for are the aqua fans and kana fans #next in line would be hikaru fans(ugghh...I guess I really liked what I made of him. I still don't think I'm wrong but)#spoilers #if hikaru looks bad..I don't think ai would be in that good of a spot either idk man #that's why they have to be gods #I just..see him as one. that guy..is not a normal human being. what he can do is illogical #I think he really did grant ruby and aqua's wishes-that's why he came to visit them! ge just couldn't live without Ai #long post

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astroreoreoreoreoreoreoreo · 5 days ago

Note

How long did FGA take to plan out and what was that process like?

I started writing FGA last August after being inspired by watching Stone Ocean, and wondering what became of Giorno and his pals during the ten years in between the two parts. And, uh...

I'm gonna be completely honest with you guys- the planning for FGA was minimal, if at all. I kinda just had a direction I wanted to go in. The only plan I had was something like so-

Fugo dies -> ????? -> epic fight in which [spoilers] -> whatever ending would make the most sense thematically

For the longest time, I just wrote one scene per day. I would leave off the previous scene with some notes on what I could do next, spend the night and morning thinking about how I could move the characters in a way that made sense, and then write. Rinse, repeat. Up until recently, this worked pretty well. If I ever got stuck somewhere, usually it was (and is) because I didn't like something I'd written before. So I would go back, edit that (or cut it out entirely) and then keep moving.

So... I'm not really a dependable person when it comes to planning things out. It's easier for me to move forward with no plan. And honestly, my recommendation to any new writer is to be very vague with your plan. I used to have this meticulously planned out OC story, with tons of details and lore and stuff, but I could never write it out because I knew what had to happen and there was no room to wiggle around and learn things about the characters. It's important (or at least I think it is) to meet your characters as you move forward.

Eva, a girl with a Stand that gives people violent nightmares. Why? Because she was bullied heavily, and she wants revenge. Why? Because she believes vengeance is her God given right. And so on, and so forth.

The same applies to events.

Giorno calls Fugo to his office. Why? To move him to the bodyguard/secretary position. Why? Because he likes him, and wants to get closer to him so that Fugo might like him back. Etc.

This doesn't mean that I haven't had to go back to the drawing board a million times. Not having a plan has made it really tough to stick with the plot and not drag on in random directions (trust me, I've deleted a lot of scenes for this reason). So.. for plot cohesive purposes, it's always a good idea to ask yourself what the goal the characters are trying to achieve during this arc is. (For example, I totally forgot they were supposed to be looking for Per at some point, and got like a hundred pages into a bunch of random nonsense before having to scrap most of it because I was going in the wrong direction. Don't be like me.)

Still, once I figure out where I'm going, I can usually wiggle my way back in and keep moving.

Tl;Dr: I didn't really plan, per se- I just kinda had random cool ideas and then held them up to the light until I could see something I could work with in them.

#I hope this was helpful in some way #thank you for the ask!#I considered passing this over to 2Go #but i figured you guys wanted my answer #not his #lol!#fugo's gay adventure

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oneatlatime · 1 year ago

Text

A Precariously Stacked Pile of Random Season 2 Thoughts

These are notes I took as I watched the season. Usually after I’d already posted about the episode in question, and I thought of something I would have added to the post. Rather than edit them into my posts, I’m rounding them up and posting them all at once. As such, they are vaguely chronological. Unfortunately, because I made the notes legible to me and me only, I didn't bother to write down what episode I was referring to. I've also added some notes in as I was editing these notes. So this is also a bit of a scavenger hunt. Enjoy!

Iroh poisoning himself: dumbass moment or 5D chess?

My autocorrect corrects “Sokka” to Sock, and “Sokka’s” to socks. This causes double takes when editing.

Badgermoles have excellent eyeliner. Is that where the Kyoshi Warriors get their jaw dropping cat eye?

Why is Ty Lee spelled Ty Lee and not Tai Li? Why is Dai Li spelled Dai Li and not Dy Lee?

Sometimes Sokka makes me think of Mulan. Am I crazy?

Are the swampbenders’ moves based on a real martial art style too?

Why didn’t Aang use his swamp sense to locate Appa post-appanapping?

Where did Toph, who spent her whole life as a prisoner of her parents’ house and a moonlighting WWE wrestler until Team Avatar busted her out, get such emotional intelligence?

Why did Zuko’s dad put forward the plan to disinherit Iron in favour of him less than 24 hours after Lu Ten’s death? Why did he think that moving quickly was the right approach? Does the Fire Nation not do grieving periods? In what world was 'strike while the iron is hot' the correct course of action here?

Looking back, I’m amazed that season 2 didn’t end in Zuko’s redemption. I didn’t much like Zuko Alone, but I was sure that a season that included that much set up for a Zuko redemption arc would prioritise finishing that arc.

I haven’t even met this Firelord guy yet, but I am peeved that that twerp has a name as cool as Ozai.

Why haven't I met that Firelord guy yet?

I really thought that the older brother character in Zuko Alone would make an appearance later on in the season, giving Zuko a chance to flex some newly acquired morals. But the parallel to Lu Ten and the general message about the evils of war lands better if we never hear of him again.

Zuko in the first half of season 2 had me so annoyed that I was incredibly uncharitable to him in my write ups. Reading through some of the stuff I wrote while watching episodes, I kind of wince now. Zuko in the second half of the season was much less annoying. Which I feel bad for saying, because he’s clearly not in a good place in the second half of the season.

I would love to know why the writers decided to have Toph and Iroh meet in the wilderness. I think it’s a good choice, but I want to know how they came up with it, and why those characters? Is there anything about Toph (especially at that point, when we’ve known her for 1 episode) that suggests that she and Iroh should meet? Or would get along if they did?

Zuko has so many rock bottom fake outs this season: Zuko Alone? Nope, he gets worse in The Chase. The Chase? Nope, he gets worse in Bitter Work. Bitter Work? Nope, he gets worse in the finale.

I’m still peeved that Azula won a 6 on 1 showdown. Sorry, but that breaks immersion.

I bet the Blue Spirit could make lightning.

If water is the element of change, why does the Northern Water Tribe have such strictly defined traditions? I get that it's literally the element of change, in that water can exist in different physical states, but shouldn't the metaphorical interpretation also be true?

I like that Toph can think like an Airbender sooner than Aang can think like an earthbender.

What is Sokka’s boomerang made of? Is it metal? Because if it’s metal, does that mean that there’s a blacksmith somewhere in the South Pole? With a forge?

I still can’t get over how dumb the whole eclipse plot was.

Suki is TINY!!!

I mocked this guy’s 80s aerobics video leotard aesthetic, and I stand by that mockery, because this guy is ugly. Those colours are awful. But do you know who else has those colours?

Jet this season fascinates me. He’s positioned as genuinely repentant and legitimately seeking a second chance and I don’t believe him for one minute. Why don’t I believe him? This show has a theme of learning from mistakes and doing better, so shouldn’t Jet be a perfect fit for this show’s themes? I should be primed to believe him. And yet I don’t.

I have to applaud Iron’s enthusiasm for their new life in Ba Sing Se. A lot of that cheer (at least before the tea shop) is put on for Zuko’s sake. I don’t know where Iroh gets the energy to keep trying with Zuko after years of minimal results, but I’m glad he does.

I think Aang and Ty Lee should hang out. They have similar circus energy. Or maybe it’s that they’re the only two characters in the show so far who are remotely playful.

Aang = surface silliness, core of calm. Not that the silliness doesn't run deep, but he seems to have an untouchable anchor of calm deep within that rarely gets disturbed. Gyatso raised him well.

~~*~~*~~*~~*~~Poetry bouncer ~~*~~*~~*~~*~~

I need next season to have more Appa & Mono subplots à la their escapades in The Swamp. Not à la Momo’s Tale.

Tales of Ba Sing Se definitive ranking: Momo Aang Sokka Zuko Iroh Katara & Toph

I love that Momo still sleeps in the Momo bag from The Blind Bandit

Are Suki and her warriors sitting in the middle of some Earth Kingdom forest in their underwear?

So are Smellerbee and Longshot just done? Will they be back in season 3? What happens to their life now? They are known associates of an enemy of the state who was just executed. It doesn't look good.

Everyone on this show has big ears. Zuko has the smallest ears simply because he has the least amount of ears remaining. But everyone else? Big ears.

Can I have more Gyatso? I forgot how cool he was. More Guru too please.

Hakodilf.

Everyone in the SWT has such wonderfully fluffy hair.

I like Sokka’s boots. Southern Water Tribe boots in general.

If this is the grand total of the SWT, I have some bad news about population dynamics.

Is there a proper naval term for what the SWT are doing? They’re a stealth strike force that seems to be going after individual enemy ships, using both direct and indirect tactics. Not pirates, because as far as we know they aren't going for FN supplies. They're doing what submarines do, but above water. There’s got to be a proper name for that.

Is there a raft of FN corpses chilling in the waters in front of the NWT's big wall?

I saw ATLA described as a show where all the characters are Asian-inspired people of colour, but isn’t Suki a blue-eyed redhead?

I had no idea that you could decline an Agni Kai. Zuko should have done that.

Why are the Dai Li so in love with Azula? I get that they're pissed with Long Feng for getting arrested, but wouldn't the logical choice be to direct their loyalties to the Earth King rather than a wildcard princess? I'm not going to pretend for a minute that the Dai Li are loyal to the Earth Kingdom or to Ba Sing Se, but the Earth King is a known quantity. Seems to me that it would be easier for them to re-puppetify him, rather than a FN princess.

Katara & Zuko bonding over their missing mothers is the same “makes sense until you think about it for five seconds” as Song & Zuko bonding over losing their fathers to war. Technically the same, sort of, on paper, but actually kind of rude to equate them once you know the full story. Same with the parallel between Lu Ten and the older brother in Zuko Alone. The proper dead mom parallel is Katara and Jet. Although Katara doesn’t object to the Zuko comparison, so I have no grounds to do so.

I’m really glad that Katara didn’t remove Zuko’s scar with her spirit oasis water. Both because she kind of really needed that water, but also because one thing this show has always done right is permanence. No quick fixes, no fake outs, no take backs. Lu Ten is dead, and he stays that way. Princess Yue is the moon, and she stays that way. Half a dozen people’s moms are dead, and they stay that way. Aang is the last Airbender, and he stays that way. Zuko is scarred, and he stays that way. There are no hand waves, no easy fixes. All the characters can do is learn to live with it, and go forward. And I’m grateful the show is like that, because that permanence, as well as being a good lesson to learn, functions as a reward for audience investment.

Aang did come to a crossroads of destiny in the finale, chose his duties to the world over his friends, and got aggressively slapped down for it. I have a feeling that he’ll take the wrong lesson from that, since he was already inclined to shun that path.

Overall Season 1 was prettier.

Ty Lee was the cause of more than one Beat Up Sokka Quota fulfillment this season. Make of that what you will.

Will Zuko & Azula spend season 3 bouncing between the FN and Ba Sing Se? They could be heavily involved with establishing the FN governance over Ba Sing Se, since the city is already inclined towards royalty.

Favourite episode this season? The Guru. The Blind Bandit and The Swamp are tied for second place.

#atla #avatar: the last airbender #avatar the last airbender #season 2 #we're getting close to season 3 #just wanted to do some housekeeping first #I still think Airbender Sokka is underrated as a concept

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chil-aglia · 2 months ago

Note

For The Bad Things Happen Bingo Card:

Bingo Slot: Therapy Session

Characters: Giovanni

Plot: Basically Giovanni is convinced to do some therapy sessions with Mikey AKA Doctor Feelings, and Mikey ends up genuinely helping Giovanni during the therapy sessions and he’s really grateful that Mikey is helping him out during the therapy sessions. Giovanni is also starting to feel better about himself after the therapy sessions, and he is also convinced to go out and have some fun with his family by going to a party that’s held in his honor at New York’s Central Park, but during the party he ends up having some negative thoughts going through his mind, and his family notices that he’s having some negative thoughts through their mind meld technique so they help Giovanni with getting rid of his negative thoughts.

This will be marked off as ‘Therapy Session' as that is the main focus!

This poor dude for real needs a therapy session—

Hope you enjoy this! And sorry for any grammar errors made!

@badthingshappenbingo

Link to the fic on Ao3: Name Three Things - Chilaglia - Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (Cartoon 2018) [Archive of Our Own]

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Name Three Things

Quick note: This is not canon to the main story of Eyes on You. This takes place after the Krang invasion and after his family rescue him from the EPF (once again, not canon to the story as Giovanni is still in the clutches of the EPF at this point in time)

Bingo slot: Therapy Session

Fandom: Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles + my OC’s

Warnings; ANGST GALORE, PTSD, spiralling depressive thoughts, implied past abuse, dissociation, etc

Summary: Giovanni finds himself in the clutches of Dr. Feelings. He appreciates his brother helping him out, and it truly does help him some ways. But even so, Giovanni still needs a long way to go in his therapy.

——————————————————————————————————

Giovanni sat on his beanbag, watching Mikey who was donned in his orange turtleneck with his non-prescription glasses, book in hand as he wrote down…whatever it was he was writing.

Mikey had managed to convince his older brother Giovanni to try out some long awaited therapy sessions, to see how he would go. Giovanni didn’t quite know how he was convinced but nonetheless he couldn't just say no to his little brother.

Especially when it came to Mikey’s personas.

It had been a week since he started, and he did try, truly he did. Answering as best as he could to the questions Mikey provided but it was awkward. He didn’t like mentioning the Krang or the EPF.

Giving mostly vague replies or a short and censored version of his experiences. Mikey didn’t mind though, claiming that he wants to take his time with Giovanni, he wasn’t expecting for his brother to open up so quickly, even if they were siblings. It was traumatic for Giovanni. That much was clear.

“In today’s lesson. I was thinking we should try some exercises that could help you whenever you’re dissociating.” Mikey smiles warmly, putting the book down along with his pen as Giovanni tilts his head.

“Dissociating…?”

“Yeah! It’s like you're disconnected and you lack continuity between thoughts, memories, surroundings, actions and identity.” Mikey explains but that seemed to only confuse the mutant yellow-bellied slider.

“Um…it’s when you’re in a deep trance? And you kinda become numb? I guess.”

Ah, okay. Giovanni is understanding now. Has he done it before? Dissociated? Sounds scary.

“So! In order to help you, I have some techniques we can use to help you bring back to reality.”

Giovanni nods, his eyes narrowing in focus as Mikey shifts to move closer to his brother, sitting down in front of him as he gently holds his hands in his.

“What do you feel right now? Physically?”

Giovanni blinks in question as he hummed in thought, “Your hands.” He informed, Mikey nodding in encouragement, “Anything else? Can you name two more things you feel?” He asks, his voice gentle but his smile never wavered.

“Um…..the bean bag I’m in. And I can feel how cold the air is.”

Mikey chuckled and nodded. “That’s good! Perfect even. Well done. Now three things you can see?” He leans in slightly eagerly as Giovanni gulps and takes a look around the room.

They were doing the therapy session in Giovanni’s room, for his own comfort.

“I see my bed. Um…my sword leaning on the wall.” He lists off the two things as he turns to Mikey with a little smile. “And I see you.” He added, flinching when Mikey pats his shoulder, “Great! Whenever you’re in a dissociative state, I want you to name three things you can see and three things you can feel. Or just either one.” Mikey informs, letting go of Giovanni's hands as the oldest Hamato nods in agreement.

“Have…I been dissociating lately?” Giovanni asks, frowning in embarrassment at himself as Mikey gives out a soft sigh. “You…sometimes space out, I guess? Some of us tried to call out to you but you didn't respond.” Mikey admits, looking guilty for keeping such a thing from him.

“Oh…I’m sorry.”

“No! Don’t be. This is your therapy session. Nothing is your fault. We all understand that you’ve been through a lot even before meeting us. It’s natural for you. We just want to try and slowly get you out of the habit is all.”

Giovanni listens, lips forming in a firm line as he glanced down, he still felt like he should apologise for worrying his family and friends. “Okay….thank you Mikey.” He gave an awkward smile as Mikey stood up, stretching his limbs.

“We’ll end the session there today. You know, even though it’s only been a week, you’re doing very well. We’re proud of you.” Mikey happily beams, picking up his book and pen and exiting the room.

Giovanni watched, eyes wide. They were proud of him? For what?

-----

Giovanni was watching the TV, unaware that his brothers were watching from afar, Leo smiling fondly before looking at Mikey. “So, these sessions you and him have been doing. They’re going well, right?” He asks, Mikey smiling nodding as he proudly places his hands on his hips.

“Two weeks in and I have to say, I am seeing an improvement in him. He’s not jumpy, he’s eating properly and he’s talkative than he was before when we brought back home.” Donnie noted, jolting down his observations on his gauntlet.

“Keep doing whatever it is you're doing Mikey.” Raph encourages while his little brother chuckled happily. “Actually, I’m thinking of holding a little celebration for his 2-week milestone. I already have April helping out, we’re going to surprise him with it at the park!” He announces softly so that Giovanni doesn't overhear him.

“A party? Sounds fun.” Leo approves, grinning at the idea as Donnie hums in agreement. “When is it?” He inquired as Mikey tapped under his chin in thought.

“Tomorrow night?”

“Sounds good to me. We can help out with last minute decorations too.” Raph offers, as he and his brothers gather together to make small plans for tomorrow.

Giovanni glanced over to them, tilting his head but it looked rather important so he didn’t go over to disturb them.

-----

Giovanni held his hands out in front of him, being met with morning darkness as Mikey and Donnie led him with a blindfold on.

“What was it that you two wanted to show me?” Giovanni asks, gulping as he feels the wind of the air hitting his skin, sending goosebumps up his form.

“Oh, just a little invention that Donnie and I want your thoughts on. But I wanted it to be a surprise!” Mikey giggles as he comes to a stop, as did Donnie and Giovanni.

“Prepare to be amazed!” Donnie exclaims, taking the blindfold off as he and Miley showed off the park. It was night, obviously, with decorations spread, a large table with food and everyone he knew was there.

Which was only April and both the Casey’s. As well as Splinter and Draxum.

“SURPRISE!”

They all shout, making Giovanni flinch and give a shocked look. “W-what is all this?” He questions in utter shock, Leo waltzing over and slinging his arm over his brother’s shoulder.

“A celebration of getting by with 2 weeks of therapy! Mikey told us that you’ve been doing well, so he came up with this.”

Mikey shyly waves, blushing in embarrassment as Giovanni takes in the sight once again. “Thank you…i-it’s great.” He smiled softly at Mikey who beams before grabbing a cup of juice.

“LET'S GET THIS PARTY GOING!”

Upon that, hours struck by with everyone having fun. Giovanni kept himself busy with getting drinks and snacks. He didn’t voice out his worries but he supposed he wasn’t in a party mood.

He was confused. Why was he getting a party for? If anything he felt like he hadn’t improved whatsoever.

Maybe they were mocking him. Maybe this was a way to get him to crack and break down.

‘How pathetic can you be?’

‘You were better off in the hands of the EPF.’

‘Or the Krang.’

Giovanni felt his chest tighten, walking away in wobbly legs as he needed space. He walks over to a darker spot of the park, away from the loudness as he sat down, breathing in heavily as negative thoughts invaded his mind.

‘Can’t handle a simple party? Loser.’

‘Once a Vermin, always a Vermin.’

‘Your family should never have bothered with this therapy crap.’

Giovanni whimpered, hands over his head as he tried to shrink down. He wanted to disappear.

Eyes shut tightly, not realising how his brothers and Splinter suddenly went still, their eyes glowing white as they looked in his direction.

They were hearing his thoughts. Giovanni accidentally mind melding with his family.

‘Useless.’

‘Pathetic waste of time.’

‘Should’ve died long ago.’

Stop it…

‘Vermin.’

‘Monster.’

Giovanni couldn’t help but let out a broken sob, but paused and gasped when he felt hands on his shoulder, he snapped out of the thoughts, turning around to see his brothers and father crowding him, all giving a loving look as they slowly embraced him in a group hug.

“Don’t let those thoughts flood your mind. They’re wrong.” Mikey assures, nuzzling his face into Giovanni’s cheek. The older mutant blinked before relaxing in their arms.

Name three things he can feel….the grass, the wind and…

And he could feel the love of his brothers. His family.

——————————————————————————————————

Bad things happen bingo (OPEN)

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everythingsbetterunderthestars · 2 months ago

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Ask game numbers 10, 12, 22. I'm trying to group by theme. :)

Thank you so much for these <3 answering them is super fun!

10. Do you work on multiple WIPs or stick to one fic at a time?

For my first fic I only worked on that one, but I’ve had multiple WIPs ever since! Though I don’t always actively work on all of them. Usually only when I’m writing a oneshot (or very short fic) or something orignal on the side. I don’t have the time to work on several bigger projects at the moment.

12. Do you outline your fics? If yes, how detailed are your outlines? How far do you stray from them?

I outline pretty thoroughly, chapter by chapter, but it’s more about where the scene will lead to than what actually happens. For example, I know there’s going to be a sweet moment between 2 characters, but I don’t actually know what that moment is going to be until I sit down and write it. Unless I am suddenly struck by inspiration in which case I’ll jot down my idea wherever possible (happens often while I’m in class so I have quite a few scenes/lines in my notes lmao). That leaves the right amount of creative freedom most of the time, but I do still stray sometimes. It’s usually because something doesn’t work and needs to be replaced, or when a scene needs to be longer than expected… ONCE I had to split a chapter into 2 as I wrote it (mostly because of my self imposed word count, but it worked better like that in the end, so it was good! That was for my first fic)

22. Do you title your fics before, during, or after the writing process? How do you come up with titles?

Usually during. I try to find something a bit original, that captures the vibes of this specific story. For We are the cursed of the loved ones and Almost before she could feel, they’re quotes from the media that inspired me (though WATCOTLO is a rewrite of The Holiday whereas A room with a view only vaguely inspired me for ABSCF), and Freaks and flowers is a play on the name of Freaky Friday (again, the plot is very different but it’s still at the root of my idea, or more accurately, the fic Black Friday by gildedingold is, which is based on the movie), and just sounds perfect. I love the repetition of F. For The right balance between meddling and letting your friends be miserable idiots I picked a quote from the fic as I wrote it because I found it funny and thought it fit well. The truths we remember (my only non HP fic) took me ages of brainstorming to find but I am so proud of that title. Points out the important themes in a rather poetic way I think.

I have one exception for a fic I haven’t written yet but know the title of already. It’s been in my mind for ages and I’m excited to get to it someday (I want to say soon, but there are a couple of other things I want to do first…), I won’t say more about it just yet ;)

#thank you for the ask!#ao3 writer #fanfic writing

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sorayad · 4 months ago

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hello, thank you for writing two truths, it was so lovely and brought me a lot of joy over the holiday season. <3 i foolishly thought the comments would show up in my offline copy but alas that is not a thing...would be you able to share your extensive writing notes and writing playlist again? if not, i understand. thank you so much once again; i hold ty and matt dearly in the comfort corners of my brain :')

thank you so much for caring about the characters!! and for very kindly referring to my notes as 'extensive' and not 'unhinged'.

NOTES:

i keep smiling while writing this??? ty and matteo are just so incredibly embarrassing. this is fun.

2024-08-05 update – WOW rereading this particular little note i wrote ages ago just made me tear up because i was working 12+ hour days between my jobs and teaching and trying to prep for quals and just getting nothing but rejections for grant applications and from literary agents and i had no time to sit and write and even when i did i was being hypercritical of every word and then i dug up this ridiculous story and it was like. this plot hook is so fucking goofy it literally doesn’t matter. and that was so freeing that ty v5.docx became the only thing i could allow myself to have fun writing for months because there were 0 stakes and it was just for me so it didn’t matter if it was cheesy and ridiculous and then i got three offers of rep in three days????

origin story for this one was a JOURNEY:

matteo actually appeared first, except he was an antagonist in a different and way more tragic sci-fi type story that i think i first sketched out in like??? 2021??

completely separately from that: an early, early version of ty’s story was kicking around as a vague sketch of scene ideas and the ‘captain’s sister’ plot hook since 2022 while i tinkered here and there without the full thing ever really clicking. at one point (late 2023???) i was toying with it again (spite!) and needed a loud cocky background douche who was less shitty than the many other douches that populate this narrative and for some reason (fate) matteo popped into my head so it was like. fine. i’ll pluck him out of the sad sci-fi story and use him here.

at that point, ty had a totally different story!!! he was going to have a non-matteo love interest!!!! and then background douche matteo drove ty to the party in chapter 1. and then he kept butting into scenes and thinking of new ways to try and help ty. and then literally on feb 29 2024 (leap day!!!) i was listening to ‘brand new day’ from the freaky friday soundtrack on the train and the image of him tucking his hideously ugly necklace into ty’s pocket hit me out of nowhere like a truck and i realized there was something there.

tldr matteo jumped across fictional universes and decided that he was going to be ty’s love interest instead of a villain and that i did not get a say in the matter

ty notes:

i had ty’s speaking voice really early on, but it took me ages to find his like. internal voice??? truth??? as a narrator. my first instinct was to write him as shy, but the words stopped flowing which is usually a sign i’m getting a character wrong, so i tried to refocus on the part i knew, his speaking voice, and it led me to the realization that while he is an earnest Good Boy and incredibly awkward at times he is also Not Shy and honestly is pretty mouthy and opinionated, and that insane combination of traits led me to the realization that my way into the truth of him wasn’t to be me now, it was to be me at like 17. gagged etc.

re: All Of That, i feel like the conflict at the heart of ty’s story is based in the Weird Loser Teen TM experience of having this strange stubborn pride in being scorned by the mean normies and feeling conviction in Being Yourself, but simultaneously wondering why Yourself is so laughable and will never belong anywhere or with anyone and just desperately wanting someone to tell you it’s okay and you’re normal and good.

fun writing challenge: trying to write a character that has Opinions without doing the incredibly annoying thing where it’s very obviously the writer pontificating through the characters’ mouth like it’s an after school special for Good Person Points. i have to make us buy ty as someone who would have these thoughts.

bgjablgkdajbdl ty is so much less angsty than my other protagonists, the edgiest song on the writing playlist is literally ‘scream’ from high school musical 3

horny jail bonk

this clip has ty energy highkey https://x.com/jnnibee/status/1823975972212809939

matteo notes:

my most impossible writing challenge yet: making a third gen italian hockey bro from hamilton ontario a viable love interest

while no one will ever dethrone Samuel ‘The Most Romantic Man Alive’ Matsui as the most cringe (honorific) character i’ve ever written, matteo definitely is the second most frequent perpetrator of out of pocket Leading Man In A KDrama antics*. like what do you meaaannnnn you’re showing up dramatically to step in between our protagonist and danger????? and now you’re asking him to wear your necklace????? and you’re princess carrying him??? and now ‘hero’ by sterling knight is on the writing playlist??? you’re so embarrassing?????

*the difference being, of course, that matteo is capable of shame and incredibly mortified by his own actions

is this a safe space. the literal only reason the non-terrible background douche that eventually became matt is even in this story is because i realized the end of chapter 1/start of chapter 2 is basically this (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3SSzuDZ58z0) and it would be funnier if there was a channing tatum equivalent present dgjbksjlbgl. he was only supposed to exist for the bit!!!

ok i can’t just roast him i’m actually very fond of him and i really enjoy the arc that’s emerging of ty gradually deconstructing the myth that he had of matt as this perfect prototypical hockey bro. i also think matt’s arc is kind of a mirror image of ty’s own story??? like whereas ty’s someone who ‘fails at’/deviates from most of the expectations of their social milieu, matteo’s someone who resoundingly succeeds at all of them, at least publicly. so like. exploring those complementary and contrasting pressures.

but also re their mirrored arcs – matt’s story is kind of backwards? or revealed backwards? like usually i HATE the last minute ‘aha he was in love all along’ thing and i didn’t intend to write it but i THINK it works here because a) we kind of knew already from matt’s actions and b) that stuff i wrote previously about ty having to effectively undo or deconstruct the myth of Matteo Mariano, Perfect Hockey Man. we start with Perfect First Overall Matt and end with matt sitting on the ground in just a dress shirt exposed and broken down to the truth of the person he is. we start with him showing up to chase ty and end with the power dynamic kind of switching and ty showing up to chase him. WHATEVER.

it’s so important that in multiple scenes matt’s stage directions/blocking notes were ‘MATTEO DOES THE KATE SHARMA PUPPY EYES LOOK’

another instance of the characters surprising me: i figured out that a big theme of this story would be dissecting the ways in which performative manliness/Socially Mandated Correct Gender Expression can be shed and how scary but ultimately liberating it feels to do that, but what i didn’t expect was the dynamic that’s emerging between ty and matt where through being liberated from Mandatory Correct Gender Performance they’re really organically like ??? picking and choosing aspects of Gender Performance TM that they want?? and that’s been a new experience for me because while i LOVE fucking around with gender as part of characters’ personal arcs, i think i tend to write romantic relationships sort of??? agnostic of it??? like Gender TM is more of an antagonizing externality that doesn’t majorly factor into the dynamic between my main couples??? whereas i’m realizing while writing ty and matt that their respective femininity/masculinity and the interplay between the two on their own terms is like. part of what they’re so into about each other.

it’s so fun to get to dig into The Mixed Race Experience a little here because a lot of the characters i write find a sense of fulfillment in finding or owning a label and so it feels nice to bring ty and matteo on a different journey of grappling with the ways they aren’t entirely any one thing and having to negotiate different aspects of their identities while questioning whether they’re ‘enough’ of any single one

oh my god and that lets me tie in additional significance to matt’s ‘you’re everything’ in the final confession scene yayyyyy thank you subconscious writer brain <3 <3 <3

Villains TM

the team: so usually when i’m writing hockey romcoms my protagonists’ teammates have been pretty chill and nice because a) i love a found family and b) honestly writing shitty people and inflicting them on my protagonists makes me feel tired and sad and bad. love a villain in a fantasy setting. hate a villain in a contemporary setting. BUT in this case the more i write the more it’s like. oh no they’re so shitty and that’s The Plot and it has to be this way.

curtis: i really didn’t initially intend for curtis to be the pseudo-villain he’s ending up as but the more the story gets clear to me the more i feel the violence of his placating neutrality. causing harm not because of action but because of inaction. seeing conformity as a virtue. stuffed with sawdust instead of a heart. the anti-matt.

if you’ve read my fanfic you know i love a redemption arc for or exploration of a complex and hated character and i found myself initially trying to be like. okay but people are complicated i need to show that ty’s teammates have good or at least explicatory aspects to their personalities, how can i redeem them and make this better and more healing, to the point of opening another doc and sketching out a few hundred words of Curtis Tragic Repressed Backstory. and then i got the ick harder than ever before. maybe these guys have reasons but their actions are still cruel and hurt people and i do not feel like contriving a way for ty to forgive them. they're one note villains and in this one case i think i’m okay with that because i don’t really care to learn more about them.

saoirse_ronan_as_jo_march_saying_women.gif

i love when fictional women are angry and bitter and kelly is both of those things for good reason but she’s also really genuinely kind!!! i wish i had better words for this but i feel like in her relationship to ty there’s elements of old obi wan in a new hope, like the jaded mentor who wants things to go better for our starry-eyed protagonist???

kelly/cam is my headcanon pairing. i feel like kelly is sort of accustomed to men looking at her and being weird about how hot she is and is thus kind of baffled by cameron ‘man with female friends’ gu just being pretty normal about this amazon in his midst. and then one day kelly reveals that she also has fake front teeth because of a long-ago hockey incident and cam sees her atrocious tooth gap and is SO enamored.

my other headcanon pairing is kelly/dee for obvious reasons. i am not immune to height difference grumpy x sunshine pairings.

sometimes i wish these were someone else’s characters because i want to read a like 48k slowburn kelly pov kelly/cam/dee fic where kelly doesn’t get into med school and cam originally is super into kelly and kelly turns him down after maybe a one night stand or something because he’s a Hockey Man and then months later (with her blessing) cam and dee end up dating and kelly is like. jealous of her best friend but also of the guy dating her best friend and her whole arc is like learning how to cope with being a self-perceived failure at everything she tries. and in the end all 3 of them are in love <3

cora seeley and lea lawrence canadian/american rivals to lovers hockey power couple of my heart. i wanted them to be in more of the story BUT it was also important narratively for ty to be really alone on his new team, and then to see the stark contrast when he goes home (/through our brief glimpse at cam) to where hockey is a fun thing with people who love him, so we can realize the crazy stress and isolation he’s been under to kind of add some more context to his unhinged actions throughout

title:

‘two truths’. there must already be something called this but i like it and it works with the theme of lying and also the reference to ‘two truths and a lie’ as like a cute little slumber party game for the youthful idiot vibes of the mcs

something about boats??? because of ‘don’t rock the boat’ pressure??? look up boat words. i don’t know any of these boat words. ‘man overboard’??? no that’s trash

i was thinking about this last night in bed and maybe ‘hero complex’ or something like that??? could help bring ty’s character arc forward more. i really like the idea of this one but it doesn’t sound as good as ‘two truths’. ….. ‘hero’s journey’??? worse??? too on the nose

i feel like it’s ‘two truths’. i keep going with my first idea of a title oops.

the ending/epilogue

fun structure/setting thing that i’m only realizing i did in retrospect is we gradually move more and more away from the physical but also emotional centrality of the team/locker room as the story goes on. like we start SO claustrophobic setting-wise and also with how ty’s constrained by people’s opinions, after chapter 6 we start branching out into new emotional spaces, some literal new locations, then in the last act we finally break free emotionally (ty’s confrontation with curtis) and physically by going to ty’s hometown and then a whole different country. reflecting how the story is kind of about ty (and matt) Escaping. metaphorically. and then literally.

re: that oh god the epilogue. the first thing that came to mind when thinking about where i wanted them to end up was ‘they’re getting the hell out of dodge’ and then i was like. wow ‘this situation is bad so i will leave’ is a terrible takeaway from a story especially with a protag who’s so oriented towards action. but as i wrote the rest of the story and started to get a clearer picture of ty’s journey it was like ohhhh the takeaway isn’t ‘stop caring’ it’s ‘yes care yes act on it but you also deserve to care in a place that cares about you and makes you safe’ and grappling with the question of like. can we make ourselves belong somewhere??? should we??? how much of ourselves do we offer up??? i still don’t know the right answer.

my relationship to all my protagonists is me shoving that one mary oliver poem about ‘you do not have to be good’ in their faces and then it bounces off them and punches me in the nose

making this prediction now. had too much fun writing this, the next thing i write will be a bummer. [eta 2024/12/23: lol]

PLAYLIST:

only vaguely in chronological order, not a chapter-by-chapter thing, just songs i listened to while writing. there’s so much disney channel on here.

gentle monster (hockrockb) – i don’t even know if this is the correct translation but it’s this song (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k4v_uVKxN44) and i listened to it on a LOOP sketching out the whole story

i was an island (john-allison weiss) (rock version) – kind of thematic song for both ty and matt

like me (teen beach movie) – the gender performance song. but ironically.

hot to go! (chappell roan) – more goofy hijinks vibes, the 5678 off the top feels correct for a romcom montage.

not strong enough (boygenius) – more fun gender lyrics and ~themes

gotta find you (camp rock) – i listened to it a lot while writing ty and matt’s gentler moments throughout the first act of the story

hero (starstruck) – matteo’s theme song, unfortunately.

hear you me (jimmy eat world) – on a loop while i wrote the conversation on the curb where they finally open up to each other

scream (high school musical 3) – ty angst song <3 <3

garden (tommy lefroy) – “You made up the race / You'll finish either way” ty vs the team, justified anger

american teenager (ethel cain) – the ONLY thing i listened to while finishing the last like 10k of this story, especially chapter 12

i was an island (john-allison weiss) (acoustic version) – sorry i love a cute little gentle reprise. they’re in LOVE. this was on repeat for the airport garage kiss scene

open your eyes to love (the lizzie mcguire movie) – Ty And Matteo Do Not Fuck In A Pool

mr. brightside (the killers) – ty dramatically sprints through a wedding reception to Get The Guy

brand new day (freaky friday) – the song playing in the background of the Big Damn Kiss/feelings confession scene at the wedding. chad michael murray’s freak weirdo character in freaky friday you will always be famous. to me.

ultimate (freaky friday) – epilogue/credits song!!!

#can i be honest. it's so much more embarrassing sharing these a second time. openly admitting to thinking this much... mortifying.#writing stuff

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zuppizup · 7 months ago

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Hi Zuppi! Sorry if this is a bother, but I was really curious how you (and fic authors in general) plan longfics?

I've been working on a couple really steadily (by some ADHD miracle) and I've hit the point where I really need to start planning them out, but I genuinely don't know how.

Do you do it chapter by chapter, or is it more just a vauge idea? How do you know how long something's going to be, or how much time to spend on it?

Thank you so much 😊

Both your asks made it through, but I’ll stick them in one so as to not clog up your notifs. 😊 And no bother at all! It’s always fun to get asks!

I have been asked this before, but it was some time ago and, oof, Tumblr search. I managed to track down those replies, where I go a little more in depth in to my, cough, “process”. They’re here and here.

I guess, first of, you need to get a feel for whether you’re a planner or a panster. There’s pros and cons to each and I don’t think anyone’s really truly one or the other, but most of the writers I talk to do lean one way or another. There’s really nothing wrong with writing and seeing where the story takes you. You don’t have to plan out a story and I’ve certainly written fics where I just started with a vibe and then ran with it. In fact, one of the fics I enjoyed writing the most (Rumour has it…) was pretty much written based on a couple of ideas I thought would be dumb, along with a vague “Rayllum ending”. The rest of the fic, the characters sort of wrote themselves.

Having said that, I am generally a planner and I do generally have pretty detailed plans. 😅

If you also prefer to plan, again, there’s no right way or wrong way to do it. You could have an ending in mind and need to find a way to get there. Or perhaps there’s an inciting incident you want to write but you don’t know how to resolve it. In that case, what are all the things that could happen? What are they things they definitely wouldn’t? Why? Honestly, some of the most enjoyable things I’ve written were stories where I took what was most likely to happen and then threw that idea out the window.

Personally, once I have a rough beginning, middle and end, I break those down into more manageable chunks. I’ll note plot points I want hit or character arcs I have planned and then where they occur. As I said in the links above, I tend to do this in a spreadsheet at this stage, because I find it easy visualise connected plot elements that way and I can quickly rearrange them. A lot of my fics also involve actual dates or action that has to occur around particular moon phases, and I personally find that easier to visualise and manage in a spreadsheet.

So, a basic first pass might be something like this (from Husk)

Generally before I even get here, I know the beginning, middle and end, as well as a few major plot points along the way, but once I start writing this sort of thing out, more ideas flow and it’s easier to add to them.

Beginning - Rayla cursed by Claudia

Callum finds Rayla cursed

Struggles to accept it’s fatal

Glimpse of improvement only to hear terrible news

Middle - Callum attempting to find a cure

Distraction - Rayla’s parents and Runaan decoined

Strained relationships

Ezran arrives for help and support

End - Possible cure found

Things not as they seem.

Temptation and resolve

Conclusion

Usually from here ideas start to flow and I’ll begin to organise by “chapters” though they invariably change a lot in the planning process. Once I’ve got to this point though, I’ll usually have a pretty feel for the whole fic and ideas flow on from each other. Some nitty gritty stuff I honestly ignore in the planning stage. If it’s, say some spell I need or a conflict that I know “will” happen, I’ll add a place holder (e.g. [research spell] [Rayllum disagreement]) and then move on, because I don’t want to get distracted by things I can work out later. Durning my brainstorming time, I really trying to get the idea written down before it drifts on into the ether. Certain details can and usually are changed when it comes time to refine the whole thing.

How do I know how long a fic is going to be? Oh dear, I can already tell a number of people laughed at that question. I am utterly woeful at predicting how long my fics are going to be. Woeful. I thought I could wrap up Zoom-mates in three chapters. It’ll be over 250k by the time I finish posting. Someone asked me if I thought Purgatory would get to 70k and I thought “jeez, 70k?! Imagine!” Likely to be closer to 170k, all in. Even Rumour has it… went twice as long as I had planned.

So in that aspect, I very much cannot help you. 😆

I try! I bunch together plot points and group them into chapters, but invariably I go over, it’s just a matter of by how much. I want to say I’m getting better at predicting, but I think it’s more I’ve conceded defeat and acknowledged I am not in charge of that aspect of my fics.

So after all that talk of planning (which again, is just how I write, but there are many, many pansters among the Rayllum writers and they write gold), onto what I think is really the most important aspect of planning…

Once you have a plan (however detailed), I honestly think the most important thing is to ensure you don’t rigidly stick to it. I don’t mean throw the plan out, but if you find you’re forcing writing or the story doesn’t feel right, the plan might need adapting. Maybe a subplot went places you didn’t initial envisage or character’s motivations were changed by the events that led you to where you are. Don’t be afraid to change the plan, even if you initially thought it was perfect or you’re afraid of “wasting” ideas. I don’t delete anything. If something just isn’t working, then I “scrap” it, banishing it to a seperate document so that it doesn’t distract me from my current project. I’ve recycled plenty of stuff by doing this, and even if I abandon some of it, I think any time spent writing is time spent learning and improving, so it’s worth it all the same.

If while writing you finding yourself caught up writing dialogue or introspection, go with it. You might not use it, but if you’re really in the zone, if the characters or setting are really speaking to you, I think it’s best to run with that and decided if you’re going to use it after. Even if it doesn’t get published in the fic, it likely is telling you something about your story.

I hope this ramble is helpful. I can only talk to my process and experience. I’ve no training in writing, I merely like quiet hobbies and get very obsessed with things.

I’m sure others have some helpful tips to add to, so please feel free to reblog/comment with what you find useful!

#I’m sure others have some helpful tips to add to so please feel free to reblog/comment with what you find useful!#asks #thanks for the ask!#writing asks #I really hope this made sense #i am winging it honestly #insert meme of the dog doing science #i have no idea what i am doing

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ghostinthegallery · 9 months ago

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Hey there!! I really enjoyed your insight the other day about how writing a serial differs from a plotted-out-and-written-in-advance novel! As someone who's just dipping my toes into posting as I write, any chance you could give some advice or tips you've learned about that style of writing specifically? 💚

(from @inquisitor-gayfax)

Why yes! I'd love to (thank you for giving me the excuse XD)

The main thing I have realized is that experience with traditional, "complete on arrival" novels is actually super helpful for serial writing. The principles of character writing, world building, and all that still apply, but even more importantly the beats you want your story to hit are all pretty much the same. You want that into, the inciting incident, the midpoint turn, etc. Those are all vital to keeping your story on track. Especially as serials are prone to meandering. It is so easy to get lost and lose sight of the forest for the trees. For me, always checking with myself that I am hitting or actively working towards those major beats helps to keep me on track.

Also note that one big thing will be different is the length. Serials tend to get much longer and thus the beats are stretched out. The length is because each chapter essentially functions as a short story in and of itself. It has to be a satisfying reading experience on its own as well as in the context of the larger work. This oftentimes means fleshing things out more than you otherwise would and bam, longer work. (not necessarily as long as I often go! but the tendency is there). FWIW, I find editing these chapters as I got to be much easier than editing a whole novel. I do miss being able to move big chunks and scenes around (cut and paste, my beloved), but it is worth the tradeoff to me.

The nature of the chapters functioning as short stories (minus a definitive ending of course) is probably going to be the biggest difference if you are someone who writes the entire thing ahead of time and then posts chapter by chapter, as opposed to posting as you write or posting with a backlog but not a finished novel.

Now, the other biggest difference if you are posting as you go is that you will not have the chance to revise the entire story the way you do with a traditional novel. You cannot go back and change things, add foreshadowing or a character beat or anything. Once you publish that chapter, the events are set in stone.

I actually enjoy this! It is a fun challenge to work with what I have established. But...I also cheat. I have a tendency to drop little things here and there that could be hints at larger plot points or things that are setting up things later on, but they are vague enough that I am not fully locked into anything.

The secret is that your readers are unlikely to remember a small detail in chapter 3 that didn't really go anywhere. But they will remember that detail in chapter 4 that got paid off in chapter 35 and you will look like a super genius (I am 99% sure Eiichiro Oda, possibly the greatest serial fantasy writer/artist of all time has done this writing One Piece, alongside his legit 5-D chess long game reveals)

To call myself out, here is an interaction from chapter 5 of The Silence & the Storm (poster child of fics that got too long)

Before he turned to go, he placed a hand on Anrakyr’s shoulder. Anrakyr tried to shake him off, but his grip was as strong as his bulky build would imply. Through an interstitial message he said, “If you ever wish to hear of Pyrrhia, you need only ask. Perhaps you still have friends there? Perhaps not. But would you not like to know?” “What are you—” Zultanekh broke the connection. He started back down the corridor, and Anrakyr had to choose whether to chase him, or remain with this stranger.

I had no idea what had actually happened on Pyrrhia when I wrote that. I just knew I wanted to address Anrakyr's backstory and why he left his home planet, so I left myself that set up figuring I would pay it off later. And then in chapter 48 we got this:

“Do you remember back when the mot was called,” Anrakyr said. “You told me that if I wished to know about Pyrrhia I need only ask. That I might still have friends there. Was that true?” “Would I lie about such a thing? Never,” Zultanekh replied, surprisingly softly. “Did my own wanderings take me to Pyrrhia? Yes, they did. An unlucky clash with some orks left this ship in need of repairs—although make no mistake the orks were far worse off! Space debris after we were done with them.” Anrakyr flashed a glyph of impatience. “In any case,” Zultanekh continued. “We landed, declaring our intentions to repair and leave. Had we heard rumors of lost Pyrrhia? We had, however the planet itself was quite…orderly. Calm.”

The conversation goes on as Zultanekh describes more of what he saw because 33 chapters later I, the author, now know what happened and can start giving that pay off. Sometimes I will get really lucky and find something I didn't intend as foreshadowing but that happens to work! Those are good days.

Now this is a risky strategy. You can limit your options when you do this, and you have to make the pay off make sense given whatever you set up. I've definitely wished for the power to go back and edit some of my vague hints in the past. But that is the challenge! True you could actually be good at planning and meticulously plant all your little seeds and reveals. Or you can be me, a creature of vibes and chaos.

Speaking of vibes, I think it is important to talk about the audience. And how they will influence you. When you present a finished story, that is it. It is done. The audience can talk about the story all they want, but it cannot retroactively influence how you wrote the book. With serial writing 99% of the time readers will be able to comment. And I think we writers have to be very careful about how we let that affect our writing.

The Game of Thrones writing team apparently at some point decided that "fooling the audience" and being unpredictable was more important than telling a good story, so they changed plot points when too many audience members predicted certain outcomes. This is bad. However, sometimes audience feedback is good! I personally unlocked a whole subplot because a commenter asked about a character I had included totally at random. It was a filler name! I did not realize this character was in a game, but realizing that gave me incredible stuff to work with. I'm glad I listened to them! Not to mention the incredible kindness and support that has kept me going through some rough patches in my life. By that same token, negative comments can feel awful. I have not found that to be an issue in my corner of the 40k fandom, but it is absolutely a consideration in other spaces (especially outside of fanfic) so just be aware.

I hope that answered your question! Probably too much, but as we have firmly established, I am verbose ☺️

#answering asks #writing #serial writing #ghost rambles

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